[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-grand-return-system":3,"chapter-grand-return-system-grand-return-system-chapter-36":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Grand Return System",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1080206,1397,"Chapter 36: Ruins Beneath a Grey Sky","grand-return-system-chapter-36",36,"\u003Cp>Ruins Beneath a Grey Sky\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon faintly smiled and said, \"Let’s go...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was calm, almost gentle — as though they were heading toward a stroll rather than a battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the Seven Division had dispatched a large number of students, each led personally by their Division Masters. Sword lights streaked across the sky like shooting stars tearing through dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Amethyst Summit Division—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only two figures rose from its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet somehow, it did not feel small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Amethyst Summit Division was mobilized. Though there were only two of them, the wordallstill carried weight. It was complete. It was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the Eastern territories, Powerful Sects and immortal Acedmies had all mobilized to eliminate the vicious beasts. The gathering felt less like a rescue and more like an impending collision of forces — pride, ambition, power, and blood all converging upon the same battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon casually drew a sword and said softly, \"Let’s go...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not summon the First Mist Immortal Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That blade was far too domineering. Too radiant. Too arrogant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It did not suit the low profile he preferred to maintain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Selena responded in kind. She summoned the Amethyst Mist Sword, the blade glimmering faintly in her grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past few days, Leon had also taught her the Imperial Sword Technique. Her comprehension was astonishingly high; she had mastered it with fluid grace in a fraction of the time it once took him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Leon, who had struggled for nearly a year before fully grasping its rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at her briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talented... and hardworking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten minutes later, they descended upon the Hundred Mile Wasteland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment their feet touched the ground, the air changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smoke lingered thick and bitter. The scent of charred wood mixed with the metallic tang of blood. Once-vibrant homes were now reduced to collapsed beams and blackened rubble. The earth itself seemed scorched in grief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had once been a bustling town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it was silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broken only by the crackle of dying embers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Corpses lay scattered among the ruins — twisted forms, unmoving. Some half-buried under debris. Others exposed beneath the merciless sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena’s steps slowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fingers tightened around her sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her stomach churned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Teacher...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice wavered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She forced herself not to look away, but when her gaze fell upon a child’s small body beneath shattered timber, she felt bile rise to her throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon’s expression hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From the looks of it,\" he murmured thoughtfully, \"the impact of this vicious beast riot is indeed massive. A small town destroyed so completely...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes scanned the surroundings carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is someone orchestrating this... or is there another cause?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eastern lands were human territory — governed by Powerful Sects and great empires like the Drake Empire. For something like this to happen unchecked...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap. Tap. Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Footsteps echoed from behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena turned sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of men walked casually over the ruins as if touring a garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At their head stood a man in green robes — black hair, sharp green eyes, arrogance etched plainly across his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He surveyed the devastation with exaggerated pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tsk tsk... how tragic! How tragic indeed,\" he drawled. \"They’re all dead. Sigh... what a pity. This beautiful little beauty didn’t receive my blessing and ended up dying at the feet of ferocious beasts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached a female corpse and, with a stick, casually nudged at the torn fabric of her clothing — grinning as if amused by his own theatrics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena’s grip on her sword tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disgust surged through her veins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Master,\" one of the henchmen behind him suddenly pointed toward Selena. \"Look... isn’t there another beauty there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man in green lifted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment his gaze fell upon Selena — white robes fluttering softly against the grey sky, silver hair shimmering against ash-darkened ruins — his expression shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raw and undisguised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward leisurely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As a direct descendant of the Taylor family,\" he mused to himself, \"I’ve seen countless beauties. But one like this...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped a few steps away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, interesting. I didn’t expect to encounter such a peerless beauty in this tiny wasteland town. Seems my luck with women hasn’t abandoned me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave a slight bow — mockingly refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fairy, I am Harry Taylor of Ashford City’s Taylor family. May I know your name? Would you be interested in getting to know me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena’s eyes turned icy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get lost.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words were sharp as frost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry blinked — then smiled wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, one of the henchmen bristled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wild girl! Do you know who you’re speaking to? How dare you address my Young Master like that? Are you courting death?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man moved as if to step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry raised a hand lazily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze never left Selena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It would be unfortunate if you hurt the fairy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The henchman immediately retreated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hehe... Young Master is right. My mistake.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had completely ignored Leon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if he were invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if Selena were already theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena’s chest rose and fell steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had witnessed Harry’s earlier actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her mind, men of status were supposed to resemble her Teacher — reserved, composed, righteous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was nothing more than a beast in human skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt anger burn within her — but when she heardTaylor family of Ashford City, she hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A powerful household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she acted rashly...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would it bring trouble upon her Teacher?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her nails bit into her palm as she restrained her killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon turned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Taylor family of Ashford City?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone was mild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry finally seemed to notice him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes flicked over Leon briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young. Unremarkable sword. No visible arrogance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably not from any great household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He relaxed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? You’ve heard of us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon tilted his head slightly and replied sincerely,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm... I don’t know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry’s smile froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief second, his green eyes darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this man ignorant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or mocking him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression shifted, pride wounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you provoking me,\" he said slowly, \"or provoking my Taylor family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1021,"2026-06-03T10:40:08.506Z","2026-06-03T10:40:16.814Z",1,"novelbin.me","fc4d9dc6a5902109e078ba6e8fa04b075a7e4d93d818f3e3460826dd5b0a582a","grand-return-system-chapter-37","grand-return-system-chapter-35",234,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fgrand-return-system-cover.jpg"]