Grand Return System

A Teacher’s Bottom Line

Leon had already made his intentions perfectly clear.

He wasn’t here to negotiate.

He was here...

To seek justice for his students.

If today’s explanation failed to satisfy him...

The fate awaiting the Prison Holy Sect would likely be no different from that of Sky Breaker Academy.

Sirius knew that better than anyone.

A flicker of panic crossed his eyes.

He immediately cupped his hands again.

"Fellow Cultivator..."

"Please calm your anger."

"What happened before..."

"...was indeed our fault."

"We admit our mistake."

He took a slow breath before continuing.

"If there is anything you require..."

"My Prison Holy Sect is willing to make amends."

"We will satisfy whatever request you have."

The surrounding cultivators exchanged astonished glances.

None of them had expected the usually proud Prison Holy Sect to lower its head so quickly.

Yet no one mocked them.

Not after witnessing Leon’s strength.

Before absolute power...

Pride meant nothing.

Leon watched Sirius quietly for a long moment.

Then...

The sword intent gradually dispersed.

The terrifying pressure blanketing the battlefield also faded.

He lowered the two fingers that had been gathering sword energy.

A faint smile returned to his face.

"Good."

"At least you’re sensible."

His voice remained gentle.

Yet no one dared mistake that gentleness for mercy.

Leon slowly swept his gaze across the disciples of the Prison Holy Sect.

"Listen carefully."

"My students from Amethyst Summit Division..."

"...are not people others can bully."

The smile vanished from his face.

His eyes became cold as ice.

"So..."

"Whoever injured him..."

"Step forward."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Every disciple of the Prison Holy Sect lowered their heads.

No one dared move.

Hidden among the crowd...

One man’s face instantly lost every trace of color.

It was the elder responsible.

His body trembled uncontrollably.

His mind went completely blank.

"It’s over..."

He looked toward Sirius with desperate eyes.

His lips quivered.

"Senior Brother..."

"Save me..."

The plea was barely louder than a whisper.

Sirius heard it clearly.

For a brief moment, pain flashed through his eyes.

He had watched this Junior Brother fight beside him for many years.

But now...

The choice before him was cruelly simple.

Protect one man...

Or protect the entire Prison Holy Sect.

There was no third option.

He slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened them again...

The hesitation had disappeared.

Only resolve remained.

He let out a long sigh.

"Junior Brother..."

"I’m powerless to help you."

"You must decide what to do yourself."

"The life..."

"...and death..."

"...of the Prison Holy Sect now rests in your hands."

Those words sounded noble.

As though he were entrusting everything to his fellow brother.

Yet everyone with experience immediately understood their true meaning.

Leon quietly watched the exchange.

His eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

Clever...

He’s pushing every responsibility onto one person while making it sound like an honorable sacrifice.

No wonder he became the leader.

He’s ruthless enough to abandon his own people when necessary.

The elder’s shoulders slumped.

He understood as well.

If he refused to admit what he had done...

Leon would eventually uncover the truth anyway.

At that point...

The Prison Holy Sect would bear the consequences alongside him.

Every disciple would curse him.

Every elder would condemn him.

Even if Leon spared his life...

His own sect never would.

But if he admitted everything...

Perhaps the Prison Holy Sect could survive.

As for himself...

His fate was already decided.

A bitter smile spread across his face.

"So..."

"This is how it ends."

He looked at Sirius with eyes filled with disappointment.

"So many years..."

"I fought for the Prison Holy Sect."

"I risked my life countless times."

"And in the end..."

"This is my reward."

He chuckled softly.

The sound carried neither anger nor madness.

Only exhaustion.

A man who had finally accepted reality.

Then...

His chuckle gradually became louder.

"Haha..."

"Hahaha..."

The laughter echoed across the battlefield, filled with grief and bitterness.

Slowly...

He stepped out from the crowd.

One step.

Then another.

Until he stood alone before Leon.

His face was pale, but his gaze no longer wavered.

He straightened his back.

"I injured him."

He met Leon’s eyes directly.

"If you wish to kill me..."

"Or torture me..."

"You may do as you please."

The moment those words left his mouth, the entire battlefield fell silent once more.

The elder stood motionless.

His expression no longer carried fear.

Only resignation.

His heart had already died the moment Sirius abandoned him.

For countless years, he had devoted himself to the Prison Holy Sect, risking his life time and again to protect its interests. Yet when disaster arrived, everything he had sacrificed was discarded without hesitation.

What was left to protect?

What was left to fear?

Even if Leon struck him down where he stood...

He would not resist.

Leon quietly studied the man before him.

Then, to everyone’s surprise—

He laughed.

"Haha..."

"Interesting."

A faint smile spread across his face as he glanced between the elder and Sirius.

"So this is what the breaking of trust between fellow brothers looks like."

Although his tone carried a trace of amusement, many people lowered their heads uneasily.

The scene before them was indeed ironic.

One man had been abandoned.

Another had sacrificed his own junior brother without hesitation.

Even Leon couldn’t help but inwardly acknowledge Sirius’s ruthlessness.

He’s truly decisive.

When protecting the sect, he doesn’t even hesitate to abandon his own people.

Cruel...

But perhaps that’s why he managed to become its leader.

His gaze returned to the elder.

Despite feeling a trace of pity, Leon’s resolve remained unchanged.

Pity was one matter.

Justice was another.

This elder had harmed Harry without reason.

He had also attempted to suppress Selena through sheer seniority.

Those actions could not simply be forgotten.

Leon looked at him calmly.

"You dared to stand forward and accept responsibility."

"I won’t kill you today."

The elder’s eyes widened.

He stared at Leon in disbelief.

He...

Wasn’t going to die?

A wave of relief instinctively surged through him.

But before that relief could fully settle—