Grand Return System

The Lord of Ashford city

"F*ck!"

Leon nearly blurted out the thought.

His eyes brightened.

His future suddenly looked incredibly promising.

He was extremely excited.

Yet on the surface...

Leon remained perfectly calm.

He had cultivated long enough to understand the importance of maintaining composure.

Especially in front of outsiders.

He could not let Cavir see what was happening inside his mind.

Otherwise, things would become embarrassing.

Leon slowly settled his expression.

He gave a calm nod.

"Yes, sure. Do as you say..."

Cavir quietly exhaled.

He had no idea that his seemingly ordinary proposal had just caused an entirely different storm inside Leon’s mind.

For him, ten million taels of silver was merely a reasonable starting price.

For Leon...

It had opened the door to an entirely new way of getting rich.

Cavir heaved a sigh of relief after obtaining Leon’s agreement.

The tension that had been sitting in his shoulders finally loosened.

For a moment, he simply stood there, staring at the calm figure seated before him.

It was too scary.

If he had set the starting price too high or too low, who knew whether Leon would suddenly change his mind and slap him?

That was a slap from a pinnacle-realm expert.

If it landed directly on his body, he doubted there would be anything dignified left of him afterward.

"Damn it..."

Cavir swallowed hard.

This business was terrifying.

He had spent most of his life dealing with cultivators, wealthy households, powerful sects, royal families, and countless arrogant young masters. He had seen people fight over treasures and threaten one another over a few hundred thousand taels of silver.

But none of them had ever given him this kind of pressure.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

I’ve never done anything so exciting in my life.

I’m all wet from sweating.

Even though he tried to maintain the composed appearance expected of the Treasure Pavilion’s manager, his fingers were still slightly trembling.

Leon, meanwhile, seemed completely unaware of the turmoil he had caused.

He sat comfortably in the luxurious armchair.

His long, shoulder-length black hair rested against his midnight robes, the thin amethyst embroidery catching the gentle light of the private room whenever he moved. His purple eyes were calm and clear.

There was no trace of impatience on his face.

That somehow made Cavir even more nervous.

People who became excited when they threatened others were easy to understand.

People who shouted about killing were easy to understand too.

But someone who could casually mention destroying a powerful academy and then sit down as though nothing had happened...

That was the truly frightening type.

Cavir took another quiet breath.

"Alright! Respected One, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go down and make the arrangements. The auction will begin soon."

His voice was respectful.

Almost painfully respectful.

He kept his posture low and his hands folded in front of him.

He had no intention of staying here any longer than necessary.

Leon merely waved his hand.

There was no need for more words.

The gesture clearly meant that Cavir could leave.

Leon leaned back into the chair again, his expression relaxed.

Cavir immediately understood.

He bowed once more before turning around.

The moment he stepped through the door, his pace quickened.

Only after the door closed behind him did he finally release the breath he had been holding.

Inside the private room, Leon glanced toward his two students.

Selena and Rias had already taken their seats beside him.

Both were quiet.

Both were waiting.

The private room was spacious enough to accommodate several people without feeling crowded. Soft spiritual lamps hung from the walls, their pale light reflecting across polished wood and delicate jade decorations.

Beyond the windows, the sounds of the Treasure Pavilion continued to rise.

Footsteps.

Distant conversations.

The occasional burst of laughter.

The muffled calls of servants carrying treasures toward different halls.

The auction had not officially begun yet.

But the entire building already seemed to be awakening.

Selena sat upright, her long white-silver hair falling smoothly behind her shoulders. Her blue eyes remained fixed on the entrance.

Rias sat beside her, her long red hair flowing down her back. Her large red eyes held a quiet curiosity.

After Cavir left, both of them were filled with anticipation.

They wondered what kind of price those treasures could fetch.

After all, Leon had casually handed them over.

To him, they seemed almost insignificant.

But to ordinary cultivators, those same treasures could be enough to start a bloody struggle.

Selena glanced at Leon.

He seemed completely unconcerned.

She couldn’t help wondering what kind of expression he would make when the auction price climbed higher and higher.

Rias had a similar thought.

Neither of them spoke.

They simply waited.

The minutes passed.

Then more time.

The sounds outside gradually became louder.

More and more people entered the Treasure Pavilion.

The atmosphere slowly changed.

What had initially been a quiet building became crowded with powerful cultivators and wealthy figures.

Servants hurried through the corridors.

Guards stood at important intersections.

Guests wearing different masks entered one after another.

Some carried the arrogant bearing of members of powerful households.

Others deliberately concealed their presence.

There were also people who clearly came from major sects and academies.

The Treasure Pavilion had attracted far more people than Leon had expected.

And then—

A commotion suddenly came from outside the private room.

The voices were close.

Several footsteps stopped directly beyond the door.

A servant’s voice sounded first.

"Lord James, there are already honored guests in the Heaven-class private room. You can’t go in."

The voice was polite.

But there was obvious tension beneath it.

A second voice immediately answered.

"Honored guest?"

The tone carried undisguised disdain.

"Hmph, who is more qualified to sit inside than me, the Lord of the Ashford city?"

The moment that voice rang out, Selena’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Rias also turned toward the door.

Leon remained seated.

He didn’t even bother looking up.

Then—

The door opened.

A richly dressed old man walked inside.