The air inside Frost Arena shimmered with the weight of power. Thousands of people filled the massive hall — warriors, cultivators, nobles, and adventurers — each one burning with the same desire: to prove their strength in the Power Testing Ceremony.
The golden crystal at the center pulsed faintly, recording every ounce of energy that struck it. Around it, ten enormous testing panels were arranged in a perfect circle, glowing faint blue with ancient inscriptions. One after another, names were being called, punches were being thrown, and numbers rose and fell like waves.
The tension grew with each passing minute.
A loud voice echoed through the hall."Next batch! Numbers 565 to 575, step forward!"
Tang Xan opened his eyes slowly. His number — 568 — shimmered faintly on the wooden token tied around his wrist. He stood up, brushing dust off his coat. His calm gaze fixed on the glowing pillars.
Lion Leo's deep voice rumbled in his mind.
"It's time. Remember, your strength is not in your muscles, but your soul. Feel it flow before you strike."
Tang Xan exhaled slowly and walked toward the center. The crowd's murmurs filled the hall. Some pointed at him — the young man with calm eyes and quiet presence who had arrived from nowhere, entering the tournament with no known master.
He ignored the whispers. Every step he took echoed across the stone floor, and as he stepped onto the testing platform, the lights dimmed slightly — as if the world was waiting.
The examiner looked up from his clipboard. "Number 568, Tang Xan?"
"Yes," Tang Xan said, his voice steady.
"You have two attempts," the man explained. "Your highest strike will be recorded. Ready yourself."
Tang Xan nodded and took a deep breath. His feet spread shoulder-width apart, his right hand tightened into a fist, and faint golden energy rippled around his arm. The wind shifted around him, swirling gently.
"First attempt," the examiner announced.
Tang Xan's eyes flashed. He struck forward — fast, clean, and sharp.
BOOM!
The air cracked. The power stone vibrated, the inscriptions flaring with light. A glowing number formed in the air: 6000.
The crowd gasped. Some clapped softly, others whispered in surprise.
"Six thousand! That's impressive for someone who looks barely twenty!""He's holding back. Look at his calm face.""Could he be a spirit user?"
Leo's voice resonated inside his head.
"Hmm, not bad. Your natural power is good. But compared to the elites, you're still behind. They'll score higher. Do you wish to push further?"
Tang Xan smiled faintly. "Always."
The examiner raised his hand again. "Prepare for the second attempt."
Tang Xan inhaled. His aura flickered uncertainly — he could feel his strength, but something within him trembled, like a door half-open, hiding a storm behind it.
"Lion… help me," he whispered internally.
Leo's tone grew deep, ancient, and powerful.
"Then listen, Tang Xan. I will lend you my power — but it comes with cost. I will channel my own essence through you, even if it burns part of my soul. Are you ready for that?"
Tang Xan clenched his jaw. "If it helps us win — then yes."
The lion spirit roared from within. A brilliant light burst from Tang Xan's body, flooding the arena. His hair rose, glowing threads of gold flickered along his arms, and his eyes turned white with divine brilliance.
Gasps spread across the stands.
"Wh-what's happening?!""His aura— it's divine!""He's fusing with a spirit beast!"
The examiner took a step back, shielding his eyes from the glare. "Proceed!"
Leo's voice echoed through Tang Xan's body — not as a whisper, but as thunder.
"Now! Focus all your will into your fist! The heavens may tremble, but do not stop! Strike as if the stars themselves stand against you!"
Tang Xan's body glowed brighter. The ground beneath his feet cracked.
"COSMIC LIGHT PUNCH!" he roared.
He struck forward with everything he had.
The moment his fist connected, the entire platform exploded in a blinding wave of light. The explosion ripped through the air, breaking sound, shattering stones, and sending shockwaves across the whole arena. The audience screamed as the shockwave lifted dust, debris, and energy through the air.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The testing pillar vaporized. The light reached the ceiling, cracking through the ancient crystal wards meant to contain power levels. The protective barrier trembled, then shattered in a flash.
When the smoke cleared, half the testing area was destroyed — reduced to craters and cracked tiles. The golden runes burned faintly, trying to repair themselves but failing.
Everyone stood frozen.
"Wha… what… what was that!?" someone screamed.
The scoreboard flickered madly. Numbers raced across it faster than the eye could follow.
ERROR 999999999999.99
The crystal shattered into fragments and fell in silence.
Leo's voice came, faint but proud.
"Perfect."
But as Tang Xan's glow began to fade, he felt the lion's strength weaken sharply. Inside his mind realm, Leo's image appeared — majestic but fading, his mane flickering like dying fire.
"Leo!" Tang Xan called, his voice trembling. "What's happening to you?"
Leo smiled gently.
"I borrowed too much of my soul's essence. The attack you just saw… it wasn't human power. It was the will of light itself. But power like that demands balance. It would've destroyed everything in a hundred-mile radius if I hadn't contained it."
Tang Xan's eyes widened. "Then—"
"Yes," Leo said softly. "I used my own life force to heal what we broke."
Outside, as Leo spoke, streams of gentle light spread from Tang Xan's chest. Tiny golden motes floated across the air like petals in the wind. They landed on the wounded, closing their wounds. Burnt stones repaired themselves. Collapsed houses reformed, and broken walls rose again.
The people gasped as the arena healed before their eyes. The same light that had destroyed now rebuilt — clean, beautiful, and divine.
Children wept and pointed, "Mama, look! The broken house… it's back!"
One old man fell to his knees, whispering, "A true light wielder… a savior of souls."
The judges, still stunned, could only stare. "He broke the tester… yet healed the land. Impossible…"
Leo's figure dimmed further.
"Tang Xan, listen carefully. This is not victory. This is only the beginning. The power you felt today — it is inside you. But control it, or it will consume you. The Cosmic Light Punch can protect or destroy. The choice will always be yours."
Tang Xan's eyes stung. "You'll recover, right?"
Leo chuckled faintly.
"I'm part of you now. Even if my body fades, my soul lingers as your strength. Do not mourn, my heir. Rise. The path you walk is one few dare tread."
And with that, the lion faded completely, retreating deep into Tang Xan's spirit core.
Outside, Tang Xan's knees buckled. His body trembled violently from exhaustion. He barely managed to stand upright. His aura dimmed, and the glow around him vanished, leaving only a faint trace of warmth.
"Number 568… you may rest," the examiner said quietly, still shaken. "Your score cannot be measured by our instruments."
Tang Xan nodded slowly, his voice hoarse. "I… understand."
He turned to leave. The crowd split silently as he walked through. Every step echoed in the massive hall, still cracked and smoking from his punch. Nobody dared to speak for a moment — they only watched.
And then someone clapped.
Then another.Then another.
Soon, the entire hall was thundering with applause. Some people shouted his name. Others bowed. Many simply stared, whispering prayers as if they had seen something holy.
"Tang Xan! Tang Xan!" voices echoed through the hall.
But he didn't look back. His eyes were calm, heavy with the weight of what had happened. He whispered softly to himself, "Power means nothing if I can't control it."
A familiar voice came running — Rose, her face pale but her eyes wide with worry. "Tang Xan! Are you hurt?!"
He turned, forcing a smile. "I'm fine, Rose. Just… a little tired."
She stared at the broken testing ground, the cracks still glowing faintly. "That wasn't just a punch… what did you do?"
He looked away. "Something I'll have to learn to control."
Rose hesitated, then smiled gently. "Whatever it was… it was beautiful."
Tang Xan nodded slightly and turned again. "I'll rest for now. Tomorrow will bring the next challenge."
He walked out of the arena slowly. The crowd continued cheering, whispering, and gossiping about the boy who broke the unbreakable stone, the man whose power healed what it destroyed.
The legend of that day spread like wildfire — the story of the young cultivator whose light shattered limits and restored a city in the same breath.His name would echo through the Frost Land for generations to come.
And as the sun set behind the snowy peaks, Tang Xan's figure disappeared into the glowing mist — his heart calm, his mind burning with one single thought:
"I have to be stronger and stronger — to become the most powerful, not for glory… but for the path ahead."
The Frost winds howled softly through the valley, carrying his resolve into the fading light.
End Of Chapter 12