Morning light poured through the broken clouds, glinting off the newly rebuilt walls of Frost City. The air still carried traces of burnt aura and healing energy from the last great battle. The people whispered the same name that had shaken the realm—Tang Xan, the man whose light had both destroyed and restored.
Tang Xan ran across the icy streets, his breath visible in the cold air. His hair fluttered in the morning wind, and his eyes glowed faintly with determination. "I can't be late again," he muttered, dashing toward the city's great tournament gate. The crowd outside was massive—thousands of cultivators, warriors, and even common folk gathered to witness the continuation of the great Frost Tournament.
He skidded to a stop near the registration table, his boots crunching against the snow. "Tang Xan!" the registrar called out. "You're late again!"
Tang Xan smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I made it, didn't I?"
The clerk sighed and handed him a glowing jade plate. "Your number is 205."
Tang Xan's face fell. "Two hundred and five? That means I'll have to wait forever again…"
Before he could even groan properly, a familiar voice echoed across the courtyard. "Wait!" The head judge—an old man with long white hair and robes marked with frost sigils—stood and raised his hand. The entire crowd fell silent.
"This boy," the judge said, his voice deep and commanding, "is the one who revived Frost City. Without him, none of this would exist. His light rebuilt what was lost. For his deeds, I grant him the first position."
A thunder of gasps filled the arena. Tang Xan blinked in shock. "W-what? Number one?"
The old judge smiled faintly. "You've earned it."
For a moment, Tang Xan stood frozen. He felt pride rise in his chest—but also a strange heaviness. He didn't feel like a hero. He remembered Leo's face, fading away, turning to dust as his voice echoed, 'Be strong, Tang Xan.' That memory burned in his heart, fueling his will.
"Alright," he whispered to himself. "I'll make this count."
As Tang Xan stepped into the great testing court, the atmosphere shifted. The cultivators whispered, pointing. "That's him… the Light Destroyer." "No, the Light Restorer!" "His aura could wipe the city again if he loses control…"
The tournament elders sensed the tension. Immediately, ten of them took position around the testing ground, forming barriers of frost and spirit energy. Brilliant white walls shimmered into existence, sealing the court in a dome of layered protection.
An elder spoke loudly, his voice echoing through the hall. "Safety protocols activated. All outer barriers are now at maximum strength. No one is to interfere while Tang Xan releases his power."
Inside the arena, a massive crystal-like machine of detection stood at the center. It pulsed softly with light, built to measure the raw output of a cultivator's aura.
Tang Xan approached it slowly. His steps echoed through the silence. He placed his hand on the scanner's surface. It was cold—colder than the frost around it.
"Are you ready?" an elder asked cautiously.
Tang Xan didn't answer. His heart beat heavily in his chest. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. He could almost hear Leo's voice again inside his mind: "Remember, Tang Xan, light is not just power—it's life. Control it, don't let it control you."
He clenched his fist. His aura began to rise. A faint golden light appeared around him, glowing like a sun buried beneath the snow.
Then, his lips moved. "Leo… this one's for you."
BOOM!
Light erupted outward like a divine storm. The ground trembled, and the crystal machine glowed brighter and brighter. The detection runes whirled violently as energy readings climbed beyond normal limits.
"His aura—it's surging again!" one of the elders shouted. "Hold the barrier!"
But the pressure was too much. Cracks appeared in the walls of protection, spreading like spiderwebs. The entire Frost Arena trembled as dust fell from the ceiling. The onlookers shielded their eyes.
Tang Xan's light wasn't just power—it carried a heartbeat. Every pulse of energy was filled with anger, loss, and the vow he made to Leo. His eyes turned golden as waves of pure light burst from his skin.
"Control it!" the lion's voice echoed faintly in his mind, though Leo was gone. Tang Xan gritted his teeth. "I will…"
With immense effort, he pulled his energy inward, his hands shaking as he forced the wild aura into balance. The light dimmed slightly—but even restrained, it radiated a pressure that bent the air around him.
Silence fell. The entire court watched in awe. The machine began to hum, its crystals spinning faster than ever before. Lines of energy spiraled into numbers across the display panel.
Everyone leaned forward, waiting for the reading. The machine flickered once… twice… then flashed in blinding light.
The elders covered their faces as the detector trembled violently. "This can't be—!"
The screen displayed symbols none had seen before. The runes glowed gold, then dissolved completely, unable to process the magnitude of the aura it measured.
Then… "DING!"
A single sound echoed, and the glowing number appeared briefly before the device shut down entirely:
999,999,999 — LIMIT EXCEEDED.
The elders froze. The crowd was speechless.
"He… he broke the scale?"
The barrier around the court slowly faded. Wind swept through the arena, carrying faint motes of golden light that shimmered like stars.
Tang Xan stood still, his breathing heavy. His hand dropped to his side. He didn't smile, didn't boast. He just whispered softly, "Leo… I did it."
For a moment, the silence was absolute. Then the head judge stood, his old eyes glistening. "This power… it isn't human. It's divine."
A single tear slipped from Tang Xan's eye as the wind brushed against his face. He turned away and walked out of the court. The crowd parted like water around him.
He didn't need cheers. He didn't need glory. He had one promise left—to become strong enough to never lose again.
And as the last echo of his footsteps faded, the elders whispered among themselves, trembling.
"The light aura has risen again… and this time, the heavens themselves will take notice."
End Of Chapter 16