Soul Emperor Awakening

After four months, Lin Xuan finally appeared inside the Ice and Snow Tower, immediately drawing the attention of the entire Demon Race and causing a huge sensation. None of them had expected he would actually dare to return. Now that he was back, if he wanted to leave again, he would need an Elder from the Golden Dragon Race to escort him.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to get out at all. Having failed once, the Black Dragon Race definitely wouldn't fail a second time. They would dispatch two, or even three, Void Spirit Stage experts. Forget Lin Xuan escaping; even an Elder from the Golden Dragon Race wouldn't be able to get away.

So, the members of the Demon Race found his daring return simply unbelievable. It was as if he had a death wish. He was sure to die the moment he stepped outside, unless he stayed in here for the rest of his life.

Something others thought impossible was now happening right before their eyes. Those who had originally wanted to challenge for the position of Floor Master of the Fifth Layer now had no choice but to challenge him.

"He actually dared to come back. I wonder what the Golden Dragon Race is thinking. By the way, is he the only one who returned?"

"Idiot! He's not from the Golden Dragon Race, so why would they care if he lives or dies?"

"Whatever he's thinking, it'll be hard for him to leave now that he's back. It's really no different from suicide."

...

The demons chattered amongst themselves, but Lin Xuan paid them no mind. He walked straight to the Fifth Layer, and the moment he arrived, he received a challenge notification. To be precise, he had received the mandatory challenge the moment he entered the Ice and Snow Tower.

If he didn't accept the challenge within a day, his title of Floor Master would be revoked. Such were the rules of the Ice and Snow Tower.

He immediately went to the arena on the Fifth Layer, where he saw four challengers waiting. Three were from the Black Dragon Race, and the last was from the Giant Bear Race. These were the two races he had provoked the most. As for the Demon Snake Race, it was unclear if they would seek revenge for Mo Qianji.

"So, you're finally back. You've really got some nerve returning!" one of the Black Dragons sneered at Lin Xuan.

"And why wouldn't I have the nerve to return?" Lin Xuan retorted with a faint smile, paying no mind to the four opponents before him, as if looking right through them.

The Cultivation of these four opponents was not low; they were all at the Eighth or Ninth Layer of the Essence Pill Stage. However, they each only had five badges. Judging by their auras, they seemed far too powerful to only have five badges and clearly belonged on a higher layer. But the fact remained that they only had five.

In fact, the Ice and Snow Tower had a massive loophole. One could only challenge a Floor Master of a corresponding badge level. However, if a person transferred their Energy to someone else, their badge count would decrease. Wouldn't that then allow them to go down and challenge opponents on lower layers?

The answer was yes. This was a simple matter for a group, though impossible for a lone individual. The Black Dragon Race, however, was a different story. As long as they transferred their Energy, their badge count would decrease, enabling them to challenge opponents on lower layers.

To put it bluntly, even if Lin Xuan had been on the Fourth Layer, a month or so later he would still have been challenged by a stronger opponent using this method. This huge loophole of intentionally lowering one's badge count completely undermined the original rules. By the same logic, if someone lost until they only had one badge, as long as a person with a large amount of Energy poured it into them, they could also ascend directly to the Fourth and Fifth Layers.

So, no rule was ever truly perfect. Fortunately, the Cultivation level was capped at the Peak of Essence Pill Stage. If a Spirit Pill Stage Level expert could come down, it would be enough to make one cough up blood in despair.

Of course, even facing an opponent at the Peak of Essence Pill Stage, he was confident he stood a fighting chance!

"It seems you're one of those who won't cry until you see the coffin. Don't think you're so tough just because you passed the Reincarnation Level challenge. Do you have any idea what layer we're from?" Hei Yaoguang sneered at Lin Xuan. "Don't mistake us for being on the same level as Xiong Ba, let alone Mo Qianji. If it weren't for us, why do you think the Floor Master seat for the Fifth Layer opened up in the first place?"

Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes. His opponent's meaning was clear: the previous Floor Master of the Fifth Layer had been dealt with by the Black Dragon Race. 'The Black Dragon Race is certainly ambitious,' he thought. 'They want to make all the Floor Masters their own people. I wonder how many of the masters on the higher floors *aren't* from the Black Dragon Race?'

"Is the layer you're from supposed to be important?" Lin Xuan retorted, his words infuriating his opponent. The threats that worked on others were utterly ineffective against Lin Xuan, leaving them feeling powerless.

"We'll see how effective it is after we fight!" Hei Yaoguang leaped onto the arena platform, pointed at Lin Xuan, and roared, "Get up here! If you don't, your title as Floor Master will be stripped away! Let's see if you still have the nerve to talk so tough once you're up here!"

"He's facing Hei Yaoguang! He usually practices his Cultivation on the Seventh Layer. Lin Xuan just got back and he's already up against him. The others are from the Seventh Layer too, and there's even one from the Eighth! They're dead set on taking over the Fifth Layer's Floor Master title."

"Yeah, four matches in a row, each opponent stronger than the last. How can he possibly win? If it were me, I wouldn't have dared to come back after being gone for four months. Four consecutive matches! Where will he find the time to recover his Elemental Power?"

"He brought this on himself. Coming back was a mistake. The Black Dragon Race are the real masters of this Ice and Snow Tower now. Even though they haven't become the City Lord, in a way, they might as well be. Whatever they order people to do, they must obey."

...

The surrounding crowd filled the spectator stands to capacity, without a single empty seat. Many members of the Demon Race were even crammed into the sides to watch. They all wanted to see how Lin Xuan would die, or perhaps, how many opponents he could defeat.

Even those not from the Fifth Layer, cultivators from the higher floors, had rushed down to watch. A battle of this magnitude was not to be missed.

Lin Xuan said nothing, simply stepping onto the platform. A protective barrier immediately rose around the arena, signaling the start of the fight.

"Go to hell!" Hei Yaoguang snorted and charged toward Lin Xuan. His speed was indeed a cut above both Xiong Ba's and Mo Qianji's.

He swung his fist. Black Dragon Scales, shimmering with a dark light, covered his entire body. The force behind his punch was immense—immeasurably powerful—enough to make the very air and ground tremble!

Faced with this terrifying punch, Lin Xuan remained perfectly still. He simply stood there, watching Hei Yaoguang's attack come at him. To the onlookers, he looked as if he had been scared stiff.

Seeing Lin Xuan make no move, a cold smirk appeared on Hei Yaoguang's face as his fist shot directly toward Lin Xuan's chest.

BAM!

The heavy punch landed. The expected scene of Lin Xuan being sent flying never happened. Instead, Lin Xuan had taken the full force of the blow without moving a single inch!

Instead, a golden radiance erupted from his body, shattering the black light that enveloped him. His aura completely overwhelmed his opponent's!

"Is that the best you can do?" Lin Xuan asked with a calm smile.