A race against time.

[Basic level equalization.

Lvl 0 is Qi gathering (1), Lvl 10 (2), Lvl 20 (3).

Lvl 20 is Condensation stage.

Lvl 30 is when the beads of condensed Qi crack and turn into internal Worlds of Qi in the body.

Lvl 40 is Foundation stage.

Lvl 50 is Golden Core (1)

Lvl 60 is Golden Core (2)

Lvl 70 is Golden Core (3)

Just so it's easier to understand Condensation stage and foundation stage are transitioning stages, while Qi gathering and Golden Core is main stages.]

Won was currently in the throne room in front of some ministers. His legs crossed as he read over a book addressing affairs of great importance in the Empire. Before anything Won had to change the very basic system of Ito, Ito was a nation that had hindered it's own progress. It wasn't as if anything was especially made to wrong the Empire, it's simply a great amount of privilege and consideration for the Emperor and nobles who aided in the founding of the Emperor eventually led to a deficit in the commoners lives, which simultaneously led to greater distinction between the classes and thus greater abuse of power. To put it simply, the rich enjoyed too many luxuries and the backs of commoners who gave them those luxuries weren't taken care of. Many experts had been lost in the Emperor's time, with even more rules distilling the power of the Empire.

So Won was currently trying to think of long term solutions rather than half baked short term solutions. They needed to completely alter the class system otherwise the Empire would continue to crumble.

Yet this wasn't the main issue. The most important reason for Ito's great decline before Won was that they stretched their potential thin during the time Of Empress Sato. Empress Sato was Emperor Sora's grandmother who took power by being the regent ruler of the Emperor Sora's father.

She wasted a good amount of resources such as Ito's mines to bring Ito to the ranks of Middle sized Empire. Right now Ito had great potential with the lands of Ying known for their variety of mines and especially their martial arts. Suzaku gave Ito it's medicinal power and even now talented citizens were learning Medicine from those of Suzaku.

Yet still the lingering problem still existed.

Won was busy everyday trying to clear this up.

As Won was busily instructing the Ministers what to do a shadow appeared by Won's side.

Won smirked crookedly.

He stood up and said, "I should go greet our guest."

Won dissapeared, shocking the ministers.

Instantly noise spread throughout the Empire, as their Emperor had left his seat.

Many wondered why, and guessed fairly easily who the culprit was.

Ito was in war and only one person could move their Emperor.

The one who had nearly killed him. Thus a strange and vengeful aura rose to the sky, the sky was blotted in red as Lightning began to stir. Rain fell, even as the sun shone brightly in a reddened tinge.

Wind danced ferociously as if a storm was brewing.

Even children seemed to leak a bloodthirsty aura that seemed to scar the skies.

...

Won appeared in a similar place. The faint dried up blood on the ground seemed to buzz as it cracked.

The flattened mountains seemed to leak a grand aura still, and as such a fury assaulted Won.

Everything carried a spirituality and Mountains that had existed the longest were said to commonly have spirits guarding over them.

Red eyed, furious, deranged Mountain Spirits growled at Won, as if feral beasts they sat ready to bite at Won.

Won snorted as his aura rose to the sky. A prominent and incomparable God Emperor who stood at the Zenith growled ferociously at the simple spirits.

This time Won wasn't a man treading a harsh road to survive, now he was his truest self. A demon taught by the Devil, an incomparable existence who's desire could never be caught.

Won closed his eyes as he lifted his head.

The rain slowly touching his face, sliding down his clear smooth skin. Like little kisses from the world.

A voice drifted along with the crackle of thunder.

"You are alive."

Won stood still ignoring the new voice.

"Did I break your brain?"

Won signed, "Can you shut up. I'm embracing the world. I made a promise to enjoy the world, but I had forgotten. I forgot to enjoy the rain and the sun. So be silent."

"What's so enjoyable of the rain."

Won mumbled, "It brings peace."

"Why?"

"It reminds one to never give in. That even ravaging flames can be settled. Furthermore it shows how even the darkest of times result in beautiful moments as long as you look for them."

"Beautiful moments?"

Won threw his hand up, a great force travelled up and the clouds were poked full of holes.

Light fell down and a double rainbow formed, stretching across the horizon.

Won slowly gazed at the rainbow.

"It is beautiful. I think I understand what you mean. The rain is peaceful."

Won nodded, "Then Wang So that is my one kindness towards you. I hope in your next life you remember that."

Lighting flashed as it hit Wang So's face. A purple scar buzzed with the lightning as the fell from his head to his shoulder.

Wang So laughed, "I may die, but not today I'm afraid."

Won similarly laughed, "One shouldn't mindlessly say things like that. In novels the hero's friends always say that, but in the end they die. It's best to shut ones mouth before fate gets angry."

Wang So said, "An Immortal Cultivator already goes against fate."

Won signed, "How? By going against the Heavens. Fate is far greater than the Heavens. Furthermore just becoming an Immortal dosent mean you have defied fate, plenty of Immortal beings die. Fate is a hung blade. You may not realize your head is already on the guillotine when your life is stolen."

Wang So, "You're quite a cynic."

Won nodded, "I am. But I am quite hopeful. Of course towards myself that is. You will die here."

Wang So pulled out his sword.

"Then come for our final battle. We have fought twice already, and although you are talented and a better martial artist than me. The insurmountable wall between Cultivation will always mean your downfall."

Won sighed, "That is true."

Wang So looked suprised, "Then..."

Won stopped him.

"But! I Won shall break that insurmountable wall! Neither God, Heaven or Fate shall stop me."

With that he extended his hand out.

Wang So was confused, yet then a high pitched whistling could be heard.

A flash of light split the rain and fell into Won's hands.

Won smiled madly.

With a red cloth binding, and a yellow tassle at the end fluttering in the wind. It stood sharply humming.

A katana.

Following closely behind the sword were five figures. Their skin were cracked as if burnt paper, with a deep red glow underneath.

Their skin and muscle had melted in an unsightly mess.

Won said, "Wang So watch as I break that unconquerable wall!"

The five figures pulled their hoods up and Wang So was shocked to see five people who looked identical to Won.

Just then they crumbled into red sparks and entered Won.

The rain stopped midair.

Continuous ding's echoed in Won's head.

Won's skin began to crack, his hair rose mysteriously as a strange wind fell on him.

Red and bright yellow colored flames warped and twisted around his body.

Won's eyes glowed brightly, two golden beams shooting outwards into the sky.

Inside of Won's body the deeply cracked orb of Qi began to shake and tremble.

It was as if a balloon was holding too much water, yet at the same time the balloon was made of rubber and wouldn't break.

Yet great volumes of Qi flushed into the orb.

In one great explosion the orb broke apart.

Won vomited some blood, and his skin became all the more destroyed.

Wang So hurrumphed and rose up and tried to cut down at Won.

His movements like a dragon swimming in the sky, yet he encountered a fierce and stilled forcefield of Qi which bounced him away. The great force caused him sink into the ground.

Inside Won's body was in a mess.

Yet soon a world began to form. The world was gigantic and seemed without limit.

Inside his abdomen a strange pocket like space existed. This was his lower Dantian and all his Qi gathered there.

Inside the lower dantian existed a great and magnificent sea. From the newly formed world a massive gust of great energy entered Won.

Slowly each second the world existed, his Blood Qi began to morph into True Qi.

Endless strength and vitality filled Won. It was magnificent and mysterious and created a terrifying aura.

From the endless sea, nine whirlpools formed.

The Newly born True Qi flooded into the nine Whirlpools with machine quick speeds.

Then nine golden pillars rose from the sea.

Strange and mysterious characters were written in long stretches onto the pillars. These pillars rose higher and higher, eventually touching the clouds of True Qi above.

It was then the nine pillars began to glow and nine zigzagging golden beams shot out to make a star.

The star was formed in a weird way, but in formed four sides for the directions meant to show a Humans connection to the world. The Nine pillars represented the Nine Heavens. This was the congregation of Heaven and Earth the source of all creation.

Won spat out, "Use the Dragon God Golden core!"

Within Won's internal world.

A gigantic hollow pale Golden core appeared. On the top of it was five claw marks.

The star shot golden energy into the Golden Core filling it up.

Dew colored in Gold filled the pale Golden Core. The faint colored yellow turning into a blinding Gold.

As soon as the Golden Core was filled to the brim it let out a glow that even shot out of Won's body.

Various images popped into Won's head.

Love, Hate, Cruelty, Responsibility, Wrath. So many concepts and paths of his journey appeared flickering like a film reel.

Weakness, Loss, Happiness, Strength.

Friends, Family, Betrayal.

This was what filled the Golden Core, Won's truest of self filled the Golden Core. His Cultivation, his techniques, his self. It all fermented inside.

Just then the sound of a Dragon rang throughout the world, causing all of creation to stand still for a moment, trembling slightly in extreme fear.

A Dragon seemingly without limit, with deer horns and Golden fish and snake like scale, with a great mane and two sun like eyes appeared. It coiled around the Golden Core, it's five clawed hand eventually resting on the Golden Core claw marks.

Won's skin was cracked and an ugly sight was apparent as his flesh peeked through. Won's face had been distorted into a mangled mess with boiling and bubbling blood Pooling in his open mouth.

The clouds twisted forming a spiral, as if the heavens themselves were trying to come down and kill the heretic against it.

Deep Azure Lightning buzzed and coiled, dancing like electric snakes.

Just then from Won's soul a beam flew into the sky and the Azure Lightning began to tremble.

The clouds darkened and became a demonic purple.

The Azure Lightning split and splintered becoming five colored Lightning.

The very strength of it caused endless pressure to fall on the world. Like a great hand was pressing down on all of creation.

The Five colored Lightning flashed as it forked across the sky.

Whatever it touched was completely destroyed to dust.

It was magnificent and enchanting, but ever more so frightening.

The lighting twisted like branches as it fell.

A deafening roar of Thunder echoed out.

The first lighting bolt hit Won's body.

It travelled through his body into his marrow, cleansing it and widening it.

Won skin dissapeared and only the thrumming flesh underneath remained, the visible muscle and bone.

Won's knees bent slightly.

Yet without any rest the second Lightning bolt fell.

It hit Won's and went into his muscles. His legs gave away as he collapsed.

The third fell and hit his organs. As electricity passed through his heart, it contracted and he had a heart attack, his five yin organs shrivelling and twisting in an ungodly mess.

Yet it didn't stop there with lightning progressively becoming stronger continuing to strike at Won.

The faint aura of death surrounding Won like a cage.

A figure away, it's eyes formed into two downward crescent moons and his smile a big toothy one.

Yet as the thunder bellowed that same figure hid behind a rock shivering in fear.

Then the ninth Lightning bolt, it was humongous the size.

Won's Golden Core slipped out of his Inner world and flew up.

The lighting touched the Golden Core, causing the Golden Core to shake violently.

Yet the Dragon coiled around it opened it's mouth and devoured the lightning in one gulp, and the Golden Core began to shine even brighter. With the five colors now inside the Golden core, faintly switching between colors.

The Golden core hummed and five colored hues fell on Won's body.

The lingering Electricity now being rapidly used by Won's body to heal itself.

It was like a great devouring, as the enormous energy of the lightning began to be used by Won's body.

The organs and muscles rapidly healed. Won's skin was regrew and took on a stunning appearance, it was smooth and clean like jade.

It was hard yet bouncy, full of vitality and strength.

A redness appeared on Won's face as he stood up.

His nude body shown to the world.

His long pinkish white hair slowly fallen down to his hips.

His muscles fit under his skin perfectly, being explosive yet not outwardly prominent. Giving him a deep masculine aura that didn't take away from his sharp demonic features.

Wang So's eyes were wide as he stood still in the ground.

"How did you."

Won tightened his fists, as a cracking sound erupted from his hands across his body.

He took out a Hanfu from his inventory, as well as some martial arts slippers.

It was a deep black colored robe.

Won then took out the sword he had stuck in the ground.

He walked over to Wang So.

Wang So stood up similarily.

Wang So sighed.

He took up his sword.

Wang So said, "I'm sure I can't defeat you, but you will lose one way or another."

Won's brow rose.

Wang So said, "Right now Sangria's army is heading towards Toko. Their forces overpower Toko."

Won's eyes widened. A deep red appearing in his eyes. Red flames danced around his body.

Wang So laughed, "You can either go save them now or you can stay and fight me, but if you leave the Capital of Ito is mine to destroy. You can't kill me fast enough to do both. So choose."

Won signed, "Is that all?"

Won swung the sword in his hands, red flames danced at it's tip creating a red sword light that flew through the air.

Wang So swiped his sword down and it similarly gathered a red energy.

Wang So flipped back.

He frowned as he cut of his hand which had red flames dancing on it.

Won appeared behind.

His five finger grabbed Wang So's face and threw in to the ground. Won's body stood upright, doing a handstand on Wang So.

Won other hand lifted up.

{Fire Pagoda : Heavenly Wrath.}

A red fire pagoda with nine levels appeared in Won's hand.

Just then from Won's hand bright yellow colored light entered the Pagoda.

The twisting red flames shone a greater intensify.

Won threw the Fire Pagoda mixed with the light element down.

Fire and Light complimented each other, as did darkness and water.

A great hole appeared below.

The fire ate away at at the ground.

The giant basin was closer to a giant cavern.

As the center was a limbless Wang So.

Won's stared indifferently below.

Wang So coughed up blood.

"You won. Hehe, but you still stayed here too long. Toko is most probably at this very moment gone. Remember what you told me?Even you an expert has limits! My soldiers have moved to such a limit."

Won signed, "I may have limits but that isn't one of them."

Before Wang So could continue talking Won drove his sword into Wang So's head.

A red flame wrapping his body turning him to ash.

{Ding... Wang So killed: 1000 exp Congratulations you have acquired...]

Won ignored the rewards and said, "System take me to Toko."

[Yes.]