Analyzing

Li continued looking at his reflection. He struts back and forth, twirled around a little, and performed the emperor pose, head all the way up and back, chest out, butt tight and legs straight. 'I look fucking great.'

It was time to experiment with his new body.

'I already know I can spit fire and see through fate. My body is harder than steel and can shatter wood and earth with ease. But divine creatures should have more abilities right?'

He began focusing on different aspects of his body. He thought of sight and focused on his eyes. Everything zoomed in. He could see the veins of a leaf tens of miles away. He could see through objects and see in slow motion. His eyesight extended in all directions around him. As it turns out he didn't need a reflection in the water to see himself. As he moved some energy into his eyes, the energy gathered into several veins within before shooting through his pupils like a golden laser beam which pierced several miles into the earth, reducing anything it touched into ashes.

'I feel like fucking Superman.'

He then focused onto his throat. Some energy gathered into his throat and shot out in the form of a sound wave. Opening his mouth at a mountain peak in the distance, he let out an ear-deafening dragon's roar. Golden energy broiled in all the directions around him while a sound wave passed through the air and tore the mountain peak apart.

Li focused inwards towards his lungs. He felt his diaphragm heat up and mix with his energy within. Flames shot out from deep within leaving his nose and mouth like a horde of rainbow-colored snakes, covering the ground in ash and lava.

As he focused into his stomach he realized that ethereal was an infinite sized space within. Li sucked in some rocks and leaves and found that he could store them into his infinite stomach. With a single thought, the rocks and leaves dissolved into pure energy for fueling his body.

He turned to his heart. It began beating and expanding. This forced blood to move around the body causing his muscles to begin writhing and expanding. Soon he had grown five times bigger. His entire body was filled with explosive power. With his fire times increase in size also came five times increase in speed and strength.

He focused on his scales which then began moving and growing across his body, forming a beautiful red, blue, jade and gold armor with beautiful swirling patterns resembling clouds, whirlpools, trees, celestial bodies and more.

He looked like a 30-ton war machine with flames spewing from his nostrils and mouth. His muscles continued to writhe underneath his dazzling scale armor.

This battle form of his was quite draining. Li had to move quickly. He sent another stream of energy to his hooves. As though his body knew he would be charging ahead, his front claws mysteriously turned into hooves as well.

Clouds of golden orange fire sprouted from underneath his hooves. With a flex of his leg muscles, he was sent flying through the air, traveling 20 miles in a single bound, destroying large tracts of nature on his way. It was barbaric and terrifying for the forest creatures to behold.

"Yes, baby yes!!! Such power! I'm invincible!!!" He screamed and laughed maniacally. Suddenly he stopped. If he recalled correctly there were other beings being born at the center of the world like he was. Hopefully, they have not yet formed intelligence. Right now he had the advantage. He had self-awareness, language, culture, and experience.

The best thing to do now was to of course find some treasures.

'It's obviously that while I do have an affinity for the various elements of the world I seem to have a special place for fire. The best place to start is by locating a treasure related to fire, preferably one that can be consumed and have an instant effect on my strength.'

His pupils began emitting golden light and he could once again see paths of good fortune. He stared at one path with a perfect balance of bright gold and red. It didn't spell death nor did it indicate massive fortune. It was well balanced.

As he gazed even further he could see the end of the trail. A glowing red herb sat at the end. It emitted intense heat and vitality. Anybody could tell it was a rare and precious herb. Unfortunately, this red herb also had a guardian. Li saw the silhouette of a massive red snake that had numerous claws on its stomach.

'It shouldn't be a dragon-like in Chinese folklore, could it? Besides the danger level doesn't seem to be too high. It should be more or less as powerful as I am.'

He reverted back into his normal form and began jogging through the woods, elegantly and quiet this time. As he traveled several miles south the air began to heat up. It was quite comfortable to him, similar to a sauna with a smoky perfume smell. The path has led to a massive volcano, still active and spewing smoke from its top. Soon he began approaching a cave.

'Wait a second I shouldn't be going directly into the cave to challenge that snake.'

He looked around and trotted to a nearby lava pool to his right. After dipping one hoof into the lava he realized the heat did nothing to him. Slowly but steadily his entire hoof entered then his arm then his shoulder then his jaw and finally he submerged himself all at once. As he floated within the lava pool he activated his eyesight looking past the molten rock and lava.

Within the cave, a massive scarlet snake warily looked around. Although it could not directly sense Li, everything living being had some sort of sixth sense that allowed them to know if someone was watching them. It was especially strong in this world and its beasts.

He snake poked its head out. It was similar to a python if it was scarlet red and glowing like rubies under the light. Glowing golden runes lined its jawline towards its neck and torso. Its eyes were black like charcoal with golden pupils and red blood like slots in the center. Two small horns heading downwards jutted from the back of its skull. It kind of looked like a dragon's head.

It then stretched its body out. Golden scales lined its stomach and runes continued down the sides. What really stood out were the hundred scarlet claws that lined both sides of its stomach. A red-gold flame covered pythons scales and claws.

'If I were to name it... Scarlet flame centipedes dragon.' It was a direct description of the thing. Although it may look like a dragon, it still had a hundred legs and definitely reminds him of an insect, specifically a centipede.

It seemed just as powerful as he was. Li decided to wait for a little while longer.

Unfortunately, the snake did nothing. It just laid its head down and waited. It was pretty patient. It had lived for a very long time and would spend the day relaxing.

Days passed and Li began getting antsy. It was time to attack.he had waited far too long. That dam snake wasn't about to do anything or go anywhere. It was just lazing around enjoying the power of the mysterious fire herb hidden deep within the cave.