Author note: Standard Xianxia 9 layer stuff. I wanted to use beginning/middle/end/peak for each layer, but also felt there should be a reason for it. So with a touch of coiling dragon's "mage soul controlling elemental essence" mixed with Ki I came up with this system which I think is unique enough to set it apart, but still true to the Xianxia theme. Even throw in immortal ascension(there will be tribulation!). Not sure if we'll go past the immortal ascension or if the story will end there. I have some plans for a sequel and no not just a title! (Obviously "arrogance was justice; arrogant boogaloo"!) Is it arrogant to plan for a sequel? Yes. Is it a bad thing? Of course not arrogance is justice after all! You can't get to the end if you don't know where you're going! So I declare!

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Sun Jiao was starting to get frantic and it was beginning to show on his body.

As the carriage pulled up to the gate leading to Sun Jiao's palace courtyard Sun Qing noticed a grin appear on Sun Jiao's face. Turning her head she noticed Dian Po standing outside the palace.

"Ro-ro we're almost home, but there is dirty slave standing in front of our home."

Putting on a pout Sun Qing continued.

"This dirty slave belongs to younger brother. Younger brother is always causing trouble for us. Though not much since he's too young to cause real problems."

Increasing her voice so that Sun Jiao would hear;

"His name is Dian Po Ro-ro and it looks like he made it to second layer recently. Can you believe a dirty slave like him is at the second layer? His owner must have given him some forbidden medicine to get him there."

Sun Qing was worried about Sun Jiao as he may not have noticed Dian Po had gotten stronger. She couldn't insult Dian Po's cultivation without also insulting Sun Jiao's so she said that the he took forbidden medicine which would increase a person's strength but slow their future growth. She was worried about Sun Jiao's cultivation, but she knew if she brought it up or said something it would only make him angry and to her his happiness was secondary to his strength. She had long ago swore that she would be strong enough for the both of them.

"Brother since I made you mad earlier how about I take care of him for you to make it up for you. We can't have someone like him in front of our house after all right?"

Hearing that he was being spoken too Sun Jiao turned his head thought about how he should reply.

"Nonsense. I can tell him to go away. Let's go."

He then opened the door and stepped out with a smile on his face.

Placing a hand over her mouth as if startled Sun Qing gave a little "Oh!" before forming a fist and lightly knocking the top of Xu Rong's head. It was very light tap done with the utmost care, but to Xu Rong it hurt like a motherfucker.

"Bad Ro-ro! You should have jumped to get the door. You need to learn proper manners!"

With a "Hmph!" and upturned chin, she stepped out of the carriage leaving Xu Rong rolling on the floor back and forth holding her head.

As Sun Jiao approached Dian Po he examined the rather tall bald man. Dian Po was very muscular and though he was a similar age to Sun Jiao he had a beard that would impress a lumberjack. It was such a thick and full beard that the only thing Sun Jiao could think to compare it to was the Golden Palace Wall. That's how magnificent it was. Sun Jiao had never wanted a beard before, but at this point in his life he began to doubt everything he knew about beards.

Sun Jiao couldn't help but remark to Xiaobo;

With a big grin on his face and before Dian Po had a chance to say anything Sun Jiao took the iniative and spoke up.

"Dian Po! Dian Po! You'll never guess what I saw at the coliseum just now! It was something incredibly unbelievable!"

Dian Po was a strong man, but not very smart. Without guidance from his master, the third prince, he would never have comprehended how to advance to the second layer so quickly. He had been planning to challenge Sun Jiao immediately, but hadn't spoken up in time and now was incredibly curious as to what Sun Jiao had seen that would make him so excited. Even more he was so excited that he was happy to tell it to a slave.

Sun Qing was also curious as Sun Jiao had never spoken to a slave with such familiarity. Had he not shown her a horribly evil grin before leaving the carriage she would have thought something was amiss. Thankfully for Sun Jiao that smile, that he incorrectly thought showed his happiness and anticipation, was enough to keep her in check long enough to finish what he wanted to say.

Xu Rong was also curious. Curious if there was some poison she could slip in Sun Qing's drink or some medicine that would make the headache go away. She was still on the floor of the carriage and had settled down, but a large lump was forming underneath her hands. She had no extra attention to spare on the conversation.

There was another curious person and that was a small shadow lurking in the bushes waiting for Sun Jiao's arrival. The shadow was there to observe the duel between Sun Jiao and Dian Po, but Sun Jiao's words had driven all thoughts of the fight away. Now anticipation for what Sun Jiao was going to say was all that was left; though that was hardly impressive as the shadow had a remarkably short attention span that the shadow's brother never let the shadow forget. Moments before the carriage had showed up the shadow had forgotten to hide its presence and instead was talking to a beetle it had discovered in the bushes.

The beetle too was curious. Curious who this shadow was that dared to call the Beetle King a silly name like Chochong. This beetle had been driven away by an usurper beetle long ago. While in the mountains it had discovered an ancient tomb that contained a lake of pure spirit energy. After absorbing the energy it then traveled all the way from the mountains, through the perilous city, battled a terrifying alley cat that was certainly a demon beast of incredible strength, and was very close to claiming its rightful place on the beetle throne which was in the palace gardens. If he wasn't in closed bush meditation then he would have fought the shadow with all his might! Jia Cho, the Beetle King, was not some cute little Chochong and certainly didn't have an adorable little shell! He vowed he would one day return to do battle with the shadow after he crushed the impostor that sat on his throne!

Dian Po hesitated before asking; "What did you see?"

The observers held their breath and leaned ever so closer.

A slow smile grew on Sun Jiao's face as he let the tension build.

2k+ words! I got a bit carried away at the end. I much rather enjoy action happening and not so much writing extensive dialog. I think that's why it's time to reveal my arrogant plan. The story from now on will be about Jia Cho the beetle king! His friends call him BK for short and his quest to crush the impostor is much more interesting than some silly character driven story. He'll crawl for miles and there will be no dialog since beetles don't speak! I'm not lying! This story really OMFG SUN QING! JIA CHO WAS DESTINED FOR GREATNESS HOW COULD YOU CRUSH HIM LIKE THAT? You could never allow a story about someone other than Sun Jiao? Is that a threat? PLEASE FORGIVE.