I'll go to Zixiao Palace when my injuries heal.

Deep within the Heavenly Court's Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Inside the secret chamber, there was utter silence.

The vast tide of destiny that had previously stirred the winds and clouds of the Three Realms had now vanished without a trace.

The phantom of the Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon that had coiled above the Lingxiao Hall had long since shattered, turning into specks of flowing light and returning to nothingness.

Haotian sat rigidly upon the Jade Platform, utterly motionless.

His imperial robes had lost their luster, his once-straight posture was slightly hunched, and he looked like a stone statue stripped of all vitality.

Countless Eons of preparation. Countless Eons of endurance.

To gather enough Merit, he had even forsaken the dignity of the Heavenly Emperor and tacitly allowed Sun Wukong to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Court.

He had ground the Heavenly Court's reputation into the dirt, all to cooperate with The West in putting on that grand Journey to the West performance.

But what had he gained?

A complete and utter failure.

His Merit was exhausted, and his foundation was damaged.

A sense of confusion and emptiness that seeped into his very bones completely Devoured him.

Just then, the stone door of the secret chamber silently opened, and a gentle immortal light shone in.

Yaochi appeared in the doorway.

Seeing Haotian's utterly despondent state, her heart tightened. She slowly walked inside.

"Senior Brother, are you... all right?"

Her voice was soft, carrying a trace of cautious concern.

It was as though that voice had pulled Haotian back from an endless abyss. He stiffly turned his neck and looked at Yaochi.

The face that had once exuded boundless majesty now held only bitterness and exhaustion.

"Yaochi, I failed."

Yaochi walked to his side and gently pulled him into her embrace.

"It's all right.