Heavenly Court, deep within Lingxiao Treasure Hall.
Inside the secret chamber, there was only dead silence.
That vast Destiny which had earlier stirred the wind and clouds of the Three Realms had now vanished without a trace.
The phantom of the Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon coiled above Lingxiao Treasure Hall had long since shattered as well, turning into specks of flowing light before returning once more to nothingness.
Haotian sat withered upon the jade platform, completely motionless.
The Imperial Robe on his body had dimmed without shine, his once-straight figure slightly hunched, his entire person like a stone statue that had lost every trace of spirit.
Preparations through countless Kalpas, forbearance through countless Kalpas.
In order to gather enough merit, he had even been willing to cast aside the dignity of the Heavenly Emperor and tacitly allow Sun Wukong to cause Havoc in Heaven.
He had let the Heavenly Court's face be pressed to the ground and ground against it, all just to cooperate with the West in performing that grand play of the Journey to the West.
But what had it brought him?
It had brought him a complete and utter failure.
His merit was exhausted, his origin wounded.
A marrow-deep bewilderment and emptiness swallowed him whole.
Just then, the stone door of the secret chamber opened soundlessly, and a soft Immortal Light shone in.
Yaochi's figure appeared at the doorway.
She looked at Haotian's lost and desolate state, her heart tightening, and slowly walked in.
"Senior Brother, are you... all right?"
Her voice was very soft, carrying a trace of cautious concern.
Haotian seemed to be pulled back from an endless abyss by that voice. He stiffly turned his neck and looked toward Yaochi.
On that face that had once held world-shaking majesty, only bitterness and exhaustion remained now.