Balance of Authority

Magnus finally handed the notes to Qin Xa.

Qin Xa opened the pages and saw five recorded paths for completing the trials. So long as one did what those five paths demanded, there was no need to retrace the Gods' road to ascension in order to seize power.

"The Black King's trial contains only Ending. It has that feeling of ultimate simplicity. It fits your theory that a trial can be completed as long as you take the right path," Qin Xa said.

Magnus nodded. "I drew some inspiration from the Black King's trial as well."

"But is Number Eleven's manuscript real?" Qin Xa put away the notes. He was not looking at Magnus, but at The Emperor. "It concerns whether Magnus's theory of Chaos is correct."

"Why else would I have allowed him to study it?" The Emperor countered.

Qin Xa fell silent.

The Emperor continued, "I once made a deal with the Gods at the Morlo Gate. You know that. Among all the deals I made were matters concerning the truth of the Immaterium... What is written in Number Eleven's manuscript is the truth, merely more systematic than what I knew."

"The Gods actually didn't deceive you?"

"Tzeentch enjoys deception and excels at it. But not all of them are as skilled as it is. So long as you find the right way to handle them, they are more sincere than someone incapable of speaking a lie," The Emperor said. "Do not seek truth from Tzeentch. Do not seek immortality from Nurgle. It is that simple."

After saying this, The Emperor paused for a second and looked at the two primarchs. "Just like the primarchs. Their existence cannot be separated from what I did at the Morlo Gate, but were they fated from birth to walk the path