Chapter 60: Retrieving the Way of the Heavenly Court

Weeks passed and by now the Heavenly Court is almost completely rebuilt, with majestic palaces and heavenly gardens stretching as far as the eye could see. Yet, there is one final crucial piece missing, the Way of the Heavenly Court.

The Way of the Heavenly Court, also known as the Way of the Heavenly Emperor, was the personal path of eternal life of the previous Heavenly Emperor. It is said to hold immense power and authority, granting its wielder unparalleled control over the Heavenly Court and all it entails. Without it, Zenith Heaven Emperor, the newly anointed leader of the court, could not fully exercise his rightful authority.

The Way of the Heavenly Court always remained elusive, hidden away in the most unexpected of places, the Path of Trials. Sealed within the depths of this treacherous realm is the Heavenly Emperor's clone, a creation designed to discard all that the Heavenly Emperor deemed unworthy. This clone, aptly named the 'Evil Heavenly Emperor,' encompasses all the discarded negative aspects, including the Heavenly Emperor's negative karma.

Legend spoke of the Heavenly Emperor's overthrow and subsequent sealing, for the accumulation of such concentrated evil was simply too much for the realms to bear. Those legends are however only partly true as the Heavenly Emperor herself was involved in the scheme that led to her clone getting overthrown.

Even until today the world does not know that the Heavenly Emperor was never sealed and that the leader at that time was actually the 'Evil Heavenly Emperor'. Everything involving the destruction of the Heavenly Court is one of the greatest mysteries in the World of Cultivation.

Determined to retrieve the missing piece, Zenith Heaven Emperor set his sights on the Path of Trials, a secret realm that opened only once every hundred years. The next opening was scheduled for a few months' time, but Zenith Heaven Emperor, impatient and resolute, refused to be bound by the limitations of time. He would not wait idly while destiny played its slow-moving game.

With a determined look in his eyes, Zenith Heaven Emperor summoned all his cultivation power and opened a space gate. It was a dangerous move, for the Path of Trials was well-guarded, but Zenith Heaven Emperor was confident in his abilities. He stepped through the gate and was immediately transported to the entrance of the Path of Trials.

With each step he took, the world trembled in awe of his audacity. Zenith Heaven Emperor, with his resolute gaze fixed upon the heavens, delved into the intricate pathways of his own Way of Eternal Life. This pathway, known as the Error Pathway, possessed a unique and chaotic energy. It was a force that defied logic, bending the rules of existence to the whims of its wielder.

As he channeled his Immortal Energy into the Error Pathway, Zenith Heaven Emperor wove a web of intricate loopholes in the fabric of reality itself. These loopholes would grant him access to the Path of Trials before its official opening, an act that challenged the very foundations of the cultivation world.

The celestial gates opened before him, revealing a realm teeming with trials and tribulations. Each step he took into the forbidden realm resonated with a cosmic symphony, as if the universe itself held its breath in anticipation of his audacious venture.

"My path shall not be dictated by the constraints of time and space," Zenith Heaven Emperor murmured, his voice carrying a hint of mischief. "For the Way of the Heavenly Court, I shall unravel the mysteries of the Path of Trials and claim what is rightfully mine."

With that declaration, he stepped into the realm of trials, his golden robes billowing behind him. The Path of Trials, shrouded in a kaleidoscope of ethereal hues, welcomed its unexpected visitor. The very air crackled with anticipation, as if the realm itself recognized the audacity and determination of the man who dared to defy its rules.

Within the depths of the Path of Trials, Zenith Heaven Emperor embarked on a relentless search for the seal of the Evil Heavenly Emperor. This clone, born from the discarded negative aspects of the previous Heavenly Emperor, harbored deep envy and resentment towards Zenith Heaven Emperor, her own son.

As he ventured further into the corridors of the realm, Zenith Heaven Emperor found himself deep in thought. He pondered the complexities of his relationship with the Evil Heavenly Emperor, for their bond was unlike any other. While he held a fondness for his father's clone, Ruler White, considering him something akin to an uncle, he harbored no such sentiment for the Evil Heavenly Emperor.

"Heh, this clone of my mother, she truly deserves the name Evil Heavenly Emperor," Zenith Heaven Emperor chuckled inwardly, his voice a mere whisper in the stillness of the Path of Trials. "She embodies all the negative aspects that the Heavenly Emperor once had. It's no wonder she harbors such deep envy towards me. After all, I am her son, blessed with talents that far surpass her own."

The echoes of his thoughts reverberated through the corridors, intertwining with the ethereal mist that hung in the air. Zenith Heaven Emperor's footsteps echoed with a resolute rhythm, his determination unwavering as he pressed forward. He knew that within the darkness lay the answers he sought, and he would not be deterred.

It was a peculiar relationship indeed, one marked by contradictions and complexities. While the Heavenly Emperor had always treated Zenith Heaven Emperor with love and care, the Evil Heavenly Emperor, true to her negative nature, had done the exact opposite. Her envy festered, like a smoldering flame, casting a dark shadow over their connection.

And then, amidst the shadows, he found it, the seal of the Evil Heavenly Emperor, hidden away in the darkest corner of the realm. It emanated an ominous aura, truly the embodiment of his mother's negative side. With a mix of trepidation and curiosity, Zenith Heaven Emperor reached out, his fingers brushing against the cold surface of the seal.

In the depths of the Path of Trials, Zenith Heaven Emperor stood before the imprisoned form of the Evil Heavenly Emperor. The seal pulsated with a malevolent energy, emanating an aura of envy and resentment.

With a calm and measured demeanor, Zenith Heaven Emperor drew upon the power of his Error Pathway, a unique facet of his Way of Eternal Life. This pathway, woven with threads of chaos and unpredictability, granted him unparalleled abilities, including the power of theft.

As he focused his attention on the Evil Heavenly Emperor, his eyes glimmered with a subtle mischievousness. The steal ability of his Error Pathway began to manifest, a shimmering energy enveloping his hand. With a deft and swift motion, he reached out and gently plucked the Way of the Heavenly Court from the imprisoned clone. At the same time the sealed clone's cultivation fell from Eternal Life Being to Tribulation Immortal.

At that moment, the All Heavens and Myriad Realms trembled, as if acknowledging the significance of this act. The stolen Way of the Heavenly Court, a symbol of power and authority, now rested within Zenith Heaven Emperor's grasp. The balance of the cultivation world had shifted, and the fate of the Heavenly Court would forever be altered.

With a wry smile, Zenith Heaven Emperor addressed the sealed Evil Heavenly Emperor, his voice filled with a mix of sympathy and resolve. "Stay here, 'Evil Heavenly Emperor.' At least in this place, you won't harm anyone. Perhaps in time, you will find a path of redemption."

Afterward Zenith Heaven Emperor turned away, leaving behind the remnants of his mother's negative side. With each step he took, the Path of Trials gradually faded away, replaced by the familiar surroundings of the Heavenly Court. The celestial palaces and gardens stretched out before him, a testament to the grand restoration that had taken place.

And so, with the stolen Way of the Heavenly Court secured, Zenith Heaven Emperor took his place as the rightful leader of the Heavenly Court. The Heavenly Court's final resurrection is near!