Myth Beyond Heaven

A collective gasp of awe echoed through the crowd gathered below. The tribulation, the very embodiment of the heavenly judgment, had been vanquished. Never before had such a feat been witnessed. The murmurs of the crowd rose to a crescendo, a mixture of awe and a tremor of fear at the power Ren Yuan wielded.

The leader of the Heavenly Tribulation Cult, his face contorted with a mixture of rage and terror, let out a defiant scream. "This is blasphemy! You defy the natural order! The heavens will not tolerate this!"

Ren Yuan's cold gaze settled upon him. "The natural order? What order is that?" he boomed. "An order that allows for chaos and destruction? An order that punishes those who strive for a better existence?"

He lifted the Heaven's Might even higher, the celestial blade radiating an otherworldly light. "I offer you a choice," he declared, his voice cutting through the tension-filled air. "Join me in forging a new era, one of unity and progress, or face the consequences of clinging to a broken system."

The once-zealous leader stood speechless, the conviction draining from his eyes. The other cultists, their faith shattered by the spectacle they had witnessed, began to waver. Their faith, the very foundation of their beliefs, had been shattered.

Ren Yuan, with a single act of defiance, had not only subdued the Heavenly Tribulation but had also challenged the established power structure of the Nine Heavens.

His voice echoed through the realm, a beacon of hope for those who yearned for change and a stark warning for those who resisted it. The coronation ceremony he had promised was just the beginning.

The Nine Heavens were about to witness the rise of a new order, one built not on the whims of the Heavenly Tribulation but on the unwavering will of Ren Yuan!

The silence stretched thick with the weight of Ren Yuan's words and the shattered remnants of the Heavenly Tribulation Cult's belief. A single cough broke the tension, sending ripples of nervous energy through the crowd. It was an elder from the Celestial House, his weathered face etched with a mixture of awe and apprehension.

"We… we have witnessed an extraordinary display of power, Your Excellency," he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "A power that defies what we thought possible."

A low murmur of agreement rose from the gathered officials, their eyes flickering between Ren Yuan and the shattered remnants of the tribulation vortex.

Ren Yuan lowered the Heaven's Might, the divine energy crackling around the blade slowly subsiding. A hint of a smile curved his lips, a flicker of amusement at their trepidation. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures," he said, his voice calm and powerful.

"The Heavenly Court has returned," he continued, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. "Not to rule with an iron fist, but to guide and protect. To usher in an era where cultivation flourishes, and all beings can strive for a better existence."

His words hung in the air, a promise laced with an implicit warning. He knew there would be resistance, those who clung to the old ways, who feared the disruption he represented. But he was prepared.

The Heavenly Court, reborn under his leadership, would be a force for change, an unstoppable tide reshaping the very fabric of the Nine Heavens.

"Those who choose to join me," he declared, his voice ringing out, "will find a place in this new order. Together, we will build a future worthy of our potential."

A hesitant cheer flickered through the crowd, scattered claps echoing through the celestial court. It was a cautious start, but a start nonetheless. The officials, sensing the shift in power, began to step forward, offering their allegiance. One by one, they pledged their loyalty to Ren Yuan, their voices growing stronger with each declaration.

Even within the remnants of the Heavenly Tribulation Cult, there were those who saw the truth. Practitioners who yearned for a purpose beyond blind faith, who saw the potential for a brighter future. They knelt before Ren Yuan, their faces etched with a mixture of shame and hope.

As the sun peeked over the horizon, casting an ethereal light on the celestial court, Ren Yuan stood tall. The coronation ceremony, though unplanned, had served its purpose. He was no longer just a cunning weakling; he was now a symbol and herald of a new era. The era of the Heavenly Court, reborn under his will, had begun.

But Ren Yuan knew the challenges were far from over. The power he wielded was undeniable, but wielding it wisely would be a different story. He had to forge alliances, quell dissent, and prove that his vision was not just about power but creating a future where all beings could wholeheartedly serve him.

The road ahead would be long and arduous, but Ren Yuan, with the Heaven's Might in his hand and the embers of a new order burning in his heart, was ready to face it.

***

"He… has succeeded." The Jade Emperor watched the events unfold before him. Ren Yuan wasn't the first heir of the God of Heaven, but he was the first one who successfully rebuilt the Heavenly Court and ascended to the ruler position.

In normal times, the Jade Emperor was subordinate to the God of Heaven. By tradition, he should submit to Ren Yuan. But how could he, the mighty Jade Emperor, submit to a young man barely out of the Lower God Realm?

However, as someone who had overseen the Heavenly Court for eons, the Jade Emperor was fully aware of the true power it held. As long as Ren Yuan continued to stay inside the Heavenly Court, no one could possibly harm him.

"He is fortunate," Erlang Shen uttered with a cold expression. "The Chaos Goddess has been missing for years. Otherwise, he wouldn't stand a chance."

The Jade Emperor turned to look at a white-haired old man in a plain robe and inquired, "What do you think?"

The old man, the Kitchen God, Zao Jun, raised his head and replied evenly, "The choice is yours, Your Majesty. The return of the God of Heaven is inevitable, as are the other Primordial Gods. It is time for us to choose a side. It would be unwise to hedge our bets."

The Jade Emperor fell silent. He was fully aware of the upcoming calamity. No matter how unwilling he was, he must make a choice today…