Harun's words were correct. As the number one inheritor of the Empyrean clan, Jiyan knew many secrets not accessible to others. So when Harun laid bare his theory, Jiyan quickly connected some dots, and had to agree with his train of thoughts. To refine strands of Heaven's Will and build their Internal Heaven, Gods didn't comprehend that many mysteries. As long as they could connect their Divine Sense to Heaven's Will, find and refine top-grade strands, reaching the Heavenly God Realm was a matter of time. Similarly, all the laws they used to build their Internal Heavens came from the strands they refined.
Of course, those top-grade strands were often only available during Cosmic Tribulations—forcing a significant breakthrough delay on those deities not gifted enough to get all the strands they needed in one go. But even those unparalleled chosen such as the Golden Crow Ancestor and Silav, Gods with peerless foundations, seemed unable to cross the last hurdle and become Dao Emperors. At best, they could keep enhancing their strength through Cosmic Tribulations.
Without Sovereign Pupils or the Imperial Seal, none ever managed to reach that mythical realm. If there weren't issues with the Divine Path, how could Heaven's history develop in such a way? But…so what if they knew?
"Knowing is one thing, but solving, another. Even if we know that the Divine Path is a hoax, what other alternative do we have? Once we stop forging ahead, either we exhaust our lifespans or die under a Cosmic Tribulation. Some can accept that—many won't. Immortality possesses an irresistible appeal.
Mortals yearn to become celestials, celestials yearn to become Gods, Gods yearn to become Monarchs. Power, wealth, prestige and eons to enjoy them all. How many can resist the hoax even if the truth hangs before their eyes?" Jiyan held her cheeks in her hands, facing Harun with nonchalance.
"Truth is, most don't even care about the so-called Grand Dao. Make them mighty, make them immortal, and they can take any road. As for the secrets of Heaven and Earth, either you're one of the few born to seek them, or do so out of boredom in your waning years.
Worse, the Dao is a singular path. Each takes his own. Even if you could reach the end, unless you could incorporate all Dao of this world, you would still be ignorant," Jiyan argued, and as her words rang in his mind, Harun's eyes drifted to another scenery. Blurred memories he, in his drunkenness, couldn't accurately place.
…
"Dad, what is there at the end of the cultivation road?"
"Curious? Good, there is still hope for you. But why must you look from the other side of the bridge? Why not look from the sky's perspective? If the sky is not enough, make the stars your eyes, and when they have nothing more to tell you seek...the multiverse's perspective.
Cultivation is a boundless world, not a road. To comprehend it in its fullness, you cannot follow a single path. Seek the Cosmic Law. Seek..."
…
"Harun!" Jiyan's voice broke Harun's recollection, preventing him from hearing the end of his father's words. For an instant, Harun stood there dazed. How could his father, a Daoist Realm expert, have such a profound understanding of cultivation principles? Stranger still, the longer he remained conscious, the less Harun could remember of that blurry talk. It was as if it didn't belong to this world—as if it stemmed from a dream.
Believing he'd taken one drink too many, Harun slammed either side of his face between his hands.
"Perhaps we're looking beyond what we should, but you said one thing right. Most people...only care for strength. The rest is all excuses. So if you can give them strength independent of the Divine Path, why wouldn't they take it?" Harun said and took another gulp of Jiyan's infinite wine jug.
"No matter how gifted, without a cultivation method, you cannot refine the Qi of Heaven and Earth, cannot build the steps of your path, cannot cultivate. Take away a cultivator's method, and they can't make any further progress. Give them a five-star method, and they probably can't go beyond the Celestial Kin Realm. So which one takes precedence? The method or the road?" Harun rhetorically asked.
"If it's the method, then I postulate that all methods can breed their own roads. What we now have seems bound to the Divine Path because we forged them to that end and can't think outside that box. With enough talent, comprehension and chance I believe...that anyone can create a new method, and from it evolve...a brand-new cultivation path!
Let's return to the origin, found our own methods, and from them build new bridges for the next generations! Thus, even if they cannot tread the true road, Heaven's Will will not fetter them!" Harun proclaimed, smashed the jug on the table, and after 9.6 liters of celestial booze, passed out.
"Insane," the only sober soul left in the room, Jiyan shook her head, staring at Harun with a mixture of admiration and amusement. Although her ancestor held a similar reasoning, even he dared not think of creating cultivation paths out of new methods. Such a heaven-defying act required a mind like Harun's.
And little did she know that while the body passed out before her, the soul gave a similar speech to the Beast Emperors, setting in motion the rise of the Heaven Rejecting Path.
As if she came prepared, Jiyan tapped her cosmic pouch, and summoned a warm quilt to cover Harun in.
"Who could imagine that such an adorable boy was ruining organs a few hours ago? No wonders they say that appearances can be deceptive." Jiyan leaned on the table, staring at Harun's sleeping face with a gentle smile.
"I should be thanking you. If not for you, I wouldn't be out so early. But while I can refuse to take part in the grand elders' game, I don't know how I can help you. Perhaps it'd be best if you just vanished. But something in me tells me that...if you really did, I'd feel so...lonely," Jiyan said and stood up. Leaving the wine jug behind, she headed toward the exit—but at the gate, paused and looked over her shoulder.
"See you tomorrow, Harun." Jiyan then left Harun's pagoda and vanished in the night. Immediately, Harun's eyes opened—with no hint of drunkenness in them.
…
Gliding across the air, arms crossed behind her back, Jiyan leisurely returned to the Divine Palace. But not a second after she reached it, her mother's voice rang hard.
"In my palace, now," Dilnaz ordered and Jiyan obeyed—crossing the dark-blue sky to land in her mother's quarters. No one stood in her way, enabling her to promptly reach Dilnaz who sat crossed-legged on a meditation mat. Jiyan had barely stepped in that Dilnaz turned into light-blue smoke, reformed before her, and pressed her against a wall.
"Greetings, mother," Jiyan said, unfazed by Dilnaz's sudden and brutal move.
"Where were you?"
"Don't you know?"
"Why?"
"Curiosity."
"Curiosity? Do you think this is the time for curiosity? Don't you know who the grand elders plan to send to confront him in a week's time? Curiosity? You think that knowing where you're from, he's not on his guard with you? Curiosity? Have you learned nothing behind those bars?" Rage twisted Dilnaz's face, and she trapped Jiyan's face between her hands.
"I sent you there to experience the coldness of the world. Coldness your father's care blinded you to. We do not have the time to grieve or flounder. There is a world to seize and if we don't, we die. Have you ever heard of dethroned houses living the rest of their lives in peace? Ever heard of collapsed imperial families' wives and daughters spending their remaining years embroidering floral patterns under peach blossom trees?
The Devouring Serpents still breathe not out of mercy, but because our ancestor didn't dare kill them. But who will ensure our safety? Who will deter the usurpers? If we do not reclaim the crown and cement our power, we have no future—that—is reality—that—is what you should be focusing on—that—is why we must fight!
So shed off the childish thoughts and sharpen your sword. We're at war!"