Sometimes Ling Wen wondered why she still bothered. Though she’d known from the beginning that the other gods would never let her take the mantle of Heavenly Emperor (because she was a traitor, certainly not because she was a woman, not that nonsense anymore, oh no), surely it would have been a good show of newfound appreciation to at least ask her for some suggestions before using the newly rebuilt Heavenly Capital as the stage for an all-out battle royal to determine the next ruler.

Well, no matter, Ling Wen thought; having put in an accounting system in place the moment the first palace collapsed, she simply tallied up the damages and politely informed the losers (and eventual winner) of their bill.