Sometimes, the decline of a god wasn’t caused by any mistakes they may have made and been banished for. Sometimes it was because another, more powerful god had appeared, and sometimes it was for no other reason than because people’s lives and beliefs gradually changed, and the people no longer needed them.
For example, a heavenly official who controlled horses must dwell very well. People couldn’t leave their horses and carriages alone when they were in need of transportation; who wouldn’t want their horses to be strong and healthy, their travels safe? Thus, donations would never cease.
However, what if one day mortals discovered something completely new that ran faster than horses? Then, when this new invention overtook horses, worshippers of this heavenly official who controlled horses would inevitably decrease. Such heavenly officials, flashing by like shooting stars, made up the majority of the heavens.
This way of decline was the cruelest, because the process could not be turned around. Unless that heavenly official jumped down from the heavens and returned to being mortal, to re-cultivate a new path and become a brand new god and ascend, then they would be destined to watch their own decline until they disappeared entirely. However, not everyone possessed such courage and fortune.
The gods of the previous dynasty were said to have faded thus. Some also said it was because they caused a great calamity and fought a chaotic battle, which was why they all fell from grace at the same time. But it couldn’t be proven, and it wasn’t important anymore; a few centuries later, Jun Wu was born, and created a new heavenly dynasty. Following right after him, a great number of heavenly officials of the new age ascended incessantly, filling the gaps for the worshippers, and gradually formed the stable Upper Court of today.