...The last that I knew of him before this place, he had not chosen much of a path at all. But... you do not simply become as strong of a ghost as he is unless you choose to become that way. So, yes, I would say so. The path of such a creature... is one that I know little about, only that is marked with actions similar to the actions he took today. One of death, destruction, and caused misery.

[ yeah. yeah! xie lian folds his hands together quietly in his lap. but you got bamboozled you sweet boy. ]

...That is how it works in my world, at least, godhood. And - they do exist, forever, if they are able to hold onto their believers. The Heavenly Emperor must be close to two thousand years old, in Qi Rong's time.