"Wait!"
The Asura Mentor, Sukra, suddenly spoke up.
His white priestly robe was immaculate as he stepped forward, planted his serpent staff firmly beside him, then pressed his palms together and bowed to Yashoda Goddess before him.
"Goddess!"
"Please remain here for now. This is a critical time, and we cannot spare anyone from this place!"
Sukra's gaze was profound as he spoke slowly.
He could indeed sense that Yashoda Goddess was intimately connected to Goddess Lakshmi, bound as closely as sisters, yet something seemed wrong.
His wisdom was warning him.
Sending Yashoda Goddess back to the Netherworld now would likely invite trouble.
It would be better to keep Yashoda Goddess among the Asura army for now. Then, through meditation and with the power of the Vedas, he could explore both his heart and the outside world to learn her true identity.
Golden-Eyed Asura could not take any of this in.
"Mentor!"
"With me here, the gods will be no match for the Asuras. Besides, my younger brother will soon complete his arduous cultivation. When that happens, even the Trimurti will be powerless against us."
Golden-Eyed clenched his right fist and thumped his chest.
A booming sound like rolling thunder rang from his chest, as though the earth itself were shaking, filled with vast and endless power.
Having said that, Golden-Eyed stopped paying attention to Sukra and waved at the Asura Holika.
"Go!"
"Once you return to the Netherworld, build a temple for the goddess, light the Sacrificial Fire, offer tributes, and worship her well!"
"I swear in the name of the Asura King that from this day onward, the Netherworld will forever be your home, Goddess!" Golden-Eyed Asura turned his head and delivered a string of honeyed words. Spreading his arms in welcome, he smiled at Yashoda Goddess.
Rumble!
The Netherworld trembled faintly at that moment, as though it had heard Golden-Eyed's oath and become a witness to both sides.
Upon hearing this, Yashoda's ugly face flushed slightly, and all sorts of emotion rose within her.
Her goldfish eyes blinked as gratitude welled up inside her, and she nodded heavily.
"From now on, I will remain in the Netherworld!"
Yashoda said gratefully.
"Hahaha, good!" Golden-Eyed Asura laughed smugly. "My Netherworld needs a goddess like you!"
Sukra's expression stiffened, like a stone in a latrine. He said no more and turned to leave.
Brat!
Not worth discussing matters with!
Golden-Eyed simply turned away as though he had seen nothing.
That old man had been constantly pointing fingers. He had clearly welcomed a goddess already, and after churning the Ocean of Milk, he would soon defeat the gods. Yet the old fool kept prattling on, practically rebelling against him.
It was quieter now that he was gone!
Seeing Sukra leave, Asura Vajra Body stepped forward, intending to catch up with him.
Yet after taking that first step, he did not take a second.
Instead, he hesitated and looked uncertainly at his elder brother, Golden-Eyed.
As a son of Diti, he should not oppose his elder brother or defy the orders of Golden-Eyed, king of the Daitiyas.
"Alas!"
"Perhaps only Golden Bed can persuade Golden-Eyed?"
Vajra Body sighed and withdrew his foot.
Golden Bed was Golden-Eyed's twin brother. He was currently in the Netherworld, undertaking a long and arduous cultivation for Creator God Brahma, and had not come to the Ocean of Milk.
"Mentor!"
Prahlad was anxious. After glancing around, he quietly moved and cautiously flew out.
Whoosh!
Above the Ocean of Milk, Sukra flew away with a dark expression, preparing to return to the Netherworld.
"Mentor! Mentor!"
Suddenly, a voice rang out behind Sukra.
Could Golden-Eyed have truly repented?!
Sukra halted and slowly turned around. When he saw Prahlad behind him, disappointment flashed through his eyes.
"Mentor!"
Prahlad pressed his palms together and respectfully bowed to Sukra.
"What is it!"
Sukra's face was as hard as stone as he spoke in a low voice.
Prahlad wore a smile and looked respectfully at Sukra. "Mentor, Golden-Eyed is arrogant. I have come to apologize for his rudeness!"
Sukra could not be bothered with nonsense.
Would Prahlad seek him out for such a reason?
What a joke!
"Stop talking nonsense. What do you really want to say? If you do not say it now, I am leaving."
Sukra snorted coldly.
Prahlad's expression grew tense. He drew a deep breath and said, "I wish to ask you, Mentor, to come to the palace of our Danava Clan and guide us in defeating the gods."
Sukra looked Prahlad over from head to toe.
"I know you, Prahlad!"
"You are a Son of Danu, king of the Danavas. It seems you possess some wisdom."
Sukra said gravely.
The Asuras were broadly divided into two branches.
One branch consisted of Diti's sons, known as the Daitiyas!
The other consisted of Danu's sons, known as the Danavas!
Joy filled Prahlad's heart. He hurriedly pressed his palms together and said excitedly, "Thank—"
Before he could finish the word, Sukra abruptly changed his tone and sneered.
"Heh~ what a pity you are too weak!"
"Forget Golden-Eyed and Golden Bed. Can you even defeat Vajra Body?"
"You cannot!"
Sukra stared at Prahlad and spoke slowly, one word at a time.
The excitement on Prahlad's face cooled.
"The current Lord of the Heavenly Realm, Indra, is immensely powerful!"
"Even if you became Lord of the Netherworld and gained the Netherworld's blessing, you still could not defeat Indra. He would kill you. And Indra is even stronger than before, and wiser as well!"
Sukra continued.
Prahlad's face turned livid.
"You are still tens of thousands of years away from defeating Indra!"
Sukra's voice was calm, yet every word struck Prahlad's heart. "Instead of entertaining such thoughts, why not settle down and cultivate earnestly!"
Prahlad's face darkened from green to black. His lips trembled, and his expression was incomparably gloomy.
"Golden-Eyed may be arrogant, but his strength is genuine, and he is serious about cultivation. Golden Bed may be stubborn, but that is why his Power of Arduous Cultivation is even greater than Golden-Eyed's."
"Nearly every Daitiya of your generation is stronger than you. You might as well go back and have more children. Only then might you have a chance in the future."
"I am pleased that you came to seek me out, but I am furious that this was why. You are Danu's adopted son given to Diti. Golden-Eyed is also your elder brother. Do you truly wish to rebel against Golden-Eyed?"
"Even if you succeeded, you still could not defeat Indra!"
"I advise you to conduct yourself wisely!"
The moment Sukra finished speaking—
"Enough!"
Prahlad roared furiously.
His eyes were bloodshot, his beard and hair flying wildly. He was clearly enraged beyond measure, and a great curved blade suddenly appeared in his hand.
His defenses had completely shattered. Knowing certain things himself was one matter, but hearing them spoken aloud was another.
"Indra is nothing! Golden-Eyed can defeat him, and so can I! I can seize the Heavenly Realm too!"
"I will definitely defeat Indra!"
"Shut your mouth!"
Prahlad roared, and the great curved blade in his hand flashed with golden light as it slashed toward Sukra.
Whoosh!
Sukra's eyes widened in fury as a terrifying aura burst forth.
"Insolence!"
Insolence! Insolence! Insolence!
At Sukra's furious roar, Prahlad's body jolted. His chest rose and fell, and his rage seemed to be suppressed somewhat.
"Prahlad, you dare raise a hand against me!"
"I curse you!"
Sukra's white hair whipped about as echoes surged endlessly. He cursed in fury.
"Prahlad, what you cherish shall also be taken away by Indra!"
"You too shall die at Indra's hands!"
At those words, Prahlad's entire body trembled. His eyes went blank as he stood frozen in place.
What he cherished?
"My wealth? My throne, or... my daughter?"
"Shachi?"
Before you continue