Vishnu's gaze looked down.
Within the Ocean of Milk, Mandara Mountain spun faster and faster.
Raging flames burned as heavenly fire fell into the sea, yet it did not sink. Instead, like dust settling on latex, it bobbed up and down with the surface.
The Ocean of Milk churned!
Sticky! Gooey!
All of this foretold that a treasure was about to emerge from the Ocean of Milk.
The churning was a success!
"It's coming out!"
Golden-Eyed raised his head, his gaze narrowing as he stared fixedly beneath Mandara Mountain, the thought rising in his heart.
Whoosh!
A streak of brilliant golden treasure light flew from the Ocean of Milk and shot straight into the sky. The light bloomed, transforming into a towering divine tree. Its verdant branches were adorned with pearls, agates, and gemstones of every kind, while countless gorgeous divine garments hung from its limbs.
It shimmered with flowing radiance, illuminating all directions.
The Wish-Fulfilling Divine Tree!
This tree was also called the Kalpa Tree. Over the span of one Kalpa—one thousand divine ages, or 4.32 billion years—there was only one such tree.
The Wish-Fulfilling Divine Tree could produce anything needed at the proper time.
Moreover, after a devout prayer, it could even fulfill wishes that accorded with Dharma.
"What a magnificent divine tree. It should belong to the Heavenly Realm. Only we gods are worthy of possessing it."
Surya, the Sun God, stepped forward.
He stood sideways, and a faint smile crossed his radiant face.
He could already picture himself standing beneath the Wish-Fulfilling Divine Tree, looking heroic and resplendent. He would definitely be the most dazzling god among them all.
"That makes sense!"
Soma, the Moon God, nodded as well.
"I'll bring it back!"
Vayu, the Wind God, volunteered. His speed was the greatest among the gods, and by the time his words fell, he had already shot into the sky and arrived beside the Wish-Fulfilling Divine Tree.
"Divine Tree!"
The divine tree's brilliance grew ever brighter before Vayu's eyes, and he excitedly reached out toward it.
"It belongs to me!"
Golden-Eyed roared and leaped forth, slamming his back into Vayu like an iron mountain crashing forward.
Boom!
At that moment, it was like a speeding truck had smashed into a wheelchair. Vayu tumbled head over heels, shooting toward the Gandharvas like a flaming wheel.
"Wind God!!!"
Surya and the other gods cried out in alarm.
Indra could not help taking a step forward, staring at the scene in astonishment.
So fast!
Not only was this Golden-Eyed Asura immensely strong, he was even faster than the Wind God.
As Indra reeled in shock, Vayu was already plummeting toward them. Indra's eyelid twitched, and he raised a hand. With a crackle, he released a vast web of lightning that enveloped the surroundings.
Bang!!!
Vayu crashed down and was caught in the net of thunderous divine power. A loud hum rang out as lightning scattered in every direction, writhing like crazed dragons and serpents.
Oh no!
The lightning was too strong. He had failed to control it!
Indra hurriedly dispelled the lightning net and leaned forward to look. He saw Vayu lying atop the Ocean of Milk, his whole body convulsing and twitching from time to time.
"Vayu, are you alright?!"
Indra immediately stepped forward and helped him up, pressing a palm to Vayu's chest as wild lightning danced and drew back the violent thunderous divine power.
"Vayu! Vayu!!!"
The other gods rushed over in a panic as well.
Fortunately, Vayu's divine body was powerful, and such injuries could heal in an instant.
Under countless gazes.
Vayu clutched his chest and slowly rose to his feet, his eyes filled with resentment.
"Heavenly Emperor, I admit that you're still a little stronger. Compared to him, your beating hurts more!"
Vayu could not help saying.
After speaking, he could not help glancing at Indra again. He swallowed, then turned toward Golden-Eyed in the distance.
"Heavenly Emperor, what do we do now?"
"That divine tree is about to fall into Golden-Eyed's hands!"
Vayu said anxiously.
The gods' hearts tightened, and they all looked toward Indra, ready to hear his thoughts.
Indra glanced from afar at Golden-Eyed, then raised three fingers toward the gods.
"I have three steps!"
"Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!"
Indra said solemnly.
"First, Golden-Eyed is too strong. We cannot defeat him, so it is better to retreat. Second, this divine tree is extraordinary and contains Great Wisdom. The Asuras surely lack the ability to discern the mysteries of the tree, so what does it matter if we let them have it?"
"Third..."
Indra blinked, forcing a composed smile onto his face.
Alright!
He had not thought of a third reason yet.
"I think you all understand already!"
Indra said.
The gods looked at one another.
What did the Heavenly Emperor mean by that? What was the third point?
Surya frowned slightly. Looking at the bewildered gods beside him, he thought, I am a god second only to the Heavenly Emperor. Since the Heavenly Emperor said so, if the other gods understand but I do not, wouldn't that be humiliating?
The moment the thought arose, enlightenment struck him.
With a mysterious smile, Surya slowly nodded, lifted his chin, puffed out his chest, and looked proudly at the other gods.
"I understand!"
Surya said.
"Huh?"
"What did you understand?"
Agni, the Fire God, could not help asking in confusion.
Surya merely smiled without answering.
Agni then looked at Indra, who likewise only smiled without speaking.
For a moment, Agni stood frozen in place, his face flushing red with embarrassment.
He narrowed his eyes, his pupils darting about nervously.
No!
"We three are the three brothers of fire: Indra, fire of the heavens; Surya, fire of the Heavenly Realm; and I, Agni, fire of the earth. We are known together as such."
"They both understand. If I do not, I'll look far too foolish!"
Agni thought.
The next instant, he clapped his hands together with a sharp smack and laughed loudly. "I understand!"
"Ah! I understand!"
"I understand too! I understand! The Heavenly Emperor's plan truly is meticulous!"
Varuna, the Water God, and Vayu joined in as well.
Soma wore a bewildered expression.
What exactly did these guys understand?!
Amid his confusion, Vayu, Surya, Agni, and Varuna all turned toward him, their eyes blinking and sparkling like stars, as though waiting to see what he would say.
"Soma, what do you think?!"
Surya asked.
Soma fell silent for a moment, putting on an air as he glanced around. Since all the gods understood, he could not fall behind.
"That makes sense. The Heavenly Emperor's three points make a great deal of sense!"
Soma nodded heavily.
Indra: "???"
What the hell did they think of?
Indra was slightly startled. His gaze swept across the gods, who appeared as though they had everything under control, and his heart could not help trembling.
They were so confident!
They really looked like they had thought of something!
Above the Ocean of Milk.
The shade of the Wish-Fulfilling Divine Tree fell over Golden-Eyed's mighty body. A fierce wind swept across the Ocean of Milk, passing through the divine tree and stirring a faint fragrant breeze that left Golden-Eyed feeling refreshed and elated.
He looked from afar at the gods gathered among the Gandharvas far to the rear and could not help throwing back his head in laughter.
"Hahaha! A bunch of weak, cowardly gods!"
"I, Golden-Eyed, am destined to become the lord of the Three Realms!"
Golden-Eyed laughed loudly. His enormous hand, vast enough to cover the sky and blot out the sun, shot forth and seized the Wish-Fulfilling Divine Tree.
"This treasure is mine! Hahaha!"
Golden-Eyed was beside himself with excitement. He could not help lifting the divine tree with both hands and examining it carefully.
Within the tree's shadow, a gleaming golden figure appeared and gave him a faint smile. Then, with a swish, the divine tree instantly vanished.
"Golden-Eyed, I think this tree is fated to be with the gods!"
Vishnu stood before Golden-Eyed with the divine tree in his hand, smiling.
Before you continue