"Rahu, since you have drunk Amrita, stay in the Heavenly Realm."
"Rahu, you have only a head and a tail left. Your head shall be Rahu, and your tail shall be called Ketu. You may become Star Gods."
Vishnu smiled.
Whoosh!
The light dispersed, and the Protector God vanished.
Hearing this, Indra stood in the temple, his gaze passing through the Heavenly Realm as he looked down upon the boundless Human Realm.
At the border between the Human Realm and the Heavenly Realm, around the middle of Mount Mandara, endless stars circled the sun and moon. Among them, the divine power of two dark stars surged forth, giving off a faint glow.
Rahu! Ketu!
Two of the Nine Luminaries!
Indra had long been mentally prepared for this.
After all, when dealing with Rahu, there were only three options: treat him as a guest, behead him, or take him in as a dog.
Rahu was not worthy of being treated as a guest by the Protector God. There was no need to behead him either, since Rahu had already drunk Amrita and the Protector God was unwilling to break the rules. Taking him in as a dog was naturally the best option.
He had been recruited!
Indra waved his hand.
The lightning ropes instantly shattered and vanished without a trace.
"From now on, we're all Devas!"
He approached with a broad smile.
Rahu was still rather dazed.
He had just become a Deva like that?
Did that mean he would have to join the Devas in fighting the Asuras from now on?
No!
But if the Asura army attacked the Heavenly Realm, what if the Asuras beat him up too?
Rahu's gaze was blank, and his mind was a complete mess.
But when he saw Indra spreading his arms and walking toward him, his expression instantly froze. His face turned pale and bloodless, and terror was written all over it.
"Eek!"
Rahu cried out.
His head spun round and round before flying upward. Without even looking, it crashed into one of the temple's massive pillars with a bang, while Ketu, his tail, flailed wildly after it and smacked against the head with a slap.
The head and tail slid down the pillar together.
Indra lowered his head, hands on his hips, and looked at Rahu helplessly.
Was he really that frightening?
"H-Heavenly Emperor!"
Rahu gathered his courage, gulping down breaths as he spoke in a trembling voice.
"Mm!"
Indra nodded.
"The Heavenly Realm is quite vast. Since you've just arrived, you probably aren't familiar with it. Who will show him around?"
Indra swept his gaze around and asked.
At this, Surya chuckled.
He understood!
Wasn't this just having someone keep an eye on the Asura?
"I'll do it!"
Surya said coldly.
"I'll go too!"
Moon God Soma said in a low voice, looking displeased.
He had thought Goddess Yamuna was giving him a hint. Who would have thought it was actually this Asura? How hateful.
"???"
Indra fell silent for a moment.
These two seemed to be in rather bad moods.
"I mean take him around the Heavenly Realm. That's all I mean!"
Indra said.
"Just show him around the Heavenly Realm!"
The Sun God and Moon God said at the same time.
"Really?"
"Really!"
The two repeatedly affirmed it.
"Then will you go?"
Indra turned to Rahu.
"I'll go! I'll go!"
Rahu looked panicked. His head suddenly flew up and shook repeatedly in the air.
He did not want to stay with the Heavenly Emperor at all right now. The mere sight of Indra made him feel as if Halahala were corroding his body, and the sensation of losing his power rose from the depths of his heart.
Even now, thinking back on it made the back of his head feel cold.
"Then off you go!"
Indra said.
At this, the Sun God and Moon God led the way ahead, while Rahu hurriedly followed. His head turned and flew away, with Ketu, his tail, wildly swishing behind him.
"He'd be perfect with a leash~"
Indra could not help but laugh as he imagined walking a dog.
Nearby, Goddess Yamuna lifted her skirt and hurried in small, panicked steps to Yama's side. She softly said, "Husband..."
As soon as she spoke, Yama's blue face darkened once more.
With a grim expression, he did not even look at Yamuna. Instead, he walked straight to Indra, pressed his palms together, and spoke slowly.
"Heavenly Emperor!"
"Golden-Eyed caused destruction in the Human Realm, and my Yama City was affected as well. It needs repairs, so I hope the Heavenly Emperor can send the Craftsman God to lend me a hand."
Yama's expression eased as he spoke in a negotiating tone.
Yama City was not located in the Netherworld, but beneath the Human Realm.
Its exact location was deep underground, eighty-six thousand yojanas beneath Jambudvipa.
Indra was slightly stunned.
He had previously planned to have Vishwakarma the Craftsman God build a secret realm to store Amrita, but Yama City now needed repairs as well, so there was no rush.
"No problem. Just go find him!"
"Oh, right. Isn't Vishwakarma the Craftsman God your maternal grandfather? Why not speak to him directly?"
Indra asked.
"I believe the proper procedure should still be followed!"
"Besides, my relationship with him is not very good!"
Yama said seriously.
Back then, Vishwakarma had pointed at his mother's belly and declared that the twins inside would become husband and wife. That was why he had never thought highly of this grandfather.
If Yama City had not needed repairs, he would never have asked Vishwakarma the Craftsman God for help.
"What a complicated family relationship!"
Indra sighed inwardly.
The Netherworld.
Within the garden of a palace complex.
Vajra Body sat cross-legged on the grass with his knees bent. He hunched over, elbows resting on his knees, one hand supporting his chin, his face full of melancholy.
Beside him, flowers and grasses flourished, while a powerful and majestic white horse lowered its head to graze.
The white horse was White Horse Uchchaihshravas, the divine steed churned from the Ocean of Milk.
"Golden-Eyed is actually dead. The Devas have the Trimurti helping them, and now they have Amrita too. We can't possibly be their match."
"I'm just afraid Golden Bed will still want to fight once he emerges."
"Alas!"
Vajra Body let out a long sigh. His heart was restless and troubled, and he could not help grabbing at his hair.
Golden-Eyed and Golden Bed were twin brothers.
Golden-Eyed was arrogant, while Golden Bed was incomparably stubborn.
Once Golden Bed finished his ascetic cultivation and learned that his elder brother had died at the hands of the Devas and Vishnu, he would definitely lead the Asura army to attack the Heavenly Realm. He might even order everyone to stop praising Vishnu.
But could they truly defeat the Trimurti?
If they could!
"Gao Er, Gao Er, what do you think I should do?"
Vajra Body turned to White Horse Uchchaihshravas and could not help grabbing his hair again.
White Horse Uchchaihshravas glanced at Vajra Body but ignored him. He merely lifted his head proudly, his mane flowing in the wind as he leisurely chewed the grass.
He did not let out a single neigh!
Haha!
Vajra Body could not help bursting into laughter.
At that moment, the figure of an Asura warrior flickered into view. He suddenly appeared in the garden, knelt on one knee, lowered his head, and reported.
"General, the Danava King has sent an envoy to invite you to the Asura Temple to discuss the great matter of avenging the king!"
"Danava King Prahlad? Why him? Where is the Guru?"
"Yes, General. That envoy was indeed sent by the Danava King. The Guru's whereabouts are currently unknown, but someone saw the Guru together with the two princes of the former king."
"Hmm?!"
Vajra Body frowned.
His hand rubbed his rough chin, and a sharp glint suddenly flashed in his eyes.
"Tell Prahlad that I am preparing for ascetic cultivation, so I will not be going!"
Vajra Body said in a deep voice.
"Yes!"
The Asura warrior flashed away.
Vajra Body's heart tightened, and an indescribable expression appeared on his face.
"Guru, did you go find Golden Bed?"
A fierce light burst from his eyes!
Before you continue