Strategic Retreat, I'm Here for Arduous Cultivation (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

The problem of weakening divine power wasn't just affecting Indra.

Agni, Varuna, Vayu, and Surya, these great gods all felt their powers waning, as if their bodies had been hollowed out.

Especially Surya!

Surya wore a pained expression, clutching his lower back as a wave of weakness surged within him.

"Go away, go away quickly!"

"You gods, get off my Sun Chariot!"

Surya waved his hands urgently, urging them on.

So many gods and Gandharvas crammed into his Sun Chariot, it was severely overloaded, and all the strain was on his divine power. If not for Aruna's superb driving skills and the extraordinary stamina of the Sun Horses, they would have crashed before even reaching the Brahma Realm.

Rumble!

The sound was like mountains collapsing!

The gods descended from the chariot in a dense mass.

The Gandharvas also released the ropes of light emanating from the Sun Chariot, landing steadily in the Brahma Realm and looking around curiously.

All they saw was a vast, empty expanse. The scent of lotuses wafted from the void, accompanied by faint, beautiful music, utterly divine and sacred.

This was the abode of the Creator God, Brahma!

Truly magnificent!

Swish!

Brilliance condensed within the Brahma Realm, and a pure, pinkish-white lotus appeared in the void. Brahma materialized within this sacred radiance, seated upon the lotus, facing all four directions, with the Vedas, prayer beads, a lotus, and a water pot held in his hands.

Upon seeing this, Indra's expression grew serious.

With such a crowd descending upon Brahma's home, it was only proper to show him respect.

Indra stepped forward, pressing his palms together.

"Salutations to the Supreme Lord Brahma!"

As soon as he spoke, the other gods gathered behind Indra, and the Gandharvas also took their positions, orderly and disciplined.

"Salutations to the Supreme Lord Brahma!"

"Salutations to the Supreme Lord Brahma!"

The salutations echoed, resounding throughout the Brahma Realm, causing countless fragrant lotuses to bloom and descend from the heavens.

The Gandharva guards in the divine palace, and even the celestial maidens dancing, paused their movements and turned towards Brahma, offering their salutations to the Creator God.

Huh?!

Rahu, who had been drunk, jolted awake, sobering up considerably. He scratched his head with the tip of his tail.

Then, his head suddenly flew off, and glancing at his tail, which was lazily swirling around a wine cup nearby, he immediately spat.

"Be serious!"

Rahu tilted his head slightly, following everyone's gaze towards Brahma, and offered his salutations with an unprecedented level of piety.

Speaking of which, Brahma was his ancestor!

It was truly outrageous that his father and the Asuras opposed their ancestor's people.

"Salutations to the Supreme Lord Brahma!"

Rahu proclaimed.

Brahma looked from side to side, his gaze sweeping over the saluting gods, listening to the continuous echoes of praise around him. For a moment, he felt a surge of joy, his snow-white beard twitching upwards involuntarily.

This was treatment that previously only Vishnu, the Preserver God, used to receive!

"The Golden Bed has seized the Heavenly Realm and become the Lord of the Three Realms. Now, he has forbidden sacrifices, acting against righteous law. When the time comes, he will perish!"

"O Gods!"

"For now, you must endure this hardship!"

Brahma nodded slightly and spoke.

Mentioning the Golden Bed made him a little uneasy. This fellow had, after all, received his blessings to conquer the Heavenly Realm. He hoped the gods wouldn't hold it against him.

Hearing this, Indra felt a surge of delight.

He sensed the Power of Arduous Cultivation within him, burning like Kundalini Fire, accumulating and settling bit by bit. He was ecstatic.

In a word!

Awesome!

"Supreme Lord!"

"Although the Golden Bed has attacked the Heavenly Realm and we have lost it, we have also gained reflection from this experience!"

"I believe that with the three Supreme Lords present, the cosmic order can surely be maintained."

Indra chuckled.

Brahma's eyes opened slightly, a bright light flashing within them, and he felt happy.

He loved hearing that!

"You all shall reside in the Brahma Realm for a while!"

Brahma smiled with pleasure.

Swish!

The next moment, Brahma's form vanished before the gods.

As the creator god Brahma disappeared, the solemn atmosphere immediately dissipated, and the gods resumed their cheerful demeanor.

"Although we lost the Heavenly Realm, we have arrived in the Brahma Realm. This is the domain where the creator god resides. We are still above the Asuras, trampling them underfoot."

"Moreover, we haven't lost a single soldier!"

"We can counterattack at any time!"

Agni, god of fire, was clearly very confident.

Upon hearing this, a hint of realization flashed in Varuna, god of water's eyes.

"That makes sense!"

Varuna agreed.

At this moment, Soma, god of wine, the Priest Sage, and the Priest Sage's wife, Tara, also arrived slowly.

Soma, god of wine, looked full of joy.

The armor around him gleamed silver, blindingly bright.

"You have fought the Asuras many times, you must be very tired today!"

"I have prepared fine wine!"

"You can enjoy it at any time!"

"The celestial maidens have also prepared dances to celebrate the gods' safety."

Soma, god of wine, said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the gods rejoiced.

"Cheers to Soma!"

"Let's go!"

"Wait for me, I'm going back to check on Saloniya, I'll be right there!" Surya, the sun god, laughed heartily and flew towards the Sun Palace first, preparing to check on his wife.

Vayu, god of wind, shifted his gaze to Indra, who was still standing beside him, and couldn't help but smile.

"Devraj, let's go!"

"Your drinking capacity is the strongest among the gods, I still want to see you drink them all under the table!"

Vayu said.

At this moment, Indra shook his head repeatedly like a rattle drum.

Drinking?

Wouldn't that disrupt his Tapasya!

No! Absolutely not!

"I'm going to rest for a bit, you all go ahead and drink!"

Indra said.

"Rest?"

Vayu looked at Indra with concern and asked, "Devraj, are you injured?"

As a friend to all gods, Indra had quite a few friends. The originally boisterous gods also turned their heads to look, their eyes filled with concern.

"I'm fine!"

"I was just thinking, contemplating the plan for a counterattack on the Heavenly Realm, aiming to strike directly at the earthly realm and annihilate the Asuras completely!"

Indra fibbed.

Counterattack!

Spring counterattack! Summer counterattack! Autumn counterattack! Winter counterattack!

A counterattack plan only needed to exist on paper.

Upon hearing this, the gods left with peace of mind.

Indra also entered his divine palace, looking around, preparing to find a place to continue his Tapasya.

Inside the Devraj's divine palace, gold covered the ground, pillars were inlaid with jewels, brilliant light shimmered, smooth divine silks diffused the light, and enchanting incense wafted, resembling a treasure trove filled with infinite wealth.

"Praise to the Devraj!"

Wherever Indra passed, clear, pleasant sounds emanated from the mouths of beautiful celestial maidens.

With bright eyes and white teeth, they giggled charmingly, serving in the divine temple with fragrant breezes.

Indra: "..."

This place is not suitable for Tapasya!

"This won't do!"

"I came prepared for hardship!"

Indra pursed his lips and turned away from the Devraj's temple.

Where to go?

Indra frowned slightly, glancing around. All he saw was dazzling golden light and immense luxury, so bright it made his eyes water.

"Why is Sudarshana City always like this!"

"What's the point of building it so well?"

"I'm a cultivator of hardship, I need to find another place. Perhaps the Rough Garden would work!"

Indra thought to himself.

The Rough Garden was where weapons were kept!

In his memory, it was a very ordinary place. The Heavenly Realm had been peaceful for too long, and he hadn't been there in ages!