Asura was innocent and kind. He had never known there was such a secret behind it all, and for a moment, his mind reeled. He no longer knew whether his victory was genuine or merely his father's charity.
The Sage of Six Paths' expression darkened completely. With his eldest son exposing his selfish motives in public, a trace of embarrassment and anger appeared on his face for the first time.
As Indra watched his father's silence, the last flicker of warmth in his heart went out.
He slowly straightened his back and stood proud and aloof, his eyes steeped in dark obsession.
"So that's how it is."
"I finally understand."
"You aren't choosing the successor best suited to Ninshu."
"You're simply choosing the successor most like yourself."
The main hall of Ninshu fell utterly silent. Every disciple held their breath, their gazes fixed on the Sage of Six Paths in his high seat as they quietly waited for his final explanation.
Faced with Indra's questions, each one piercing the truth, the Sage of Six Paths merely let out a soft sigh.
"Indra, with your unparalleled strength, you did indeed swiftly eliminate the calamities lingering in this world and quell the disasters before you."
"But you must remember that power can only resolve suffering on the surface. It can never truly redeem the human heart."
His tone was calm, carrying an authority that brooked no argument. Every word served to deny everything Indra had done.
"You purged the toxins from the land and cleared away the Ten-Tails' malevolence, yet you failed to root out the greed, strife, and selfish desires in people's hearts."
"Once you left, the villagers fought over water, slaughtered one another, and destroyed their village."
"That alone proves that what you did was far from enough. Your path