Chapter 17: Exchange, I am the King of Asura!
"Is Indra really such a person?"
Wind God Vayu, felt his emotions surge and couldn't help but speak out.
As the Wind God, he was the vanguard of the gods, as well as a general, and had an exceptionally close relationship with Indra, the War God. They understood each other very well.
However, he had not expected Indra to be so eager for battle now!
"I'm coming!"
Wind God Vayu immediately followed suit.
Sun God Surya wore a helpless expression, exchanging a glance with Fire God Agni, he sighed and shook his head before following along.
Water God Varuna was taken aback.
Although he also wanted to go to the serpent's head, it would be improper to go against the flow when all the Devas had gone to the serpent's tail. He glanced at the distant Asura army, swallowed hard, and hurriedly followed to the serpent's tail.
On the other side.
"Let's go, we're heading to the serpent's head!"
With a commanding wave of his hand, Jinmu promptly prepared to set off.
He could hardly wait to snatch away the treasures churned from the Milk Sea!
"Wait a minute!"
Suddenly, Asura General [Brahman] stood out.
He appeared middle-aged, his golden armor gleaming like dawn and clanging like shattered glass upon his imposing stature.
"They've made their choice too quickly, heading straight to the serpent's tail. I suspect there's a plot within this. I propose we swap places with the Devas, let them go to the serpent's head and we head to the serpent's tail!"
Brahman narrowed his eyes, gazing into the distance at the Devas, analyzing.
Upon hearing this, Sukhacara Sage furrowed his brows.
A flicker of speculation crossed his calm eyes.
"That's right!"
"With Shesha's body coiled around Mandara Mountain, the pulling from both sides will surely cause him pain, and he will spew flames, scorching our forces.
"We must swap places with the Devas!"
Analysing, the Sukhacara Sage spoke.
Hearing Sukhacara Sage's analysis, the rest of the Asuras had a moment of realization.
Jinmu scoffed coldly, waving his hand nonchalantly.
"What can mere snake venom and snake fire do? Aren't you Asura warriors? Are you afraid?!"
Jinmu's eyes swept around the gathering.
Brahman fell silent.
The Sukhacara Sage's face grew longer and his expression darker.
Asura General [Vibhrajit] appeared hesitant, but eventually he stepped forward and cautiously said, "My son [Rahu] is skilled in the Maya Illusion Technique, perhaps we can have him transform into one of the Devas to secretly investigate."
"No need!"
Jinmu's eyes widened, his beard bristled, and with a wave of his hand, he directly rebutted [Vibhrajit]'s suggestion.
"As long as I am here, these Devas stand no chance of winning!"
"I am the King of Asura, Vishnu couldn't kill me, I am victory! I am glory!"
"All you need to do is obey my orders!"
"Move out!"
With a grand wave of his hand, King Jinmu of Asura immediately summoned the Asura army and marched towards the head of Shesha.
"Stop your foolishness, ignorant Jinmu, one day your arrogance will be your downfall!"
Sukhacara Sage shouted angrily.
"Teacher, I respect you, but that doesn't give you the right to interfere with my orders."
"I am the Asura King!"
Jinmu snorted coldly, his feet treading upon the Milk Sea, sending resounding booms as he created waves,turning and leaving.
The Sukhacara Sage's face darkened, too angered to speak.
...
"Hm?!"
Indra rubbed his eyes, raised his hand to his brow, and looked off into the distance.
He saw the Asura army, vast and teeming like countless slanting raindrops, already flying towards the serpent's head.
That's not right!
Weren't these Asuras supposed to come over and swap places according to the legend?
Now they're proceeding so readily!
"Eh? Great! They're heading towards the serpent's head!"
Sun God Surya exclaimed with excitement.
"This is good! Quite good!"
The Wind God Vayu nodded, feeling a sense of relief in his heart.
The corners of the Fire God Agni's and the Water God Varuna's mouths couldn't help but turn up into pleased smiles.
Excellent!
With this, the Asuras at the head of the serpent would have to bear Shesha's deadly poison and flames.
Indra's face fell with disappointment.
It seemed he could not accelerate his ascetic practices!
In the Three Realms, as long as one undertook ascetic practices, they could gain the Power of Asceticism, and if they endured even more brutal austerities, they would receive even more of that power.
Forget it!
I'll accumulate it slowly!
Indra shook his head, moved to the midst of the gods, gazed at the scales that rose and fell like mighty peaks, and transformed into his divine form.
Whoosh!
Indra's body flickered, transforming into an immeasurably huge giant.
He was complete with limbs, his whole body golden, exhibiting boundless strength, his eyes were like the sun, radiating brilliant light.
Before him, the Fire God Agni also transformed, clothed in black, with four arms, three heads, and seven tongues, surrounded by a swirling mist of smoke.
Hmm!
"I still look a little bit more handsome!"
Indra nodded to himself.
Numerous Devas also manifested in their true forms.
The Asuras on the other side were also all transforming, into giants, aquatic monsters, or three-headed dragons and serpents.
At that moment, Indra looked down from above. The once vast and boundless scales now seemed much smaller in his eyes.
He raised his hands, positioned at the left side of the serpent's tail, and with his right hand, he embraced the serpent's tail around his waist.
In an instant, hundreds of thousands of Devas and Asuras simultaneously moved, grabbing hold of the body of the Thousand-headed Serpent King Shesha and began to stir it.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Shesha's body, entwined around Mandara Mountain, rolled without stopping.
The entire massive Mandara Mountain, with the spirit tortoise as its base, also began to slowly spin at this moment, fervently churning the Milk Sea.
Whoosh!
Waves towered to the sky, tumbling incessantly, the entire Milk Sea seemed to surge and swell at this moment.
Indra already had the title of "Son of Great Strength," and possessed boundless might. Pulling up the gigantic serpent tail was not difficult for him.
However, churning the Milk Sea was an exceedingly long process, one that would last at least several hundred years, by which time he likely wouldn't have much strength left.
His thoughts stirred, sensing the ascetic powers within him.
Below his abdomen, the Power of Asceticism danced wildly like thunder and lightning, ascending gradually.
"The Power of Asceticism is increasing!"
Indra's eyes brightened.
For a while, his arms tightly clamped the serpent's tail, immediately gaining more drive and he started pulling with all his might.
As the saying goes, you reap what you sow, and every instance of endured hardship can accumulate the Power of Asceticism, which in a sense meant effort was rewarded.
Indra was ecstatic, exerting himself as he pulled at the serpent's tail.
The surrounding Devas, witnessing this scene, couldn't help but admire him.
The Heavenly Emperor was exerting so much effort!
They, too, wanted to show off their strength.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Tens of thousands of Devas exerted their strength, pulling hard on the serpent's tail.
For a moment, Mandara Mountain actually started to move slowly towards the Devas' side.
How could this be acceptable?!
Upon seeing this scene, Jinmu's eyes widened with fury, he turned his head sharply, his gaze cold as he looked back at the numerous Asuras behind him and roared.
"Pull harder!"
"Are you saying you can't outpull those Devas?"
Jinmu bellowed angrily.
The many Asuras shuddered in unison, looking at Jinmu with fear, and also started to pull on the serpent's head with all their might.
Jinmu snorted coldly, his arms embracing a serpent head, then he turned and pulled backward.
Hiss hiss hiss!
The serpent head, with a ghastly appearance, opened its mouth in agony, and its tongue lashed wildly. Fiery waves of intense fire and venomous serpent flames immediately gushed forth, hurtling towards Jinmu's face.
What!!!!