Chapter 24: You're Still the Stronger One, What Have You Understood!
Vishnu's gaze swept downward.
Within the Milk Sea, Mandara Mountain spun increasingly faster.
Raging fires burned, and heavenly fire fell into the sea without sinking. Instead, like dust settling on glue, it floated up and down with the surface of the sea.
The Milk Sea heaved!
Sticky and gooey!
All of this foretold that treasures would soon emerge from the Milk Sea.
The coagulation was successful!
"It's coming out!"
Jinmu lifted his head, his gaze sharpening as he fixed his eyes on the base of Mandara Mountain, the thought rising in his mind.
Whoosh!
A stream of golden light flew out of the Milk Sea, shooting straight into the sky in an instant. The light burst forth, transforming into a towering Divine Tree. The tree was lush and vibrant green, its branches adorned with pearls, agates, and jewels of every kind, with numerous dazzling Divine Garments hanging from them.
It was full of scintillating colors, illuminating all directions.
The Wish-Fulfilling Divine Tree!
This tree was also named the Tree of Kalpas, and only one such tree existed within a kalpa, which is one thousand Divine Ages or four billion, three hundred and twenty million years.
The Wish-Fulfilling Divine Tree could produce anything one needed according to the time.
And upon sincere prayer, it could even fulfill wishes that were in accordance with the Righteous Law.
"Such a magnificent Divine Tree, this tree should belong to the Heavenly Realm; only we Devas are worthy of possessing it."
Sun God Surya took a step forward.
Standing sideways, a smile flickered across his radiant visage.
He could already imagine the heroic and glorious figure he would cut standing beneath this Wish-Fulfilling Divine Tree. Surely, he would be the most resplendent among the gods.
"Indeed, that's the principle!"
Moon God Soma nodded in agreement.
"I'll go get it!"
Wind God Vayu volunteered enthusiastically. His speed was unmatched among the gods, and as his voice faded, he had already surged into the sky, flying beside the Wish-Fulfilling Divine Tree.
"The Divine Tree!"
The light from the Divine Tree in front of Wind God Vayu grew increasingly bright, and he excitedly reached out towards the tree.
"It belongs to me!"
Jinmu bellowed as he leapt forth, back to back, slamming into Wind God Vayu like a mountain.
Boom!
At that moment, the scene was like a careening truck hitting a wheelchair, sending Wind God Vayu tumbling through the air, spinning towards the gathering of Gandharvas like a fiery wheel.
"Wind God!!!"
Surya and the other gods exclaimed in shock.
Indra too took a step forward, surprised by this turn of events.
So fast!
Not only was Jinmu's strength extraordinary, but his speed also surpassed that of the Wind God.
Caught in his surprise, Indra saw Wind God Vayu plummeting toward them. His eyelid twitched, and he raised his hand high, releasing a loud crackling as a vast net of lightning enveloped the surroundings.
Bang!!!
Wind God Vayu fell abruptly, ensnared by the Thunderbolt Divine Power. A buzzing sound spread out, and lightning shot in all directions, dancing wildly like dragons and snakes.
Not good!
The lightning was too strong; he couldn't control it!
Indra hurriedly dispersed the electric net, and peering down, he saw Vayu lying atop the Milk Sea, convulsing, occasionally trembling slightly.
"Vayu, are you alright?"
Indra immediately went over to help him up, placing his palm on Vayu's chest, the lightning doing a frenzied dance as he retracted the rampant Thunderbolt Divine Power.
"Vayu! Vayu!!!"
The other gods rushed over anxiously.
Fortunately, Wind God Vayu's Divine Body was robust, and he could recover from such injuries in a blink.
Amid the many gazes.
Wind God Vayu, clutching his chest, slowly stood up, his gaze very resentful.
"Heavenly Emperor, I admit you're a bit stronger. Compared to him, you hit harder!"
Vayu couldn't help but say.
After speaking, he couldn't help but glance again at Indra, swallowed hard, then turned his head to look at Jinmu in the distance.
"Heavenly Emperor, what do we do now?"
"The Divine Tree is about to fall into Jinmu's hands!"
Wind God Vayu spoke anxiously.
The rest of the gods also tensed up, all turning to Indra, ready to hear his strategy.
Indra, gazing at Jinmu from afar, raised three fingers to the gods.
"I have a three-step plan!"
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"Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!"
Indra said in a deep voice.
"First, Jinmu is too strong; we can't beat him, so it's better to retreat. Second, this Divine Tree is mysterious, containing great wisdom. The Asuras surely don't have the capability to fathom the profundity of the Divine Tree, so what's the harm in letting them have it."
"Thirdly..."
Indra blinked and squeezed out a calm smile on his face.
Alright!
He hadn't thought of the third reason yet.
"I think you all understand now!"
Indra said.
The gods looked at each other in dismay.
What did the Heavenly Emperor mean by that? What is the third reason?
Sun God Surya slightly furrowed his brow, glanced at the puzzled gods around him, and thought to himself, "I am second only to the Heavenly Emperor among the Devas. If the Heavenly Emperor says so and the other gods understand but I don't, that would be a loss of face."
With this thought, a light dawned on him.
With a mysterious smile, Sun God Surya slowly nodded, stood tall and proud, and looked at the other Devas with a haughty air.
"I understand!"
Surya said.
"Ah?"
"What do you understand?"
Fire God Agni couldn't help asking in confusion.
Surya smiled without saying anything.
Agni then looked at Indra, who also smiled without saying anything.
For a moment, Agni stood frozen, his face turning a sheepish red.
He squinted his eyes, his pupils darting around nervously.
That won't do!
"We three are known as the trio of fire, the fire of the Air, Indra; the fire of the Heavenly Realm, Surya; and myself, the fire of the earth, Agni."
"If both of them understand and I don't, I'd seem too foolish!"
This was what Fire God Agni thought to himself.
The next moment, he clapped his hands together with a snap, let out a loud laugh, and proclaimed, "I understand!"
"Ah! I understand!"
"Understood! I also get it! The Heavenly Emperor's plan is indeed well thought out!"
Water God Varuna and Wind God Vayu also added their voices.
Moon God Soma was utterly bewildered.
What did these guys really understand?!
Amidst his confusion, Wind God Vayu, Sun God Surya, Fire God Agni, and Water God Varuna all turned their heads, their eyes twinkling like stars, seeming to wait for his response.
"Soma, what do you think?!"
Sun God Surya asked.
Soma fell silent for a moment, then put on a show of looking around, considering that if all the gods understand, he couldn't be the last to get it.
"That makes sense; the three points the Heavenly Emperor made are very reasonable!"
Soma emphatically nodded his head.
Indra: "???"
"Oh man, what have they really figured out?"
Indra inwardly gasped, his gaze sweeping over the gods who appeared to be full of confidence, causing him a start.
Such confidence!
It really seemed like they had thought of something!
...
Above the Milk Sea.
The shade of the Wish-Fulfilling Divine Tree fell upon the mighty figure of Jinmu, the fierce winds of the Milk Sea blew past the Divine Tree, stirring a faint fragrance that left Jinmu feeling refreshed and carefree.
He looked out into the distance at the many Devas who had gathered in the rear within Gandharva, and couldn't help but laugh uproariously.
"Haha! A bunch of weak and spineless Devas!"
"I, Jinmu, ought to be the ruler of the Three Realms!"
Jinmu laughed heartily, his gigantic arm suddenly swept down, grasping the Wish-Fulfilling Divine Tree in one swoop.
"This treasure is mine now! Hahaha!"
Jinmu excitedly held the Divine Tree in both hands, closely inspecting it.
Within the silhouette of the Divine Tree, a figure gleaming with golden light materialized, smiled faintly at him, and then, with a swoosh, the Divine Tree instantly vanished.
"Jinmu, I think this tree is fated to be with the Devas!"
Vishnu, supporting the Divine Tree, stood in front of Jinmu and said with a smile.
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