The original Sun God Armor made of gold had a thousand layers, each taking a thousand years of the power of asceticism to break through, and when each layer shattered, it would instantly kill an enemy.
But now his Divine Armor, though not as powerful as the original, could be DIY-ed according to his own will.
It would grow and evolve on its own with the power of asceticism.
"Not bad!"
Indra's heart settled slightly.
This piece, although not a complete Sun God Armor, fitted Indra's preferences much more closely.
Now, there were not many Asuras devoted to asceticism!
Only after Jinmu and Jīnchuáng, the two brothers who relied on Brahma's blessings to threaten the Three Realms and routed the Devas, did the majority of the Asuras see the power of ascetic practice and begin to ask Brahma for blessings.
"Praise Surya!"
Indra said.
"Praise Indra!"
Surya also had a slight smile on his face, and clasping his hands together, he returned the salute.
At that moment, the Ritual Master Immortal was also moved, his furrowed brows relaxed, revealing an expression of relief as if watching a child grow up.
Indra had grown!
His assistance had finally paid off!
…
In Brahmaloka.
Brahma's four faces slightly tilted, his eyes flickering, as he looked down upon the situation in the Heavenly Realm below.
"It's not easy for Indra to have such insight!"
Brahma was slightly surprised.
Hearing this, the Saraswati Goddess nodded and said, "Previously, he was unscrupulous in seeking the position of Heavenly Emperor!"
"It's always been this way for a Heavenly Emperor!"
"The position of Heavenly Emperor represents the leader of all gods in the world, the highest status, the most enduring luxury, the most boundless welfare!"
"It also breeds endless arrogance, even the most humble believer seated on this throne will develop a heart of pride and fear of losing the position of Heavenly Emperor,"
Brahma said.
He thought what Indra was doing now was pretty good!
The only problem was cursing Vishnu's mount Garuda!
But it wasn't the first or second time the Heavenly Emperor had angered the Three Aspects Deity, and he had also provoked Shiva each time, Shiva really could kill the Heavenly Emperor, who was then forgiven by Shiva after repenting.
The blessings of the Heavenly Emperor's position are such that all is well as long as there is willingness to repent.
Indra had repented before and dared to do it again the next time!
Vishnu must be used to it by now!
Moreover, it was Garuda who erred first this time, so a little punishment is not a problem.
…
Above the Milk Sea.
Vishnu lay on his side atop the Thousand-headed Serpent King Shesha, with the Mysterious Wheel of Sight spinning on his fingertip, a look of melancholy on his face.
Strands of golden light drifted from the horizon, encircling him before sinking into Vishnu's body.
This was the power Vishnu had left in Garuda.
In Indian mythology, when a believer offers himself as a temple to the Supreme Lord and worships with heartfelt devotion, he can receive the Supreme Lord's endless favor.
But now…
The power left in Garuda's body was returning!
"My poor devotee, to suffer such a disaster because of me... Garuda is so arrogant that I fear I must send an avatar to guide him. But first, my urgent task is to churn the Milk Sea; Garuda will have to wait!"
Vishnu felt melancholic.
The busiest of the Three Aspects Deity was him!
Mahadeva Shiva meditated and practiced asceticism daily; Brahma slept soundly in Brahmaloka, and it was he who was always busiest, maintaining the world and cleaning up after the gods.
So tiring!
Vishnu shook his head, feeling Garuda drawing closer, and the Mysterious Wheel of Sight at his fingertips shimmered with brilliance.
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, Vishnu and Shesha disappeared from view.
…
Elsewhere.
Garuda was on his way searching for the Supreme Lord.
He spread his wings and soared, his golden wings like the break of dawn, scattering light gold across the heavens as he flew instantaneously across the Mortal Realm, over the Earth, and toward the midst of the Milk Sea.
Whoosh!
The golden wings swept by, stirring up waves upon the vast Milk Sea.
Garuda flapped his wings powerfully, rushing in the direction of Vishnu.
"Supreme Lord!"
His golden eagle eyes swept around, but he couldn't see the figure of Lord Vishnu.
He again vibrated his wings and searched through the Milk Sea, yet he couldn't catch a glimpse of the Lord, nor could he feel the slightest trace of His presence.
"The curse has already come true!"
A weight sank in Garuda's heart.
He folded his wings and transformed into the figure of an Immortal with wings on his back, his form slowly descending, alighting upon the surface of the Milk Sea, his expression lonely and desolate.
Above the surface of the sea, there was only his lone figure.
"Could it be that I have to submit to Indra!"
Garuda clenched his teeth and frowned as he spoke.
At that thought, he immediately shook his head.
How could he submit to Indra?
No! Absolutely not!
"I will also practice asceticism to seek the Supreme Lord's blessing!"
Garuda gritted his teeth and declared then and there.
If Indra could practice asceticism to lift a curse, he too could undertake asceticism to resolve this curse!
Garuda slowly closed his eyes, stood on one foot, with his big toe standing firm upon the Milk Sea, his hands joined together, raised high above his head, entering into a state of intense asceticism in this distinctive yoga pose.
"Praise Lord Vishnu!"
"Praise Lord Vishnu!"
...
Voices echoed from Garuda's mouth, reverberating over the expanse of the Milk Sea.
Whoosh! The waves of the Milk Sea boiled, the sea breeze howled, blowing against Garuda's body.
Garuda's brow furrowed deeply.
A profound sense of emptiness swelled within him, as if he had lost his pillar of support.
"This won't do!"
With a start, Garuda opened his eyes, a look of bewilderment crossing his face.
As soon as he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but think of the Lord's voice and smile, but no matter how much he praised, he received no response from the Lord, not even a sense of His existence.
He couldn't enter the meditative realm of ascetic practice at all!
"Alas!"
Garuda clenched his fist and pounded it against his chest.
"The world is in the Lord's heart, and the Lord is in my heart. Just as the Lord can dedicate Himself for the world, I too can dedicate myself for the Lord—it's merely a matter of apologizing to Indra!"
"For the Lord, I can bear this slight!"
Garuda consoled himself.
This is what he told himself, but still, he couldn't overcome his inner hurdle.
"Indra is clearly more arrogant than I am, less reverent to the Lord; why should I apologize to him?!"
"Why should I?!"
Sorrow crossed Garuda's face as he paced to and fro above the Milk Sea, hands on hips, wandering back and forth.
Swish!
Suddenly, on the surface of the Milk Sea, a sharp white light abruptly streaked straight across.
Garuda squinted at the light.
"That's... the Venerable White One!"
"Su Jie (jie)!"
Garuda muttered to himself with a furrowed brow.
Su Jie was not just the Immortal representative of Venus; he was also the mentor of the Asura, and the master of the King of Asura.
Now that Su Jie appeared above the Milk Sea, the only possibility was that he was there to seek Lord Vishnu, praying that the Lord would help the Asura regain their strength.
"If Su Jie finds the Lord and allows the Asura to regain their strength first, it will be bad for the Devas!"
"The Lord doesn't like the Asura at all; the Lord favors the Devas more!"
"To put the Lord at ease, I definitely have to find the Devas, have them come here too, and stop the Asura's scheme!"
"I am doing this for the welfare of the Devas, that's why I'd go back!"
"It's not because I am trapped by the curse, that I have no choice but to seek Indra!"
Gleam filled Garuda's eyes as he found a reason to seek an audience with Indra.
Whoosh!
The next moment, he soared into the sky.