Volume One, Chapter Fifty-Nine: Whose Schemes Are Most Effective?

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Whose Dark Scheme Works Best?

The Jin brothers were crestfallen. They had only two sons, and now both were leaving at once? Not a single one left behind? Tears welled up in Jin Mu’s eyes once more.

Tu Zhe felt helpless. This cheap old father of his might be timid, but he was also a man of deep feeling. At least, Tu Zhe could tell there was nothing lacking in his affection for his two sons.

He tried to persuade Little Lei: “Brother, it’s not that you can’t go with me, but what about our father and uncle? I won’t be here to care for them anymore. Shouldn’t you reconsider?”

Little Lei was blunt: “I don’t care. I’ve got one reason: I’m younger than you, so you have to give way to me.”

Well, this was someone who didn’t play by the rules.

Tu Zhe tried reasoning, and then tried tempting him—producing fistfuls of imperial-grade Brahma Crystals, saying, “If you stay, all these are yours, how about it?”

Little Lei ignored him completely. “Cut it out. If I go with you, would I lack for these? Do you take me for a fool?!”

Tu Zhe had no choice but to look to the Jin brothers for help.

Jin Si, more responsible than his cowardly brother, spoke up, “If he wants to go, let him go. At home, we can’t help him progress quickly. If you come across a good cultivation method, teach it to your brother. You have to look after him, don’t let him be bullied.”

Tu Zhe had no choice but to agree.

Little Lei’s face was set and solemn, lips pressed tight, but he could barely hold back a smile—he was proud, and it showed.

The dog-girl immediately exercised her authority as elder sister. “You have to behave and not be naughty, understand? Otherwise, I’ll pull your ear and spank you, got it?”

Meanwhile, Huluzhina, standing by the wall, was constantly receiving updates on Tu Zhe’s return.

He was informed that as soon as Tu Zhe came back, he gathered all his father’s and uncle’s guards together and put a protective barrier around his father’s palace. No one knew what he was up to.

But Huluzhina wasn’t worried. So what if he set up a barrier? There were several of his own agents inside. As soon as the barrier lifted, he’d know everything.

Sure enough, when the barrier came down, a flood of information arrived.

First, Tu Zhe apparently now possessed the strength of a Divine King.

Second, three beauties had appeared at Tu Zhe’s side, though their details were unknown.

Third, Tu Zhe used Brahma Crystals provided by Mara to collectively raise the power of the Jin brothers, Qin Lei, and all the guards. Even the lowest-ranked guard had reached the Srota-apanna Realm—which meant any one of them could now match the Eight Celestial Sons. The Jin brothers themselves had astonishingly reached the Divine King Realm, and even Qin Lei was now at the peak of the Great Sage Realm.

This was like a thunderclap. How could this be possible?

How could it be possible to raise so many people to such a level in just three days?

But all the agents’ reports matched, and they even claimed their own power had increased.

Was this intimidation?

Yes, it was blatant intimidation, saying, “Behave yourself, Eighth Prince. Any one of my people can beat you to a pulp.”

How had things turned out like this? Who would dare provoke the Jin brothers now? It would be asking for a beating.

Three Divine Kings—how was anyone supposed to survive this?

Huluzhina was burning with jealousy and rage, but he was helpless. Their strength was now not inferior even to the house of Indra himself.

The question was, how did that brat do it? Brahma Crystals? What kind of Brahma Crystals could do this? Saint-grade? Imperial-grade? Did such things even exist? Certainly not divine-grade! Did they have more wealth than his own family now?

No, his father had to be told.

There were still more messages to read.

Fourth: Tu Zhe planned to travel in three days across the Four Heavenly Kings’ Domain and the Great Salty Sea to visit the territory of Dog-girl Yema on Mount Vajra.

What? Passing through the Four Heavenly Kings’ Domain?

Immediately inform the “Enchantment Court” to ambush and kill that brat in the Four Heavenly Kings’ Domain. At least a Divine King at their peak would be needed to deal with him.

We’re willing to pay more than before, price is negotiable. What matters is that brat must die.

At that moment, Indra was locked in a silent duel of stares with Consort Yuyi, each trying to outlast the other.

Who said a look couldn’t kill? If it could, Yuyi would have chopped up the old emperor and fed him to the dogs long ago.

This man, handsome as a painting, was famed as one of the most beautiful men in the Three Realms. Even among women, few could match his looks.

Effeminate? You’re wrong. He might appear delicate, but his heart was ruthless and cunning, and he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Back when he sought Yuyi, he didn’t hesitate to start a war between two worlds, turning sun and moon upside down, flooding the Salty Sea, and causing countless deaths.

What was even more terrifying was his slyness. His mind was razor-sharp, and anyone who crossed him could expect endless trouble and calamity.

The only way to keep him in check was to be stronger than him; otherwise, he’d never let go. Even if you were strong, he could always borrow power and influence. Don’t forget, when Buddha Shakyamuni came to preach in the heavens, Indra set up a temporary platform using sandalwood from the Ox-Head Tree, delighting the Buddha. That patronage protected him from all sorts of trouble—if pressed, he could always appeal to the Buddha for justice.

And who dared offend the Buddha?

Back when the old emperor and Rahu both fought over Yuyi, sparking a war between two realms, Rahu, king of the Asuras, nearly defeated him utterly, almost costing him Mount Sumeru. It was only thanks to the Buddha transmitting the “King of Benevolence’s Protection Sutra” that he turned the tables, defeated Rahu, and ended the war through Yuyi’s marriage alliance.

So, though Yuyi despised the old emperor, she dared not push him too far; and he, too, dared not force her to appeal to her father. After all, the Buddha wouldn’t indulge him in every shameless act.

Thus, when Yuyi said she was going home to visit family today, Indra grew jealous.

Did she think he didn’t know what she was up to?

Was she going to see her “adopted” brother with her father?

Was she planning to change husbands?

Letting that brat greet his father-in-law in advance?

Don’t push me. Did she think he couldn’t guess what that brat was up to?

She was going home today, and the brat was leaving for Mount Vajra in three days?

Did they take him for a fool?

Did they think he didn’t know what the brat had been up to these past days? Even the Yakshas had advanced in cultivation, and one after another, they’d defected, openly seeking to become retainers of the Jin brothers.

As for that fool Huluzhina, how had he grown older but not wiser? Did he really believe his own reports? If they were true, his beautiful wife would be going home right now.

Ha! They were just playing games. Was the Eighth Prince really planning to ambush the brat in the Four Heavenly Kings’ Domain? Was he dreaming of fairy tales?

Yuyi left today, and the brat would leave in three days?

Outwitting them all would still take his own cunning.

After that protracted staring contest, Indra finally sneered, “Do as you please. How many guards do you want?”

Yuyi didn’t bother to respond. “Go mind your own worthless affairs, and stay out of mine.”

Indra didn’t insist. Once he left Yuyi’s chambers, he issued several secret orders.

Let’s see, if I don’t make your little lover disappear for good, how could I still call myself Indra?

I am Shakra Devendra—hmph...