From God of Lies to Lord of All Worlds

Chapter 257: The Ascetic, the Compassionate

What does a nation of believers look like?

The Vatican could not serve as an example because it was too small—so small that the donations of a few wealthy believers could wipe out the country's entire fiscal deficit.

Moreover, it was the heart of the global Catholic Church. Under the newly appointed Pope, iron-fisted methods and supernatural power had allowed the Vatican to complete a radical transformation from a mere religious state to a realm governed directly by the Pope.

The country itself did not resemble a nation of believers, but rather a nation of absolute theocratic authority!

However, the country before Bai Yang aligned much more closely with the definition of a nation of believers. Yet, this very definition was saturated with a peculiar, eerie religious mysticism.

Because, to the naked eye, there was absolutely nothing left but sheer poverty.

An intriguing statistic was that India claimed a poverty rate of 5.3 percent, while the World Bank placed it at 28 percent. In Myanmar, however, the rate was a staggering 32 percent!

Yes, in a Buddhist country where "everyone is equal," the poverty rate was higher than in a nation strictly divided by the Caste System. No matter how one looked at it, the irony was profound.

As Bai Yang personally descended into this situation, he began to understand the operational model of this realm and exactly how its contradictory nature had come to be.

This was a purely Buddhist nation. The only exception was the coastal Rakhine State, which still retained modern symbols and the presence of other religious atmospheres.Therefore, the economy there was relatively prosperous, boasting active commerce. As for everywhere else, War and death were everything!

Of course, none of this was the core issue. The true problem lay in the inherent numbness and desolation of the nation itself. Amidst economic collapse, Warlord conflicts, political infighting, and frequent climate disasters, the country lacked even a shred of vitality.

All that remained was severe poverty and starvation, along with a numb Populace living under the illumination of the so-called Buddha's Enlightenment.

Because Buddhism taught them endurance, as long as they were not on the verge of death, they simply endured.

"The Buddhism here does not seem like a religion guiding people toward compassion. Instead, it feels more like an instrument of Rule that has deeply penetrated the core of their nation. They firmly believe in Buddhism not out of genuine faith, but because they are too terrified to harbor any other emotions!"

When Bai Yang witnessed this scene, he felt an inexplicably complex mix of emotions. Because he could sense the feelings of every individual, he knew that their "faith" was less about devotion and more about fear. In this country most deeply blanketed by Buddhism, truly devout followers were pitifully few!

It was exactly like the original founding of Theravada Buddhism. They refused to accept gold, silver, and other precious items, leading to a conflict with the Mahasanghika sect, which sought to collect money. Choosing to leave, they formed the early framework of Theravada Buddhism.

Yet, in this country, the wealthiest individuals aside from the Warlords were the monks. The gold leaf-covered pagodas stood in horrifying contrast to the emaciated crowds.

Some monks even participated in open elections, becoming government officials who actively engaged in inciting Group Hotspots and stirring Nationalistic Sentiments. The contrast was staggering!

To put it bluntly, it was quite simple. This country was run like a Makeshift Organization, dragged along by many hands. Because no one actually wanted it to improve, it was able to barely sustain itself.

This went entirely against Eastern philosophical thinking. However, since Westerners were the ones dominating this approach, it was not hard to understand.

After all, within the logic of the Major Western Powers, only chaos allowed them to reap benefits, and only chaos made it convenient for them to intervene. Thus, they actively guided and perpetuated this turmoil.

Naturally, none of this fell within Bai Yang's scope of concern. In fact, what captured his attention was the depth of faith within this nation.

After experiencing India's Poison of Faith, Bai Yang understood that not all Wish Force could be safely extracted. The Wish Force born from those ancient beliefs very likely concealed venom.

The poison of Hinduism was the Caste System, a subservience passed down for millennia. Meanwhile, the poison of Myanmar's Buddhism was its Alienated Social System, the apathetic Populace, and the state of the world itself!

Thinking about it this way, the reason he could safely use America's Wish Force was entirely because he had donned the shell of The Lord, allowing that persona to absorb the poison.

The one being poisoned was Yahweh; what did it have to do with him?

Bai Yang smiled, completely clarifying the situation before him.

"Crown, even the most chaotic order is far better than the most orderly chaos! I originally thought America was the absolute limit, but then I arrived in India and Myanmar..."

Alvin wore an inexplicably complex expression. Compared to these two countries, America could practically be considered a global paragon!

"That is because you do not yet know of Africa and Central America..." Bai Yang could not help but mutter. War had always been a place that destroyed humanity. When order became entirely unbalanced and all structure descended into chaos, the people living at the very bottom were treated worse than mere consumables.

Having finished his thorough dissection of the country, Bai Yang resumed discussing work matters with Alvin. "The Core remains in the Netherworld, observing everything regarding Zanluo, and it will also collect the remaining Souls. Therefore, all the arrangements in this realm will have to be completed by us!"

"Crown, to what extent do you need this country developed?" Alvin asked. "Should it be like America, where we establish a force of our own, or like India, where we completely overthrow a portion of the Rule?"

"Neither!" Bai Yang waved his hand. "What I want is to end the chaos here, regardless of the method! After all, every single person is a potential believer. A little less War means we can harvest a bit more Wish Force!"

"I understand. In that case, this monk should meet your requirements!" Alvin raised his hand, highlighting a member of the Sangha and picking him out from the crowd.

The Sangha represented the Buddhist monks of Myanmar. In this country where almost everyone underwent a period of monastic life, being a monk was not particularly outstanding. However, ascetics remained figures of deep respect for everyone.

After all, this country still strictly followed the ancient precept of No Food After Noon. Serving as a short-term monk was manageable for many, but for those who became long-term monks, enduring year-round hunger and starvation became instinctual.

Ascetics, moreover, were required to undertake long treks, grueling cultivation, and arduous labor. As a result, the man Alvin highlighted looked incredibly gaunt.

But in stark contrast to his frail physique, his eyes shone with incomparable brightness.

The eyes were the windows to the soul. Through those eyes, Bai Yang could see the man's mental world, which was unimaginably solid and unwavering.

Clad in coarse cloth monastic robes, he tread barefoot across the rugged, uneven earth, holding his begging bowl as he walked down the street before them.

The thick calluses on his feet were the undeniable proof of his asceticism.

He did not beg for alms like the other monks. Instead, he simply walked along the road, taking one step at a time. It was only when he saw the Powerful Clans engaged in Dana that he stepped forward, pressing his palms together in prayer to receive food.

After he accepted the food, someone asked him out of curiosity, "Master Mion, why do you turn a blind eye to the alms offered by the people on the street, choosing only to accept food from these individuals? Do you believe they are unworthy of your blessing?"

Hearing this, the monk named Mion shook his head and whispered, "No, that is not it. I will equally bless every person I encounter. However, the people here cannot even afford to feed themselves every day, yet they continue to practice Dana for the monks. This is fundamentally wrong!"

"If I take a little less, perhaps a child in someone's home might be a little more full... And if they are full, perhaps they will fall ill a little less often!"

Hearing this, the surrounding people revealed highly bewildered gazes. Every single household operated this way. How could it be that in the eyes of this Sangha member, their normal way of life was deemed abnormal?

He was a fiercely independent monk. His thoughts were vastly different from what the majority believed.

Because of this, many cast strange looks his way as he pulled a large piece of white cloth from his robes. Written upon the white cloth were his declarations.

"Abolish Monk Privileges, abolish Military Control, let the Populace eat their fill!"

The moment those words were revealed, the area around him instantly cleared out, and many people began to vocally condemn his actions!

In this Buddhist nation, his actions could not even be described as merely unconventional. They were downright rebellious!

He was digging at the very roots of this country!

This was far too progressive for the entire nation. Thus, he was quickly driven away by Military and Police forces wielding guns. They brutally snatched away his white cloth and struck him a few times, beating him until he stumbled and cowered.

Yet, he merely spat out two mouthfuls of blood before leaving the area with a composed expression, heading toward the distant edges of the city.

Someone curiously asked a bystander, "Master Mion does this every single day, but his actions do not seem to have any effect at all!"

"Master Mion said that as long as his actions can benefit even a single person, he must continue!" an old man said softly, guiding the young man beside him. "We dare not speak out, but we must not mock those who dare to raise their voices. They are the only aid we commoners have left!"