I was a charlatan in India

Incidentally, although Mina's gold-inlaid jade linga was switched by Shenhe, after she worshipped it, the effect was exactly the same as the genuine article.

This surprised Shenhe somewhat.

Why do the worship effects of the same lingam be completely different for Arti and Mina?

Does the effect depend on the believer, rather than the lingam itself?

No, that's not right either. When Arthi worships, the two lingams react completely differently.

However, despite both being counterfeit gold-inlaid jade artifacts, the feedback from Arti and Mina after their visits to the temple was vastly different.

"...It seems that both the believers and the linga are right...wait a minute!"

It was as if a bolt of lightning cleaved through the fog in Shenhe's mind.

Does the actual effect of the lingam lie not in what it is, but in what believers think it is?

Mina had no idea that the gold-inlaid jade had been switched, so in her eyes, the two linga were exactly the same!

As for Artit...

Shenhe, who could hear her thoughts, naturally knew that her criteria for judgment were very simple.

The first linga root was gray and bare, and didn't look like anything good.

The second linga tree is golden and so beautiful!

Perhaps, in Arti's eyes, beauty is good.

...If we get something prettier, it might be even more effective.

You know what, Shenhe's casual guess was actually very close to the truth.

The actual effect of the lingam truly depends on the believer's judgment.

If they think this linga is good, then it will be effective; if they don't like it, then this linga won't be very useful.

Believers are the foundation of God.

Of course, this judgment is also limited by the believer's knowledge.

Arti doesn't understand anything, so his standard of judgment is basically whether he likes it or not.

Mina, who is well-educated, has a rather complex knowledge system, which includes the prices of gold and gems.

In this era, gemstones were more expensive than gold, so gold-inlaid jade was better than pure gold.

If we were to move to the modern era, gold would be far more expensive than gemstones, and pure gold would be better than gold inlaid with jade.

That's roughly the logic.

If you believe it, there will be nothing.

This modern-day charlatan's spiel is actually absolutely right.

Therefore, mature deities often assign value to their symbols, making believers feel that these things are extremely precious, which naturally provides them with more power.

For example, a pure silver ten...

Just like the tungsten-made linga in Shenhe, strictly speaking, it was the world's first tungsten product.

If confirmed, the price will be terrifying, and the effect might even surpass that of gold-inlaid jade.

Surya's side.

The process of entertaining Anshu was somewhat awkward and abrupt.

Even Surrey himself felt a little guilty.

However, Shenhe's voice quickly drew his attention away.

"Suriye, you have accumulated enough power through asceticism. Let's talk about what's next."

Surrey immediately perked up.

When Da Tian suddenly fell silent, he wondered if it was because his hard work in cultivation was insufficient.

Now that I see it, it's indeed true!

So, in that short period of time, we managed to collect enough, right?

Oh, heavens, you should have said so earlier! Do you think I owe you anything?

Wait a minute, after we finish talking, I'll expand a few more repair factories, expand them like crazy!

Up the stakes!

...As you know, believers will overinterpret any attitude a deity has; that's something that can't be avoided.

The central message of the communication with Surrey was very clear.

First, arrange an education for Arti.

Teachers from all social classes, from Brahmins to Shudras, were needed.

Shenhe hopes that no matter how things develop in the future, or what status or position they hold, Arti will have the ability to cope.

"It's just a matter of one sentence!"

"Don't worry, Da Tian, ​​I'll have the best teachers brought over to give her a top-notch education!"

"very good."

Shenhe was not worried about this matter.

With Surya's support and Blessing's protection, Arti should be doing well, at least in the human world.

"The second thing is to give you an opportunity."

Shenhe confided.

"Your extraordinary path is destined to be accompanied by wealth and respect."

That's utter nonsense. Shenhe can't even see his own future clearly, so how could he possibly know the path of Suliye?

However, this does not prevent him from inciting others.

"And our next step is to put you in control of wealth."

However, the claim that he possesses wealth is not an exaggeration.

The power to revive one's former glory, in any era, could bring terrifying wealth.

Moreover, since the Kshatriyas themselves were involved, there was no need to pay taxes, nor would they be inexplicably swept away and plundered; it was a completely smooth road.

Surrey's eyes lit up when he heard this.

He'd personally experienced those effects, my goodness...

The feeling of skill and power combined is simply mesmerizing!

If Heaven allows me to make money from this, then taxes and all sorts of other shady businesses are irrelevant...

It's not worth mentioning at all!

Just kidding, even the old man would probably have to beg me to give him a chance!

"Oh my god, is it really true?"

Surrey could hardly believe it!

"nature."

Shenhe affirmed, "However, this blessing is not something everyone can enjoy."

"They must become my followers, and they must be compassionate and not be violent or harmful to the people."

"At the same time, those family members who are kind-hearted and upright should also be included."

Shenhe wants to try changing the ratio of believers.

The current believers are all from the lower classes, which is not good.

Under the caste system, India's lower classes are rife with negative emotions, such as resignation to fate, greed, shortsightedness, and hatred of rules.

They can't be blamed for this.

You could throw Surya into the lowest rungs of society and make her suffer for a few days; it would be the same thing.

But if one's divinity is filled with these things, it will undoubtedly become more and more distorted.

Shenhe strongly suspects that the rules of this ascetic practice are so extreme that they are essentially born from despair.

Since reality was beyond saving, I simply slammed on the gas and accelerated hard.

While the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, or the wealthier Vaishyas also had their own troubles, they were generally well-fed and clothed and thus had the right to pursue their dreams and aspirations.

Shenhe needs this to temper the malevolence within its divinity.

As for whether these guys are worthy or not...

Hey!

I just hope that, under the lure of profit, they can at least behave like human beings!

Of course, the presence of some high-ranking officials is clearly not enough to dilute the problems of the existing believers.

So Shenhe assigned a third task.

"This third trial is to change the entire Varanasi."

"Sulliya, this is your territory, it should not be used as an object of exploitation and amusement."

"Trying to fix market taxes, prevent patrolling soldiers from extorting money arbitrarily, and give the local people a little respite would be a great achievement."

"Your father will be proud of you, and this is the necessary path for you to achieve greatness."

According to Shenhe, the root of the resentment among the lower classes in Varanasi lies in the hopeless exploitation.

Take Dana, for example. Even someone as shrewd as him struggles to survive in this godforsaken place, let alone the rest of the lower class.

Whether it's the exorbitant taxes, the laissez-faire attitude towards Knakaku, or Suliye's short-sighted approach to ecology, each of these factors is squeezing their living space and fueling resentment.

Under normal circumstances, Shenhe would be unlikely to ask believers to sacrifice their vested interests in order to promote his ideas.

Because right and wrong are often strongly related to one's stance.

Everyone thinks their own ideas are correct, even the tyrannical Kshatriyas, who are also protecting their own interests, which is normal.

But if Surrey had handled the previous matter well, he wouldn't be short of money.

This opportunity was given by myself, and in exchange, I can naturally loosen the shackles around my neck.

...At least for now, Shenhe still holds this view.

This idea is naive, even somewhat innocent and foolish.

Shenhe lacked the ability to govern a city-state.

He didn't know how to build an ideal state.

I just feel that since these are clearly evil laws, it should be a good thing to let Surya change them with the huge wealth that is about to come.

……

Hahaha, humanity isn't so easily redeemed!