Poor Taoist Qiu Chuji

Chapter 409 The Journey to India
Plant a golden apple tree with the power of creation, and send out golden apples as an incentive for being the best in thousands of industries.

Qiu Chuji may have consumed a great deal of his life force, but America will never have peace. Countless ambitious and driven people will fight tooth and nail for that opportunity.

Qiu Chuji's actions embodied power and authority in a specific form, but removed the threshold of knowledge and wealth.

It may not be suitable for all countries or all people, but it is definitely suitable for America.

Even those without talent will use the golden apple as an excuse to indulge their ambitions and desires even more.

The winds of true freedom are already blowing in countries that pride themselves on freedom!
No one can stop it now.

Because Qiu Chuji has planted the tree in the hearts of all Americans.

Unless an entire generation of Americans is wiped out, the golden apple tree will never be felled, and even after a period of time, the golden apples that are produced every three months will no longer need to be transformed by Qiu Chuji using the Qi of Creation.

The hopes and aspirations of all beings have been enough to bear fruit.

The power hidden within people's will and expectations is boundless.

As long as the Golden Apple Tree stands, and the turmoil caused by the Golden Apple continues, Qiu Chuji's mark will remain forever on this land, never to disappear.

The great battle lasted for five months before it finally came to a real end.

The gods of America must gradually get used to the changes brought about by the golden apple tree, and the constant challenges that those who obtained the golden apple will face in the future.

Even though those people seem weak compared to them now, time will bring about change.

As long as the seed takes root and sprouts, it will eventually grow into a towering tree.

After fighting the gods of America, Qiu Chuji disappeared for more than half a year.

The chaotic situation among the gods of various countries gradually became clearer and more understandable over the past six months.

The result was unsurprising: it broke down the boundaries between nations and between gods, which were defined by their civilizational attributes.

Internally, the gods born from the same civilization may fight fiercely among themselves, but externally, they can also work together to compete for greater global influence.

Nordic, Greek, Slavic, Egyptian... one after another, ancient and distinctive pantheons have announced their resurgence, and have begun to combine and promote themselves externally, even brazenly replacing those once ancient and sacred names.

China has undoubtedly become the most dominant force in this competition between nations, mythologies, and civilizations.

From a national perspective, China is a powerful and rapidly developing country with well-developed infrastructure and a large population. Most of the Chinese who return to their homeland do not even need to seek opportunities elsewhere. Meeting the expectations of a portion of the Chinese population is enough for them to make a fortune.

From a mythological perspective, it is also full of martial virtue, and no matter how many outsiders covet it, it can easily fight them off.

The influence of civilization spread throughout Asia, gradually solidifying the previously fragmented and internally divided Asian region. Under the influence and impetus of the former two, no matter how stubborn other Asian countries were, they still instinctively moved closer to their long-time suzerain state.

Their national identity has long been established, and their future has already been predetermined.

The world is in turmoil, and the 'culprit' that once stirred up storms in the Americas and single-handedly turned the former world's leading power into the most chaotic place today has yet to appear.

Some speculate that he actually perished in the battle with the American gods.

However, the American gods did not want to start a war with the Chinese gods over this, so they concealed the news and did not send a message.

However, some say that Qiu Chuji transformed into the Golden Apple Tree, becoming the biggest mastermind behind the scenes in America. When a new, complete, and unified powerful pantheon grows on that chaotic land, Qiu Chuji will appear as the supreme god of that pantheon and pluck the most abundant fruit.

Regardless of outside speculation, Qiu Chuji will not respond.

Even if someone searched the entire United States, they could not find a trace of him.

Because he was not in America, nor did he, as many returning travelers speculated, cross the sea directly to Europe to plot the sweeping of the entire old Catholic parish.

After conquering the entire Americas, Qiu Chuji realized that he didn't actually need to sweep through Europe.

Although it is an old Catholic parish, God's backyard and private reserve, and returnees from related worlds will have a natural advantage there, it is precisely because of their power that there are limitations.

Catholicism is ultimately a monotheistic religion. Angels are merely messengers of God and are not deities themselves. Even if they possess power, they do not hold authority.

In this ancestral land, authority is righteousness.

If the name is not correct, the words will not be correct.

Even the most powerful angel is no match for a weak god in the realm of God.

Any heretics would be suppressed there, with no room for survival or activity.

In short, that area is very difficult to conquer, but they also cannot develop their own economy.

It's a double-edged sword.

For example, magical civilization originated in Europe, but it was not them who truly popularized the concept.

Therefore, America has a god of magic, while the major European continents do not.

A classic case of "blooming inside the wall but fragrant outside."

So, where exactly is Qiu Chuji now?

Mumbai, India.

The scorching sunlight cleaved through the brownish-yellow mist of rising spices, and the tricycle bells scraped sharp marks in Mumbai's caramel-colored air.

Qiu Chuji sat on the plastic seat of the tricycle, his knees resting against the rusty iron railing.

The air was filled with the smell of sandalwood powder and cow dung, like chewed gum that had been chewed repeatedly and stuck to the soles of shoes for a long time. It looked disgusting, but no one wanted to reach out and clean it. All they could do was keep rubbing, rubbing and rubbing on the ground. Even after wiping off the surface layer, their feet still felt sticky.

As soon as the green light turned, some marigold wreaths splattered and shattered on the asphalt, brushing against the rearview mirror. The Sikh driver stretched out his palm and cursed angrily. A cart loaded with pumpkins overturned nearby and was immediately snatched up by a group of children.

The already precarious road was completely blocked.

Neither loudspeakers nor shouts could bring the congested traffic to any sign of returning to normal.

As the smoke from the incense burning along the roadside spread, it obscured the lively scene, making the already hot weather even more unbearable.

Sweat trickled down the Sikh driver's spine and into his salt-soaked cotton shirt, and the turban wrapped around his head always emitted a strange smell.

At this moment, the air is filled with the fumes of fried samosas and the sweet, pungent smell of rotting mangoes.

However, one should not scrutinize it too closely, otherwise it will only make things worse.

The gray ox carrying the earthenware pot suddenly raised its head and used its horns to smash the plastic awning of the roadside water stall. Then it relieved itself in the bucket.

The stall owner, who was initially somewhat dissatisfied, was not angry at all upon seeing this; instead, he beamed with joy and hung up a sign advertising the sale of holy water.

Chaotic, crowded, noisy, and dirty!
This seems to be the place furthest from civilization in the civilized world.

Unlike some primitive tribes in Africa that are ignorant, barbaric, and uncivilized, it possesses a brilliant civilization, ancient history, numerous myths, and is also the theoretical birthplace of Buddhism. Why is it only theoretical?
Although Buddhism originated in ancient India, its specific origin is Kapilavastu, which is located in what is now southern Nepal.

However, Buddhism and Hinduism are still closely connected. Many Buddhist theories and stories were created to correspond with Hinduism, sharing the same origin but not the same lineage.

So in a sense, they are each other's 'evil forces'.

If it were a normal timeline, then this country would have too many points that would make people look down on it and laugh at it.

But as mythology returns and the supernatural gradually emerges, India... will unleash its immense potential and threat on another level.

This is a kingdom of gods!

Even in the past, it was known for its prevalence of religion, with almost the entire population being religious.

Now, it is the final battleground for all cultivators who aspire to obtain the Great Luo Certificate.

The reason Qiu Chuji chose Mumbai, India as his last stop before Da Luo was, of course, because it is home to the world-renowned Bollywood.

Bollywood films have produced many excellent works, and the frequent use of song and dance scenes is a major characteristic of them.

Although smartphone penetration in India is not low and the internet is an excellent medium for communication, what truly endures is a collection of classic, memorable, and universally appealing stories.

After more than an hour of crowding and waiting, Qiu Chuji's car finally left the chaotic street intersection.

However, upon arrival at their destination, the Sikh driver immediately raised the price fivefold, claiming that traffic congestion on the way had delayed him for too long, and that Qiu Chuji would have to pay for it.

This was originally a traffic problem. You could blame the road administration, the traffic police, or even the poor quality of the locals. But the driver obviously didn't think that way. He felt that if he hadn't been taking Qiu Chuji here, he wouldn't have encountered the traffic jam and wouldn't have wasted so much time.

Therefore, Qiu Chuji should also be held responsible for this.

Furthermore, the driver stated that if Qiu Chuji did not pay five times the fare, he would spend an hour each day meditating and cursing him for a month.

Hmm... this threat is quite strange!

And isn't this just wasting more time?

Qiu Chuji did not argue with him. After paying, he looked up at the temple in front of him.

This was his first destination on this trip.

Of course, Qiu Chuji would not reveal his identity casually before meeting the person he wanted to see.

The methods that were widely adopted in the United States are clearly not suitable for being applied here.

Because many people in this country, even if they are poor, even if they live at the very bottom of society, even if everything is a mess, their faith is exceptionally firm and devout.

Violence can crush them.

The economy could bankrupt them.

However, no matter how many times you rudely enter them, you can never truly connect with their spirit.

And all those returning home, those who are chaotic, restless, and tirelessly striving, are actually fighting for people's souls.

The twilight casts a layer of reddish copper on the temple's gilded spire.

The stone steps, worn smooth and shiny by countless bare feet, were now steaming with the heat of summer.

On the third step sat an old woman dressed in an orange-red sari. Her withered fingers plucked marigold petals one by one onto a copper plate, and dark gold liquid seeped into her fingernails along the lines of her palm.

Monks wrapped in turmeric robes moved among the pillars, their bronze bowls catching coins thrown by believers, the clinking sound like a flock of startled pigeons scattering under the stone dome.

The scents of sandalwood and fried chickpeas mingled into a hazy mist that clung to every nostril.

Suddenly, the bronze bells hanging from the lintel of the main hall vibrated in unison, their taut bells shattering the sunlight and startling the spotted dog curled up in the shadow of the pillars.

The ascetic with the silver nose ring raised his gray beard, the vermilion mark on his forehead, painted with the third eye of Shiva, was melting, and beads of sweat snaked down his back, seeping into his waist in dark serpentine patterns.

A child's sudden cry pierced the chanting, and the glass bracelet on the young mother's wrist struck the bronze lampstand, scattering the candlelight into a flurry of orange waves.

In front of a spice stall in the back alley, a boy wearing a white hat stood on tiptoe, peering out. His aluminum spoon was still covered with semi-solidified masala sauce. His shadow was pinned by the setting sun to the wall painted with elephant god, overlapping with the fragmented silhouettes of passersby to form a strange totem.

Suddenly, the mournful sound of a conch shell horn rang out from somewhere. A tourist in a suit gripped the camera lens in front of his chest, swallowed the restlessness that didn't belong here, but when he looked up and saw the statue of the goddess Kali carved from black rock in the main hall, his fingertips unconsciously put into a gesture of prayer.

"Chaotic and noisy, yet harmonious and natural, it's truly amazing." Qiu Chuji quietly admired the entire composition for a few breaths, then stepped inside.

Hinduism and Taoism actually have some similarities in their forms of existence.

They are all very important in their own civilizations, but they haven't really done much external expansion.

Compared to the global reach of Catholicism, with its various evolutions and roots, and the localization of Buddhism in different regions, resulting in the magnificent spectacle of countless Buddhas, Hinduism has essentially settled in one place, deeply embedded in the soul and blood of almost every Indian.

The infamous 'caste system' was implemented by Hinduism and helped rulers control India for thousands of years.

Some say that if it weren't for Huang Chao's "trampling the bones of nobles on the heavenly street," China would have been like India, forever overshadowed by those powerful and noble families, with ordinary people's children never able to escape for generations.

In fact, they were overestimating Huang Chao and those so-called "five surnames and seven noble families".

Before Huang Chao, there was already Emperor Taizu of Han who rose up by slaying a white snake and seized the supreme position from humble origins. There were also Chen Sheng and Wu Guang who shouted, "Are kings and nobles born with special privileges?" And the Qin state determined ranks based on military merit, rather than solely on bloodline.

These traces have existed, and as long as there are stories and legends, future generations will follow in their footsteps.

Of course, the greatest gratitude that contemporary China owes to its great leaders is for enabling it to move forward with a lighter burden.

As the saying goes, "What did the Six Dynasties do? They only pursued their own private schemes." He made too many efforts to postpone the arrival of this day.

Otherwise, how much better would China be than India today, where monks run rampant, religion is rampant, the powerful and wealthy hold absolute power, and the common people can only suffer at the bottom of society, or flee their hometowns, or place their hopes on the afterlife?
Being ancient is not always just about the inheritance of cultural heritage.

"Sir, please come this way! The Great Immortal has been waiting for you in the inner hall for a long time!" A monk suddenly ran up to Qiu Chuji, bowed deeply, and said.

(End of this chapter)