Inside the chamber, the High Priest remained seated on his grisly throne, the faint aroma of Braised-Pork Taihao Ramen lingering in the air. His chopsticks rested beside an empty bowl and a can of Frosty Lotus Brew sat within reach, its condensation glistening in the dim light of the chamber.
The old man's serene demeanor was unshaken, as if the upheaval he'd caused was of no consequence at all.
Luo Ming bowed slightly as he spoke with restrained frustration. "High Priest, the orders have been given. The cultists are preparing to depart for the main temple as you commanded. But I must ask… what happens if the Venomous Conclave's decision is different from yours? They will not take kindly to abandoning conquest just because of a bigger obstacle like the Divine Convenience Store."
The High Priest's eyes met Luo Ming's as a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "The Venomous Conclave will have their say, as they always do. But the Great Poison Demon's will supersedes their petty ambitions. They will adapt, just as we must."
Luo Ming furrowed his brows. "And if they refuse? The Venom Masters are not known for bending easily. They might see this as weakness, or worse, betrayal and try to oust you."
At this, the High Priest simply grinned. A grin that showed how he was also waiting for them to do that.
After all, there were a lot of times when his decisions had been vetoed by them. It left him no small amount of frustration, derailing his previous plans.
"Then they will face the consequences of defying a divine mandate. Like I said, the store is no mere merchant's stall, Luo Ming. It is a crucible, a test of our worthiness. The Great Poison Demon has not abandoned us. He has set us on a new path. Conquest through force is fleeting. Conquest through understanding… that is eternal."
Luo Ming opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself. The High Priest's words carried a strange conviction, one that resonated with the subtle insights he'd gained from the breadsticks, the Frosty Lotus Brew and other products that the Divine Convenience Store offered.
The divine energy within each product, no matter how faint, was actually making a lot of positive effect on their mind.
That's why…no matter how frustrated he became, the High Priest's decision seemed the most plausible direction.
Nevertheless, the idea of the Venom Masters bowing to this new philosophy seemed laughable. They were steeped in tradition, their power rooted in the old ways of poison and domination. Could a few divine snacks and talismans truly sway them?
Before he could press further, a sharp knock echoed through the chamber. The heavy wooden doors creaked open and an Acolyte stepped inside, his face pale and his moss-green robes slightly disheveled.
He immediately kneeled as he reported.
"High Priest, Priest Luo. The messenger has returned from the main temple. He… was attacked on his way back. My group tasked with patrolling the perimeter saw him laden with injuries as he was chased by assassins that… seemingly knew how to maneuver against the spells and techniques of our cult."
Luo Ming's eyes narrowed. "Attacked? How bold!"
The Acolyte hesitated, glancing nervously between the two men. "The messenger is currently being treated but he insists on bringing the message in person. Do we bring him here?"
The High Priest's serene expression faltered for the briefest moment before he nodded, "Bring him here. Let us hear what kind of response the Venomous Conclave he brought back."
A few minutes later, the messenger was let inside the High Priest's chamber. His breath came in ragged gasps as he knelt before the High Priest, in his trembling hands, he held a jade talisman. The kind used by the Venomous Conclave.
"From Venom Master Xun," With his head bowed low, he said amidst his pained grunts.
The High Priest took the jade talisman. His bony fingers brushed the smooth jade and a faint pulse of spiritual energy rippled through its surface as he activated it.
A cold, feminine voice filled the chamber, unmistakably Venom Master Xun's.
"High Priest," the recording began, "your decree has been received. I, Venom Master Xun, speak on behalf of the Arachnid Branch. I have heard from my Priests about this peculiar store. It is indeed a force beyond our current understanding and I concur with your judgment. It would be a folly to respond with blind aggression. Conquest risks annihilation. Observation and… transaction may serve us better."
The High Priest's expression remained unreadable as the message continued.
"However, the Venomous Conclave must be united in this decision," Xun's voice took on a sharper edge, "Gao, Kang and the rest remain unconvinced, and I will not act against them openly. If you wish to proceed, you must bring the ones stationed here with me first in your fold by convincing them. I have acted alone in sending this response, for the sake of expediency. Tread carefully. They may see this shift as weakness, a betrayal of the Great Poison Demon's will."
The talisman's glow faded, and a heavy silence settled over the chamber. Luo Ming's eyes widened slightly, his earlier suspicions confirmed. The cult was teetering on the edge of division.
The High Priest set the talisman down, his serene demeanor unshaken. He murmured almost to himself, "So, the Conclave fractures."
Luo Ming stepped forward, "High Priest, if Gao and Kang oppose this, they could rally their branches against us. The Serpent and Scorpion factions outnumber Xun's Arachnids. We could be facing a civil war."
The High Priest's lips twitched into a faint smile. "A war? Perhaps. Or an opportunity."
Luo Ming blinked, caught off guard. "An… opportunity?"
The old man's eyes shone with a mix of cunning and something deeper. Something divine.
"The Great Poison Demon did not forbid us from fighting, Luo Ming. He warned us only of the store. If Gao and Kang or the rest of the enclave choose to defy me, then they defy the will of our lord. And in doing so, they become the sacrifice."
Luo Ming's breath was caught in his throat. The High Priest wasn't retreating. He was repositioning.
Using the store as a shield, a lure, a means to consolidate power. The breadsticks, the brew, the talismans. They weren't just indulgences. They were also a bait and a test of loyalty. It would give him enough justification to unify the cult and remove those who are making his leadership difficult.
The High Priest picked up the can of Frosty Lotus Brew and took a slow sip, savoring it as if it held the answers to their predicament.
Luo Ming couldn't help but speak again, "High Priest, is this truly the correct path?
The High Priest chuckled softly, a sound that sent a shiver down Luo Ming's spine. "Do not waver in your faith, Luo Ming. They will not strike openly. Not yet. They lack the certainty to challenge me directly. For now, they will scheme in the shadows, as they always have. We must use that time to our advantage."
"And how do we do that?" Luo Ming pressed, unable to hide his exasperation.
The High Priest's eyes gleamed with that same dangerous light Luo Ming had seen before.
"We return to the Divine Convenience Store. We bring its wonders to the main temple ourselves. Let Gao and Kang taste its power firsthand. Let them see what you and I have seen. They may resist words, but they cannot resist the truth of their own senses."
Luo Ming stared at the High Priest. He was torn between disbelief and grudging admiration. It was a bold plan, perhaps a reckless one, but it carried the same ruthless cunning that had kept the old man in power for decades.
To wield the store's divine products as a weapon of persuasion… it was different to his earlier decisions that were beyond crazy.
"Very well," Luo Ming said at last, bowing his head. "I will oversee the preparations. We'll gather as many of the store's wares as we can carry and make for the main temple."
The High Priest nodded, his smirk widening as a spatial pouch flew to Luo Ming's hand. The Priest checked its content and gawked at the mountain of spirit stones inside. In his estimate, it would be equivalent to more than 1000 high-grade spirit stones.
"Good. Bring your subordinates and use all of that. Also, bring any new products from the store and breadsticks. Those Venom Masters need something to chew on while they swallow their pride."