Chen Gu thus threw out his final bargaining chip: "Moreover, I have already received an oracle from our God. He has, with supreme might, vanquished those devils from the stars.

Therefore, except for the weapons they now have, the royal families will not receive any further support.

Even in the process of defeating those devils, our God also acquired a batch of such weapons. As long as we offer enough sacrificial offerings, He is willing to bestow these weapons upon us."

Eric stood up suddenly. "Really?" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

He immediately realized his slip of the tongue and hastily apologized, praising our God repeatedly. "I do not doubt our God! Please believe in my unshakable faith in our God!"

Chen Gu smiled, not taking it to heart. "I know this news is too shocking. I was just as astonished as you when I was first granted the oracle. Praise our God!"

"Praise our God!" the crowd said devoutly in unison.

Unable to resist, Eric asked, "Prophet, what offerings does our God require?"

Chen Gu replied, "What is most valuable on this planet? Of course, it's those ores. The more ores there are, and the higher their grade, the more they will please our God."

Eric nodded vigorously. "I understand."

"We need to prepare for this as soon as possible," Chen Gu continued. "I think we should start by gathering as many ores as possible from our city."

A Chapter Head said, "This requires deceiving the royal families, but we have always been doing this. Now we just need to be more efficient about it."

Chen Gu chuckled to himself. Even without me, these people have been deceiving superiors while lining their own pockets for many years.

And Great Actor Chen knew very well. I've unwittingly altered some of the doctrines of this wicked cult. Slowly, I'll turn the entire sect into something unrecognizable.

In the end, Chen Gu said, "Contact the Headquarters as soon as possible. I want to lead my followers on a new journey, to enlighten those devotees who are pious yet still wandering in darkness."

I can't stay trapped in this small city. Otherwise, when will I ever uncover the secrets behind this cult?

"Yes, we will arrange it immediately," Eric bowed and complied at once.

While Chen Gu awaited their contact with the Headquarters, news of the Prophet's arrival spread rapidly within the city—an intended result of the propaganda by the various Chapter Heads.

Great Actor Chen often spoke of a 'pure and peaceful place.' If they could ever reach it, the city where the Prophet first appeared would likely leap from an obscure little fortress to a 'Holy City'! And they, these people, would leave their own names in the history of the Holy Church.

Having heard the great name of the Prophet, some ordinary miner-believers came to him with injuries; others came when they had a headache or fever.

After demonstrating a few 'miracles,' Chen Gu had completely established his identity as the Prophet among the common believers. However, these people showed no sign of stopping. Whenever there was an issue, they still came to the Prophet for resolution!

Eventually, it wasn't just illnesses and injuries that led people to the Prophet. If a wife quarreled with her mother-in-law at home, they also sought the Prophet to mediate!

The Chapter Heads were somewhat overwhelmed. This is the Prophet we're talking about, someone who can communicate directly with our God! What do you think he is, your family doctor? Your entire extended family who meddles in your affairs?

But Chen Gu wasn't impatient and stopped the Chapter Heads from driving away the believers. For these people, their faith is just like that, he thought. One can't expect them to have very high spiritual pursuits. They only believe if there are benefits; without benefits, they have no faith.

Later, Chen Gu simply followed the example of ancient figures. He prepared some 'Holy Water,' mixing in antibiotics and other medicines, prayed over it, and then distributed it.

Finally, after more than ten days, Eric came to seek an audience with the Prophet. "The Headquarters in the main city requests your presence, Prophet. They have already made elaborate preparations to welcome you!"

I will no longer hide in the darkness. I am ready to lead all my followers towards the light! Chen Gu had decided. In reality, this meant bringing the conflict between the Holy Church and the royal family to a head, drawing out those hidden members of the royal family who supported the cult.

There was one downside to this approach: it might prematurely trigger a war for power between the religious authority and the imperial throne, affecting the Confederation's mining income on this planet.

But the battle was inevitable. Allowing the cult to continue growing was even more dangerous. Triggering it early and resolving it sooner was also a good choice. Enduring this sharp pain now is better than suffering far greater and prolonged losses in the future, he reasoned.

Chen Gu nodded. "Very well. Prepare for our departure tomorrow. Have my followers been selected?"

Eric knelt and prostrated himself. "Everything has been arranged, sir. They are all the most devout followers of our God."

Old Charles was naturally among them. However, Eric and Brenna, the Senior Chapter Heads and other Chapter Heads, would not go. They had many interests tied to the local area, and these interests couldn't be guaranteed if they left.

Besides, as long as they supported the Prophet, this city was destined to become a 'Holy City'; their futures were already secured.

「The next morning」

All the believers, having known in advance that the Prophet was leaving to 'preach' elsewhere, spontaneously organized themselves to line the streets and send him off.

Starting from Chen Gu's residence, the crowd of well-wishers extended for thirty miles outside the city! Both sides of the road were lined with believers. They were not wailing or crying, but kneeling and ceaselessly bowing deeply. They firmly believed that the Prophet would surely return.

The royals living in the city usually only knew how to live lives of drunken revelry. They did not care about the lives and deaths of the 'lowly commoners.' To them, these commoners existed only to mine enough ore to provide the wealth they squandered.

But today, the city was deserted. From the highest castle in the city, standing on their terraces, they could see the scene below all too clearly.

The City Lord, furious, bellowed, "Guards! Guards! What are you all doing? Why aren't these lowly commoners mining for me? Where are the overseers? I gave them the authority to whip these lazy commoners harshly!"

He shouted for a long time, but no guards appeared. The City Lord found this strange. Then, from the highest point of the castle, he saw the castle gates open. His own captain of the guards led a group of guards—not in armor and without weapons—hurrying out of the castle. They joined the large throng escorting the Prophet.

Because they were on duty in the castle last night, they had only received the news this morning and had rushed over. Fortunately, they arrived just in time to kneel by the roadside and catch a glimpse of the Prophet. Satisfied, they then returned. It feels as if my entire being has been elevated! each of them thought.

At the highest point of the castle, the City Lord and a group of royals fell silent.

They were accustomed to luxury and debauchery, but they were not fools. Their entire protective force had become followers of this Prophet. If they still shouted about punishing the Prophet's followers, they would certainly be the ones to meet a tragic end.

But the royals exchanged glances. When did such a figure emerge in our territory? And how has the number of his followers grown so large? they wondered.