News of Luoshu's awakening spread quickly, and soon, the Divine Apostles and Elders gathered to pay their respects.
It was then that Luoshu finally received accurate intelligence.
The Southern Coalition Army had indeed approached the region—but instead of attacking outright, they had sent a delegation to negotiate surrender.
Because of this, the apostles' assassination plan had been put on hold.
Hearing that the Coalition had opted for diplomacy first, Luoshu let out a sigh of relief.
If they were willing to talk before fighting, then this was manageable.
In this era, even the "landlords" weren't rich.
The so-called Southern Coalition Army was just a cobbled-together force from various southern factions—warlords, much like those of the early Republic of China.
The very term "Coalition" said it all.
A truly unified nation would never tolerate such a fragmented, inefficient structure.
This meant the Coalition was divided, with each faction pursuing its own agenda.
At their core, these warlords had only come together for their own interests.
Profit? They'd unite.
Losses? They'd bicker.
Clearly, the Coalition had heard of Luoshu's unification of the region and didn't want to bite off more than they could chew. Hence, the negotiation attempt.
And negotiation was exactly what Luoshu excelled at.
If I can't scam these guys blind, I don't deserve to call myself a cult leader!
The Stalling Game
Before Luoshu woke, one round of talks had already occurred—but the apostles and Elders lacked the authority to decide anything.
Now that he was awake, Round Two could begin.
But Luoshu wasn't in a hurry.
"When was the next round scheduled?" he asked the Chancellor and apostle representatives.
The Chancellor bowed. "My Lord! We told them to wait until you awoke, but the Coalition delegates only gave us three days. After that, they'll attack!"
An apostle added, "Now that you're awake, we can resume talks."
Luoshu shook his head. "No. Don't let them know I've woken yet. Wait until the third day to negotiate."
He had a plan.
His Hume levels were still recovering. Every extra day bought him more strength—allowing him to wield his reality-warping abilities at full power during the talks.
The Chancellor and apostles obeyed without question, continuing to stall the delegates.
They also provided dossiers on the Coalition's representatives.
The Coalition's Structure
From the reports, the Southern Coalition Army was divided into three major factions:
East China warlords
South China warlords
Central-South warlords
Beneath these were smaller cliques, but those didn't matter yet.
The delegation consisted of:
Three representatives (one from each faction)
Three aides
A company of guards
Each representative was there to advance their faction's interests.
But to Luoshu?
None of this mattered.
This world would soon bow to the Church of the Grand Charlatan. Whatever their past allegiances, they'd all become his flock.
Still, to subdue the Coalition, he first had to win over these three men.
The Banquet of Miracles
Three days later, Luoshu hosted a "welcoming banquet" for the delegates.
When they arrived, they found an empty table.
The representatives' faces darkened.
First, they stall us for days. Now, they invite us to a feast with no food?
Just as tempers flared, Luoshu strode in, surrounded by apostles.
He activated Persuasion.
"Gentlemen, be at ease. Hear me first."
The delegates immediately quieted, helpless against the mental influence.
With their attention secured, Luoshu continued:
"You are our guests. Naturally, we'll serve you the finest delicacies—whether you crave seafood or rare game."
He approached the first delegate, extending an empty hand.
"Take whatever you desire... from my palm."
Bewildered but compelled, the man reached out—
And a steaming, aromatic Supreme Seafood Pizza materialized in his grip.
"Enjoy," Luoshu said, moving to the next delegate.
The representatives stared in shock.
They'd assumed this territory's ruler was a fraud. But materializing food from thin air?
Even more terrifying—he knew their favorite dishes.
Was this... divine power?
By the third pizza, their skepticism had crumbled.
Next, Luoshu summoned "holy water," declaring:
"This cures all ailments. Drink, and be healed."
He then ordered apostles to distribute it to the guards.
One delegate finally blurted: "God... is real?"
"Of course!" an apostle proclaimed, demonstrating his reality-warping ability under Luoshu's direction.
Now, the delegates were fully hooked.
One asked, trembling: "Is it true that believers can become apostles?"
Smiling, Luoshu dangled the ultimate bait:
"Only the most devout may ascend. But if you facilitate peace between the Coalition and us, I'll grant you apostleship personally."
"Really?!"
All three delegates lit up with greed.
Compared to the Coalition's interests, personal power was far more tempting.
But one retained a shred of reason: "Persuading the warlords won't be easy. There are too many factions, too many disputes..."
Luoshu had anticipated this.
A grand charlatan always came prepared.
"Then tell them this: If they submit, they too can become apostles. I will bestow divinity upon them myself."
The Grand Deception Begins
With this offer, the delegates' loyalty shifted irrevocably.
Why serve warlords when you could become a demigod?
As they departed, already scheming how to sell this to their superiors, Luoshu leaned back, satisfied.
Phase One: Complete.
Now, he just had to wait for the Coalition to tear itself apart from within.
And when the time came?
He'd reap the harvest.