As a senior priest of many years, he was acutely aware that only by defining the mysterious figure as an evil demon, and exploiting the fear of the masses, could the collapse of their faith be averted.
Believers are inherently blind followers; they gravitate from the depths of their hearts towards the outcomes they hope for. Thus, after the senior priest had spoken, they quickly embraced the notion and sincerely felt the selflessness and greatness of the divine spirit.
Faith, at times, can indeed be a terrifying thing.
For the more rational individuals, they were able to make their own judgements through the scene that had just unfolded. The mysterious figure did not seem like the so-called evil demon; rather, it was the worshiped divine spirit whose actions were more akin to those of an evil heretic.
Once the seed of doubt is planted, it swiftly takes root and grows into a towering tree.
