The Poison Plot

David easily defeated everyone, displaying astounding might that left all present stunned speechless.

"Dear god, the village is doomed!"

"These ignorant fools dared attack the sacred, inviolable goddess. I fear none of us will escape this calamity!" A frail middle-aged man muttered ashen-faced.

"How laughable for mere mortals to think they can oppose the goddess' power through violence. Utterly preposterous!" An elder ridiculed coldly, tones laced with contempt.

"Beloved Goddess, please don't punish us commoners for these sinners' crimes. We repent to you!" An old woman in coarse robes knelt prayerfully, palms pressed together beseeching forgiveness.

"I deserve death for not stopping such outrageous behavior sooner. Failing to defend the goddess' dignity, I willingly accept punishment." A man of the chief's faction reproached himself, slapping his own face as discipline.

Everyone was tense, carefully avoiding any act that could further provoke the goddess' wrath and bring disaster upon the village.

"Quick, seize these hellbound traitors!" Another of the chief's men shouted urgently, the first to curry favor with David.

Others clamored to echo: "Yes, give them the harshest punishment!"

The fallen brawny men were quickly surrounded and subdued.

"Have mercy on us!" They wailed pleading for forgiveness.

William lay limply, supported on both sides, eyes dim having accepted defeat as inevitable.

But there was one exception -

Mark struggled furiously unlike the others, hoarsely screaming at the top of his lungs: "Stop! You foolish villagers! All I did was for your benefit!"

His hair was already disheveled, eyes glinting with hints of madness. His torn clothes made him seem a battered puppet.

"Don't be deceived by this dead woman! She's just a human who cultivated profound skills!" Mark shrieked desperately.

"She merely used a basic technique, 'Position Manipulation'! It's an Enlightenment level skill!" His voice grew hoarse.

"Witch, you can't fool me! I've been to the royal city and seen true top-level cultivators!"

Mark seemed a maddened beast, spewing thoughtless insults in his addled state.

David's brows furrowed slightly, though his expression also held traces of curiosity. He silently asked inwardly:

"Lynn, is what he said about 'Enlightenment' and 'Position Manipulation' true?"

"Yes Master, I did employ Position Manipulation," Lynn answered frankly.

"But he's mistaken. Having this power doesn't mean I'm limited to that level."

"Slap!" A brawny man forcefully struck Mark's face. The crisp sound echoed in the quiet yard.

Mark's head whipped to the side from the blow, blood seeping from his mouth imprinted with a clear five-fingered mark.

"Silence! How dare a mere mortal lecture the goddess!" The man was livid, thick brows tightly knitted, eyes bloodshot.

David halted his actions and slowly approached Mark, displeasure also showing on his face.

"Who I am matters not. What's important is the power I possess," he said mildly smiling. "For instance, taking your life."

"Hahaha..." Yet Mark cackled fearlessly.

"Witch, you don't know you've been poisoned!" He bared his bloodied lips, raising his chin.

"Think you've won? I laced your wine with potent venom. It should be taking effect soon!"

"Oh, esteemed flawless goddess..." He deliberately exaggerated his praises, tone mocking.

Leering at David lasciviously, greed and lust filled his eyes.

"Your jade-like skin is truly peerless beauty. That doll-like exquisite face, perfect proportions - you're like an artwork come to life."

"You resemble the fabled immortal maidens, perfect and flawless... What a pity, the prettier the fairy, the less she can resist my meticulously prepared poison."

"The peacock spirit fruit, a high-level spirit fruit guarded by the demon fox, is an aphrodisiac exclusively for practitioners. Just one drop is enough to put ten bloodthirsty giant apes in, making them go berserk and mate in groups!"

"Even high-level practitioners can't stop its effectiveness..."

"Hey, my dear goddess, it won't be long before you become crazy and become the most lewd woman of all time, twisting your waist and begging in front of me, hum, then I can satisfy you..."

"I'm afraid that I'm not enough alone, but I can call on all the men in the village to go up together, and I promise to make you want to die, but then we'll see how you maintain this holy How can I continue to call Goddess."

Mark looked up and down greedily, his eyes burning and lingering, revealing envy, showing a frivolous smile.

These words elicited shocked expressions from all present. Mouths fell open, unable to imagine such audacity.

"Heavens, how dare he blaspheme the divine so!" An elderly white-haired elder murmured incredulously.

"But...seems he has a point!"

However, some began to waver with doubt.

Indeed, the goddess had only displayed foundational Enlightenment level power. This suggested she might just be a slightly formidable cultivator.

If that were true, Mark's drug might very well take effect.

If the goddess lost face before everyone, her prestige would be thoroughly ruined.

Without her status, even an Enlightenment could hardly be a match for a hundred villagers.

Mark's ploy was truly ingenious, seeming to find an opportunity to turn the tables.

Seeing the villagers' reactions rekindled William's extinguished hopes, brightening his eyes.

It meant the villagers also wanted to test the goddess' depths...

After all the True King's faith did place enormous pressure on the village, especially families of the sacrificed maidens.

Facing the strange looks from the crowd, David's expression shifted slightly, aware something was amiss.

He swiftly asked Lynn inwardly: "Can you detect the kind of toxins Mark added? Are they truly as potent as he claims?"

"Such poisons do pose a degree of threat to orthodox Enlightenments," Lynn answered honestly.

"But rest assured, they are nowhere near enough to affect us. The toxins are automatically neutralized the instant they enter the body."

"I see." David secretly breathed a sigh of relief, his faith in Lynn's abilities deepening further.

But Mark was still unforgivable!

Fortunately Lynn was extraordinarily mighty. Any weaker and he would have fallen into a predicament!

Thinking of the chaotic scenarios Mark described happening after the poison took effect, David felt even greater fury at his villainy.

"Oh? Spirit Peach Extract?" David suddenly spoke up. An uncharacteristic sly grin emerged on his demure face.

"Since that's the case, I really must personally verify if it's actually as miraculous as you boast!"

Buzz!

The air rippled as David waved his hand, the wine cup floating into his grasp. He commanded:

"Hold him down!"

"It would be my honor to serve the goddess!" Two burly men forcibly pinned Mark's arms, immobilizing him.

"Huh?" Mark was still rather bewildered, unsure of David's intentions.

But he soon realized the dire possibility, his face instantly paling.

"Hey, stupid woman, you can't be thinking of..." He still cursed and yelled, but his momentum had already weakened.

"Pry his mouth open!" David instructed expressionlessly.

"No, stop! You bitch, argh, argh, stop it, bitch!" Mark struggled violently to no avail against the two men.

Everyone watched in stunned silence.

The wine cup slowly floated to Mark's mouth. Drop by drop, the fine wine was poured in. He retched painfully, vehemently shaking his head, yet was forced to swallow every last drop.

Only then did the two men release their holds, but Mark remained stiff as a corpse, face deathly pale.

"It's over...this dosage...I'll die!" He despairingly murmured to himself.