The old pine swayed in the wind, the flickering firelight painted the varying expressions onto the faces.
"You cheap whore, despicable villain! Daring to poison me, you think this will let you turn the tables?"
Mark exploded furiously, face swollen bright red. Sweat streamed down his nose as bloodshot eyes made him seem a maddened bull.
"Hahaha, we're all poisoned now. You've no idea what will happen! Just you wait and see what fate awaits you!" He glared at the goddess, the greed and madness in his eyes chilling one to the bone.
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances. For a time, silence reigned, some even sneaking glances at the goddess' reaction.
David remained composed as ever, sitting back down on the bench, face still tranquil: "Everyone, rest assured, I won't punish the villagers for such unintentional mistakes. I completely understand your concerns."
Having said thus, he took no further action, entirely unperturbed by Mark's vilifications, not reacting no matter his curses.
This couldn't impact him at all, for he knew he was invincible here. Like an invincible game character, how could he be provoked by insignificant NPCs?
Instead he just waited quietly for the moment the poison took effect. The rumors would naturally be dispelled then, and his power would manifest itself.
Sure enough, Mark's voice gradually weakened. Face swollen red, he babbled incoherently, behaving as if drunk, body burning hot and drenched in sweat...
His body was still twisting wildly under the constraints, like a flexible loach.
When the women looked at him, their faces were all flushed. His lower body stood proudly through his trousers, outlining the shape of his swollen genitals.
People were still watching David's expression closely, but it was evident that David, who had taken the poisoned wine first, showed no signs of discomfort.
At this heart-pounding moment, Mayor Bern rushed back to the village, covered in dust and fury. Seeing the chaos in the village and the affront to the goddess, he couldn't contain his rage. His eyes were bloodshot, and he trembled with anger.
As the village mayor who had served the true god for many years, he had never witnessed such audacious behavior. It was blasphemy against the divine!
"Mark, William, have you lost your minds? Have you gone completely mad?" Bern shouted angrily, abandoning his usual composed demeanor.
"Are you trying to rebel? You madmen, there's never a good time for rebellion!" He took a swift step forward and delivered a powerful punch to Mark, sending him sprawling to the ground. Then, he violently kicked Mark, attempting to vent his pent-up anger.
Mark's face swelled from the beating, and he finally started to regain some clarity.
He struggled to his feet, blood trickling from his mouth, but his gaze remained defiant. "Bern, you're getting old, too traditional! If William and I were in charge of the village, we'd live better, at least!"
"At least, the poor girls wouldn't be subjected to live sacrifices!"
This statement resonated with many, as who would want to watch their own children become sacrifices to the Three Gods? Villagers exchanged glances, silently nodding in agreement.
"To hell with live sacrifices! You ungrateful scoundrels! Without their sacrifices, without the protection of the true god, this village wouldn't have survived from the beginning!" Bern was seething with anger, resorting to profanity, completely disregarding his usual decorum.
"Do you think this village stands on its own in this land? Have you been to the city? Do you know what the adventurers call this place?" He demanded aggressively.
"The Lost Forest!" Mark replied softly.
"That's right, this is the Lost Forest, a place so perilous that even the adventurers from the city dare not venture into easily!" Bern said furiously.
"Even powerful warriors wouldn't dare delve deep into this forest. It's teeming with formidable monsters, ready to emerge and devour human flesh at any moment!"
"If it weren't for the protection of the true god statue, using divine power to repel the invading monsters, we would have been nothing but meat in their mouths, with nothing left but bones!" He spoke with such intensity and fierceness that his appearance became terrifying.
"It's precisely because of the true god's protection that the villagers have been able to live here in this forest. By betraying the true god like this, you're tearing down the castle walls, inviting the village's destruction!"
Bern's words sent shivers down the spines of the surrounding villagers, leaving them speechless. It was undeniable that the village's survival in the Lost Forest was indeed due to the protection of the true god.
"Let me remind you once more, even in well-off cities, the chances of Awakening are just one in a thousand, and our village, with just a hundred residents, mostly manages to have two Awakenings defending it at all times!" Bern stated sternly.
"Including your own cultivation, do you think it's all you? These are the gifts of the true god, the rewards we receive after offering our devotion!"
Bern's words caused everyone to fall into a pensive silence. In truth, this small village, cultivating so many powerful practitioners, greatly exceeded the ordinary probability.
Even in affluent cities, the chance of Awakening was only one in a thousand, let alone in the harsh environment of the Lost Forest.
Some of the villagers had engaged in trade activities and had visited the city, so they were not entirely ignorant of the outside world.
Upon careful consideration, it was undeniable that the excellent practitioners in the village had benefited from the protection of the true god statue.
The village's children may not have exceptional talent, but with the blessing of the true god's ceremony, some even awakened into powerful Awakenings.
Without the true god's protection, how could the villagers, with their qualifications, have nurtured so many strong individuals?
Bern's words instilled even greater awe and gratitude for the true god in everyone's hearts. The village's survival and growth in the Lost Forest were indeed reliant on the true god's protection.
Mark was left speechless by Bern's impassioned speech, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to find words.
A fierce internal struggle raged within him. Could I really have been wrong? He couldn't help but doubt himself.
He cautiously stole a glance at David, only to find her expression had remained unchanged, still calm, pure, and beautiful, unruffled by the chaos.
However, under the influence of the drug, Mark felt his heart beat faster and the blood all over his body was boiling.
Her body is so beautiful, I just want to press her down and export her, even if it costs my life, I will have no regrets!
boom! Oh no, no, no, he reacted again. The beautiful figure of the goddess once again drove him into madness. The organ in his crotch stood tall and was harder than a stone!
Ah, I am so eager, I really want to press her under me and see how this desolate expression becomes lustful!
"It doesn't matter, ah ah ah!"
Mark suddenly struggled against the restraints, held his genitals with both hands, and started to move wildly towards the goddess...
"You, how dare you!" Bern exclaimed in anger, just about to intervene and stop Mark.
However, at that very moment, they witnessed the faint glimmer in David's beautiful eyes, and an invisible force instantly enveloped Mark, rendering him immobile.
"Mark, I understand your pain, and I will fulfill your desires," David said emotionlessly.
"What?" Everyone was stunned, unable to believe their ears. Did the goddess just utter such audacious words?
Even Mark himself was taken aback. Could such a fantastic thing really be happening to him? He trembled with excitement.
However, David's next words were like a bucket of cold water over his head, instantly sobering him.
"Throw him into the sheep pen!" David ordered coldly.
It was only then that everyone realized that David's "fulfillment" had a different meaning.
Mark plummeted from cloud nine to rock bottom in an instant, overwhelmed by shame, his face rapidly turning crimson.
"Ha-ha!"
With those words, quite a few people couldn't help but burst into laughter. This was just too crazy.
"I can't imagine what Mark will do in the wee hours of the night under the influence of such a strong potion!"
"Yes!" Everyone stifled their laughter and carried the wild Mark outside, heading towards the sheepfold.
With Bern's return and the presence of the Goddess, the factionalism among the village elders was quickly cleared, and they began to address the chaos.
"I... I apologize for my mismanagement," the village chief said. "May the Goddess forgive me."
"Could we talk somewhere else?" Bern asked with a somber expression, like a child who had done something wrong, making a quiet request.
"No need, we can talk here," David said casually, showing no concern for the humble and dirty surroundings.
"Please, Goddess, command as you wish," Bern quickly lowered his head.
Never had he felt the Goddess's authority as strongly as today. He felt like an inexperienced child in need of the guidance of an elder.
"I have taken note of the recent difficulties you've been facing," David began.
"First, there's the Goblin tribe to the south, which is encroaching on your hunting grounds and posing a threat to the forest sheep you raise."
"Additionally, the path to the Kingdom of Diago's adventurers' outpost is infested with wolves, leading to occasional attacks, which is disrupting your village's communication with the outside world."
"Lastly, the younger generation's strength has diminished to the point where they can no longer effectively protect the village."
David articulated the major challenges the villagers had faced recently, and Bern and the others listened with bated breath, afraid to miss any of the Goddess's instructions.
They understood that only with the Goddess's help could they overcome these formidable challenges.
"Oh, no, you worry too much for us!" the village chief exclaimed, tears welling up in his eyes. He had expected to face divine punishment and blame, but the Goddess continued to think of the villagers' welfare.
"Bern, distribute these items to those who truly need them," David took some glowing objects from his pocket and placed them on the freshly cleaned table.
As these items appeared, a rich aroma filled the air, and they emitted various colors of light.
"This... these are... Ruby Crystals!" someone exclaimed.
"Yes, Fire Elemental Crystals. They are said to help elders enhance their abilities and regain vitality!"
"And there's Starlight Grass, rich in spiritual energy, with incredible healing properties!"
"That one is a Thunderbird Core! Thunderbirds are high-level magical creatures, and their cores are greatly beneficial for strengthening newborns!"
The villagers were left speechless, awed by these precious items.
"This, this is for us?" the villagers cried out in amazement.
"My goodness, do people like us have the privilege to use such high-level items?" They were deeply moved and felt honored.
"Accept them. These are meant for you," David said with a smile. "Only when you become stronger can you better protect the village."
"Thank you for your blessings, Oracle!" The villagers knelt down on the spot, expressing their gratitude sincerely.
"Besides these, there are also gold and silver treasures. You can take them to the market to exchange for food and daily necessities." David scattered a pile of sparkling gold and silver jewels on the table.
"Ah, thank you so much, Oracle!" The women were overjoyed, practically praising the heavens.
They might not fully understand the purpose of the earlier items, but these gold and silver treasures could unquestionably secure their livelihoods.
Receiving the Goddess's gifts, they trembled with excitement.
After distributing the supplies, David continued, "Bern, tell me the exact location of the Goblin tribe. I will make time to deal with them."
"Alright, I'll send someone to guide you tomorrow morning!" Bern quickly responded.
"As for the path to the Kingdom of Diago's adventurers' outpost, I can't assist for the time being," David said.
"The Goddess's presence is confined within the True King's gaze, and that location is too far away, beyond my range of action."
"That's alright. As long as our warriors use the treasures you've bestowed to enhance their strength, in due time, we will surely defeat the wolves and reopen the path!" The village chief spoke earnestly, not daring to voice any objections.
David nodded in response, not expressing much more.