The Art of Chaotic Divinity-Chapter 1213: The Poison Awakens

At last, they reached the last bronze door. Madam Zhuqu pointed to the hidden entrance and spoke with a mix of caution and excitement. "This was the only door I failed to open back then. The Spring of Eternal Youth should be right behind it."

She added, "Those ancient experts also left cultivation materials. Millions of years may have passed, but rare forging ores might still survive. If luck favors us, we might even find an ancient martial technique!"

Her words ignited the group's enthusiasm. After risking their lives for so long, the final reward seemed to be within reach.

They pushed the bronze door open together. A seal appeared inside.

Behind it waited a monstrous presence.

Everyone's expression changed.

At that moment, a familiar voice rose behind Ling Feng. Madam Zhuqu stepped forward, her eyes filled with frantic light. Her smile twisted into something cruel. "It is time to accept your fate. You all swallowed my Ninefold Heart-Steadying Pill. The effects should be surfacing right about now."

Ling Feng felt his body weaken. His legs nearly buckled, and his vision dimmed. Cold sweat streamed down his temples. A faint trace of black qi surfaced across his face.

"H-How is this possible?"

Ling Feng stared at Madam Zhuqu in disbelief.

"Hehe, even a high-tier alchemist like you would never have guessed it. My pill contains no poison at all. Only when combined with the scent given off by the Heaven-Thunder spirit liquid does it form a unique compound toxin, something even you could not anticipate!"

She walked toward Ling Feng with deliberate steps. "You are clever, resourceful, and you even helped those Human Emperors restore their strength. Unfortunately for you, treasure was never my objective!"

Ling Feng toppled to the ground. He raised his hand with difficulty and forced out his words. "Madam Zhuqu, to think you would fall so far. You actually joined hands with that creature!"

"Creature?" Her expression twisted as she glared at him. "What creature? Anyone who can bring my husband back to life is my master. That one is the god I serve. I sought every renowned healer under the heavens and every so-called Daoist physician proved useless!"

Her voice grew hoarse with obsession. "Only my master can help me! He promised that if I freed him, he would give me the Spring of Eternal Youth to revive my husband! If saving him demands that I fall into hell and become a devil, then I will embrace it!"

Madam Zhuqu's eyes were filled with madness, and she cackled strangely.

"You are utterly foolish! Do you honestly think he can help you? To these demonic creatures, humans are nothing more than food. Him helping you save your husband? You must be dreaming!"

Ling Feng's brow furrowed deeply. Sure enough, just as Yangshu Zi had said, Madam Zhuqu had become obsessed. She was driven mad by an unattainable delusion for the sake of her dead husband.

She actually believed the words of the demonic creature!

"Do not slander my Master!"

Madam Zhuqu's eyes were blood-red, and her face was distorted as she shouted, "My Master will not lie to me! He absolutely will not lie to me!"

"You have completely lost your mind!"

Ling Feng looked up and stared at Madam Zhuqu, his mind frantically searching for a way to escape.

"Heh heh heh! Don't blame me, blame yourself for being greedy!"

Madam Zhuqu's tone shifted into grudging fury. "Yangshu Zi hid from me for ten whole years. Only after ten years did I take back the Nine Nether Profound Sword from him. Without it, I would never have passed the outer sword array!"

"I originally wanted to lure him back, but he refused me outright. Then you, fool that you are, came to me willingly. It seems fate intended you to become his replacement on the chopping block!"