Chapter 17: Deceiving the Moon Goddess

“This place is indeed gloomy…”

Even Yin Feixue, who had reached Tier 7, could feel the terrifying aura emanating from within this Blood Moon.

Originally, this world was not called the Blood Soul Realm—not until the power of the Evil Gods reached out to touch this land.

With the Moon God of old gasping her final breaths, this place had turned into a world beneath a blood moon, becoming the optimal habitat for the Blood Clan.

“Xiao Xue, be careful. The Moon God should still be alive…”

Even a dying Moon God was powerful enough to crush a Tier 7 Yin Feixue, let alone an ordinary human like Qin Yu.

The two of them advanced cautiously into the depths of the Blood Moon; through the hazy crimson mist, they could vaguely make out a palace in the distance.

That was the Moon God’s residence.

“Even if she is still alive, she must be on the verge of death.”

Yin Feixue maintained her fearless attitude, making Qin Yu genuinely worry that they might end up suffering a total party wipe.

To ensure he could react to any sudden accidents, Qin Yu brought out the casket containing the God-Slayer Automaton and held it in his arms.

“Servant, are you afraid? You’re actually using that broken box as a shield.”

Yin Feixue didn’t miss the chance to mock him.

“I just hope you won’t be too paralyzed with fear when we see the Moon God later…”

Qin Yu never took Yin Feixue’s teasing to heart; his only fear now was that if they met the Moon God and Yin Feixue was too scared to move, they would be in serious trouble.

“Hmph. There is nothing to fear from a god struggling in their death throes.”

Whoosh— Whoosh—

Gushes of chilling wind blew past, signifying that they were drawing closer to the palace where the Moon God resided.

He had expected a horde of monsters to be standing guard, yet there wasn’t a single one.

In his past life, the major guilds had faced an endless army of monsters when they fought their way onto the Blood Moon, but now there was nothing; this likely had a lot to do with the fact that the Moon God was still alive.

“How dull. Does the Moon God not even have a single lackey?”

Yin Feixue was still muttering her taunts, unaware that a pair of eyes was already fixed upon the two of them.

White objects began to drift through the originally calm air of the Blood Moon.

“This is…”

Yin Feixue and Qin Yu reached out their hands, and a snowflake landed in each of their palms.

“Not good!”

Sensing a threat by instinct, Qin Yu lunged forward, raising the Blood-shadow Cloak as he pulled Yin Feixue along to run.

Simultaneously, a layer of frostbiting ice formed on the hands that had touched the snow.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The snowflakes, which should have been beautiful, turned into lethal blades that froze everything they touched.

Yin Feixue also threw out her cloak to block the onslaught of snow.

“That’s what you get for looking down on the Moon God just now. Happy now?”

“Hmph…”

Qin Yu and Yin Feixue bickered as they sprinted toward the palace; the ground was already covered in layers of frost. Qin Yu had to worry about slipping, whereas Yin Feixue simply floated along.

“Xiao Xue, can’t you just give me a carry?”

“A servant carries a master; there is no such rule as a master carrying a servant.”

“Oh?”

Hearing Yin Feixue say that gave Qin Yu an idea, but now was not the time to act on it.

The two reached the palace by the skin of their teeth. The moment they stepped inside, the doors slammed shut with a heavy thud.

“Lady Moon God, I wasn’t the one speaking ill of you just now. Every debt has its debtor…”

As he spoke, Qin Yu clutched the casket and drew a clear line between himself and Yin Feixue, moving a short distance away.

“Servant, are you planning to betray your master so quickly?”

Yin Feixue played along with Qin Yu’s act in front of the Moon God.

The only source of light within the palace was a faint white glow on a high platform, flickering like the Moon God’s own life force.

Upon a bed draped in fine silk lay the Moon God, nearing the end of her life.

One hand was pressed against her chest as she leaned on her other arm, her eyes half-closed, looking utterly exhausted.

Her sickly, beautiful posture was enough to stir anyone’s soul, especially in her blue-and-purple garments which revealed her long, slender, pale legs. The only pity was perhaps the bare feet.

However, that didn’t matter to Qin Yu.

The Moon God’s gaze locked onto the two of them, and an invisible pressure surged toward them—aimed especially at Yin Feixue, who had been the one speaking ill of her.

“…Dammit!”

Yin Feixue was defenseless against a Tier 10 Moon God. Even though the goddess was in an extremely weakened state, she had no trouble dealing with a Tier 7.

If this continued, Yin Feixue would be choked to death, so Qin Yu immediately spoke up to divert her attention.

“Lady Moon God, I have brought you a gift. It can help you escape your fate of impending death…”

Qin Yu’s words caused a spark of hope to flicker in the Moon God’s eyes, and she released her hold on Yin Feixue.

The drained Yin Feixue collapsed to the floor, coughing a few times. Qin Yu gave her a reassuring look.

The Moon God then used her power to drag Qin Yu directly in front of her; whether his words were true or not, her thirst for life made her want to believe him.

Whether god, human, or any other living thing in the world, none could escape that one fate: death.

Pulling aside the silk hangings, Qin Yu was finally able to see the Moon God’s true face. To describe her beauty as “pure as the moon” was no exaggeration; she was the very incarnation of the moon itself.

“Human, if you dare to deceive me…”

The Moon God spoke, her voice incredibly weak. It was clear that her brief attack on Qin Yu and Yin Feixue had drained much of her remaining strength.

“Rest assured, Lady Moon God. Since you spared our lives, I will help you…”

Opening the casket, Qin Yu presented the God-Slayer Automaton to the Moon God.

“This is a theory of mine. Your physical body has already been eroded, Lady Moon God, so why not transfer your soul into this automaton? This vessel is strong enough to contain a powerhouse like yourself…”

Qin Yu had calculated everything in his heart. If the Moon God took the bait, he would hit the jackpot.

If it failed, it was game over.

He was betting on her fear of death, her desire for survival, and her hatred for the Evil Gods.

“…”

Gazing at the God-Slayer Automaton, the Moon God hesitated. She wondered if she should trust Qin Yu. Her days were numbered; if she missed this chance, she might never have another.

She still had to seek revenge against the Evil Gods who had ambushed her—revenge against the one who turned her Tranquil Moon Land into the Blood Soul Realm…

Her desire for survival triumphed over her reason.

“If you trust me, Lady Moon God, then first launch an attack against this automaton to reshape it into the new body you desire…”

Qin Yu’s words were suggestive, based on the premise that she had already agreed to his proposal.

The weakened Moon God resolutely launched an attack at the God-Slayer Automaton.

Receiving the Moon God’s power, the automaton’s eyes glowed with a brilliant blue light—several times stronger than when Yin Feixue had struck it. Her form began to gradually shift, transforming into the new body the Moon God envisioned.

[[God-Slayer Automaton] has captured Tier 10 power for fusion!]

[The power source is the Tier 10 Moon God. Bind as the new soul for the [God-Slayer Automaton]?]

The system prompt appeared. Qin Yu smiled slightly; as expected, this was how the God-Slayer Automaton was meant to be used.

“Yes!”

The Moon God suddenly felt herself leaving her broken, tattered original body and entering a new one, bursting with newfound vitality…