A serious problem now faced Qin Yu and Silver Crimson Snow:
How to open this box?
There was no doubt something precious lay inside—but *how* to open it was the real issue. Silver Crimson Snow’s earlier attempt had already failed.
“No worries,” Qin Yu said calmly. “Even if we can’t open it now, as long as it’s in our hands, that’s what matters. Time will tell—we’ll find a way eventually.”
Truth was, this box had always been optional in Qin Yu’s plan.
Getting the contents would be a bonus.
Failing? No big deal.
But Silver Crimson Snow had taken it personally. She *would* pry it open.
“No way! How dare this shabby little box act so smug!”
“Did the box actually offend you?” Qin Yu almost laughed at her stubborn glare—but held it back. Better not become her next target.
Magic failed. She switched to brute force.
“Open… for… me…!” she grunted, face strained.
Qin Yu could only watch, speechless.
*Click…*
“Hm?”
Both froze. The box had actually opened.
“Hah! Servant, see that?” Silver Crimson Snow beamed like a child who’d just torn open a snack bag. Qin Yu felt even happier—he hadn’t lifted a finger.
“Let me check inside—”
*Snap!*
She slammed a hand over the lid. “No! I opened it first—I look first!”
Honestly, she was acting exactly like a kid. Qin Yu smiled. “Alright, alright, Little Snow—you go first.”
Eyes sparkling, Silver Crimson Snow slowly lifted the lid, shifting her body to block his view. A narrow gap appeared. She peeked inside.
*Snap!*
She slammed it shut and shot Qin Yu a sharp glance.
“What’s wrong? What’s in there?” Qin Yu asked, noticing a trace of confusion in her eyes.
“Are you *sure* this is supposed to be treasure?”
Qin Yu hesitated. Fair point—the note only said “a lifetime’s work.” Whether it was valuable… well.
“Let’s see.”
He flipped the lid open. Inside lay a crude doll-like puppet.
*Crude* was generous. Compared to the Alchemists’ Union’s automaton maidens from his past life? This looked like a beginner’s failed project.
Bruce was a legendary alchemist—how could *this* be his life’s work? No wonder he’d despaired.
Silver Crimson Snow pulled a note from the box—Bruce’s final words. Qin Yu leaned in:
> “After leaving the Alchemists’ Union, I spent ten years scouring the Bloodsoul Domain for the metal to forge the Godslayer Puppet. Five more years shaping it. Yet no matter how many times I tried, I could never activate it. Each dawn, the finely carved form reverted to raw metal. Failure after failure wore me down. Enough. My body is broken beyond repair…
> If a future soul finds this, please complete my work. It shall become a weapon to eradicate those false gods…”
Alongside the puppet lay Bruce’s Grandmaster badge and a tome of his alchemical legacy.
Qin Yu picked up the book and used it.
*Congratulations! You have inherited the lifetime expertise of a Grandmaster Alchemist!*
*Grandmaster Alchemy skill acquired!*
Woohoo—time to soar!
Mastering Grandmaster Alchemy meant Qin Yu now stood among the Alchemists’ Union’s elite eleven. Players would swarm him for potions, puppets—endless profit with enough materials.
“Boring. This ‘Godslayer Puppet’ feels useless,” Silver Crimson Snow muttered, poking it dismissively.
Suddenly, the puppet’s eyes glowed faint crimson.
“Little Snow—what did you do?”
“I just poked it.”
“Try again.”
Crimson light flickered… but no further reaction.
“I get it now!” Qin Yu’s new insight clicked. Bruce had hidden the puppet too well—never exposing it to strong beings. *That* was the key: activation required a powerful entity’s energy… and soul resonance. Silver Crimson Snow’s 7th-tier strength wasn’t enough.
“So… Little Snow,” Qin Yu grinned. “Interested in a trip *to* the Blood Moon?”
“Huh?!” She blinked. “Servant, are you *sure* your brain’s intact? That’s suicide!”
Danger aside—*how*? They couldn’t just fly up.
“Just say yes or no. Leave the rest to me~”
Qin Yu’s confidence was absolute. As a reincarnator, he *knew* the way.
After a long pause, she nodded. He wouldn’t be this sure without a plan.
What awaited on the Blood Moon?
A slumbering Moon Deity—though long weakened by the Elder God’s corruption.
At this timeline, she should still be alive. (In his past life, she’d vanished long before their group arrived.)
*If the puppet touches her… maybe it awakens.*
Success meant gaining a powerhouse ally early game.
Only one hurdle remained: reaching the Blood Moon.
And for that… Silver Crimson Snow’s help was essential.
Not far off stood an observatory—the very place holding the path upward…
