Chapter 609: The Winter Goddess

"She really isn't afraid you'll defect and join the Olympian or Aesir pantheons directly."

Antony spoke again with a hint of sarcasm and dissatisfaction: "I'm starting to think it wouldn't be bad if you agreed to Odin or Zeus; they offered you the position of deputy god-king, didn't they? Other conditions could also be negotiated."

Li Mochen had only told Antony about this news, so everyone present was visibly shaken, exchanging glances.

Some were surprised but not entirely unexpected; others were stunned, their emotions slow to settle.

"When did this happen?"

Consul looked at Li Mochen: "Why didn't you mention it?"

Consul struggled to calm his emotions. He was indeed ambitious, but the deputy god-king of a pantheon was still beyond his previous imagination.

"Half a year ago, shortly after the magic network was completed. I didn't mention it because there was no need."

Li Mochen said flatly: "They might have been sincere, but the precondition was that I fight for them in America for several years, using our strength to battle. I'd also have to sacrifice Angela and Antony, and cede authority over the underworld and industry. It's not worth it."

Seeing Consul calm down, he asked Clark Banfield: "Any new developments in the past few days?"

"All I can say is that the conflicts among all sides are getting fiercer."

Clark's expression was extremely grave. Since Li Mochen's apotheosis, he had completely shed his former casualness. He hoped to contribute more and earn the status of a Chosen from his lord.

"I don't know much about the divine world, but from the mortal perspective, the conflicts in the Bright World are indeed intensifying. They are sending more and more 'angels,' 'einherjar,' 'chosen warriors,' and various mythological beings, including giants, into this world. Especially in Australia, it has become a battlefield for them."

Clark Banfield glanced at everyone present: "Just yesterday, there were seven divine battles. Although they were only at the level of lesser gods, the scope was vast, with over twenty-three thousand deaths. The entire country there has lost control; their prime minister has appealed to Britain and America three times this month."

Paracelsus, without waiting for Li Mochen to ask, answered succinctly: "I just observed the astral plane. Zeus's divine court has arrived in the Bright World. And yesterday, the God of Deliberation fell; he was killed by the great hero Heracles."

Li Mochen's mind tightened. He knew that the God of Deliberation, Spinoza, was one of Eris's subordinate gods. He was a god of law, drawing power from all parliamentary systems and protecting that form of government.

Though this god's power was negligible, he held significant meaning for the 'Goddess of Liberty' Eris.

So even Antony was very surprised: "Spinoza died? When yesterday?"

"Nine hours ago."

Paracelsus glanced at Li Mochen and Antony, knowing they had been focused on improving their personal strength recently.

"In fact, Heracles made no attempt to conceal it; he directly hurled a spear from the sky, pinning Spinoza."

"Undoubtedly, this is a warning to the Goddess of Liberty."

'The God of Strategy' Garcia Feren offered his opinion: "Everyone knows the role the Goddess of Liberty has played in the turmoil in Australia and worldwide. But Olympus is impatient. The former Goddess of Discord also has a natural fear of Zeus."

"She has done her best, everyone! That goddess has been creating conflicts among all sides, keeping them outside America."

At that moment, Angela's signal was also connected, projecting her image seated on a throne: "What I want to say is that once the Goddess of Liberty falls, the American defense line against the gods will surely collapse. All the gods and forces on this land will lose the confidence to resist the several god-kings. This land will be reduced to scorched earth in successive divine wars."

She also looked at Li Mochen: "I know you want to accumulate more power, A-Mo, but we truly cannot shirk the responsibilities we ought to bear."

"Wise insight!"

Garcia Feren nodded with approval: "Once the gods' power enters America without restraint, everything we have now will suffer a heavy blow, and the consequences could be even more severe. Moreover—don't forget Eris's divine office of 'Discord'; I'm afraid it's not something we can avoid just by wanting to."

Everyone's expressions tightened, recalling the famous 'Trojan War,' the conflicts surrounding the 'French Revolution,' and 'World War I' and 'World War II.'

The Goddess of Discord rose during the era of the French Revolution, instigating wars across Europe. The two world wars also bore her presence.

If that goddess was determined to provoke conflict between the 'Sunrise-Light Demon' alliance and the gods, they would likely find it hard to escape being drawn into war.

"And never underestimate the influence of the Goddess of Liberty on the American government."

Consul said thoughtfully: "I know the government and the goddess's church. If she decides to act, she can dismantle Sunrise and Light Demon within days."

"That means, no matter what choice we make now, we will inevitably harm ourselves."

Seeing everyone fall into prolonged silence, Li Mochen finally spoke: "Everyone, siding with Odin and Zeus might be safer, and holding fast to a corner of Atlanta could preserve some of our interests. But my personal ambition for truth makes me oppose such an approach. There is an Eastern saying: 'Fortune favors the bold.' I hope to gain greater benefits in this storm. However, this path is destined to be dangerous and could leave us with nothing. So, if you think my ambition is unrealistic, if you are unwilling, you can withdraw now. That includes you, Garcia and Belinda."

Besides his two subordinate gods, everyone gathered here was his close friend or relative, under no obligation to follow him to ruin.

Li Mochen had long made his decision; the meeting was merely to unify their thinking.

As the possessor of the 'Divine Purple Gold Pagoda,' he could not align with Olympus or the Aesir pantheon unless he was willing to hand over this divine artifact.

Thus, his future fate was destined to be at odds with the gods.

After his words fell, the conference room remained silent. Everyone, including Consul, was either excited, worried, or even disapproving, but no one spoke.

"Then it's decided. Eliza, please convey this to the Blind Lady."

Li Mochen's gaze sharpened: "Ask the goddess to buy me another month. After a month, I will send my forces to Australia. In return, please provide us with aid within her power."

...

After the meeting, Li Mochen kept Antony behind alone.

After just a few exchanges, Antony's pupils contracted: "So this is what you've been worried about lately. Contacting Her is no problem, but are you sure, A-Mo?"

"Just like the campaign in Australia, I have no choice."

Li Mochen sighed, then perked up: "I need Her power, Antony. That goddess is indispensable. I leave this to you. You know how to contact Her, right? And Antony, you need to prepare as well."

"Another mythical artifact for you? You're not holding back at all."

Antony looked resigned: "I've been very busy. I don't have your ability to split into two, and my divine avatar is far weaker than my true body. I need time to build the Type III 'War God Machine'; I can't afford to lose too badly against Hephaestus."

Li Mochen raised an eyebrow: "So I have to find someone else? I think Paracelsus and Einstein could help me complete this thing."

"No!"

Antony's tone was firm: "I'll make time, okay? Before you bring the materials back, I'll have everything ready."

If it were an ordinary mythical artifact, he would consider it a waste of time. But what Li Mochen needed was a top-tier mythical armament on the level of the 'Holy Lance of Longinus' and the 'Skull of Itzamna.'

For a god of alchemy, machinery, and craftsmanship, nothing enhances understanding of these domains more than crafting high-level mythical armaments.

Li Mochen had expected this answer, a hint of a smile in his eyes: "Then you need to hurry. Leave the auxiliary materials to me; I need the best."

Without giving Antony a chance to protest, he changed the subject: "Besides, you need to prepare too, Antony. In the Australian war, Light Demon Industries and the Machine Church cannot be absent."

"Of course! We've always advanced and retreated together. You turned down two 'deputy god-king' positions for me."

Antony, unaware of the real reason Li Mochen refused Odin and Zeus, said solemnly: "I can provide over twenty 'Storm Companies' at any time, and their leaders are all 'Chosen Knights.'"

The so-called 'Storm Company' was an expanded formation of the 'Storm Troops.' Their equipment was uniformly bio-armor and magical power armor, with a complement of one hundred and twenty legendary fighters and twelve demigods.

The 'Chosen Knight' was the name given to the mass-produced demigod bio-armor by Sunrise Biopharmaceuticals. It was typically paired with the 'Crusader' magical power armor, possessing the combat power of a weak god.

Currently, the Wieldenstein family had only fifty-four 'Chosen Knights.'

At this point, Antony recalled another matter: "By the way, how is our teacher, Einstein? I haven't been able to contact him lately."

"The professor is busy."

A strange expression crossed Li Mochen's face: "Our Lord God of Truth is seeking Odin's forgiveness."

...

After ending the communication with Antony, Li Mochen directly left the Fate Township magic tower and broke through the air eastward.

Regardless of whether the Goddess of Liberty agreed, his plan was set in motion.

Considering that this matter must not alert the gods, he could not bring 'Fate Township.' Li Mochen also did not want to mobilize a large force; he only brought the Moon Rabbit and the Dragon Vein, concealing his traces with the power of fate and time.

Among the gods, Li Mochen, who wielded 'Fate' and 'Time,' was one of the most elusive. If he wished, few in this world could track him, or even foresee, prophesy, or predict him.

Just a minute later, he arrived in the Nordic seas.

With a divine rank of fourteen, Li Mochen could perform astral jumps covering the entire world. With a single thought, he could appear anywhere in the Bright World in less than two minutes.

For a distance of ten thousand kilometers, the young Dragon Vein was even faster. This shadowflame dragon had, under his nurturing, reached the edge of ancient dragonhood. Though its body was only fifty meters long, its strength and constitution were truly at the level of an ancient dragon.

According to draconic common sense, even if it remained at the ancient dragon stage, it would gradually grow to a length of two hundred meters over the next few centuries.

Like humans, the younger a dragon entered the ancient god rank, the greater its future potential. The young Dragon Vein's case was extraordinary.

"Boss, this Skadi is a total bitch!"

The Moon Rabbit had been in this world for half a year. Though she spent most of her time in seclusion, studying earth-related mysteries as Li Mochen had instructed, she had adapted to local customs and spoke fluent American English.

Now, as she read the materials Li Mochen provided, she clicked her tongue: "A woman like that deserves her current fate. In our Primordial Sky Realm, she'd be put in a pig cage."

Li Mochen smiled wryly: "This isn't the Primordial Sky Realm. Yue'er, you can't judge them by the morality there. Even in the Primordial Sky, wasn't morality in the barbaric age equally shameless?"

One of Li Mochen's goals in coming to the Old World was the former Winter Goddess in Norse mythology, now the 'Mountain Giantess' Skadi.

Skadi was the daughter of the mountain giant Thjazi, who was killed by the Aesir gods for abducting the Norse goddess of youth, Idun. Enraged, Skadi armed herself and went to Asgard to fight the Aesir alone.

At that time, the Aesir were not only threatened by Fenrir and his siblings but also locked in a bitter struggle with the Vanir. As a 'Mountain Giantess,' Skadi was exceptionally powerful, holding her own against several major gods in Asgard, including the Norse sun god Baldr.

Thus, the gods tried to make peace with her. Skadi initially refused until she saw the beauty of 'Sun God' Baldr, comparable to Apollo.

She then agreed to the Aesir's terms: they must give her a marriage, make her laugh once, and place her father Thjazi's eyes in the sky as stars as a sign of reconciliation.

The Aesir fulfilled the other two conditions, but in the matter of marriage, they tricked Skadi. She did not marry 'Sun God' Baldr; instead, as part of a deal between the Vanir and Aesir, she was married to the Vanir chief 'Sea God' Njord, who coveted her beauty.

If judged by the morality of the Primordial Sky Realm, the word 'bitch' would indeed be apt for her experience.

But Li Mochen did not think Skadi was wrong. According to what he knew, the mountain giants of the barbaric age were always bold in love and hate, regarding death in battle as glory. Thjazi's actions had actually violated mountain giant traditions, shaming his bloodline. Yet Skadi had won enough respect for her father.

Only her mind was a bit foolish; she was sold and still counted the money. But it seemed she didn't lose out—after all, she became the queen of the Vanir, though they eventually divorced.

"You have a point."

The Moon Rabbit didn't dwell on it: "But she's someone who could rival Baldr. The major god rank should be equivalent to a Golden Immortal, right? I don't doubt you can take her, Master, but the problem is not being discovered."

"So we need another helper!"

Li Mochen stepped into the void, gazing at the sea ahead.

About a minute later, a female figure in black clothes and black armor appeared before him.

This goddess wore a half-mask, her posture tall and graceful. It was Hela, daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboda, the powerful Queen of the Underworld in Norse mythology.

"Antony told me to come. Are you looking for me, mighty Lord of Fate? Do you want my help to kill Skadi?"

Li Mochen countered instead of answering: "What about Loki? I need his help too."

"That's your fault for not giving prior notice. He is on the 'Hlidskjalf' (the seat of Odin in myth), under that one's watch and cannot break free for now. But that won't affect him; he can do everything you need."

Hela looked at Li Mochen with a cold gaze: "Answer my first question, Lord of Fate."

Li Mochen replied calmly: "Yes, I need your help, and I need Loki to help cover it up afterward. In exchange, I promise to provide necessary assistance when you initiate Ragnarok."

"But that price is not enough. After Skadi, you want us to help deal with another big one."

Hela shook her head: "You need to offer more."

"No! On the contrary, I think I am the one offering more. First, I don't need you to participate in my battle."

Li Mochen responded with a smile: "Secondly, that mountain giant, Skadi, whom I intend to kill, hates your father to the marrow. She is a great enemy you and your father will inevitably face in the future. You can contact your father; if he disagrees, I will abandon this operation."

At that time, it was the fire god Loki who was responsible for deceiving 'Skadi' into marrying 'Sea God' Njord. This direct descendant and heir of the Jotun giants clearly did not want to see the mountain giant clan merge with the Aesir.

The so-called 'Jotun' progenitor 'Ymir' was born from the primordial universe along with 'Gaia', 'Chronos (not the second-generation Greek king of gods)', and 'Nyx'. His offspring were originally the primordial gods of this world.

But Odin's arrival changed everything. This god, born with the help of the giant Bor and giantess Bestla, then killed 'Ymir', twisting the fate of this world.

Loki, the 'God of Fire and Deception', is a direct descendant of 'Ymir'.

Hela fell silent until after a long while she frowned slightly: "He said he can reluctantly accept, but the underworld your wife controls must have a place for me within the next three years."

"Neither my wife nor I mind that."

Li Mochen smiled enigmatically: "But the condition for a place is that you must pledge allegiance to Angela."

He believed she could accept it, because although she was nominally the ruler of the Norse underworld, it was actually equivalent to exile and imprisonment.

Odin himself held the authority over 'death' and 'soul', and using this power, he forged 'Valhalla'. He directed numerous Valkyries to collect the souls of the powerful and brave who died in battle into 'Valhalla', forming a mighty Einherjar legion. The latter nearly wiped out Olympus's forces in the mortal world and almost drove the Lord of Light out of the Old Continent.

Thus Hela, though possessing strength to rival any quasi-king of gods and holding 'truth'-level death authority, was effectively sidelined during the Norse era. The souls that flowed into the underworld were all the rejects Odin deemed unworthy.

The Lord of Light shattering 'Helheim' actually gave Hela more liberation. In her childhood, Odin had placed a vicious curse on her, forever preventing her from leaving 'Helheim' and her palace 'Éljúðnir'.

It was only after Éljúðnir and Helheim were destroyed that this goddess could walk normally in the world.

Li Mochen remained vigilant inwardly; he believed she would never give up the idea of seizing the American underworld. The reason she agreed was that she believed in three years Angela would be able to contain this goddess named Hela, or rely on his power to suppress her.

"I will pledge allegiance and provide necessary help, but it must be comparable to Hecate. Whatever you gave her, you must give me the same."

Hela: "Also, I need you to forge a mythical weapon for Fenrir. I know your artifact-crafting ability is not much inferior to that new mechanical master Anthony. Of course, we can provide the materials."

"Deal!"

Li Mochen asked with a smile: "Then shall we draw up a contract based on the terms we discussed?"

But Hela and her father clearly had limited trust in him, directly tossing over a dragonhide scroll.

When Li Mochen took it in hand, his brows lifted slightly. He recognized the material came from an eternal dragon, and its binding power was stronger than an astral contract, originating from the 'source' of the Bright World.

As long as Li Mochen remained in this world, he could not violate this contract.

His eyes grew a bit more serious as he began to scrutinize the scroll carefully.

Loki was the god of deceit, lies, illusion, trickery, and mischief; not a word from this man could be trusted. If possible, Li Mochen would rather cooperate with Odin than with this Loki.

He examined it one by one with his own fate power and indeed found two passages with certain ambiguities. Though not enough to trap him, they could allow Loki to easily shake off the contract's bonds.

Li Mochen cast a cold glance at Hela across from him, but she remained calm and composed, without a trace of embarrassment.

"Tell your father, I don't like him playing these tricks."

Li Mochen brushed his hand over the scroll, altering some of the text, then signed his name. At the same time, he asked: "Your previous signatures are void. Now tell me, do you accept the changes to this contract?"

Hela did not speak, but her name signed in the corner of the contract also changed slightly. The power of their true names was now embedded in this contract.

Only after the scroll burned into flames did Li Mochen's expression soften slightly. He looked to the other side: "Can we begin? You know the way, Hela?"

The black-clad goddess opposite nodded, then tore open the void, leading Li Mochen northward.

Her movements were equally secretive, hard to detect. This goddess's name (Hel, Hela) means 'hidden', and she herself possessed powerful shadow and concealment abilities.

Her void magic was also formidable; in less than thirty seconds, they arrived atop a high peak—a mountain in the Scandinavian Mountains, nearly three thousand meters in elevation.

In the past, Odin's divine realm 'Asgard' was generated around a powerful astral ship 'Klitaskov' hovering over the Scandinavian Mountains.

And the dwellings of many giants were located in secret realms around the Scandinavian Mountains. They used their own power and some mythical materials from the age of the gods to generate vast semi-planes where they lived in peace.

Li Mochen had only abandoned his previous three chosen targets half a month ago and turned to 'Skadi' as his goal, so he had not even learned the location of this giantess's dwelling before this operation.

"It's here!"

Hela gazed at the endless dense forest ahead: "My father said that after she divorced Njord, she has been living in seclusion here for nearly three thousand years."

Li Mochen had already sensed a semi-plane here. It was a full thousand kilometers in diameter, almost equivalent to a small world.

He guessed this was because 'Skadi' had integrated her own divine realm into it. She was a powerful ancient god, so even after abandoning the position of winter goddess, her divine realm was not completely abandoned.

Just as Li Mochen was about to tear open the spatial barrier and step inside, his expression shifted. Instead, he cut the timeline, hiding the two of them and their two beasts within a time-space layer, using fate power to conceal them.

Hela also snapped to alertness, pulling out a shadow that covered them like a curtain.

Shortly after, two figures stepped out from the semi-plane ahead. One was an acquaintance Li Mochen had met before, Odin's brother 'God of Temptation and Desire' Lod.

The other reminded Li Mochen of Apollo; undoubtedly, this was another 'Sun God', Baldr.

The light and sun Baldr brought to people were also gentle; he was the embodiment of radiance and beauty, the god of spring and joy.

His father Odin ruled the divine realm and the world with harsh methods, while 'Sun God' Baldr brought warmth and joy to people.

Li Mochen couldn't help but glance sideways at Hela: "Does your father know?"

That Odin seemed unwilling to give up any chance to increase combat power, even resorting to using Baldr's beauty and Lod's words to seduce. He wondered if Loki, who had already returned to Odin's side, was aware.

"I don't know. He didn't answer."

The black-clad goddess said calmly, then blinked: "But I guess he's very angry."

At that moment, Lod and Baldr seemed to sense something, casting wary glances around the void. But after sweeping several times, they found nothing and, puzzled, tore open the void and left.

However, Li Mochen was also surprised by the abilities of these two deities. These were merely their divine avatars, yet his fate power and Hela's concealment had almost failed to suppress them.

"My father says we'd better wait a bit longer."

Before Li Mochen could return from the time-space gap, Hela stopped him: "He has used deception and illusion on us. We need to wait here for another seven hours."

Li Mochen soon understood why. Two black ravens appeared above them. These birds, full of mysterious power, scanned the entire world below with cold, indifferent eyes.

Li Mochen immediately guessed the ravens' origin; they were likely one of Odin's divine birds, 'Huginn' and 'Muninn'. The former's name means 'thought', the latter 'memory'.

In mythology, every morning at dawn they flew to the mortal world and returned to report to Odin at night. They always perched on Odin's shoulders, whispering to him, and were thus revered as 'Raven Gods'.

They were creations of Odin from his death authority, always bearing the responsibility and power to help Odin monitor the world and gather intelligence.

"Is your father sure they will leave after seven hours?"

"They will. Ravens are actually tireless; the idea of early departure and late return is just mortal fantasy. But Odin is currently fighting against the Lord of Light, Olympus, and the Zoroastrian gods. Especially the former; Odin's Einherjar legion suffered a major blow from the Lord of Light when trying to enter the Bright World en masse. Father says Horus is breaking free from the influence of the blasphemous blood sacrifice. You helped Him."

Li Mochen had indeed helped the Church of Light; under Garcia Feren's command, his people had stopped two blasphemous blood sacrifices.

That was also why the Church of Light had not troubled him recently. Of course, it was also because the four sects that believed in the Lord of Light were temporarily unable to spare the effort.

As far as he knew, although the Aesir, Olympus, and Zoroastrian gods were constantly feuding, they generally maintained an alliance against the Church of Light, putting the latter under great pressure.

According to Clark Banfield's report, the Church of Light suffered up to seven hundred clerical casualties daily.

Sure enough, exactly seven hours later, the two ravens vanished. Li Mochen then performed a divination using the 'Zhou Tian Divine Mechanism Mysterious Pivot Lock Star Secret Method' before tearing open the spatial barrier with his formidable power.

"You don't need help?"

Hela asked at his side: "Several thousand years ago, she could challenge most of the Aesir court except Odin's three brothers. Of course, at that time, Baldr and others had just been born into this world and were weak, and 'Skadi' was only a mid-rank ancient god. But now thousands of years have passed; her strength is not much weaker than mine. She is definitely at the powerful god rank, possibly even entered the major god level. And this place is equivalent to half her divine realm."

Li Mochen did not reply, only tapped the scarlet dragon armor on his body, then unhesitatingly stepped into a world covered in silver.

The 'Duel' divine authority was powerful, but its requirement was to defeat the opponent under relatively fair conditions without external help. Only then could Li Mochen successfully convert the opponent's power into his own.

With external help, killing Skadi would be much easier, but if he could not obtain her power, it would be meaningless. That was also why Li Mochen brought no helpers; it was pointless. He only needed Loki's illusion and deception abilities to help conceal this matter from the gods.

The moment he stepped into this semi-plane, a cold, sharp female voice exploded in his ears: "Who are you? Why do you trespass on my territory? Hela? What are you doing here?"

Hela followed closely behind him. She glanced at the huge palace floating at the center of this semi-plane, then replied coldly: "I came to watch him kill you."