Chapter 112: Autumn Moon White, Don’t Disappoint This Venerable One

When the Celestial Master’s cold, disdainful smile appeared, Jiang Jinyou felt as if her world was collapsing.

All these years, she had tirelessly worked to disrupt prophecies, sow discord, and plunge the world into chaos—believing that the more chaotic things became, the harder the Celestial Master’s predictions would be to fulfill.

Yet in the end, even her rebellion seemed to have been part of the Celestial Master’s meticulous planning. The Master had known all along that she wouldn’t obey willingly, so her assigned tasks always factored in her unpredictability.

No wonder…

No matter how she struggled, the timeline always circled back, merging once more with the destined prophecy.

This was too absurd!

If the calculations of the Tianyan (Celestial Divination) system were truly this terrifying, did it mean that everything she did—even her seemingly illogical, destructive chaos—was merely a part of the prophecy?

The thought left Jiang Jinyou with a sense of emptiness and helplessness.

—

In the Hall of Celestial Balance

“Jiang Jinyou,” the white-haired immortal on the dais spoke after a long silence. “Ever since I rescued you from that celestial fire all those years ago, I have always trusted you and recognized your efficiency.”

Her third eye opened on her forehead, gazing down at the pale-faced fox spirit below.

“But this time, you actually failed because of a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator. It seems I overestimated your capabilities.”

With Chen Jianxin dead and gone, the Celestial Master seemed utterly disappointed in Jiang Jinyou, no longer bothering to hide her displeasure.

Jiang Jinyou had been right—everything she had seen and known had been shrouded in layer upon layer of carefully crafted lies.

“Mu Yanran.”

The Celestial Master’s voice cut through the silence. Her gaze shifted to the black-robed maiden standing meekly below, head bowed.

“Next month, the Cangyuan Forest secret realm will open. Your cultivation is too high to enter, so you may rest for a while.”

“Another day, I will assign you a new mission.”

Mu Yanran bowed in acknowledgment and departed.

Then, the Celestial Master looked back at the fox spirit, biting back her humiliation:

“Jiang Jinyou, your cultivation level just allows entry into Cangyuan Forest. Next month, you will go there and kill the boy who disrupts the prophecy. Retrieve the stolen Sword Saint Physique from him.”

“Me?” Jiang Jinyou stared, bewildered.

One moment, the Master had acknowledged her rebellious nature; the next, she was assigning her a new task as if nothing had happened.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll sabotage it?” Jiang Jinyou’s voice was low. Though her head was bowed, her seductive pupils, reflecting crimson seals, held a clear wariness toward the white-haired immortal above.

But under the Celestial Master’s divine gaze, even a fox spirit’s defiant snarl seemed pitifully adorable.

“At this point, do you still think your opinions matter?” the Master said coldly, her golden eyes laced with a trace of pity.

She sighed, propping her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on the Go board before her.

“Chen Jianxin’s death isn’t entirely your fault. If anyone is to blame, it is this Master’s miscalculation of the stars. I failed to foresee that He Yimo, this piece meant to be removed from the board, would resurrect. Nor did I expect you to fail at something so simple as protecting Chen Jianxin.”

With that, she picked up a white stone, which slowly transformed into a blood-colored flame in her palm.

“Jiang Jinyou, your destiny is like this white stone in my hand. From the moment I found you amidst the ruins of your fox village, my third eye saw through your entire life.”

“So, Jiang Jinyou, you need not concern yourself with my judgment. No matter how you act out, I will not blame you.”

“Do as you wish. Whether you defy the prophecy or follow it, as long as you live and fulfill your role before my grand plan comes to fruition, that is all that matters.”

Finally, the Celestial Master sneered, placing the flaming white stone onto the board with a heavy thump.

Though it seemed like a move in a game, the entire hall trembled. The three-tailed fox spirit, who had just risen to her feet, seemed to lose her soul. The crimson seals in her eyes dimmed, shifting from rebellion and humiliation to emptiness.

Jiang Jinyou’s feelings could no longer be described as simple “disdain.” She felt trapped in some incomprehensible framework, where even her every emotion was predicted within it.

Either obey willingly, or rebel—and in doing so, still serve the prophecy.

This was fate.

This was the “Organization” she and Mu Yanran belonged to.

“No! That’s not right!”

Suddenly, a sinister grin flashed in Jiang Jinyou’s mind—the face of a black-eyed youth.

She shot to her feet, her seductive eyes reigniting with hope:

“Even if your celestial divination is infallible, you still failed to predict He Yimo’s move, did you?”

“…”

The words plunged the hall into an eerie silence.

Jiang Jinyou watched the Celestial Master’s expression. Though her face remained impassive, the leisurely way she held a black stone froze mid-move.

Clack!

The Celestial Master slammed a black stone onto the board.

At the same time, a terrifying pressure descended from above. The three-tailed fox, who had just stood up, was forced to her knees with a thud.

But that wasn’t enough. Until Jiang Jinyou could no longer support her spine, completely crushed under the oppressive gravity, her face pressed against the floor, the Master on the dais finally let out a soft breath.

“Hahaha… hahaha…”

Humiliated, prostrate, yet her deranged laughter never ceased.

With great effort, she lifted her head, her chin resting on the ground. Though her prone perspective only allowed her to see the golden-clad feet of the immortal above, it did nothing to quell the wild excitement surging within her.

“Master…” “All these years, I’ve exhausted myself trying to anger you, but now it seems… nothing compares to the sheer effectiveness of just three words: ‘He Yimo.’” “Hahaha… hahaha!”

The more she laughed, the greater the pressure became.

At some point, Jiang Jinyou could no longer maintain her human form, gradually transforming back into a small, crimson fox with three thick tails and a sakura blossom mark on her forehead.

But even so, she laughed.

“Master…” “You’re not actually angry because He Yimo ruined your little play, are you?”

When the fox spirit’s playful laughter fell, the white-haired immortal on the dais clenched her silver teeth, her golden eyes widening in fury.

—

Outside the Hall of Celestial Balance, Long Corridor

Dressed in an elegant skirt, the white fox maiden moved with graceful steps.

Though petite, she dragged nine magnificent, snow-white fox tails behind her. In her hand, she deftly twirled a long, silver-inlaid smoking pipe. Her every movement exuded an alluring charm that belied her childlike face.

She hummed softly, clearly in a good mood.

But as she approached the hall’s doors, a few bloody smudges and scattered red fur on the ground made her seductive eyes widen in realization.

“Oh my~” “What has that stupid fox done now?”

Qiuyuebai curled her lip in a cold sneer. Then, with a embroidered, gold-trimmed foot, she casually kicked aside the troublesome clump of fox fur blocking her path.

Pushing the doors open, she walked into the hall and finally, lifting her skirt, knelt gracefully before the white-haired immortal on the dais.

“Venerable Celestial Master, you summoned me? What are your instructions?”

The white fox maiden wagged her tail submissively—obsequious practically written on her face.

But the immortal on the dais didn’t even bother to look up, her eyes fixed on the Go board as she spoke:

“A disciple of Wuji Sect has disrupted our plans.”

“Wuji Sect… Isn’t that Jiang Jinyou’s jurisdiction?” Qiuyuebai murmured, connecting the scattered fur and blood at the entrance to the scene inside.

The Celestial Master on the dais closed her eyes, offering no explanation, only continuing:

“This disciple is named He Yimo. According to Jiang Jinyou, though he is only late Foundation Establishment, he possesses the Innate Sword Saint Physique and has contracted a Nine-Colored Deer…”

“Now that is truly remarkable~” Qiuyuebai sounded surprised.

But soon, she tilted her head in confusion:

“Aside from his slightly lower cultivation, his talents rival even our little Xu’s… But I recall the ‘Child of Prophecy’ of Wuji Sect was named Chen Jianxin, was he not?”

The moment she spoke, the temperature in the hall seemed to drop.

It was as if she had touched a raw nerve. The Celestial Master, who had just calmed, was once again irritated.

However, the white fox maiden below was skilled at reading the room. Seeing the Master’s displeasure, she immediately lowered her gaze, her nine tails drooping submissively.

“My apologies… I overstepped…”

“In any case, no matter how exceptional He Yimo is, for now, he is still merely at the Foundation stage—at most, halfway to Golden Core in combat strength.”

“Next month, the Cangyuan Forest secret realm opens, and it has a cultivation limit. Mo Yuyan cannot enter.”

“At that time, Qiuyuebai, with your Nascent Soul cultivation, killing him should be no problem.”

The Master’s instructions were calm.

But as her voice fell, the white fox maiden below frowned once more:

“But… Venerable Master, as a Nascent Soul cultivator, I cannot enter either…”

The little white fox perked her fluffy ears, tilting her head in confusion from her kneeling position.

On the dais, the Celestial Master sighed, slowly opening her divine golden eyes.

The moment Qiuyuebai met the Master’s gaze, a sudden realization flashed in her mind—the ‘Child of Prophecy’ of her own Luli Sect, Xu Mo.

Instantly, a spark of inspiration lit up the fox spirit’s face. She gave an embarrassed, charming smile, her nine tails swaying:

“I understand, Venerable Master.” “Next month, I’ll have Xu Mo participate in the secret realm as well.”

“Mm.” The Celestial Master nodded, placing the final stone on the board.

“By then, the ‘Luli Saintess’ of the Moon Cult, Ruan Luli, will also likely move to kill He Yimo. Even if Jiang Jinyou interferes, the two of you working together should be more than enough to eliminate him.”

—