Covering the Sky: The Years I Was the Empress's Strictest Master

These words were spoken.

A hint of joy flashed in Chi Xuan's eyes as she stood before him, seemingly relieved.

Chi Yao nodded slightly in acknowledgment, maintaining proper etiquette throughout.

Then, the two women sat for a while longer, briefly discussed the details of tomorrow's exchange meeting, and then got up to say goodbye.

Before leaving.

Chi Xuan glanced at Tan Lin again, seemingly wanting to say something but ultimately said nothing. She then walked away hand in hand with her sister Chi Yao.

After seeing the two off, Tan Lin returned to the quiet room, his gaze falling on the food box.

"Eight Treasures Nourishing Spirit Soup..."

He had come here for meditation today and was feeling rather hungry.

The indestructible golden body possesses a powerful physique, but its regular consumption is undoubtedly enormous, whether reflected in daily food ingredients or the rare and precious materials and pure sources used during cultivation.

This powerful vitality always needs energy to maintain, so that it can be tempered and refined.

Click...

Soon, Tan Lin opened the food box, and a refreshing aroma mixed with rich essence wafted out.

The soup is crystal clear and contains eight rare and precious ingredients, which are very beneficial for nourishing the mind and spirit and consolidating one's spiritual realm.

That Aunt Qin really put her heart into it.

Upon seeing this, Tan Lin thought to himself.

Inside the food box was not just this bowl of Eight Treasures Divine Soup; Tan Lin also noticed an inconspicuous jade slip next to it.

He picked up the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense.

Wow!

As the light and shadow shifted, a brief snapshot, etched with divine will, could be seen within.

Chi Tianfeng's solemn face slowly appeared:

"Lin'er, tomorrow's banquet is ostensibly for appreciating stones, but in reality, it's a test for all parties involved."

The Northern Divine Cult, the Heavenly Martial Holy Land, and others must have something on their minds, especially the Northern Divine Cult, whose Holy Maiden, Shao Hanyun, will arrive soon.

Legend has it that this woman was originally a demon cultivator from beyond the realm, possessing a portion of the 'True Dragon Bloodline,' but somehow she was converted by the Beidou Sect using secret methods.

You must remain vigilant and not be misled by appearances during the interaction, lest you lose your composure and be taken advantage of by that special secret technique...

In addition, at tomorrow's meeting, you are free to display your talents and do not need to hide your shortcomings.

In this Tianchi Mountain range, my Chi family can still hold our own! Everything is backed up by your uncle; young people should be full of vigor and ambition…”

After saying this, the photo disappeared.

Tan Lin held the jade slip, a flash of warmth passing through his eyes.

Chi Tianfeng was revealing his secrets to him.

This uncle truly treated him like a son or nephew; the Chi family is indeed trustworthy.

"Shao Hanyun... salvation, why does that sound so much like the 'Salvation of Gods Technique' created by the Empress of later generations? Could it be that the latter was inspired by this secret method to create that technique..."

Tan Lin's thoughts were in turmoil.

It seems that tomorrow's so-called stone appraisal and exchange meeting will be more interesting than expected.

It remains to be seen whether any of the outstanding talents at that gathering will possess great potential and be worthy of his personal attention and involvement.

As he pondered, he put away the jade slip, drank the soup in one gulp, but then frowned slightly.

This is indeed the Eight Treasures Divine Soup, made with the finest ingredients.

However, the taste was rather strange and difficult to swallow.

Is this soup really made by the Chi family's kitchen?

Why does it feel like the work of a complete novice who has never cooked before?

Realizing this, Tan Lin's gaze deepened.

He immediately recalled the strange expression on Chi Xuan's face when she was carrying the food box earlier...

He shook his head inwardly, deciding to stop thinking about such things.

He sat cross-legged back on the couch and began to refine the spiritual essence contained in the soup, feeling the warm and nourishing energy nourishing his meridians and soothing his mind.

……

The next day.

As the sun rises over the Tianchi Mountains, the morning glow casts a golden glow on the continuous palaces and pavilions hidden in the mist.

However, almost all the cultivators in the Chi family could sense it.

Beneath this seemingly peaceful surface, undercurrents have begun to stir, just waiting to surface.

…………

Chapter 124 The Demoness Shao Hanyun

The Chi family, at the Shangzhen Pavilion.

It was a complex of buildings used by the Chi family for appraising and appreciating treasures, and also for bartering among clansmen; it was not just a pavilion.

Several magnificent palaces stand in the center, constructed entirely of warm white jade and sandalwood, exuding an ancient and grand atmosphere, seemingly having stood here for tens of thousands of years.

Therefore, this place has been designated by the Chi family's senior management as the venue for this stone appraisal and exchange meeting.

The pavilions and palaces were meticulously decorated inside and out, with gurgling springs and fragrant flowers on both sides of the buildings, and faint melodies of celestial music drifting through the air.

Da...da...

Before dawn, when the sky was just beginning to lighten, many figures had already begun to arrive.

Aside from the young talents of the Chi family itself, there were many more disciples and successors brought by envoys from various places.

The group included many native Beidou cultivators, such as the Beidou Divine Sect, the Tianwu Holy Land, the Beiyuan Family cultivators, and the special envoy of the Nanling Demon Emperor Palace, as well as envoys from several ancient life-giving lands outside the region that have maintained contact with the Chi family for thousands of years.

However, compared to the latter, most of the local forces from Beidou were there for the Chi family's twin lotus flowers and the indestructible golden body.

As time went by, more and more people gathered in the Appreciation Pavilion, and the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

In the four corners.

The servants and clansmen of the Chi family secretly sized them up.

As of now, it has been discovered that nearly half of the major forces behind BeiDou have already appeared.

This shows just how big the sensation was when the news of the previous calamity broke.

At this moment, the young people present gathered in small groups. Some sought out old acquaintances and chatted quietly, while others smiled reservedly, their eyes occasionally glancing towards the entrance.

Those gazes came from a variety of sources, including scrutiny, curiosity, and other subtle expressions.

The focus, undoubtedly, is on those few individuals who are frequently mentioned in conversations but have yet to appear:

"Brother Zhao, what's wrong? Your sect's visit here isn't for a marriage alliance with the Chi family, is it?"

"..."

"Hehe, such stunning twin lotus flowers, which man wouldn't covet them?"

But to even be qualified to pluck a single flower is already a stroke of luck. Now that we, this generation of wise men, have gathered here, do you think I have that opportunity?

"You? Go take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror!"

"..."

"Alas, Fellow Daoist Duan, to be honest, my Fan Yun Sect just came here to join in the fun and see if that indestructible golden body is truly as astonishing as the rumors say..."

"Who isn't? People like you and me are just here to make up the numbers. We're certainly eyeing those two pearls of the Chi family."

Unfortunately, limited by my background and natural talent, I can only dream about it. I just hope that I can get some good items at this stone appraisal and exchange meeting, so that the trip won't be in vain.

"You're only just hearing about this...?"

"More than that! It is said that the Dragon Transformation Tribulation was comparable to the Great Tribulation of the Immortal Platform, and it evolved into the Southern Heavenly Gate of the Ancient Heavenly Court. It actually used its physical body to fight its way into the Immortal Gate and shattered the tribulation clouds with its fist. It was simply inhuman!"

"Seventh level of Dragon Transformation... He's only twelve years old, right? How can we possibly accept this..."

"Hmph, they're just relying on their special physique. Their foundation might not be solid. In the Dragon Transformation Realm, every step is a step to heaven. They make great progress at first, but then they stop progressing. There are countless examples of this throughout the myriad realms!"

"Indeed, the path of cultivation is long, and it is about the future, not about momentary pleasure."

My senior brother Song from the Heavenly Martial Holy Land has accumulated profound knowledge and skills; he could have easily entered the Immortal Platform realm long ago, yet he has yet to do so. The solidity of his Dao foundation is rarely matched by his contemporaries.

"Wasn't it said that Fairy Shao from the Big Dipper Sect would be coming today? Why haven't we seen her yet?"

"..."

Discussions rose and fell around Shangzhen Pavilion.

Meng Lu, the holy son of the Beidou Divine Sect, stood with his hands behind his back in a side hall.

He was mentioned by those around him from time to time, but he seemed not to hear them. He simply took out pieces of source stone and placed them in front of him, waiting for the exchange meeting to officially begin.

at the same time.

Beneath a pavilion, Song Zecen of the Heavenly Martial Holy Land greeted several familiar prodigies with a smile.

But his smile didn't reach his eyes, and occasionally, a subtle, aggressive glint would appear in his eyes as he chatted, his meaning ambiguous.

Not far away, the Song brothers, Qiwen and Qiwu, stood among the Chi family members maintaining order. They were expressionless, only occasionally exchanging glances.

Chi Yao and Chi Xuan have not yet arrived, and Tan Lin is nowhere to be seen either.

But for some people, this waiting is itself a kind of invisible pressure and expectation.

Wow!

Suddenly, a slight commotion arose outside the pavilion.

A strange fragrance wafted from the mouth, not a floral scent, but a unique aroma that seemed to be a mixture of the cool coolness of ambergris and some other exotic fragrance, which stirred the mind and soul.

Everyone looked over and saw several figures slowly entering through the entrance.

The leader was none other than Xuan Yunzi, the Supreme Elder of the Beidou Divine Sect.

Beside him, a stunning woman in red gracefully approached.

Her bright red dress was not an ordinary palace gown, but an extremely fitted long dress with flowing sleeves, giving her an ethereal look. The hem of the dress swayed and fluttered with her long, slender legs, as if flames were flowing on it.

The woman was around twenty years old, and her figure was so alluring that it was breathtaking.

Her waist was so slender it could be encircled by a single hand; beneath her fairy-like dress, her breasts were full and her hips were shapely; she swayed gracefully as she walked.

Her waist-to-hip ratio and her figure curves seemed to have been meticulously sculpted by God, exuding a breathtakingly eerie beauty.

Besides that, what also attracts attention about this woman is her cascading silver hair.

A few strands of hair fell beside her cheeks, adding to her languid and mysterious air.

"Shao Hanyun of the Beidou Divine Sect greets fellow Daoists."

Upon entering, the woman in red glanced around at the crowd and slowly spoke.

Her voice was different from the usual gentleness of women; it had a unique magnetism, with a hint of husky allure, like fine aged wine, making one feel numb upon hearing it.

She walked gracefully towards us from a distance at the entrance.

As her features gradually became clearer in the public eye, they formed a strange contrast with her alluring figure.

Her skin was as white as snow, her nose was delicate and her lips were red; she was stunningly beautiful.

Yet, his phoenix eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, with dark gold vertical pupils in them, and his gaze carried an inhuman indifference and a hint of untamed wildness.

She did not deliberately display any imposing manner.

But the innate nobility and the domineering aura of a dragon, mixed with this breathtaking beauty, instantly captivated the hearts of almost everyone present.

Regardless of men and women.

Many young men gasped for breath and stared blankly, while the women in the room mostly felt ashamed or secretly envious.

"Fairy Shao?!"