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

But it also pushed both of them into a more conspicuous and dangerous position.

The anger from the rejection of the Chi family's marriage proposal today will likely be partly directed at her.

If she had known she would suffer this "undeserved calamity," she would never have come to the Heavenly Pool Palace. Wouldn't it have been better to stay in the Phoenix Pavilion?

'This guy...how can he be so ruthless in his actions...'

Her thoughts raced like lightning, and Shao Hanyun felt a surge of anger.

But for some reason, when I heard that guy say "I admire you very much" in public earlier,

Amidst the helplessness and depression that had kept her heart sealed shut, a faint ripple stirred, one that she herself was unaware of.

However, this ripple was quickly replaced by deeper vigilance and calculation.

What exactly is he trying to do...?

The deathly silence in the hall did not last long.

"Humph!"

Suddenly, at that moment.

A cold snort, imbued with immense holy might, erupted from the rear hall like a thunderclap, resounding throughout the main hall, causing everyone's eardrums to buzz and their blood to surge.

Wow!

Followed by.

An aged yet powerful figure emerged from the rear hall.

This is a member of the Chi family who has been out of seclusion for more than ten years since the beginning of this great era. He is the ancestor of the Chi Yao sisters.

With a single step, he appeared in the arena in an instant.

Because of his advanced age, he was not particularly robust; in fact, he was rather thin.

But his appearance at this moment was like an ancient divine mountain suddenly rising from the ground within the hall, aged and decrepit.

An invisible, overwhelming pressure emanated from the Great Sage, making the air in the entire hall seem to freeze at that moment.

His face betrayed no emotion, yet his old eyes, like frozen ice, pierced directly at Tan Lin, who was still bowing.

"What a wonderful 'I dare not do it, I disdain to do it'! What a wonderful 'I deeply admire it'! How wonderful..."

The Chi family patriarch's voice wasn't loud, but it contained thunderous fury; every word struck like a heavy hammer into everyone's hearts.

"That's very well said. If the situation were different, and you were rejecting marriage proposals from other prominent families, I might just give you a good drink. That would certainly suit my taste..."

"But is this how your Xiang family teaches you today? Is this how you repay the tens of thousands of years of friendship between the Chi and Xiang families, the life-and-death bond we've shared for generations?!"

boom!

Before the old man could finish speaking, an even more terrifying pressure suddenly descended, enveloping Tan Lin as if it were a tangible force.

When the Great Sage is enraged, the heavens and earth change color!

shuh...

In an instant, some of the younger prodigies in the hall with slightly weaker cultivation turned pale and almost collapsed to the ground, even though the pressure was not directed at them.

"Our ancestor!"

In the main seat, Chi Tianfeng opened his eyes the instant the old man appeared.

Seeing the old man's actions, he shouted and stood in front of him.

The other party's appearance was truly unexpected.

This marriage alliance involves people from all sides, as well as two women on whom the clan has placed high hopes. It is not a small matter, but it is not so big as to alarm influential figures.

But the problem is, they actually did show up...

"Ancestor, please calm your anger. Today is merely an agreement to finalize the marriage contract. We should have consulted the wishes of both children."

The engagement is not yet finalized, anything is possible, and Lin'er naturally has the right to refuse. This is not his fault; it's my fault for not making proper arrangements beforehand..."

Chi Tianfeng quickly spoke up.

He vaguely recalled records in the clan's ancient books that this ancestor was notoriously bad-tempered ten thousand years ago.

At this moment, he was genuinely worried that the other party might do something irreversible in their rage.

"Ancestor, please don't be angry..."

Qin Suyao, standing nearby, also spoke up to dissuade them.

Below, her face was already streaked with tears, yet she bit her lip tightly to keep from crying out, her stubborn gaze fixed on Tan Lin's daughter, which broke my heart.

She didn't want to step forward to dissuade them, but she was clear about right and wrong.

Besides, there are so many outsiders here; we can't let them laugh at us.

"Ancestor..."

At this moment, Chi Yao, who was supporting her younger sister, also stepped forward, her clear and cold voice carrying a hint of tactful pleading.

Although she was shocked and puzzled by Tan Lin's actions, putting aside other factors, reason told her that the matter should not be allowed to escalate to a worse state.

This elder brother is, after all, highly regarded by the Xiang family, possessing the pure bloodline of the Undying Golden Body. If something were to happen to him in the Chi family,

The long-standing ties and enduring friendship between the Chi and Xiang families, spanning tens of thousands of years, will also begin to crack.

“Ancestor of the Yushan Clan, this matter is indeed not the child's fault. It was we who spoke too much to the Clan Head earlier…”

"Ancestor's joy or anger..."

All around the hall, the Chi family elders who had previously kept their eyes down and mind at ease could no longer sit still and began to speak out.

"Yu Shan, so many years have passed, can't you control your temper? This child's bloodline cannot be allowed to be abused by you?"

Three ancient and majestic divine thoughts emanated from behind the screen, carrying a sense of dissuasion.

That was also a clan ancestor of the Chi family. Among these three, some were of the same generation as Chi Yushan, while others were of a lower generation, but their cultivation levels were almost identical.

Previously, they had been observing quietly in the rear hall together with Chi Yushan.

Tan Lin's refusal to marry certainly damaged the reputation of the Chi family.

But this matter is truly not Tan Lin's fault. If he were to be hurt because of this "trivial matter,"

The enduring friendship between the Chi and Xiang families is probably over. How can they live up to the beautiful stories and friendship passed down from their ancestors?

More importantly, the value of this indestructible golden body...

…………

Chapter 146 I Must Stand Up

"Heh, you guys are really good at playing the good cop, you get to play all the bad cop roles..."

A wave of divine sense emanated from the rear hall, and Chi Yushan snorted coldly, retorting with a sarcastic remark.

He may seem dissatisfied, but having cultivated to this level and lived for so many years, how could he possibly be without any sense of propriety?

His appearance and current behavior are merely meant to scare that brat from the Xiang family.

So that they wouldn't rely on their indestructible golden body and the connection between the Chi and Xiang families, and think they could do whatever they wanted.

In his view, during the few days the other party had stayed at the Chi family's residence, a large group of people in the clan had become indifferent because of the other party's indestructible golden body.

To put it nicely, it's enthusiasm; to put it bluntly, some people's attitude towards them is nothing short of "flattery" and deliberate fawning!

Even now, with the Chi family's precious jewel having been wronged, these people are prepared to let it slide...

Even though the root cause of today's events cannot be blamed on that child, he still came out to intimidate everyone present.

He was thinking much further ahead than many of the people present. If he didn't step forward to intimidate her this time, given how Xiao Chixuan had acted, if she really ended up with that kid in the future, she would probably be bullied to death.

Of course, he would never admit on the surface that he actually thought highly of Tan Lin's future and wanted to help this marriage come to fruition.

However, things have come to this point, and it's impossible for the engagement to be finalized today...

Wow!

The terrifying pressure that had enveloped the area receded slowly like a tide, but the atmosphere in the hall became even more oppressive.

Chi Yushan narrowed his old eyes and stared at Tan Lin.

Tan Lin remained calm and composed in response.

He slowly lowered his hands, ending his clasped-hands gesture, and straightened his posture, appearing even more upright than before.

Meeting the other person's "cold" gaze, there was no fear in his eyes, only a hint of frank apology and persistence:

"I am fully aware that this action has failed to live up to the kindness of my uncle and the entire Chi family, and has also hurt the feelings of my sister Xuan'er."

However, this marriage agreement was indeed too sudden...

Of course, things have come to this point, and there's no point in saying anything more. I dare not ask for your understanding, Uncle Shi and the Chi family.

However, please allow me to see Brother Xiang Jun off on his final journey before leaving the Chi family.

I will bear all the annoyance and blame; I only hope that you, my elders and friends, will not let this matter damage the millennia-old friendship between the Chi and Xiang families.

This is all the fault of the next person.

Upon hearing this, many members of the Chi family present relaxed slightly.

The other party spoke frankly and sincerely, adopting a humble attitude and taking full responsibility upon themselves.

This undoubtedly gave the Chi family a way out.

"Leave the Chi family?"

Unexpectedly, Chi Yushan sneered:

"If you leave, others will probably think that my Chi family has disregarded our long-standing friendship and mistreated you. You'd better stay here in my Chi family..."

"Our ancestor!"

Before he could finish speaking, a voice choked with sobs suddenly rang out.

Everyone looked over and saw that Chi Xuan, who had been silently shedding tears, gently broke free from her sister's support.

She raised her hand and fiercely wiped away the tears on her face with her sleeve, revealing a pale but unusually calm face.

Those slightly red and swollen eyes no longer held their former liveliness and romance, only emptiness, coldness, and resolve.

At this moment, she didn't even look at Tan Lin, but addressed her parents at the head of the table, as well as Chi Yushan and the others, in a calm yet heartbreaking voice:

"My daughter is young and ignorant, doesn't understand people's hearts, and is too wishful thinking. She has brought shame to her father, mother, and the Chi family."

Since he is unwilling, then let this marriage be called off.

From this day forward, I have nothing to do with him anymore!

My daughter is feeling slightly unwell, so I must take my leave now.

After speaking, she bowed gracefully to her parents and Chi Yushan.

Then, under the complex gazes of everyone,

She turned around and walked step by step, her figure unusually steady yet strangely stiff, toward the outside of the hall.

From the moment she spoke until she left, she never looked at Tan Lin even once, as if he were merely an insignificant decoration in the hall.

"Xuan'er?!"

Qin Suyao called out with heartache, wanting to chase after them.

"Let her go."

Chi Tianfeng stopped his wife in a hoarse voice.

He watched his daughter's retreating figure, which was trying to appear calm, and felt a pang of heartache, along with a sense of guilt and resentment.

He wasn't blaming Tan Lin; he was blaming himself.

After listening to the embellished reports from those clan elders, he became too presumptuous.

However, he genuinely thought highly of Tan Lin, as he was very satisfied with all the qualities Tan Lin had demonstrated.

Even without those elders, he and his wife had been thinking for the past few days about perhaps trying to bring them together...

Ultimately, it all came down to being too hasty!