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

It was clear that he hadn't activated any divine power to protect himself, relying entirely on his physical body to withstand the attack.

He walked back from the edge of the cliff, his expression calm.

“If you wanted to cripple me, you would have done so in the hall that day. Why wait until today? Your actions may seem like punishment, but they are actually an act of protection. I know this in my heart.”

"Oh?"

A hint of surprise flashed across Chi Yushan's cloudy old eyes, which quickly turned into deeper appreciation:

"Tell me, how did I protect you?"

"The day before yesterday, you were so enraged in public that you imprisoned me here. It was just for show for the various sects outside."

Tan Lin said calmly:

"Senior's move is quite deliberate. It can save face for the Chi family and make outsiders think that the Chi family has already abandoned me, thus 'distancing' me from the Chi family."

Secondly, considering the anger of their predecessors, all the various sects could continue their policy of closing their doors to guests without causing any disturbance.

This would greatly reduce the pressure on the Chi family from all the marriage proposals, and the two younger sisters might finally have some peace and quiet...

besides……"

He paused here, his gaze meeting Chi Yushan's:

"Although this place may seem austere, being atop the sea of ​​clouds, facing the heavens and earth directly, the wind, frost, rain, and snow all serve as trials, greatly benefiting a younger person's physique."

Moreover, this place is undisturbed, which suits my needs perfectly…

The words fell.

Chi Yushan stared at Tan Lin for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter.

His loud laughter shook the sea of ​​clouds at the cliff's edge.

"Good! Good lad! You haven't disappointed me!"

That day, I was right about you. You possess all the courage and fortitude of the Undying Golden Body lineage, and you are also insightful, bold yet meticulous.

You don't seem like a teenager at all, yet you still have that youthful spirit, which is quite remarkable...

Of all the immortal golden-bodied beings I've encountered intermittently over the past tens of thousands of years, you are the one who suits my taste the best!

After speaking, his expression turned serious:

"Since you see through the deeper meaning of this move, I won't play those games with you."

Xuan'er, that girl, I watched her grow up after I broke free from my seal. She has a carefree and innocent nature, but this time... she has indeed been hurt quite badly by you.

The reason I'm punishing you here is also to appease her anger.

Young people need to experience some setbacks, feel the chill in the wind, and clear their heads; it won't hurt.

Tan Lin was silent for a moment, then nodded and said:

"It is my fault for hurting my sister Xuan'er's feelings."

"It's good to know."

Chi Yushan waved his hand, revealing his carefree, childlike demeanor once again:

"But since you have no feelings for Xuan'er, then so be it."

A forced relationship is never sweet, especially for cultivators. Relationships between Daoist partners are based on fate and cannot be forced. Besides, you've only known each other for a few days. Tianfeng was far too hasty that day.

only……"

As he was speaking, he narrowed his old eyes and suddenly changed the subject:

"When you publicly said that you admired the Holy Maiden of the Big Dipper Cult that day, was it your true feeling, or just an excuse?"

Tan Lin's expression remained unchanged:

"What do you think, senior?"

Chi Yushan stared at him for a few moments, then chuckled:

"That day, when I was in the back hall, I saw the look in your eyes when you spoke. They were very clear. There was not a trace of being blinded by beauty."

Although that enchantress is renowned for her beauty, she probably can't disturb your resolve.

You little rascal, I'm afraid you have ulterior motives..."

…………

Chapter 150 Friendship Across Ages

"It's strange, really. You're just a young upstart at the Dragon Transformation Realm, yet some of your actions are completely beyond my comprehension..."

As he spoke, Chi Yushan's old eyes kept scrutinizing the young man in front of him, as if he was determined to find something out about him.

Tan Lin neither confirmed nor denied what he said; after the other person finished speaking, he simply said:

“That Fairy Shao is indeed extraordinary.”

"Enough, I'm too lazy to get involved in your young people's affairs."

Seemingly finding it somewhat boring, Chi Yushan stood up and flicked his sleeves:

"Originally, I was quite worried that with your talent, if you were to develop a rift with my Chi family due to a misunderstanding, what would happen in the future?"

However, since you see through and understand everything, there's not much more to say.

Given the historical ties between the Chi and Xiang families, and since you are now in my Chi family territory, I naturally cannot allow you to suffer any injustice. If you lack anything for your cultivation, just ask me…

Furthermore, you're probably well aware of the taste of this place. While it's certainly beneficial for your physical constitution, you can't possibly endure it in the long run.

So from today onwards, every few days, I will come here to play a few games with you, giving you a break and helping you pass the time.

As for that brat Xiang Jun…”

As he spoke, he glanced at Tan Lin:

"Don't worry, he doesn't have much time left, I will take care of him myself."

If you wish to see him, I can personally take you there...

Remember that I visited you; do not tell anyone.

After speaking, without waiting for the other party to say anything, his figure turned into green smoke and disappeared into the twilight on the cliff top.

Standing still, Tan Lin's deep eyes flickered slightly as he wiped the blood from his face. Then, he took a step forward and threw punches at Yun Hai Gang Feng again and again!

……

What Chi Yushan said is true.

Sure enough, every two or three days thereafter, he would quietly come to Hedao Cliff to play chess with him.

The so-called game of chess is not about black and white pieces alternating on a crisscrossing chessboard.

Instead, they used the cliff top environment as a chessboard and Dao patterns as chess pieces. Chi Yushan suppressed his own cultivation level, using the opportunity of the game to probe the depth of Tan Lin's Dao foundation. This was an alternative way of discussing the Dao.

The competition is about the profound understanding of the Dao in the present state, and the different perceptions of cultivation.

As wisps of patterns appeared and disappeared, the Dao patterns condensed and surged, and an aura of killing intent was faintly visible all around.

As time went on, Chi Yushan became increasingly alarmed. Initially, he relied on his own insights gained in the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm during his youth to analyze it.

The result was that after making a few moves, he almost lost the whole game. Seeing this, he quickly increased the stakes in secret, and only then did he barely stabilize the situation.

He originally intended to dampen the young man's youthful arrogance and perhaps offer some pointers on his cultivation, but he never expected to almost lose face...

despair!

Tap...tap...

Both the old and the young were no ordinary players. They played against each other every two or three days, often battling from dusk until late at night.

Meanwhile, Chi Yushan was also quietly and deeply observing this increasingly unfathomable young man.

However, at some point, Chi Yushan gradually became somewhat taciturn during matches.

In the end, every move he made seemed to have a deeper meaning. Sometimes, under the guise of "giving pointers," he would ask Tan Lin for his views on cultivation and the current political situation.

Tan Lin handled the situation with composure, and his insights were often unique. Even though he only touched upon many points briefly due to certain concerns, it still secretly impressed Chi Yushan.

After several attempts, Chi Yushan felt that the bottleneck that had trapped him for many years seemed to be loosening a little.

This led him to gradually abandon his old ways and fully embrace the Great Sage's Daoist cultivation, returning to the Sea of ​​Wheels, the Dao Palace, the Four Extremes, and the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm to share his insights on the Great Dao.

During their game of chess, the two players verified each other's knowledge and gained valuable insights.

Including his previous life as the Human Emperor, Tan Lin's three previous cultivation lives were all in the Primordial Era, spanning nearly a million years and two eras.

There are undoubtedly significant differences between the Primordial Law and the Desolate Ancient Law.

During this period, some people summarized the methods of their predecessors, and some of them were highly accomplished individuals who built upon the foundations laid by their predecessors and further improved the "cultivation system".

Of course, this does not mean that the methods and principles summarized and developed by later generations are necessarily stronger than those of ancient times.

Instead, there are many new points that are worth pondering for those cultivators with wisdom.

Tan Lin had already awakened some of his past life wisdom. After each "game" with Chi Yushan, he would reflect on his experiences and gain many insights that made him ponder and feel enlightened.

This is of great value to him in perfecting the rudiments of the Dao in this lifetime and forging a brand new path.

Since this is a new era, we should comprehend the ancient and new laws, and then integrate them to make the strong even stronger.

"Good lad, your ideas are truly imaginative. I'll come back to see you in a few days..."

Late at night, Chi Yushan left with a hearty laugh and his load of goods.

He no longer puts on airs in front of Tan Lin; after spending a long time together, the two have almost become close friends despite their age difference.

Thus, an activity unknown to outsiders was added to the Hedao Cliff.

Every two or three days, at sunset, Chi Yushan would quietly arrive and meet Tan Lin on the cliff top, using starlight as lamps and Daoist patterns as chess pieces, to discuss Daoist principles and play chess.

On the chessboard, the situation shifted dramatically. Outside the game, an old man and a young man occasionally conversed in hushed tones, discussing matters of cultivation difficulties, ancient historical secrets, and unconventional paths to enlightenment.

Tan Lin's unique insights, comprehension, and intellect repeatedly startled Chi Yushan, making him feel that this young man was unfathomable.

Every so often, Chi Yushan would use his great supernatural powers to shield the Chi family members from sight and hearing, and silently take Tan Lin to the Yangxin Garden where Xiang Jun was.

Seeing that Tan Lin was not only unharmed, but his aura had become even more profound and powerful, Xiang Jun knew that it was the Chi family patriarch secretly protecting him.

However, while he was shocked and suddenly realized what had happened, Chi Yushan warned him not to reveal this matter to others.

All of this was done in complete secrecy.

Not to mention the outside world, even within the Chi family, apart from Chi Yushan himself and a few clan ancestors of the same level, no one knew about it.

Even though Chi Tianfeng and his wife occasionally noticed that their ancestor sometimes went to the Hedao Cliff, they only assumed that their ancestor still had lingering anger and was occasionally "reprimanding" Tan Lin.

Chi Yao and Chi Xuan were completely kept in the dark.

But it is worth mentioning that,

As Xiang Jun's condition deteriorated, he fell into a coma and talked in his sleep more and more often, and almost let slip the secret to Chi Xuan, who came to take care of him.

The latter arrived a little early one day and almost bumped into Tan Lin, who was visiting Xiang Jun, by sheer coincidence.

……

Time flies by like a galloping horse.

Half a year has passed in the blink of an eye, and Tan Lin's days on Hedao Cliff are regular and fulfilling.

It goes through the three seasons of summer, autumn and winter.

During the day, he would observe the wind and clouds, tempering his physical body, using the perilous environment to hone his martial arts skills, and comprehend the Daoist principles of this place.

At night, one breathes in the starlight, solidifying the foundation of one's path and digesting the scattered wisdom from past lives that awakens each day.

Chi Yushan was incredibly generous with the resources he provided, and coupled with the unique environment of this place, the exploration of the extraordinary nature of the Undying Golden Body became increasingly in-depth.

His cultivation was also steadily improving, step by step, and his realm had reached the peak of the Dragon Transformation stage.

However, the weather on the cliff is unpredictable, with cold winds and bitter rain being common occurrences.

That night, a fierce storm raged, with thunder and lightning.

Large, biting raindrops, carried by the gale, lashed against Tan Lin's body with a loud crackling sound.

…………