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

She needed to confirm something; otherwise, her mind would be constantly restless and uneasy, which would be detrimental to her spiritual practice.

Upon hearing this, Tianling's smile deepened slightly. She glanced at Tan Lin, who was sitting in the distance, completely absorbed in the formation of broken steles, and said leisurely:

"The connection between him and me runs deep and cannot be explained in just a few words."

As for the specifics... since he didn't choose to speak openly that day, then there are some things you shouldn't know for now. You'll learn some secrets in the future. For now, just let things take their course and don't be too curious..."

Her answer was ambiguous, neither confirming nor denying.

It's as if it said something, yet it's also as if it said nothing at all, which only adds to the mystery.

Shao Hanyun's heart sank.

She sensed the estrangement and distance in the other person's words.

It's an attitude that needs no explanation and doesn't require much attention.

It was as if Shao Hanyun was just an insignificant bystander to her, destined to be a fleeting passerby in someone's life.

"But you..."

Tianling continued speaking.

As she spoke, her gaze fell on Shao Hanyun's alluring face, carrying a rare hint of scrutiny.

This was the first time Shao Hanyun had felt valued by him:

"I observe that you have lost your primordial yin, but within the flow of your breath, there seems to be a trace of the Daoist essence of the union of yin and yang remaining."

"Between you, your divine senses intertwined, and you jointly contemplated that broken stele? You must have already consummated your relationship, right?"

Her question was direct, even somewhat abrupt.

Upon hearing this, Shao Hanyun froze, a blush appearing and disappearing at the base of her ears in an instant. A hint of embarrassment and panic flashed in her eyes as the truth was exposed.

She didn't expect the other party to ask so bluntly, and she didn't expect that before she could even find out anything about the other party, she would be seen through at a glance!

Did Tan Lin already tell him on his own initiative?

still is……

"Why do you say that, senior?"

Shao Hanyun tried to remain calm, but her voice was somewhat strained.

"Although my current condition and cultivation level are not what they used to be, my eyesight is still there."

Tianling said calmly, her tone revealing neither joy nor anger:

"For a race like yours, if it's not done willingly, no one else can take your primordial yin. Since you had physical intimacy with him, whatever the reason, you must have had intentions in your heart..."

She paused, her gaze becoming somewhat distant:

He was born extraordinary, and he will never have only one woman by his side.

Your fleeting affair with him is both your fortune and your misfortune. I advise you not to be too attached to anything, or you'll only suffer.

Her words were meaningful, containing both a reminder and a warning, and also subtly revealing a sense of confidence and composure as she sat firmly on the "highest platform."

It's as if it's saying, "I allow your existence, but you need to recognize your place."

'She's not what she used to be... She's definitely not simple, far more than just the Divine Maiden in charge of the Spring and Autumn Pavilion...'

As her thoughts drifted, Shao Hanyun's pretty face paled slightly, and her fingers unconsciously clenched her sleeves.

She understood the unspoken meaning behind the other person's words; they were telling her that her relationship with someone was, at best, just a fleeting affair.

If it is truly a predestined relationship, and you are lucky in the future, you may eventually be able to stay by someone's side, but you will never be able to threaten the other person's position.

'Ha! Aunt and niece? What a load of rubbish, you two are quite something...'

At this moment, a series of thoughts swirled in Shao Hanyun's mind, and a sense of unwillingness welled up from the bottom of her heart.

She, Shao Hanyun, may seem unrestrained on the surface, but does she really think she's some kind of casual person?

Years ago, she was forced to join the vile sect of the Northern Divine Cult, and only by navigating the machinations of a group of old monsters who coveted her could she preserve her chastity.

After years of feigning compliance, he suddenly turned against the cult, plundering its millennia-old treasure trove of knowledge to fuel his cultivation journey.

Does the other party really think she's so easy to manipulate?

She wanted to see if, once her cultivation level surpassed his and she spent more time with him, he would still be able to easily subdue her.

Her thoughts raced, and Shao Hanyun raised her eyes, a barely perceptible glint of sharpness flashing in them.

But on the surface, she remained gentle and yielding, smiling brightly as she said:

"I am grateful for your concern, senior... However, the word 'fate' is so elusive. My path lies in my own heart. As fate brings us together and causes us to part, let time prove it..."

These words, though seemingly humble, reveal a sharp edge, a kind of self-protective edge.

Tianling glanced at her, said nothing more, and just smiled faintly, a smile that seemed to carry a kind of all-knowing pity and tolerance.

But at this moment, the shimmering light in her eyes seemed to speak volumes.

Her eyes seemed to say, "Young lady, you are still too young..."

……

The two women's telepathic communication ceased.

rustling... rustling...

At the same time, on the other side of the platform, Xiao Liu, who was in a meditative state, had all six ears on both sides twitch simultaneously for a moment.

Finally, as if she had overheard something, she quietly opened her eyes a crack and secretly looked at where the two were.

shuh...

But that one glance almost scared her out of her wits.

It turned out that at that very moment, Tianling was smiling and looking back at her!

'Oh no, I've been caught eavesdropping...'

Xiao Liu screamed inwardly, but then he saw Tian Ling raise a slender finger and place it in front of her lips, making a "shh" sound.

Seeing this, she nodded her furry head frantically, showing a strong will to survive.

…………

Chapter 197 The One Who Ties the Bell Must Untie It (3K, Please Subscribe!)

In the distance, within the array of broken steles.

Tan Lin was not oblivious to the verbal sparring between Tian Ling and Shao Hanyun.

However, he did not choose to intervene.

Some things are destined to be unavoidable; there will always be times when he is not there, and it is impossible to take care of every aspect.

How the two of them will get along and how they will view certain issues are their own ideas, which he cannot control.

By birth, Tianling was a noble princess in ancient times, possessing a unique "graceful and generous" demeanor and a macro-level perspective. However, she was also extremely proud and not easily fooled.

While Shao Hanyun may seem unpredictable and flexible at times, she also possesses her own persistence and ambition.

Neither of them were ordinary women.

Tan Lin didn't think she had that much free time or energy, and she wouldn't try to force any changes on them.

Let everything take its natural course.

For cultivators, emotional experiences are always only a small part of life.

Cultivators, in the end, still prioritize their own path to enlightenment. Individuals may have different views on this issue, but it is undeniable that cultivation is the foundation.

Without cultivation and strength, one doesn't even have the right to talk about love in this world, nor can one protect or ensure the things one wants to safeguard.

……

Within the cave, cultivation transcends day and night.

Time passed slowly in this subtle atmosphere.

In the blink of an eye, ten years have passed.

During this time, on the outside world's sea of ​​suffering, struggles and battles never truly ceased.

Some people, due to gains or other reasons, become new "targets," thus sparking disputes.

However, the ripples it caused were not as "grand" as before.

Suddenly one day,

Suddenly, a series of loud rumbling sounds emanated from the inner perimeter of the Bitter Sea, where the nine life springs were located.

boom!!!

Immediately afterwards, a surge of powerful energy erupted like a volcano, soaring into the sky and condensing and extending above the Sea of ​​Bitterness.

As time went by, it vaguely showed signs of transforming into a magnificent divine bridge that spanned the sea of ​​suffering and led to the divine realm on the other side!

The life spring gushed forth, and the divine bridge "received" the spirits. This magnificent phenomenon, rarely seen in this place for many years, reappeared after decades!

"Hahahaha... After more than twenty years in this place, I have finally waited for this day!"

"Unfortunately, I missed the last gushing of the Fountain of Life. I'm afraid the fortune of that 'Divine Realm' has already been taken by those who set foot there first..."

"Hehe, fellow Daoist, are you perhaps worrying unnecessarily? There are predecessors who have done the work of collecting treasures and seizing opportunities for us. We can simply go and 'take' what's readily available. Isn't that great?"

"..."

"This fellow Daoist is as humorous as ever..."

"..."

"Everything is ready, the divine bridge is about to take shape!"

"Charge!!"

wow...

Whoosh!

Swoosh... Swoosh...

At this very moment, the cultivators who had been waiting for a long time on the Sea of ​​Bitterness were all in an uproar.

One by one, they activated their escape lights, soaring into the sky from the ancient ships, vying to reach the newly formed divine bridge.

Everyone wants to use this opportunity to reach the other side, enter the legendary Five Internal Organs Divine Realm of the Ancient Celestial Venerable, and compete for greater fortune.

……

At this moment, Mingquan Hai's eyes were filled with light.

Inside the cave, Tan Lin seemed to sense something and opened his eyes.

After nearly ten years of recuperation, Tianling's injuries have basically healed, and her aura is stable and vast. In fact, she has even benefited from the misfortune, as her cultivation is showing signs of further advancement with the help of Tan Lin.

However, this so-called improvement in cultivation level is only relative to Gu Qingying's physical body.

Once one's cultivation reaches the upper limit of the divine soul forged by Tianling and Princess Shencan, which is the threshold of Quasi-Emperor, there will be no further progress.

This is one of the drawbacks of having one's soul reside in another's body. In the early stages, the other body controls the physical body, and with the previous body's understanding of the Great Dao, the cultivation level naturally rises rapidly.

However, if the body is returned to the original owner, the latter will almost never be able to break through to the Quasi-Emperor realm.

This is also the biggest reason why, despite the many brilliant and talented goddesses who have served as masters of the Spring and Autumn Pavilion throughout history, not a single quasi-emperor has ever emerged.

This was something that Tianling hadn't explicitly told Gu Qingying in the past.

however,

Over the years, the latter has belatedly realized the situation, but it's too late; it's a fait accompli. No matter how unwilling Gu Qingying is, she can only remain silent; there's nothing she can change.

Perhaps the only thing that didn't make her feel so hopeless was the demigod herb that had been refined to have most of its medicinal power, and the "alternative longevity method for robots" promised by Tianling.

The demigod elixir could greatly extend her lifespan, and given enough time, it's not impossible that she might break through her limitations.

However, if the worst-case scenario were to occur, the Robot Technique would allow her primordial spirit to continue in an alternative way...

clatter……

Sensing the commotion outside, Tan Lin slowly stood up, looked at Tian Ling who had also opened her eyes not far away, and said: