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

Just as everyone was shocked and speculating.

A leisurely footstep seemed to tread on everyone's heart, echoing from the passageway.

Then,

Under the watchful eyes of countless people filled with astonishment, doubt, fear, and trepidation,

A figure slowly emerged from the pillar of chaotic light.

With the beam of light gone, the heroes' vision became clear.

It was a young man dressed in monastic robes, with a tall and straight figure, his black hair tied up with a black crown.

His handsome face, especially his eyes, was calm and deep, as if they contained an endless starry sky.

His aura was not concealed, yet he seemed to be integrated with the world of Wheel Sea here. If one did not see it with their own eyes, one could hardly perceive his presence.

And it was this seemingly young man who, when he stepped out of the beam of light and truly stood above the Sea of ​​Bitterness,

The vast sea of ​​suffering, its once towering black waves, subsided on their own.

In his sight, the young man held nothing in his hands.

He simply walked out casually, hands behind his back.

But the invisible aura that he naturally exuded made everyone who looked at him feel a tremor from the depths of their souls.

At this moment, it was as if they were not facing a cultivator they could fathom.

Rather, he is a supreme being walking among mortals, an ultimate being who overlooks all ages!

"This lad... seems to resemble someone I saw many years ago outside the Seven Golden Cities..."

"Hiss... It really seems to be him? But back then, he and that 'Demon Lord' Shao Hanyun were standing on the shoulder of that peerless ferocious ape..."

"Fellow Daoists, who exactly are you referring to?"

"Not bad, is this kid quite famous?"

"..."

"There's no mistake, it really is him! It's that immortal golden body!"

On the sea, people gradually recognized the figure and couldn't help but exclaim in disbelief.

"What?! He's the one who possesses an indestructible golden body—a bronze remnant token capable of easily annihilating any Great Sage?!"

"How is that possible?! Didn't they say decades ago that his bronze fragment could only be activated a few more times?"

He actually squandered it like this? Using it to break down the boundary between this place and the divine realm? What a waste of resources…

"His ability to travel from the Divine Realm to this place was probably not due to the use of that bronze remnant token. The terrifying sword energy in that pillar of light passage was too compatible with the four killing swords in the Life Spring here."

"What are you trying to say, fellow Daoist? Could it be that he caused that strange phenomenon just now? He's just a guy who only made cultivators wary of him when he was outside, relying on forbidden artifacts. He hasn't even stepped into the Great Saint realm yet. How could he have broken through the Divine Realm without using forbidden artifacts?!"

"..."

"No, wait, can you smell it? Look at his cuffs!"

"Didn't you just see a flash of nine-colored light? That aura... it's so similar to those 'leaves' that we've picked up here in recent years that fell from the divine realm!"

"Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable!! Could it be that he managed to steal that legendary elixir of immortality from the Divine Realm?"

"Heavens! What on earth did he do in the Divine Realm? Did he suppress the Divine Realm and seize the Elixir of Immortality all by himself? No wonder the commotion earlier seemed to be caused by the power of an ancient Celestial Venerable's array!"

"Did he really perform such a miracle?"

"That broken bronze token in his hand, can it really allow him to run rampant in the divine realm?!"

"..."

Speculations and discussions, intertwined with divine thoughts, spread like a hurricane across the surface of the Bitter Sea.

All the cultivators were in an uproar, shocked by the truth they had guessed and thought they had deduced, their emotions trembling beyond measure.

This has been true since ancient times.

One by one, case by case,

These cultivators who came from the outside world in waves mostly only fantasized about things in their spare time, or things that could be considered impossible goals. How could someone have actually accomplished all of them?!

This indestructible golden body, Tan Lin

Before even entering this place, they stirred up trouble not only on the ancient golden road, but now they've also created such waves and achieved such a feat on this forbidden ancient road!

The fact that it descended from the divine realm in reverse, and the two recent anomalies here, all indicate that it must have done something extraordinary and earth-shattering in the divine realm!

Suppressing the natives of the divine realm?

To storm that divine mountain and kingdom recorded in ancient books and seize the divine medicine?

Could this have triggered an anomaly in the ancient Celestial Venerable's array diagram, which had been dormant for countless ages?!

Countercurrent lower realm...

Any one of these events would be enough to shake the entire starry sky and be recorded in the annals of cultivation!

Even if he didn't do it, he must be involved!

At least, many people are now certain that the other party definitely has that immortal herb hidden in his sleeve!

Swish!

All eyes were fixed on the figure in the air, their initial surprise and apprehension beginning to morph into awe and terror.

Some of the female cultivators looked at Tan Lin with gazes that could be described as gentle, rippling autumn waters.

At this moment, only a few people remained relatively calm, their gazes filled with inquiry and an indescribable mix of emotions.

but,

Tan Lin ignored the countless gazes converging from the sea of ​​suffering below.

He was only interested in the causal threads that these people created, and even the potential for generating revenue through fireflies.

As for the rest, he had absolutely no interest in them.

Da...da...

Wow!

After stepping out of the passage, the chaotic pillar of light that pierced through this world began to slowly dissipate, eventually returning to nothingness, as if it had never existed.

Tan Lin sensed the location slightly and turned his gaze to the depths of the Bitter Sea, to the location of the largest spring of life.

Immediately, his sleeves fluttered, and a wisp of divine power from the array diagram surged forth.

Then he took a step forward, and his figure vanished from the spot like a dream.

All that remained on the sea of ​​suffering were countless cultivators whose hearts were still unsettled, who wove increasingly outrageous speculations and legends about his fleeting appearance.

……

Beneath the Sea Eye of Life

Within the ever-changing cave, the primordial energy still lingered, and the Daoist aura of the Celestial Venerable flowed, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

In the center of the cave, beside the pool of divine liquid, which was no more than ten feet square,

Shao Hanyun, dressed in a bewitching red robe, sat cross-legged, surrounded by the Daoist principles of the Azure Dragon, truly resembling a supreme demon lord in the world.

However, she wasn't cultivating at the moment; instead, she was resting her chin on her hand.

Her other hand's slender fingers were unconsciously entwining a strand of hair that fell across her chest, her beautiful eyes gazing at the gently rippling water in the divine liquid pool, seemingly lost in thought.

And not far from her

Xiao Liu, shrouded in the forbidden light prison, was idly poking at the prison's walls with his finger, making soft "poof" sounds.

After being awakened by the earlier commotion, the two of them did not return to a meditative state to cultivate. Instead, they started bickering casually.

Right now, Xiao Liu's handsome face, which had transformed into one of the Six-Eared Macaque's innate supernatural powers and resembled someone by eight or nine points, but also carried a roguish air, was filled with frustration.

"Hey, 'Shao the Demoness,' I'm saying... when is your guy finally coming back?"

Having just killed off the previous topic, Xiao Liu finally couldn't hold back and broke the silence again, her voice full of resentment:

"This lousy cage is driving me crazy!"

A few years ago, when he brought that woman who appeared out of nowhere back home, he said he'd let me get out and have some fresh air sometime in the future.

As a result, after I left, they used the high-sounding excuse of doing it for my own good, and then they put me under house arrest!

I can't go out until I break through to the Great Sage realm. Do you know how long it is for me to reach the Great Sage realm?

How many years will that take?! If you leave too, I'll be all alone here. How am I supposed to get through all that time?! All I'll do is cultivate and space out; I won't even have anyone to talk to!

Upon hearing this, Shao Hanyun snapped out of her reverie, glanced at Xiao Liu with her alluring eyes, and said calmly:

"He did something right. Your grandfather's body is still intact. Even if I'm gone, your grandfather will still be with you."

Then you can focus more on your cultivation and building your foundation here.

Don't take your good fortune for granted. This place is the Daoist temple of a Celestial Venerable, permeated with the Daoist aura and the killing intent of a sword, and filled with endless divine liquid. Such a supreme treasure land is a sacred cultivation ground that countless geniuses from all the heavens and myriad realms outside can only dream of. You should cherish it.”

"Cherish, cherish, all you ever do is say 'cherish'!"

Xiao Liu rolled her eyes and said angrily:

"Of course I know I should cherish it, after all, it was something my grandfather worked very hard to get for me when he was alive."

But there has to be a limit to cultivation! If I stay locked up like this any longer, I'll either go crazy or become stupid!

I mean, you're almost at the Great Sage level, aren't you?

Why don't you stop obsessing over that damned divine forbidden domain, just break through it quickly, then help me break this restriction and let me out to enjoy myself for a few days?

I promise I won't go far; I'll just wander around in this sea of ​​suffering!

These words were spoken.

Shao Hanyun's sexy lips curved into a barely perceptible smile, her voice still carrying a thorn:

"He must have his reasons for setting up this restriction on you. If I break it without permission, he will probably be unhappy if he finds out."

"Oh dear! Why are you so stubborn?!"

Xiao Liu was so anxious that he stamped his feet in the prison cell. When he mentioned Tan Lin, he no longer addressed him as "Brother Tan Lin," but instead spoke rudely:

"He's your man, why are you afraid of him?"

Besides, don't you want to go out and see what just happened outside?

The earth-shattering commotion just now was felt even here; something big must have happened in the Divine Realm!

Maybe it's related to that person! Don't you want to go out and see what's going on, and while you're at it... cough cough, maybe look for him?

He left with a woman of unknown origin; I feel so sorry for you.

"So, would you like to know some of their private conversations during those years in the cave? If you promise to release me early after your breakthrough, I'll tell you everything..."

Upon hearing this,

Shao Hanyun's fingers, which were twirling her hair, paused slightly, and a barely perceptible ripple flashed in her bewitching eyes.

She naturally sensed the terrifying energy fluctuations that had previously shaken the entire Sea of ​​Wheels.

She had already suspected that this was most likely related to Tan Lin, and might even involve some serious matters.

Over the years, her feelings for him, which started as a fleeting affair, have grown increasingly deep.

It would be a lie to say I'm not worried right now, but there's an indescribable sense of trust.

She believed that with someone's methods and mysterious nature, she would be safe and sound.

As for going to find him...

Thinking of this, Shao Hanyun let out a soft hum.

He left without even saying goodbye properly, and he was accompanied by that woman who sometimes called him "Little Lin'er."

Her alluring face seemed to grow even colder.

They had no choice but to humble themselves.

"He knows what he's doing, so there's no need for us to worry."

Shao Hanyun's tone was flat, revealing no emotion: