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

A sinister, cold laugh came from outside the tomb:

"My nephew and I went to great lengths to trap you and set up this murderous scheme."

For this, I even went so far as to use my ancestral resources and pay a great price to borrow this supreme artifact. If you can die by this supreme artifact, then your life will not have been in vain.

Hand over what you found in the tomb, and perhaps I might consider granting you a quick death!

Wow!

However, before he could finish speaking,

The terrifying supreme aura of the artifact outside the tunnel condensed once more, clearly indicating that a second attack had been brewing within just a few words!

This time, Li Qingjue, who was seriously injured and had lost the forbidden weapon, believed that he had no chance of stopping it again!

Her eyes flashed with a cold light, and her killing intent soared to the sky.

However, her injuries were extremely severe, her internal magical power was in disarray, and her Destruction Path was wreaking havoc, making it impossible for her to organize an effective defense or escape in a short period of time.

Am I really going to perish here today?

Thoughts flowed,

She leaned against the charred cave wall, her black dress and robes torn, with gruesome wounds on her arms and neck, and blood dripping from the cracks in the bronze mask on her face.

The supreme artifact was too powerful, and her injuries were extremely severe. It seemed unlikely that she could escape alive this time.

"Want rare treasures?"

Her voice was hoarse, yet carried an unusual calm:

"Can……"

As she spoke, she slowly raised her right hand.

The next moment,

wow...

A dark light flashed in her palm.

Then, the coffin containing the immortal medicine, which she had shrunk to a miniature size using her magical powers, along with a jade bottle containing a secret, and several top-grade medicinal herbs appeared.

The coffin was shrouded in wisps of celestial light, the divine essence in the jade bottle was swirling with iridescent colors, and the supreme medicine exuded a refreshing fragrance.

Swish!

The moment these things appeared, even from a great distance,

Kun Zhou and Di Que, who were inside and outside the cave, as well as some powerful figures skilled in pupil techniques, could clearly feel the boundless vitality and Daoist charm.

Seeing this situation,

Outside the tomb, the Great Sage Kunzhou, hidden in an unknown corner, narrowed his eyes slightly, a surge of greed rising in his heart.

But this emotional fluctuation was quickly suppressed by his deeper vigilance.

"Don't show yourself!"

Using the supreme artifact as a medium, he bypassed Li Qingjue's location and transmitted his voice without leaving a trace to Di Que, who was sealed behind the woman:

"This woman is not only ruthless, but also incredibly cunning. The fact that she has taken out these divine treasures at this moment is probably a trap!"

She's definitely trying to lure us out so we can both die! Don't fall for it!

“I know, Uncle.”

Di Que's response was brief and calm.

He didn't really agree with this kind of ambush, and his attachment to these external things wasn't as strong as Kun Zhou thought, so he naturally wouldn't show himself rashly at this moment.

rustling... rustling...

The tunnel fell into a brief silence.

Inside the cave, Li Qingjue waited for a moment, and seeing that no one came to retrieve it, her last thought of breaking the deadlock was completely extinguished.

Sure enough, after decades of sparring, that old dog had become cautious to the core.

"What? You don't dare to come and collect it?"

She gave a cold laugh, her voice filled with undisguised sarcasm:

"Kun Zhou, you've been lying low for decades, laying this trap, and now you've even used a supreme artifact. Is this all the courage you have?"

"Hehe, little girl, your provocation won't work on this old man."

A cold laugh came from the Great Sage of Kunzhou:

"How many years have I lived? I've seen far too many of your tricks."

If you are truly determined, hand over the celestial treasure and throw it out of the cave, and I might consider giving you a quick death. Otherwise…

You may not know this, but some beings in the forbidden zone are quite curious about your relationship with the last human emperor of the ancient times. If they leave even a wisp of your soul behind, you will suffer a fate worse than death...

I can tell you that this artifact was once forged with a pool of divine soul water. Under its overwhelming divine power, it will devour your primordial spirit, and your soul will be tormented by karmic fire within it day and night.

At that time, all your secrets will be exposed.

However, my true desires are different. Compared to your connection with that unfortunate Daoist who has since passed away, I am more interested in the divine treasures in your possession..."

Seeing that Li Qingjue remained unmoved, his voice suddenly turned stern:

"Don't think that I'm reluctant to part with it!"

Compared to the potential threats you might face if you were allowed to live in this world, what are these precious treasures, however valuable, compared to my life?!

I'll give you three breaths to consider!

Three breaths later, I will activate this supreme artifact again, and your body, along with these celestial treasures, will be reduced to dust!

boom!

Kun Zhou had not finished speaking when

Outside the tunnel, the terrifying aura of the supreme artifact slowly rose, and the horrifying fluctuations, seemingly capable of destroying everything, surged in again like a tangible tide.

This caused Li Qingjue, who was already seriously injured in the passage, to gasp for breath.

At this moment, her heart was filled with coldness.

That old dog is indeed just as ruthless and decisive.

In order to kill her, they were even willing to destroy the coffin containing the immortal medicine and the divine marrow, which were extremely valuable treasures for the capital!

She didn't believe a word of what the other person said.

If it were truly possible to annihilate her physical body and its essence while also capturing her soul, why would the other party say so much?

Either way, she's going to die, so why would they want her to hand over these divine treasures?

Is that even possible?!

tick... tick...

Fresh blood continued to drip from the gaps in the mask.

Three breaths passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Qingjue could sense that the destructive aura of the supreme artifact outside the cave entrance had reached its peak.

The next blow will be earth-shattering; she will have no chance of escaping.

'It seems... I am truly destined to perish here today... It's just a pity that I couldn't offer these things to my master...'

She whispered to herself, a bitter and resentful feeling rising in the cold, lonely lake of her heart.

But more than anything, it was an emotion that was hard to describe.

She felt regret and resentment; she had failed to reach the pinnacle of the Great Dao, had failed to wait for her brother's return, and even more so... had failed to see her master one last time.

hum...

At this moment, scenes from many years ago involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

In a dilapidated temple on a rainy night, a voice transmitted through a bronze ring, and a wisp of a remnant soul gave her hope, guiding her onto the path of enlightenment.

On her spiritual path, even with strict teachings, everything was precious to her.

Ten years of rigorous training within the training tower, then the tower collapsed in a single day; parting words...

Beyond the Crimson Cloud River, the bittersweet feeling of meeting without recognizing each other...

'Master...I'm sorry...Nannan...I've disappointed you...'

As thoughts raced through his mind, a murky tear, mixed with blood, slid down from a crack in the mask.

next moment,

A fierce and resolute glint suddenly flashed in her eyes!

Even if it meant death, even knowing the odds were slim, she was determined to take her enemy down with her!

wow...

In an instant, the little remaining magical power within her body surged wildly, pushing the Devouring Heaven Demon Art to its limit, and thousands of strands of dark light burst forth from her body.

This act of recklessness is different from the one many years ago when he helped "Gu Qingying" out of a predicament on the forbidden ancient road.

She truly possessed the power to detonate the five secret realms of her own body, and even the ability to internally absorb and refine the alien origin, in order to deliver that final self-destructive blow!

Even if they can't take away Kun Zhou, who possesses the supreme artifact, they must severely injure the other "accomplice" of the other party who is not far from this tunnel!

"Stubborn to the end!!"

Three breaths have passed completely.

Outside the tomb, the Great Sage of Kunzhou sensed the unusual surge in Li Qingjue's aura.

His eyes flashed with murderous intent, and without further hesitation, he quietly shattered a massive amount of divine source, drawing in a vast amount of life essence to pour into the supreme artifact. Then, his magical power flowed around him, and his mind connected with the deity within, activating the supreme artifact!

boom!!!

Finally, the supreme artifact's divine power erupted once more!

The second beam of destruction was thicker and more terrifying than the first.

At this moment, it carried supreme divine power capable of obliterating everything, tearing through the void at the cave entrance, ignoring the distance, and instantly shooting towards Li Qingjue, who was coughing up blood repeatedly inside the tunnel!

wow...

Death has never been so close.

Before the beam of light even reached him, Li Qingjue could already feel his body beginning to disintegrate inch by inch, and his primordial spirit within his Sendai was wailing, showing signs of collapse.

She closed her eyes, awaiting final annihilation.

however,

Just at that critical moment, when she was about to self-destruct.

hum!

The bronze mask that had concealed her face and covered countless years suddenly seemed to come alive, trembling slightly at that moment.

Then,

A faint ray of light, worn away over the past hundred years since someone's complete passing, quietly bloomed from within the mask.

The moonlight was initially faint, like a candle flickering in the wind.

But the moment it appeared, it seemed to freeze time and space, calming the chaotic road inside the tomb.

wow...

The ray of moonlight swirled slowly in the air, eventually vaguely transforming into a hazy, towering figure.

The figure had its back to Li Qingjue and faced the earth-shattering beam of light from the supreme artifact.

The figure's face was obscured, but an aura of supreme power capable of suppressing all ages and quelling chaos emanated from it.

In the blink of an eye,

The illusory figure gently raised its hand and pointed a finger at the incoming beam of destructive energy.

And it is this very light touch that...

The second strike of the supreme artifact, upon contact with the illusory radiance, was as if erased by an invisible force, vanishing silently...?