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

The sword light that slashed out from the illusory array reflected in the void annihilated the beam of destruction that had pierced straight into the tunnel.

It did not dissipate, but rather, as if possessing a will to live, it gently spun in the void above the tunnel, then traced a mysterious trajectory before disappearing back into the hazy phantom of the array.

Whoosh!

The illusory array pattern rippled slightly, its supreme radiance flowing as if it were breathing.

Then,

In the utter silence, all the heroes could see was that behind the illusory array diagram, the void that had been imprisoned by the invisible power of the supreme artifact was now slowly parting to both sides like ripples on water.

The next moment,

Hey!

Da...da...

Two figures, a man and a woman, calmly stepped out from the open void.

The man at the front stood tall and straight like a pine tree, dressed in a simple blue robe. His black hair, which had been flowing wildly in the wind, was tied up, and his face was handsome with calm and deep eyes.

Although no unusual phenomena flickered in his eyes, they remained as calm as an ancient well.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his body exuding no intimidating aura, but naturally revealing a calm and serene demeanor, like a mountain standing still and returning to simplicity.

Beside him stood a stunningly beautiful woman in a red dress and with silver hair.

She was tall and alluring, her fiery red dress accentuating her breathtaking curves; her silver hair cascaded down her back, her skin was as white as snow, and her beauty was captivating.

Especially her eyes, with their pupils subtly vertical, possess a captivating charm that, while undeniably alluring, also exudes an aloofness and coldness that keeps strangers at bay.

These two were Tan Lin and Shao Hanyun, who had recently returned to the outside world after leaving the forbidden ancient road.

At this moment, all eyes were focused on them, and the moment the two appeared, they seemed to become the absolute center of this world.

shuh...

Tan Lin simply ignored the gazes directed his way.

As soon as he arrived, his deep gaze immediately fell on the area not far from the entrance of the tomb.

There, after the beam of destruction dissipated, the dust settled.

A figure in a black dress, her form as mysterious and perfect as a treasure vase of the Great Dao, leaned weakly against the charred and broken cave wall, her body ravaged by heavy injuries. Tears still clung to her exquisite face.

When Tan Lin saw that familiar yet unfamiliar woman's face,

Seeing the complex expression of confusion and sorrow in his eyes just now, as he lightly touched his cheek with his fingers,

Seeing the disheveled state of his face, a mixture of tears and blood,

A barely perceptible ripple flickered in his usually calm eyes, but it vanished in an instant, replaced by a serene expression.

Beside,

Shao Hanyun's beautiful eyes first swept over the scene outside the tomb entrance.

Kun Zhou paused, his hidden location already exposed due to the repeated activation of the Supreme Artifact, before looking towards the distant underworld and holy spirit factions, where countless Yin soldiers and generals thronged, their Yin energy soaring to the heavens.

And even further out, countless heroes from all the heavens and myriad realms swept past rapidly.

However, in the end, the image was fixed on Li Qingjue.

Upon seeing this woman,

Her alluring red lips pursed slightly, almost unconsciously, and a fleeting, unparalleled amazement flashed deep within her beautiful eyes.

But then, as if imitating Tan Lin, she also reverted to her original languid yet aloof demeanor.

She stood quietly beside Tan Lin with her arms crossed, as if she existed merely as a glamorous vase.

Although in Tan Lin's eyes, this might indeed be the case for the short term...

Da...da...

As the two finally stopped at the entrance of the tomb,

silence.

At this moment, a deathly silence almost enveloped the entire "ruins" continent, which was naturally formed from the remnants and fragments of life from all over the endless universe.

As the illusory image of the supreme array that had been floating around them slowly solidified...

At this moment, all the cultivators who witnessed this scene—whether it was the Kun Zhou Di Que uncle and nephew inside and outside the tomb, the three sons of the Underworld observing the situation, the group of Holy Spirits, or Chi Yao and her group in the distant stone forest—were all present.

Or perhaps it's the vast number of powerful figures surrounding the periphery.

Every single one of them, for some very different reason, stood frozen in place, as if struck by a spell.

Many people were shaken to their core, and some even seemed to forget that they could still breathe.

Swish!

From all directions, gazes, once focused, remained fixed in disbelief on the suddenly appearing man in blue.

Of course, the key point is actually that corner of its body slowly floats into the void.

The supreme array diagram exuded a terrifying and murderous aura that, even from millions of miles away, caused the primordial spirits within the immortal platforms of the cultivators present to tremble constantly.

"This person..."

"It's...it's him?! Tan Lin, the Undying Golden Body?!"

Finally, someone broke the suffocating silence, their voice distorted by the overwhelming surge of emotion.

"What?! It was him?"

"The Undying Golden Body is still alive?! Disappeared for decades... and emerged from the forbidden ancient path?!"

"My God! That array diagram... that aura... we can now confirm that it is the legendary ancient spiritual treasure, the Heavenly Venerable Array Diagram, which is said to be suppressed in the forbidden ancient road, the 'Divine Realm'!"

"Incredible... Absolutely incredible! This kid actually brought out this Celestial Venerable Killing Array Diagram from the mythical era?!"

"How did he do that?"

"..."

"Wait, if the array diagrams have all fallen into his hands, has that immortal divine medicine that is said to be rooted in the Divine Realm also fallen into the hands of this indestructible golden body?"

"..."

"The Spirit Treasure Killing Formation, no wonder! No wonder that sword light was so terrifying just now. It was just a phantom image projected from a very distant region, yet it easily annihilated the attack unleashed by the Supreme Artifact!"

Legend has it that this array diagram cannot be broken unless four supreme beings wielding ancient imperial weapons enter the array…

"No, it's impossible..."

"How...how could he possibly 'activate' the Immortal Slaughtering Formation Diagram? Even if it's just a fragment of its phantom imprint, it's completely illogical..."

"Do you all still remember his cultivation level when he first stepped onto the forbidden ancient path, and his current realm..."

"Hiss... Mid-stage Great Sage?! This rate of advancement..."

Who is the woman in red with silver hair beside him?

"It seems to be Shao Hanyun, who possesses some of the bloodline of the Celestial Azure Dragon and once held herself in high esteem, claiming supremacy among the younger generation of the demon race?!"

"Tsk, decades have passed, and her improvement hasn't been significant. It's a pity about her meteoric rise back then, leaping several major realms into the Immortal Platform in just two or three decades."

I remember when she was finally hunted down by those old monsters from the Big Dipper Cult, she was already a high-level Saint King. Yet now she hasn't even reached the Great Saint realm. The fate and destiny of this world are truly unpredictable..."

"They... came for this Devouring Demon?!"

"It seems the situation has changed again. With this supreme array diagram, this demon may not be destined to die this time."

"Now it's truly confirmed that this demon and the Undying Golden Body lineage have a deep connection..."

"..."

Outside the tomb,

A clamor swept out like a tsunami, leaving all the cultivators stunned and utterly shocked by this sudden and earth-shattering reversal.

No one expected this at that moment.

This latest change actually stemmed from the indestructible golden body of Tan Lin.

This human hero, who decades ago wielded a mysterious bronze fragment that instilled fear in all heroes and whose name resounded throughout the stars, has since vanished without a trace.

Who could have imagined that, after disappearing for decades, the other party would reappear in the outside world in such a shocking way?!

and,

He seemingly possessed the killing array diagram of the Celestial Venerable Lingbao from the mythical era, and had taken all the divine treasures of creation from the divine realm.

If this news were to spread, it would be enough to shake the entire universe and attract those quasi-emperor level powerhouses who are usually elusive and rarely seen.

However, what is surprising and uncertain at this moment is that its purpose in appearing seems to be to save the Devouring Demon, who has caused bloodshed on the Ancient Road of Myriad Races for a long time and whose fearsome and infamous reputation is well-known?!

Is the connection between these two merely a personal entanglement, or is it related to the Undying Golden Body lineage...?

What exactly is the relationship between these two?!

If the doubts in everyone's hearts just now were merely speculations, then now that those speculations have been completely confirmed, what remains is more terrifying upon closer examination.

What is the purpose of creating such a demonic figure by devouring the essence of the world's geniuses?

……

"The Spirit Treasure Killing Formation... The Immortal Slaughtering Formation Diagram!"

Inside the tomb, the Underworld and Holy Spirit factions, observing the situation, were the most deeply moved by the appearance of the supreme array diagram, a feeling that could be said to be unparalleled throughout the entire tomb.

At this moment, amidst the surging of endless Yin energy, low roars filled with suppressed fear and apprehension simultaneously emanated from the three giant coffins.

Yama's crimson eyes pierced through the cracks in the coffin lid, defying the spatial barrier, fixed intently on a corner of the array of light and shadow, his voice hoarse and trembling:

"Damn it! How could it be this?! Wasn't it said that this thing was kept in the divine realm and had never left without permission? What's going on today?"

"This child actually gained the 'approval' of the array diagram?! Could he be the 'reincarnation' of the Celestial Venerable Lingbao? Even if he were a successor from another era, it would be impossible for him to control such a thing!"

Inside the coffin, the hands of the Underworld Prince holding the black and gold book trembled slightly.

His voice was icy:

"Lingbao Tianzun, in his ancient times, plotted against the calamities of immortality and the corpses. Legend has it that he developed a secret technique specifically for our underworld, capable of eradicating beings like us and sweeping away all darkness."

Even if there are exaggerations involved... the appearance of this array diagram in the world is by no means a good omen for my underworld!

"I never imagined that the Lingbao lineage, after countless ages, would still have its lineage unbroken..."

The figure of Zhen Yuzi was faintly visible in the coffin, his tone solemn:

"This boy has a close relationship with the demon in the great tomb... I'm afraid today's matter must end here. Retreat at once!"

Before the three finished speaking,

At this moment, however, they did not even have the courage to continue to observe, and chose to retreat without hesitation!

Wow!

next moment,

The giant coffins they were in were filled with a surge of Yin energy, carrying countless Yin soldiers and generals, and instantly disappeared into the darkness deep within the tomb. Taking advantage of the moment when the void confinement collapsed, they escaped along the cracks in the tomb that had been broken open by the supreme artifact.

And on the other side,

The Celestial Spirit Emerald and the Three Celestial Spirits of Green Vine also changed their expressions, their eyes filled with fear.

"The Immortal Slaughtering Formation Diagram..."

Cui Linglong's voice trembled, and her jade-like face showed an unprecedented level of retreat:

“We are in a precarious situation, still trapped in this tomb raider's tunnel. Our position is far too awkward. That indestructible golden body and Kun Zhou and the others are bound to clash, and the commotion it will cause will be absolutely terrifying. We really can't stay here any longer…”

"That demon was in such a state, yet he still survived?!"

The voices of the Three Holy Spirits of Green Vine were bitter.

As they spoke, their bodies merged, and the thousands of vines retracted, transforming into a beam of green light. Together with Cui Linglong, they fled rapidly in the opposite direction from the underworld without looking back, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

All around

Even the cultivators from the two powerful forces, the Underworld and the Holy Spirit, fled in terror.

The remaining factions and independent cultivators who had initially intended to observe or even harbor some ulterior motives were instantly terrified.

They scattered like birds and beasts, frantically fleeing towards the outside world through the cracks in the tomb, fearing they would be caught up in the earth-shattering battle that might break out later.