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

Crimson mist surged,

On the scale of the Soul Pearl barrier, the fireflies, almost completely filled with the eighth deep crimson light point, were burning intensely.

Tan Lin pushed the 【Reverse·All Causes Perspective】 to its limit.

The Soul Pearl shone with divine power, dispelling and obscuring the existence of many forbidden zones, while simultaneously allowing for the deduction of clues about him and related matters.

At this moment, those "old acquaintances" seemed to have planned it all, and at the same time, they exerted their power, using incredible supernatural abilities and secret techniques, from different angles and levels, attempting to dispel the crimson mist that shrouded him.

Although those beings have not fully broken free of their seals, their "joint efforts" have undoubtedly created astonishing phenomena.

After all, his current status has not yet reached the pinnacle again, and his cultivation is still at the mid-stage of the Great Saint realm. Even if he activates the Soul Pearl, the effect it produces is less than satisfactory, and he cannot fully utilize its potential.

In such cases, it's possible that someone skilled in this kind of deduction might spot some clues or flaws and follow the trail to find the source.

He knew exactly where the problem lay.

It's highly likely that this stems from the continuous activation of the Qinghui he left behind in the world over the years. At first, those people chose to remain silent, but they weren't indifferent. They were simply gathering enough clues to launch an attack in one fell swoop!

Moreover, the chain reaction caused by rescuing Tianling was too great.

Regarding that matter, he knew he simply couldn't bear to watch his former beloved die so tragically.

If that's really the case, is he still himself?

I'm afraid that by then, they won't be much different from those cold-blooded supreme beings in the forbidden zone who have cut off their own lives.

Given Tianling's past relationship with him, it wouldn't be difficult for some of his "old acquaintances" in the forbidden area to become suspicious and investigate further.

Furthermore, the emergence of the Spirit Treasure Killing Array Diagram and its complete revival are no small matter...

It should be understood that none of those who have attained the Dao and become Emperors are truly fools.

At least his previous deliberate dissemination of the news that he and Li Qingjue were disciples of his past self had achieved its purpose of creating confusion.

However, due to coincidences and other factors, he, Li Qingjue, and Tian Ling have all become people whom some beings are determined to capture and search for.

Suspicion is not so easily dispelled. Even if it diminishes, some beings may feel it's not worth breaking the seal completely and emerging to search for him.

But that doesn't mean they won't resort to other means.

Furthermore, it is true that he concealed his soul and obscured the secrets of heaven through the Soul Pearl.

However, such an unpredictable and untraceable state, if driven and implemented too many times, will inevitably be realized by someone, who will then use reverse thinking to find out that this is a classic case of "protesting too much."

'The situation for achieving enlightenment in this lifetime is likely even more dire than in ancient times…'

Tan Lin's mind was still immersed in the [Reverse·All Causes Vision], but his physical body outside slowly closed its eyes.

Just now, he had already followed the causal lines leading to the several forbidden zones.

Using up nearly half a grain of deep crimson light, he managed to glimpse a corner of the real-time scene at the anchor points at the ends of the causal lines that showed signs of anomalies.

Xiaoyao, Yongji, Duoxian, Chuguang, and that guy from the Undying Mountain with whom they had a grudge against the Stone Emperor,

The Undying Daoist, who resides in a star field not far from the ancient star Yinghuo and guards the Nirvana of the Five-Colored Immortal Egg of the Undying Emperor, and the Longevity Celestial Venerable in the Immortal Tomb, both made their "moves" in tacit agreement just now.

He saw it in just these people.

The three from the Primordial Ancient Mine, and one from the Undying Mountain, were nearing the point of decay and depletion in terms of their essence, blood energy, and other aspects; they were unlikely to sustain themselves any longer.

In other words, it was his ability to once again successfully "deceive the heavens and the sea," concealing the truth and whereabouts of his reincarnation, that led "old friends" such as Xiaoyao to choose not to be born.

However, there are also guaranteed to be at least four Supreme Beings who will emerge in this great era of enlightenment.

The timing of their emergence is mostly chosen when contemporary cultivators are undergoing the great tribulation of attaining enlightenment, so that they can reap the rewards.

Four supreme beings—this is the best known possibility at present—but Tan Lin knows that when the world is truly in chaos and destruction, there will be far more than this number.

'Human calamity...'

Tan Lin's thoughts raced, and he fell into deep thought.

In other words, even if he can break through the shackles that prevent him from attaining enlightenment in this life and successfully transcend the tribulation to prove his Dao, there is still an extremely dangerous tribulation waiting for him, and he may very well follow in his footsteps from his previous life.

Fortunately, the immortal emperor was undergoing a rebirth during this period.

The news that he is not dead is now known throughout the forbidden area. The Immortal Daoist is unable to leave his post, as he must remain guarding the Immortal Egg.

Moreover, he is no longer alone in this life. He has Li Qingjue, his disciple from his previous life, and Tianling, his beloved, who has grown stronger by fusing the bloodlines of the Tianxuan Ancient Clan and the Divine Silkworm Ridge...

Of course, if things become impossible at that time,

He should confine himself to await future generations and wait for the right opportunity to attain enlightenment; he cannot hang himself on one tree.

For example, like the Golden Crow Emperor of later generations, achieving enlightenment when the path to immortality opens and the supreme energy is dispersed is also a viable method.

However, the further we go, the greater the variables become.

The Supreme Being of the Forbidden Zone will not stop deducing the truth from him. After the Immortal Emperor's Nirvana ends, he and the Immortal Daoist will definitely be free to deal with him. This is what he finds most troublesome.

The future may be limitless; for now, we can only take it one step at a time…

Inside Sendai, Tan Lin's deep, soul-stirring eyes flickered.

He had not yet exited the state of [Reverse All Causes Perspective], and at this moment he could "view" it.

After failing to deduce anything, the causal lines leading to the several forbidden zones of life branched out into many sub-lines and exhibited unusual fluctuations. Then, the anchor points of those sub-lines...

It is moving at an astonishing speed toward the area where the Demon Emperor's Tomb is located, or rather, toward the general direction in which he and Li Qingjue last disappeared from the outside world!

Not only that, the causal thread that had been dormant for a hundred years within the Beidou Ancient Emperor Mountain, belonging to the Immortal Empress, also began to stir.

To take all of this into view.

As his thoughts raced, he turned inward to examine himself.

…………

Buried on the Emperor Star, in the northern part of the eastern wilderness.

In the heart of the ancient Huangshan Mountain, a place where nine dragons surround a pearl.

Within this self-contained little world, time seems to flow at a different pace from the outside world, tranquil and ancient.

Splash...

One of the core areas,

A small spring, no more than ten feet in diameter, gushed forth. The water was not of ordinary color, but rather shimmered with a faint nine-colored golden glow, imbued with rich primordial energy and wisps of mysterious substances.

Beside the spring, exotic flowers and rare herbs adorn the landscape, all extraordinary, shimmering with the glow of the setting sun.

This divine spring was moved here by the Immortal Emperor using his extraordinary abilities, and it was transformed into a source of creation after being developed.

Unfortunately, more than a hundred years ago, because of "someone's" exploitation, some of the essence of the divine spring was taken away. Even after a hundred years of restoration, its current state is still less than eight or nine tenths of its former glory.

At this moment, the divine spring shimmered with light.

A graceful and ethereal figure, possessing unparalleled elegance, leaned languidly against the railing of the poolside, which was carved from warm jade.

The rising steam from the pool blurred the breathtaking curves, adding to its allure with a touch of mystery.

Xianying possessed long hair that cascaded down like a galaxy of dark blue, now soaked in the divine spring water, clinging wetly to her snow-white back and rounded shoulders.

Tick!

A few strands of hair clung to her slender, swan-like neck, and water droplets slid down her delicate, jade-like collarbone, disappearing into the breathtakingly beautiful area half-hidden by the spring water…

The spring water sometimes rippled with nine-colored divine light, and at its end, because of the immortal phoenix herb rooted there, it was sometimes clear and cool.

And whenever the shimmering light changes, if someone stands by the pool, they might be able to vaguely see a slender, graceful waist and a pair of straight, long, shapely, and firm white legs underwater.

The face of the Immortal Queen was turned away from where she came from.

However, the mere reflection of light and shadow on the surface of the pool is enough to dazzle and mesmerize most of the world's geniuses.

That face seemed to embody the essence of heaven and earth, possessing the delicate youthfulness of a young girl, yet also carrying a touch of elegance and allure honed by the passage of time.

At this moment, however, her blue eyes appeared somewhat hazy, perhaps due to the misty air.

Her phoenix eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, exuding a natural mature charm intertwined with the domineering and authoritative aura of someone who had held a high position for many years and wielded the power of life and death.

Upon closer inspection, beneath her pert, delicate nose, her lips, a vibrant crimson without any makeup, were slightly pursed, as if in thought, yet also carrying a hint of nonchalant mockery.

Splash!

Lost in thought, she lifted a smooth, jade-like arm from the water, its lines so perfect they were beyond reproach, glistening water droplets rolling down her creamy skin.

Her fingertips glide across the water's surface as if playing, creating ripples that stir the shimmering glow within the pool.

Just now, from the direction of the Eastern Wilderness Central Region, which is not far from the Northern Region, came two massive Quasi-Emperor Tribulation fluctuations that were almost simultaneous.

Even across the boundless distance between the two realms, it still disturbed the wisp of divine thought she had left to guard the outside world, awakening her from the deepest divine source seal.

"In this great era of enlightenment, have there already been successive generations of people who have achieved the quasi-emperor level? It's about time..."

Whispering echoed near the sacred spring.

Splash... splash...

The bath was almost over.

But the Immortal Queen didn't seem to be in a hurry to change her clothes. She emerged from the pool and sat by its edge.

The next moment,

She immersed her delicate, exquisite feet, with toes as round as pearls, back into the flowing spring water at the edge of the pool, letting the moderately warm water submerge her arches.

Underwater, her ten toes, as delicate as cardamom buds, curled and stretched slightly, and her calves occasionally lifted gently, creating more tiny, shimmering ripples on the water's surface.

For some reason, ever since "someone" repeatedly visited this place over a hundred years ago,

Later, whenever she came out of the divine source to "breathe" and learned about the outside world, she would take a bath in her spare time, but she was always somewhat upset.

For example, at this moment,

She stared blankly at her reflection in the pool, her face so beautiful it could captivate anyone, lost in thought.

Lost in thought, for no apparent reason, the images of two people appeared in her mind.

One was a young man with a white robe and silver spear, full of heroic spirit, riding a dragon-blooded celestial horse. He had once become the number one divine general under the Daoist immortal emperor for her sake, and he had a cheerful and warm smile.

That was Ning Fei, one of only two people in her life she truly loved, but due to various twists of fate and later the constraints of their identities, they ultimately failed to be together.

But perhaps it's due to the influence of "someone" as a variable, like the butterfly's wings.

Her attraction to him in the past stemmed from an earlier period, when she was still a naive young blue phoenix, and the figure buried deep within her heart was someone who had casually saved her from being strangled by a giant python that was a dragon.

That person was also wearing a white robe at the time.

Unfortunately, at that time, her consciousness was too hazy and she could no longer remember the person's face.

These two people appeared in her life, separated by thousands of years in ancient times.

Perhaps it was a similarity that remained most vivid in her memory that led her to fall for that dashing man in white robes and silver spear.

After all, at that time, he was the person she had been searching for for a thousand years who best matched the hazy figure in her memory.

Splash... splash...

Her jade-like feet gently rippled in the pool.

Recalling the unknown person she met in her childhood, a faint trace of tenderness and melancholy, perhaps even imperceptible to herself, flickered deep in the Immortal Queen's beautiful eyes, only to be quickly covered by an even deeper darkness.

Over a thousand years, in ancient times, it failed to cultivate any significant skills or gain widespread fame.

Perhaps, that person was just an unknown nobody who had never even reached the level of a Quasi-Emperor, or even a Great Sage?

Before she could grow up and take human form, she had already died in some corner of the Big Dipper.

"It's funny, all these years, from the Primordial Era to the Desolate Era, during which I became the supreme Empress, I still can't forget you, even though I've never truly known you..."

The immortal queen muttered to herself.

As she pondered, suddenly, a towering figure that had appeared out of nowhere in her life slowly merged with the initial figure in white robes in her mind.

Her subconscious mind was attempting to do just that.

In fact, she had made such attempts countless times over the years, each time unintentionally, and this time was no different; she had never held any hope of genuine autonomy and independence.

She knew perfectly well that the person who saved her years ago was long dead, and perhaps not at all the great figure she had later come to believe in.

All of this is just her preconceived notions, a kind of "filter" through which she imagines things.

"Your Majesty... is that slight familiarity I feel about you just an illusion, or...?"

The subconscious attempt to reconnect failed, and the two figures in the Immortal Queen's mind ultimately failed to merge, vanishing like a dream.