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

Song Canghai glanced at her, then at the silent Chi Yao, and sighed inwardly.

These two sisters are about the same age as Tan Lin. If they were men, they would have been rivals or even friends of the same generation. But because they are women, they have been drawn into this complicated relationship by chance.

And his two good-for-nothing sons, back then...

Sigh, let's not talk about it.

He thought to himself that.

They remained silent the whole way.

After traversing the starry sky for several months, the five finally arrived at the end of the Ancient Road of Myriad Races.

Ahead, a colossal city of indescribable magnificence stands amidst the starry sky, as if cast from the entire star field.

The city walls were mottled with divine light, as if stained with dark red blood, exuding an aura of ancient vicissitudes and tragic slaughter.

This is the Imperial Pass, the end of the ancient road of myriad races, and one of the final testing grounds for the geniuses of all the heavens and realms.

Only those who leave their names on the "Trial Road Ancient Stele" in front of the pass will be qualified to knock on the gate and enter when the time is right, and participate in the subsequent "Ninefold Imperial Pass Battle".

Wow!

At this moment, the area in front of the Imperial Pass was not deserted.

This great era of enlightenment began approximately two hundred years ago.

Many ancient chariots and divine ships float in this starry sky.

Many powerful cultivators sat cross-legged in the void, either studying the ancient stele or adjusting their breathing in preparation for the challenge.

Those who have made it this far are at least Saint Kings, and Great Saints are everywhere. Occasionally, one can even sense a few unfathomable Quasi-Emperor auras lurking around them.

The arrival of Chi Yao and her group did not cause much of a stir.

In recent years, it has become commonplace for geniuses to flock to the Imperial Pass from all corners of the universe every day.

Upon arriving at this place, Chi Yao and the others reacted much like the rest of the group.

Their gaze was first drawn to the enormous ancient stele standing before the pass.

The ancient stele is tens of thousands of feet tall, entirely grayish-white, neither stone nor jade, and is covered with densely packed "names".

Each name radiates a different hue of divine brilliance, representing a prodigy who once left their mark here.

"That is……"

Before Chi Xuan even got close, she immediately spotted several dazzling names from a high point on the ancient stele.

Devouring the heavens.

The two characters were sharp and fierce, as if they could devour all matter, exuding a terrifying demonic aura. They were clearly left by Li Qingjue.

"Suiren? Is that the Queen of the Ziwei Star Region?"

Song Canghai guessed.

These two characters are majestic and upright, brimming with fighting spirit and bloodlust. They possess a powerful aura that commands the eight wastelands and six directions, revealing the sharp and domineering nature of the human king's body. Moreover, they contain the essence of the yin and yang, making them highly recognizable.

"Tian Yue? Who left this? The Daoist aura is so astonishing, yet the person who left this message has never revealed themselves to the world?"

Chi Yao's clear and beautiful eyes moved, and her gaze quickly stopped on the words that Tian Ling had engraved in the past.

The handwriting was exquisitely beautiful, yet it carried a lofty and unattainable ethereal charm, instantly captivating her and arousing her curiosity.

Guangyuan, Jiang Wanqing, Wu Ji...

After a moment, Chi Yao's gaze shifted again.

Her gaze slowly swept over the ancient stele, looking at each name from bottom to top.

Among them are many well-known celestial demons, the offspring of ancient emperors, and even the names of ancient freaks; however, very few of the latter group have left their inscriptions here.

It is said that each time these ancient royal offspring were born, they had their own battlegrounds to contend for supremacy, unknown to most people.

At this moment, the few remaining traces of writing left by those in forbidden areas, such as those of Chu Jie and others, have all lost their luster, as if they have perished.

However, Chi Yao did not pay much attention to this group.

Her gaze eventually searched the entire area around the ancient stele several times.

"No……"

She murmured to herself, a hint of doubt flashing in her clear eyes.

"Sister, what are you looking for?"

Chi Xuan asked.

"A note left by my sworn brother Tan Linshi."

Chi Yao said slowly:

"With his strength, even decades ago, he could have made a name for himself in the Imperial Pass, and his position at that time would certainly not have been low, but I have never seen him do so."

Upon hearing this, everyone searched carefully on the ancient stele, but indeed found no inscriptions related to the indestructible golden body of "Tan Lin".

"Perhaps... Young friend Tan's cultivation has advanced too quickly, and he hasn't had time to come to the Imperial Pass to leave his name yet."

Song Canghai pondered for a moment and said:

"After all, it has only been a few decades since he emerged from the forbidden ancient path and became a quasi-emperor. Moreover, this is still early in the history of the Great Era, which has only been going on for a mere two hundred years..."

“Father is right… It can’t be that he doesn’t value the opportunities behind the Imperial Pass, can it?”

Song Qiwen said in a muffled voice.

To this, Song Canghai suddenly shook his head:

"Leaving one's name at the Imperial Pass is certainly a form of recognition, but for someone like him, it may have already transcended this kind of formal competition."

This speculation caused everyone to fall silent for a moment.

Indeed, given Tan Lin's current strength and vision, the struggle for power at the Imperial Pass may no longer be a concern for him.

With the ancient Heavenly Venerable's killing formation in hand, his opponents may have gradually risen to those unparalleled cultivators who are about to attain enlightenment.

"Alright, stop overthinking it. Only the person involved truly knows the reason..."

Song Canghai withdrew his gaze and smiled kindly:

"Now that we're here, let's do what we're supposed to do."

Xuan'er, Qi Wu, Qi Wen, your cultivation has not yet reached the Great Sage realm, and you still need to hone your skills. This visit to the Imperial Pass and the ancient stele, to comprehend the Daoist wisdom of our predecessors, is also an opportunity.

However, leaving one's name here is not absolute; there have been predecessors who left their names using the name of the sage Wang Xiu. One can certainly try that later.

As for now, let's see if Yao'er can try 'putting down her pen' first?"

…………

Chapter 244 Chi Yao, Yaochi (Please subscribe!)

Chi Xuan and the other two nodded, each finding a spot to quietly observe the Daoist principles contained in the names on the ancient stele.

Only Chi Yao looked at the old man and asked:

"Didn't Uncle Song leave his name at the Imperial Pass?"

Upon hearing this, Song Canghai smiled and shook his head:

"I won't join in this fun. My old bones are worn out, my potential is exhausted, and it's uncertain whether I'll even reach the Great Sage realm in this lifetime. This battle for the Emperor's Path is a stage for you young people."

I will stay here to protect you, and while I'm at it, take another look at the splendor of this ancient imperial pass.

Upon hearing this, Chi Yao didn't press the matter; she knew Song Canghai was telling the truth.

This senior, who had a good relationship with his father Chi Tianfeng in the past, has gotten to where he is today mainly due to the accumulation of years and opportunities. In terms of potential and vigor, he is indeed far from being able to compare with the top talents of the world.

Da...da...

Without saying another word, she moved gracefully to the front of the Imperial Pass.

Wow!

In an instant, an immense pressure swept over them; this was the ancient stele's "test" for the cultivators who had come here.

Chi Yao remained unmoved, her body radiating a hazy divine light. In an instant, she seemed to merge with the Dao of this place, entering a state of near-Dao.

The divine essence of the Dao embryo flowed freely, easily resisting the pressure.

despair……

Then, she extended her slender fingers and began to carve in the air, her fingertips flowing with Daoist charm, finally preparing to "put down her pen" in the space behind the more than three thousand names inscribed on the ancient stele.

Just as she was about to make a swipe with her fingertips, a thought suddenly occurred to her.

In the end, the words "Yaochi" were inexplicably left on it, instead of her own name, Chi Yao.

The Jade Pool was as clear and cold as the moon, shining brightly, attracting the attention of many cultivators around, who whispered among themselves.

Having successfully secured her place in the competition, Chi Yao did not feel much pressure.

With her current cultivation level already at the Great Sage realm, leaving her name on the Imperial Pass Ancient Stele is not a difficult task.

Even with her talent, she was not without the "qualification" to leave her mark, even during the time of the Sage King.

rustling... rustling...

After doing all this, Chi Yao returned to the group.

At this moment, Chi Xuan, Song Qiwu, and Song Qiwen were staring blankly at the two words she had left behind. Their eyes showed both confusion and some speculation, but no one said anything.

Even Song Canghai, a veteran among them, dared not claim to have any guidance to offer on the path of cultivation.

They don't understand, they don't comprehend, perhaps because their own level is far from that point.

Ignoring the stares that were now directed at her from all sides, Chi Yao whispered to Chi Xuan:

"Xuan'er, it's been quite a few years since we left Beidou."

Now that things are settled here, I want to go back to Beidou to visit. Although the messages we exchange usually say that nothing serious has happened, I've been away from home for too long, and my parents are still worried about me, even though they've never said anything, for fear of distracting us while we're away..."

Upon hearing this, Chi Xuan immediately snapped out of her reverie over the words "Jade Pool," and then nodded slightly.

“Actually, even if my sister hadn’t said it, I’ve also been thinking about going back. I’ve heard that Beidou hasn’t been peaceful these past few years. There seems to be some unrest in the forbidden zone, and ancient monsters are sometimes born in the Holy Spirit Ancestral Temple. There are undercurrents everywhere. It would be good to go back and take a look.”

Upon hearing this,

Song Qiwu almost instinctively took a step forward, preparing to utter a few words.

At the same time, Song Qiwen's eyes also flickered.

however,

Before they could even speak, they felt the stern gaze from their father, Song Canghai.

The two brothers' actions immediately froze.

Back when they were still living with the Beidouchi family, the two brothers were dependent on others. When their father returned, some of their behavior was "inappropriate".

Although the misunderstanding was later cleared up, he was ultimately in the wrong.

Offering to go together at this moment would certainly seem presumptuous.

Song Canghai said apologetically to Chi Yao:

"Yao girl, what happened back then was due to my being away for many years without knowing the reason, and it was also due to my failure to properly educate my child."

If you don't mind, please don't hesitate to ask if you ever need anything from me in the future.

As for these two good-for-nothings, let them continue to hone their skills on the ancient path with me, lest they become an eyesore at the Big Dipper again.”

Chi Yao shook her head slightly and smiled politely:

"Elder Song, you flatter me. What happened back then is long gone, and Senior Brothers Qi Wu and Qi Wen need not worry about it."

However, things might not be peaceful in Beidou lately, so it would be safer for the two senior brothers to stay with Uncle Song.

Her tone was calm, yet carried a hint of aloofness.

Upon hearing this, the Song brothers, Qiwu and Qiwen, blushed and paled in turns, and finally could only lower their heads in embarrassment, saying nothing more.

Finally, Chi Yao ignored them and, after a moment of contemplation, turned to Chi Xuan and said:

“However, the return is not something that can be done immediately. I plan to wait until you have advanced to the Great Sage level and left your name before we set off back to Beidou.”