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

"If you want to fish, you need enough bait."

Yama, the King of Hell, spoke slowly.

Within the Immortal Source, his blood-red eyes flickered for a moment before slowly closing, leaving only a cold divine thought echoing among the other supreme beings.

The Corpse Emperor's divine sense remained silent for a long while before finally saying:

"If it's a fish, it will always bite again."

Even whether the 'Suiren Emperor' truly never died cannot be confirmed, so it's really not worth the cost.

If he is still alive, he will eventually reveal himself. Don't forget, the Immortal Emperor is truly not dead yet...

"In this great era, we should simply observe and wait. With the Heavenly Treasure at our disposal, even if the situation deteriorates further, we can remain hidden in the Netherworld and watch the tides rise and fall. Why should we intervene prematurely?"

"But Fellow Daoist Yama, your condition doesn't seem too good, does it? Don't you plan to make any 'achievements' in this life? Or have you decided to give it a try?"

The Prison King's divine sense gazed toward the location of the now-silent Yama Immortal Source.

But after a long time, no more fluctuations were heard from there.

Meanwhile, Tan Lin and Li Qingjue, having already reaped the benefits of their labor, quietly returned to the Creation Land of the Ancient Star of Heavenly Soldiers, as if they had never left.

hum...

As the crimson mist dissipated, subtle ripples appeared in the space beneath the Ancient Tree of Life within the Creation Ground of the Celestial Soldiers Ancient Star.

Tan Lin and Li Qingjue appeared quietly, as if they had just returned from a short walk, without a trace of dust or killing intent on them.

"came back?"

A slightly melancholic voice came from not far away.

Tianling maintained her pose, one hand supporting her chin, her purple-gold eyes glancing sideways.

Her shimmering gaze lingered on Tan Lin's face for a moment, then swept over Li Qingjue, who stood to the side with a lonely expression, and her red lips pursed slightly.

Although she didn't say it explicitly, the implication that "you're secretly going out to do things behind my back" was practically written all over her face.

Guo Ziqian had completely withdrawn from his deep state of enlightenment at this moment. Upon seeing this, he quickly stood up and respectfully bowed.

"Your Majesty, you're back."

Tan Lin nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Tian Ling's feigned displeasure on her pretty face, his tone calm:

"I just went out to take care of some business, why make such a fuss?"

"Putting on airs?"

Tianling gave a soft hum and stood up. Her long purple palace dress swayed gently in the wind, outlining her breathtaking curves.

Da...da...

She moved gracefully to stand before Tan Lin, raising her stunningly beautiful face, her purple-gold eyes fixed on him:

"What matters require you to avoid me? Is it because you think my cultivation is insufficient and I'll hold you back, or... are there some things that only your good disciple can participate in, but I cannot know about?"

These words carried a hint of bitterness, and even Li Qingjue, who stood silently to the side, had a slight twitch in his lonely eyes, but then quickly regained his composure.

Looking at the stunningly beautiful face so close to his, and smelling that familiar, faint fragrance, a faint trace of helplessness flashed deep in Tan Lin's eyes.

He could naturally hear the resentment and probing in Tianling's words.

These centuries have ultimately led to the neglect of each other.

In particular, Tianling and Shenyue are two souls in one body. Although their personalities are different, their feelings for him are both intense and direct.

He's just naturally indifferent, has too many things to focus on, and doesn't have much energy...

Don't let your mind wander.

Tan Lin reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair that had fallen beside Tian Ling's cheek with his fingertips, the movement natural and intimate:

"This trip is merely to retrieve some items; there's no danger. It's the right thing for you to stay here; otherwise, it will only increase the chances of things going wrong..."

His touch made Tianling tremble slightly, and she could barely maintain her feigned indifference as a blush crept up her ears.

But she was no ordinary woman; she quickly regained her composure and seized Tan Lin's hand, holding it tightly.

"I don't care, you've shown favoritism this time, so you have to make it up to me."

As she spoke, her eyes flickered, glancing at Li Qingjue before looking at Tan Lin, her meaning all too clear.

Li Qingjue had already silently walked to the other side of the ancient tree of life and sat down cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed, as if he were regulating his breathing, or as if he were refining the original blood he had just obtained.

But with her cultivation and spiritual sense, how could the commotion here truly escape her notice?

She simply chose to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear.

Tan Lin felt the warmth and slight pressure from his palm, and then glanced at his female disciple who seemed to be in a meditative state but whose breathing was actually slightly disordered. He sighed inwardly.

He knew that if he didn't appease Tianling today, he would likely have a hard time finding peace in the future.

How would you like compensation?

Tan Lin's tone remained calm, but it lacked some of the aloofness he had shown.

A sly glint flashed in Tianling's eyes. She leaned close to his ear, her breath sweet as orchids, and whispered a few words in a voice only the two of them could hear.

Tan Lin raised an eyebrow, gave her a deep look, and finally nodded:

"According to your."

Tianling immediately smiled radiantly, and the charm she exuded in that instant seemed to dim the glow of this blessed land.

She took Tan Lin's hand and turned to walk into the depths of the Creation Land.

There, in an area near the edge of the world, she used her supernatural powers to carve out a separate, folded space, a private sanctuary for daily meditation and occasional rest.

This place is protected by barriers, isolating it from both inside and outside perception.

Guo Ziqian, with his eyes closed and his mind focused, had already sat down again, adopting a meditative posture, as if he hadn't seen or heard anything.

On the other side of the Tree of Life, Li Qingjue remained seated with his eyes closed, a faint halo of chaotic light flowing around him as he refined and devoured the alien origins that had come to him.

However, upon closer inspection, one could notice that her long eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly when Tianling whispered in Tan Lin's ear.

……

Within the folded space.

Tianling has decorated this place quite elegantly, unlike the outside world which is filled with Taoist charm and radiant light. Instead, it is more like a fairyland on earth, which shows that she has put a lot of thought into it.

The ground was covered with a soft carpet woven from unknown spiritual herbs, which felt soft and comfortable underfoot.

The ceiling of the space is inlaid with countless tiny, luminous crystals, simulating a starry sky with soft starlight.

The walls were covered with lush green vines, blooming with pale purple flowers that exuded a tranquil fragrance. In one corner, there was a clear spring with babbling water and misty air.

"How is it? I did a pretty good job setting it up, didn't I?"

Tianling released Tan Lin's hand, twirled lightly in the space, her purple palace dress billowing in a graceful arc, and looked at him with a smile.

Tan Lin looked around and nodded slightly:

"It's okay."

"Just passable?"

Tianling feigned displeasure, walked up to him, and looked up at him:

"I've put a lot of effort into setting up this place. For the past few hundred years, you've been either preaching or cultivating, or sneaking out with your precious disciples. Have you ever even glanced at this little world I've set up?"

Don't you feel like this is the place where we first met?

Her voice carried a hint of reproach and a touch of grievance.

…………

Chapter 262 Empress: Two More Needed (6K Chapter, Please Subscribe!)

Where did we first meet?

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the entire small world fell silent.

Tan Lin was silent for a moment, then reached out and stroked Tian Ling's hair in a bun, his gesture unusually gentle:

"I'm sorry, there have been too many trivial matters to pay attention to lately, it was my oversight..."

Hearing this, Tianling's eyes welled up with tears.

Perhaps only she and a very few others knew how rare it was to get this man to say "sorry" from the bottom of his heart.

She wasn't really complaining.

Despite spending hundreds of years together, Tan Lin treated her no differently than he treated Li Qingjue and Guo Ziqian; they all engaged in philosophical discussions, daily exchanges, and guidance in cultivation.

Although we are close, I always feel there is a layer between us, unlike true Daoist partners, lacking that unique intimacy.

This slight difference in closeness wouldn't normally be noticeable, but today, with the other party taking Li Qingjue out alone, the unspoken understanding and trust between them ignited a fuse.

This inexplicably stirred up a bitter feeling in her, even though she wasn't usually prone to jealousy.

It's really quite laughable.

She knew perfectly well that there was nothing between the other person and that "little girl," and even if the latter had harbored any complex feelings of affection in the past, she had always adhered to the proper etiquette between master and disciple.

I don't know exactly what I'm jealous of.

She saw that the other woman had surpassed her on the path of cultivation, a rare and stunning woman in the world who had outshone her.

Did it make her feel a sense of urgency?

But this is actually unreasonable.

The more outstanding the other person is, the better Tan Lin's judgment is, and the better her judgment is. She should be happy for him and for her own Daoist partner.

We are all in a relationship where we share both prosperity and adversity...

Especially since she understands her Daoist partner.

Knowing that the other person has lofty ambitions and a grand plan, romantic feelings are never actually placed in a very high position by the other person.

But as a woman, she was more emotional than a man, and even though she was equally devoted to the Tao, her feelings were far more complex than a man's.

Moreover, she possesses two consciousnesses within one soul, making her emotions different from those of ordinary people.

Regardless of which consciousness it is, due to their origins and bloodline talents, their ambitions are all extremely high.

The only man in the world who could win her heart, make her constantly think about him, pay attention to his every move, and be willing to follow him and even put aside her pride to be completely obedient to him...

"It's good to know it was your oversight..."

Her purple hair fluttered, Tianling whispered something, then suddenly reached out and wrapped her arms around Tan Lin's waist, burying her face in his chest.

When she spoke again, her voice suddenly became somewhat muffled:

"Suiren, I know you have many things to do, many plans that cannot be told to outsiders, and you usually bear immense pressure."

I don't expect you to tell me everything, but at least...

Please don't always exclude me, okay?

I also want to help you, to stand by your side, instead of watching you perish in the outer realms as we did in ancient times…

Tan Lin felt the warm, fragrant body in his arms and listened to the rare sincerity in her voice.

At this moment, even his usually calm and undisturbed heart seemed to be stirred by a few ripples.

He was neither heartless nor indifferent; it was simply that through five lifetimes of reincarnation, he had witnessed countless deaths and separations.

The Great Way is ruthless; he had long been accustomed to concealing all his emotions.

But the woman in his arms was different; she had been with him for two lifetimes...

"I have not excluded you."

Tan Lin slowly raised his hand and gently wrapped it around her shoulders and back, his voice unusually tender:

"But the road ahead is fraught with danger, and our opponents are all supreme beings in the forbidden zones. Even I am in danger of dying at any moment. I do not want you to take any risks."

"I'm not afraid."

Tianling raised her head, her purple-gold eyes flashing with unwavering determination:

"Since I chose to follow you, I have already disregarded life and death."