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

The sprawling palaces and pavilions are mostly deserted.

Only in a few areas, there were still scattered traces of cultivators and the shimmering light of array patterns. These were members of the Chi family who had refused to leave from the beginning or were responsible for the final cleanup.

Deep within the clan's territory lies a colossal peak, its summit a cliff known as "Hedao Cliff."

Here, the patterns of ancient Dao principles remain, so much so that cultivators below the platform who ascend to the summit only feel a biting gale.

Therefore, such an environment can temper the cultivator's will and allow them to connect with the laws of heaven and earth. It has always been a place for outstanding disciples of the Chi family to meditate and cultivate, or to confine themselves to reflect on their mistakes.

Many years ago

Now, among the major powers across the starry sky, almost everyone knows Tan Lin, the Undying Golden Body.

Aside from the Chi family members who witnessed the events of that year, how many people in the world still remember that when that person first arrived in the Northern Region and temporarily stayed at the Chi family, he was "confined" here for a period of time because of a past incident?

At this moment, on the Cliff of Harmony, the fierce wind still howled, but two peerless and beautiful figures stood on the cliff, gazing into the distance.

One of the women wore a long, emerald-green dress with a cinched waist. She was tall and graceful, with flowing black hair that cascaded down her back without any hairpins, draping smoothly over her fair and radiant shoulders and back, fluttering in the wind.

This made her appearance even more exquisite and beautiful, her temperament ethereal and otherworldly, like a fairy untouched by worldly affairs, surrounded by endless innate Daoist energy.

This woman is undoubtedly Chi Yao, who possesses the innate Dao embryo of the Chi family.

Through years of cultivation, and since her previous assistance to the Xiang family, her cultivation level has reached the seventh level of Quasi-Emperor.

The aura here is now perfectly harmonious and clear, in harmony with the great Dao of heaven and earth. Standing here, one feels as if one has become one with this landscape.

Beside her, her younger sister Chi Xuan wore a pale yellow tulle dress.

Her eyebrows and eyes were nine-tenths similar to hers, but she lacked some of the aloofness and gained more liveliness and charm; her figure was equally exquisite.

His cultivation was slightly inferior to Chi Yao's, but it was still extraordinary. He had reached the fifth level of Quasi-Emperor, and his body was surrounded by a faint spiritual light, as if he had gathered the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

With the sun high in the sky, the surrounding winds seemed to grow even stronger.

Uh...

But for the two women at their level, the bit of wind at the top of the cliff might be described as gentle rather than mild.

Otherwise, the two probably wouldn't have been so inspired to climb to the top and enjoy the view...

Before the two beauties was a white jade table with an exquisite tea set on it. Steam rose from the teapot, emanating a refreshing and invigorating aroma.

Upon closer inspection, the tea leaves were uniquely shaped, with naturally formed Dao patterns. Each leaf was different in appearance, clearly the tea leaves of the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree, which had long since disappeared from the outside world and was increasingly valued even by top powers!

However, as the two women spent half a day on the cliff top, the tea in the pot, brewed from two tea leaves, was almost empty. Even if more water was added, the tea would lose its flavor and magic.

"This Enlightenment Tea is becoming increasingly rare."

Chi Xuan held the teapot in her slender hands and poured the last cup of tea for herself and her sister. Watching the tea leaves rise and fall in the cup, she sighed softly.

According to clan records, it seems that several hundred years ago, no more Enlightenment Tea leaves from the Undying Mountain were ever seen outside the clan. The ones we have are the clan's accumulated reserves...

Even so, there's very little left now. Sister, do you think something happened in the Undying Mountain? Even the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree has fallen silent? Since those Supreme Beings have fallen silent, surely they wouldn't 'block' the tea leaves every year, right?

Could it be the work of those forbidden zones' guards and their hounds...?

Upon hearing this, Chi Yao picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and the misty Daoist aura made her eyes even clearer.

She gazed at the distant, undulating mountains and the few remaining members of her tribe scattered among them, and slowly said:

"The matter of the forbidden zone is beyond our current comprehension, so there's no need to delve into it. Let's cherish the present moment."

Her voice was soft, yet carried a sense of detachment as if she had seen through the ways of the world.

Chi Xuan nodded, put down her teacup, and turned her gaze to the sparse figures below the mountain.

Suddenly, her brows furrowed slightly:

"The relocation arrangements have been largely finalized, and most of the clansmen have already quietly gone to our secluded locations in batches."

However… the Xiang family, including Uncle Xiang Li and his associates, as well as several of our Chi family uncles, are too stubborn. No matter how much we plead with them, they refuse to leave Beidou, saying things like, 'Born here, raised here, and should be buried here in death'… It's truly a headache.

Recent rumors suggest that the secret realm where the Great Saint Spirit of Fire Demon Ridge entered years ago has recently shown signs of activity, and it is expected that he will return soon. At that time…

She said no more after that.

Upon hearing this, Chi Yao sighed softly, a hint of helplessness appearing on her beautiful face.

"The older generation's sentiments are understandable."

Beidou is their root, and also the second ancestral home of our Chi and Xiang families, which has been passed down for countless years.

It's only natural that they would feel reluctant to leave their homes and go to unfamiliar star systems.

This matter... cannot be rushed, but if we stay here and try to persuade them slowly, it may not be effective in the end. In the end, we may have to use overwhelming force to take them away by force..."

After she finished speaking, the two women fell into a moment of silence, with only the howling wind from the cliff top whipping their clothes and hair.

a long time,

Chi Xuan suddenly turned her head to look at her sister beside her, her gaze flickering slightly, and then asked meaningfully:

“Sister, speaking of which, do you remember this Cliff of Harmony? Back then, after that man refused the marriage proposal, he was ‘confined’ here. I was so naive back then, thinking that he had suffered a lot and felt quite relieved…”

Upon hearing this, Chi Yao paused slightly in her hand holding the teacup, her long eyelashes trembled, but she did not reply.

Chi Xuan, however, seemed oblivious to her sister's subtle change and continued speaking, though a strange emotion began to creep into her tone as she spoke:

"At that time, he was still a minor cultivator who had transformed into a dragon, and he was effectively placed under house arrest here by the Yushan Clan Ancestor..."

I remember one rainy night, with lightning and thunder, and the wind was even stronger than it is today...

I actually know. That night, sister, you climbed to the top of this cliff alone, holding an oil-paper umbrella, and stayed here... with him for most of the night.

As she spoke, she turned her head, looking intently at Chi Yao, and asked softly:

"Sister, back then... you actually liked him too, didn't you?"

The wind on the cliff suddenly became stronger, causing Chi Yao's emerald green skirt to flutter loudly.

She remained silent, gazing at the churning sea of ​​clouds in the distance, her eyes distant, as if she had traversed hundreds of years of time.

I returned to that rainy night, to that moment when the handsome young man stood alone on the edge of the cliff, enduring the trials of wind and rain, his back to me, a picture of solitude.

shuh...

After a long while, she slowly withdrew her gaze.

She glanced at the remaining tea in the cup, a faint, yet complex, wistful smile playing on her lips, and whispered:

"Does it matter whether I like it or not? The past is like smoke, we... have our own paths to walk."

She did not answer directly.

But that sigh, that fleeting look of reminiscence and sadness deep in his eyes, said it all.

Seeing her sister's expression, Chi Xuan felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

Wasn't she just as anxious and insecure?

That boy back then was so stunning, so stunning that the whole world seemed to revolve around him, making it hard for them not to notice him.

It entered their world and their hearts in an almost "bizarre" way.

However, though the fallen petals yearn for the flowing water, it is ultimately too far away.

Centuries have passed between them and him, separated by this vast sea of ​​stars, by an insurmountable chasm, and their whereabouts are now unknown...

"Yes, he has his own way, his own path, his own... 'person'."

Chi Xuan murmured something in a low voice, her tone complicated.

In the end, the two sisters looked at each other in silence, with only the sound of the wind howling.

The tea in the pot was all gone, and the cup was empty.

Chi Yao stood up, tidied her wind-blown hair, and said softly:

"It's getting late, let's go down the mountain. I'll personally go to the Xiang family again tomorrow to see if I can persuade Uncle Xiang Li. After all, it's best to avoid taking action if possible..."

Chi Xuan also stood up and nodded slightly.

however,

Just as the two beauties were about to leave the Hedao Cliff, which held so many memories, they both froze in the next moment.

It turned out that a figure had appeared on the cliff edge sometime earlier.

He wore a simple blue robe, stood tall and straight, his black hair was tied up, his face was handsome, and his eyes were deep and mysterious...

The newcomer stood with his hands behind his back, quietly watching them.

rustling... rustling...

At that moment, the slightly intense sunlight from the cliff top shone on him, as if coating him with a faint halo, making his whole body glow.

He stood there, seemingly one with the world and the cliff, and it didn't seem out of place at all, no matter how long he had been there.

"My two younger sisters, how have you been?"

Perhaps noticing the two women looking at him, Tan Lin's soft voice rang out, like a gentle breeze blowing through a mountain stream, carrying a faint sense of nostalgia for a long-awaited reunion.

Upon hearing this, Chi Yao and Chi Xuan were completely stunned.

They silently watched the figure, at that familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar face, and for a moment felt dazed, as if they were in a dream.

It's him?

Is it really him?!

How did he end up here?

Why?

Surely they're not here to look for someone?

Hundreds of years is enough time to change too many things.

They have grown from innocent young girls into capable female quasi-emperors who are renowned throughout the heavens and myriad realms. Now they also lead their families, having weathered many storms and matured in mind.

But when that face reappeared before my eyes,

Those memories and emotions, buried by the dust of time, still surged forth like a tidal wave, instantly shattering all the surface calm.

Chi Yao looked at him,

At that moment, a ripple seemed to stir deep within her clear, beautiful eyes.

Is it hesitation, or confusion?

But perhaps more than anything, there was disbelief, yet all these feelings ultimately coalesced into a complex gaze.

Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but found that the words were on the tip of her tongue and she didn't know how to begin.

Compared to her, Chi Xuan's reaction was more direct; her bright eyes widened little by little.

Immediately, a mixture of barely concealed joy, resentment, bitterness, and a hint of grievance that she herself was unaware of flashed across her eyes.

clatter……

She instinctively took a step forward, but then stopped abruptly, biting her lower lip tightly as she looked at Tan Lin.

For hundreds of years I have silently watched and heard his legends. Although I have met him twice, those were such brief encounters.

All those daydreams have now turned into a silent gaze.

Woo...woo-la...

The howling wind could not dispel the suddenly frozen atmosphere on the cliff top.

Finally, Tan Lin broke the silence first. His gaze swept over the empty teapot and teacups on the stone table, and he smiled warmly:

"Were you having tea just now? I've come at an inopportune time, disturbing the elegant pleasure of you two young ladies."

As he spoke, he recognized what the two had just drunk from the lingering aroma of the tea in the pot. He naturally walked to the stone table and then gently flicked his sleeve.

wow...

next moment,

Under the slightly surprised gazes of Chi Yao and Chi Xuan,

A mountain of tea leaves from the ancient tea tree, weighing a good ten or twenty pounds and piled up like a small hill, with natural Dao patterns and exuding a rich Daoist charm, appeared lightly on the stone table!

The rich Daoist aura and vitality were many times stronger than the tea leaves they had just drunk, which had been stored in their clan for who knows how long!

"By sheer coincidence, I happen to have some new tea here. If you two young ladies don't mind, would you like to have another cup?"