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

"Perhaps our origin is not what Brother Shi needs, but rather what that 'Devouring Goddess' needs?"

Upon hearing this, the entire cliff top fell silent instantly.

Tan Lin looked at her, neither denying nor admitting it, but remaining silent.

After a long pause, this silence was tantamount to acquiescence.

The desolation in Chi Xuan's eyes deepened. She forced a smile, a smile more painful than tears.

"Brother, do you know that I was once forcibly searched by that woman? The pain and humiliation of having my spiritual body and consciousness forcibly rummaged through by an external force, with all my memories and privacy being wantonly exposed?"

Although I am powerless to avenge this hatred, I have never forgotten it!

Although you healed my wounds that day, my brother, I tolerated it for your sake, but how can such a grudge be easily let go?

As she spoke, her voice gradually rose, filled with the grievances and anger that had been suppressed for hundreds of years:

"Now, Brother, you want me to sacrifice my very essence for her sake? To aid her path to enlightenment?"

Thump...

At this point, she suddenly stood up, her delicate body trembling slightly with emotion, tears welling up in her eyes, but stubbornly refusing to fall.

Isn't this ridiculous?!

In your heart, am I, Chi Xuan, such a despicable person? Would I abandon my past dignity and grudges to 'aid the enemy' for a mere scrap of divine medicine?!

"Xuan'er!"

Before she could finish speaking, Chi Yao, who was standing to the side, gave a low shout, trying to calm her younger sister down.

But Chi Xuan seemed determined to go all out.

Born into wealth and privilege, she was adored by millions and had countless admirers and fans.

The only times she was hurt, whether directly or indirectly, were because of the man in front of her!

She met him when she was a teenager, a time when her heart was just beginning to blossom, but was publicly rejected when she was asked to marry him.

One or two hundred years later, his soul was searched again by the Devouring Goddess, who had a connection with him.

Later at the Imperial Pass, she was defeated by that vixen Shao Hanyun, who stirred her emotions and subjected her to all sorts of humiliation...

At this moment, all her pent-up emotions could no longer be buried deep within her heart; she disregarded everything and chose to unleash them.

Could it be that she truly owed him something in her past life? Is he tormenting her like this in this life?

However, perhaps due to the accumulation of experience over the past few centuries, she has become much more mature and composed, and she is not too hysterical at the moment.

She simply stared intently at Tan Lin, as if trying to etch his subsequent actions and responses into her mind:

"Answer me! Tan Lin! In your eyes, what exactly are I, Chi Xuan, and our Chi family?"

Are they just chips that can be traded and sacrificed at will in crucial moments?!

Wow!

At that moment, the atmosphere on the cliff top instantly plummeted to freezing point.

The howling wind could not dispel the invisible sorrow, anger, and disappointment that permeated the air.

Tan Lin quietly watched the emotionally charged Chi Xuan, the once lively and spirited woman who had schemed to "make things difficult" for him, only to later develop feelings for him. Now, her eyes were brimming with tears and questioning...

He could only sigh silently at this.

He knew that those past incidents, if attributed to him, weren't entirely unjustifiable.

In particular, it is unrealistic to completely resolve the matter of Li Qingjue's soul-searching. The only way is to let time wash away the scars little by little, but in the end, they may still remain.

Now that the other party has guessed that he is seeking the source for Li Qingjue, there is no possibility of the transaction being completed.

But there are some things he must do well in this great era of enlightenment.

In order for Li Qingjue to successfully transform into the Chaos Body, and to prepare for possible future changes...

He needs his disciples from previous lives to have smooth transformations and attainments of enlightenment.

Therefore, the last two types of different origins used for betting are indispensable.

His indestructible golden body origin is extremely pure and nearing completion, naturally meeting the requirements. Putting aside other factors, he is absolutely Li Qingjue's best choice.

However, life is unpredictable, and each person is an independent individual, not a puppet. Certain factors, and even each person's will, can influence our lives.

Just because you think something doesn't mean it will actually be done the way you want it to be.

Just like Li Qingjue, who would rather not transform, not attain enlightenment, than devour the origin of the indestructible golden body.

Just like Chi Xuan's rejection now that she has guessed the truth.

Therefore, this attempt was unsuccessful...

Silence spread among the three.

I do not know how long it has been,

Looking at her sister's excited expression, and then at the silent Tan Lin, Chi Yao felt a complex mix of emotions.

She knew her sister was saying it in anger, but it was also the truth.

The humiliation of having one's soul searched is indeed difficult to let go of easily.

After a long while, Tan Lin slowly got up.

He looked at Chi Xuan, who was already crying with tears streaming down her face, but whose face was full of stubbornness and indignation. He then looked at Chi Yao, who was standing to the side with a complicated expression and was also silent, just like him.

He suddenly clasped his hands in a fist and bowed respectfully to the two women.

"I failed to consider things thoroughly today, and I apologize to my younger sister Xuan'er. I also owe the Chi family for some past incidents."

This is a portion of the divine medicinal essence from the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree and the Life Ancient Tree. Although the transaction did not go through, please accept it..."

His voice was deep, and as he spoke, he flicked his sleeve and took out two orbs of divine light sealed with dense Dao patterns, handing them to the two women.

His every move was filled with sincere apology:

"What I'm asking for today is truly out of necessity. Since my two younger sisters are unwilling, I will not force them."

"I apologize for disturbing you today and will take my leave now. I hope you two will not take it to heart or overthink it. My trip was not intended to humiliate you in any way..."

After speaking, he said no more, slowly turned around, and was about to leave.

Compared to when he appeared, his back was still upright, but it seemed to carry a hint of desolation.

however,

Just as Tan Lin was about to take a step forward, causing ripples in the void and marking his complete departure from the cliff top,

Chi Xuan's voice, trembling with sobs, suddenly rang out from behind him:

"and many more!"

Upon hearing the sound, Tan Lin stopped in his tracks, but did not turn around.

As Chi Xuan watched his retreating figure, tears welled up in her eyes again.

She knew that if this parting was to happen now, it might be forever...

Thoughts raced through her mind. She abruptly raised her hand, hastily wiping away the tears on her face with her sleeve. Taking a deep breath, as if using all her strength, she said in a trembling voice:

"The origin... I can give it to you."

Upon hearing the sound, Tan Lin's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

Even Chi Yao, who was standing to the side, looked at her younger sister in astonishment.

Ignoring everything else, Chi Xuan continued, her voice filled with determination and endless sorrow:

"But I have one condition."

"Please feel free to speak, my dear sister."

Tan Lin slowly turned around and looked at her.

Meeting Tan Lin's gaze, Chi Xuan's vision blurred again with tears, but she tried to open her eyes wide and speak in a voice that wasn't too choked up:

"I want you... to stay with me for a month."

This month, I don't need you to do anything earth-shattering for me, nor do I need you to say any sweet words to me...

All I want is for you to stay by my side like an old friend, to talk to me, to show me the mountains and rivers of Beidou, and to spend a month with me like this.

One month later, the essence of the primordial spirit body… I offer it to you with both hands!

After saying that, she bit her lower lip tightly, and tears silently streamed down her face.

Then, with stubbornness as her protective shield, she looked at Tan Lin with a hint of humble expectation.

Woohoo...

At the cliff top, the wind howled.

Beside her, Chi Yao stared blankly at her younger sister, her eyes beginning to show a mixture of heartache and complex emotions.

How could she not know her sister's feelings?

She never imagined that her younger sister would go to such lengths for Tan Lin…

So humble...

Is this what love between men and women is like?

At this moment, Chi Yao asked herself honestly, if it were her, she would never have called out to the other person.

Sometimes, it's better to forget each other and live in the vast world than to cling together in hardship.

In her heart, the cultivation of the Great Dao is the most important thing!

in place,

Tan Lin silently looked at Chi Xuan, at the tears rolling down the woman's face in the pale yellow gauze dress, and at her body that was trying to be strong but was trembling slightly.

He knew what the other person was thinking.

But it was only at this moment that I realized that the other party was so deeply in love with me?

How could you possibly wrong yourself like this?

Back then, what I owed her was probably far more than I imagined.

After a long silence, Tan Lin finally let out a soft sigh.

That sigh contained so much helplessness and guilt, and a hint of tenderness that he himself might not have even noticed was growing within it.

"it is good."

He nodded, his voice soft yet clearly reaching Chi Xuan's ears:

I promise you.

……

at the same time.

Heavenly soldiers, ancient stars, a land of creation.

The ancient tree of life casts countless rays of light, and the misty Dao principles permeate the air, making this secret realm appear like a fairyland.

As someone "left" Beidou, the invisible and intangible force of separation, like gauze or mist, in the areas where Tianling and Guo Ziqian were located quietly dissipated.

hum...

Finally, Tianling, who was sitting cross-legged amidst the flowing Dao principles, trembled slightly with her eyelashes and slowly opened her eyes.

A trace of bewilderment, lingering from her deep meditation, first flashed across her purple-gold eyes, before quickly returning to clarity.

She immediately noticed that the barrier that Tan Lin had used to isolate her senses with his superior methods had disappeared.

"Suiren?"

Tianling murmured to herself, her gaze first sweeping around unconsciously. Not finding anyone, she turned her attention to the other side of the Tree of Life.

That was where Li Qingjue usually secluded himself for quiet cultivation.

however,

The scene that came into view made her pupils shrink slightly.

Beneath the ancient tree of life,