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

After jumping for a while, Chi Xuan ran back with a smile, her face flushed from the exercise, and fine beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. Her eyes were surprisingly bright.

"Brother, why don't you dance too!"

She reached out her hand, wanting to pull him.

Tan Lin shook her head, indicating that she should go play by herself.

Chi Xuan didn't insist. She smiled and turned back to join the joyful crowd.

Tan Lin sat not far away, watching her twirl and laugh around the campfire.

Watching them high-five and sing with their simple, honest people, so vibrant and bright, created a striking contrast with the desolate and scorching western desert that comprised most of the area.

At that moment, something in his heart seemed to be slightly touched, but it quickly returned to silence.

After their trip to the Western Desert, they headed to the Southern Ridge.

The Nanling Mountains are mountainous and rife with miasma and plague. Originally, this area was dominated by the demon race, while the human race had several barbarian branches that were relatively weak, making survival here quite difficult.

Furthermore, with the Holy Spirit's ancestral temple experiencing a surge of powerful Holy Spirits appearing in this great age, life has become increasingly difficult.

As soon as Chi Xuan and her companion entered the Nanling region, they felt a sense of oppression. In many areas, they could feel the domineering and powerful aura of the Holy Spirit Clan.

In the mountains and forests, it is common to see demons who are not fully transformed and whose intelligence is not fully developed, roaming freely with their demonic aura soaring into the sky, eyeing some barbarian villages and towns with covetous intent.

However, compared to the demon race, the most domineering and arrogant group at present is the Holy Spirit lineage, which often drives away and enslaves other races, especially the human race.

As the two gradually ventured deeper into the Nanling Mountains...

Outside a valley where barbarians gathered, they witnessed several Holy Spirit monks with stone wings on their backs abducting tens of thousands of young and strong barbarians who were kept there, claiming that they would be sent to a resource-rich area to perform forced labor.

Those barbarian people at the bottom of society were unaware that the place where they had lived and multiplied for hundreds of years was actually a breeding ground for these holy spirits.

Among them, some low-level cultivators who emerged on their own over the years attempted to resist, but were easily suppressed without any suspense. Their bones were broken and their screams were unbearable to hear.

The rest of the human race, the elderly, the weak, women and children, knelt and begged, only to be met with disdainful sneers and lashes from the cultivators who were considered weak among the Holy Spirits.

Chi Xuan's eyebrows furrowed, her slender hands clenched tightly, and her aura subtly fluctuated as she prepared to attack.

however,

A steady, strong hand gently pressed down on her shoulder at that moment.

Chi Xuan turned around and met Tan Lin's deep, calm eyes.

He shook his head slightly.

Why?

Chi Xuan transmitted her voice:

“Brother, with our abilities, killing these few Holy Spirits is a piece of cake. We can clean up the traces later and escape far away. In any case, the Chi and Xiang families have already moved most of their clansmen away…”

Before she could finish speaking, Tan Lin waved his hand to interrupt her.

His deep gaze swept over the arrogant departing Holy Spirit cultivators, then turned to the despairing, weeping barbarians in the valley, and he slowly replied:

"Kill them, and then what?"

This place is right at the foot of the Holy Spirit's ancestral temple. Unless we can uproot the entire Holy Spirit's ancestral temple here, after we leave, the people within a radius of ten thousand miles, and even the entire Southern Ridge, will suffer a hundredfold or a thousandfold retribution and cleansing.

He paused, his voice low:

"The situation surrounding BeiDou is complex, with uncharted territory lurking within. As a quasi-emperor, your reckless actions will only hasten unrest."

We can only save them temporarily, not forever. You and I can relocate the Chi and Xiang families, but can we relocate all the humans in the Five Regions of the Big Dipper?

The true root lies in this Holy Spirit Ancestral Temple, in the forbidden zone, in this world…

Upon hearing this, Chi Xuan's delicate body trembled slightly, her tightly clenched fists slowly loosened, and a trace of helplessness and sorrow flashed in her eyes.

She certainly understood this principle.

It's just that people don't want to think about it too deeply; people always subconsciously avoid problems they can't solve.

Now she witnessed the suffering of the barbarians, who were also human, and she could only stand by and do nothing, even though she had the ability to save them. The feeling was like a fire burning in her heart.

"Are we... just going to stand by and watch them..."

Chi Xuan's voice was hoarse.

Remember what you have seen today.

Tan Lin withdrew his gaze, looking at the vast and unsettling aura emanating from the Holy Spirit Ancestral Temple deep within the Southern Ridge, and said calmly:

"If you still have this desire in the future, and have the opportunity and ability, how you sweep away the rebellion and cleanse the world will naturally be up to you..."

Chi Xuan remained silent for a long time before finally nodding slowly.

In fact, she had seen many similar scenes in foreign lands in her early years. Most of the time, she acted on impulse and didn't know whether the people in those places were really doing well now.

……

This incident somewhat dampened their enthusiasm for the trip, and the magnificent landscape of Nanling seemed to be shrouded in a shadow.

They didn't linger and left the Nanling Mountains, turning back eastward.

As they passed through the central region of the Eastern Wilderness, they once again gazed at the Undying Mountain from afar.

Unlike the last time when I looked south from the northern region,

Just over ten days have passed, and now, deep within the black mountains of Undying Mountain, the chaotic mist seems to be churning even more violently.

Even someone with profound cultivation like Chi Xuan could occasionally sense the terrifying fluctuations emanating from it, enough to shake the heavens and earth.

The largest gathering place of cultivators adjacent to this forbidden zone, the once bustling "Dark City" in peaceful times, is now mostly abandoned and deserted.

Only a few ordinary beings, unable to escape, linger on in fear and despair as each day draws nearer.

Clearly, even they sensed an impending apocalypse after witnessing the cultivators' gradual disappearance...

Tan Lin stared into the depths of the Undying Mountain, his gaze no longer deep and unfathomable, but sharp as a sword.

hum...

[Reverse Perspective of All Causes] activated.

Through the mystical power of the Soul Pearl and the anchor points of the causal threads, he could vaguely perceive the supreme being in the Undying Mountain who had briefly returned with him in his previous life, entered the forbidden area twice, and exchanged blows with him.

At this moment, the energy is fluctuating, sometimes strong and sometimes weak, like a candle in the wind, its light flickering uncertainly.

He knew that it was a sign that his vital energy and blood had deteriorated to the extreme and he was about to give up completely!

In addition, within the forbidden zone, ancient thoughts are faintly intertwined and reviving, as if a mythical beast that has been asleep for countless ages is slowly opening its eyes.

"Turbulence is about to break out."

Tan Lin spoke in a low voice, his tone grave.

Although it was only a distant observation, it was almost like an on-site assessment for him, and he drew this conclusion.

Beside her, Chi Xuan also sensed a terrifying aura that, even from tens of millions of miles away, made her divine soul slightly uneasy.

Compared to the time more than half a month ago, her pretty face was even paler this time.

Unrest in the restricted zone means rivers of blood and boundless catastrophe.

In fact, even though she and her sister had gradually moved the Chi and Xiang families out of Beidou and settled them in several more secluded places,

However, when the real darkness and turmoil arrive, whether they can ultimately weather this catastrophe remains unknown; they are not truly safe.

In critical moments, one can only rely on one's own fate and whether the Supreme One will go to the places they have chosen.

Ancient texts record that, often, it wasn't that supreme beings were unaware of cultivators barely surviving in remote corners of the universe; it was simply that for those beings, their lifespan was so limited that it wasn't worth venturing further.

At that time, she and her sister Chi Yao, who were quasi-emperors, would be the real feast in the eyes of the Supreme Being, and would be specially sought out.

"Let's go..."

Finally, Tan Lin withdrew his gaze.

The month-long period is drawing to a close.

Without further delay, the two transformed into two streaks of light, traversing the vast mountains and rivers, and quickly returned to the Tianchi Mountain Range in the Northern Region.

On their return journey to the Northern Region, a wisp of Tan Lin's divine soul flickered.

Manipulating a chess piece he had deliberately left behind many years ago, he quietly headed to the southern region of the Eastern Wilderness, to the ancestral home of the Xiang family, Shizhai.

……

Since the previous invasion by the cultivators from the Holy Spirit Ancestral Court, the outer perimeter of the once beautiful stone village has become almost indistinguishable from ruins, but the depths are even more ancient and tranquil.

At this moment, inside the ancestral hall,

Xiang Li, along with several other Xiang family elders who were also white-haired and had weakened auras, but were actually at least a thousand years younger than him, were silently watching the humanoid dragon demon in front of them.

The dragon demon was covered in blue scales and had a single horn on its head. Many years passed.

His aura had clearly reached the Great Sage realm, and he was now speaking human language. However, even though he was practically drooling, these stubborn members of the Xiang family remained unmoved.

After he finished speaking, the elderly Xiang Li slowly shook his head again, his voice hoarse but firm:

“This… ‘fellow Daoist,’ I appreciate your kindness, and I also thank ‘him’ for his concern on my behalf.”

But... this is my Xiang family's ancestral land, this is my root. My old and frail body has little time left, and I do not wish to wander any longer, to die far from home.

"Let this old man stay and guard our ancestral land. The promising and hopeful members of the clan have already moved away with the Chi family. The rest are like me, unwilling to leave. You don't need to say anything more..."

"Lao Li..."

Suddenly, an elder from the clan nearby seemed to have a different opinion and spoke up:

"That man's skills have now reached a level of extraordinary attainment. Since he has made such an arrangement, there must be a deeper meaning behind it! Why don't you heed my advice this time?"

“Yes, Elder Li, we will protect the ancestral land. But you are different. If the younger generation is alive, you can still guide them when they encounter difficult choices…”

Another elder also offered advice.

Xiang Li waved his hand, interrupting their conversation, and looked out of the hall, as if piercing through the void, seeing the familiar layers of mountains and rivers outside the stone village:

“My mind is made up. There is no need to persuade me anymore. If you are afraid, you may leave. I will not stop you.”

Upon hearing this, the clan elders exchanged glances, and finally could only sigh and say no more.

If they really wanted to leave, they would have left long ago; right now, they just hope that everyone else is alive.

Seeing this, the dragon demon wanted to persuade him again.

Suddenly, the void inside the hall rippled slightly.

Wow!

A figure in a green robe appeared silently.

It was a wisp of Tan Lin's divine consciousness that quietly arrived, enveloped in crimson mist.

hum...

The fog dissipated.

Although it was just an avatar, its aura was so profound and unfathomable that it still made everyone present shudder.

"Lord!"

The dragon immediately bowed its head.

"you……"

Upon seeing Tan Lin, Xiang Li's cloudy old eyes flashed with a sharp light.

Tan Lin nodded slightly to the dragon, indicating that there was no need for further formalities, and then greeted Xiang Li with the respect due to a junior.

"Old Li, it's been many years. How are you doing?"

Xiang Li suddenly stood up, excitedly took two steps forward, carefully examined him, and in a daze, couldn't help but burst into laughter:

"Very good, very good. If the lineage of the Undying Golden Body could produce another outstanding person like you, our ancestors would be at ease in the afterlife!"

After a brief exchange of pleasantries,

Tan Lin's expression turned serious, and he said:

"Elder Li, please reconsider the matter of relocation. The Big Dipper is about to be in chaos, and this is not a place to stay for long."

Xiang Li's smile faded, he sighed, pulled Tan Lin to sit down, and said earnestly:

"Child, I understand your intentions."