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

Only when her presence completely disappeared from perception did the billions of living beings in the Five Domains of the Big Dipper finally surface like drowning people, gasping for breath.

Many people collapsed to the ground, their clothes soaked with cold sweat.

Meanwhile, deep within the several forbidden zones, the awakened energy gradually subsided.

However, the tense atmosphere did not completely dissipate, and the area outside the penalty area remained active, clearly indicating that vigilance had not been relaxed.

An invisible standoff that lasted for seven days and seven nights, suffocating the entire Big Dipper and even all the heavens and myriad realms, has finally come to a temporary end in this bizarre way.

……

at the same time,

Deep in the starry sky lies a desolate region, far removed from any source of life.

A crack silently appeared in the void, and Li Qingjue staggered out.

"puff……"

The moment she appeared and sealed off the surrounding environment, she could no longer suppress herself and spat out a mouthful of Chaos Emperor Blood.

The blood, mixed with tiny fragments of Dao principles, shimmered with a dim light as it fell into the void, instantly annihilating a meteorite belt.

Her face was as pale as paper, and the chaotic imperial energy around her, which had stabilized somewhat, surged violently once again.

A mournful sound emanated from within her body, and even faint cracks appeared on the surface of her crystalline skin.

A standoff lasting seven days,

It's not just a contest of momentum, but also an extreme drain on one's mental and spiritual strength.

She had just attained enlightenment, and her realm was already unstable. She had also experienced great sorrow and grief, which stirred her mind and spirit, and deeply rooted her demonic nature. The fact that she could stand in front of the forbidden area for seven days was only because she was supported by a strong hatred.

With the powerful enemy temporarily retreating and his mind slightly relaxed, the hidden dangers of his injuries and foundation could no longer be suppressed and erupted with a roar.

"Cough...cough..."

She covered her mouth with her hand, but blood from the emperor still seeped through her fingers.

With her other hand, she gripped the tattered Emperor's Banner tightly, as if it were the only connection between her and her master.

The banner was dim, and a faint light flowed from the damaged areas, no longer able to reveal that familiar phantom.

She looked down at the Emperor's Banner, then at the cracked Immortal Execution Sword in her other hand, and finally at her bloodstained palm.

Chuan Ying's blood... her master's blood... and her own blood...

"Why...why..."

She muttered to herself, her voice hoarse, her eyes a mixture of death and madness.

"You promised me..."

In her mind, the final moment kept replaying—the moment when her master injected his essence into her body.

That calm and gentle gaze, and that faint, almost liberating smile.

That smile, in retrospect, pierced her heart more than any sharp blade.

"You think that... I'll... do you think that just because I've become emperor... I'll..."

Almost driven mad, she suddenly looked up, her eyes bloodshot, and roared at the endless void:

"You're wrong! Tan Lin! You're completely wrong!!"

Incoherent and illogical words echoed through the desolate star field, shattering one floating star fragment after another.

After a long while, the roars gradually subsided, replaced by suppressed sobs.

She huddled in the void, her shoulders trembling violently, tears mingling with blood streaming down her beautiful yet pale face.

He became emperor.

Looking down upon eternity, revered throughout the universe.

But so what?

There was no longer a master by her side to guide her on the path of cultivation, no one to shield her from danger...

My brother is dead, and now my master is gone too.

This vast universe, this supreme throne, to her, were nothing but coldness and loneliness.

"I won't let you die in vain..."

After an unknown amount of time, the intermittent speech ceased.

Li Qingjue slowly raised his head, wiping away the blood and tears on his face, his eyes filled with an almost obsessive coldness and madness.

"I will not let go of anyone who participated in the attack on you... anyone who has hurt you... anyone who has a grudge against you."

"Stone Emperor, Eternal Heavenly Venerable, Carefree Heavenly Venerable, and...everything..."

"I will become stronger, strong enough to conquer all forbidden zones, strong enough to struggle through the mortal world, strong enough... strong enough to bring you back!"

"wait for me……"

She murmured softly, as if making a vow, or as if speaking to herself.

Then, she took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning blood and disordered Dao principles within her body.

His gaze swept across the desolate star field, selected a relatively stable broken star, took a step, and his figure disappeared.

She needs time.

Healing, stabilizing his realm, digesting the indestructible golden body essence left by his master, completely mastering the Chaos Emperor Path, and even comprehending the spiritual treasure killing formation...

Then, let's see if we can clear everything up.

Just as Li Qingjue disappeared into the starry sky to seek a secluded place for cultivation...

Across the myriad realms, speculations about what would happen after this brief standoff quickly spread.

"That 'Devouring Emperor' stood outside the restricted area for seven days, but ultimately still didn't choose a single restricted area to break into..."

"After all, the forbidden zones have profound foundations. In this ancient era, they are far superior to any era before the ages. Each forbidden zone contains more than one or two supreme beings. She has just attained enlightenment, so it is naturally impossible for her to pacify the forbidden zones..."

"That's true, but you didn't feel the look in her eyes when she left... it was like she wanted to devour the entire Big Dipper whole!"

"That's right, this matter absolutely cannot be left like this..."

"In any case, she's gone after all. It seems that this turmoil has truly come to a temporary end."

"Alas, what a pity for that immortal golden body... If he hadn't sacrificed his life, I'm afraid..."

"That former number one general of the ancient Heavenly Court, isn't he..."

Amidst the discussions, some astute individuals and ancient beings within the forbidden zone discerned even more clues.

Deep within the Undying Mountain, a pair of scarlet eyes gleamed in the darkness, and a hoarse, low voice spoke:

"She broke through too quickly, got injured, and even fell into demonic possession. Her foundation is unstable. The previous confrontation was probably just a bluff, a show of force to hold on to her last breath."

If we had joined forces back then, we might have been able to capture her..."

In the Immortal Tomb, the Celestial Venerable of Longevity sat cross-legged, meditating. Upon hearing this, he sneered:

"It's just hindsight."

At that time, she was filled with murderous intent and her aura was at its peak; who would dare to make a move easily? Besides, who would be willing to do the work for someone else's benefit?

"good."

Another aged voice came from the depths of the Primordial Ancient Mine:

"This woman has already become a formidable force, and with her killing formation at her disposal, her combat power is astonishing. If we rashly engage her in a death battle, even if we win, we will pay a heavy price."

At that time, it's hard to guarantee that someone won't be waiting in the wings to pounce.

"However, her retreat this time must be to find a place to heal and consolidate her strength. This may be one of the rare periods of weakness she experiences before entering her later years..."

"Oh? What insightful opinion do you have, fellow Daoist?"

"Let's wait and see. She has a demon in her heart and will not be content."

Once her injuries have healed and her cultivation level has stabilized, the first people she'll likely target are you, Emperor Shi, and Fellow Daoist Changsheng. At that time… perhaps there will be an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.”

"Hmph, I'll wait for her to come!!"

The Stone Emperor's voice came from the depths of the Undying Mountain, carrying a chilling killing intent.

"If she dares to come, I will make sure she never leaves."

The Celestial Venerable of Immortality also said in a cold voice,

But a hint of seriousness flashed across his eyes.

He knew better than anyone that the Devouring Empress harbored the strongest killing intent towards him.

After all, he orchestrated the coordinated attack from both ends, and it was he who forced Tan Lin into a corner...

A dark glint flashed in the eyes of the Eternal Heavenly Venerable upon thinking of Tan Lin.

What secret is that kid hiding?

Is he really dead?

Why does he always feel...uneasy?

But these doubts can no longer be explored at this moment.

The most urgent task is to heal the wounds as soon as possible and prepare for the possible retaliation from that mad empress.

wow...

Meanwhile, outside, with Li Qingjue's disappearance, the terrifying imperial might that had enveloped the myriad realms gradually dissipated.

The universe entered a relatively short period of calm.

The turmoil has passed, but the wounds it left behind will take a long time to heal.

……

Time flies, and the stars shift.

After the dark turmoil ended, the Empress disappeared seven days later after a standoff in front of the forbidden zone.

In the blink of an eye, two hundred years have passed.

For cultivators, two hundred years is not a long time, especially for high-level cultivators, it may only be the time for one period of seclusion.

But for the myriad realms of the heavens, which have endured turmoil and are in dire need of rebuilding, this is a different story.

These two hundred years, however, were the initial crucial period for recuperation and recovery.

In the midst of turmoil, countless ancient stars of life withered, trillions of living beings perished, and numerous lineages vanished into thin air.

But life is more tenacious than imagined. The surviving creatures rebuild their homes on the ruins, new forces sprout on the old land, the ancient road under the stars is lit up again, and the young prodigies embark on their journey once more.

However, everyone knows that this era is different from the past.

A ruthless emperor, known for his cruelty in the past, and later suspected of being possessed by a demon, hangs high in the heavens, suppressing the world.

Although she has not appeared since that day,

But her very existence is like a sword hanging over everyone's heart, ready to fall at any moment.

And the hope of yesteryear, that indestructible golden body that rose like the sun, raising an undying flame in the darkness,

They have already "fallen," becoming a tragic legend, passed down by word of mouth throughout the world, remembered and lamented by countless people.

Over these two hundred years,

Beidou, in the southern part of the eastern wilderness, the ruins of the Xiang family's territory.

The ancestral land of the once indestructible golden body lineage is now even more desolate.

Those guardians who ultimately chose to remain passed away shortly after the turmoil ended.

Xiang Li passed away three years after Li Qingjue disappeared.

The old man sat on the dilapidated main seat in the ancestral hall, gazing at the starry sky. The last glimmer of light in his cloudy eyes slowly faded, but a relieved smile remained on his lips.

He seemed to see the figure in the green robe nodding at him.

"My child... I've come looking for you..."

With a soft murmur, the old man breathed his last, his body transforming into specks of light that merged into the ancestral land he had guarded his entire life.