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

He gazed at the face opposite him, a face he had longed for for countless years. It seemed that all the millennia of protection he had received since his rebirth had been worthwhile at this moment.

However, he keenly sensed that although the other party was all smiles and had an attitude as friendly as in ancient times,

But within that intimacy lies a more subtle sense of estrangement.

Unlike the occasional displays of dependence and vulnerability she once showed, she now resembled an empress, elegantly entertaining a meritorious subject, or perhaps...

An "old friend" who still has some use to him.

Yes, the news that the Immortal Emperor was not dead must have kept her mind focused for the time being, thus suppressing any thoughts that might cross the line...

Ning Fei's thoughts were in turmoil, and a bitter feeling welled up inside him.

His fingers tightened slightly around the teacup, but he didn't show it; he simply drank his tea in silence.

The Immortal Queen keenly observed his subtle reactions, her mind racing with thoughts, yet her expression remained increasingly natural.

Suddenly, she put down her teacup, sighed softly, and a faint trace of sorrow and resentment appeared perfectly on her exquisite face:

"Although we have survived this ordeal by chance, there are already those who have attained enlightenment here, and the Great Dao is forever out of reach."

As she spoke, her delicate fingers unconsciously toyed with the rim of the teacup, her gaze fixed on the endless starry sky outside the hall, her voice carrying a heartbreaking melancholy:

"Over the years, the thought of being trapped here, watching those young men and women constantly on top of each other, has been incredibly frustrating."

In my current state, I fear I may become…

"Why does the Empress say such a thing?"

Hearing this, Ning Fei finally couldn't help but speak:

"With me here... I will never let you suffer any more harm! Although the path to the throne is blocked today, there will be opportunities in the future..."

The Immortal Queen turned to look at him, her phoenix eyes shimmering with tears, a mixture of emotion and helplessness:

Ning Fei, I've always known your feelings.

But... the Emperor may still be alive, while I am trapped here, with no hope of achieving the Great Dao, and my lifespan will eventually come to an end.

It was lucky we survived this ordeal; who knows what the next one will bring? Besides, the Forbidden Zone's attitude towards the Emperor is unclear. Bringing me here is probably just...

She paused, her voice growing softer, carrying a subtle tremor and a hint of dependence:

"If it weren't for your unwavering loyalty and protection for over a thousand years, allowing me to heal in peace, I would probably have perished long ago under the watchful eyes of those outside."

This kindness...I will remember it forever.

These words were spoken with utmost sincerity.

She not only explicitly acknowledged the other person's protectiveness but also hinted at her own vulnerability and lingering dependence on him, subtly portraying the "Emperor's" presence as an invisible barrier and pressure.

And that exquisitely subtle relationship—"I know your feelings, but due to my status and many other limitations, I cannot reciprocate; I can only regard you as my most important and relied-upon confidant and protector"—

It was truly a powerful medicine, causing a surge of emotions in Ning Fei, a man deeply in love.

He looked at the woman's unusually delicate demeanor.

Even knowing there might be an element of manipulation or pretense involved, hearing the words "I will remember it" and the implicit dependence in her beloved's words...

He suddenly felt that the loneliness he had endured for millennia, and the slight disappointment he felt at this moment due to the other person's slight estrangement, were nothing in comparison.

As long as I can protect her and be needed by her,

Even if this is the only possible relationship, if it continues indefinitely, he...

"Your Excellency is too kind."

Ning Fei's voice was deep and firm:

What I did for you was done willingly.

This isn't just true of the past, present, or future; I'll do anything for you, even at the cost of my life…

Upon hearing this, a hint of smugness flashed through the Immortal Empress's heart.

However, her face showed a complex expression mixed with gratitude, guilt, and helplessness.

Then, she slightly turned her head away, seemingly unable to meet Ning Fei's burning gaze, and whispered:

"Don't talk about life or death... I can only be at ease if you're alright."

But... after this ordeal, I feel even more strongly that this world is truly unfathomable, fraught with peril. We, who appear detached, are in reality treading on thin ice.

At this point, she looked at Ning Fei again, her gaze carrying a hint of pleading:

"Ning Fei, I intend to seal myself away once more, slumbering in the ancient Emperor Mountain, awaiting a possible opportunity in the future..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Ning Fei said in a deep voice without any hesitation:

"I will send you back to Ancient Emperor Mountain. If you are reborn in the future, no matter what you face, I will reappear to protect you!"

The immortal queen finally revealed a smile of relief mixed with boundless emotion.

That smile was so bright that it seemed to illuminate and fill Ning Fei's entire field of vision.

"Thank you, Ning Fei."

She spoke softly, and this expression of gratitude seemed more sincere than ever before.

wow...

Shortly after,

The Phoenix Nest's aura became increasingly restrained, then it quietly traversed the universe, eventually returning to the Big Dipper and disappearing into the Nine Dragons Arching the Pearl land in the northern region of the Eastern Wilderness.

When the turmoil of the past erupted, the other eight divine generals who had been promised great benefits and followed her had long since found their own places to live in seclusion.

Only Ning Fei remained by his side.

Even now, he personally sent her to the deepest part of the Ancient Emperor Mountain Small World, watching her seal herself with her divine power.

Within the crystalline divine essence, the Immortal Queen's exquisite face appeared even more serene and sacred, like a sleeping fairy.

Ning Fei stood before the divine source, gazing at it for a long time.

A hint of longing and a lingering sense of loneliness flashed across his eyes.

Who is he?

During this encounter and conversation, he could vaguely sense the other party's deliberate aloofness towards him during this reunion.

It's all because of the "Immortal Emperor"!

At this moment, he felt resentment, bitterness, and unspeakable pain.

But in the end, it all turned into a silent sigh.

"The Emperor..."

He silently repeated those two words in his heart, filled with complex emotions.

That was a thorn deeply embedded in his heart.

Finally, he took one last deep look at the person within the divine source, then turned away.

Da...da...

Finally, he took the reins from the neck of the lame old horse that had always silently followed him, a horse that had also aged considerably over the years.

Then, with somewhat heavy steps, he walked out of the ancient Huangshan Mountain, his back view desolate and lonely.

in place,

Just before the Divine Source Liquid completely solidified,

The Immortal Queen's phoenix eyes, which should have been closed, quietly opened a crack.

Her eyes were as deep and cold as a pool, devoid of any of the vulnerability and emotion she had shown when facing Ning Fei, replaced only by icy calculation and profound contemplation.

“Ning Fei…”

She silently whispered to herself:

"Let's leave it hanging for now; we might need it later."

As her thoughts drifted, they quickly moved away from Ning Fei and drifted deeper to the blurry yet seemingly deeply imprinted white-clad figure in her soul.

"Tan Lin, the indestructible golden body..."

She uttered the name silently, her eyes flashing with an indescribable light—a mixture of inquiry, longing, and a rare sense of bewilderment and excitement.

"If you are truly the Suiren Emperor... then was that person back then also you..."

She recalled that fleeting glimpse of a divine consciousness that had once blocked her path outside the Demon Emperor's tomb.

As the opponent threw a punch, several figures initially appeared behind him, including a somewhat vaguely familiar phantom...

Just how big is the secret you hold?

"Are you really... completely dead this time?"

Thinking of this, Chun Dai frowned slightly, recalling that scene from the turmoil.

That person was indeed exhausted, having exhausted all his resources to help the Devouring Goddess achieve enlightenment. Logically speaking, he should have no chance of survival.

but……

If he is indeed the Suiren Emperor as I suspect, then it is not impossible for him to return again.

It should be noted that in that ancient hunt, the other party was the one who died on the spot.

"If you truly perish, then the secrets you possess, the potential 'destiny for immortality'... in whose hands will they ultimately fall?"

Thoughts swirled and turned, but ultimately settled into silence.

Finally, the Undying Queen slowly closed her eyes, sinking completely into the depths of the Divine Source Liquid, beginning an endless slumber.

Only on that exquisitely beautiful face, there seemed to be a lingering desire to explore unknown secrets.

……

at the same time,

the other side,

In a remote corner of the universe, isolated from the outside world by a magical array,

Li Qingjue sat cross-legged on a black platform formed from dark, demonic energy.

While meditating, countless runes swirled around her like dragons and snakes, and the phantom of the Great Dao Treasure Bottle floated above her head, breathing in and out vast starlight and chaotic energy.

Her jade-like face was always covered by that ghost mask, obscuring her expression. Only the loneliness and cold aura flowing around her seemed to blend into this desolate starry sky.

Disappeared for a thousand years, a thousand years of seclusion.

Her cultivation had become more profound, and her control over the laws of the imperial way had become increasingly sophisticated.

During this period, she did not focus solely on arduous cultivation, but instead devoted most of her energy to deducing and perfecting the Great Dao scriptures.

Her talent was undoubtedly stunning, especially after experiencing darkness and turmoil.

Having fought against numerous supreme beings, she was not content with merely copying others' techniques and supernatural abilities.

Although the Nine Secrets and other forbidden secret techniques are powerful and unparalleled in a certain aspect throughout history, they are other people's methods and are never as convenient to use as one's own.

She will forge her own path and create her own unique and supreme secret technique!

Over the past thousand years,

Combining her own "Devouring Heaven Demon Art," she began to analyze the profound mysteries of the Nine Secrets she had mastered, including the "Movement," "Soldier," and "Fight" secrets.

On this day, strange phenomena suddenly appeared around her!

In the void to the left, dark light surged, giving rise to countless majestic immortal figures.

Those figures were throwing punches, raising their palms, extending their fingers, or lifting their legs...

Each figure moved with ancient and simple movements, yet contained within them a terrifying Daoist aura capable of shattering stars and reversing the universe.

She is demonstrating an extremely powerful offensive technique.

boom……

After a thousand years, she finally reaped the rewards.

All attacks ultimately converged into a blurry pattern, the Dao pattern being pitch black.