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

They all knew that the person who had a close relationship with the Xiang family had no direct blood relation to the Xiang family, and the origin of his bloodline was a mystery.

Although he was taken in and raised by Xiang Li, who had gone out to work, and was treated as a son or nephew by the Xiang family, he was regarded as their pride and hope.

But in the end... not a single bloodline belonging to anyone outside the Xiang family was left behind.

In his recollection, Xiang Yun sat in the main seat, remaining silent for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh:

"It's a matter of timing and fate. Perhaps our ancestors had their own considerations, and it's not for us descendants to presume to comment on."

The only solution now is to do our utmost to cultivate the existing clansmen, explore ancestral traditions, and see if we can find a glimmer of hope for the family's future.

Upon hearing the mention of "Zu Yuan," everyone's spirits lifted slightly.

That long, narrow, and bottomless ancient cave is the Xiang family's most core secret, said to contain the oldest inheritance of the Immortal Golden Body lineage.

Including the inscription of the true meaning of the "Six Paths of Reincarnation Fist" that was once invincible in the world.

However, the Ancestral Abyss is mysterious and unpredictable, with a powerful energy field permeating its depths.

Those who are not of pure bloodline or have high cultivation level will find it difficult to go deep into the area, and historically only the patriarch and a very few core elders have known the details and have the right to bring people in.

Of those who migrated back from beyond the borders, very few had actually entered the Ancestral Abyss.

Among them, Xiang Yun had followed the elderly Xiang Li to Zuyuan twice before the turmoil.

However, he only sensed the powerful fist intent and ancient aura in a relatively shallow area, unleashing the unique energy of the indestructible golden body in his bloodline and absorbing those "golden-red particles," without truly penetrating into the core.

Now, his lifespan is running out, his cultivation is stuck at the peak of Saint King and he can't make any progress, and his family is facing the crisis of his bloodline being cut off...

A thought grew clearer and more resolute in his mind.

"I have decided to lead my men down to Zuyuan again in the coming days."

After a moment's thought, Xiang Yun announced in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping over the core elders and several talented and virtuous young members of the clan present, including his great-grandson Xiang Chen:

"This time, I will take you down with me, firstly to see if we can find an opportunity for a breakthrough, and even perhaps a way to continue the family's legacy."

Secondly, it's time for you younger generations to experience the supreme essence of our lineage's 'Six Paths of Reincarnation Fist,' which has been passed down since ancient times. This will bring immeasurable benefits to your future cultivation..."

Upon hearing this, everyone was both excited and nervous.

The ancestral home is shrouded in mystery, where opportunities and dangers coexist.

But given the family's predicament, this may be the only way out worth trying right now.

……

Several days later, at the edge of Zuyuan.

Xiang Yun, along with the three remaining Saint Realm elders of the clan and five young clansmen from the Immortal Platform Secret Realm, including Xiang Chen, a total of nine people, stood solemnly before the dark cave entrance.

The narrow cave was deep and dark, seemingly connected to the netherworld, with waves of cold and hot energy emanating from it, making people feel apprehensive.

"Remember, stay close behind me, do not act on your own, do not touch anything unknown, rely on your intuition, and act within your capabilities."

Xiang Yun gave them his final instructions, giving the young people a particularly stern look.

Everyone responded in unison.

Xiang Yun took a deep breath and leaped into the cave first.

The rest of the group followed closely behind.

wow...

The descent was initially gentle, with rough rock walls all around, seemingly etched with some long-faded patterns.

After descending approximately 10,000 feet, the environment began to change.

Strange "minerals" began to appear on the rock face, emitting a faint light that barely illuminated the way ahead.

The ancient aura permeating the air grew stronger, and a heavy pressure seemed to hang over everyone, making their blood and energy flow sluggish.

This is the natural field suppression of the Ancestral Abyss, which is especially noticeable to those who are not of the Xiang family bloodline. Even for members of the Xiang family, those with insufficient cultivation will find it difficult.

And this is already thanks to the countless golden-red particles that permeate the abyss.

"Huh...huh..."

Several young members of the tribe quickly turned pale and began to breathe rapidly.

Xiang Yun slowed down, activated his ancestral technique, and a faint golden aura emanated from his body, relieving some of the pressure on the others.

They continued to fall, and after an unknown amount of time, the view suddenly opened up, and they landed in a huge underground space.

This place seems to have been hollowed out from the mountainside, vast and boundless, with countless blood-red stalactites hanging from the top and jagged rocks on the ground.

Most strikingly, deep within the earth, stands an ancient "stone tablet" of unknown height!

The stone tablet is simple and unadorned, its surface covered with the marks of time.

But one can still vaguely see the countless intricate and mysterious patterns on it.

In Xiang Yun's eyes,

Those patterns were not static, but slowly flowing and changing, as if containing the supreme truth of the birth and death of the universe.

Those around them, merely gazing at it from afar, felt an overwhelming, boundless, invincible fist intent emanating from it, as if capable of suppressing all heavens and myriad realms.

It is so awe-inspiring that one can't help but want to worship it.

"That is... the True Meaning Stele of the Six Paths Reincarnation Fist?"

A young member of the tribe whispered excitedly, his eyes burning with passion.

A look of excitement flashed in Xiang Yun's eyes as well.

But he quickly calmed down and growled:

"Silence! Sit down cross-legged, calm your minds, and leave your fist intent here. Although the sage here is not an ancestor of my Xiang family, he is still an immortal golden body."

Try to use your own bloodline as a guide to sense and capture a trace of true meaning flowing within the stele!

Remember, don't bite off more than you can chew; gaining even a single insight is a tremendous blessing!

The group quickly followed the instructions, sitting cross-legged ten thousand feet away from the stone tablet, trying to calm their minds and resonate with the giant tablet.

It's not that they don't want to get any closer, it's just that this is the limit of the pressure they can currently withstand.

At this moment, Xiang Yun gave the three elders a wink, and the four of them slowly moved forward, wanting to get closer to see if they could discover deeper secrets in the inscription, or explore whether there was anything more hidden in this depth...

however,

Just as the four of them had stepped out of their original spot, less than ten zhang away, and were still quite a distance from the stone tablet,

boom!!!

A sudden change has occurred!

The dark golden monument, which had been standing quietly and exuding an aura of power, suddenly burst forth with an extremely dazzling light!

boom……

In an instant, an indescribable, terrifying aura, surpassing their comprehension, suddenly appeared.

Like an ancient god or demon suddenly awakening from its slumber, it erupted from the depths of the stone tablet and instantly swept across the entire abyss!

This aura was completely different from the ancient pressure of Zu Yuan in Xiang Yun's memory!

This aura was even deeper, more unpredictable, and impossible to fathom...

It was as if in a deathly silence, there was an indescribable "vitality", as if it had its own will!

"Oh no! Retreat!"

Suddenly, a strange change occurred. Xiang Yun's expression changed drastically, and he roared hoarsely. At the same time, he desperately circulated his blood and qi, setting up golden light barriers in front of him in an attempt to protect the young clansmen behind him.

However, this is the ultimate pressure, and its status is extremely high.

It was far beyond what someone like him, who wasn't even a Great Sage, could withstand or contend with.

Fortunately, that terrifying aura, though seemingly chaotic, possessed a trace of sentience. When it came into contact with the bloodline aura emanating from Xiang Yun and the others—a similar aura, though infinitely weaker—…

A slight pause,

Immediately, the destructive impact softened countless times, transforming into a powerful yet relatively gentle thrust.

bang...

Even so, for Xiang Yun and the others, whose highest level was only Saint King, this force was still like an overwhelming force!

"puff!"

"Ugh!"

"puff……"

Xiang Yun was the first to be hit. The golden barrier shattered like paper. He felt as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer. He felt a tightness in his chest, spat out a mouthful of blood, and his body flew backward uncontrollably.

The three elders and the five young clansmen were even worse off, swept away like leaves in a storm.

They crashed violently into the distant rock wall, each one spitting blood, their bones broken and tendons snapped, instantly suffering severe injuries!

thump...

bang... bang...

Immediately afterwards, nine figures were "thrown" out of the entrance to the Ancestral Abyss by that gentle yet immense force, like dumplings being dropped into a pot, and crashed heavily onto the ground of the Crimson Cloud River, stirring up clouds of dust.

"Cough cough...Yun...Yun Zu?!"

Xiang Chen struggled to his feet, ignoring his own injuries, and scrambled to Xiang Yun's side, who was bleeding from the corner of his mouth and whose aura was now weak after enduring most of the pressure.

His face turned deathly pale with fright.

With his help, Xiang Yun struggled to sit up. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

shuh...

With a sweep of his divine sense, he quickly examined everyone's injuries. Fortunately, they were all only external injuries such as internal organ tremors and broken bones, and their fundamental health had not been damaged.

But the terror and unknown nature of that previous aura had been deeply imprinted in their minds.

"Keep the news under wraps! No one is to divulge what happened today!"

Xiang Yunqiang took a deep breath and gave the order in a stern voice.

He realized that deep within the Ancestral Abyss, some earth-shattering change had probably occurred that they could not comprehend at all!

This could shake up part of the Xiang family's future succession order.

He was deeply saddened by this.

The group, supporting each other, hastily retreated back to the newly built stone stockade.

The strongest fighters at the top level were almost all injured. They immediately activated the strongest formation in the stronghold and strictly ordered those who witnessed their injuries not to reveal anything about what happened today.

However, the anomalies from the depths of the abyss did not end there.

Since that day,

Every member of the Xiang family, whether meditating or sleeping at night, would faintly hear a deep, aged voice, seemingly carrying endless weariness and a warning, whenever their mind relaxed even slightly:

"This is a dangerous place... The Xiang family... should leave..."

The sound was ethereal and elusive, seemingly resounding deep within the mind, yet its source remained elusive.

However, compared to the vast majority of people who are unfamiliar with this sound,

Xiang Yun was somewhat horrified, mainly because of the tone and manner of the voice...

He bears a striking resemblance to his grandfather, Xiang Li, who passed away over a thousand years ago!

"Could this be the spirit of the Gravel Ancestor remaining here, warning us?"

An elder said in a trembling voice.

"Or is there some entity in the shadows, constantly watching over us and even the slightest movement in our ancestral land, trying to use the changes in the Ancestral Abyss to scare us away and force us to relinquish our ancestral land?"

The other elder was filled with doubt and surprise.

For several days afterward, the turmoil in Xiang Yun's heart remained unsettled.

He tried many times to explore the Ancestral Abyss again.

But what was worse than before was that in the following instances, whenever he approached the entrance to the Ancestral Abyss within a certain range, that terrifying, gentle force would reappear, blocking everyone, including him, from going any further.

Attempting to force one's way in only resulted in further injury.