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

Fellow Daoist, you possess extraordinary talent and an distinguished background. With the strong support of the divine race, your future is limitless.

However… I must apologize that I cannot fulfill your request, young master.

Upon seeing this, Yuwen Hao's smile froze slightly, but he quickly recovered, his eyes remaining firm.

"Goddess, there's no need for you to answer immediately."

Hao knew this was abrupt, but his heart was sincere and heaven and earth could bear witness. If the goddess agreed, Hao was willing to... become a member of the Jiang family!

At that time, with my divine blood uniting with the goddess, we will surely be able to better continue the bloodlines of our two families.

"If such a favorable alliance can be forged, my Yuwen lineage will forever be allied with the Jiang family, advancing and retreating together!"

To become a member of the Jiang family?!

He'd even be willing to marry into the family!

For a proud and arrogant prodigy like Yuwen Hao, these conditions were practically a surrender of all dignity and pride!

This shows how determined they were to have her, and it also shows how attractive her bloodline aptitude, after her transformation and cultivation to the peak of Quasi-Emperor, was to those gods!

At this moment, even Jiang Wanqing was unsure how to refuse while maintaining decorum for both parties.

She never expected that the other party would go to such lengths!

Marrying into the Jiang family meant that he was willing to become a "vassal" of the Jiang family from then on.

As a young quasi-emperor of the divine race who had only recently broken through his limits, he faced considerable difficulties due to various considerations.

Putting aside her own wishes, the other party's "sincerity" is undoubtedly significant to the Jiang family.

And indeed, that's exactly what happened.

Behind the artificial hills and pavilions in the distance, several ancestors and elders of the Jiang family, led by the Third Ancestor, were secretly using a secret method to observe the situation inside the waterside pavilion.

Upon hearing Yuwen Hao's words about "marrying into the family," the old men's beards bristled with excitement, and they exchanged glances.

His eyes were full of satisfaction: "This boy is excellent!", "He's very sincere!", "Wanqing should agree now, right?"

However, the atmosphere inside the waterside pavilion fell silent for a moment.

Jiang Wanqing slowly picked up the cup of Drunken Immortal Wine that had remained untouched, but did not drink it. She simply swirled the amber liquid in the cup gently, her eyes lowered, making it impossible to discern her emotions.

"Fellow Daoist Yuwen..."

She finally spoke, her voice still cold, but now carrying an indescribable complexity.

"Wanqing appreciates your kindness, and your terms are also very sincere for the Jiang family..."

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Hao's heart skipped a beat.

He's not stupid; often, the important part comes after such words...

"but,"

Jiang Wanqing raised her head, looked directly into Yuwen Hao's pale golden eyes, and asked, word by word:

"If the one sitting here today were that person from over a thousand years ago, the one who achieved the Great Perfection and the Indestructible Golden Body, the one who once held up the inextinguishable flame for all living beings in the heavens and myriad realms during the dark turmoil, and ultimately shed his blood in the starry sky..."

If he were to come and propose marriage, what do you think he would do, young master?

As his words faded away, the remaining smile on Yuwen Hao's face froze completely.

His pupils contracted slightly, clearly not expecting Jiang Wanqing to suddenly bring up that name that had "passed away" a thousand or two thousand years ago, yet seemed to still be imprinted in the hearts of a considerable number of people in this era.

That man...

That man who rose like the sun and fell like a meteor, yet illuminated an era...

Will he marry into the family?

The answer is almost self-evident.

Given the immense power of that being at the peak of his indestructible golden body, even though he ultimately perished in the chaos, his unyielding image, barely mentioned in the annals of all races, remains a testament to his resilience.

If he takes a fancy to a woman, he will only domineeringly and forcefully propose marriage to her, announce it to the world, and marry her in a grand and glorious manner!

If he is determined to pursue it, is there really a woman in this lifetime who can resist his achievements and charm?

What's the point of talking about "marrying into the family"?

That would be an insult, and absolutely impossible!

Perhaps it is precisely because of its existence that these male cultivators have not had their charm and splendor stolen by a group of women in this great era of enlightenment.

"..."

The pavilion was deathly silent. As expected, Jiang Wanqing's words killed the conversation.

Upon seeing Yuwen Hao's rapidly changing expression and the hint of hesitation in his eyes, Jiang Wanqing understood.

She put down her wine glass and answered calmly for him:

He wouldn't do that.

Perhaps comparing Fellow Daoist Yuwen to him is asking too much, but I don't have any demands.

You don't need to be able to truly stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

At the very least, if possible, I hope my future Daoist partner won't have to resort to such a humiliating measure as 'marrying into the family' to gain even a sliver of possibility, and thus have to come knocking on my door..."

"As for now..."

She slowly rose to her feet, downed the wine in her glass in one gulp, and as she tilted her head back, her swan-like neck was briefly revealed. Her skirt swayed slightly, and then she made a gesture as if to see her guest off.

"I hope you understand, fellow Daoist, that Wanqing has no intention of considering matters of men and women, or even the continuation of her bloodline, in the short term."

I can only appreciate your kindness and sincerity, but please take back these two generous gifts...

"Guards, escort Young Master Yuwen out of the manor. Do not neglect him; all manners must be observed."

Her words were clear and her attitude resolute. Although she was still maintaining a facade of harmony and decorum between the two tribes, there was no room for compromise on the matter.

Yuwen Hao's emotions also shifted from initial fervent anticipation to stunned silence, and now to a sense of melancholy, along with a hint of shame and annoyance at being subtly hurt.

His hands, hidden beneath his sleeves, were slightly clenched into fists.

He boasted of his unparalleled talent, a once-in-a-millennium genius of the divine race, of noble birth, yet now he had lowered himself, even going so far as to marry into the family.

But he was met with such a decisive rejection, and the reason for the rejection was that he was a "dead man"!

How could he possibly find peace in this situation?

But he was ultimately a prodigy of the divine race, with an extraordinary temperament.

Forcibly suppressing his surging emotions, he slowly stood up, retrieved the jade box and scroll from the table, and forced a reasonably polite smile onto his face, though the smile looked somewhat stiff.

"Goddess... has made up her mind, Hao... understands."

His voice was somewhat hoarse:

"I apologize for disturbing you today. I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he knew there was no hope for the matter in the short term, so he said no more, turned around and strode away, his back view revealing a deep sense of loss and a hint of resentment.

Jiang Wanqing stood quietly in place, watching him leave until his figure disappeared at the end of the corridor outside the waterside pavilion.

"Ugh……"

After a long while, an old sigh came from behind the artificial hill not far away.

Then, several ancestors and elders of the Jiang family, led by the Third Ancestor, walked out with expressions of helplessness and regret.

"Wanqing, why...why are you doing this to yourself?"

The Third Patriarch was an elderly man with white hair, a kind face, and deep eyes. He sighed deeply, showing great distress.

"Yuwen Hao is an excellent choice in terms of background, talent, cultivation, and temperament!"

What's even more commendable is that he was willing to marry into the family!

You know what this means.

But you... how could you..."

"Yes, Wanqing, that Young Master Yuwen is very sincere and humble, without the arrogance of ordinary divine clan disciples. He is truly a good match..."

"Even if you weren't interested at first, you should have tried to get to know me gradually. How could you reject me so directly, and..."

To compare it to the deceased statue of Mahasthamaprapta? Isn't that a blatant slap in the face?

Several clan elders also spoke up, their voices filled with regret and dissatisfaction.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wanqing turned around and faced the group of elderly people who had worried themselves sick for the family in the past. She then began to earnestly persuade them...

The slight annoyance on her cool face gradually faded, replaced by obvious fatigue and a hint of guilt.

She knew that any force that used family bloodlines as a bond and as its core method of inheritance...

Selecting the best from the best, continuing a powerful bloodline, and strengthening the foundation of aristocratic families have always been the eternal theme of such forces.

The matter of marriage alliances and the continuation of the family line is, in theory, an inescapable responsibility for her as the goddess of the Jiang family.

After all, the Jiang family gave birth to her and raised her, and before she truly grew up, the clan's resources were always prioritized and focused on her alone.

She had also witnessed the worries and considerations her family had endured over the years.

But alas, her heart had already been given to another.

Until that person's image fades from her mind, she simply cannot accept anyone else.

"Third Ancestor, Elders..."

She spoke softly, her voice low, yet carrying an unwavering quality:

"Wanqing knows you are thinking of the family and of Wanqing. Wanqing understands your good intentions,"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the crowd:

"However, is it too early to discuss the matter of a Daoist partner?"

I am only a little over two thousand years old. Even if I cannot become an emperor in this life, I believe that stepping into the realm of imperial power, or even achieving enlightenment through other means, is merely a matter of time. My cultivation is currently still in the upward phase.

Prior to this, Wanqing had no intention of considering matters of the heart between men and women. Forcing it would only distract her, bringing no benefit to herself or her family.

Yuwen Hao may be good in a thousand ways, but he is not the right person for me.

"But you possess such superior bloodline..."

An elder said urgently.

"There are too many factors involved in reaching the summit. The strength of one's bloodline is never a definitive answer, much less the only one. And you should not focus all your attention on Wanqing alone..."

Jiang Wanqing interrupted him, a resolute glint in her eyes:

"In the past two years, I have observed my younger brother Mingxuan's great-grandson, Jiang Yunhe. He is still a child, yet he has already overcome many hardships. This shows that he is intelligent, resilient, and has great potential..."

She looked at the Third Patriarch:

"Third Ancestor, for the next thousand years, I wish to nurture Yunhe, and I humbly request that you and the elders, in your spare time, take care of him."

All the necessary resources will come from my private treasury.

For the next thousand years, although I plan to formally attempt to break into the Imperial Realm, I will also take the time to personally teach them, imparting Dao techniques and helping them temper their physique and bloodline.

I anticipate that given time in this life, I might be able to cultivate a clansman no less capable than myself, to serve as the successor of the Jiang family and continue the family's glory..."

"This……"

Upon hearing this, the Third Patriarch and the other elders exchanged bewildered glances.

They naturally knew that Jiang Yunhe was indeed a talented child.

But compared to Jiang Wanqing, who had experienced the turmoil and transformations of life before and after the upheavals, and who possessed an invisible fortune from the great era of enlightenment, they had their own comparisons in their hearts.

They believe that there is still a significant gap between the two.

Moreover, there are too many uncertainties in nurturing a younger generation before they have matured.

Especially if you want her to reach Jiang Wanqing's level, that's even less likely.

Let alone using it as the core foundation for future expansion and development?

Even if outstanding individuals emerge in the future, in their eyes, it would be difficult for anyone to compare with Jiang Wanqing today!

It should be noted that in this era, if there weren't so many unexpected variables, the existence of a heaven-defying figure like the Devouring Emperor, and the rare outbreak of great turmoil that resulted in the birth of more than one supreme being,

With the talent of the goddess of the Jiang family, if she had seized the opportunity in most of the great eras of enlightenment in the past, she might have been able to truly compete!