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

"You don't have much time."

It's not a question, but a statement.

Duan De was taken aback, then felt a chill run down his spine. The other party had even seen through this?

Was it a guess, or did someone who had been waiting outside for a long time see through it through some means?

"Fellow Daoist...why do you say that?"

Duan De still refused to accept his fate and asked cautiously.

"The mysterious mark within you is about to solidify, old and new memories are alternating, and your soul is in a special state..."

The Empress's voice remained cold and aloof.

"Within a single day, you must sever your past 'self' in order to truly begin this next cycle of reincarnation."

Otherwise, with the old and new coexisting and clashing, the soul risks disintegration. Of course, unless... you have accumulated enough?

The Empress revealed her guess and then tested it to confirm it.

Duan De fell silent.

What the other party said was almost entirely correct.

He gave the Empress a deep look, knowing that she had seen through all the secrets beforehand, and with many clues connected, his attempts to conceal the truth were now useless.

He gave a wry smile and said frankly:

“What you say is true, fellow Daoist. Duan… is indeed pressed for time.”

"To be honest..."

The Empress took a step forward, her aura subtly shifting, not oppressive, but naturally causing the surrounding dragon energy and Dao principles to fluctuate accordingly:

"I have long been interested in the methods of immortality and the cycle of reincarnation."

Fellow Daoist, could you perhaps discuss with me, in exchange for, the "Transcending Tribulation Heavenly Technique" and this method of immortality?

She paused briefly at this point, seemingly considering her words:

“A century ago, a sudden change occurred here, and a trace of it has already leaked out. I can protect you and ensure that you are not disturbed by the outside world in this reincarnation. What do you say?”

Duan De's mind raced.

The terms offered by the other party sounded quite good.

The Dharma protector can ensure his safety during his weakest moment of "slaying me".

However, the Reincarnation Seal is his fundamental method for achieving immortality, so how could he easily reveal it to others?

Moreover, the other party is the current emperor; if he could discern some of his key weaknesses through the laws...

Seeing Duan De hesitate, the Empress did not urge him, but waited quietly.

The cave fell silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of the dragon's energy flowing through it.

Time passed little by little,

Duan Deneng could sense that the effects of reading the memory crystal were intensifying over time.

Time is running out for him.

Finally, after weighing the two options, Duan De gritted his teeth and seemed to have made up his mind.

He raised his head and looked at the Empress, his fat face showing an unprecedentedly solemn expression.

"Very well! Since you are interested in my humble method, I will discuss it with you! However, I would appreciate it if you would keep your word."

Otherwise, even if you were the Great Emperor of this era, I'm afraid you still wouldn't be able to…

He no longer referred to himself as "Master Dao," and his tone became serious. He didn't finish his last sentence, but the meaning was already quite clear.

"That's natural."

The Empress nodded slightly.

Seeing this, Duan De breathed a slight sigh of relief, and then said:

"However, the Reincarnation Seal is my very essence, so please forgive me for not displaying it."

However, I, Duan, can explain and discuss with you the core principles of the Longevity Method, which involves 'reincarnation'... and the Heavenly Technique for Transcending Tribulations. What do you think, fellow Daoist?

This is the biggest concession he can make.

By revealing the core principles and general outline of the Longevity Method and the Tribulation-Crossing Heavenly Art, one can enable the other party to understand the essence of these methods and glimpse a corner of the path to immortality.

But without exposing any potential weaknesses he might have.

Upon hearing this, the Empress's eyes flickered slightly, seemingly satisfied with Duan De's suggestion.

She nodded slightly:

"can."

"In that case, fellow Daoist, please!"

Duan De breathed a sigh of relief and pointed to a stone platform in the cave where the dragon energy was the strongest and the Daoist aura was the clearest.

He walked over first, sat down cross-legged, and his chubby face revealed a hint of "majesty" and profundity from his previous life as the "Crossing Tribulation Celestial Venerable".

The Empress also arrived gracefully and sat down cross-legged three feet away from Duan De.

Between the two, the misty dragon energy flowed slowly, as if transforming into an invisible barrier of Daoist principles.

Let the discussion begin.

There are no flowery words or gushing springs of gold from the earth, only the most simple explanations of the Dao and the most profound interpretations of its laws.

Duan De spoke first, his voice becoming grand and ethereal, as if from a mythical era:

"The one who lives forever does not live forever, but rather the immortality of 'myself'."

Heaven and earth are subject to calamities, and all living beings have their lifespans; this is destiny.

However, even within the fixed order of things—the Great Dao is fifty, and the Heavenly Cycle is forty-nine—there is a thread of change.

My "Transcending Tribulation Heavenly Technique" is inspired by this: to transcend the tribulations of heaven and earth, to overcome one's own calamities, and to withstand the decay of time.

Seeking a glimmer of hope amidst calamity, and nurturing a new cycle amidst annihilation…

He explained the general principles and essence of the "Transcending Tribulation Heavenly Skill," the core of which lies in the word "transcendence."

Crossing the tribulation is not only about overcoming the heavenly tribulation, but also about overcoming the tribulation of humanity, the tribulation of the heart, the tribulation of the mortal world, and the tribulation of life and death...

The cultivation method emphasizes adapting to calamities and transforming them into strength. By tempering oneself on the edge of life and death and being tempered by the Great Dao, one can understand one's true self, thereby breaking free from the shackles of one's limited life and achieving an alternative form of "immortality".

His unique "self-burial" method of achieving immortality is the ultimate application of this method in the field of longevity.

They regard themselves as a "calamity" and actively "enter into the calamity," using a special method to condense the "Seal of Reincarnation" during a long period of silence.

Severing the memories of the old self and past karma, while retaining the core Dao fruit and the understanding of "reincarnation," one emerges at the end of the "kalpa" by "transcending the tribulation."

To begin a new life, to achieve an alternative, intermittent kind of "immortality," but not a continuation of the ultimate imperial destiny.

"The Seal of Reincarnation is the condensation of the mysteries of life and death; it is the end of the old self and the beginning of the new self."

To condense the Seal of Reincarnation, one needs a special location and rare materials to nourish oneself, maintain a sliver of true spirit, and perceive the wonder of the cycle of life and death in stillness…

Duan De explained in detail the principles behind the formation of the Reincarnation Seal, the necessary conditions, and the dangers involved.

But regarding the most crucial question—how to ensure that our "true self" is not lost, and how to precisely eliminate memories while retaining what is needed—

He was vague about or glossed over the deeper secrets of the Samsara Seal.

The Empress listened quietly, occasionally asking one or two questions, all of which went straight to the point.

This forced Duan De to elaborate further, and sometimes even forced him to reveal details he didn't want to talk about.

But at the same time, the Empress's occasional musings revealed her unique insights into the Great Dao, life and death, and chaos.

Some of these insights were quite enlightening for Duan De, giving him a new perspective on immortality.

Their discussion was less of an exchange and more of a high-level game and exchange.

Duan De used some of the essence of the "Transcending Tribulation Heavenly Skill" and the concept of reincarnation.

In exchange, they would gain the Empress, the Great Emperor of Chaos in this era, some unique insights into the Great Dao, as well as her alternative views on immortality after drawing inferences from similar cases.

Time flew by as we discussed these ideas.

Duan De could clearly sense that the time he could maintain this state of consciousness was running out.

As he awoke, the nascent, unformed mark of reincarnation began to heat up slightly, reminding him that he must perform the "Sever Myself" ritual as soon as possible.

"...Therefore, immortality is not the only path, nor is reincarnation the end."

The key lies in the preservation of the 'true self' and the pursuit of the Great Way…

Half an hour passed quickly. Duan De gave a final summary, then looked at the Empress, a hint of fatigue showing on his plump face.

But his eyes were bright, and he spoke slowly:

"Fellow Daoist, my time is almost up."

This is the general outline of the "Transcending Tribulation Heavenly Technique," along with some of my humble opinions on immortality and reincarnation. I present it to you, fellow Daoist, to establish a good connection and express my sincere gratitude.

As he spoke, he pointed his fingers like a sword, touched his brow, and drew out a dazzling light of primordial spirit.

It was filled with dense ancient characters and Daoist patterns, and flew towards the Empress.

The Empress reached out and took it, scanning it with her divine sense and immediately understanding all the information contained within.

It is indeed the general outline of "Transcending Tribulation Heavenly Technique" and some core insights about forming the Reincarnation Seal, though not the entire text.

But it is profound and complex enough that it has great reference value for her.

Especially the concepts of "transcending tribulation" and "new life being born from annihilation,"

There is a subtle resonance between this and some of the confusion and deductions she herself experienced in her subsequent transformation.

She withdrew her spiritual light and nodded gently to Duan De:

"can."

There were no extra words, but the single word "may" already represented a promise.

Duan De breathed a sigh of relief, and his lazy smile returned to his face, but this time it carried a hint of relief.

"In that case, I, Duan, will not see you off any further, fellow Daoist."

This place is simple, please forgive me, fellow Daoist. Perhaps we will meet again someday if fate allows.

This is a subtle way of asking them to leave.

He is about to "kill me," a process that is extremely private and dangerous, and must not be witnessed by outsiders.

The Empress naturally understood.

She slowly rose, taking one last look at Duan De, the nine-colored golden tomb and coffin, her eyes deep beneath the ghost mask.

"On the path to immortality, fellow Daoists, please proceed with caution."

Leaving behind this seemingly cryptic remark, her figure gradually faded, like ink dissolving into water, disappearing silently into the misty dragon aura, as if she had never existed.

Only after confirming that the Empress's presence had completely departed, and even left this star,

Duan Decai let out a long sigh of relief, collapsing as if completely exhausted next to his own golden coffin, wiping away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead.

He knew that the other person's last words had a deeper meaning.

After all, he had caused a lot of trouble in the past, such as the calamity of immortality...

"Phew... That scared me to death, Daoist!"

This woman has such a strong presence!

"The Chaos Body attained the Dao, truly extraordinary..."

He muttered to himself, still shaken.

"Luckily, I'm quick-witted. I managed to get rid of her with the general principles and a few insights..."

He patted his chest, then felt a pang of regret.

"However, the general outline and those insights are also invaluable, considering those few from the underworld back then..."

Oh well, never mind, it's better to lose money than to suffer a terrible loss!