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

The difficulty and risk are so high that even the most supreme being would hesitate to attempt it.

In particular, they are not a monolithic group.

Who would be willing to truly strive for the highest level of self-improvement and become the first point to stick out?

Let's wait and see.

Ultimately, it was the Celestial Venerable of Immortality who made the final decision within the Immortal Tomb:

"Now that person is imprisoned, he is like a caged bird and cannot be moved in the short term."

The Devouring Goddess considers him her 'private possession,' and it is not advisable to clash with him for the time being.

In my humble opinion, it is best to wait until their vital energy declines or the situation changes before making any further plans.

The assembled dignitaries remained silent, which was taken as an acceptance of the decision.

wow...

In an instant, the divine thoughts slowly subsided.

However, the direction of Chixia River had been firmly marked by them and listed as a key observation point.

And at the same time,

The Primordial Ancient Mine, the Sea of ​​Reincarnation, the Divine Ruins, the Celestial Realm, the Undying Mountain, and other major forbidden areas.

While those within these restricted areas aren't as adept at deduction as the Sovereign of the Immortal Mausoleum, their relative proximity to the Crimson Cloud River allows them to capture and analyze useful information more quickly.

But just now, they also keenly noticed the unusual "movement" in Chixia River, which was already a fait accompli.

Of course, among them were some who were on good terms with certain supreme beings within the Immortal Tomb.

Through the faint fluctuations of divine thought, some ancient supreme beings, through the act of "sharing," also vaguely guessed part of the truth.

"Within the Crimson Cloud River, there may be a 'living creature' that has achieved Nirvana, and it has a deep entanglement with that Devouring Heaven Maiden..."

"For them to go to such lengths, even setting up a blockade in advance, and now personally guarding the forbidden area... could it be that person from before?"

"Is this your guess, fellow Daoist?"

"..."

"What?! Tan Lin, the indestructible golden body?! He might not be dead? And he even successfully underwent Nirvana there?"

"pretty close,

This child is exceptionally talented; even before attaining enlightenment, he was able to fight against numerous powerful beings. If he were to truly undergo Nirvana and be reborn a second time, he would likely be even more terrifying.

Fortunately, someone has already attained enlightenment before him, and the invisible suppression of all paths means he is destined to never break free of these shackles…

"No, what amazes me is that you all know how desperate that person was during the turmoil of the past. Even if he was able to achieve Nirvana, how could he have endured for more than a thousand years before he finally succeeded?"

Given his condition back then, was he really capable of achieving this?

"seem……"

"..."

"But if the Devouring Heaven Maiden imprisoned him, and if he truly possesses some divine destiny, and if the Devouring Heaven Maiden were to obtain it, greatly advancing his cultivation, or even leading him to 'become an immortal,' then whether it would be a blessing or a curse remains to be seen..."

"Don't worry, since they are carrying out this suppression measure, it's likely that things aren't going smoothly."

Since that's the case, let's just wait and see.

"If that's the case... there might still be opportunities in the future..."

Within a single day, undercurrents surged within the various restricted areas.

Dark gazes from all directions fell upon Chixia River, filled with scrutiny, inquiry, and a hint of something barely perceptible…

fear.

At this moment, the heroes of the Five Domains of the Big Dipper, and even those beyond, though unable to perceive part of the truth as immediately as the Supreme Being of the Forbidden Zone,

However, the "abnormal movement" of Chixia River and the subsequent full operation of the great formation, with the rosy clouds briefly soaring into the sky, still sparked widespread speculation and discussion.

"Another major change has occurred in Chixia River?!"

What was that nine-colored glow? What had been completely activated?

"Could it be that the Devouring Emperor refined some extraordinary celestial treasure inside?"

Or perhaps... a crucial point on the path to immortality has been triggered? Is it about to conquer the path to immortality at its peak?

"..."

"I've heard that there are beings skilled in divination who have vaguely glimpsed what appears to be a 'true dragon' soaring into the sky within the Crimson Cloud River."

But it was instantly suppressed by the chains of chaos...

Could it be that some celestial embryo was gestating inside, which the Great Emperor then subdued?

"A celestial embryo? My God... Could it be that the Devouring Emperor intends to nurture it and then devour it...?"

"hiss……"

"Be careful what you say! How could we presume to know such a thing? However..."

"The Crimson Cloud River has truly become a forbidden zone, a forbidden land. If, in the years to come, he reaches the end of his life and commits suicide there, then perhaps another forbidden zone will be added to the entire Beidou region..."

"..."

Outside, various rumors intensified.

But the truth remains largely unknown.

Only a very small number of ancient traditions or survivors are associated with Tan Lin and the turmoil of the past.

When they sensed that fleeting, vaguely familiar aura of Nirvana from a short distance...

A storm raged within him, giving rise to countless speculations, yet, due to the might of that great emperor of the time, or perhaps other factors, he could not confirm anything.

These people could only bury their doubts and shock deep in their hearts.

Chi Xuan, from the Tianxuan Holy Land in the Southern Region of the Eastern Wilderness, was one of them.

……

Time flies by like a galloping horse, passing by quietly.

The 1460th year of the Devouring Heaven Calendar

Tianxuan Holy Land.

At this moment, the cave dwelling deep within this supreme lineage was filled with the fragrance of medicine, yet it could not conceal a faint aura of decay.

Chi Xuan sat cross-legged on a warm jade platform, her face as pale as paper, devoid of any color.

A few strands of dazzling silver-white hair have now appeared among her once flowing black hair.

Her aura fluctuated, sometimes as deep and vast as the ocean, faintly emanating the aura of imperial power, and at other times weak and feeble, like a candle flickering in the wind.

Nearly thirty years have passed since the Empress's soul-searching left her with a hidden injury to her primordial spirit on her celestial platform.

For the past thirty years, she has spent most of her time here in seclusion, healing her wounds.

Through the Daoist tradition, she collected countless sacred medicines and divine pills from across the starry sky to nourish the primordial spirit and repair the sea of ​​consciousness.

They even went to great lengths to exchange for a few drops of the rare "Nine Aperture Soul Liquid" from beyond the realm, but the effect was still limited.

The capricious empress of the past used a far too domineering and cruel method of soul searching, which directly damaged the very foundation of her primordial spirit.

Even now, a thin yet menacing crack remains on her boundless altar, like a delicate piece of porcelain that has been violently smashed, resembling a great fissure and ravine in the world.

This crack was constantly eroding her, causing her vital energy to slowly but irreversibly drain away.

What pained her even more was that

Having undergone two soul searches, the resulting memory confusion and sense of soul being torn apart have not yet completely subsided.

She often falls into a brief daze, with fragmented memories that don't belong to her flashing through her mind, or she is tormented by a severe headache caused by Sendai, leaving her drenched in cold sweat.

"Cough...cough..."

That morning, Chi Xuan covered her mouth with her hand and coughed violently a few times, with a few strands of dark red blood seeping from between her fingers.

She slowly opened her palm, looking at the glaring bloodstains, a bitter and self-mocking smile appearing on her lips.

once Upon a time,

How spirited and confident she was!

Now, it has become like this: the Sendai is damaged, lifespan is being secretly depleted, and even maintaining the realm is quite difficult.

The culprit behind all this is none other than the aloof and capricious Devouring Empress of this era…

Da...da...

At that moment, faint footsteps could be heard outside the cave.

A composed middle-aged man dressed in the robes of a second-generation disciple of Tianxuan stood respectfully outside the door, holding a bowl of fragrant medicinal liquid, as summoned by her.

"Master, it's time to administer the medicine."

He happened to be passing by and took on a routine task from the waitress outside.

"Come in."

Chi Xuan held her breath, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and her voice was slightly hoarse.

Xiang Xuan pushed open the door and entered, gently placing the medicine bowl on the jade table in front of Chi Xuan, and then bowed in greeting.

After hearing the words "No need for formalities"

He slowly straightened up, looking at Chi Xuan's increasingly pale and haggard face, and the glaring white hair in her hair. A trace of empathetic pain and anger flashed in his eyes.

But this emotion quickly subsided into calm.

"Master, this is the 'Nourishing Spirit and Restoring Origin Soup' that was recently introduced to Beidou from beyond the realm. I hope it can help you alleviate some of your symptoms."

Xiang Xuan said in a low voice.

Chi Xuan nodded slightly, picked up the medicine bowl, and drank it all in one gulp.

The warm medicine entered his throat, transforming into a warm current that nourished his injured spirit and body.

But the cracks on the altar remained stubborn and difficult to heal.

How have you been lately?

Chi Xuan put down the medicine bowl and asked casually.

"Everything is fine."

Xiang Xuan, who had just returned from the outer peak, answered respectfully.

"How have the cultivators within the Daoist lineage fared in these past years, as you journeyed here?"

"Each elder has performed their duties, and the disciples have diligently cultivated, but..."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Xuan carefully considered his words:

"But privately, his resentment towards that person within the forbidden area of ​​Crimson Cloud River is growing deeper day by day."

Many disciples believed that their patriarch's previous calamity was due to the Crimson Cloud River Abyss, and harbored considerable hatred towards that place and the current emperor…

Upon hearing this, Chi Xuan fell silent for a moment.

How could she not know this?

Because of her, everyone in the Tianxuan Holy Land dared not speak out against the Devouring Heaven Empress.

They also harbored even greater hatred towards the "inauspicious land" of Chixia River.

The disciples of the Holy Land now turn pale at the mere mention of the Crimson Cloud River, regarding it as the source of calamity. They also harbor fear and resentment towards the empress who occupies it.

After all, in the eyes of those who are unaware of the truth, if it weren't for the possible immortal destiny in Chixia River, the former patriarch would never have suffered such a calamity.

"You don't need to worry about these things. You just need to know that there were other reasons for what happened in the past..."

Chi Xuan said slowly:

"It's understandable if the disciples harbor grievances and occasionally grumble, as long as they don't actively cause trouble."

As for Chixia River...

This is beyond your current comprehension. Even if you achieve something in the future, do not approach it lightly, nor try to investigate it, nor think of doing anything, lest you bring about unforeseen consequences.