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

If the other party is unwilling to accept her as a disciple, then this booklet will be her only hope to embark on the path of cultivation.

Given a choice, who would truly want their chosen cultivation method to lead to their utter destruction?

Do you know why that old Taoist priest said you were 'destined' for him?

Tan Lin changed the subject:

"And do you know why he gave you the 'True Scripture of Devouring Origins' instead of other cultivation techniques?"

Nannan shook her head, a look of confusion in her eyes.

"Because you are a mortal."

Tan Lin hit the nail on the head:

"In the eyes of those high and mighty beings, mortal bodies are like weeds, and lives like ants, but at certain times, they contain the most primal vitality and resilience, full of infinite possibilities."

You just flipped through this "True Scripture of Devouring Origin". The first page is the general outline. Even if you can't read all the words, you should be able to guess some of the methods of this technique, right?

This may seem like a shortcut to devouring the very essence of all things and defying fate, but in reality, it's a cage and trap tailor-made for those like you who possess intense obsessions yet have mediocre talents.

"trap……"

The little girl remained silent, showing little surprise, but her small hands gripped the hem of her clothes even tighter.

Her intelligence and wisdom were truly extraordinary. It was only after realizing something was amiss that she hesitated to become the disciple of the ring spirit.

In fact, even if Tan Lin hadn't pointed out some of these problems, with her future talent, she would have fully realized them. However, at that time, she would probably have had to pay a certain price to correct her mistakes and eliminate the hidden dangers.

at the same time.

Within the void of the ring, the [Perspective of All Causes] is briefly activated.

Tan Lin's remnant soul watched as the causal thread connecting the other party thickened and even brightened in an instant, and nodded in satisfaction.

But the tone he used to project an air of profound, age-old coldness:

"Keep turning the pages of this booklet; there are detailed explanations with pictures and text, and you'll understand..."

This technique allows for extremely rapid progress in the early stages. By absorbing the essence of others and nourishing oneself with the essence of heaven and earth, it can indeed help you break free from the constraints of a mortal body and quickly gain power.

Actually, if the core chapters of this technique hadn't been tainted with extremely malicious hidden doors and shackles, it wouldn't be a bad shortcut..."

At this point, Tan Lin paused slightly, allowing the girl time to process and digest what he had said, before continuing:

"The deeper you cultivate and the higher your realm, the more deeply you are bound to this cultivation method, until you become a complete slave to it. Your Dao foundation will be anchored and tainted by this method, and your origin will be marked with strange Dao marks."

When the time is right, everything you have painstakingly devoured and accumulated, along with yourself, will become the 'great medicine' that the sower will reap.

At that time, you will no longer be yourself, but merely a human-shaped precious medicine, used to pave the way for someone else's life, to be consumed by that person.

Humanoid elixir...

After Tan Lin finished speaking.

Nannan's face had turned deathly pale. Although she couldn't fully understand some of the words, the words "wedding dress," "medicine," "harvest," and "devour" were enough for her to imagine an extremely terrifying scene.

She subconsciously glanced at the seemingly ordinary yet impervious booklet she was still holding, and suddenly her small hand trembled as if it were some kind of man-eating beast.

Splash...

The booklet fell into the fire, but she quickly picked it up, examined it carefully, and found it to be intact.

It seems that besides not being afraid of rain, it is also not afraid of fire.

"That...that old man..."

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, her voice trembled.

"Him? Heh, he's probably just one of the gardeners who sow the seeds."

Tan Lin's tone carried a hint of sarcasm:

"He sees all living beings as a medicinal field, waiting to harvest them when they are ripe. You are just one of the countless seeds he has sown. Your hatred and your resentment are the best nutrients to cultivate you into this 'great medicine'."

……

Quiet.

The abandoned brick kiln was deathly silent, with only the crackling sound of burning firewood.

The immense fear and lingering dread were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the little girl's newly kindled hope from head to toe.

She thought that at worst she had grasped at a rotten straw, but she never imagined it might be a noose tightening around her neck!

Inside the ring.

Seeing the girl's eyes dim and her body trembling slightly, Tan Lin knew that the time was almost right.

Excessive fear can overwhelm a person, especially a child.

At times like these, he needs to guide her in a new direction.

"Now, do you still want to cultivate?"

He asked.

The voice still lacked warmth.

Nannan raised her head, tears welling up in her eyes, but stubbornly refused to fall.

She thought of her deceased brother, then of those cold, hateful faces, and of her own powerlessness…

If even this only hope is a trap, what else can she do?

"I...I don't know..."

She choked back tears, her eyes, blurred with tears, filled with confusion.

There is more than one path.

Tan Lin's voice rang out at the opportune moment, carrying an undeniable certainty:

"The Devouring Source Scripture is a trap, but the Path of Devouring itself is not entirely evil. The key lies in who leads it and how it is controlled."

All you need to know is that there were no roads in this world to begin with; roads are made by people walking on them!

Roads are made by people walking on them!

Upon hearing this, Nannan opened her eyes wide, as if she had seen a glimmer of light.

She felt that the other person's words had struck a chord with her.

"That old Taoist gave you this poisonous scripture because he saw your obsession and mortal body, and wanted to use you as material for testing the method."

Tan Lin's voice carried a hint of cold laughter:

"But he doesn't know that you've met me, and he doesn't know that his treacherous methods, if you avoid the traps, might actually turn poison into medicine and reverse the situation for you."

Turning poison into medicine?

Reversing the tide?

These words struck Nannan like a thunderclap.

"You...you mean?"

She was exceptionally intelligent and naturally understood the implication in the other person's words. She immediately asked anxiously, her small hand tightly gripping the bronze ring on her chest.

Her heart was pounding, as if a huge surprise was rushing towards her.

Inside the ring, Tan Lin slowly said:

"Now, I'll ask you one more time: are you still willing to become my disciple? Not a worldly master, nor a guide on the path of cultivation, but a transaction where each of us gets what we need."

I will bestow upon you the supreme method to help you unravel the mysteries within this book, embark on the true path of cultivation, and grant you the power to take revenge on the Feathered Divine Dynasty and those behind-the-scenes manipulators. In return, you must help me reunite my true soul. During this time, you will face unimaginable beings and may die at any moment.

So, are you still willing?

Tan Lin pointed out the risks clearly and directly, in a cold and direct manner.

There was not a trace of warmth.

The little girl looked at the ring, her small chest heaving violently.

She thought of the determination she had made today: to wait for her brother's return in the mortal world!

All the humiliation and hatred came to mind...

If she's not even afraid of becoming a "big drug" in order to achieve these goals, why would she be afraid of a fair transaction?

Her thoughts were in turmoil, and the confusion in her eyes was gradually replaced by a resolute determination.

She loosened the ring, took a step back, and then, facing the direction the ring had been, clumsily but solemnly bowed down, mimicking the way the village elders worshipped.

"Disciple Nannan wishes to become your disciple! For all eternity, I will obey your commands and assist you in gathering true souls! If I disobey, may Heaven and Earth forsake me!"

Her voice was clear and crisp, yet it carried a weight and determination that seemed out of place for her age.

Inside the ring, watching the girl bow down, Tan Lin's remnant soul trembled slightly, and he was momentarily dazed.

Three and a half crimson marks silently flowed deep within the remnant soul, and fragments of past memories flashed by.

At this moment, without needing to activate the [Perspective of All Causes] again, he already sensed that from this moment on, his karma with this girl would likely be completely intertwined, impossible to sever, until...

Boom!

thump... thump...

The muffled sound of the young empress kowtowing rang out.

"it is good."

Tan Lin's voice, though calm, seemed to carry a subtle hint of solemnity:

"From this day forward, you are my disciple, Tan Lin. Rise."

He revealed his real name.

Yet he had no fear, for in his three previous lives he had not had this name.

His deep gaze fixed on the girl. He hesitated for a moment, then continued:

"Now that you have entered my sect, you should have a name. What is your original name?"

Nannan stood up, her little face serious: "Brother calls me Nannan, I don't have a real name."

Tan Lin was silent for a moment, then said:

“Nannan is your nickname. You have a strong will and do not waver in the face of adversity. You should inherit the character ‘Jue’ (绝). As your teacher, I hope that you will have a clear mind and a bright spirit in the future. Then I will give you the character ‘Qing’ (清). Your brother’s surname is Li. From now on, you will be called Li Qingjue (李清绝)…”

Li Qingjue...

As these three words fell, it seemed as if some cause and effect had been completely settled in the unseen realm.

Tan Lin could feel that as the master-disciple relationship was established, the causal link between him and the Empress became increasingly solid.

Extremely pure, warm crimson light points flowed from that line toward the core of the Soul Orb.

Although the speed was slow, the quality was extremely high, far surpassing the complex causal lines of the previous life.

That single, deep crimson dot of light instantly spread out at that moment!

The second deep crimson light spot began to slowly grow, but for the time being it was just an empty shell. There were too few light crimson light spots fused inside, and the light was extremely dim. It was still far from completely illuminating the second mark on the Soul Pearl barrier.

"Qingjue...Qingjue..."

Outside, the little girl whispered it twice, a flash of understanding in her eyes, and bowed again:

"Disciple Qingjue thanks Master for bestowing upon me this name!"

"Well."

Tan Lin responded:

"Now that the master-disciple relationship is established, the first lesson tonight will be to explain to you in detail the root of the poison in the 'True Scripture of Devouring Origin.' This is the foundation for your future understanding of new methods on the path of cultivation, so you must not be careless and must concentrate!"

……

Chapter Six: The Most Talented Woman Throughout History

"But Master, I don't even recognize many characters now..."

Li Qingjue's face showed a slight embarrassment, as if she were a little embarrassed.

"Hehe, what's so difficult about that?"