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

……

Silence enveloped the quiet room for a long time.

At the base of the wall, Tan Lin stood for a long time, gazing in the direction where "Gu Qingying" had disappeared.

After a long while, as if recalling a scene from a classic story from his first life, Tan Lin faced his true self, and suddenly a clear thought surfaced in his mind:

In this life, will I be Yang Guo?

…………

Outside the Xiang family's territory, ten thousand feet above the sky.

Tianling stood suspended in mid-air, gazing at the boundless starry sky beyond the realm.

At this moment, her purple-gold eyes held no trace of mockery or mischief, only a deep, starry longing and a faint, shimmering light.

…………

Chapter Ninety-Nine: Anomalies on the Ancestral Star of the Overlord Body

Inside Sendai, the consciousness of the Divine Silkworm Princess remained silent.

Just a moment ago, she also felt a strange flutter in her heart.

Perhaps only she knew that when that boy called out "Auntie," Tianling's heart melted.

The emotional turmoil caused by that soft call was so intense that Tianling was still unable to recover.

"He called me auntie..."

Within her soul, Tianling's consciousness fluctuated, her murmurs filled with endless tenderness.

She seemed to be talking to herself, or perhaps she was confiding something to the Divine Silkworm Princess.

"Ah."

This time, Princess Shencan, unusually, did not refute, but simply responded softly.

"That sounds really nice."

Outside, Tianling smiled, and a tear quietly slid down her cheek as she smiled.

In those ancient times, when the blood of a certain human emperor stained the entire sky red, who knew that her heart was almost dead at that time?

"Let's go, it's time to go back. In our current state, there's very little we can do for him, but he probably doesn't need us to do anything for him anyway..."

Whispers drift away on the wind.

Tianling, dressed in flowing white, transformed into a breathtaking rainbow and vanished into the sky.

The turmoil at Chixia River has temporarily subsided thanks to her arrival.

But almost everyone and every faction knows that beneath this brief calm, the undercurrents will be even more turbulent.

The greater threat to the Xiang family and that contemporary immortal golden body comes from beyond the realm.

……

Time flows quietly like the Chixi River outside Chixia River, and more than a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

That year, Tan Lin had just turned eleven and had recently survived the peak tribulation of the Four Extremes Secret Realm.

Within a year, he successfully passed through three or four heavenly tribulations, advancing his cultivation by three or four minor realms, while maintaining an incredibly solid foundation.

Even though he has not yet ventured out into the world, the talent he has shown has increasingly attracted attention and caused quite a stir.

Suddenly one day, the wind picked up and the clouds parted.

Xiang Li, who had aged considerably recently, summoned Tan Lin to the ancestral hall.

It is worth mentioning that since the crisis was resolved more than a year ago, the divine palace that had been moved to the bottom of the abyss has been moved back to the core of the stone village by the Xiang family.

"Lin'er, there's something I need to tell you..."

It was noon.

Inside the hall, Xiang Li and Tan Lin sat facing each other.

"You need to be aware that last night I received a message from outside the territory."

As he spoke, the former's expression was as solemn as it had been more than a year ago when the cultivators of the Feathered Divine Dynasty descended and the Xiang family was on the verge of collapse:

"There's been some unusual activity on the Ancestral Star of the Overlord Body!"

Upon hearing this, Tan Lin's eyes narrowed slightly.

Millions of years ago, the Undying Golden Body and the Heavenly Tyrant Body had accumulated a long history of grudges, making them destined enemies.

He knew that, given the nature of those who possessed the Overlord Body, even in a fateful duel, they always preferred to "suppress their cultivation level" to defeat the weak with the strong and the low with the high.

Since ancient times, the fair competition between the two constitutions, whether overt or covert, can be counted on one hand.

"This divine message was sent three months ago by an old friend of mine who risked his life to travel across the vast expanse of space to deliver it, which is why it took so long..."

According to my old friend, about half a year ago, there was a gathering inside the Ancestral Star of the Overlord Body, and the participants were all the core figures of the current Overlord Body lineage.

After the meeting, several young, powerful prodigies quietly left the ancestral star. Although they were young, each of them was much older than you, and their cultivation levels were all at the Sendai Secret Realm.

Furthermore, the entourage included many cultivators of extremely high skill, and their direction appeared to be that of the Big Dipper.

Xiang Li's voice was deep:

"This is only what that person observed... There must be other things the Overlord lineage doesn't want the outside world to know about beneath the surface of the water."

The alternation of light and darkness is the most common arrangement used by the Overlord Body lineage for tens of thousands of years. Our lineage has suffered many losses because of this..."

Tan Lin listened silently.

His face, which was becoming increasingly handsome and gradually attracted the secret admiration of countless young girls in the clan, was now calm and composed.

Even when facing opponents of the same generation, he is not afraid in the slightest, even if the fighting style is based on the Overlord lineage.

But he was aware of Xiang Li's worries.

If any unforeseen events were to occur before this, the Xiang family, with its current strength, would be unable to withstand them.

"So, what does Elder Li mean?"

Tan Lin asked.

"I plan to send you to the Chi family."

The Chi family and our Xiang family have a connection established tens of thousands of years ago. Our family was founded by our ancestors' former subordinates, and for tens of thousands of years, our two families have relied on each other.

When the Feathered Divine Dynasty attacked last time, the Chi family came across a realm to help with their ancestral artifact. However, the appearance of that Goddess Gu stabilized the situation in an instant. You were in the Abyss at the time and were unaware of this..."

Xiang Li looked at him and said:

"The Chi family is deeply rooted in the Northern Region, with ancestors who have achieved great feats for generations. Their foundation remains strong, and their protective array is ancient and far safer than this place."

You met the head of the Chi family last year. We have a life-or-death bond, and he's trustworthy. He'll protect you with all his might once you get there, and..."

He paused abruptly, a flicker of grief crossing his eyes:

"Your elder brother Xiang Jun... his injuries have worsened. The Chi family has sent word that his life force has been completely depleted. Even with daily nourishment from the divine spring's spiritual liquid, he is on the verge of exhaustion."

He fears... he won't even make it through this month. In his message, he said he's too weak to withstand any further movement and wants to see you before he passes away.

Xiang Jun was the hope for the revival of the Xiang family in the past.

More than ten years ago, he was crippled by Cang Yuhang at the training tower and was subsequently sent to the Chi family to be raised. He is Xiang Li's biological son.

Although I had never met Tan Lin, I had heard Xiang Li mention him to his clansmen many times. I knew that he was strong-willed and had good natural talent, but unfortunately he suffered a misfortune.

"Ever since he was crippled, that child has been afraid to see me. This time, his injuries have completely worsened, and he repeatedly asked the Chi family not to tell me. He wanted to leave quietly, but I still got the news..."

Actually, I've secretly visited him many times over the years, watching him grow weaker day by day. I was prepared for the pain of losing my son long ago; it's a miracle he's lived so many more years.

As he spoke, a hint of relief gradually appeared in Xiang Li's eyes, but he still sighed:

"You know the current situation of the Xiang family, and I can't spare the time. When you go to the Chi family, spend your spare time by his side. Consider it my way of seeing him off on his final journey, saving me the trouble of a white-haired man burying a black-haired one..."

After speaking, Xiang Li sat slumped in his seat.

Tan Lin remained silent throughout the entire process.

Perhaps they understood that neither Xiang Li nor the stranger Xiang Jun needed comfort, but simply someone to confide in.

The sun outside the hall slowly set in the west, until a sliver of crimson light from the setting sun shone into the hall. Only then did Xiang Li seem to come back to his senses and add to Tan Lin:

"The Chi family has a 'Nine Apertures Spirit Lake,' which is an ancient source of creation. It was transformed by pouring in a massive amount of divine spring water and the essence of the nine apertures holy spirits. This lake is especially suitable for young prodigies like you who are currently strengthening their foundation and nurturing their origins. It also has miraculous effects on nourishing the physical body and transforming the spine into a dragon."

Your Uncle Chi said that if you go, you can cultivate in the lake for a period of time, which may help you become even more perfect and powerful in the upcoming Dragon Transformation Realm.

…………

Chapter 100 My Aunt

When should I set off?

After a moment of silence, Tan Lin slowly asked.

He was actually thinking that after going to the Chi family to see Brother Xiang Jun off on his final journey, he might not really stay at the Chi family for a long time.

He strives to advance to Sendai in the Chi family as soon as possible, further awakening his past life wisdom, and the vast world outside awaits his exploration.

Over the years, too many members of the Xiang family have died or been injured indirectly because of him, and he did not appear as at ease as he thought.

Once he's outside, the pressure on the Xiang and Chi families will be much less. They can use whatever means their old enemies and adversaries have on him.

Why should the indestructible golden body always have to obediently wait in the struggle between the Heavenly Tyrant Body and the Undying Golden Body?

He, however, insisted on going against the current...

As thoughts raced through his mind, Tan Lin gently stroked the bronze plaque hidden in his sleeve with his fingers.

Perhaps it was the slight stimulation from the kiss with "Gu Qingying" in the abyss more than a year ago that caused him to awaken many fragmented memories that seemed to be from his previous life as the "Human Emperor".

Among them are images of this bronze token and the "treasure trove" from the previous life.

However, he has not yet fully grasped the exact location of the treasure trove and the method to open the portal to that secret place; he still needs time to process and understand it.

Let's set off in three days.

This divine message took three months to arrive, and there's still no trace of those from the Ancestral Star of the Overlord Body. This suggests that with the opening of this great era, they may not have come directly to the Big Dipper, but rather are undergoing trials in the many life-bearing lands along the ancient roads..."

Xiang Lidao:

"These next two days, prepare well and get yourself into the best shape. No one will escort you on this trip. Whether you keep a low profile or be flamboyant is up to you and you have to make your own choice."

This is a trial that our lineage of immortal golden bodies has always had to undergo.

"I see."

Tan Lin nodded slightly.

This is exactly what he wants now. After being cooped up in Chixia River for eleven years, he is no longer the weak infant he once was, and it's really time for him to go out and get some fresh air.

……

Three days passed quickly.

The night before departure.

Inside the ancestral hall, candlelight flickered, illuminating the ancestral tablets of the Xiang family ancestors who made significant contributions to the people and the clan throughout the ages.

At this moment, Xiang Li led Tan Lin to offer incense in turn.

A wisp of smoke rose as Xiang Li carefully retrieved an object from under a floor tile at the bottom of a prayer mat in the ancestral hall.

It was a palm-sized bottle of reddish-gold liquid. Each drop seemed like an independent entity as it was shaken, and even though it was sealed inside the bottle, it exuded a heavy and ancient aura.

The patterns that occasionally surface within it resemble the traces of the Great Dao, or the patterns of dragon scales, exuding a powerful aura and a faint imperial presence.

"This is a bottle of the essence blood of our Xiang family's great ancestor, who left it to his descendants when he rushed to the scene of turmoil."

Xiang Li's voice was solemn and dignified. He held the item in both hands, examined it closely, and then handed it to Tan Lin:

"Our ancestor proved the Dao with his physical body, possessing unparalleled physique, capable of challenging even a true emperor."

This bottle of essence blood contains fragments of his Great Dao; refining it can strengthen one's origin... However, over the past tens of thousands of years, our Xiang family's bloodline has continuously declined, and no descendant has been born who meets the refining standards.

Today, I'm passing it on to you..."