Shrouding the Heavens: The Years as the Empress's Strictest Master

But when she thought of this matter, she could never forget that her escape from danger back then had actually been thanks to her master's timely intervention.

She had already realized afterward that the strangely behaving Cloud Leopard had definitely been connected to her master.

Upon hearing this, Tianling, who had forcibly squeezed out Divine Silkworm Princess's consciousness within "Gu Qingying's" Immortal Platform and taken control of the body, flickered her gaze.

A faint smile appeared on "her" face, one exceedingly similar to Gu Qingying herself, as she slowly said:

"No need to thank me. Back then, it was merely something I did on a whim. Still, you... your rate of growth is truly astonishing. I am increasingly regretting that I failed to take you as my disciple back then..."

Yet she stopped there.

If Li Qingjue had truly become her disciple, she would likely have been razed to the ground alongside Spring Autumn Pavilion by now, wouldn't she?

"Why are you here? And..."

Seeing her fall silent, Li Qingjue spoke up instead. She keenly caught that nearly imperceptible trace of disorder in the other's aura.

"You seem to be injured?"

Tianling sighed.

"It is a long story. A few old monsters have been tailing me. Even after all these years, they are still haunting me like ghosts..."

She did not elaborate, instead steering the conversation elsewhere.

"You were cultivating in seclusion here? It seems you gained quite a bit. By the way, over these years... have you seen 'him' again?"

"Him?"

Li Qingjue's gaze sharpened. Though she was somewhat confused, she vaguely guessed whom Tianling meant.

"That little fellow outside the Xiang Family's ancestral grounds in the Southern Region, the one wearing the Divine Silkworm Robe."

Tianling smiled, her tone carrying an imperceptible hint of probing.

"That little fellow