Covering the Sky: I Prove the Great Dao Through the Gate of Immortality

The prey was piled up like a small mountain, and the lingering murderous intent still lingered on the open ground.

Although those beasts had lost their will to live, their fangs and claws still gleamed with a cold light, sending chills down one's spine.

Shi Linhu pushed through the crowd and walked up to Li Chenzhou.

His body was still stained with animal blood, his chest heaving. Shi Linhu suddenly clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Mr. Li, if it weren't for your guidance today, we wouldn't have had such a great harvest."

The dozens of men in the hunting party stared over. These men, who had risked their lives in the jaws of beasts, knew all too well how useful the direction this man pointed out was.

When they entered the mountains, they followed the direction Li Chenzhou pointed out, but the wilderness was vast and desolate, and everyone had some doubts.

Halfway there, Shi Feijiao, based on his experience, led three or five people to explore a section of the ravine.

They did indeed encounter two lame beasts, but it took a lot of effort to take them down, and their blood splattered all over their faces.

Meanwhile, Shi Linhu led his men into the Misty Valley, but after searching for a long time, they only found a nest of birds that hadn't even opened their eyes yet.

When they actually stepped into the Black Pine Valley that Li Chenzhou had described, everyone froze.

There were seven or eight blue-haired tigers and five or six one-horned Kui oxen lying in the ravine, all of them gushing out milk.

It was completely dead, yet it didn't disturb any living creatures within a ten-mile radius.

"This is fucking..."

Shi Feijiao's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and the two fierce beasts in his hands suddenly felt as light as dry twigs.

Mr. Li, this is a true god.

Li Chenzhou simply waved his hand, "The village took us in; we can't just eat here for nothing."

Shi Linhu roared, "Begin the sacrifice—"

Dozens of beast carcasses were carried onto the altar, the black stone exuding a malevolent aura. It was the blood that had seeped into the stone during generations of rituals, layer upon layer, long since becoming one with the stone.

The villagers of Shicun knelt down in a sea of ​​black.

The old man trembled as he supported himself on his knees, the young man's head was being held down by his mother, and even the nursing baby didn't cry or fuss.

Shi Yunfeng stood at the front: "Thank you, Goddess Liu, for protecting Shi Village."

A buzzing chorus spread out.

Li Chenzhou would never kneel.

He stood at the edge of the crowd, his gaze fixed on the charred tree stump.

The willow branches were withered, with only two or three strands remaining, drooping motionless in the blood mist.

The essence and blood of these ferocious beasts offered by the people of Shicun Village are probably not even enough to scratch an itch for Him.

He had seen too many "sacrificial spirits" that were ferocious when they devoured blood and flesh, and would bring disaster as a warning if they were slightly dissatisfied. Unlike this one, who was guarding a deserted village and was so hungry that he was on his last breath, he would not even accept this blood offering.

The sacrifice was over, but the charred piece of willow wood remained standing, without making a sound.

The people of Shicun are used to it. If one day the branches were to dance wildly and shine brightly, they would probably tremble with fear.

The men rubbed their hands together and dragged the beast carcass off the altar. The women and children were already waiting, and the sound of stone knives and bone blades scraping against each other rang out.

To make a living in this desolate wilderness, one must use animal sinews to stretch bows, bone fragments to grind needles, and even scrape away the black blood stagnating in the cracks of rocks to make soup.

Shi Yunfeng found himself standing next to Li Chenzhou at some point.

The two men were about half a hand's width apart at the shoulder, their gazes fixed on the newly sprouted tender green shoots.

"A... worthy of respect as a spirit." Li Chenzhou spoke softly, as if talking to himself.

Shi Yunfeng's Adam's apple bobbed, and the murky light in his eyes suddenly deepened.

What flashed before his eyes was that night from many years ago.

The sky seemed to have a leak; the lightning wasn't striking one bolt at a time, but rather crashing down in large swaths.

The sacrificial stone on the mountain behind the village, which had consumed the blood and food of three generations, shattered into dust with a shrill cry amidst the lightning.

Then he saw the willow tree, so huge that it reached the sky, with every branch wrapped in electric pythons, tearing a gap in the raging sea of ​​thunder.

The light stung his eyes as a boy, causing them to bleed, yet he still stared at it intently.

Watch as the last charred, withered branch of the Divine Willow streaked across the night sky and crashed into the soil of the village.

"Without the Willow God," the old man's voice was hoarse, "Shi Village would have been gnawed to pieces long ago."

He paused, then continued with a sigh, "Twenty years... Ever since this scorched stump sprouted, it hasn't asked us for a single bite of food."

A child ran by carrying a ceramic bowl, the animal blood inside still steaming.

Looking at the blood, Shi Yunfeng suddenly remembered what the elders had said: In the past, when sacrificial blood was poured onto the spirit stone, it would make a sizzling sound, and it would be absorbed in the blink of an eye. It was never satisfied and would even cause trouble.

He could not ignore this kindness.

As dusk deepened, the campfire grew ever brighter, warmly drawing in the last rays of daylight into its flickering flames.

Neatly piled-up pieces of prepared meat and bones surrounded the area, the air filled with a smoky aroma mixed with a hint of raw fish, yet it also felt reassuring. .

The meat sizzled softly over the fire, occasionally splattering with glistening oil.

The firelight illuminated the faces of the people sitting around, including the smiling eyes of the elderly, the busy figures of the young, and the children's bright eyes staring at the roasted meat.

On this land, after a busy day, being able to gather around the fire and enjoy a hot meal together is the warmest comfort.

No one spoke, only listening quietly to the crackling of the fire, the aroma of meat, and this brief but peaceful twilight.

Beside the campfire, Li Chenzhou, with a smile, walked through the lively crowd and landed beside that small figure.

"Little one, you've been stealing animal milk again?"

The little guy was holding a rather large stone bowl and scooping it up with a wooden spoon.

Hearing the voice, he looked up, his rosy cheeks reflected in the mirror, his eyes sparkling, and generously held up his spoon: "Uncle Li, you should try some! It's delicious!"

Li Chenzhou stood with his hands behind his back, his face expressionless: "No need."

"Oh." The child didn't press the matter and immediately focused all his attention back on the bowl, drinking intently.

All around him were the boisterous sounds of tearing apart roasted meat, but he remained quietly immersed in the rich, milky aroma. With each sip, he would squint his eyes in satisfaction, like a little animal basking in the sun after a satisfying meal.

Li Chenzhou reached out and gently ruffled his soft black hair.

"That's when they look the most well-behaved."

The little one rubbed against his palm, showing great affection.

The lively chatter around the campfire gradually subsided, but what happened next left all the children in the village with their heads hanging low.

In the center of the open space, several dark bronze cauldrons had been set up, with firewood burning brightly underneath.

The water in the cauldron was boiling, bubbling and frighteningly.

Several elderly people with gray hair stepped forward and put various herbs into the cauldron one by one.

But that wasn't all. Then, live creatures were thrown in: a foot-long, colorful centipede, a fist-sized, hairy black spider, and other horrifying-looking insects and scorpions.

The clear boiling water turned into a thick, bubbling, inky black liquid, and an indescribable, strange smell permeated the air.

The old men then brought out several tightly sealed earthenware jars and carefully poured a small amount of reddish liquid into each cauldron.

This is the true blood refined from the prey today. It is the most precious medicine in Shicun Village, capable of strengthening bones and muscles and laying a solid foundation.

These things are always prioritized for the next generation.

As soon as the true blood fell into the cauldron, the churning black medicinal liquid became even more frightening. From the depths of the liquid, a low, muffled sound, like a beast's roar, could be faintly heard, vibrating along with the boiling bubbling sound.

The children were terrified, their faces turned pale, tears streaming down their faces, struggling and crying out:

"I'm not going in! It'll burn me!"

"It's melted...even the bones are melting!"

The children's faces instantly scrunched up, screaming and trying to scatter and run away, but their parents held them down firmly like chicks.

And so began the ancient medicinal bathing tradition of Shicun Village.

The children were quickly stripped of their outer clothes one by one and placed into the pot like dumplings being boiled.

Immediately, cries and pleas for mercy filled the air, mingling with the crackling of firewood and the bubbling of medicine, spreading noisily in the twilight.

Li Chenzhou watched with great interest, a thought inexplicably flashing through his mind: This is like... pots of boiling dumplings.

It's the little one's turn.

His treatment was exceptionally different.

While other children's cauldrons were mostly filled with clear water and a little bit of true blood and medicinal herbs, his cauldron was almost entirely filled with the true blood of ferocious beasts, with broken bones and rare medicinal herbs mixed in, and clear water making up only a very small portion.

The entire cauldron of medicinal liquid surged like magma, emitting a thick, unsettling aura.

Village chief Shi Yunfeng took out a treasured jade bottle and carefully dripped a few drops of precious blood into the cauldron.

The blood shone like a ruby, and the moment it fell, the already surging energy fluctuations within the cauldron subsided even further.

Li Chenzhou walked to the most special bronze cauldron, lightly tapped the cauldron wall with his finger, and produced a deep echo.

He looked down at the scalding liquid inside the cauldron and nodded: "The formula is good, the foundation is very solid."

Shi Yunfeng responded from the side, "These are all traditional methods passed down from our ancestors. Almost every village in the Great Wilderness has this kind of tradition. Shi Village has no other way to go, so we've just been using it all along."

Li Chenzhou listened, smiled faintly, and said nothing more.

The so-called "traditional methods" of Shicun are far more precious than the ancient ones passed down in the surrounding villages.

His palm brushed across the edge of the bronze cauldron, his fingertips gently stroking it.

A very thin line of blood seeped out, condensed into a blood bead, and fell into the medicinal liquid in the cauldron.

The moment the blood droplet fell, it did not cause the slightest ripple or any abnormality.

No one noticed.

Li Chenzhou withdrew his hand without changing his expression; the mark on his fingertip had disappeared, as if nothing had ever happened.

A smile flickered across Li Chenzhou's face. He bent down and gently scooped up the little guy who was about to climb into the cauldron, then casually slapped his chubby bottom.

"Snapped!"

With a crisp sound, the little guy paused, turned his head, his big eyes filled with confusion, and stared at Li Chenzhou, as if he couldn't understand why Uncle Li always picked on his little bottom.

At this moment, Shi Yunfeng was ready and indicated that the child could be put into the cauldron.

The little one was steadily supported by Li Chenzhou, but his little hands instinctively covered his lower body, and his little face turned a little red.

"What are you covering up for?" Li Chenzhou chuckled. "You're just a little kid, and you already know how to be shy?"

As he spoke, he gently placed him into the cauldron.

As soon as the little one was put into the cauldron, it thrashed about like a small fish falling into boiling water.

He was so small that if he sat still, the medicine would instantly cover his head.

The more he struggled, the more violently the medicine churned, engulfing him completely with a "glug glug" sound. Occasionally, a few mouthfuls would be forcefully poured into his mouth, choking him until his little face turned red and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Seeing this, Li Chenzhou and the other men who hadn't left yet couldn't help but burst into laughter.

They weren't worried; this wasn't the first time they'd seen something like this.

The little one has a special constitution; swallowing some of the medicine actually allows him to better absorb its domineering and pure power.

The setting sun sank completely into the edge of the wilderness, while the moon had climbed to the horizon, casting a silvery glow.

The night sky, which had been shrouded in darkness for days, suddenly revealed a bright moon, which surprised even Shi Yunfeng, who looked up at it.

The other children's medicinal baths had already ended, and they were all carried back into the house by their parents.

Their soaking time was short and the medicine was mild, so most of them were now relaxed and sound asleep.

On the open ground, only the little cauldron remained, still steaming with scorching hot blood and qi, which stood out conspicuously in the moonlight.

As night deepens, the night in the vast wilderness always carries a silent weight.

Most of the villagers had already returned home, with only a handful of people, including Shi Yunfeng and Li Chenzhou, still guarding the cauldron.

However, with the Willow God protecting the village, there's nothing to worry about.

Inside the cauldron, the little one's struggling gradually weakened, but its big, bright eyes still darted around, curiously watching the adults outside the cauldron.

Her little face was rosy, like a ripe fruit, and every pore on her body was opening and closing, breathing in and out heat and a faint glow.

"How are you feeling?" Li Chenzhou asked, leaning down.

"I'm...I'm full," the little guy smacked his lips and let out a burp with a medicinal scent, clearly having swallowed quite a bit. "My tummy feels warm and cozy."

"Haha!" The people surrounding them laughed again, their laughter full of goodwill.

Li Chenzhou reached into the cauldron and scooped out the little creature, which was burning hot and bright red.

The little one was still restless in his hands, thrashing and paddling with its hands and feet, just like a small red-shelled crab that had just been taken out of a steamer.

Li Chenzhou simply put him on the ground.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, the little guy couldn't stand steadily. He swayed from side to side, like he was drunk.

Her skin glowed with a rosy sheen, and her little hands swayed unconsciously.

Then, this smooth little figure began to walk in circles around the large bronze cauldron, which was much taller than him, swaying from side to side.

He staggered, clearly drunk.

The moonlight shone down brightly, and a small part of him swayed with the rhythm, freely feeling the coolness of the night, looking completely innocent.

Perhaps the immense medicinal power accumulated in his body finally found an outlet, because the little one suddenly took off running around the village like a madman.

From the east end of the village to the west end, the small figure left a swaying pale red trail under the moonlight, tirelessly.

Li Chenzhou gazed at the cheerful little figure under the moonlight, his smile growing ever wider.

Such "unparalleled beauty" should be preserved.

This innocent and naive way of being, so full of natural instincts, is truly... so beautiful that one wants to hold onto it forever.

Night fell, and the village returned to tranquility.

After the little one's energy subsided, he finally fell into a deep sleep, his breathing even and long.

Shi Yunfeng had some doubts in his heart.

This time, the medicinal bath seemed to have undergone some changes that he couldn't understand, but every step was clearly done according to the ancestral method without any mistakes.

He looked down at the little guy sleeping soundly in his arms. His skin had a faint, warm glow, and his breathing was calmer and more grounded than usual.

The benefits received seem to be even better than expected.

Shi Yunfeng shook his head, and in the end, he could only attribute the cause to the ferocious beasts he had hunted.

Perhaps there's something extraordinary hidden in its bloodline. He gently stroked the child's soft hair, stopped thinking about it, and carried him into the house.