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

The wooden door opened, and there stood Shi Yunfeng, who had come to see Li Chenzhou.

He paused briefly on the little red bird, a hint of surprise flashing across his face, but said nothing. This spirit bird often circled in the village, chased all over by the little one, so he was not unfamiliar with it.

"Mr. Li." He bowed respectfully.

Li Chenzhou smiled and said, "Clan leader, you've come for the little one, haven't you?"

"Your judgment is wise, sir." Shi Yunfeng nodded, then frowned and said, "The little one's talent is truly astonishing, but... his age for rites of passage is approaching, and I'm worried..."

In the chaotic ancient era, the path of cultivation began at the dawn of ignorance. Those who embarked on the path of cultivation would undergo their first crucial baptism around the age of five. They would be sealed in a medicinal furnace and refined with the essence of hundreds of herbs, the true blood of ferocious beasts, and even spiritual treasures of heaven and earth. This would cleanse the impurities in their womb, solidify their foundation, and unlock the divine treasures within their physical body.

The more precious and rare the items used for baptism, the more astonishing their effects.

Descendants of noble lineages and powerful families often use the precious blood of ancient ancestors as a guide, supplemented by millennia-old sacred medicines, to forge an unparalleled foundation.

Given the potential shown by this little one, who was able to lift a 3,000-jin cauldron at the age of three and whose blood and qi surged like a young dragon, it would be a waste to simply use ordinary medicines and beast blood that could be collected in a common village.

Shi Yunfeng came here because of this matter; he wanted to discuss with Li Chenzhou what to do.

His eyes held both expectation and a hint of helplessness: "The little one has extraordinary talent. If he ruins his foundation because of the barrenness of Shi Village, I will not be at peace."

Outside, the wind rustled softly through the gaps in the willow branches.

"Don't worry about the baptism," Li Chenzhou said with a smile. "The little one is destined to stand at the pinnacle of the heavens, and I will prepare the most exquisite baptismal items for him."

"Sir, you have shown me such great kindness!"

Shi Yunfeng's eyes welled up with tears, and he was about to bow down when a gentle force held him firmly in place.

"Chief, there's no need for that."

Li Chenzhou shook his head, a rare seriousness appearing on his face. "Since I came into this world, I have long regarded Shicun as another home. To me, Xiaobudian is like a son or nephew. This is my duty, there is no need for thanks."

He paused briefly, his gaze piercing through the wooden wall to the figures running and playing in the village: "Not only the little ones, but all the children in the village are my disciples. I will prepare their baptisms, and they will not be inferior to the successors of those ancient holy sites just because they come from remote areas."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yunfeng felt as if his chest had been pounded by a heavy drum, and a surge of scalding heat rushed to the top of his head, leaving him speechless for a moment.

He came here hoping that Li Chenzhou would help Xiaobudian, never daring to imagine that the other children would also have this opportunity.

He had long noticed that Mr. Li treated the little one differently from others, showing excessive concern.

I didn't expect this, but there was this unexpected surprise.

Your virtue is truly admirable!

Over the course of two years, in the eyes of the people of Shicun, Li Chenzhou's figure grew more and more imposing, and he became more and more respected by everyone. From the initial mysterious visitor to the later teacher, and now—Shi Yunfeng was certain that this must be an unparalleled figure with unfathomable cultivation, yet willing to hide in a corner of the Great Wilderness.

What's even more remarkable is his genuineness; it can't be faked.

"gentlemen……"

Shi Yunfeng's throat tightened slightly; a thousand words were left unsaid, but in the end, they were reduced to a deep bow, everything understood without words.

He never doubted whether Mr. Li had any ill intentions. If such a person really had bad intentions, why would he need to feign compliance for two years?

With a flick of the finger, Ishimura could be reduced to dust.

Outside the window, willow branches sway gently, as if silently nodding in agreement.

After the old clan chief left, the wooden house returned to tranquility.

"If you are willing to come along," a voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence, "I can lead you to a true paradise, a place of exceptional beauty and spiritual energy, with gushing springs and ancient medicinal herbs growing in abundance. It is a supreme land with inexhaustible resources."

There was only one person and one bird inside the house.

Before Li Chenzhou could speak, the source of the voice was naturally the little red sparrow, its eyes gleaming with intelligence, as it continued:

"I will also settle Shicun properly. As for that child... I will use all the resources of the divine land to help him rebuild his foundation. Although his supreme bones are shattered, the world is vast, and there may be a way for him to be reborn from the ashes."

Upon hearing this, Li Chenzhou's lips curled into a slight smile. He pulled over a stone bench and sat down comfortably, looking directly at the little red bird on the table. "Isn't your Fire Kingdom allied with the Stone Kingdom? Is this how you try to win over that child?"

"Allies?" Its voice was clear and crisp, its sarcasm undisguised. "If you're allies, what use is the title of 'ally' if you stand idly by while a pearl is tarnished and a treasure is stolen, allowing narrow-minded and short-sighted people to ruin the future of your race?"

It took a small step. "A living, breathing, born supreme being, plus an ancient person with double pupils, should have made the Stone Clan prosperous and its fortune enduring. But those who possess mountains of treasures are so stupid that they think they can rule the world by seizing a piece of bone? How laughable! What is not yours will never be yours."

It paused, a cold glint flashing in its fiery eyes: "That family is entangled with the Demon Spirit Lake. They've probably forgotten all the glory and responsibility of their ancestors. If people with such a mindset and vision are allowed to take charge of the future of the Stone Kingdom... ha, the disaster of destruction is probably just around the corner."

The little red bird's tone grew increasingly arrogant, clearly showing extreme contempt for the current decision-making body of the Stone Kingdom because of the little one's affair.

It has the right to be so arrogant; its true form is the Fire Kingdom's sacrificial spirit, with the faint bloodline of the Vermilion Bird flowing through its veins, making it incomparably noble.

Among the eight realms below, it is already one of the few beings standing at the top of the pyramid, with its cultivation reaching the Venerable Realm, which can be called the pinnacle below the Divine Path.

The Vermilion Bird is one of the four ancient mythical beasts, alongside the White Tiger, the True Dragon, and the Black Tortoise.

The True Dragon and White Tiger clans have both produced Celestial Kings, and while the Black Tortoise clan remains low-key, its unfathomable foundation makes it natural for it to have a Celestial King presiding over it. To be on par with these three, the Vermilion Bird bloodline is naturally also extremely extraordinary.

In all the myriad realms, in any world, the Vermilion Bird, one of the Four Symbols, is an extremely powerful race.

Although Little Red Bird is not a pure-blooded Vermilion Bird, he is already able to roam freely across the eight regions with just this wisp of divine blood. His vision and pride are naturally beyond the reach of ordinary people.

In its view, the actions of the Shi Kingdom's top leaders were no different from buying the box and returning the pearl, or burning the zither and boiling the crane—utterly foolish.

The little red bird's eyes gleamed with fire, its meaning clear: it intended to lead them to the Fire Kingdom. As the supreme deity of the kingdom, those it carried would receive the highest honors in the entire nation, surpassing even the direct descendants of the Fire Kingdom's emperor.

"The child will settle the old scores in time. As for the future rise and fall of the Stone Kingdom, fate is unpredictable, and it's too early to say." Li Chenzhou said calmly, gently changing the subject, "You didn't come to see me just to talk about this, did you?"

Seeing that his mind seemed entirely focused on the steaming cup of tea, the little red bird couldn't help but flutter its feathers, revealing a hint of human-like helplessness.

"Your abilities are mysterious and unfathomable. Why not roam freely across the eight regions and establish an unparalleled reputation? Why choose to hide in this remote corner of the Great Wilderness..." It paused, its voice clear and crisp, "...spending your days with children?"

"How do you know?" Li Chenzhou picked up his teacup, the rising steam blurring his face. His voice was clear and gentle, as if it had been tempered by countless years. "The pleasure of cultivating this is far more captivating than empty fame and fleeting fortune."

He once stood atop the heavens, able to decide the life and death of all beings with a single thought, and to strike fear into the hearts of celestial kings with a single word.

Those days were too long and too high, so high that they were somewhat lonely.

Now, watching that little one splashing and playing every day, cooking a pot of animal milk for him, and listening to his babbling, I feel a real and comforting warmth.

status?

reputation?

All of this is fleeting and transient.

The little red bird was speechless for a moment, its fiery eyes flashing, unsure how to respond.

It initially came to this wilderness because of the dispute over "mountain treasures". By chance, it noticed that the ancient willow tree at the entrance of the village had an extraordinary aura and a restrained Taoist charm, so it wanted to befriend the willow tree.

Later, it discovered that the seemingly peaceful man in white in the village could also converse with Liu Shenping, and his demeanor was calm and unfathomable.

It secretly observed that Li Chenzhou was surrounded by a mysterious Daoist aura, and combined this with the occasional snippets of conversation he made with the Willow Goddess...

A sudden realization dawned on him: hidden in this remote village were two ancient beings!

Judging from its aura and underlying strength, its realm at its peak was probably far above its current Venerable Realm.

He must have been a powerful figure who once ascended the sacred path and looked down upon the region.

This discovery shocked it.

From then on, it visited Stone Village more and more frequently. When its wings swept through the air, it would always hover intentionally or unintentionally at the village entrance, harboring the intention to invite them. If these two could be invited to the Fire Kingdom, it would be of immeasurable benefit, whether in fighting the great calamity or in bringing prosperity to the ancient kingdom.

Unfortunately, no matter how much it hinted or even invited, the Willow God remained silent, its swaying branches conveying only a Taoist aura, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Li Chenzhou, on the other hand, remained indifferent. He spent his days either pondering the cooking time of the jar of beast milk or teasing the little ones running around the village. He showed little interest in the "divine soil" and "honorable position" that the little ones talked about, but he was very interested in watching the children babbling and toddling.

The repeated polite refusals and indifference left even the proud descendant of the Vermilion Bird feeling helpless.

It perched on the stone table, gazing at the wisps of tea smoke rising from Li Chenzhou's cup. In its eyes, flickering with the firelight, for the first time, a vague sense of exploration arose regarding the world beyond "fame" and "fortune."

The little red bird stared at Li Chenzhou for a moment, and seeing that he had not taken its words to heart at all, it couldn't help but feel angry.

With a sudden flap of its wings, crimson light swirled, and the surrounding temperature soared, as if it were about to transform into a streak of fire and vanish.

"Those things in the mountains may not be worth fighting over like this," Li Chenzhou said calmly at that moment.

The little red bird paused in mid-air and looked back.

"If you are willing to stay in Shicun," Li Chenzhou raised his eyes, his gaze calm, "and play with that child for a few years, what I will give you will far surpass any mountain treasure."

"call out--!"

His response was a sharp, tearing sound that ripped through the air.

Without looking back, the little red bird transformed into a streak of light and flew out of the window, so fast that it left only a fleeting afterimage in the air.

Playing with a three-year-old child?

That's utterly absurd!

It is a dignified spirit of the Fire Kingdom, a venerable being, worshipped by countless beings, and of noble blood. How could it condescend to be a playmate for children in this place?

Moreover, given that little one's usual mischievous nature, "playing with" would most likely mean being chased all over the village, or even having his feathers touched by those chubby little hands...

It's a female bird!

It has its own pride and reserve.

The streaks of light faded into the distance, leaving only a few crimson phantoms slowly dissipating among the willow branches. Li Chenzhou shook his head and chuckled, then lowered his gaze to the unfurling tea leaves in his cup, as if the promise that had just driven the outside world mad was nothing more than a gentle breeze brushing against the willow tips.

As the little red bird flapped its wings, its fiery feathers shimmered, and it scoffed at Li Chenzhou's promise that it was "better than a mountain treasure."

Would something more precious than a mountain treasure be given away so easily?

Whether such an opportunity exists is still in doubt, and even if it is real, why would it be exchanged for such a trivial condition?

Its pride surged, and it secretly vowed: even if it failed to seize the mountain treasure and perished in the wilderness, its bones exposed to the elements, it would never leave behind to let that child "play".

A crimson shadow streaked across the sky, like a shooting star shooting against the heavens, before shrinking into a dazzling point of light at the edge of the horizon and then completely merging into the vast twilight.

Li Chenzhou watched the crimson glow dissipate and gently shook his head. While the treasures contained within the mountain were indeed wondrous, the workings of the world ultimately demand a "harmony." For this descendant of the Vermilion Bird, the object he possessed was probably closer to the Great Dao than any external object.

Moreover... he already knew exactly what was inside that mountain treasure.

"It's right."

A willow leaf phantom materialized beside Li Chenzhou, divine light flowing between its veins. The voice of the Willow God then rang out, "With your cultivation level, there is indeed no need for you to stay in the Great Wilderness."

The ethereal shadows of willow leaves floated silently, their verdant hues swirling.

After undergoing the Great Healing Ceremony, her essence was greatly restored. Not only did new branches sprout, but her nearly collapsed spirit and primordial soul were also mended and nourished.

"That's not how it works," Li Chenzhou said seriously. "I haven't even reached the Blood Transformation Realm yet. I can barely protect myself in the outside world, how dare I take any risks?"

Yes, that's right, that's exactly it. He doesn't practice the Chaotic Ancient Method, so he definitely doesn't have the Blood Moving Realm.

The willow leaves faltered slightly, and the light in the sky flickered uncertainly, as if speechless.

If you consider yourself weak, then the many cultivators outside are probably not even as good as ants.

"Besides," Li Chenzhou changed the subject and laughed, "Liu Shen, you recovered so quickly, yet you're still firmly rooted here. Come to think of it, you're much stronger than me."

"I have recovered from my injuries and rebuilt my foundation, but you..." Liu Shen's voice trailed off, her leaves swaying slightly, as if she was unwilling to argue any further.

We were clearly discussing his affairs, so why did we end up talking about ourselves again?

Over the course of two years, the branches and leaves and the white-clad figure often faced each other in the dawn and dusk.

Li Chenzhou felt that although this ancestral spirit was aloof and taciturn, it had a warm heart and was a "good willow".

Liu Shen felt that this fellow Daoist with an unpredictable background often acted and spoke in unexpected ways, revealing a kind of...strangeness.

But this strangeness is not annoying; on the contrary, it adds a touch of vitality to life in this desolate place.

"You've been extremely devoted to that child," Liu Shen's voice rang out again, its cool tone carrying a hint of understanding. "You've stayed here mostly because of him, haven't you?"

Li Chenzhou said frankly, "He's still too young. This wilderness is full of dangers, so I have to keep an eye on him."

He looked toward the dense forests to the northeast of the village. "Right now, these little guys are completely ignorant of their own limitations. They're planning to raid the nest of the Azure-scaled Eagle. If they're not careful, they'll be bleeding on the spot."

Li Chenzhou spoke calmly, preparing to get up.

Liu Shen remained silent.

The statement "He's still too young" sounded like utter nonsense to her.

Given the child's current progress and the good fortune bestowed upon him by Li Chen, there are few in this Great Wilderness who can harm him.

"You don't treat him like an ordinary disciple," a voice from the willow leaf phantom said with a hint of doubt. "If you weren't not connected by blood, I would almost think he was your lost offspring."

Li Chenzhou chuckled upon hearing this and shook his head. "I just want to make the future less difficult for someone who was destined to be alone. Now that I've encountered this situation, I won't stand idly by."

Willow Goddess was puzzled.

Was he destined to be lonely? Was it because his supreme bone was removed when he was young? Or what?

"You value that child so highly, is it because you're certain he'll have an extraordinary future, or... out of pity?"

Liu Shen's voice remained cool and aloof, but now held a hint of curiosity.

"I do value him," Li Chenzhou said, glancing out the window at the small figure plotting a "great cause" with his companions. "But I wouldn't say I feel pity for him."

Why should that child need anyone else's pity?

His inherent resilience and brilliance were never dimmed by hardship.

All Li Chenzhou did was to add a little more joy to the beginning of this destined arduous journey.

"Flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns." Li Chenzhou sighed softly. "The future is too far away, and the calamities are unpredictable. At least for now, he should have a happier childhood."

The willow leaves drifted silently out of the window, merging into the soft glow of the ancient willow at the village entrance, offering no further response.

Since Liu Shen's resurrection, many of her memories have been unlocked, and she is remembering more and more.

The so-called supreme bone and ancient double pupils, while dazzling in the vast starry sky she had seen over the long years, could not be considered unprecedented or unparalleled. She paid attention to Shi Hao because of the undying light in the child's eyes, not because he once had a bone in his body, or because others saw him with double pupils.

Li Chenzhou watched Liu Ye leave, and the room returned to silence.

From the direction of the distant mountains and forests, the faint, suppressed excited chatter of children drifted over, mingling with the distant roars of beasts, and into the deep twilight of the wilderness.

"Hey——!"

A sharp eagle cry tore through the sky, its sound waves as tangible as a physical force, sweeping across Stone Village and causing many villagers to experience ear pain and a surge of blood.

Li Chenzhou looked up and saw a giant bird hovering in the sky outside the village, with a wingspan of about fifteen or sixteen meters, casting a shadow that covered almost half of the open space.

His eagle-like eyes were sharp as lightning as he stared at the mountain wall to the northeast.

"These little troublemakers..." Li Chenzhou shook his head and sighed softly, muttering to himself, "They're still not practicing hard enough."

It is naturally referring to that little guy who, taking advantage of the mother eagle's departure from the nest, led people to steal her eggs. How could he not get into trouble?

With a slight thought, Li Chenzhou's figure disappeared from the room.

A vast collection of works from various universes, catering to your reading preferences.