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

The old man finally nodded.

That nod was as light as a leaf falling in the wind, yet as heavy as a thousand pounds. Leaning on the wooden cane that had been with him for many years, he slowly got up from the bed. Li Chenzhou reached out to help him, but the old man waved his hand and steadied himself.

"I'm getting old, but my legs can still walk."

He smiled, a smile that contained relief, anticipation, and a hint of indescribable emotion towards this desolate place.

After all, it's the place I've lived in for most of my life.

After all, it's a place where they've been guarding that child, upholding that responsibility, and protecting it for decades.

But he didn't turn around.

He slowly walked to the old wooden box in the corner of the room, bent down, and took out a few things from it—a yellowed family genealogy, a broken jade pendant, and a small, faded baby's clothes.

That was left behind by Shi Ziling and his wife back then.

It was a thought they left behind when they left with that dying baby.

The old man gently wrapped the items up, held them in his arms, and then turned away.

"Let's go."

His voice was soft, yet carried a sense of relief and calm.

The little boy ran over and took his hand. Shi Qingfeng also walked over timidly and stood on his other side. On either side, two small children supported the frail old man.

Li Chenzhou walked ahead and pushed open the dilapidated wooden door.

Sunlight streamed in.

It was sprinkled on the four people.

Zhuangzi was still the same dilapidated village, overgrown with weeds, its walls peeling, and its stone paths covered in moss. The servants stood at a distance, watching this scene with a variety of complex expressions on their faces—indifference, mockery, schadenfreude, and a hint of unease.

But no one stepped forward.

No one spoke.

Not a single person reacted at all.

They watched the lame child, the old man, the little boy, and the young man walking at the front—step by step, leaving the village and heading into the distance.

It was as if they were just a group of insignificant people.

It was as if they had never existed.

As the old man passed by the servants, he paused slightly. He glanced at them, his gaze as calm as a still pond, devoid of anger, resentment, or even any other emotion.

I only glanced at it.

Then he looked away and continued walking forward.

These people are not worth another glance from him.

The little one stopped and looked back.

The dilapidated manor was still faintly visible, appearing particularly desolate in the sunlight. He recalled the indifferent faces of the servants, the harsh words they had spoken, and the suffering Shi Qingfeng had endured over the years.

Uncle Li.

He looked up at Li Chenzhou, his small face showing an unusual seriousness.

"If we just leave like this, won't the bad guys get away with it?"

Li Chenzhou looked down at him, at the flames burning in those big, dark eyes.

That was not the flame of hatred.

That was a desire for justice.

He recalled the ruthlessness with which he had razed the Prince Wu's mansion, and the figures that had vanished before him. He could have easily razed this entire estate to the ground with a wave of his hand, teaching those wicked servants a lesson they wouldn't forget.

But he didn't make a move.

It's not because it's impossible, but because—

This time, he didn't want to take action.

He crouched down and looked the little one straight in the eyes.

"Do whatever you want to do."

His voice was soft, yet it carried a reassuring power.

I will always support you.

The little one blinked, as if he understood something.

Uncle Li doesn't plan to take action this time.

Uncle Li wanted him to do it himself.

He turned and looked at the manor, at the servants who remained standing there, unresponsive. They were still unaware of what was about to happen, and continued to look at him with indifferent eyes.

The little one pursed his lips, then took a few quick steps and ran back.

"You're bullying Qingfeng."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear and distinct.

"You can scold him, ignore him, and leave him alone."

"He suffered for me."

The flames danced in his hands, reflected in his large, dark eyes like two tiny flames.

"I won't kill you."

He said.

"Because if I kill you, I will be just like you."

"but--"

He paused, then tossed the small flame onto a pile of dry grass beside him.

"Don't even think about living comfortably here!"

The hay burst into flames instantly, with fire leaping up and crackling!

The servants screamed and scattered in all directions. Some tried to put out the fire, while others only cared about saving their own lives. It was a complete mess!

The little one stood in front of the firelight, his tiny figure bathed in a bright red glow.

He looked at the panicked servants and the burning manor, his small face showing no pride or excitement, only a calm.

Then, he turned around and ran towards Li Chenzhou.

Behind them, flames soared into the sky.

Those indifferent, malicious, numb faces were distorted in the firelight.

But the little one didn't turn back.

He ran up to Li Chenzhou, looked up, and gave a small smile.

"Uncle Li, I've started a fire!"

Li Chenzhou looked down at him, at the small face illuminated by the firelight, and at those still clear eyes.

He reached out and ruffled the little one's hair.

"Um."

His voice was soft, but it carried a hint of laughter.

"I saw it."

Shi Qingfeng stood aside, staring blankly at the burning manor, at the servants running around in the flames, and then at the little one.

He suddenly ran over and hugged the little one tightly.

"Thank you."

His voice was muffled, tinged with tears.

The little one was held in his arms, paused for a moment, then reached out his little hand and patted his back.

"Don't cry, don't cry, no one will bully you anymore."

The old man stood aside, watching this scene, watching the two small figures embracing each other, watching the burning village, tears streaming down his face.

The fire wasn't big.

All that remained was a pile of dry grass in front of the estate, a few dilapidated outbuildings, and some miscellaneous items ignited by oil lamps kicked over by the servants in their panic. The fire hadn't even spread deep into the estate, and the houses where the elderly had lived remained intact.

But that fire made many people's legs go weak.

The servants in the village collapsed to the ground, their faces ashen as they watched the leaping flames. Some tried to escape, but their legs wouldn't obey them; others wanted to put out the fire, but couldn't even stand. They could only watch helplessly as the fire burned, burned, and burned into their hearts.

Because that fire was not just fire.

That was a signal.

A signal they cannot understand, yet instinctively fear.

Those who had once mocked Shi Qingfeng were now trembling. Those who had cut back on his food and made him wear tattered clothes were now ashen-faced. Those who had watched him play alone, limping, were now cowering in fear, wishing they could hide away.

They didn't know who those people were.

I don't know who the young man who took the child is.

I don't know what that fire meant.

But they knew one thing—

They're finished.

The news spread faster than the fire spread.

Although the Second Ancestral Land was dilapidated and a place of exile, it still bore the name "Stone Clan." It was one of the Stone Clan's ancestral lands, a place that had once been glorious, and the root of the Stone Clan's bloodline.

Now, it has been burned down.

Even if it was just a few side rooms that were burned, even if it was just a small fire, the fact that "the ancestral land of the Stone Clan was burned" was enough to shake the entire Stone Kingdom.

In the capital, news spread like wildfire to every corner.

Those high-ranking kings and nobles changed their expressions.

Those who were usually arrogant and haughty in the royal palace looked at each other in bewilderment.

"The second ancestral land was burned down?"

"Who did this?"

"have no idea……"

"Impossible! That's the ancestral land of the Stone Clan, who would dare—"

He couldn't continue speaking halfway through his sentence.

Because they suddenly remembered that just a few days ago, someone burned down the gates of the Martial King's mansion, wiped out the Martial King's men, crippled a group of elders, and then calmly left without even the Human Emperor making a sound.

That person had only been gone a short while.

That person's silhouette is still etched in everyone's hearts.

Now, the second ancestral land has been burned.

Is it a coincidence?

No one believed it was a coincidence.

Some people's hands began to tremble. Some people's faces began to turn pale. Some people's hearts began to race.

Many people knew about what happened back then. Although they weren't involved, they turned a blind eye to what the Wu King's Mansion had done all those years. They watched Shi Ziling and his wife leave in despair, watched the infant be abandoned in the wilderness, and watched the Second Ancestral Land gradually become a place of exile—they said nothing and did nothing.

Now, has karma come its way?

Deep within the palace, the Stone Emperor stood by the window, gazing into the distance.

His gaze pierced through the layers of palace walls, as if he could see the burning flames.

The fire wasn't big.

But in his eyes, it was like a wildfire spreading.

"The ancestral land of the Stone Clan..."

He murmured to himself, his voice soft but tinged with bitterness.

"This is a reminder to me."

I'm not reminding anyone.

It was a reminder to him.

This serves as a reminder to the emperor of the Stone Kingdom that everything he had silently tolerated all those years, all the darkness he had allowed for the sake of so-called "balance," is now being unearthed bit by bit.

Wu Wangfu.

Rain Palace.

Second ancestral land.

Where will it be next?

Shi Huang closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He suddenly felt a sense of relief, relieved that he hadn't made a move that day, relieved that he had chosen to remain silent, and relieved that he hadn't become that person's target.

But he also knew—

Some scores haven't been settled yet.

Some debts haven't been paid off yet.

Those whose legs are weak, those who are trembling, those who are cowering in fear—they are still alive, not because they are innocent, but because it's not their turn yet.

Outside the window, the sunset glowed like fire.

It seemed to be foreshadowing something.

The small fire burned quietly in the Second Ancestral Land, burning through the dilapidated houses, the indifferent faces, and the darkness that had accumulated over the years.

In the end, it turned into a wisp of smoke and drifted away in the wind.

But the smell of that smoke had already seeped into everyone's heart.

Let them remember—

Some things, once done, will eventually have to be repaid.

Some people, once they owe something, will eventually have to pay it back.

The Stone Emperor's voice was very soft, as soft as a sigh in the wind.

He stood by the window, gazing at the distant horizon dyed red by the sunset. That was once the direction of the Martial King's Mansion, now only a prison cell remained. That was once the direction of the Second Ancestral Land, where now a wisp of smoke rose gently.

"That wicked woman has ruined my Stone Clan."

He murmured the words repeatedly, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps to the bygone years.

They should have been shining together.

One with double pupils can see through illusions and foresee opportunities. One with supreme bones can sweep across the eight regions and awe the nine heavens. If these two children could stand side by side and walk hand in hand, what heights would the Stone Clan reach?

He could see that scene—

Shi Yi's eyes opened and closed, their divine light shining brightly, piercing through all illusions. Within that infant, the supreme bone glowed, its blood and energy surging like a dragon, its battle prowess unparalleled. They grew up together, fought together, and together spread the Stone Clan's fame throughout the eight regions.

The ancient sacred mountain must bow its head.

Other ancient kingdoms had to submit.

That would be an unprecedented peak for the Stone Clan.

That will be a glory that future generations will forever look up to.

But now?

Shi Huang closed his eyes, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.

The supreme bone of that infant is now inside Shi Yi's body. The two prodigies who should have been brothers working together to create glory have now become like this - one is burdened with the sin of stealing the bone, and the other grew up in a desolate village, protected under the wings of a terrifying being.

Two stones shining together?

No.

It is two stones fighting each other.

It was the Stone Clan themselves who ruined their own future.

And what is the root of all this?

It was that wicked woman's greed. She couldn't bear to see a born supreme being emerge from the Shi Ziling lineage; she feared that child would surpass her own son; she used the most vicious means to take away an infant's bones and destroy the bond that should have existed between the two children.

But was it just that poisonous woman?

The Stone Emperor opened his eyes, his gaze becoming deep and unfathomable.

No.

There were also those scheming elders in the Martial King's Mansion, those who would stop at nothing to curry favor with the lineage of the double-pupiled ones. And then there was himself—the one who chose silence, indulgence, and turning a blind eye for the sake of so-called "balance" and maintaining the power structure among the princes.

The wicked woman is the culprit.

But the entire Stone Clan were accomplices.

"Two stones shining brightly together..."

Shi Huang repeated the word again, his voice full of bitterness.

The two stones still stand today.

But will that child who grew up in the deserted village still recognize himself as a member of the Stone Clan? Will the being behind him allow the Stone Clan to approach him again?

And what about Shi Yi?

Will that child with double pupils and the Supreme Bone still be willing to stay in the Stone Kingdom? If he learns the truth about all this in the future, what choice will he make?

The Stone Emperor did not know the answer.

All he knew was that the Stone Clan had lost more than just that infant.

What was lost was an opportunity to reach the pinnacle.

What was lost was the possibility of two outstanding talents standing side by side.

What was lost was the glory that the Stone Clan should have had.

Even more frightening is-

What has been lost may also be people's hearts.

The child who grew up in that desolate village might be with his new family right now, drinking animal milk, chasing five-colored birds, and laughing carefree. Will the words "Stone Clan" still linger in his heart?

The Stone Emperor was unaware.

All he knew was that he might never be able to let go of it in his lifetime.

Outside the window, the sunset gradually faded.

Night is about to fall.

The Stone Emperor remained standing by the window, gazing into the distance, motionless.

Only that soft sigh echoed for a long time in the empty hall.

"That wicked woman has ruined my Stone Clan."