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

Shi Qingfeng entered the Gate of Immortality.

The news didn't cause much of a stir in Stone Village, because everyone felt it was only natural. That child had suffered so much for the little one; now that he was here, he deserved to be treated well.

Li Chenzhou did put his heart into him.

It's not the kind of deliberate, solemn effort, but rather a gentle, subtle influence, like spring rain falling on the soil—silent yet ubiquitous.

He first cured Shi Qingfeng's leg.

The injury had been left untreated for too long; the bones had grown crooked, and the tendons and veins had atrophied considerably. The village elders, looking at the thin leg, shook their heads and sighed, thinking it was probably beyond repair. But Li Chenzhou simply placed his hand on the leg, a faint halo appearing in his palm, and stroked it inch by inch. The atrophied tendons and veins, like withered branches awakened, slowly regained their vitality; the crooked bones, through a silent force, slowly returned to their proper place.

Shi Qingfeng bit his lip and didn't utter a sound.

The pain was real, but he had experienced far worse. When the venomous dragon bit his leg, he thought he was going to die. The poison spread from the wound throughout his body, and he burned for three days and three nights. It was his great-grandfather who used his already dwindling life force to pull him back from the brink of death. The old man lost several years of his lifespan because of this, and his already withered body deteriorated even further.

That venomous dragon was after "Shi Hao".

Unsure whether the child whose supreme bone had been removed was still alive, those people set a trap to test him. If Shi Qingfeng was dead, it meant the child might still be alive, protected by someone in secret. If Shi Qingfeng was alive, it meant the child might truly be gone, with no one even willing to take his place.

Shi Qingfeng survived.

His great-grandfather saved him, trading his own life for his leg and his life in return.

When Li Chenzhou healed his leg, Shi Qingfeng didn't cry. He just lowered his head, looking at the leg that could finally straighten and was finally free of pain, and remained silent for a long, long time.

Then he looked up and said two words to Li Chenzhou.

"Thanks."

Li Chenzhou patted his head without saying anything. He knew how much was hidden in those two words. It wasn't just thanking him for healing his leg, but also thanking him for giving him a fresh start.

After his leg recovered, Li Chenzhou began to teach him cultivation.

He carefully examined Shi Qingfeng's physique and found that the child had considerable talent, but had been confined to that dilapidated manor for years, without good food or anyone to teach him cultivation, which had wasted his potential. If properly nurtured, although he might not be as prodigy as Xiaobudian, he would certainly be no less talented than those so-called geniuses outside.

Li Chenzhou started with what suited him best, teaching him a set of techniques that used softness to overcome hardness. These techniques didn't emphasize brute force, but rather using the opponent's strength against them, using skill to overcome great force. Shi Qingfeng's body was weak; forcing him to practice those powerful techniques would only injure him, but this set of techniques seemed tailor-made for him.

Shi Qingfeng studied very diligently.

He gets up before dawn every day and practices by the lake again and again. Although his foot has healed, it has been injured for so many years, and his gait is still a little strange. He is not in a hurry, so he practices slowly. If once is not enough, he practices ten times, and if ten times is not enough, he practices a hundred times. Sometimes the little one comes to play with him, and he just smiles and shakes his head, saying that he will come after he has mastered this move.

The little one didn't urge him, but just squatted down and watched. When he got bored, he would roll around on the grass a few times. After he finished practicing, they would run together to find the five-colored bird.

Shi Qingfeng really liked this village.

He never imagined that such a place existed in the world.

There was an endless supply of food and animal milk, a warm house, and clean clothes. When the adults saw him, they would always smile, pat his head, and ask if he had eaten, if he was cold, or if he was tired. The children would surround him, pulling him to see their newly discovered bird nests, to catch fish in the lake, and to pick wild fruits on the mountain.

No one cursed at him, no one pushed him, and no one looked at him with disgust.

For the first time, he realized what it felt like to be called by name. Not "that child," not "the substitute," not "the little cripple," but "Qingfeng." Those two simple words, spoken by those people, sounded like the most beautiful sound in the world.

For the first time, he realized how warm the sun felt on his skin. Back in the second ancestral land, he had also sunbathed, but that sunlight was always cold and couldn't penetrate his heart. But the sunlight here was different; it was warm and comforting, warming him from his skin all the way to his heart.

For the first time, he realized how joyful it was to run with his friends. Although his legs were still a little unsteady, the children never complained that he was slow. If he ran slowly, they would slow down and wait for him. If he fell, someone would run over to help him up. No one urged him on, no one laughed at him, only a pair of hands reached out to ask if he was in pain.

He doesn't feel pain.

It doesn't hurt at all.

He felt as if he had been in a very, very long dream. In the dream, there was that dilapidated village, those indifferent faces, and that endless cobblestone path from which he could never escape. But now he was awake, and beside him were Little Dot, his great-grandfather, Uncle Li, and everyone in Stone Village.

He began to believe that such places really existed in this world. Like a fairyland, a place that only existed in dreams.

And he lives here now.

As for the old man, Li Chenzhou personally took action.

Instead of letting the old man continue living in the ordinary houses of Stone Village, he settled him in a quiet little courtyard near Willow God. In the courtyard was a spiritual spring, its water crystal clear and never drying up, exuding a faint spiritual aura. It was drawn up from the depths of the earth's veins by Li Chenzhou after setting up an array, and it was the only one of its kind in the entire Stone Village.

The old man initially refused. He felt that he, a frail old man, didn't deserve such a nice place. But Li Chenzhou only said, "You are the little one's great-grandfather," and the old man stopped refusing. He knew that this kindness wasn't for him, but for the child. If he refused, he would be letting the child down.

On the day of the marrow cleansing ceremony, Li Chenzhou had the old man sit cross-legged by the spiritual spring. He placed his hand on the old man's back, and a warm, gentle force slowly flowed into his palm. That force was neither as intense as flames nor as piercing as ice, but rather warm, like being immersed in the afternoon sunlight of spring, seeping inch by inch into the old man's veins and bones.

The old man had too many hidden injuries. Some were from fights he had in his youth, some accumulated after he was exiled to the second ancestral land, and many more were from the years he had sacrificed his life essence to prolong Shi Qingfeng's life. These hidden injuries lay deep within his body, usually silent, but on rainy days they would cause him excruciating pain that kept him awake all night. He thought this was how his life would be; he didn't have many years left anyway, so he figured he might as well endure the pain.

But the power that Li Chenzhou transferred was like a gentle knife, slowly removing the accumulated, necrotic, and decaying things from his body. Those hidden injuries that had lingered for decades melted away silently in the face of the Quasi-Immortal King's power, like snow meeting the spring sun. The old man's complexion improved at a visible speed, turning from ashen to pale, and then gradually regaining a touch of color.

The entire process lasted about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. When Li Chenzhou withdrew his hand, the old man felt much lighter, as if a heavy shackle had been removed. He took a deep breath, and the air flowed smoothly into his lungs without pain or obstruction. He couldn't remember how many years it had been since he had breathed so freely.

He stood up and stretched his limbs. Those joints, which had once been as stiff as rusty iron chains, were now as flexible as if they had been newly fitted. He tried to take a few steps, his steps steady, his back straight, completely different from the old man who had been leaning on a wooden cane and hunched over.

"This..." The old man looked at his hands, those hands that were once withered and covered with age spots. Although they were still old, they now had a bit more vitality. He raised his head and looked at Li Chenzhou, his lips trembling, unable to speak.

Li Chenzhou waved his hand, not allowing him to thank him.

"No need for further words, old man," he said calmly. "I'll repay you for everything you've done for that child. The system has matched you with infinite categories from all heavens. Click here."

Hearing this, the old man's eyes reddened. He didn't say anything more, but simply bowed deeply to Li Chenzhou. This time, Li Chenzhou didn't dodge; he accepted the bow because he knew the old man needed it. It was the old man's way of expressing gratitude, and if he didn't accept it, the old man would feel guilty.

After his lifespan was extended, the old man's energy and spirit improved considerably. He no longer spent all his time lying in bed, but instead got up every morning to practice his boxing in the courtyard. His boxing style consisted of some rudimentary moves he had learned in his youth; they weren't particularly advanced, but they were executed with a powerful and imposing air. After his boxing, he would sit by the lake, watching the children play, and occasionally play a few games of chess with Shi Yunfeng. The two old men sat under the willow tree, the chess pieces clattering on the stone slabs, neither giving an inch.

Sometimes the little boy would run over and lie down by the stone table to watch them play chess. He didn't understand it, but he thought his great-grandfather and clan chief were very skilled at arranging so many black and white stones so neatly. After watching for a while, he would run off, pulling Shi Qingfeng along to chase after the five-colored sparrow.

As the old man watched the two small figures run away, the corners of his mouth would involuntarily curve into a smile.

He knew that without Li Chenzhou, he would probably have passed away in about two years. Those years in the Second Ancestral Land had already drained his body; every day he lived was a struggle. He wasn't afraid of death, but he couldn't let go of Shi Qingfeng, couldn't let go of the child who suffered in place of Xiaobudian. He feared that after he died, that child would have no one left to care for him in this world.

Now he is not afraid.

The child came to Stone Village, found a new family, adults who cared for him, and playmates to play with. The child was no longer a substitute, no longer a shadow, but the real Shi Qingfeng, a child who was remembered and loved.

As for himself, after Li Chenzhou cleansed his marrow and strengthened his bones, he would have no problem living for another ten years or so. Ten years was enough for him to watch those two children grow up. Enough for him to watch the little one become a supreme being, enough for him to watch Qingfeng grow into a tall and handsome young man.

This is enough.

He didn't need to live to be a hundred, nor did he need to live forever. He just wanted to watch his two children grow up well and happily, and then one day, close his eyes and leave this world contentedly.

The people of Shicun were genuinely happy for the old man as they watched his transformation. The women prepared a variety of delicious meals for him every day, the men respectfully called him "Uncle" whenever they saw him, and the children loved to gather around him and listen to his stories from his youth.

The old man would sometimes recount the past of the Shi tribe. He would talk about those glorious years, those once powerful figures, and the Shi Kingdom's capital, which had vanished into the annals of history. The children listened intently, their eyes sparkling, as if they were listening to a myth or legend.

After the old man finished speaking, he would always look into the distance and remain silent for a moment.

That imperial capital, those people, those events—all are in the past. Now, he's just an ordinary old man living in a small village deep in the wilderness. But he feels that's fine.

It's better than the days of scheming and infighting in the Prince Wu's mansion back then.

It's better than waiting to die in the second ancestral land.

Much better.

After the old man recovered, the Eternal Life Gate gained another teacher.

This was a big deal in Shicun. Previously, the children had only Li Chenzhou as their teacher. Although Li Chenzhou was a good teacher, he wasn't always available. Sometimes when he went out on business, the Eternal Life Sect would suspend classes, and the children would have to practice on their own. Now that they had a new teacher, the children were overjoyed, surrounding the old man and calling him "Great-Grandpa." The old man smiled broadly and nodded repeatedly.

Those who were exiled to the Second Ancestral Land were all of extraordinary status within the Stone Clan. They were either of noble bloodlines or had once held high positions of power, only to be banished for committing a so-called "serious mistake." From a young age, they received the best cultivation instruction, and their vision and knowledge far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Little Dot's great-grandfather was a prominent figure in the Martial King's Mansion back in the day. He was exceptionally talented in his youth, cultivated diligently, and reached the peak of the Spirit Transformation realm at his height. While the peak of the Spirit Transformation realm wasn't the absolute pinnacle in the Martial King's Mansion, it was certainly remarkable. He was just one step away from being ennobled as a marquis; if he could cross that threshold, he would be ennobled and appointed prime minister, becoming a truly important figure in the Stone Kingdom.

Unfortunately, that one step made all the difference.

There's an invisible threshold between Spirit Transformation and Inscription, a threshold some spend their entire lives trying to cross. He tried many times, each time feeling just short, but that tiny difference remained unreachable. Then something happened, and he was implicated and exiled to the Second Ancestral Land, where he had no further chances. The Second Ancestral Land was barren of spiritual energy and resources, barely enough to sustain daily cultivation, let alone break through to higher realms. His cultivation not only failed to improve but, due to age and internal injuries, gradually regressed.

He is old now.

His vital energy was depleted, his muscles and bones were loose, and his cultivation had already fallen to the early stage of the Spirit Transformation realm, and it was uncertain whether he could even maintain it. If Li Chenzhou hadn't intervened, he would probably have passed away in another two years. Those hidden injuries, coupled with his depleted lifespan, would have made him beyond saving even by a deity.

Fortunately, Li Chenzhou arrived.

After the bone marrow cleansing treatment, although the old man's energy and blood could not return to their former peak, they were no longer in a state of decline. His complexion became much rosier, he no longer felt breathless when walking, and his back straightened. After the hidden injuries lingering in his body were eradicated, he looked as if he had become ten years younger.

However, to live longer, Li Chenzhou's marrow cleansing technique alone wasn't enough. It only cleared away the hidden dangers within his body and restored some of his vital energy, but it couldn't magically add decades to his lifespan. He wanted to continue living, to watch Little Dot and Shi Qingfeng grow up. We must rely on ourselves.

He needs to cultivate himself.

This isn't the kind of casual cultivation; it requires giving it your all to take a few more steps forward on the path of cultivation. If he can break through the bottleneck of the Spirit Transformation stage and enter the Inscription Realm, his lifespan will increase accordingly, and it's not impossible for him to live for several more decades.

The old man understood this principle.

He didn't slacken off because of his old age; on the contrary, he was more diligent than the young. Every morning, he would get up before dawn, sit cross-legged by the spiritual spring, and breathe in the essence of heaven and earth. During the day, he would teach the children the basics of cultivation and tell them about his travels in his youth. In the evening, he would return to his courtyard and continue his cultivation until late at night before resting.

Li Chenzhou saw this but didn't say anything. He knew the old man was trying to buy more time in his own way.

The old man wanted to make up for what he had owed over the years.

It wasn't for himself, but for those two children. He wanted to see the little one become the Supreme Being, and he wanted to see Qingfeng grow into a tall and handsome young man. He wanted to witness with his own eyes that day when the child whose Supreme Being bone had been removed would stand proudly before everyone and tell the world who the true Supreme Being was.

So he practiced diligently.

The people of Shicun respected him greatly. The men would respectfully call him "Uncle" when they saw him. The women treated him like an elder, preparing all sorts of delicious meals for him. At first, the old man was a little unaccustomed to it. He had spent too many years being ignored in his second ancestral home, and suddenly being cared for by so many people made him feel somewhat overwhelmed.

But he knew it was genuine.

The people here are different from the servants in the Second Ancestral Land. They won't be two-faced, calling you "Young Master" while secretly cursing you. If they call you "Uncle," they genuinely consider you an elder. If they treat you well, they genuinely mean it.

The old man sometimes wondered if his life would have been different if he hadn't been exiled back then and had instead come to a place like this.

But he had no answer.

All he knew was that things were good enough as they were.

Those lost years are gone forever, and those missed opportunities are gone forever. But he still has the present, and the next few years, the next decade or so. He wants to live these days well, to raise those two children well, and to watch them grow up day by day, to become stronger day by day.

This is enough.