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

"Now that Little One's cultivation has reached this level, it's time to put the Eternal Life Trial Tower to use."

He had been preparing for that tower for a long time, waiting for the right opportunity. Now that the little one's foundation was solid enough, it was time for him to go in and explore.

"Let's wait a few more years, until this little guy grows a bit taller, then it'll be time for me to stretch my muscles a bit."

As he spoke, his voice suddenly lowered, and the smile on his lips became somewhat subtle.

"It's strange, but I suddenly feel a little sad."

"I'm afraid I won't be able to keep my little one."

These words were spoken very softly, like a sigh, or perhaps a soliloquy.

The reason he stayed in Shicun for so many years was ultimately because of that little thing.

It wasn't because of the Willow God, nor because of this increasingly prosperous land, nor because of the mountains of precious techniques and resources.

It was all because of that little guy who would roll around in his arms, shove the first taste of animal milk he stole into his mouth, and peek through the crack in the door while he was in seclusion, calling out, "Uncle Li, come out quickly!"

But that little guy will grow up.

He will grow taller and stronger, and go further and further.

He will transform from that little brat who chased the five-colored sparrow all over the village into a young supreme being who will shake the entire lower realm.

He will meet all sorts of people, experience extraordinary events, and create his own legend.

Will he still rush up and hug Uncle Li's neck as soon as he sees him, just like he does now?

Will they still puff out their cheeks and mutter "You're bullying me again" when their cheeks are pinched?

Will they still be the first to run over with a bowl of delicious animal milk when they've cooked a pot of it?

The willow branches drooped gently from above, resting on his shoulders, carrying a touch of warm coolness.

"He's grown up, but you're still his Uncle Li." Liu Shen's voice wasn't loud, but it flowed into his heart like a clear spring, neither hurried nor slow.

Li Chenzhou was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"That's true." He raised his hand, patted the willow branch on his shoulder, and stood up.

"Let's pinch his cheeks a few more times before he grows up."

Li Chenzhou shook off the inexplicable sadness in his mind, and his expression gradually returned to calm.

He's not the kind of person who gets caught up in his emotions; the things he has on hand are what truly require his attention.

The little boy now possesses the strength of 120,000 jin with a single swing of his arm. At his age and with this strength, in any ancient kingdom of the Eight Regions of the Lower Realm, he would be enough to make those self-proclaimed geniuses ashamed and unable to lift their heads.

And the Eternal Trial Tower that he had been preparing for so long was ready to open its doors to guests. Once it was operational, the Eternal Trial Towers in other blessed lands would also open one after another, which would surely set off an unprecedented frenzy throughout the entire lower realm.

There is a small house that needs a person in charge.

If he were still the Heavenly Emperor who reigned supreme in the heavens and looked down upon all ages, creating a spirit artifact would be a matter of a single thought.

The spirit of the vessel possesses its own spirituality, understands all things, and is capable of managing everything in an orderly manner.

But now his cultivation level has plummeted—although he is invincible in the lower realm, compared to his former self, this level is really not enough.

The things he refines lack spirituality and are far from being able to operate fully automatically.

The arrangements for trials, the distribution of rewards, daily maintenance, the patching of vulnerabilities... each task was incredibly tedious.

Of course, he couldn't possibly do these chores himself. A dignified Quasi-Immortal King like him, didn't he have any pride?

He was even more hesitant to entrust the task to someone else.

It's not that he's afraid someone will cheat him.

With his current strength, no one in the lower realm has the guts to do this.

The key point is that he doesn't even look down on those people.

It wasn't that he looked down on the cultivators of the Eight Regions; it was simply that their level was far too limited. Their vision, perspective, and understanding of the Dao were all far inferior.

Let alone ordinary Venerables, even those so-called gods who ignite divine fire cannot do this well in his eyes.

So in the end, he still had to do it himself.

It's just done in a different way.

After much deliberation, Li Chenzhou decided to create a new method.

Based on the "Future Unborn Scripture" from the Yangshen World, he combined it with his own understanding of the Great Dao to re-deduce and evolve it, making it conform to the laws of this world.

What he wanted to create was one of his three thousand great paths—the Great Wisdom Art.

In the world of Yangshen, those who cultivate to become the future masters can understand the workings of all laws in the world, deduce the past and future, and foresee unpredictable variables.

Nothing in the world can escape the calculations of the future ruler. Whether it is supernatural powers and magic or martial arts, once it falls into his eyes, it will have nowhere to hide and can be deduced.

The Great Wisdom Art aims for an even higher level, transcending this concept by going a step further.

It's not for prediction or calculation, but to endow a small house with almost complete autonomous operation capabilities. To put it simply, it's about using this great wisdom to equip a small house with a sufficiently intelligent and reliable "brain".

A "brain" that he doesn't need to worry about and that won't make any mistakes.

Li Chenzhou closed his eyes, and the rudimentary form of that technique was already appearing in his mind. The patterns of the runes, the flow of power, the resonance with heaven and earth... everything was gradually becoming clear.

Just then, a streak of crimson light "whooshed" through the window and landed precisely on the stone table in front of Li Chenzhou, scattering a few tiny sparks.

It was a small bird, about the size of a fist, its entire body a fiery red, except for its two clear black and white eyes, which were darting around nervously.

It was the Fire Kingdom's sacrificial spirit who stormed off after the battle for the mountain treasure, declaring that she would "never become a wet nurse."

That descendant of the Vermilion Bird.

Li Chenzhou didn't even lift his eyelids.

He had already sensed the presence of the little red bird even before it got close to Stone Village.

The little guy flew quickly and landed hastily, its feathers still damp with dew, clearly having rushed here.

"Little Red Bird, what wind blew you back?" he asked casually.

The little red bird stood on the stone table, its two claws shifting nervously, its head tilting left and right, but it dared not look directly at Li Chenzhou.

Those clear, black and white eyes were filled with entanglement and hesitation, as if there were words stuck in his throat, unable to be swallowed or spit out.

"Just say what you have to say." Li Chenzhou glanced at it. "Stop dawdling. Don't you know I'm busy?"

What are you busy with?

Busy contemplating the future ruler, ensuring reading is always a chapter ahead. Busy deducing the Great Wisdom Technique, busy cleaning up the mess of some little rascal who stole beast milk.

Of course, there's no need to explain this to a bird.

The little red bird opened its beak, then closed it, then opened it again, then closed it again.

It did this several times, just like a fish thrown ashore. Its claws scratched several shallow marks on the stone table surface, and its feathers puffed up and then curled up again.

Finally, it steeled itself, closed its eyes, and shouted with all its might, "Look, do I still have a chance?"

The voice was shrill and urgent, as if afraid of changing his mind.

Li Chenzhou was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, and looked with great interest at the little red bird that was tense all over.

"What did you say? The wind was too strong, I didn't hear you."

The little red bird suddenly opened its eyes, filled with a mixture of shame and anger.

Is the wind too strong? Where is the wind coming from in this room?

It was clearly intentional! But it dared not retaliate, and could only grit its teeth and make its words clearer, word by word.

I said—I can play with that little baby for a while!

After saying that, the bird seemed to have all its strength drained away, and its wings drooped down.

A faint blush appeared on that bird-like face—it was hard to tell whether it was from anger or embarrassment.

Li Chenzhou looked at it, and the smile on his lips grew wider and wider.

Who was it that swore so confidently, "No, absolutely not"?

Who said, "I don't want to be a toy for little kids, and I certainly don't want to be a wet nurse"?

Who is it that flaps its wings so fast, soaring into the sky without looking back, as if a raging flood or ferocious beast is behind it?

Now look what's happened, they've delivered themselves right to our doorstep.

"Oh—" Li Chenzhou drawled out, looking at it meaningfully.

"Didn't you say you wouldn't be a wet nurse?"

"I didn't say I wanted to be his wet nurse!" the little red bird exclaimed, bristling. "I said... I meant to play with him! Play with him! Do you even know what playing with him means?"

"Do I still have a chance?"

The little red bird repeated it again.

Heaven knows what kind of shock it experienced after leaving Stone Village and returning to the Fire Kingdom.

That day, it returned defeated and exhausted. It wanted to take a good nap on its altar to forget all the bad luck in the battle for the mountain treasure.

Before it could even settle down, it sensed an aura that made its blood surge.

That was Huo Ling'er, the princess of the Fire Kingdom, the little girl it watched grow up.

She was cultivating a fire-based immortal technique. Runes flowed and flames surged with every move she made. The exquisite operation of the laws was even more complete and profound than the precious technique inherited in her bloodline as a descendant of the Vermilion Bird.

Even I don't have such a complete Fire Dao Treasure Technique.

At that moment, the little red bird felt that it had wasted its entire life.

Having lived and cultivated for so many years, it always believed that its flames were the most authentic fire-based inheritance in the world.

However, the immortal technique that Huo Ling'er used, whether it was the arrangement of runes, the flow of power, or the resonance with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, far exceeded its understanding.

It stood there stunned, its mouth agape, wide enough to fit a spiritual fruit, unable to close for a long time.

Then the Fire Emperor arrived.

The ruler of the Fire Kingdom did not hide anything and told it everything that happened after it left.

About Li Chenzhou, about that stone village, about that unfathomable willow tree, about that person's various deeds of suppressing the Martial King, flattening the Rain King's Mansion, and leaving even the Stone Emperor speechless.

There's also the origin of Huo Ling'er's complete fire-based immortal technique. It was left behind casually by that being, who said it was "a gift for the child."

After hearing this, the little red bird remained silent for three days and three nights.

It recalled its arrogance back in Shicun, its resolute refusal of Li Chenzhou's invitation, and its "never look back" stance as it flew away.

It thought it might be the dumbest bird in the world.

An unfathomable being, a village with a complete lineage of immortal arts, a child destined to shake the world—it actually refused, refused, refused.

I'll say it three times because it's important, but there's no going back.

It hesitated for a long time, pacing back and forth on the altar of the Fire Kingdom, until its feathers were almost bald.

Ultimately, it could not resist its inner longing, and with a flap of its wings, it flew towards the direction of Stone Village.

Flying, filled with anxieties; anxieties, yet still flying. Halfway there, I almost turned back, but gritted my teeth and kept going.

At this moment, it stood in front of Li Chenzhou, having thrown all its pride, face, and "sparrow's dignity" to the back of its mind, and asked only this one question.

"Do I still have a chance?"

The little red bird stood on the stone table, its two claws flailing back and forth, making the surface creak. Its head was bowed, like a defeated rooster, its feathers dull and lifeless.

"A prodigal son who returns is more precious than gold." Li Chenzhou's voice floated down from above, unhurried and gentle. "I'm quite happy that you've come to your senses and are willing to come back."

He paused, then tapped his fingertips lightly twice on the table. "What I said before still stands."

The little red bird's ear tips twitched slightly. It didn't look up, but the whole bird visibly relaxed.

Li Chenzhou smiled as he looked at its embarrassed yet relieved expression.

Although this bird is a bit arrogant, it is, after all, a sacrificial spirit of the Fire Kingdom, a descendant of the Vermilion Bird, and a being at the Venerable Realm.

Looking at the little one's future, having such a "family member" by her side is never a bad thing.

Moreover, its affection for the little one is genuine.

Of course, I have to take care of my own bird.

"Do your best," Li Chenzhou added as a final instruction, as if he were giving a message to a new employee. "I have high hopes for you."

The little red bird finally raised its head.

In those clear, black and white eyes, there was no emotion, no excitement, only a deep, unspeakable despair.

It opened its mouth, then closed it again. What could it say?

Saying "I don't want to be played"?

But isn't its only purpose in coming back to play with that little baby? To say, "I will work hard to cultivate"?

But they don't lack its fighting power at all.

Saying "I want to be a useful bird"?

Its only purpose is to be a flying, eye-rolling, living toy that little ones can chase after.