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

Just as those people were arguing heatedly and were about to come to blows, a heavy atmosphere suddenly emanated from inside the Tower of Immortality.

The aura was neither sharp nor domineering, yet it was like an invisible mountain pressing down, silencing all the noise in an instant.

Arms that were pulling and shoving froze, mouths that were cursing shut, and feet that were pushing forward rooted to the spot. Everyone turned their heads at the same time and looked at the open door.

A person walked out from inside the door.

He was surrounded by a chaotic mist, with wispy, gray air currents enveloping his entire being.

His face was obscured, his clothes were indistinct, and even his figure was barely visible, as if he did not exist in this world, but was a phantom projected from another dimension.

But it was precisely this indistinctness that stirred an indescribable sense of awe in everyone present.

That awe did not come from coercion or the crushing force, but from an instinct deep within their souls—as if what stood before them was not a person, but a path, a sky, an ancient and immortal monument.

No one dared to speak, no one dared to move.

Those representatives of the forces who had been fighting to the death just moments before now all lowered their heads, not even having the courage to look directly at that figure.

They didn't know who this person was, where he came from, or even whether he was friend or foe.

But they knew one thing—in the face of such a being, any offense would be tantamount to self-destruction.

The Fire Emperor watched this scene from afar, his heart at peace.

He knew who it was. It was the Sage of Wisdom, the embodiment of that being's will, the true master of this Tower of Eternal Trials.

He stepped forward not to stop them from fighting, but to tell them—the door is open, and the rules are set. They can go in, but everything must be done according to his rules.

In the chaotic mist, the figure neither spoke nor moved, nor even cast a glance.

But everyone felt that silent will, that unquestionable and irresistible will.

It descended like the laws of heaven and earth, making everyone clearly aware that this tower was not a place for them to run wild.

Those who were just moments ago red-eyed and eager to trample others underfoot are now as quiet as statues.

Their greed and desires remained, but at this moment they were suppressed in their hearts by a sense of awe, and they dared not reveal them in the slightest.

These are the gods of the human race.

There's no need to roar, no need to make a move, and no need to even reveal your true form.

Just by standing there, he could freeze the winds and clouds in all directions, and make countless heroes bow their heads.

His presence alone is the rule; his presence alone is the will of Heaven.

A hazy mist, like a veil, enveloped the figure as it slowly rose into the void.

The stars behind him seemed to be awakened by his aura, lighting up the entire sky of the primordial land one by one.

The Milky Way hangs upside down, and a waterfall of light cascades down. The vast and boundless universe seems to unfold behind him, becoming his backdrop, his throne, and his scepter.

The Sage of Wisdom stood in the center of the sea of ​​stars, his robes fluttering gently in the invisible wind.

He did not release any pressure or display any divine power, but the aura that originated from nothingness and was rooted in the same source as heaven and earth caused the soul of every living being to tremble slightly.

It wasn't fear, it was an instinctive awe—like an ant gazing at the sky, like a stream looking out at the sea.

His gaze swept over the stunned crowd, a hint of indifference tinged with an almost imperceptible warmth. It was as if he were watching a group of long-starved travelers finally reach the edge of the oasis.

"Welcome everyone."

The voice was not loud, yet it seemed to descend from the heavens, or rise from the depths of everyone's heart.

The sound contained the rhythm of stars, the echo of time, and the first ray of light at the beginning of creation.

"Here, you can get anything you want—if you have the ability."

The moment those words were spoken, countless people's pupils dilated suddenly.

My breathing became rapid, my blood began to boil, and my heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand and then suddenly released.

Everything I want. These four words are as heavy as a ton of bricks, yet as light as a feather. They are so light that they seem unreal; they are so heavy that they are hard to believe.

Zhisheng slightly raised his hand, and the starry sea behind him surged.

Beams of starlight coalesced into pillars of light, crisscrossing around him. Each pillar contained something different—some pillars were filled with flowing runes, each rune resembling a miniature star, radiating dazzling light; these were supreme techniques, unparalleled methods that could elevate mortals to immortality in a single step. Other pillars were filled with the fragrance of elixirs, an aroma that seemed to transcend time and space, penetrating the nostrils of everyone present, making them seem to witness miracles of extended lifespans and the regeneration of flesh from bones; these were ancient remedies lost for countless years. Still others contained magical artifacts floating within them: knives, swords, cauldrons, bells, pagodas, seals… each emanating an aura that distorted the void; these were divine weapons and artifacts that ancient kingdoms would expend their entire resources to vie for.

Zhisheng slowly pointed his right hand to the left, his tone as calm as still water, yet every word was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

"A precious technique," he said.

The voice seemed to carry the roar of an ancient ferocious beast, the oppressive aura of a celestial king descending to earth, and an unparalleled sharpness capable of cleaving through chaos and severing time and space.

Countless cultivators' eyes instantly turned red. Precious techniques were something they had spent their entire lives pursuing, and here, there were piles and mountains of supreme inheritances that could multiply their combat power several times over.

"Prescription. Formation. Treasure." He uttered the three words in succession, and with each word, the corresponding star field burst forth with an even more dazzling light.

The prescriptions can help cultivators who have been stuck at a bottleneck for many years break through their shackles, and can rejuvenate old monsters whose lifespan is about to end; the formations can allow one person to withstand thousands of troops, and can transform a barren land into a sacred place for cultivation; the treasures, swords, spears, halberds, bell towers, cauldrons and seals, each carry an ancient legend, and each contains power that can change the world.

Zhisheng withdrew his hand and placed it behind his back.

His gaze pierced through the crowd, across the dazzling sea of ​​stars, and looked towards an unknown distance. A slight smile curved his lips, a faint smile that carried a mysterious allure that made one's heart race.

His lips parted slightly, uttering the last word.

"desire."

Two words, spoken lightly, yet they resonated like thunder in everyone's hearts.

Magical techniques, medicinal formulas, formations, and treasures—these are enough to drive anyone mad.

But Zhisheng said there was also a "wish".

What is a wish? Is it resentment? Is it an obsession? Is it those deepest desires buried in the heart, never dared to be spoken to anyone?

Is it about bringing the dead back to life?

Is it about bringing back what you've lost? Is it about making the person who once looked down on you kneel at your feet? Is it about making the figure you can never catch up with stop and wait for you?

Zhisheng offered no explanation.

He simply stood quietly in the sea of ​​stars, with chaotic mist slowly swirling around him, and the stars behind him flickering.

But everyone already has the answer in their heart.

Those old monsters whose lifespans were nearing their end, those cultivators who had been stuck at their bottlenecks for many years, those who were obsessed with something they could not let go of, those who craved power, authority, love, and revenge—at this moment, the flames in their eyes almost burned through the void.

They don't care about any magical techniques or formations; what they care about are those two words—wishes.

Once you enter this tower, once you pass the trials, once you prove you have the ability—your wish can be fulfilled.

The void was deathly silent, with only the starlight flowing silently.

But in each of those beating hearts, a flame was burning fiercely, making their mouths dry, making their bodies tremble, making them wish they could rush through that door immediately and seize the opportunity that could change everything.

"Everything I left behind is sealed here." The voice of the Sage was not loud, but it was like thunder rolling down from the deepest part of the sky, or like a great bell rising from the deepest part of the earth.

The sound reverberated through every star in the void, causing the shimmering points of light to tremble.

It pierced through the eardrums of the crowd, penetrated the barriers of the spirit, and struck straight into the depths of everyone's soul, like an invisible hammer that struck everyone's heart hard.

That wasn't oppression; it was the resonance of the Dao, the echo of the laws, the bowing of this world to the will of an existence.

"From this day forward, this tower will open its doors to all people in the world." His tone remained calm, but beneath that calm lay an unquestionable resolve.

There was no probing, no discussion, and not even time for anyone present to process it.

The door is open, that's it.

Anyone who wants to come in can come in.

Whoever has the ability can take the fortune inside. This is his promise, and also his rule.

"I look forward to seeing each of you shine here." Zhisheng's gaze slowly swept over the stunned crowd, his eyes filled with scrutiny, expectation, and an indescribable depth.

He was not giving alms or bestowing favors, but waiting, waiting for one of these seekers to stand out and shine brightly under the tempering of this tower.

"Go forth and strive, fellow seekers of the Way." As he uttered these last words, the Sage's voice gained a touch of warmth.

That wasn't a condescending gaze, but rather an encouragement from a pioneer to those who followed. He too had walked that path step by step, and he understood better than anyone the hardships and loneliness of the spiritual journey.

The Sage's figure disappeared within the tower gate, and the sky, ignited by starlight, gradually returned to calm. Yet, the silence among the crowd was even more oppressive than before. Everyone was silent, lips tightly pressed together, brows slightly furrowed, eyes darting about incessantly. They were thinking, weighing their options, trying to decipher the deeper meaning behind the Sage's words. Those words were too... So much so that people dare not easily believe them; those promises are too heavy, so heavy that people doubt whether they can bear them.

"Precious arts, supernatural powers, medicinal formulas, formations, treasures, wishes"—any one of these things could easily unleash a bloodbath across the eight realms below. The Wise Sage says they are all within that tower, waiting for a destined person to retrieve them. But there's no such thing as a free lunch; everyone knows this. The greater the opportunity, the greater the risk; the deeper the fortune, the higher the price. What trials are hidden within that tower? What price must be paid? Is it blood, lifespan, cultivation level, or even the soul?

No one dared to make a move. Those who had been eager to rush in just moments before, their eyes red with anticipation, were now as if doused with a bucket of cold water, standing rooted to the spot, their eyes darting about, their minds churning with countless thoughts.

Finally, someone spoke up.

He was an old man, his hair and beard completely white, his body hunched over, yet his cloudy eyes gleamed with a sharpness beyond his years. He slowly walked out from the crowd, each step steady, as if measuring the distance between himself and the door.

He raised his head and looked in the direction where Zhisheng had disappeared, his aged voice echoing in the void.

"How can we get what's inside the tower?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. Everyone pricked up their ears and held their breath.

This is the question they most want to know, yet it's also the question they least dare to ask.

The old man asked on their behalf.

The old man paused, a hint of seriousness flashing in his cloudy eyes.

He took a deep breath and asked the question that weighed heavily on everyone's mind.

"Most importantly—what price will we have to pay?"

After he finished speaking, there was complete silence in the void.

No one dared to speak, no one dared to agree, and even their breathing was deliberately kept quiet. Everyone stared intently at the open tower door, as if waiting for an answer, waiting for a verdict.

cost.

This is a word that carries a heavier weight than "chance".

How many opportunities The price is terrifying. This is an ironclad law of heaven and earth, an insurmountable obstacle on the path of cultivation. They are not afraid to fight, not afraid to kill, not afraid to struggle between life and death.

What they fear is giving everything and ending up with nothing. What they fear even more is that the price waiting for them in that tower is one they cannot afford.