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

In the heart of the imperial palace in the capital of the Fire Kingdom, Huo Ling'er sat in her bedchamber, a bamboo scroll spread out before her, but her gaze was not on it. Her eyes were fixed on the night sky outside the window, but her thoughts drifted far, far away—to the primordial land of the Void God Realm, to that small figure holding a pottery jar, hands on hips, swaying her head.

She recalled the words that brat had shouted from within the pillar of light: "You worthless chickens and dogs, mere ornaments for sale!" "Come at me all at once, I don't have time to deal with you one by one!" "Within the Blood-Moving Realm, I am heaven, I am earth, I am the supreme and only true god!" Every word was arrogant to the extreme, yet every word made her grit her teeth in anger. What angered her even more was that that brat had actually done it. He blasted those geniuses away with his fists, beat those masked venerables until they were covered in dust, and trampled everyone under his feet. He became the number one in the Blood-Moving Realm, an invincible existence in the Eight Domains.

Huo Ling'er bit her lip, pushed the bamboo scroll aside, and slumped onto the table. Her mind was in turmoil, a jumbled mess. She didn't know why she cared so much about that brat. What did it matter to her whether he became the best in the world? He was from Stone Village, not Fire Kingdom. His strength was his business; why should she be happy for him? But wasn't she happy? No, she was. When Zhi Sheng said, "The best in the Blood Refining Realm, little brat," she almost jumped up and cheered. She held back because she didn't want that brat to see her happy. That brat was already arrogant enough; if she knew she was happy for him, wouldn't he be strutting around like a madman?

So she held it in, endured it, and pretended not to care. She even deliberately said some sarcastic things, like, "What's there to be jealous of when someone who drinks milk is number one in the world?" and "I didn't buy this specifically for you; I just saw it on the way." But she knew those words couldn't lie. Her father saw it, and so did that brat. When he took the pottery jar, there was a clear hint of emotion in his eyes. Although he still called her "Fat Sister," that "thank you" was genuine. It wasn't just politeness or perfunctory; it was a heartfelt and sincere gratitude.

Huo Ling'er buried her face in her arms and let out a muffled groan. She didn't want to admit it, but she knew that in her heart, that brat was no longer just "a naughty little brat." He was her friend, a true friend with whom she could bicker and tease, yet also care for each other in crucial moments. She didn't know how this relationship began; perhaps it started when he called her "Fat Sister" the first time they met, perhaps it started when he chased after her, insisting she admit his strength, perhaps it started when he drank animal milk and laughed carefree. Anyway, by the time she realized it, that brat had already taken root in her heart.

"Your Highness," a maid's voice came from outside the door. "His Majesty requests your presence in the study."

Huo Ling'er looked up and rubbed her eyes. "I understand."

She stood up, straightened her clothes, and then walked out of the palace. A night breeze blew in her face, carrying the fragrance of flowers from the garden and the mist from the distant spirit lake. She took a deep breath, suppressing the jumbled thoughts in her mind, and then strode towards the study.

In the study, the Fire Emperor sat behind his desk, flipping through a scroll of memorials. His expression was calm, but a barely perceptible smile flickered in his deep eyes. He saw Huo Ling'er enter, put down the memorial, and gestured to the chair opposite him. "Sit."

Huo Ling'er sat down and looked at the Fire Emperor. "Father, what brings you here?"

The Fire Emperor didn't answer directly, but instead picked up his teacup and took a small sip. "Ling'er, what do you think of that child?"

Huo Ling'er paused, taken aback. "Which child?"

"You know who I'm talking about."

Huo Ling'er curled her lip. "That brat? What can he be? Arrogant, haughty, and looks down on everyone. He still loves drinking milk. He's five years old and still breastfeeding. Aren't he ashamed?"

The Fire Emperor smiled slightly. "Anything else?"

"And..." Huo Ling'er thought for a moment, then bit her lip. "And... he's very strong. Really strong. Those geniuses, those venerable ones, couldn't even withstand a single move from him. I don't know how he developed that fist; it looks small, but when it hits someone, it's like being hit by a mountain."

"Anything else?"

"And... he's not actually a bad person. Although he's sharp-tongued, he's genuinely good to his friends. He cares a lot about the people of Stone Village, Willow God, Little Red Bird, and that golden monkey. After becoming the number one in the world, the first thing he thought of wasn't to show off, but to grill fish for the people of Stone Village and share beast milk. He... he's just arrogant on the surface, but he's actually very soft-hearted."

The Fire Emperor looked at her, a hint of relief in his eyes. "Ling'er, the fact that you can see these things means you've truly grown up."

Huo Ling'er lowered her head and remained silent. She knew what her father was talking about. He wasn't asking her how her little one was doing; he was asking her how she saw him. Her words hadn't been thought out; they'd just slipped out. That meant, in her heart, that's exactly how her little one was: arrogant, but sincere; domineering, but kind; deserving of a beating, but worthy of friendship.

"Father, you summoned me here just to ask this?" Huo Ling'er raised her head and looked at the Emperor.

The Fire Emperor shook his head. "No, I called you here to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"That child will be coming to the Fire Kingdom soon."

Huo Ling'er was stunned. "What's he doing in the Fire Kingdom?"

"To travel," the Fire Emperor said. "Senior Li wanted him to broaden his horizons and meet more people. The Fire Kingdom is his first stop after leaving the Great Wilderness."

Huo Ling'er's heart suddenly raced. She didn't know why she was so nervous; that brat wasn't unfamiliar with the Fire Kingdom. Last time he came, she had even acted as his guide, showing him around the entire capital. Although they bickered the whole way, and although he had driven her half-mad with anger, looking back now, that time was actually quite happy.

"Let him come, what's it to me?" Huo Ling'er said, feigning nonchalance. "I'm not his nanny, I don't have to play with him."

The Fire Emperor looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I didn't say you had to play with him. I'm just telling you this news. What you do is your business."

Huo Ling'er snorted and stood up. "I understand. Father, I'm going back."

She turned and walked out of the study, her steps much quicker than when she came. The Fire Emperor watched her retreating figure, shook his head, and sighed softly. How could he not understand his daughter's feelings? She said she didn't care, but in her heart, she cared more than anyone else. That child had already occupied a very important place in her heart. It wasn't romantic love; they were too young to understand such things. It was a pure and sincere friendship. The kind of friendship where they could tease and bicker with each other, yet would also stand up for each other without hesitation when needed. This kind of friendship was stronger than any alliance, more precious than any self-interest.

The Fire Emperor picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and his smile deepened. He was grateful, grateful that Huo Ling'er had met that child. Grateful that the child had also treated Huo Ling'er as a friend.

Huo Ling'er returned to her palace, closed the door, and leaned against it, her heart still pounding. She didn't know what she was so nervous about. That brat wasn't some monster, so why was she so anxious? She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down, but her heart just wouldn't listen and kept pounding wildly.

She walked to the bedside, sat down, hugged the pillow, and buried her face in it. The image of that little brat resurfaced in her mind. He was clutching the earthenware pot, grinning foolishly with his missing front tooth, calling her "Fat Sister" in his childish voice. She used to find that name irritating, wishing she could sew his mouth shut. But now, thinking back, that name was actually quite endearing. Because only he called her that. Everyone else called her "Princess" or "Ling'er," only he called her "Fat Sister." Although she wasn't fat, and although she cared a lot about the name, she knew he wasn't mocking her; he was simply expressing affection in his own way.

"You brat," she muttered under her breath, but a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.

She pulled a small cloth bag from under her pillow, opened it, and inside was a crystal ball the size of a fist. Sealed within the crystal ball was an image—the moment Little Dot sent the Golden-Winged Roc King flying with a single punch in the Realm of the Void. In the image, Little Dot, though small, radiated a light that dared not be looked at directly. It was secretly recorded by Huo Ling'er; she didn't know why she recorded it, only that she felt that moment should be remembered.

She held the crystal ball in her palm, feeling its warm touch, a complex emotion welling up inside her. She remembered her father's words—"That child will soon come to the Fire Kingdom." Suddenly, she felt a surge of anticipation, anticipation for that brat's arrival. She wanted to see if he had grown taller, if he was still as annoying as ever, if he was still clutching that broken pottery jar. She wanted to bicker with him, to hear him call her "Fat Sister," to see him jump up and down in exasperation. She wanted to tell him that the new pottery jar she had given him wasn't something she bought on a whim; she had commissioned the best potter in the capital to make it. The five-colored bird on the jar was painted stroke by stroke by her. It had taken her three days, ruining over a dozen jars, to finally create that lifelike five-colored bird.

But she couldn't bring herself to say those words. She was afraid that if she did, that brat would laugh at her. She was afraid that if she did, he would think she cared too much about him. So she chose not to say it, chose to cover it up with "I bought it on a whim," chose to disguise it with "I didn't buy it specifically for you." She thought she could fool everyone like that, but she knew she couldn't fool herself.

Huo Ling'er put the crystal ball back into the cloth bag and tucked it under her pillow. Then she stood up, walked to the window, and opened it. The night breeze rushed in, blowing her long hair and her dress. She gazed into the distance, towards the Great Wilderness, at the small village she had visited many times.

"You brat, hurry up and get here," she whispered. "This princess has many scores to settle with you."

She paused, then added, "If you break that new earthenware pot, I won't buy you another one."

She paused, then added, "If you break that new earthenware pot, I won't buy you another one."

Her voice was very soft, so soft that only she could hear it. But in her eyes, there was an unconcealable anticipation and joy.

The next morning, Huo Ling'er got up early. For once, she didn't linger in bed, but instead washed up quickly, put on her favorite red dress, and meticulously combed her hair. The maids exchanged bewildered glances, wondering what was wrong with the princess today. Usually, they had to call her three times to wake her, but today she got up on her own. Usually, she would just grab any clothes and throw them on, but today she carefully selected and changed them repeatedly. Usually, she could just tie her hair up casually, but today she spent a full half hour combing it.

"Your Highness, is there something important on your mind today?" a maid asked cautiously.

Huo Ling'er blushed. "No! What could be wrong? I just... I just wanted to dress up nicely. Is that a problem?"

The maid quickly shook her head. "Yes, yes, of course."

Huo Ling'er snorted, looked at herself in the bronze mirror again and again, and only after confirming that she looked perfect did she nod in satisfaction. She left the palace and headed towards her father's study. She wanted to ask her father when that brat was arriving. But she stopped halfway there. No, she couldn't ask. If she did, her father would know that she cared about that brat. She had to pretend she didn't care, pretend she was indifferent. She had to make everyone think that whether that brat came or not had nothing to do with her.

She took a deep breath, composed herself, and made herself appear calm and collected. Then she continued walking towards the study.

In the study, the Fire Emperor was reviewing memorials. He was slightly taken aback when he saw Huo Ling'er walk in. "Ling'er, why are you up so early today?"

"I can't sleep," Huo Ling'er said. "Father, when...when will that brat arrive?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. She had clearly said she wouldn't ask, so how did she give herself away so easily?

The Fire Emperor looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Didn't you say it was none of your business whether he came or not?"

Huo Ling'er's face flushed instantly. "I...I was just asking casually! Is that not allowed? He is, after all, a guest. As the princess of the Fire Kingdom, isn't it normal for me to inquire about when a guest will arrive?"

"That's normal." The Fire Emperor nodded, not exposing her lie. "He'll arrive tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Huo Ling'er's heart raced again. "Then...should I prepare anything? Like...like a welcoming ceremony or something?"

"No need," the Fire Emperor said. "Senior Li doesn't like to be ostentatious. He just wants that child to come out and see the world, not to be worshipped."

Huo Ling'er gave an "Oh," feeling a little disappointed. She had originally thought about preparing a grand welcoming ceremony for that brat, to let him know the warmth of the Fire Kingdom. But her father said it wasn't necessary, so she decided against it. She turned and walked out of the study, her steps much lighter than when she came in. She was already planning what to wear tomorrow, where to take that brat, and what delicious food to eat.

She suddenly remembered that the little brat loved animal milk. She recalled an old shop in the capital that sold the best animal milk in the entire Fire Kingdom. She decided to take him there tomorrow and let him drink his fill. Although she always jokingly called him "still breastfeeding" and "shameful," she knew in her heart that it was his favorite thing. Seeing something he liked should make him happy, right?

As Huo Ling'er pondered, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a smile. She suddenly felt that tomorrow seemed to be coming too late.

Meanwhile, deep in the wilderness of Stone Village, Little Dot was squatting by the Spirit Lake, clutching a pottery jar, staring blankly at the spirit fish in the water. He didn't know that a girl was waiting for him in the capital, a thousand miles away. He didn't know that the girl had ruined dozens of pottery jars for him. He didn't know that while the girl called him "Little Brat," she considered him her most important friend.

All he knew was that he was going to the Fire Kingdom tomorrow. He was going to see Fat Sister. He wanted to tell her that he really liked his new pottery jar. The five-colored bird on the jar was beautiful. The four characters "Little Tyrant of Beast Milk" were very impressive. He wanted to thank her, not just as a formality, not perfunctorily, but sincerely.

Because he knew that the earthenware jar wasn't something she bought casually. She had put thought, a lot of thought, into it.

The little one looked down at the lifelike five-colored bird on the pottery jar, grinned, revealing a bright smile with a missing front tooth. "Fat sister, you wait. I'll be back tomorrow. I'll show you if I've gotten stronger again."

He stood up, clutching the pottery jar, and ran towards the village with his short legs. Behind him, the shimmering waters of Linghu Lake sparkled in the setting sun, as if offering a blessing in advance for their meeting tomorrow.