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

Currently reading: Chapter 296, All Nine Holes Open Simultaneously, latest chapters available here.

After the first cave was opened, Little Dot didn't rush to open the second one.

It wasn't that he didn't want to, but Li Chenzhou told him that he couldn't rush it.

"The more cave heavens you have, the better; the more stable they are, the better. Each cave heaven must be solid, firm, and perfectly integrated with your body, spirit, and blood. An unstable cave heaven is more terrifying than ten stable ones. Because it will collapse when you need it most, tearing you to pieces from the inside out."

The little one kept Uncle Li's words in mind.

So every day, besides drinking milk, eating, sleeping, chasing birds, and pinching little monkeys, he spent all his time consolidating the first cave.

He meditates every day, immersing his mind in the small vortex within his body, feeling its rotation, its temperature, and its breath.

The vortex seemed to be something alive; it was growing, changing, and becoming more and more powerful.

Its color changed from light gold to deep gold, its rotation changed from slow to steady and powerful, and its aura changed from faint to rich and magnificent.

The little one could feel that the cave was merging with him.

It is not an external force, but a part of himself.

Just like his fists, his feet, and his eyes.

He can mobilize the essence of heaven and earth in the cave at any time, just as naturally as he mobilizes his own blood and qi.

A month later, Li Chenzhou said, "It's ready."

The little one was so happy he almost jumped for joy.

He had been waiting for this day for a long time.

He got up before dawn the next day.

He carried the pottery jar, walked to the edge of Linghu Lake, and sat down cross-legged.

He closed his eyes, focused his mind, and began searching for the entrance to the second grotto.

This time was much easier than the first time.

Because he already had experience, he knew where the door was, how to find it, and how to push it.

That door was right next to the first cave, smaller and thinner than the first door, and the spiritual energy behind it was not as surging as that of the first door.

The little one took a deep breath, stretched out his hands, and placed them on the door.

This time, he didn't use brute force, but instead used his mind to sense it first.

He felt the texture of the door, its temperature, and the aura of power behind it.

The force sensed his presence and began to attack the door.

The little one didn't wait for it to break free, but instead used its strength to push hard.

"boom--"

The door opened.

The second surge of the essence of heaven and earth flowed into his body, blazing like fire, icy cold like frost, full of vitality, deathly still, dazzlingly bright, and profoundly dark.

Six forces intertwined and surged within his body, attempting to open up a second space.

The little one gritted his teeth, endured the pain, and guided that power.

Having had the experience of the first time, he knew how to guide, how to go along with, and how to let that power settle in his body.

After an unknown amount of time, that force finally subsided.

It formed a new vortex next to the first cave.

The vortex was smaller and shallower than the first one, but it radiated the same dazzling light.

The little one opened his eyes; the sun had already risen.

He looked down at his hands, which were still small and fair, but he knew that he had gained a new world.

He stood up, walked to the edge of Linghu Lake, squatted down, and scooped up a handful of lake water.

The lake water was clear and cool, with a hint of sweetness.

He lowered his head, took a sip, then looked up and gazed into the distance.

He felt his strength had increased even further.

It's not brute force, but a power that comes from within, a power that resonates with the universe.

The second cave was a success.

The third grotto-heaven opened up half a month later.

This time was easier than the second.

The little one has already figured out the trick; he knows how to find the door, how to push it, and how to guide that power.

He opened up the third cave in just one day.

The fourth grotto-heaven will appear in ten days.

The fifth grotto-heaven will appear eight days later.

The sixth grotto-heaven will appear in seven days.

Each new cave was easier to open than the last, because his body had adapted to that power, his mind had become familiar with the process, and his will had become increasingly firm.

But each new grotto was more painful than the last.

It wasn't physical pain, but mental torment.

Because with each additional cavern, the power within the body increases, and the impact of that power becomes stronger.

The little one must simultaneously guide the power of the six grotto-heavens, ensuring their harmonious coexistence, preventing them from conflicting or devouring each other.

This is more difficult than opening up a grotto-heaven itself.

But he didn't give up, because he knew this was the only way.

To become stronger, you have to pay a price.

No one succeeds easily.

The seventh grotto-heaven will appear six days later.

The eighth grotto-heaven will appear in five days.

When the eighth cave was successfully opened, the little one was too tired to stand up.

His body was trembling, his spirit was exhausted, and his will was wavering.

He didn't know if he could open up the ninth grotto-heaven.

The ninth grotto-heaven is the most difficult one.

It wasn't because that door was harder to open, but because the eight inner grotto-heavens within him had already occupied most of the space in his body. For the ninth inner grotto-heaven to squeeze in, it had to be in harmony with the other eight, without conflict or repulsion.

It's like stuffing a large box into a room that's already full of things.

It's not that the box can't get in, but that the things in the room have to make way.

The little one rested for three days before recovering.

For the past three days, he has not practiced cultivation or meditated; he has only eaten, drunk, and slept.

He ate a lot of roasted spirit fish, drank a lot of animal milk, and slept a lot.

His body is recovering, his spirit is recovering, and his will is recovering.

On the fourth day, he felt he was ready.

He got up before dawn.

He carried the pottery jar, walked to the edge of Linghu Lake, and sat down cross-legged.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind into his body.

The eight grotto-heavens slowly rotated within his body, each radiating dazzling light and containing boundless essence of heaven and earth.

They were like eight suns, illuminating every corner of his body.

The little one didn't look at them, but instead went to find the ninth door.

That door is in the deepest, most profound place, surrounded by eight grottoes, at the center where their powers intertwine.

The door was small, thin, and fragile, like a sheet of paper.

But that layer of paper was harder to push open than any door.

Because it wasn't locked up, but rather suppressed by the power of those eight grotto-heavens.

The power of the eight grottoes intertwined, forming an invisible net that firmly held the door shut.

If the little one wants to push open that door, he must first break through that net.

It is not about brute force, but about wisdom, spirit, and will.

He took a deep breath and focused his mind on the eight grottoes.

He sensed the power of each grotto, its attributes, its rotation, and its breath.

Intense, cold, vibrant, lifeless, luminous, and dark.

Six forces and eight grotto-heavens intertwine to form a delicate balance.

The little guy knew that what he needed to do was not to break the balance, but to take advantage of it.

He wanted to use his own power to guide the power of the eight grotto-heavens, to make them temporarily make way for the power of the ninth grotto-heaven to rush in.

This is very difficult, extremely difficult.

Because the power of those eight grotto-heavens has already developed its own will; they do not want to give way, do not want to be guided, and do not want to be changed.

The little one gritted his teeth and tried again and again.

He touched those eight grottoes with his spirit, guided them with his will, and communicated with them with his heart.

He told them that he was not going to destroy them, but to improve them.

Nine grotto-heavens are more perfect, more powerful, and more stable than eight grotto-heavens.

He needs their help, their cooperation, and their trust.

The eight grottoes seemed to understand his words and began to slowly, little by little, make way for him.

The road was very narrow, so narrow that only a ray of light could pass through at a time.

That's enough, more than enough.

The little one focused his attention on the road and then pushed hard.

"boom--"

The ninth door opened.

The ninth stream of heaven and earth essence surged into his body, blazing like fire, icy cold like frost, full of vitality, deathly still, dazzlingly bright, and profoundly dark.

The six forces intertwined and rushed along the narrow path into the gap between the eight grottoes.

It slowly rotated in that gap, forming a new vortex.

The vortex wasn't large, even smaller than the first grotto-heaven, but it emitted the most dazzling light, like the ninth sun, illuminating every corner of his body.

All nine grotto-heavens are now complete.

The little one opened his eyes and found himself still sitting by the Spirit Lake, with the sun already high in the sky.

He sat by the lake for the entire morning, but didn't feel tired at all; on the contrary, he felt energetic. With abundant Qi and blood, and a firm will.

He stood up and stretched his body.

The bones crackled and popped, like firecrackers.

He felt his body was both much lighter and much heavier.

The lightness was due to the flow of the essence of heaven and earth from the nine grotto heavens within his body, making him feel like a feather.

The heaviness came from the fact that his physical body had become stronger, making him feel like a mountain.

He walked to the edge of Linghu Lake, squatted down, and looked at his reflection in the lake.

In his reflection, he was still that small, messy-haired, dusty-faced child.

But he knew that he was no longer the same.

He's already a nobody in the Cave Heaven Realm, and a Cave Heaven Realm cultivator who has opened nine Cave Heavens.

It is not nine puddles, nor nine ponds, but nine small caves that contain immense power.

He grinned, and his silly, toothless grin rippled across the lake.

He grinned, and his silly, toothless grin rippled across the lake.

"Uncle Li, I succeeded." He turned around and saw Li Chenzhou standing behind him, hands behind his back, his face calm. "I opened nine grotto-heavens."

Li Chenzhou looked down at him, at the light in his eyes, at the smile on his face, at the milk stains around his mouth that hadn't been wiped clean, and at the corners of his mouth that were slightly upturned.

"I know."

"How did you know? You weren't watching me cultivate."

"I don't need to watch you." Li Chenzhou reached out and ruffled his hair. "The aura around you has changed. The aura of nine grotto-heavens is different from that of eight grotto-heavens. It's like the difference between nine suns and eight suns; you can tell the difference at a glance."

The little one chuckled and buried his face in Li Chenzhou's clothes, rubbing against him.

"Uncle Li, I'm exhausted. I want to eat grilled spirit fish and drink beast milk."

"Then let's go eat."

"Stay with me."

"it is good."

The little one smiled happily, let go of Li Chenzhou's leg, hugged the pottery jar, and ran towards the village with his short legs.

He ran while shouting, "I've opened nine grotto-heavens! I've opened nine grotto-heavens! I'm the number one in the grotto-heaven realm!"

His voice was clear and resonant, echoing across Linghu Lake, through the mountains and forests, and throughout the entire Stone Village.

Shi Yunfeng was sunbathing in the yard when he heard the little one's shout. He jumped up and almost tipped over his chair.

"What? Nine grotto-heavens? This child, this child..." He couldn't go on, tears streaming down his face and dripping onto his faded old robe.

Grandpa was meditating under the willow tree when he heard the little one's shout. He opened his eyes, and tears welled up in his cloudy old eyes.

"Nine grotto-heavens. My Stone Clan has finally produced a true prodigy."

Skinny Monkey and Snotty Boy were playing at the village entrance when they heard Little Dot's shout. They dropped the mud in their hands and ran towards Little Dot.

"Little one! You really opened nine grotto-heavens?"

"Really! You'll see!"

The little boy walked up to a large rock, which was taller and wider than him, and weighed at least tens of thousands of kilograms. He stretched out his right hand and gently pressed it on the rock. At the same time, the nine inner heavens within his body rotated, and nine streams of heaven and earth essence surged out and gathered in his palm.

"Click—"

The large rock cracked, not into several pieces, but into powder, which was scattered by the wind.

The skinny monkey and the snotty-nosed boy stared in disbelief, their mouths agape enough to fit an egg.

"Little one, you're amazing! Nine grotto-heavens! Nine grotto-heavens!" The skinny monkey hugged the little one tightly, his face covered in snot and tears.

"Of course!" The little one puffed out his chest, chin held high. "I'm the best in the world! The best in every realm!"

Shi Qingfeng stood at a distance, watching the little one surrounded by the skinny monkey and the snotty-nosed kid, a slight smile playing on his lips. He didn't go forward, because he knew the little one didn't need his congratulations. Just watching was enough.

The little golden monkey perched on Shi Qingfeng's shoulder, squeaking as if cheering on the little one.

The little red bird perched on a willow branch, watching the lively scene below, and rolled its eyes.

"So what if you opened nine grotto-heavens? What's so great about that? I opened nine back in the day too."

But the corners of its mouth couldn't help but curve up.

That brat is really something.

At the age of five, he was the number one in the Blood Realm and possessed nine Cave Heavens in the Cave Heaven Realm.

Such talent, such hard work, such character deserve everyone's admiration.

The news spread very quickly.

In less than half a day, the entire Stone Village knew that Little Dot had opened nine caves.

The women cried and laughed, the men clapped and cheered, and the children jumped and danced.

Shi Yunfeng announced that they would add dishes for dinner to celebrate Little Dot opening nine caves.

Great-grandfather took out his treasured spirit wine, wanting to have a good drink with Shi Yunfeng.

Skinny Monkey and Snotty Boy grabbed Little One, wanting to have a go at him, but Little One punched them one by one, leaving them sprawled on the ground looking for their teeth.

The little boy stood by the Spirit Lake, holding a pottery jar, watching the sunset, and felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction welling up in his heart.

He succeeded.

He opened up nine grotto heavens.

He was no longer the little guy from the Blood Removal Realm.

He's already a nobody in the Cave Heaven Realm.

Nine grottoes, nine suns, slowly rotated within his body, illuminating his path forward.

He will continue to work hard to break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, then the Inscription Realm, then the Array Realm, then the Venerable Realm, then the Divine Fire Realm, and then the True God Realm.

He wants to keep walking, to go where no one else can.

"What are you thinking about?" Li Chenzhou walked over and stood beside him.

The little boy looked up at Li Chenzhou, his silly grin, missing a front tooth, shining brightly in the sunset.

"I'm thinking about the future. I want to become stronger, so strong that no one can bully Shicun, so strong that no one can bully Uncle Li, so strong that I can protect everyone."

Li Chenzhou looked at him without saying anything, but simply reached out and rubbed his head.

"Then let's work hard."

"I will."

The little one, carrying the pottery jar, took his short steps and ran towards the village.

Behind me, the sun was setting, and the sky was ablaze with the colors of the sunset.

The shimmering waters of Linghu Lake rippled gently in the breeze, as if bidding him farewell.

The willow tree's branches swayed gently in the night breeze, scattering dappled green light, as if blessing him.

He knew that from this day forward, the little one's path would be a little wider.

The nine grotto heavens are just the beginning.

The road ahead is still long.

But he wasn't afraid, because that child would keep going.

And he will always stand behind him.

Author Wei Gongyang personally recommends: I hope you enjoy the story of "Covering the Sky: I Prove the Great Dao Through the Gate of Immortality" on Cola Novels.