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

The news that all nine caves of Little Dot had opened spread like wildfire throughout the Great Wilderness.

It wasn't the people of Stone Village who spread the word; they were too busy celebrating to go out and spread it. It was the rogue cultivators of the Void God Realm who spread it. Although they couldn't enter Stone Village, they could observe from within the Void God Realm. The battle footage Little Dot left behind in the Void God Realm, those record-breaking achievements, those opponents he sent flying with a single punch—all silently proclaimed one fact: that five-year-old child was no longer the little kid at the Blood Moving Realm. He was now a little kid at the Cave Heaven Realm. All nine caves had opened, all nine caves were perfected; the Cave Heaven Realm had reached its pinnacle.

When the news reached the capital of the Fire Kingdom, the Fire Emperor was in his study reviewing memorials. He put down his pen and remained silent for a long time. Then he smiled, a smile of satisfaction and relief.

"That child, as expected, did not disappoint." He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed towards the distant wilderness. "Nine caves opened simultaneously, at five and a half years old. Such talent, such perseverance, such character—who else in the Eight Domains possesses such skill?"

He turned and walked to his desk, picked up his pen, and wrote a few lines on a blank sheet of paper. After finishing, he folded the paper, sealed it with the Fire Kingdom's sealing wax seal, and summoned a trusted guard.

"Send it to Shicun. Hand it over to Mr. Li personally."

The guard took the letter, bowed, and withdrew.

Having somehow heard the news, Huo Ling'er ran into the study, stood before the Fire Emperor, and asked breathlessly, "Father, did that brat really open nine grotto-heavens?"

The Fire Emperor looked at her, at the light in her eyes, at the urgency on her face, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"real."

"Nine? All of them?"

"all."

Huo Ling'er opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but then hesitated, unsure what to say. She lowered her head, biting her lip, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her. Happy? Of course she was happy. That brat was her friend, and of course she was happy that her friend had become stronger. But resentful? A little bit too. She was also cultivating, and working very hard, but she had only opened three cave heavens so far. Three against nine—the gap was too vast. She didn't want to be left too far behind by that brat.

The Fire Emperor saw through his daughter's thoughts, walked over, and patted her on the shoulder.

"Ling'er, everyone has their own path. His path is one of battle, slaughter, and defiance against the heavens. Your path is different. Your path is one of protection, inheritance, and ensuring a better life for the people of the Fire Kingdom. Don't compare yourself to him; compare yourself to yourself. As long as you are stronger today than you were yesterday, that's enough."

Huo Ling'er raised her head, looked at her father, and nodded vigorously.

"Father, when is that brat coming?"

"I just sent someone to deliver a letter inviting him to the Fire Kingdom. If he's willing to come, it shouldn't be too long."

Huo Ling'er said "Oh," and turned to leave the study. Her steps were quick, her face expressionless, but the light in her eyes was much brighter than before.

The guard traveled for three days from the capital of the Fire Kingdom to Stone Village. He rode the finest spirit horse in the Fire Kingdom, faster than the wind, but even the spirit horse dared not run once they reached the depths of the Great Wilderness. The Great Wilderness teemed with ferocious beasts, and the spirit horse's scent would bring certain death. The guard had no choice but to abandon his horse and proceed on foot, carefully traversing the mountains and forests, avoiding the beasts, until finally, at dusk on the first day, he saw the small village hidden beside the Spirit Lake.

He was stunned.

He had imagined Stone Village to be a dilapidated, desolate village, like other isolated settlements in the Great Wilderness. But what he saw was a village brimming with spiritual energy, its houses neatly arranged, and wisps of smoke rising from chimneys. The shimmering waters of Spirit Lake sparkled in the setting sun, the willow branches swayed gently in the breeze, children chased and played at the village entrance, adults worked in the fields, and elders sat chatting under the trees. This place didn't resemble a village in the Great Wilderness; it was more like a legendary paradise.

The guard took a deep breath and strode toward the village.

He had just reached the village entrance when he was stopped by a skinny, monkey-like child.

"Who are you? What are you doing in our village?"

The guard bowed and said, "I am a messenger from the Fire Kingdom, sent by the Fire Emperor to deliver a message to Mr. Li."

The skinny monkey sized him up, then turned and shouted into the village, "Someone's looking for Mr. Li! They say they're from the Fire Country!"

A moment later, Shi Yunfeng emerged, leaning on his wooden cane. He glanced at the guard and nodded.

"Come with me."

The guard followed Shi Yunfeng into the village, observing as they went. He saw children sweating profusely in the martial arts training ground, adults moving huge stones by the Spirit Lake, and women busily working in the kitchen. He noticed that although the houses were simple, each one was clean and tidy. He saw that although the willow tree was charred black, its branches were still lush and green, exuding a refreshing fragrance.

Shi Yunfeng led him to Li Chenzhou's small stone house.

"Mr. Li, people from the Fire Nation have arrived."

The door opened, and Li Chenzhou walked out, standing with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

The guard quickly bowed and presented the letter with both hands.

"Mr. Li, this was written by His Majesty himself. Please take a look."

Li Chenzhou took the letter, opened it, and read it. The letter was short, only a few lines long. In the letter, the Fire Emperor expressed his respect, saying that the Fire Kingdom would always welcome Li Chenzhou and Little One, that Huo Ling'er missed Little One very much, and that the Fire Kingdom wished to maintain a long-standing friendship with Stone Village. Finally, he sincerely invited Little One to visit the Fire Kingdom, saying that the Fire Kingdom had many delicious foods and fun activities, as well as many young prodigies to spar with.

After reading the letter, Li Chenzhou put it away and nodded.

"I understand. Go back and tell the Fire Emperor that Little One will be going in a few days."

The guard was overjoyed, bowed again, and then followed Shi Yunfeng out of the village.

The little one was meditating by the Spirit Lake when he heard the news. He opened his eyes, grabbed the pottery jar, and ran over.

"Uncle Li, a letter has arrived from the Fire Kingdom? What did the Fire Emperor say?"

"I'm inviting you to the Land of Fire."

"Really?" The little one's eyes lit up. "Did Fatty miss me?"

That's what the letter said.

The little boy chuckled, his silly grin, missing a front tooth, shining brightly in the sunlight. He hugged the pottery jar, circled the Spirit Lake twice, then stopped, looking up at Li Chenzhou.

"Uncle Li, will you come with me?"

"go."

The little boy was so happy he almost jumped for joy. He thought Uncle Li would let him go alone, like the 300,000-mile bloody road. But since Uncle Li said he would go, he felt relieved. With Uncle Li around, he wasn't afraid of anything.

The news quickly spread throughout Stone Village. Shi Yunfeng, upon hearing that Little One was going to the Fire Kingdom, remained silent for a long time. Then he patted Little One's shoulder and said, "Go on, go out and see the world." Great-Grandpa said nothing, only taking a bundle from the house containing the dry food and change of clothes he had prepared for Little One. Skinny Monkey and Snotty Boy held Little One's hands, their eyes brimming with tears, saying, "You must come back!" Shi Qingfeng stood at a distance, silent, only watching Little One, his eyes filled with reluctance. The little golden monkey perched on Shi Qingfeng's shoulder, squeaking as if saying, "Take me with you, take me with you!"

The little red bird flew down from the willow tree and landed on the little one's shoulder.

"I'll go too."

The little one turned to look at it. "Where are you going?"

"The Fire Kingdom is my hometown, can't I go back and take a look?" The little red bird rolled its eyes.

The little one thought about it and agreed. The little red bird was a spirit of the Fire Kingdom, so it was normal for it to go back and visit.

On the day of departure, before dawn, Little Dot got up. He held the earthenware pot, carried the bundle his great-grandfather had prepared for him, and stood at the village entrance, waiting for Li Chenzhou. Li Chenzhou came out of the kitchen, holding a pot of freshly boiled animal milk, and handed it to Little Dot.

"Drink it on the way."

The little one took the animal milk, held it in his arms, and grinned.

Everyone in Stone Village came out and stood at the village entrance, watching them. Shi Yunfeng leaned on his wooden cane, his great-grandfather stood upright, Skinny Monkey and Snotty-Nosed Boy held hands, Shi Qingfeng held the golden baby monkey, the women wiped away tears, and the men clenched their fists. No one spoke, but everyone's eyes were saying the same thing—come back soon.

Li Chenzhou didn't turn around, but simply walked towards the edge of the village. The little boy, carrying the pottery jar and animal milk, followed behind him. After a few steps, he stopped, glanced back at the familiar faces, and grinned, revealing a bright smile with a missing front tooth. Then he raised the pottery jar and waved it at everyone.

"I'm going to the Land of Fire! I'll bring you all delicious food when I return!"

After saying that, he turned around, took short strides, and chased after Li Chenzhou.

Behind them, the people of Stone Village stood there, watching the two figures grow smaller and smaller, lingering for a long time. The ripples of Linghu Lake rippled gently in the morning light, as if bidding them farewell. The branches of the Willow God swayed gently in the breeze, scattering dappled green light, as if blessing them.