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

The stories Liu Shen recounted weighed heavily on Li Chenzhou's heart like a stone. The names of the Six Paths Reincarnation Immortal King, the Endless Immortal King, the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, and the Thunder Emperor lingered in the night wind. They were once the most powerful beings in the world, the guardians of this land, who shed their last drop of blood for countless lives. Yet their sacrifice brought only fleeting peace. Now, the shadow of the alien realm once again looms over this land, even more intense than before. What alarmed Li Chenzhou even more was that the gazes from the upper realms had begun to fall upon this forgotten lower realm.

Li Chenzhou leaned against a willow tree, eyes closed, his mind racing. Within his Three Thousand Great Daos, the Great Destiny Technique was constantly deducing the myriad possibilities of the future. It was a power that transcended time and space, capable of capturing even the slightest ripples in the river of fate, thus foreseeing the impending storm. Since arriving in this world, he had been using the Great Destiny Technique to observe the course of destiny. He had seen much, and he had also concealed much. Some things could not be spoken, for speaking them would alter the trajectory of fate, making things even more unpredictable. He could only observe silently, prepare silently, and protect silently.

But recently, he saw some unpleasant things.

The images were blurry and fragmented, as if deliberately obscured by something. He only saw outlines—figures descending from above, whispers echoing in the darkness, and conspiracies brewing in the shadows. These figures did not belong to the lower realm; their aura was too powerful, so powerful that even this world trembled slightly. Ancient runes were embroidered on their robes, runes not of the lower realm's style, but from the Three Thousand Dao Provinces, or even from higher realms. Their eyes were cold and arrogant, as if looking at a group of ants, as if looking at a field of crops ready to be harvested at any moment. They came from the upper realm, from the Three Thousand Dao Provinces, perhaps even from the Immortal Realm. Their target was not the Fire Kingdom, not the Stone Kingdom, not any power in the Eight Domains, but the entire lower realm.

Li Chenzhou opened his eyes, his gaze calm as still water, yet a hint of solemnity lingered in his deep eyes. He knew that the people of the Upper Realm had finally become restless. The Eternal Life Trial Tower, immortal techniques, and opportunities that even the Upper Realm coveted had appeared in the Lower Realm. How could those high and mighty figures possibly turn a blind eye? They would definitely send people down to investigate, perhaps even to seize them. This was human nature, the law of the cultivation world. The strong prey on the weak, and the mighty are respected. If you have something good, others will come to take it. If you can't hold onto it, that's your fate. In their eyes, the Lower Realm was nothing more than a barbaric wasteland, a swarm of uncivilized ants. They could come and go as they pleased, take whatever they wanted, without reason, without excuse, without even a need for concealment.

He didn't tell anyone about this, because he didn't want to cause panic. The Fire Emperor was already busy enough, dealing with state affairs, the threat from the Ancient Divine Mountain, and protecting the child. The people of Stone Village weren't strong enough; knowing wouldn't help, it would only add to their troubles. Although Willow Goddess had recovered some of her strength, she hadn't returned to her peak, and she might not be able to win against the powerful beings from the Upper Realm. As for Little One, he was too young and too weak to participate in this level of competition. Therefore, Li Chenzhou chose silence, chose to face it alone, and chose to secretly plot, waiting for those from the Upper Realm to reveal their true colors.

What he didn't know was that those people from the upper realms had already arrived. And they arrived even faster and more secretly than he had anticipated.

Deep within the Great Wilderness lies a forgotten, ancient sacred mountain. Soaring into the clouds, it is perpetually shrouded in mist, preventing even sunlight from penetrating. The mountain is covered with jagged rocks and ancient trees, their tendrils like snakes, coiling around these colossal trees that have stood for countless years. Poisonous miasma permeates the mountain streams, ferocious beasts roam, and deadly traps abound. Ordinary people dare not even approach it, let alone climb it. But for the beings that inhabit it, this is their home, their territory, the place where they have lived for generations.

The mountain was inhabited by various ferocious beasts: Qiongqi, Taowu, Taotie, and Chaos. They were the rulers of the ancient divine mountain, one of the most powerful forces in the eight realms below. They once coexisted peacefully with humans, even intermarrying, but with the rise of humans and the growing strength of ancient kingdoms like the Fire Kingdom and the Stone Kingdom, their living space was constantly squeezed, and their dignity was constantly trampled upon. They were unwilling to accept this, they wanted to rebel, but they knew that they alone could not defeat humans. Humans had the Fire Emperor, the Stone Emperor, the leaders of various sects, and an allied army composed of countless cultivators. They, on the other hand, were just a disorganized mob, fighting their own battles, none of them submitting to the others. So they chose another path—colluding with external enemies and betraying the lower realm. They contacted other realms, the upper realm, and all the forces they could reach, hoping to use their strength against them and reclaim everything they had lost.

Tonight, the main peak of the Ancient Divine Mountain is brightly lit. At the summit stands an ancient palace, constructed of massive black stones, its walls inscribed with ancient runes. These runes emit a chilling light in the night, like eyes peering into the darkness. Seated within the palace are a dozen or so figures, some human, some beast, some half-human, half-beast. They are the patriarchs of the various races of the Ancient Divine Mountain, the most powerful ferocious beasts in the eight lower realms. Their auras are deep and tyrannical; each is at least a Venerable Realm expert, several even touching the threshold of the Divine Fire Realm. Yet, at this moment, their faces bear expressions of respect, even humility, for the person standing before them is not one they can afford to offend.

The man, dressed in white, possessed a handsome face and appeared to be no more than thirty years old. Yet, his eyes held a world-weariness beyond his years—the kind of gaze that comes from having lived through countless years and witnessed the world's splendor and desolation. His robes were embroidered with silver runes, which shimmered faintly in the candlelight, emanating a chilling aura. He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the beast chieftains, a faint smile playing on his lips. The smile was neither cold nor warm, just a faint one, as if he were looking at a group of insignificant ants. Behind him stood two men and women in black, a man and a woman, their faces cold and their eyes sharp as lightning, exuding the aura of the Array Formation Realm. They were his attendants, his guards, and his blades. He didn't need to lift a finger; he only needed to speak, and others would kill for him.

"Gentlemen, what have you decided?" the man in white spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but every word struck the hearts of the beast chieftains like a heavy hammer. His voice carried an unquestionable authority, like a pronouncement of the will of Heaven, inviolable and unchangeable.

The chieftain of the Qiongqi clan was a burly middle-aged man with a resolute face and piercing eyes. He was a peak Venerable Realm expert, only one step away from the Divine Fire Realm. He had once commanded respect and terror in the territory of the Ancient Divine Mountain, striking fear into the hearts of countless human cultivators. Yet now, fine beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. He stared at the man in white, a nameless dread rising within him. This man was too strong. So strong that he couldn't even muster the thought of resistance. He had witnessed the Fire Emperor's power, the Stone Emperor's power, and even the slumbering ancestor of the Ancient Divine Mountain's power. But none of them had given him this feeling. It was like an ant standing before an ancient ferocious beast, vulnerable to being crushed at any moment, leaving not even a bone fragment.

"My lord, we have made up our minds." The chieftain of the Qiongqi tribe took a deep breath, suppressing his fear and trying to make his voice sound calm. "We are willing to cooperate with the Upper Realm to jointly deal with the human race. From now on, the Primordial Divine Mountain will be the Upper Realm's eyes and ears and limbs in the lower realm. Whatever the Upper Realm tells us to do, we will do. Whoever the Upper Realm tells us to kill, we will kill."

The man in white nodded, seemingly unsurprised by the answer. A slight smile deepened at the corners of his mouth. "Very good. Discretion is the better part of valor. Your choice is wise. The Upper Realm will not mistreat those who obey. As long as you remain loyal, you will receive every benefit due."

"But..." The Taotie tribe chief hesitated, asking cautiously. His voice trembled slightly, for he knew this question might anger the lord before him. Yet, he wouldn't feel at ease if he didn't ask. "My lord, what can the Upper Realm offer us? We've taken such a great risk; we must know what the reward will be, right?"

The man in white glanced at him, his gaze calm as still water, yet the Taotie clan chief felt as if an invisible sword were pressed against his throat. He instinctively took a step back, his face pale, his lips trembling. He regretted it, regretted asking the question. But the words had already been spoken, and there was no going back.

The man in white was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke. "What do you want?"

The chieftain of the Taotie tribe gritted his teeth and spoke his mind. He knew this was his only chance. If he didn't speak, he might never have another. "We want human territory, human resources, and human slaves. We want to restore the former glory of the ancient sacred mountain, we want to make those humans kneel at our feet, we want them to know who the true masters of this land are. We want blood for blood, we want to collect every debt those humans owe us, one by one."

The man in white smiled, a faint smile, almost imperceptible. Yet, within that smile lay something chilling. "The Upper Realm can give you all of this. As long as you obey and do your duty, you will receive every penny of the benefits you are entitled to. The strength of the Upper Realm is beyond your imagination. Not to mention the Eight Domains of the Lower Realm, even the Three Thousand Provinces are under its absolute control. Following the Upper Realm will only bring you benefits, not harm."

The eyes of those ferocious beast chieftains lit up. They had waited for this day for a long time. They were once the masters of this land, but after the rise of humanity, they were driven to the depths of the Great Wilderness, suppressed, ostracized, and forgotten. They were unwilling to accept this; they wanted to reclaim everything they had lost. Now, their opportunity had arrived. With the Upper Realm as their backer, with the Upper Realm's support, they no longer needed to fear the Fire Emperor, no longer needed to fear the Stone Emperor, and no longer needed to fear those powerful human beings.

"My lord, what should we do?" asked the chieftain of the Qiongqi tribe. His voice carried a hint of urgency, for he could no longer wait. He wanted to see the humans kneel before him, to see the Fire Emperor bow his head, to see the Stone Emperor beg for mercy.

The man in white took out a jade pendant from his robes and handed it to the chieftain of the Qiongqi tribe. The pendant was entirely emerald green, engraved with intricate runes that shimmered faintly in the candlelight, emanating a chilling aura. It was no ordinary jade pendant; it was a token of the upper realm, a symbol of status, proof of power. Holding it represented the will of the upper realm, an unyielding force.

"This is a token from the Upper Realm," the man in white said. "Take this and contact other forces dissatisfied with humanity. I want you to create chaos in the Lower Realm to tie down the forces of the Fire Kingdom and the Stone Kingdom. No matter what methods you use—murder, arson, sowing discord, or creating panic—I want to ensure that humanity is never at peace. When the time is right, the Upper Realm will send powerful beings down to wipe out humanity in one fell swoop. Then, you can have whatever you want."

The chieftain of the Qiongqi tribe accepted the jade pendant, his hands trembling slightly. He sensed a terrifying power within it, a power he couldn't control, nor even comprehend. He knew this jade pendant represented the will of the upper realm, an irreversible force. He gripped the pendant tightly and nodded forcefully.

"Rest assured, sir, we will certainly handle it well. The entire Taigu Divine Mountain is willing to serve the celestial realm with utmost loyalty."

The man in white nodded, turned, and walked out of the palace. His footsteps were light, as light as a breeze, silent and unnoticed. His figure disappeared into the darkness, like a ray of light, like a wisp of smoke, vanishing in an instant. The two men in black followed behind him, also disappearing into the darkness. Inside the palace, only the beast chieftains remained, exchanging bewildered glances, their hearts filled with both excitement and fear. Excitement because they finally had a backer, finally they could retaliate. Fear because they didn't know if this backer would discard them after using them. The people of the upper realm were never benevolent. They could give you everything, and they could take everything away. They could give you life, and they could kill you. Everything was in their hands.

But they had no way out. From the moment they agreed to cooperate, they were already on a sinking ship. There was no getting off. They could only go down this dark path, betting everything on the upper realm. If they won, they would enjoy wealth and glory. If they lost, they would be doomed.

Li Chenzhou sat under the willow tree, eyes closed, the Great Destiny Technique surging wildly within him. His consciousness pierced the barriers of time and space, penetrated the mists of fate, and captured those ripples from afar. He saw the man in white, the beast chieftains, the jade pendant, and the conspiracies hidden in the shadows. He saw their conversation in the palace, the expressions on their faces, the fear and greed in their hearts. He didn't move, didn't strike, because he knew it wasn't the right time. Those people hadn't yet revealed their true fangs, hadn't yet committed any irreversible acts. He needed to wait, wait for them to reveal themselves, wait for them to hand the knife to him. Then, he could strike, with a legitimate reason and a just cause.

"What are you thinking about?" Liu Shen's voice echoed in his mind, calm and distant, with a hint of concern.

"I'm thinking about the people from the Upper Realm." Li Chenzhou didn't hide anything. "They've arrived. Faster than I expected."

Willow Goddess fell silent. She knew the people from the Upper Realm would arrive sooner or later, but she hadn't expected it to be so soon. The appearance of the Eternal Trial Tower, the manifestation of immortal techniques, and the rise of that child had all exceeded the Upper Realm's expectations. They couldn't sit still anymore; they wanted a share, they wanted to seize the opportunities of the Lower Realm for themselves. This was human nature, and also the law of the cultivation world. The strong prey on the weak, and the mighty are respected. If you have something good, others will come and take it. If you can't hold onto it, that's your fate. But the Lower Realm wasn't their backyard, a place they could come and go as they pleased. Here were the people she needed to protect, the land she needed to protect, and everything she needed to protect.

"What do you plan to do?" Liu Shen asked.

"Wait," Li Chenzhou said. "Wait for them to make their move."

"What if they don't take action?"

"They will make their move." Li Chenzhou's voice was calm, but beneath that calm lay unparalleled confidence. "Greed is the original sin. They can't resist. Those people think they are the hunters, that the lower realm is their prey. But they don't realize that they are the prey. This land is not for them to touch."

The Willow Goddess remained silent, only gently swaying her branches, scattering dappled green light. This light fell upon Li Chenzhou, onto his shoulders, and into his hair, like a silent blessing. A gentle night breeze stirred, and the Willow Goddess's branches swayed softly in the wind, as if whispering, as if telling a story.

Li Chenzhou leaned against the tree trunk, eyes closed, his mind still contemplating the various possibilities of the future. He knew the storm was coming. The undercurrents of the upper realm, the conspiracy of the ancient divine mountain, and the threat from other realms were all converging on Stone Village. But he wasn't afraid, because he wasn't alone. He had Willow God, Stone Village, and that child. That child would be with him until the very end.

He opened his eyes, gazing at the dark sky in the distance, a slight smile playing on his lips. Let the storm come. He had been waiting for this day for a long time.

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