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

Night deepened, and Stone Village slumbered into slumber. The shimmering waters of Spirit Lake rippled gently in the moonlight, like the earth's eyes, half-open and half-closed, gazing at the starry sky. The willow branches swayed softly in the night breeze, scattering emerald raindrops of light that fell on the ground, on the lake's surface, and on the sleeping stone houses. The entire village was enveloped in tranquility; only the occasional roar of beasts echoing from the distant mountains reminded one that this was deep within the wilderness.

Li Chenzhou didn't sleep. He sat under the willow tree, leaning against the ancient tree that had survived the tribulation of lightning and been reborn, his eyes closed, seemingly dozing, yet also seemingly deep in thought. His breathing was very light, almost inaudible, but his consciousness was incredibly clear, clear enough to perceive every rustle of grass within a hundred miles. He sensed the slumbering spirit fish in the depths of the spirit lake, the ferocious beasts hunting for food in the mountains and forests, and the hidden dangers stirring in the distant wilderness. He also sensed the steady breathing from every stone house in Stone Village, the children's murmurs in their dreams, and the peace in the hearts of the elderly. These sounds, these breaths, these rhythms of life, intertwined to form the most authentic image of this land.

But tonight, something different appeared in his perception.

It was an extremely faint and subtle fluctuation, like an invisible thread descending from the distant void, gently touching his consciousness. The fluctuation didn't originate from the Great Wilderness, the Fire Kingdom, or any corner of the Eight Lower Realms; it came from something higher, from that world he once knew but now felt distant. The aura of that fluctuation was strange yet powerful, carrying a coldness and arrogance that didn't belong to this world. It was like a venomous snake, silently slithering in the darkness, searching for its prey's weakness.

Li Chenzhou frowned slightly.

He didn't open his eyes, but instead pushed the Great Destiny Technique to its limit. Among the Three Thousand Great Daos, the Great Destiny Technique is the most profound and mysterious. It's not for fighting, not for killing, but for perceiving destiny, predicting the future, and understanding cause and effect. At its peak, one can see the river of destiny, detect even the subtle ripples, and find the path closest to the truth from countless possibilities. Although Li Chenzhou hadn't yet reached its peak, his Great Destiny Technique was already enough to allow him to perceive things that ordinary people couldn't.

The river of fate slowly unfolded in his consciousness. It was a boundless river, its waters not merely water, but a torrent formed by the intertwined destinies of countless beings. Every wave was a life, every ripple a choice, every whirlpool a calamity. Li Chenzhou stood by the riverbank, quietly watching the waves, the ripples, the whirlpools. He saw the rise and fall of the Fire Kingdom, the transformation of the Stone Kingdom, the ambition of the Ancient Divine Mountain, and the future glory of that child. But he also saw some blurry, fragmented images, as if deliberately obscured by something.

In those images, figures descended from the heights, whispers echoed in the darkness, and conspiracies brewed in the shadows. These figures wore white robes embroidered with silver runes that shimmered faintly in the darkness, emanating a chilling aura. Their gazes were cold and arrogant, as if they were looking down upon a swarm of ants, as if they were surveying a field of crops ready for harvest. They were not from the lower realm; their aura was too powerful, so powerful that even the heavens and earth trembled slightly. They came from the upper realm, from the Three Thousand Dao Provinces, perhaps even from higher places. Their target was not the Fire Kingdom, not the Stone Kingdom, not any power in the Eight Domains, but the entire lower realm, the Tower of Eternal Life, those immortal techniques, and that child.

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 appearance of the Eternal Life Trial Tower, the manifestation of immortal treasures, and the rise of that child had all exceeded the Upper Realm's expectations. How could those high and mighty figures turn a blind eye? They would definitely send people down to investigate, and might even send people down to seize them. 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 good things, others will come to take them. If you can't hold onto them, that's your fate. In their eyes, the Lower Realm was nothing more than a barbaric wasteland, a group of uncivilized ants. They could come and go as they pleased, take whatever they wanted, without reason, without excuse, and without even needing to conceal it.

He had known this day would come, but he hadn't expected it to come so soon. Those from the upper realms were far more eager and greedy than he had anticipated. They weren't even willing to spend time understanding the situation in the lower realms, or assessing their strength, before sending their people down. In their eyes, the eight regions of the lower realms were nothing more than an anthill, easily crushed. This arrogance, this contempt, both enraged and sneered him. He was enraged that these people treated the creatures of this land like cattle to be slaughtered at will. He sneered that these people didn't know that on this land, there lived Li Chenzhou.

He stood up, walked to the edge of the Spirit Lake, stood with his hands behind his back, and gazed at the dark sky in the distance. Moonlight spilled onto the lake's surface, shimmering like a silver path paving for him. In his mind, he was still deducing the trajectory of those threads of fate. The Great Destiny Technique told him that the people of the Upper Realm had already colluded with the Primordial Divine Mountain. Those ferocious beast chieftains, those beings who had once been suppressed, ostracized, and forgotten by the human race, were secretly plotting a conspiracy against humanity. They wanted to create chaos, to tie down the forces of the Fire Kingdom and the Stone Kingdom, and to pave the way for the arrival of the Upper Realm.

Their plan was meticulous and insidious. They wouldn't directly attack the Fire Kingdom's capital, nor would they directly challenge the Fire Emperor and the Stone Emperor, because they knew that would only alert them. They would start small, beginning with the borders, in remote villages and towns. They would raid caravans, slaughter villagers, burn crops, and create panic. They would keep humanity preoccupied, keep the Fire Emperor and the Stone Emperor busy, and cause previously united forces to become suspicious and accusatory of each other. When humanity was in complete chaos, powerful beings from the upper realms would descend from the heavens, sweeping away all resistance with overwhelming force.

Li Chenzhou closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. His brows were furrowed, forming a deep frown. It wasn't out of fear or anxiety, but because he was thinking, weighing his options, and strategizing. He knew this game wasn't just a simple fight; it was a grand game involving the fate of the entire lower realm. He couldn't afford to lose. If he lost, Stone Village would be finished, that child would be finished, and all living beings on this land would be finished.

He turned and walked back to the willow tree, sitting down again. He closed his eyes and activated the Great Destiny Technique to its fullest extent. The river of destiny unfolded once more in his consciousness, this time observing more closely and deeply. He wasn't just looking at the blurry images, but at the cause and effect behind them, the choices within choices, the possibilities within possibilities. He wanted to find the most likely path to success from countless futures, and then, along that path, lay out pieces, set traps, and wait for those from the upper realms to fall into them.

This is no easy task. The river of fate is too vast and too complex; even with his mastery of the Great Destiny Technique, he cannot see all the possibilities. He can only see the most obvious and most likely futures, and then make the most rational choices based on them. But he believes that as long as he is cautious enough, patient enough, and decisive enough, he can gain the upper hand in this game.

He opened his eyes, his gaze becoming deep and resolute. He knew what he had to do.

First, he needed more information. How many people had been sent from the Upper Realm? What were their cultivation levels? Besides the child, did they have any other targets? To what extent had their cooperation with the Primordial Divine Mountain progressed? He knew none of this. He needed to use the Great Destiny Technique to sense their presence, and also other means to obtain it. The Little Red Bird had already broken through to the Divine Fire Realm and could help him gather information. Although the Willow Goddess hadn't yet recovered to her peak, her perception was still powerful, and she could help him monitor every move in the Great Wilderness. The Fire Emperor and the Stone Emperor were also allies he could trust; they had their own connections and intelligence networks and could help him collect information that he couldn't access directly.

Secondly, he needed to strengthen the defenses of Stone Village. If the people from the Upper Realm were to truly make a move, Stone Village would likely become one of their targets. Not because Stone Village was particularly important, but because that child was in Stone Village. Those from the Upper Realm wouldn't let him go. Therefore, Li Chenzhou had to set up numerous arrays in Stone Village, ensuring that those from the Upper Realm would never return. He still possessed a considerable amount of materials he had brought from the Gate of Immortality. Although he couldn't use them directly, he could refine some magical artifacts and set up some restrictions, making it impossible for those from the Upper Realm to move an inch.

Finally, he needed to provide the child with more protection. Although the little one was exceptionally talented and far stronger than his peers, he was still young and weak, and not yet capable of participating in this level of competition. Li Chenzhou couldn't expose him to danger, nor could he allow those from the upper realms to discover his existence. Therefore, he had to find a way to conceal the child's aura, so that those from the upper realms couldn't find him, or even if they did, they wouldn't be able to confirm his identity.

These things sound simple, but they are difficult to do. Every step requires careful planning, and every detail must be flawless. Li Chenzhou knew he couldn't rush, panic, or act rashly. He could only proceed step by step, one step at a time.

"Liu Shen, I'll be leaving for a few days," he said. "Ishimura is in your care."

The willow branches swayed gently, scattering dappled green light. "Where are you going?"

"Let's go to the Fire Kingdom," Li Chenzhou said. "There are some things I need to discuss with the Fire Emperor."

"Is it for the people of the upper realm?"

"Yes."

Liu Shen was silent for a moment, then said, "Go ahead. I'll be fine in Stone Village."

Li Chenzhou nodded and turned to walk towards the little one's stone house.

The little boy was sleeping. He lay on the bed, hugging the pottery jar, covered with a blanket, a trace of drool at the corner of his mouth, fast asleep. His hair was messy, his face was dusty, and his mouth, missing a front tooth, was slightly open, emitting soft snores. Li Chenzhou stood by the bed, looking down at him for a long time. Then he bent down, reached out and gently covered the little boy with the blanket, then put the pottery jar that he had kicked aside back into his arms.

The little one rolled over, mumbled "Uncle Li," and then fell into a deep sleep again.

Li Chenzhou looked at him, a slight smile playing on his lips. Then he turned and walked out of the stone house.

A sliver of light was already appearing on the horizon; the sun was about to rise. Li Chenzhou stood at the village entrance, taking one last look at the still-sleeping village before stepping forward towards the Fire Kingdom. His shadow stretched long in the morning light, seemingly reaching to the horizon.

He walked at a steady pace, his steps measured and firm. He knew that from this day forward, he was no longer just a guardian, but a strategist. He would stand tall and protect the child, the village of Shi, and this land in the face of the impending storm.