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

The day after Li Chenzhou returned, Shicun changed.

It wasn't that the village had changed; the spirit lake was still there, the willow trees were still there, the stone houses were still there, the stone mill at the village entrance was still there, and the chimneys of the kitchens were still emitting smoke. But the entire village was shrouded in a faint light, a light that rose from the ground, descended from the void, and poured down from the branches of the willow god, enveloping the stone village like a giant cocoon of light. That cocoon of light wasn't static; it was slowly flowing, as if it were something alive, breathing, beating, and watching over everything around it.

The villagers didn't know what was happening, but they felt that the village was different today. The air seemed fresher, the essence of heaven and earth seemed richer, and even the sunlight seemed brighter. They stood at the village entrance, looking up at the cocoon of light, and an indescribable feeling welled up in their hearts. It wasn't fear, but awe, awe of the unknown power.

The little boy, clutching the pottery jar, stood by the Spirit Lake, gazing up at the cocoon of light with eyes full of curiosity. He sensed a terrifying power contained within the cocoon, a power beyond his comprehension and even perception. He simply felt that the cocoon of light was like a pair of enormous hands, cradling the entire Stone Village in their palms, protecting and safeguarding it.

"Uncle Li, what is this?" he asked.

Li Chenzhou stood beside him, hands behind his back, his expression calm. "An array."

"Formation? What formation?"

"Village Protection Formation"

The little one blinked. "A village-protecting formation? Didn't we have one before?"

"The old ones were too weak," Li Chenzhou said. "Not enough."

The little boy didn't know what "not enough" meant, but he could hear the seriousness in Uncle Li's tone. He didn't ask any more questions, but just held the pottery jar and quietly looked at the cocoon of light, at the runes that rose from the ground and fell from the void.

The runes were densely packed, like golden rivers flowing through the void. They weren't static; they were constantly changing, flowing, and intertwining. Some runes resembled roaring beasts, others towering ancient trees, some burning flames, and still others frozen ice. Together, they formed a vast, dazzlingly complex pattern. That pattern covered the entire stone village, the spirit lake, the willow trees, every stone house, every path, and every corner.

That was a village-protecting array that Li Chenzhou had personally set up over an entire morning, using his cultivation level which had recovered to the peak of the Array Formation Realm. He had meticulously embedded the materials he brought from the Gate of Eternal Life—rare ores, spirit wood, and beast bones that were impossible to find in the lower realms—into the array's cores. He had integrated the great defensive techniques, great barrier techniques, and great sealing techniques from the Three Thousand Great Daos he had cultivated into every node of the array. He had poured all his understanding of heaven and earth, his comprehension of the laws, and his control over power into this great array.

This is no ordinary formation; it is a peerless array capable of withstanding attacks from gods. Not only can it defend against external attacks, but it can also conceal the village's presence, preventing those with ill intentions from finding Stone Village. It not only protects the villagers' safety but also gathers the essence of heaven and earth, making Stone Village's cultivation environment even more superior. It not only repels enemy invasions but also retaliates against those who attempt to destroy the formation, making them pay a heavy price.

Li Chenzhou spent the entire morning setting up the basic structure of the grand formation. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, his breathing was more rapid than usual, and although his expression remained calm, a hint of weariness lingered in his deep eyes. He hadn't done such meticulous work in a long time, hadn't exerted his power to this extent in far too long. He needed time to recover, but he knew he didn't have time. The people from the Upper Realm had arrived, the conspiracy of the Primordial Divine Mountain had begun to brew, and the threat from the alien realm was drawing ever closer. He had to forge Stone Village into an impregnable fortress before the storm arrived.

The Willow God was not idle either. Its branches spread out from the trunk like emerald snakes, swimming in the void. They passed through the spirit lake, through the mountains and forests, through the great wilderness, stretching to a very, very far place. Every branch was covered with leaves, and on every leaf, runes flowed, each rune being an eye, watching over everything around it.

That was Willow God's unique monitoring method. It didn't need to send people to gather information, nor did it need to send ferocious beasts to patrol; it only needed to spread its branches out to sense every rustle of grass in the Great Wilderness. Those branches were connected to its body; everything it saw, heard, and sensed was transmitted back to its consciousness instantly. It was like a giant net, covering tens of thousands of miles of the Great Wilderness, taking in every movement.

"Three hundred miles to the east, a pack of Ironback Wolves is migrating," Liu Shen's voice echoed in Li Chenzhou's mind, calm and distant. "Five hundred miles to the west, a ferocious beast at the Spirit Transformation Realm is hunting for food. Eight hundred miles to the north, several human cultivators are hunting ferocious beasts. Twelve hundred miles to the south, a group of men in black are approaching. Their aura is unfamiliar; they are not from the Great Wilderness."

Li Chenzhou's eyes narrowed slightly. "Men in black? How many?"

"Five. All of them are at least at the Array Formation Realm. The one in the lead has a profound aura that I cannot perceive."

"The people from the upper realm," Li Chenzhou said. "They finally couldn't hold back any longer."

"Should we make a move?"

"No need," Li Chenzhou shook his head. "Let them come. I want to see what they're up to."

The Willow God remained silent, instead spreading out more branches to expand its sensing range to its limit. It wanted to ensure that every move of the men in black was under its surveillance.

The news quickly spread throughout Stone Village. Shi Yunfeng, leaning on his wooden cane, stood at the village entrance, staring at the cocoon of light, his cloudy old eyes filled with shock. He had lived most of his life and seen many formations, but never one so terrifying. The power contained within the cocoon of light made even this cultivator at the Cave Heaven Realm feel a chill. He knew that this was set up by Mr. Li to protect Stone Village. He felt grateful, but he knew that words of gratitude were unnecessary, because Mr. Li didn't need them.

Great-grandfather stood beneath the willow tree, head tilted back, gazing at the branches spreading from the trunk, a profound and indescribable awe welling within him. He had once been a member of the Martial King's Mansion, seen much of the world, and knew what the Willow Goddess represented. She was a being beyond the mortal realm, beyond even the most revered, a powerhouse who had once stood at the pinnacle of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. With her presence, Stone Village had an extra layer of protection.

Skinny Monkey and Snotty Boy stood hand in hand at the village entrance, staring at the runes with wide curiosity. They didn't understand what arrays or runes were; they only knew the light was beautiful, like stars fallen from the sky. They reached out to touch them, but were gently pushed back. Undeterred, they tried again, only to be pushed back again. They were having a blast, completely oblivious to what these things meant.

Holding the golden monkey, Shi Qingfeng stood at the back of the crowd, looking at the cocoon of light, a sense of security welling up inside him. He knew that Uncle Li had set it up to protect them. With this cocoon of light, those bad guys wouldn't dare to come. He no longer needed to be afraid, no longer needed to worry, and could cultivate in peace and live in peace.

The little red bird perched on a willow branch, watching the sprawling branches, and rolled its eyes. It thought the Willow God was making a mountain out of a molehill; they were just a few people from the Upper Realm, why all the fuss? But it didn't say it aloud, because it knew the Willow God was right. Better safe than sorry. Those people from the Upper Realm were not easy to deal with. To have come down from the Three Thousand Dao Provinces, they were at least at the Divine Fire Realm, perhaps even True Gods. Although the Willow God had recovered some of his strength, he hadn't returned to his peak. Li Chenzhou, though unfathomable, had only recovered to the peak of the Array Formation Realm. They couldn't afford to be careless when facing powerful figures from the Upper Realm.

Li Chenzhou stood by the Spirit Lake, hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance. His senses spread out, connecting with the branches of the Willow God, forming a vast net. He sensed the auras of the men in black, their cultivation levels, and their intentions. They weren't there to fight, but to gather intelligence. They wanted to see what Stone Village possessed, how strong the child was, and who Li Chenzhou really was. They wouldn't act rashly, because they weren't yet certain of Stone Village's strength. But once they were certain, they would act without hesitation.

Li Chenzhou's lips curled up slightly, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

"Come on," he said softly. "I'll show you that Stone Village is not a place you can set your sights on."

He raised his right hand and lightly drew a line in the air. A golden rune flew from his fingertip and landed within the grand formation. The rune, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirred up ripples. These ripples spread outwards, affecting every node of the formation. The entire formation suddenly lit up, its dazzling light illuminating the entire sky. The runes seemed to come alive, spinning wildly in the air, weaving together into an even more complex and terrifying pattern.

"Buzz—"

A deep rumble, seemingly emanating from the depths of the earth or descending from the heavens, shook the surface of the Spirit Lake, causing the willow tree's branches to tremble slightly and the villagers' hearts to pound. It was not noise, but a resonance of power, an echo of laws, a celebration of the birth of this great formation by heaven and earth.

Standing by the Spirit Lake, the little boy hugged the pottery jar, tilting his head back to look at the runes, the cocoon of light, and the illuminated sky. An unprecedented sense of awe washed over him. He felt that this great formation was more powerful than anything he had ever seen. It was like a mountain, pressing down on the earth, unshakeable. It was like a sea, unfathomable and immeasurable. It was like a wall, separating Stone Village from the outside world, keeping danger at bay.

"Uncle Li, what kind of people can this great formation stop?" the little one asked.

Li Chenzhou glanced down at him. "It can block people you can't even imagine."

"Can you stop the Venerable One?"

"able."

"Can it stop the gods?"

"able."

"Can it stop the true god?"

Li Chenzhou was silent for a moment. "Yes."

The little boy smiled, revealing a bright grin despite his missing front tooth. He didn't know how powerful the true god was, but he trusted Uncle Li. If Uncle Li said he could block it, then he definitely could.

Li Chenzhou didn't tell him that although this grand formation was powerful, it also had its limits. If the beings sent from the upper realm were even stronger, such as gods, Void Dao Realm cultivators, Self-Severing Realm cultivators, or even Escape One Realm cultivators, this grand formation wouldn't be able to withstand it. It wasn't that he didn't want to set up a stronger formation, but rather that his cultivation level, materials, and time were insufficient. He could only do this much; the rest depended on himself, on Willow God, and on that child.

He looked up into the distance, his gaze piercing through the Great Wilderness, the Fire Kingdom, the Stone Kingdom, and the Eight Realms of the Lower World, finally settling on that familiar land. There lay his former enemies, his former comrades, and his past. He didn't dwell on those memories, for he could never return. He only wanted to protect everything before him, to protect this village, and to protect this child.

"Mr. Li," Liu Shen's voice echoed in his mind. "Those men in black have stopped. They've set up camp on a mountain five hundred miles from Stone Village."

"What are you doing?"

"We are observing. We are using secret methods to investigate Stone Village."

"Can you detect it?"

"No." Liu Shen's voice carried a hint of confidence. "The great formation has concealed the village's presence. They can only see a mist, not what's inside."

"Very good." Li Chenzhou nodded. "Let them watch. They can watch for as long as they want. They can't see anything anyway."

Liu Shen didn't speak again, but instead spread out more branches, expanding the surveillance area to its limit. She wanted to discover the intentions of those men in black before they made a move, and prepare a response accordingly.

For the next few days, Stone Village remained peaceful as usual. The villagers lived, worked, and cultivated as normal. The children played, drank milk, and chased the five-colored birds as usual. The little ones cultivated, drank milk, and chased the little red birds as usual. No one knew of the existence of the men in black, no one knew danger was approaching, and no one knew a storm was about to break. They only felt that the air in the village was fresher, the essence of heaven and earth was richer, and the sunlight was brighter. They didn't know that this was the effect of the great formation.

Every day, Li Chenzhou would go to the Spirit Lake to check every node of the grand formation, ensuring they were functioning properly. He would also communicate with Willow Goddess daily to learn about the movements of the men in black and the situation in the Great Wilderness. He would spend time with Little Dot every day, feeding him, talking to him, and helping him cultivate. He didn't want Little Dot to sense anything amiss, to worry, or be afraid. He wanted the child to feel that everything was fine, everything was normal, and everything was under control.

But he knew that a storm was coming.

The men in black stayed on that mountain for three days. During those three days, they tried various methods to investigate Stone Village, but all were blocked by the great formation. They couldn't see the village in its entirety, only a misty haze. They couldn't sense the child's presence, only a blurry light. They didn't know Li Chenzhou's background, only that he was unfathomable and not to be trifled with.

On the fourth day, they left.

The willow tree's branches sensed their departure and relayed the message to Li Chenzhou.

"They've left," said Willow God. "They've gone towards the direction of the Ancient Divine Mountain."

Li Chenzhou nodded without speaking. He knew they hadn't given up; they had simply gone back to report. They would tell the people in the Upper Realm everything they had seen. The people in the Upper Realm would then decide their next course of action based on this information. Perhaps they would send more people down, perhaps they would come down themselves, or perhaps they would temporarily abandon the effort. In any case, Li Chenzhou was prepared.

He stood by the Spirit Lake, hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance. Sunlight bathed him, casting a long shadow. The willow branches swayed gently in the breeze, scattering dappled green light. These drops of light fell on him, on his shoulders, and on his hair, as if offering silent encouragement.

"Mr. Li," Liu Shen's voice rang out again. "Are you tired?"

Li Chenzhou paused for a moment. "A little."

"Then let's take a break."

"I can't rest," Li Chenzhou shook his head. "There's still a lot to do."

"Can you handle this alone?"

Li Chenzhou didn't answer, only gazing into the distance, at the familiar world he once knew. He remembered his youth, when he too had to bear everything alone. Back then, no one helped him, no one asked if he was tired, no one told him to rest. He could only grit his teeth and walk forward step by step, until he reached a place no one could look up to. Now, he had Liu Shen, he had Shi Village, he had that child. He was no longer alone; he didn't need to carry the burden alone. Yet, he was still used to carrying it alone, because he didn't know how to share the burden with others.

"I can't rest," Li Chenzhou shook his head. "There's still a lot to do."

"Can you handle this alone?"

Li Chenzhou didn't answer, only gazing into the distance, at the familiar world he once knew. He remembered his youth, when he too had to bear everything alone. Back then, no one helped him, no one asked if he was tired, no one told him to rest. He could only grit his teeth and walk forward step by step, until he reached a place no one could look up to. Now, he had Liu Shen, he had Shi Village, he had that child. He was no longer alone; he didn't need to carry the burden alone. Yet, he was still used to carrying it alone, because he didn't know how to share the burden with others.

"Mr. Li," Liu Shen's voice carried a hint of gentleness. "You are not alone. I am here, that child is here, the people of Shi Village are here. You don't have to bear this alone."

Li Chenzhou fell silent. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. Then he opened his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"I know," he said. "I'm just used to it."

"Then change this habit."

"it is good."

Li Chenzhou turned and walked back to the village. His steps remained composed, but a warmth filled his heart. He knew that from now on, he was no longer alone. He had Liu Shen, Stone Village, and that child. Together, they were an unshakeable mountain.