Covering the Sky: A Guide to Proving the Dao Without Cheats

After the initial shock, a deluge of discussion and speculation ensued. In restaurants, teahouses, markets, and caves—wherever cultivators gathered—the "change of the Holy Son of Yao Guang" became the center of heated debate.

While those elsewhere in the Eastern Wilderness were merely observing from afar, many in the Northern Holy City displayed rather subtle expressions, their whispers rife with sarcasm.

"Luo Heng... could he be that recently rising star in Origin Arts genius?"

"It was him."

"Ha! The Holy Land of Yao Guang has fallen so low, allowing an outsider to ascend to the position of Holy Son?"

"You can't really call them outsiders! After all, Lingxu Cave Heaven..."

Such whispers circulated quietly, causing the reputation of the Yao Guang Holy Land to be subtly tarnished.

However, the whispers didn't last long. Then, another, even more shocking piece of news swept away all doubts like a whirlwind—

The Holy Land of Yao Guang actually managed to snatch the body of the Devouring Demon Jar from Tu Tian, ​​the seventh greatest bandit in the Northern Region!

Legend has it that the Holy Land used a mysterious silver bracelet, which, with its flowing silver light, easily seized the half of the supreme imperial weapon that terrified and coveted the world. This act was incredibly domineering, and the method was almost mythical.

Some even speculated with trepidation that the silver bracelet itself was probably an ultimate imperial weapon!

The world was astonished.

The Devouring Demon Jar is the weapon of the Ruthless Great Emperor. It is divided into a lid and a body, each part of which possesses unfathomable divine power.

The Yao Guang Holy Land already controlled the Dragon Pattern Black Gold Cauldron, and now it has also obtained the body of the Demon Jar. Although it is not complete, its foundation and deterrent power have undergone earth-shattering changes.

This means that Yao Guang has become the only force in the Eastern Wilderness that openly possesses "one and a half" supreme imperial weapons, and its power is unparalleled for a time.

The previous mocking voices about the "decline" of Yaoguang vanished in an instant.

Ordinary independent cultivators and small forces might only feel shocked, but many ancient families and immortal holy lands felt an unprecedented pressure weighing heavily on their hearts.

They knew all too well what an ultimate imperial weapon meant. With Yao Guang suddenly possessing half a weapon, they would be at a disadvantage in any future negotiations or power struggles, and the previous balanced situation would likely be overturned.

Some astute individuals have connected the succession of the Holy Son with the earth-shattering event of seizing the Imperial Weapon, giving rise to chilling speculations: Is there some terrible connection between the death of the former Holy Son, the rise of the new Holy Son, and the seizure of the Devouring Demon Jar?

What role did the newly appointed Holy Son, Luo Heng, play in all of this? And was that mysterious silver bracelet... related to him?

Everything is just speculation, with no concrete evidence.

The Yao Guang Holy Land remained tight-lipped about this, but the newly added extreme deterrent, as imposing as a mountain, truly enveloped the hearts of all the major powers in the Eastern Wilderness.

Beyond the aura of being the "Holy Son of Yao Guang," Luo Heng's name is shrouded in an even deeper mystery, intertwined with imperial weapons, making him difficult to fathom.

……

Lingxu Cave Heaven, Quiet Chamber in the Back Mountain

"Clang—"

Elder Wu Qingfeng dropped his teacup onto the table, spilling tea that soaked his sleeves, but he was completely unaware. His mind was reeling from the unbelievable news.

Luo Heng?

The boy who parted ways with me outside the Yaochi camp a year ago... has now become the Holy Son of Yaoguang?

"Luo Heng... Holy Son of Yao Guang..." he murmured repeatedly, each word carrying immense weight.

He suddenly remembered the boy's words when they parted.

"Master, wait until I become famous throughout the Eastern Wilderness..."

Now, his fame extends far beyond the Eastern Wilderness.

After the initial shock came a torrent of complex emotions. There was a sense of disbelief, a dreamlike feeling of unreality, and even more so, the relief and pride of "I have become the Holy Son of Yao Guang." However, what followed closely was a deeper and more profound worry.

Yao Guang Holy Land is a first-rate power in the Eastern Wilderness. As an elder of its subordinate sect, he was somewhat aware of the intricate infighting within it and the dangers of the position of Holy Son.

The former Holy Son died from "going mad in cultivation"? Wu Qingfeng has cultivated for hundreds of years, how could he be so naive as to believe such an external explanation?

This matter is shrouded in mystery; the path that child has taken is by no means smooth.

"Your name is known throughout the Eastern Wilderness... You are now standing at the forefront of the storm." Wu Qingfeng murmured, his gaze seemingly piercing through the window and directed towards the Yao Guang Holy Land, a mixture of worry and expectation.

"My child, the path you have chosen is one I never even imagined. From now on... I'm afraid I won't be able to help you much anymore. I only hope that you can walk steadily and go far."

In the end, the old man could only let out a soft sigh.

He knew that from this day forward, Lingxu Cave Heaven and the Holy Son Yaoguang, who reigned high in the heavens, were worlds apart.

But that sincere "Master," and that heartfelt intention to bestow treasures and protect him, always weighed heavily on his heart.

……

Yaochi, a sacred place, deep in the clouds.

When the message reached Yaochi, the Holy Maiden was playing the zither on the floating fairy island.

After the maidservant quietly reported the two events, "the change of the holy son" and "the seizure of the imperial weapon," the flowing zither music continued smoothly without the slightest hesitation until the end of the piece.

"Understood." She dismissed the maid, and Cloud Island returned to tranquility.

Her face remained as serene and aloof as ever, but a barely perceptible ripple flickered in her eyes, which reflected the vast sea of ​​clouds.

"Practicing demonic possession?" The Holy Maiden of Yaochi smiled slightly, a faint, almost imperceptible curve forming on her lips. A hint of understanding and amusement flashed across her moonlit face. She naturally didn't believe such an excuse.

She had met that former Holy Son of Yaoguang several times and knew that he was a man of profound cultivation and unwavering will, a true hero. How could he easily lose his Dao heart?

Recalling Luo Heng's previous inquiry into the Holy Son of Yao Guang, and the earth-shattering gamble at the Yao Guang Stone Workshop... she already had some guesses about the truth.

To be fair, she wasn't particularly surprised that Luo Heng was able to succeed, after all, he had a saintly protector by his side.

The fact that the Yao Guang Holy Land could take the initiative to cover up everything under such a pretext and even elevate him to the position of the new Holy Son still made her secretly tremble with fear.

At this point in her thoughts, she suddenly frowned slightly and murmured those words: "The Devouring Demon Jar..."

If the change of the Holy Son was somewhat expected, then the Yao Guang Holy Land's act of seizing the body of the Devouring Demon Jar truly caught her off guard.

Recalling the legendary mysterious "silver bracelet," she couldn't help but think of the storage silver bracelet that Luo Heng had specially chosen when he made his deal with Yaochi.

But soon, she gently shook her head, dispelling the somewhat absurd association.

She clearly remembered that the silver bracelet Luo Heng had chosen was just an ordinary storage artifact. How could it possibly be related to acquiring an ultimate imperial weapon? There must be another hidden story behind this.

"Luo Heng..." Her fingertips unconsciously traced the strings of the zither, "Having just ascended to the position of Holy Son, Yao Guang seized the Demon Jar, his prestige soared, and he subdued all directions... Such a series of events is too much of a coincidence."

Thinking of the unfathomable nature of that "old friend," the Holy Maiden of Yaochi's eyes flickered. Although there was no concrete evidence, she was already convinced in her heart that this matter must be related to Luo Heng.