Chapter 442: The Supreme Divine Vault

The claw was simply enormous—a bluish-gray behemoth that blotted out the sky, scattering the clouds and shaking the entire primordial mountain range. The earth cracked, and dust surged into the heavens.

“Willow Deity, what is that?” Shi Hao asked.

An indescribable aura seeped forth, as if some primordial beast had awakened. In that moment, the entire wilderness fell silent. Every bird, beast, and even the smallest insect trembled in fear. The world was deathly still, as if plunged into an ancient abyss of darkness. All sound vanished, replaced by an oppressive weight that swept across the boundless forests.

“Is that thing… alive?” The small pagoda muttered to itself, seemingly puzzled.

The Willow Deity remained solemn, staring intently for a long time. Even from an immeasurable distance, the sheer size of that colossal beast dwarfed entire mountain ranges combined. And this was its true form—not some illusory projection. If it were to fully manifest, one could hardly imagine whether the heavens themselves could contain it!

“Willow Deity…” Shi Hao pressed again.

“The Supreme Divine Vault,” the Willow Deity replied, its voice ethereal, as if descending from the highest heavens. Its entire being exuded an inexplicable aura of transcendence, as though lost in deep contemplation.

Shi Hao was stunned, unable to suppress a cry of shock. How could he not be? Ever since he was a child, the clan leader, Shi Yunfeng, had told him tales of this very treasure. Over the years, whispers of its existence had persisted, even drawing the covetous eyes of powerhouses from beyond their realm—like that mysterious man wielding the Chaos Disc who had once come searching.

The Crimson Bird, the Bald Second, the Fluffy Ball, and even Aunt Azure-Scaled Eagle had spent years scouring these lands, catching glimpses of its trail only to lose it again. The Supreme Divine Vault moved, traversing the earth—or so the clan leader had said. And once, long ago, he had even stepped inside its outermost reaches, retrieving a few bone scriptures.

Meanwhile, the Western Paradise Sect had relentlessly pursued this treasure, pinpointing its location multiple times, only to fail at the last moment.

“It moves… because it’s a primordial divine beast?” Shi Hao shuddered, both horrified and bewildered. What kind of creature could this be?

They stood high in the sky, gazing downward. Both the Willow Deity and the small pagoda concealed their auras, for this matter was of grave importance. The Upper Realm was probing, tearing open rifts in the void, sending cracks through the fabric of space. Dazzling light occasionally streaked across the sky.

“What kind of beast is it?” Shi Hao asked earnestly, his heart brimming with curiosity.

“Likely an ancient tortoise—a being of unimaginable, terrifying size,” the small pagoda said.

“A tortoise… slumbering underground?” Shi Hao was astounded. This was beyond belief. How colossal must it be? Never had he heard of such a monstrous entity, defying all reason.

Relative to its own size, its claws were short, yet a single swipe could sunder mountains and scatter the clouds. Its sheer volume was mind-boggling, shaking the soul.

“The Supreme Divine Vault is built upon its back, carried from one land to another. As long as it stirs, it never stops moving,” the small pagoda explained.

So this was the secret of the Supreme Divine Vault? Its mobility stemmed from being borne atop a gargantuan tortoise.

“Not necessarily true,” the Willow Deity murmured. It had sensed the tortoise’s presence many years ago, back when it had only a single willow strand. It had never acted rashly. Now, as its cultivation gradually recovered, growing ever more profound, it had uncovered deeper secrets—and thus remained even calmer, refraining from interference.

“The Supreme Divine Vault… could be fake?” Shi Hao gasped.

“The Barren Lands do indeed house a supreme treasure and a tortoise so terrifying it chills even the gods. But what we see now may not be it,” the Willow Deity said.

According to the Willow Deity, this was likely a decoy. Even the tortoise might not be alive—perhaps a formation simulating life, deliberately exuding vitality.

This eerie explanation left Shi Hao deeply unsettled. Even the small pagoda was skeptical, struggling to believe it.

“Most likely a trap, set by some ancient powerhouse—not for the beings of the Barren Lands, but for the supreme entities of the Upper Realm,” the Willow Deity elaborated.

Hearing this, Shi Hao was stunned. What kind of monstrous being could orchestrate such a scheme, spanning from antiquity, lying in wait for eons? The sheer patience was terrifying.

Even the small pagoda shivered at the thought. This was diabolical—undoubtedly meant to ensnare a figure of immense significance.

“That person must be ruthless beyond measure, biding their time since ancient days just for this pivotal moment?” Shi Hao felt a chill. The sheer scale of such machinations was spine-tingling.

To oppose such a being would be a lifetime of unease. Though uninvolved, Shi Hao couldn’t shake the creeping dread.

Had the Willow Deity not observed for years, silently watching, even it might have missed the truth. The schemer’s depth was unfathomable.

“Could it be an ancient powerhouse from the Barren Lands targeting the Upper Realm?” Shi Hao ventured.

At his level, such conflicts were beyond comprehension. Today’s revelations left his heart pounding—everything defied imagination.

“No,” the small pagoda said. “More likely, it’s a scheme by someone from the Upper Realm, set in antiquity, awaiting this era to unfold.”

Shi Hao fell silent, realizing that the Barren Lands’ struggles were mere child’s play to such beings. No wonder they could look down from above. Their methods and schemes rendered those below insignificant.

As if sensing his trepidation, the small pagoda added, “Think—what kind of existence could lay such a trap? One who has lived for eons, standing at the pinnacle. Without such cunning, could they have climbed so high?”

Shi Hao nodded. That much was true. These were the rare few who had risen from countless cultivators, forged in the cruelest struggles.

He sighed. “With beings like this, chaos looms. Should I bury myself now to avoid their notice?”

The small pagoda scoffed. “A speck like you could stand before them, shouting, and they wouldn’t spare you a glance.”

“Nonsense!” Shi Hao bristled.

“To catch their eye, you’d at least need to become a Venerable,” the small pagoda taunted.

Shi Hao: “…”

“The Supreme Divine Vault is leaving these wilds, bound for another land,” the Willow Deity announced.

They withdrew without a trace, avoiding the tortoise’s notice, reappearing instantly at Stone Village. The Willow Deity returned to its place, merging into the verdant tree.

At the village entrance, Shi Hao opened his Qiankun Bag, pouring out a dazzling heap of treasures that left the villagers wide-eyed. The children pounced on them gleefully.

Even Shi Hao’s eyes gleamed as he counted the divine materials—over a dozen types, each rare beyond belief, their hues dreamlike.

Fiery Dragonblood Soil, radiant Sunstones, translucent Blue Sea Diamonds exuding oceanic essence… A kaleidoscope of colors bathed half the village in serene radiance.

The Fluffy Ball woke up. Aunt Azure-Scaled Eagle rushed over. The entire village gathered—such treasures were once-in-a-lifetime sights.

Somewhere, the sound of swallowed saliva was faintly audible. From Shi Hao’s hair, the small pagoda wobbled free, plunging headfirst into the pile.

“No trades!” Shi Hao declared firmly.

Just then, another crystalline stone in his hair cried out, “Big bro, did you rob a Celestial? Share some with me!”

The Divine Striking Stone, usually dormant, had awoken, tumbling to the ground and scrambling toward the treasures—only to be pinned by Shi Hao.

Shi Hao eyed the small pagoda sidelong, calculating how to maximize gains. The scheming bone pagoda, meanwhile, was marshaling its persuasive arguments.

“You’ve done well. With calamity approaching, Stone Village needs preparation. I shall inscribe a grand formation—these materials will serve perfectly,” the Willow Deity suddenly interjected.

A dozen luminous willow tendrils descended, lifting the divine materials for inspection.

“Wha—?” Shi Hao gaped.

The small pagoda seethed, wisps of chaotic energy flickering around it.

Shi Hao was dumbstruck. Had the small pagoda snatched the goods, he’d have kicked up a fuss. But the Willow Deity’s intervention left him no room to protest.

“Those are mine!” The small pagoda’s form blurred, chaotic energy swirling ominously.

The Willow Deity ignored it, deep in thought.

“Mine—but gifted to the Willow Deity,” Shi Hao declared, dumping the rest of his treasures from the Qiankun Bag.

“You—after all I’ve done for you,” the small pagoda grumbled, retracting its chaos.

“That was business. You always swindle me. The Willow Deity truly cares,” Shi Hao shot back.

The small pagoda fell silent, conscience-stricken.

Over the next few days, the Willow Deity meticulously crafted an arcane formation. Each time a divine material was embedded, chanting resonated through the village.

Shi Hao was awed. A formation that invoked scripture? Did it harmonize with the Great Dao itself?

Meanwhile, the Divine Striking Stone whooped with joy, gorging on leftover fragments—too small for the small pagoda’s pride to claim.

Glowing brilliantly, the stone neared an unimaginable metamorphosis. It showered the Willow Deity with worshipful praise.

On the ninth day, the Willow Deity uttered a single command: “Seal the formation!”

The world shifted. A mysterious force stirred, as if summoning the stars themselves. Boundless spiritual energy surged, and the Dao’s profundities materialized in the void—countless symbols, phantom deities bowing in reverence.

A mighty chant began to rise, only to be suppressed by the Willow Deity, confined within the village.

The grand formation was complete—a masterpiece of defense, offense, and teleportation. Even the small pagoda muttered in awe.

Days later, a thunderous boom echoed from the distant horizon, shaking the earth and mountains.

“Is it here?” Shi Hao shuddered.

This tremor wasn’t limited to beings like the small pagoda—even ordinary cultivators could sense it.

“It’s coming!” The small pagoda trembled.

At the world’s edge, divine light streaked across the sky. A rift in the void expanded, a gateway slowly taking form.