At that instant, Lord Buddha paused, his expression subtly stunned.
Above, the tribulation clouds still raged, wild and unrestrained. Every soul below gazed upward, breathless.
In that moment, it seemed only Lord Buddha saw Tripitaka bow slightly, reaching out to pick up the fallen Heart-Hiding Stone. His gaze narrowed to a thin slit, sharp and unreadable.
The instant his fingertips brushed the fragments, countless spiritual lights burst from the shattered Heart-Hiding Stone, swirling into luminous characters that hovered in midair.
High above, Mother Nuwa, bound tightly by the tentacles of Heavenly Tribulation, widened her eyes in shock, staring blankly at the unfolding miracle.
Suddenly, everyone seemed to sense something shifting. Heads bowed, eyes turned toward Tripitaka—even Anna Yang and Clara Heart, lost in their own despair, followed suit.
In that instant, the entire world seemed to shift its focus, as if destiny itself paused to watch.
"Heart-Hiding Stone?" Lord Lao's eyes widened, surprise flickering across his ancient face.
"What is this Heart-Hiding Stone?" Lord Skygate asked softly from the side, curiosity tinged with caution.
"It’s one of Mother Nuwa’s little creations," Lord Genesis replied, frowning slightly. "A device that lets one recall certain memories. This thing... shouldn’t be of much use, should it? Tripitaka isn’t suffering from amnesia."