They explored the palace room by room, hoping to discover ancient books, artifacts, or at least some remains to give clues about what this place was. Yet aside from the palace architecture itself, there was absolutely nothing of value inside!
No relics, let alone books—there wasn't even a bookshelf to be found.
"Do you think it's possible that before disaster struck, the people here evacuated and took everything valuable with them, leaving nothing behind?"
Well, it wasn't exactly nothing—they did see some broken stone tables and chairs, but those had shattered completely when the palace toppled sideways.
"Maybe…" Hu Tao didn't dismiss the possibility.
This palace must have existed for countless years, long enough that any objects left behind could've easily crumbled to dust.
"For a palace this big, I'm surprised there aren't any monsters," Jiang Bai remarked thoughtfully.
It was pretty rare to find ruins with no monsters, Ruin Guards, or Treasure Hoarders hanging around.
But barely had Jiang Bai finished his sentence when he noticed a strange humanoid creature walking nearby.
Its body seemed clad in a strange combination of armor and cloth, but looking closely, it appeared these materials were actually part of its body.
The creature seemed to be patrolling its territory and hadn't yet noticed Jiang Bai poking his head out to spy on it.
"Director, what is that?" Jiang Bai whispered softly.
This was his first time seeing such a tall, humanoid monster.
Hu Tao, however, immediately recognized what it was. "That's an Abyss Herald. Judging by its color, it should be Cryo."
"Abyss Herald? Related to the Abyss Order?"
Jiang Bai knew the Abyss Order was led by someone called the Princess, but he'd only encountered Abyss Mages before.
An Abyss Herald sounded like it ranked even higher.
"Yeah, they're elite members of the Abyss Order. But I've never fought one, so I'm not sure exactly how strong they are."
As the renowned Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao naturally had some knowledge of the Abyss Order, the enemy of all humanity.
"Wait here, Director. I'll go grab him and ask him exactly what this place is."
Jiang Bai remembered that Abyss Mages could speak, so surely an Abyss Herald could as well.
Instead of guessing blindly, it would be easier just to capture and question him directly.
But as the two whispered, the Abyss Herald suddenly noticed them.
Immediately hostile toward the humans who'd dared intrude, it attacked without hesitation.
Jiang Bai quickly shielded Hu Tao, then leaped from their hiding spot. Baiyuan instantly transformed into a gun, firing a brilliant golden bullet from its barrel.
The bullet flew incredibly fast, but the Abyss Herald was clearly battle-hardened. Seeing he couldn't dodge, he swiftly conjured a thick shield of ice.
Yet upon impact, the solid ice shield—nearly four inches thick—shattered into flying shards.
At the same moment, Jiang Bai, wrapped in swirling Anemo energy, moved like a streak of light, appearing behind the Herald in an instant.
He raised the Debate Club high above his head, its well-worn spikes gleaming coldly.
The Abyss Herald's eyes widened with terror. Just as the spiked mace descended, he vanished from his original spot, reappearing a short distance away, gasping heavily.
Clearly, such teleportation consumed a huge amount of energy.
Unfazed by missing his first strike, Jiang Bai quickly spun around, clashing again with the Herald, who now wielded a shortsword made of solid ice. Sparks scattered from their weapons.
"When did he get this good at fighting?"
Hu Tao crouched on a toppled stone doorway, watching Jiang Bai duel the Abyss Herald below in astonishment.
She could tell the Abyss Herald was powerful, yet Jiang Bai was completely dominating him.
If Jiang Bai weren't intent on capturing it alive, the Herald would already be dead.
After swiftly exchanging a dozen blows, the Abyss Herald finally realized the enormous gap in strength between them. He tore open a spatial portal and fled.
Jiang Bai felt the Sifang Compass on his waist vibrating. Glancing at it, he saw its needle pointing directly at the spatial rift the Herald had opened.
Without thinking twice, Jiang Bai scooped Hu Tao into his arms and jumped in before the portal closed.
Moments after Jiang Bai and Hu Tao disappeared, the entire palace flickered like a TV losing its signal. With a brief crackle, it vanished completely, as if it had never existed.
And with the palace gone, the mysterious interference that blocked communication disappeared as well.
...
In an unknown place deep beneath the earth, Dainsleif stood silently before an immense, silvery-white tree.
Its branches stretched out endlessly, seeming to connect heaven and earth.
Standing before this gigantic tree, Dainsleif appeared as insignificant as an ant.
Yet despite its enormity, this silver-white tree was merely a minor branch supporting the greater ley lines beneath the land.
Dainsleif picked up a freshly fallen branch, closed his eyes, and let his consciousness sink into it.
As the Bough Keeper, he was privy to many things he shouldn't know. But the human mind had limits.
Naturally, many things he learned would fade from memory. These memories vanished subconsciously; unless something triggered them, he might never realize he'd forgotten.
He sifted through the chaotic flood of information, seeking what he needed, all the while anchoring himself firmly so as not to be overwhelmed by the endless tide.
"So, after Barbatos, Morax has also given up his Gnosis…" he murmured quietly.
"Hm?"
Something he saw caused his eyes to snap open abruptly.
In the next instant, he reached out, touching the massive silver-white tree. His figure vanished immediately.
...
Jiang Bai expected to arrive somewhere recognizable, but what greeted him was a vast, endless starry expanse.
It felt as though he were standing directly amidst the stars. Hu Tao, whom he still held, was there as well.
"What is this place?"
Hu Tao wriggled out of his embrace, cautiously stamping her foot on the starry void beneath them.
There seemed to be an invisible ground beneath their feet, sending ripples spreading outward like water with every step.
"No idea. That Abyss Herald is gone, too."
Jiang Bai was utterly baffled. He'd chased the Abyss Herald in here, yet now there wasn't even a shadow of it anywhere.
Glancing at the Sifang Compass, he saw its needle spinning uncontrollably, as if broken.
Staring around at the glittering starscape, Hu Tao clicked her tongue lightly. "This is really strange. I thought we'd end up in the Abyss, or at least some kind of Abyss Order hideout. But it's actually... just stars?"
---
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