After studying the mural carved with his own likeness for a while, Jiang Yan left the place with a bored expression.
In his view, researching a mural of himself was completely pointless.
Seriously—who in this world could possibly understand Jiang Yan better than Jiang Yan himself?
What a joke…
Jiang Yan strolled leisurely onward through the passage ahead.
When he arrived at the next grand hall, the corner of Jiang Yan's mouth twitched slightly.
"So that's why there was only a mural of me back there."
"They were all moved here, huh!"
That's right—carved all around this hall were murals of the Seven Archons of the Seven Nations!
The Geo Archon, Electro Archon, Anemo Archon, Dendro Archon, Hydro Archon, Pyro Archon, and Cryo Archon.
From their origins at birth all the way to the present day, everything was recorded on the stone walls.
They even knew in exact detail that the Electro Archon was actually a pair of twin sisters!
Who would have thought that these so-called Abyssal monsters had researched the Seven Archons of the mortal world so thoroughly?
Moreover, judging from the broken walls and ruins scattered around the hall,
the Abyss hadn't only studied them.
It was very likely that during the Archon War, the Abyss had been constantly observing the situation.
Any god who showed the slightest possibility of victory had been carved onto the stone walls.
As for those who lost the Archon War, they naturally no longer held any research value afterward.
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
Jiang Yan murmured to himself. The Abyss's schemes were like a thick fog, impossible to see through.
All of this could only be unraveled if Jiang Yan personally went deeper into the Abyss itself,
either to see the very source of the Abyss,
or to meet the so-called "Lord" spoken of by the Baptizer.
Leaving the hall carved with the murals of the Seven Gods, Jiang Yan continued wandering through the palace.
In this pitch-black palace, there was no clear sense of time passing.
Even Jiang Yan had no idea how long he had been wandering.
He only knew that he had walked for a very, very long time.
Finally, upon entering yet another hall, he discovered a group of Abyss Mages gathered inside, discussing something animatedly.
Every now and then, a few Abyss Heralds passed by.
And not far from the hall, several Abyss Mages were moving back and forth through a dark-purple gate.
Listening to the incomprehensible chattering of the Abyss Mages around him, Jiang Yan estimated that the dark-purple gate was likely the passage leading out of the palace.
However, he had clearly underestimated just how much pressure his current role as "Violet Thunder" placed on these Abyss Mages.
If the Baptizer was the highest authority that Abyss Lectors could come into contact with,
then Abyss Lectors were the highest authority these Abyss Mages could ever meet.
Weren't these big shots supposed to stay deep within the palace all day and never come out?
Why would one suddenly appear in a place like this today?
Many Abyss Mages exchanged glances, then immediately shut their mouths, not daring to speak.
"My lord, may I ask if you have come this time to announce some important matter?"
After hesitating for a while, one Abyss Mage finally stepped forward cautiously, asking in a fawning tone.
"Nothing. I'm heading out for a bit."
Jiang Yan replied indifferently, his tone carrying a hint of impatience.
After wandering around this palace for so long, anyone would feel irritable.
And while saying this, he didn't even glance at the Abyss Mage standing before him.
To Abyss Lectors, whether facing subordinates or even peers, they always maintained an aloof, superior demeanor.
And these Abyss Mages ate that right up.
"Understood, my lord. Safe travels."
Sensing the impatience in Jiang Yan's voice, the Abyss Mage quickly bowed and retreated.
The surrounding Abyss Mages instantly cleared a path for Jiang Yan.
To maintain his imposing image, Jiang Yan decided not to walk any further.
The Rooster Talisman lit up in his mind, and his entire body slowly floated into the air as he flew toward the dark-purple gate.
The Abyss Mages all lowered their heads, but their eyes were filled with reverence.
Jiang Yan reached the dark-purple gate and, without the slightest hesitation, stepped straight inside.
A wave of dizziness washed over him.
He felt intense flashes of purple light all around, and in the next instant, he arrived in a vast region.
Jiang Yan's pupils shrank sharply.
Before him stretched a world of black and purple.
Yes—a world, with both sky and land.
More precisely, it was like a colossal underground cavern:
beneath his feet was the ground, and above his head was also ground.
This barren land emitted a black-purple glow, and the aura it released made Jiang Yan extremely uncomfortable.
It felt exactly like the stone hanging at his waist, the one he used to mimic Abyssal energy!
No—rather than "felt like," it should be said that the stone at his waist came from this place!
Seeing this scene, Jiang Yan immediately understood.
This was not beyond the world.
This was the deepest part of the continent of Teyvat.
The Subterranean Abyss!
Jiang Yan lifted his foot and gently stepped onto the black-purple land.
"So this… is what the Abyss originally looks like."
He spoke softly as he slowly scanned his surroundings.
Only then did he realize that the palace he had just explored wasn't truly a palace at all.
It was a massive pillar that connected the "sky" and the "ground."
More importantly, there were countless such pillars in this region, packed so densely they were impossible to count.
Just how many Abyssal monsters existed here?
Jiang Yan didn't even dare to imagine it.
In the depths of Teyvat, which had only just entered an era of peace, there existed such an enormous number of Abyssal creatures!
If these monsters were ever released onto the surface of Teyvat, the consequences…
Jiang Yan didn't even dare to continue that line of thought.
So what exactly was producing these Abyssal monsters?
Driven by curiosity, Jiang Yan stomped his right foot hard against the ground, launching himself into the air and flying toward the distance.
He needed to thoroughly investigate this region.
Especially how this place had come into existence!
To Jiang Yan, that was the most crucial point of all.
Thus, he resolved to explore everything here in detail.
After flying for only a short while, Jiang Yan spotted several scattered Abyss Mages standing on the black-purple land.
They were holding something that looked like small tree branches in their hands, hopping up and down.
Black mist continuously rose from the black-purple ground, drifting through the faint purple glow around it.
Though the scene appeared hazy and indistinct, Jiang Yan could see everything with perfect clarity.
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