Inside a cave dwelling in Jueyun Karst.
As Jiang Yan underwent the sublimation of his soul within the sea of consciousness, his entire body was now suffused with a golden radiance.
However, due to the outbreak of war outside, all the adepti who had remained in Jueyun Karst had gone off to defend other regions. Ganyu, too, had been dispatched to support Guili Plains. As a result, there was no one around Jiang Yan at this moment.
Gradually, the brilliant golden light began to withdraw back into Jiang Yan's body.
Not long after, Jiang Yan suddenly opened his eyes and sat upright.
"This is…?"
Frowning, Jiang Yan clenched his fist.
He vaguely remembered that he had been fighting the Lord of the Abyss. Where was this place?
He looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings in confusion.
Though unfamiliar wasn't quite accurate—the scenery around him felt strangely familiar.
[Awake?]
The system's voice echoed in Jiang Yan's mind.
"System, what's going on with me?"
Jiang Yan asked.
[Two thousand years of battle left your mind utterly exhausted. You fell asleep.]
[I brought you back to Liyue.]
The system replied calmly, as if it were nothing of consequence.
"Oh? That's rare, System."
Jiang Yan laughed, stretching as he stood up.
"Ahh~ That was a great sleep."
He spoke in a relaxed tone. With the Abyss resolved, it felt as though a massive weight had been lifted from his heart.
[Now is not the time for you to relax, Host.]
The system reminded him.
"What happened?"
Jiang Yan had only just awakened and knew nothing of the outside situation.
[You fought the Lord of the Abyss for two thousand years, then fell into deep slumber.]
[During the five hundred years you were asleep, the Lord of the Abyss returned. Though he has not fully recovered his strength, he has launched an invasion across the continent through the passage opened by Khaenri'ah.]
As the system explained the current situation, Jiang Yan's eyes widened sharply upon hearing one detail.
"System, are you saying…"
"I slept for five hundred years?!"
[Yes, Host.]
Jiang Yan scratched his head.
No wonder.
No wonder he felt so refreshed.
After two thousand years of nonstop warfare, sleeping for five hundred years didn't seem that strange.
"Then according to what you're saying, the Khaenri'ah war has already begun, right?"
[Yes, Host.]
The system's tone remained flat.
"Wait—that's not right. Haven't the twins appeared yet?"
Jiang Yan frowned. By all logic, before the Khaenri'ah catastrophe began, one of the twins should have already set out on their journey.
[You may review the memories your clone provided before it dissipated. You should find the information you're looking for there.]
The system prompted him.
Jiang Yan froze mid-thought.
"My clone dissipated too?!"
[Yes. Because you fell into deep slumber and your body was purified by me, once you vanished, your clone naturally could not be sustained.]
The system explained.
"Damn it, damn it!"
Jiang Yan slapped his forehead.
His sudden disappearance combined with five hundred years of sleep—Ganyu and Morax must have been worried sick.
Especially since he had said those things to Morax before leaving.
Closing his eyes, Jiang Yan began reviewing the memories returned after his clone dissipated.
Two thousand years of memories were immense, yet Jiang Yan processed them astonishingly fast.
Before long, he slowly opened his eyes.
Unbelievable!
That clone of his actually had a cold-blooded personality?!
Damn it!
He even argued with Little Ganyu?!
I, your original self, have never once spoken harshly to Little Ganyu in my entire life—who gave you the nerve?!
Jiang Yan ground his teeth fiercely. Once this whole affair was over, he swore he'd summon that cold-blooded clone again—
and beat the living daylights out of him!
But for now, the priority was resolving the Khaenri'ah crisis.
Jiang Yan knew that the Khaenri'ah catastrophe was a disaster that would reshape all of Teyvat.
He had left behind many contingency plans. By now, they should all be coming into effect.
"Damn—right!"
"I almost forgot about Little White and Apep."
Jiang Yan suddenly smacked his head, his face full of regret.
Those two were probably still stuck deep inside the Chasm.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yan closed his eyes and began contacting Little White and Apep through the master-servant imprint within his body.
Deep within the Chasm.
Inside a crack in a rock wall.
Little White was covered in wounds, panting heavily.
Apep, sprawled weakly atop Little White's head, let his own head droop lifelessly.
"Damn it! What the hell is Boss even doing?!"
Little White shouted angrily.
"Shut up! Do you want to draw the attention of the monsters outside?!"
Apep scolded in a low voice.
Ever since Little White had alerted that group of monsters, they'd been hunted relentlessly.
Who could've guessed that the monsters would only grow more numerous? Eventually, Little White could barely evade them anymore and had no choice but to hide himself and Apep in narrow crevices and corners.
At this moment, monsters were everywhere outside. Neither Little White nor Apep dared to venture out.
"Damn it—if I could just return to my original form, I'd tear them all apart!"
Apep ground his teeth in fury. But right now, he had no combat ability whatsoever—unless Jiang Yan remotely lifted the restriction placed on him by the Monkey Talisman.
[Little White, Apep!]
[If you hear this, respond immediately!]
[Little White, Apep!]
[If you hear this, respond immediately!]
Suddenly, a clear and familiar voice rang out in both their minds.
"Boss!!!"
Little White nearly burst into tears.
His boss hadn't forgotten about him!
[Little White!]
[Where are you right now?]
[How's Apep?]
Hearing Little White's response, Jiang Yan hurriedly asked.
"I'm here, Boss."
Apep was equally excited. Jiang Yan had finally appeared.
At last, he wouldn't have to keep hiding here in humiliation.
[Sorry, sorry. After fighting the Lord of the Abyss, I was forced into a five-hundred-year slumber.]
Jiang Yan apologized sincerely.
[How are things on your end? Are you hurt?]
Faced with Jiang Yan's concern, Little White's tears immediately came pouring out.
"Boss! I'm covered in wounds! Those monsters are vicious—one swipe nearly peeled my skin right off!"
Little White exaggerated shamelessly as he complained, with Apep even chiming in to back him up.
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