Eldritch Horror Theatre

Of course, it wouldn't be that easy to match up.

It would certainly be wonderful to arrive somewhere, find that it perfectly matched a clue obtained earlier, and smoothly unlock the next stage of progression just like in a game, but one still had to respect astronomy.

With an image where even the season was uncertain, the probability of him just running in, standing in a specific spot, and having everything line up perfectly was truly slim.

Fortunately, it didn't need to match up completely. Aside from the coordinates provided by the technicians at the time, Fu Qian also had some grasp of methods like the intercept method and the Star Guiding Technique.

It was better to teach a person to fish than to give them a fish; he only needed a few key points to lock the area corresponding to that picture down to a specific range.

The problem now was that he had pretty much already scoured this entire range.

Stirring up the situation in Moore and leaving behind a thriving vegetable garden didn't mean he planned to take his time here.

Returning alone in glory this time, Fu Qian's goal had always been extremely clear: head straight for the previously unexplored coordinates.

Although the results seemed somewhat disappointing.

At the time, he had merely used the Prism's Insight on a transcendent item and obtained a cryptic, obscure piece of information. There wasn't even any proof that it was his "fortunate encounter" or anything of the sort.

And then he just ran over to try his luck and stumbled upon a Spirit Monster Immortal Abode? That would be making this baseless, blind groping seem far too simple and idealistic.

There was even an argument to be made for that Star Map he had obtained back then... "There was nothing beneath me to begin with, so isn't it perfectly normal that you didn't find anything? How is that a scam?"

All in all, the current outcome was already the most probable scenario in Fu Qian's deductions.

Even if there really was something here, it wouldn't be found just by taking a stroll around.

Otherwise, Cass's exploration map, which covered almost the entire Ash Sea, wouldn't have come up empty.

Of course, this didn't mean that all his exploration efforts up to now were meaningless.

Since this was a situation he had anticipated long ago, how could he not have a follow-up plan?

...

Splash!

In the darkness, Fu Qian's body slowly rose from the crashing waves, elevating to an exaggerated height like a legendary dark sovereign descending upon the world.

Of course, upon closer inspection, one could see that it was simply a mountain-like behemoth beneath his feet, lifting him up with its head.

One could even see dozens, perhaps hundreds, of heterochromatic eyes on that head. They brimmed with bloodlust and cruelty, giving off an utterly uncontrollable urge to destroy.

As for why it could restrain itself right now, even cooperating to the point of almost becoming an honor guard?

Very simple. It was the exact same reason why it had served as a mount all the way here—Fu Qian wasn't standing on top of its head, but inside it.

Just like the last time he had conscripted labor in the Ash Sea, countless fine threads spreading from his feet had already embedded deep into its flesh and blood.

Bypassing its subjective will entirely, he forcefully compelled it to act.

Of course, compared to the previous one, this fellow clearly possessed more of a rebellious spirit, having launched covert attacks more than once.

Hiss—

For example, right now.

Just as Fu Qian was hoisted to a considerable height, with nearly half of that colossal body exposed above the water's surface, a fin appendage growing on its side sprayed a swath of radiant light toward him.

Crack!

Unfortunately, before the radiant light could even reach his body, an even more peculiar sound rang out.

That massive head abruptly blossomed like a flower.

The hard bone plates were violently torn open by the thin threads infiltrating them, successfully eliciting an agonized roar.

Amidst this earth-shattering commotion, Fu Qian reached into his coat and drew out a compact scroll.

Opening it with a flick of his wrist, he looked as if he were about to read an imperial decree.

...

It was the Burial Scroll, of course.

For such an important scientific expedition, how could he not bring this papal bestowal?

It was even a literal reach into his "chest"—after a series of ravages, Fu Qian's clothes were already in tatters and no longer possessed any function for storing items.

Fortunately, Fu Qian's flesh-and-blood luggage had long been designed to be increasingly scientific, so there was absolutely nothing to worry about.

Drip!

The very moment the Burial Scroll was taken out, a drop of blood fell from Fu Qian's fingertip onto it.

Considering its duration wasn't that long, he naturally had to pick an opportune moment to use it.

After the previous bout of maneuvering, the range had already been narrowed down to a relatively acceptable scale.

Next, he could try taking his temporarily restored perception for a proper spin around this area—oh?

In the very next instant, the results seemed to prove that Fu Qian had learned the Star Guiding Technique quite well.

There wasn't even any need to wander around. Not far from him to one side, a previously non-existent shadow had actually appeared, its height even more exaggerated than his own current elevation.

...

Oh?

As a researcher who was as open-minded as an empty valley, he certainly didn't mind being overshadowed like this.

What attracted Fu Qian in that moment was the shape of the shadow.

Amidst the swells of the Ash Sea, all sorts of things would spontaneously appear out of nowhere anyway.

Even living beings could manifest and vanish like illusions, let alone inanimate objects.

The problem now was that the island-like object had shapes in certain areas that weren't very natural; it actually displayed considerable traces of civilization.

So this was... a palace? A high tower? A spiritual temple?

Given that it was ultimately just a pile of ruins, it still wasn't very easy to identify.

But Fu Qian could already sense its original majesty.

If that wasn't impactful enough, Fu Qian felt there was something even more eye-catching—an Angel?

Among the many remnants, one particular structure had lines as sharp as a sword. It towered high, piercing straight into the sky as if intending to rebel and judge everything from below.

And there really was a gigantic body impaled upon it.

Humanoid limbs, a missing head, and six wings sprouting from its back.

Even those wings were almost completely mutilated, as if they had been scorched by karmic fire while falling to the mortal realm, leaving only stubs behind.

Moreover, the posture of its impalement was indeed face up, its body contorted into an exaggerated arch, possessing the intense dramatic tension of a Fallen Angel.

It was just that right now, like the architecture impaling it, it was entirely composed of lifeless ash, making it hard to distinguish whether it was a fossil or a sculpture.

Though for Fu Qian, no matter which one it was, the scene before him carried a heavy sense of déjà vu—

The "past life" that the Blasphemy Monarch had once shown him back at the Silver Mist Manor.

The most classic scene within it was that of a sublime existence falling amid wails, burned by endless raging flames.

So much so that the imagery before him was truly far too fitting.

Even the place where it fell back then really was a rolling Sea of Ashes.

After stumbling around, had this fortunate encounter finally presented itself to him after all?

Could it be that His Excellency the Blasphemy Monarch's methods of leading people astray, despite being unperceivable to him, truly possessed wondrous aspects and weren't completely fabricated?

Splash—

Amidst Fu Qian's praise, before he even had time to properly stow away the scroll, a new commotion rang out. On the behemoth beneath his feet, even more fins were already taking aim in his direction.

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