He changed Tiwat

The black knight was unaware of his background, but instinctively sensed danger. He saw the black knight wave his banner once, and a crimson fire element shield appeared around his body.

The energy of this shield was plundered by the Black Knight from Han Fulai's jade shield during the attack just now.

He can activate his shield too!

But Han Fulai can do more than just open his shield.

He stretched out his right hand, covering the fiery red figure of the black knight before him, and then clenched it tightly.

"Catch the wind and turn it into stone!"

Three tiny "salt studs," barely visible to the naked eye, flew out from Han Fulai's palm.

The fire shield turned into a white salt crust and shattered on the ground.

The flaming banner turned into a white salt banner and broke in two.

The black knight turned into a white knight and stopped moving.

"Take this from Old Han!"

Han Fulai raised his black-tasseled spear high and, to be precise, struck the "empty shell" helmet with a single blow. The once-black knight shattered into pieces, leaving only wisps of black smoke escaping from the salt blocks, which quickly turned into black mud and seeped into the rock strata.

"Hey, it really is just an 'empty shell'." Han Fulai took a breath and turned around to pay attention to the battle situation on Jiang Xue's side.

The black knight, cut in two by Jiang Xue, lay on the ground, gradually turning into black mud. Jiang Xue's figure disappeared into the darkness as she followed the ranged archer onto a small path.

Although Jiang Xue had received martial arts training, her ability to see in the dark was still inferior to those "dark shells"—after all, they were no longer living beings, but at best walking corpses. They didn't rely on their eyes, but on the flow of energy to detect the movement of their prey.

However, Jiang Xue had his own methods. Since the other party could use elemental power, there was naturally elemental power flowing in their body as well. Jiang Xue had already turned the action of activating elemental vision in the dark into a muscle memory habit.

In the elemental vision, the ice element on the "Dark Shell Guardian" longbow is nowhere to be hidden, shining like fireflies in the night.

Although the "Dark Shells" have no ability to think and are not afraid of death, they will not easily give up their lives. The fighting instincts contained in their knightly bodies, which have been tempered over thousands of years, have become conditioned reflexes.

As a long-range marksman, the top tactic is to snipe enemies from a distance and prevent them from getting close.

"Dark Shell" drew back the bowstring, gathered its strength slightly, and an arrow of ice appeared between the bowstrings—its "Guardian Frost Arrow."

Instead of aiming at the rapidly approaching Jiang Xue, it maintained its charging state, suddenly raised its longbow, and shot an arrow into the sky—this was "Guardian Ice Flash," which could transform ice elements into arrows through charging and cover a vast area in a scattering manner.

The "Dark Shell" was actually in a very tricky position. It was a narrow natural walkway formed by rocks. Its arrow had blocked every inch of Jiang Xue's footing. If Jiang Xue wanted to pass, she could only take its "Flash of Ice" head-on. If she retreated, it could keep the distance and continue to snipe. If she dodged left or right, she would either crash into the rock wall or fall off the cliff.

Jiang Xue's choice was to force her way in.

He glanced up at the scattering ice arrows, then charged forward.

Although these ice arrows formed at the same time, the elemental power they contained varied within the elemental vision. After all, this "dark shell" was not a living person and could not remotely and precisely control elemental power. This resulted in varying degrees of power among these ice arrows.

Jiang Xue, relying on the fleeting memory from that brief glimpse, dodged the more powerful ice arrows and used her sword to deflect the less powerful ones. Without stopping for a moment, she had already broken through the arrow barrage amidst the rain of arrows.

"Dark Shell" fired two arrows in quick succession, but Jiang Xue, moving with the speed of a star, effortlessly dodged them and caught up with her opponent in the blink of an eye. Then, with a flick of her wrist, another invisible sword aura appeared!

The "dark shell" stopped running away—because it was not without melee capabilities.

Its role during its lifetime was that of a "guard," not a "shooter."

With a thrust of its longbow forward, its entire body suddenly shimmered with an icy blue light, unleashing its elemental power. Large swathes of hard ice instantly sprouted from both sides of the longbow, forming a solid shield with the bow as its framework!

The sword energy that could have shattered the "Ruins Hunter" into pieces struck this ice shield, yet it only left a few sword marks less than an inch deep.

This is the strongest defensive skill of the "Dark Shell"—"Guardian Defense". In its lifetime, it was a guard of the palace guard, and the most reliable "arrow" and "shield" for its colleagues.

Amidst the clanging of weapons, Jiang Xue's sword and the empty shield had exchanged attacks and defenses dozens of times as she maneuvered within the narrow stone path, which was less than two meters wide.

The sword moved as swiftly as a whirlwind.

The shield remains unmoved by the eight winds.

Stalemate.

But the stalemate must eventually come to an end.

His attacks are like water droplets falling on a rock, seemingly insignificant, but eventually they will wear away the stone.

Every strike Jiang Xue made was a feint, a way to lure his opponent into shifting their defensive angle and creating openings in their posture—just like how he had lured Han Fulai along the riverbank at Dihua Island that day.

After another slash, the "Dark Shell" tilted slightly while holding the shield, giving Jiang Xue an opportunity.

Jiang Xue did not let this opportunity pass.

His figure flashed past the shield, intersecting with the "dark shell".

His sword also sliced ​​across the other man's neck.

"Swift Step Kill - Unrestrained".

The "dark shell" stopped abruptly, then realized that the shield was too heavy for its arm.

The shield landed.

As its body swayed, the "dark, empty shell" head shot into the sky.

There were no cries of pain, no bloodshed, only black smoke and black mud.

Just then, cracks suddenly appeared in the space behind Jiang Xue!

"Serve the abyss!"

A hoarse voice rang out, and the overwhelming force of the wave slashed down towards Jiang Xue's neck!

Chapter 182 What is your relationship with the "Sword of the End of Light"?

The voice of the Abyss Apostle appeared abruptly.

The attack from the Abyss Apostles came just as suddenly.

But Jiang Xue seemed to have eyes in the back of her head. Without turning around, she simply pushed off with her feet and swung her sword backhand.

The surging waves collided with the wildly swung sword light, producing no sound, and both were annihilated.

If Han Fulai were here, he would definitely feel a strong sense of déjà vu when he saw Jiang Xue's movements, because Jiang Xue had defeated him with this move, "Returning Step Kill - Desolation".

"I knew it must have been you guys behind this, Abyss Apostles," Jiang Xue said coldly. Only then did he withdraw his sword and turn around.

"Who are you, daring to stop us from purifying the filth in the sky with our sacred blood?" The Abyss Apostle's voice was still hoarse, like an echo from the abyss.

Jiang Xue's eyes were sharp. "You heretics are courting death."

"Hmph... Ignorant fool, who has repeatedly obstructed our great mission, will surely be punished..."

"Shut up." Jiang Xue waved her hand to interrupt the Abyss Apostle's threat. "I don't care what you're doing, but you're the ones who disturbed my peace and quiet first. Don't you know that fishing requires peace and quiet the most?"

"Hmph, hahaha..." The Abyss Apostle laughed in fury, "If I hadn't seen through your 'True Art,' I would have already taken your head..."

"You mean this?" Jiang Xue flicked her wrist, and a powerful sword aura suddenly appeared, heading straight for the Abyss Apostle's throat.

"you!"

Before the Abyss Apostle could speak, he clasped his hands together, his dark blue robe fluttering without wind, and a light blue screen enveloped his entire body. Jiang Xue's sword energy struck the Abyss Apostle's shield, only causing a ripple.

"Heh." Jiang Xue scoffed, "You can't speak properly unless you get beaten up? Stop acting like a charlatan in front of me. Beg for mercy properly, and I'll consider letting you go."

The Abyss Apostle remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "What is your relationship with that 'Sword of the End'?"

"'Sword of the End of Light'?" Jiang Xue lightly flicked the bladeless sword in her hand, brought it to her ear, and quickly shook her head. "My sword told me it doesn't recognize any 'Sword of the End of Light'. It also said that if you keep nagging, it wouldn't mind renaming it 'Sword of Doomsday' and bestowing upon you the end of the world."

When Han Fulai followed the signs of the fight to find Jiang Xue, he saw Jiang Xue confronting the Abyss Apostle.

Although he hadn't heard the conversation between Jiang Xue and the Abyss Apostle, just seeing the Abyss Apostle's figure was enough for him to understand who had set up this ambush.

Without uttering any further words, a golden glint flashed in Han Fulai's eyes, and his spear was infused with immortal power. Simultaneously, the power of the Salt God was enhanced, and salt-made snowflakes instantly began to fall around him.

"Watching the snow-covered river flow like a ten-mile-long dragon wave, I alone wash in the vast waves, soaring through the clouds!"

The sound arrived, the guns arrived, and the pristine white salt dragon arrived!

The Abyss Apostle raised his right hand and slashed downwards, unleashing a water-flowing blade no less powerful than that of the Salt Dragon. The two collided, sending shockwaves and torrents flying in all directions.

Han Fulai spun his spear again, about to continue his attack, when he saw the Abyss Apostle brace himself with both hands, and a spatial rift suddenly appeared behind him without warning.

This is the spatial rift he saw in the Jade Pavilion!

Is there a connection between the Fools and the Abyss?

Before he could figure it out, the Abyss Apostle's body had already disappeared into the spatial rift.

Before departing, the hoarse voice left only one sentence: "Our resurrection...how can it be stopped..."

"Pah, pah, pah, what bad luck, this is all nonsense..." Jiang Xue unceremoniously lifted her mask and spat at the spot where the Abyss Apostle had just stood, as if she genuinely felt it was bad luck and needed exorcism...

Seeing Jiang Xue's reaction, Han Fulai didn't know how to respond.

After sheathing her sword, Jiang Xue turned around and apologized to Han Fulai, looking rather embarrassed: "Uh... although I said you only needed to wait half a minute, you saw that there was one more person among them, which took a little longer..."

"It's alright. I've already taken care of it." Han Fulai also put away his spear and waved his hand with great composure.

In fact, it only took less than half a minute from the time Jiang Xue left the range of Han Fulai's Jade Pendant to the time she killed the two "Dark Shells". However, the Abyss Apostles and the "Dark Shells" are not on the same level. Even with Jiang Xue's strength, she would have to concentrate on dealing with the Abyss Apostles.

Han Fulai realized that half a minute had passed and that Jiang Xue might be in trouble, so he rushed over to help.

He had fought troublesome monsters like the Abyss Apostles before in the game, who could activate shields and fly around randomly. Although he didn't know what happened in between, he could understand the situation to some extent.

After the Abyss Apostle escaped, Han Fulai still felt a little regretful. If he hadn't used "Catching Wind to Turn Stone" on that "empty shell" carrying the flag, he might have been able to keep that Abyss Apostle.

Jiang Xue, however, circled around Han Fulai with considerable curiosity. "Tsk tsk, your whole demeanor has changed... You didn't use this when you sparred with me. Is this what they call 'playing dumb to fool others'? If you were really good at fighting, you should have said so earlier!"

"...Senior Jiang Xue is too kind." Han Fulai turned his face away somewhat awkwardly, but did not deactivate his full immortal power, and the jade shield remained activated. After all, there were still mechanisms to be deactivated, and he did not intend to let his guard down until then.

Although Jiang Xue pretended to be relaxed and joked with him, Han Fulai could actually tell that Jiang Xue was hiding something. He was unwilling to point it out, but Jiang Xue would naturally tell him when the time came.

Demonstrating his strength to Jiang Xue was also a way to gain her more respect, and it would also be helpful for their upcoming trip to the ruins, facilitating their cooperation. Han Fulai already had a premonition that this trip to the ancient civilization ruins would likely have to be linked to the Abyss.

Since the forces of the Abyss had ambushed him, he was bound to retaliate.

Although he might need to temporarily avoid direct confrontation when he's alone, he has great confidence in Jiang Xue—a powerful figure who can take down two Black Knights in half a minute, she'd definitely be a money-maker if she entered the gacha pool! In his eyes, this former commander of the Thousand Rock Army exudes a powerful beauty! As long as he doesn't hold Jiang Xue back, wouldn't it be wonderful to watch her solo the Abyss dungeon?

The two returned to the vicinity of the "Wishing Stone," where Han Fulai used "Pure Light Bloom" to dispel the black mud and then purified the second mechanism.

Just as the "lumenstone" on the device turned blue, Zhiqiong ran towards them.

"Hero Han, Hero Jiang, what...what was that just now...uh..."

Zhiqiong's breathing became slightly rapid, and she bent over and began to retch before she could finish speaking.

"Didn't I tell you to stay far away and not move?" Han Fulai frowned. "The danger isn't over yet, you..."

"Sorry... cough cough, the air here is inexplicably... a bit thin, but I'm fine..." Zhiqiong quickly bowed her head and apologized, "I, I wanted to tell you that those monsters that appeared just now were the same monsters that chased down the exploration team before the mine was closed!"

Chapter 183 The Dark Shell and the Abyss Cult

To warn Zhiqiong against recklessly venturing into dangerous territory, Jinwu had described in detail the potential dangers of the Layered Rock Abyss. When the topic of monsters came up, Jinwu, with a rarely seen stern expression on Zhiqiong's face, told her to run as fast as she could if she saw a monster with a sun emblem tattooed on its body!

Just now, because of the distance, Zhiqiong couldn't see if there were similar marks on those "empty shells", but the banner in the black knight's hand was tattooed with a golden sun!

This suggests that those monsters are likely the same ones Jinwu mentioned, and they are the most dangerous beings in the Layered Rock Abyss.

Fortunately, Han Fulai and Jiang Xue were exceptionally skilled and managed to kill all the terrifying monsters in just a few minutes. However, considering the danger of these monsters, Zhiqiong felt it was necessary to tell them this information—and under this pretext, she could also take the opportunity to observe the "Wishing Stone" up close.

As an adventurer, how could she resist the urge to explore such a magical thing? Not only did she want to take pictures and draw them, but if possible, she also wanted to touch them with her own hands... Zhiqiong's little mind had already begun to imagine the feel of the "wishing stone".

Although Han Fulai was somewhat angry at Zhiqiong for acting on her own despite being advised against it, the information she provided clarified the questions in his mind—

Why did the Abyss Apostles set up these traps? Why did they ambush them?

Because it wasn't just Yelan who wanted to stop them from going deeper into the Layered Rock Abyss; the forces of the Abyss had already taken action against the Layered Rock Abyss two years ago!

Jinwu had mentioned that two years ago, the exploration team was chased by unidentified monsters emerging from the black mud, and the black knight just now also emerged from the black mud. Combined with the information Zhiqiong just provided, Han Fulai was now 100% certain that the anomalies in the Layered Rock Abyss were closely related to the forces of the Abyss!

Speaking of the "Abyss Order," this organization is quite mysterious in the game. As of the time Han Fulai traveled through time, he only knew that one of the twin travelers had become the leader of the "Abyss Order" and sounded the horn of rebellion against the laws of nature.

If we're talking about "rebels" on the continent of Teyvat, setting aside characters like Zhongli who secretly orchestrate events, the Fools of Winterfell and the Abyss Order can be considered two overtly rebellious forces. The Abyss Order, in particular, seems to have done almost everything aimed at completely shattering the world order under the rule of Heaven.

However, the organization's structure, location, and combat strength are still a mystery to Han Fulai, a transmigrator. The game script only reveals a few clues, so even as a transmigrator, his understanding of this organization is no more profound than that of the natives of Teyvat.

However, judging from the way this "Abyss Order" behaves in the game's storyline, they also operate in the shadows and usually do not have direct conflicts with the seven kingdoms of Teyvat. However, now, the "Abyss Order" has extended their plans into the Laminar Abyss, and there is a mechanism in front of Han Fulai to corrupt the "Wishing Stone".

It can be concluded that the "Abyss Order" has grand ambitions, and may even overthrow the current Teyvat continent—so why didn't Zhongli stop the "Abyss Order's" actions in the Laminar Abyss two years ago?

Could it be that... Zhongli tacitly approved of the "Abyss Cult's" actions because their actions aligned with Zhongli's plan to defy the laws of nature?

Han Fulai shook his head slightly. Unfortunately, these things could not be confirmed by Zhongli, after all, they were "unspeakable" matters.

He is now certain of two things.

First, two years have passed since the incident, and the ancient civilization ruins beneath the "Wishing Stone" have certainly been taken over by the forces of the Abyss. Polluting the "Wishing Stone" is likely part of their plan.

Secondly, besides Yelan, he now has another adversary: ​​the "Abyss Order." Even if he disregards the ambush by the Abyss Apostles, he has already created an enmity by disrupting the Abyss forces' plans.