Walnut used me to boost her sales performance.

Unfortunately, Paimon himself couldn't explain these questions, and he couldn't get the answers from her either.

"Of course not! Paimon isn't a bird. Even if it were a bird, only an eagle could fly that high!"

Paimon changed the subject, "It seems Yuxia's request is finished. What should we do next?"

"Let's go see that ancient tree."

The Sky Nail flew down and arrived at the ancient, silvery-white tree that had been destroyed and was now just a stump.

The ancient tree has changed somewhat since it was first thawed from the ice; it has sprouted some new buds.

However, these new shoots are not the normal blue, but the same red as the deep red stone.

"It's sprouted!" Paimon exclaimed, his eyes widening at the new shoots. "I thought this was just a dead tree stump, but it actually sprouted!"

"Yes...it has sprouted..."

I felt something hollow inside.

Even though it was frozen for a long time, this ancient tree did not give up growing.

He silently absorbed the scorching blood that seeped into the snow-capped mountains, accumulating strength, and finally sprouted a new bud after thousands of years of breaking the seal.

He took out the crimson chalcedony he had collected along the way and brought it close to the ancient tree.

The crimson chalcedony transformed into pure energy, drifting into the ancient tree.

After absorbing a few pieces of crimson chalcedony, the new buds on the branches increased significantly.

"It works! Let's find more to feed this tree!"

Looking at the tree that had come back to life because of them, Paimon was quite happy.

"Hmm! But we need to give it a name, we can't just keep calling it 'this tree'..."

Kong rested his chin on his hand and thought for a moment, "How about we call it the Honeysuckle Tree? It endures thousands of years of bitter winters and finally sprouts new buds after the ice and snow melt."

"Great! Let's call it the Honeysuckle Tree!"

While Kong was busy searching for crimson chalcedony, Jiang Bai was not idle either.

He was somewhat concerned about the small fragment of the Heavenly Star that had been found in the Dunyu Mausoleum some time ago.

It is said that this fragment is only a part of the "celestial star" that fell into the abyss of layered rocks.

He then referred to it as "Tianxing" (Heavenly Star), but Jiang Bai preferred to call it "Tianding" (Heavenly Nail).

Spikes falling from the sky.

Unfortunately, the Abyss of Laminaria has been closed for some time and cannot be opened anytime soon.

He could only study more materials and ask Zhongli more questions in preparation for entering the Layered Rock Abyss to find the Heavenly Nail.

That day he received a letter from Kong, saying that the Frost Nail of the Snow Mountain had been restored and had risen into the sky.

Logically speaking, it would have been much faster for him to come and inform Jiang Bai himself than to write a letter, but unfortunately, he was busy searching for Crimson Jadeite and feeding the ancient tree he called the "Honeysuckle Tree".

Jiang Bai was stunned when he saw the letter, which said that this guy had quietly caused such a big incident!

Is it true that they were chosen by fate?

What they couldn't handle before, this guy solved in no time!

Without delay, Jiang Bai found his thick cotton coat and teleported to the top of the snow mountain.

Indeed, the fragments floating in mid-air were no longer visible on the mountaintop. Looking up, a long, cracked nail floated in the air.

Unfortunately, this nail seems to have lost most of its energy. If it weren't floating in the air, it would probably be no different from an ordinary stone pillar.

It is even uglier than ordinary stone pillars because it is covered with cracks.

"Good heavens, how did they do that? These fragments can actually come together!"

It seems like they wasted their time by bombing it...

To answer his question, the only option is to find Xiao Kong, but finding Kong, who is nowhere in the vast snow-covered mountains, is no easy task.

Therefore, Jiang Bai chose to find Abedo.

We need to inform him about something this important.

Let's see what their great alchemist thinks.

Abedo happened to be in the snow-capped mountains, and Jiang Bai easily found him sketching not far from his camp.

"Aberdo!"

Upon seeing him arrive, Abedo gently put down his paintbrush and smiled, "You seem to have something to ask me again."

Chapter 359 The island of faith has all become ruins.

"Take a look at this."

Jiang Bai handed him the blank letter.

Aberdo was also somewhat surprised after reading the letter.

He was also in the snow-capped mountains recently, but he didn't feel anything unusual. In addition, the mountaintop was always blocked by thick clouds, so he didn't notice the extra cold nail in the sky.

"I just went up to check, and it really did rise!"

Abedo looked up at the mountaintop shrouded in clouds, feeling somewhat sentimental.

"I never imagined that the Frost Nail would actually rise into the sky."

They had considered many ways to pull out the nail stuck in the ground, but ultimately chose the most feasible method: blasting.

Even with the explosion, it only shattered the long nail; it didn't actually make the nail rise back into the sky.

"I'll go up and take a look."

Abedo packed up his art supplies and headed to the mountaintop.

Jiang Bai had nothing else to do, so he went along with him.

Upon reaching the summit, Abedo gazed at the icy nail rising into the sky and fell into deep thought.

"Why do you think this Frost Nail only hovers above the snow-capped mountains instead of flying directly back to Sky Island?"

“Uh…” Jiang Bai scratched his head. How did he know the answer to this question?

It's just a pillar, is it somehow set up with an automatic return-to-home program?

If such a procedure existed, would we still be staying in this snow-capped mountain for thousands of years?

Abedo didn't expect Jiang Bai to answer his question. He shook his head and said, "Forget it, this involves Sky Island, which is not something we can explore right now."

Sky Isles are the rulers of all of Teyvat, and even the gods are wary of them. If they were to venture into these things without permission, they might invite unknown dangers.

"Are you free? How about we go check out that palace I mentioned last time that's turned sideways?"

Since the research on the Frostfire Nail was stuck, they couldn't just do nothing. Since they couldn't find it anytime soon, Jiang Bai simply dragged Abedo to the place they had mentioned last time.

“Yes, I’d love to see the place you’re talking about.” Abedo readily agreed.

After traveling for almost a day, the two arrived at Wuwangpo.

Arriving beneath the stone pillars and massive archways that resembled the ruins of the snow-capped mountains, Jiang Bai looked at the knowledgeable Abedo and asked:

“I’ve seen similar architectural ruins in many places, even in snow-capped mountains. The patterns on the arches and stone pillars are the same, but they appeared at different times and places. Do you know anything about these?”

Jiang Bai had been curious about this for a long time. He asked his master, Zhongli, but Zhongli was a riddle master and told Jiang Bai to explore it himself.

What could Jiang Bai do? He could only ask others who might know the answer.

"I have some guesses about these things, but they are just guesses and may not be accurate."

Abedo looked at the Celtic triangular pattern carved on the archway, which consisted of a continuous line, and said softly, "These patterns are everywhere, but they only exist on things from the ancient past."

This pattern is also found on Mora, but the pattern on Mora has never changed since its creation, making it a very ancient artifact.

One theory is that the patterns on the Mora represent Teyvat.

But whether it is true or not, only rune experts and those who created the Geo Archon can probably answer that.

“I noticed that too,” Jiang Bai nodded.

Modern architecture, whether in Mondstadt or Liyue, does not use this pattern.

Do you still remember those murals on the snow-capped mountains?

"Yes, I remember."

The murals on the snow-capped mountain were left by Fendnir and record the birth of Fendnir.

Judging from the rhomboid mechanical artifacts guarding the old capital, this short-lived nation acquired the ability to build mechanical guards in a very short period of time.

This is clearly abnormal according to normal development.

"The murals depict a messenger from the sky descending and leading the people to build the prosperous city of Fendnir."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai clearly understood.

"You mean, these buildings, located in different places, from different eras, and from different countries, all share a common leader and a common belief in Sky Island?"

This does explain why architectural patterns are consistent across different countries and locations.

Because they all worship Sky Island and follow its guidance, they used this pattern which carries special significance.

"All civilizations that worshipped Sky Isles have become ruins..."

Jiang Bai was terrified upon closer examination.

Fendnir existed a very long time ago, when Mondshang was still a land of ice and snow, Wendy had not yet become the Wind God, and the system of the Seven Rulers of the Earth had not yet been established.

In other words, Sky Island initially sent messengers to guide humanity, but later she stopped responding to these kingdoms that believed in her. Instead, she selected seven demons from among the demon gods to become gods, divide up territories, and manage humanity in her place.

After Sky Island ceased responding to the voices from the ground, these ancient kingdoms disappeared for various reasons. Perhaps they were destroyed by the Sky Nails like Fendenil, or perhaps they were caught up in the brutal war between demons and gods, becoming offspring of some demon god, or perhaps they were caught in the aftermath of the demon battle and perished...

These civilizations that once existed did not leave behind murals and writings like Fendnir; if it weren't for these ancient buildings remaining on the earth, they would seem as if they had never existed.

"Thinking about it this way, Findnil was quite lucky; at least they left behind proof that they once existed," Jiang Bai sighed.

He was becoming increasingly curious about what Sky Island really was, but because of the contract, Zhongli couldn't say many things, and he would just laugh it off whenever the topic came up.

Abedo shook his head. "These are just my guesses. I don't know what Sky Island is really like. All speculations are one-sided."

"Yes, is there a god up there? Or a group of gods? Or nothing at all? We have no way of knowing."

Jiang Bai looked up at the Sky Island, whose outline he could vaguely see in the sky. What exactly did the Sky Island look like?

What are the people living up there?

Is it a higher being than the Seven Gods?

In the distant past, did those higher beings ever alternate or change?

Since Sky Island sent envoys to guide people's lives, establish city-states and kingdoms, and develop a considerable level of technology, it suddenly stopped responding to the voices on the ground one day, which made him feel a little strange.

Nothing happens without a reason; there must be some cause.

Jiang Bai shared his speculation with Abedo, who agreed with it.

If a high-ranking official's attitude towards their subjects changes drastically, something must have happened.

Perhaps their rights are being challenged and they are too preoccupied to care for themselves, or perhaps they are annoyed by their subjects and simply don't want to get involved anymore; there is always a reason.

Chapter 360 is too strange.

As for the exact reason, they will need to explore it further in the future.

Perhaps the secret behind this is related to the topic of "the nature of the world" that his master gave him.

"Make bold assumptions, verify carefully. As long as we keep exploring, we will know these secrets sooner or later. Let's go in and take a look."

With that, Jiang Bai took the lead and entered the ruins.

Aberdo smiled.

Just as Jiang Bai said, as long as he is alive, he will always complete the task his master assigned him.

Whether it's ten years, a hundred years, or a thousand years.

He'll figure out these secrets eventually.