"Fucking hell, why so rough?!"
Thrown by the Abyss Herald, Ji An tumbled into a weird space.
If he had to describe it…It felt a bit like the time tunnel from the tunnel to Summer.
But to his surprise, Ji An realized that the Abyss Herald had undone the magical restraints on him. He was free to move again.
Just as he was about to perform a clumsy flip and attempt a butterfly stroke through the spatial rift—
"Woof—!"
Hearing the bark beside him, Ji An's face stiffened.
Damn it...
So that Abyss Herald was confident for a reason — he'd sent a few hounds to escort him.
"Brother dogs, where are you taking me?"
Faced with the menacing Riftwolves, Ji An immediately backed down and asked tentatively.
He didn't think he could take them on inside a spatial rift.
During the previous battle, he'd already noticed that these flying dogs could freely traverse spatial rifts, like fish in water.
If he couldn't beat them on solid ground, how could he possibly fight them in their domain?
"Woof! Woof!"
The only response was the threatening growl of the Riftwolves.
Two of them flanked him, each biting onto the sleeves of his damp clothes — seemingly preparing to drag him through the rift.
Shit, what do I do?
Ji An panicked. There was no way he was letting these dogs haul him off. Who knew where they'd take him?
If they dragged him straight to the Abyss Order's base, it'd be game over.
Escaping through the rift was his only chance.
Quietly, Ji An tensed his arms, trying to break free from the wolves' grip.
"Damn…"
He soon realized they were incredibly strong.
Even with all his strength, he couldn't move an inch.
The difference in power between a human and these monsters was simply too great.
If it weren't for the Hilichurl Storm Axe Technique, he wouldn't have lasted a single round against them.
Think of something.
Quick, think of something!
As the Riftwolves dragged him farther away, cold sweat broke out on Ji An's forehead.
Then suddenly—
Boom!
Violent tremors erupted from the rift behind him — from the direction where Shenhe and the Abyss Herald were fighting.
The aftershocks surged through the entire space, sending ripples like tidal waves.
Ji An, being human, wasn't greatly affected, but the Riftwolves were thrown into disarray by the illusory shockwaves.
Perfect opportunity!
Ji An's eyes lit up. Seizing the moment, he pulled with all his might.
Rip—!
His sleeves tore away in the wolves' jaws, turning his sweatshirt into a sleeveless undershirt and exposing his bare arms.
But at a time like this, he couldn't care less.
While the Riftwolves were still disoriented, he quickly swam toward the nearest rift.
But when he reached it, he realized a serious problem.
How the hell do I even use this thing??
Sure, the armored freak and the Riftwolves could move back and forth through space — but that didn't mean he could too!
Oh no.
The Riftwolves were already regaining their senses; he could hear their roars behind him.
"No matter what!"
Ji An steeled himself and dove headfirst into the rift.
During the traversal, his consciousness blurred.
But faintly, it felt as though a voice was asking him where he wanted to go.
Go… where?
I want… to go home.
There was no response.
So Ji An racked his brain — and suddenly, an image surfaced in his mind: the ancient, weathered pillars he had seen when he first arrived at Cuijue Slope.
What were those pillars called again?
Then—
A flash of white light blinded him, and he lost consciousness.
---
When Ji An came to, he found himself in a massive underground palace.
"Where… is this?"
His head felt heavy and muddled, as though he had slept for ages.
Struggling to his feet, he looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings.
He was standing on a vast stone plaza.
At the entrance stood two enormous statues of spear-wielding guards — imposing and oppressive. Standing beneath them, Ji An didn't even reach the height of their pedestals. He whistled softly, estimating they were about thirty meters tall.
Around the plaza, ancient blue eternal lamps flickered faintly, seemingly unextinguished since time immemorial.
Exquisite carvings, undying stone lamps, a massive and empty underground hall…
Whose handiwork could this be?
Ji An muttered inwardly, "System, where is this? Can the simulated geography function locate me?"
[Acquiring host's current location: Liyue — Cuijue Slope — Dungeon of the Nine Pillars of Peace…]
"Dungeon of the Nine Pillars of Peace?"
Ji An exclaimed involuntarily.
He suddenly remembered: during the traversal, he had pictured the Nine Pillars in his mind.
He'd noted it earlier because Shenhe had mentioned that this was where the Geo Archon once suppress nine human desires.
He'd originally planned to return someday for a simulation — wondering if the place might grant special bonuses.
Who would've thought he'd end up here by sheer luck?
Suppressing his excitement, Ji An asked, "System, how long until the next simulation cooldown ends?"
[Cooldown has already ended. Remaining simulation chances: 1]
He blinked. So he'd been unconscious for a whole day and night.
"System, can I simulate a life here?"
[Attempting to obtain geographical simulation bonuses… Failed.]
[Reason: Host's power is insufficient to receive the special buffs of the 'Nine Pillars of Peace.']
[Proceed with simulation?]
"..."
Ji An's face twisted in disappointment.
Without the special buffs, running a simulation here would be pointless.
But if he didn't, he'd be trapped to death in this dungeon.
[Host, the system has detected a special item nearby.]
[System recommendation: Please proceed to collect it immediately.]
Startled, Ji An followed the system's guidance to the center of the dungeon.
There stood a massive, rust-covered machine.
"This thing… Shenhe said it's called a Ruin Hunter, right?"
"Is the special item on it?"
Ji An cautiously reached out, brushing his hand over the cold metal — until his palm rested on the Ruin Hunter's eye.
The system chimed.
[Acquired data: 'Prototype Hunter's Eye.']
[Achievement unlocked: 'The First Ruin Hunter?']
[Unlocked special simulation mode: 'River of Time.']
[Obtained specialty fragment: 'Lament from a Distant Ancient Nation.']
Ji An listened in awe to the stream of notifications.
[Host, would you like to use the 'River of Time' mode and proceed with the simulation immediately?]
Ji An took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes!"
-------
A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
Honkai Impact 3rd, I Can Transform into a Valkyrie!
patreon.com/deadlygoober