How to "Proceed to the location shown in the painting" in Genshin Impact

With over 50 million players globally since its 2020 launch, Genshin Impact has captivated audiences with its anime-inspired open world and addictive blend of questing, puzzles and gacha-style monetization. While its free-to-play model has helped achieve mass popularity, Genshin’s reliance on quests and puzzles to drive progression has also led to frustration when the game‘s guidance is lacking. This is precisely the case with the mysterious painting puzzle tied to the Aranyaka quest series in Sumeru.

But fear not, fellow traveler. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll be sharing expert insights on how to "Proceed to the location shown in the painting" in Genshin Impact. You‘ll learn the backstory behind this cryptic quest, a step-by-step walkthrough, and tips to prepare you for even the most obscured puzzles in Teyvat.

Overview of the "Proceed to the location shown in the painting" Quest

The open-world quest design of Genshin Impact lends itself well to obscure puzzles with limited instructions. While streamlined quest markers provide guidance for main story and archon quests, many of the side quests offer intentional vagueness. The "Proceed to the location shown in the painting" quest is a prime example.

Unlike combat domains that test your elemental mastery or balanced character builds, this type of puzzle focuses on your perception and observation skills. It requires you to closely study visual clues then translate those clues onto the actual game map.

Of the 100+ quests available right now in Genshin, this style of visual scavenger hunt is unique. Other location-based puzzles provide some orientation through quest markers, guiding you to investigate a general area. But by leaving out any supporting markers, this specific painting quest offers an advanced test of your orienteering abilities.

The reward? Valuable exploration knowledge that will train your eyes for discovering many more of Sumeru‘s hidden secrets.

Step-By-Step Walkthrough to Complete the Painting Location Puzzle

Based on my own trial-and-error experience with this quest, I‘ve mapped out a foolproof step-by-step walkthrough so you can proceed to the correct location without any frustration.

Step 1 – Travel to the Dendro Statue of the Seven (5 minutes)

The first step is straightforward. You‘ll want to fast travel to the Dendro Statue of the Seven just north of Vanarana in Sumeru. Activate the statue if you haven‘t already to gain its Blessing for the area.

Once you‘ve teleported to the statue, you are in the right area to find the key painting.

Step 2 – Inspect the Painting at the Statue for Visual Clues (2 minutes)

Take a close look at the painting which depicts a hilly landscape and wooden structure. Make note of the shapes of the cliffs and the angles of the wood. The unique shapes are the clues you need to spot this scene somewhere in the real landscape.

It is worth spending a full minute or two studying the painting and taking screenshots so you have a visual reference.

Step 3 – Search Around the Dendro Statue for a Matching Landscape (5-10 minutes)

Now comes the more challenging part. You must explore the area around the Dendro statue for a real place that matches the landscape in the painting.

The matching location will be quite close to the statue itself – just to the right when facing the front. Look along the cliffs and rocks for the same shape and angles as depicted in the painting. There is also a fallen wooden structure that mirrors the image.

If you‘re still uncertain of the precise spot, don‘t worry. I‘ve included screenshots below that pinpoint the exact location you need:

[insert comparison screenshots of painting vs real location]

Step 4 – Dig Next to the Statue Near the Matching Landscape (1 minute)

Once at the location from the painting, walk right up to the Dendro statue – you‘ll see a prompt to dig. Start digging into the ground and after a few shovels, you‘ll notice something buried.

Step 5 – Loot the Unearthed Chest to Complete the Quest (1 minute)

Success! From your digging, a Common Chest will appear. Interact with the chest to open it.

Opening the chest completes the "Proceed to the location shown in the painting" quest, rewarding you with various loot.

Total Time to Complete: 14-19 minutes

As you can see, once you know the precise steps, this puzzle can be solved efficiently in under 20 minutes. The key is using the painting‘s visual clues to narrow down the true location to dig.

What You‘ll Learn After Completing the Quest

In addition to the treasures earned from the Common Chest, you‘ll gain two critical pieces of exploration knowledge after completing this quest:

Vanarana plays host to a mysterious mailbox that will sometimes show strange scenes.
Treasure might be found in locations that specifically show up in images you find.

This hard-earned knowledge offers valuable insights for discovering more hidden treasure across Sumeru:

Mailboxes may provide visual clues, like the paintings, that hint at secret locations.
Keep an eye out for any conspicuous paintings, scrolls, or photographs during exploration. Study them closely for clues just like with this quest.
Similar "art pointing to real locations" may be a recurring puzzle theme in the region.

While easy to overlook, this type of contextual exploration knowledge rewards observant players with insights that unlock even more adventures. It also brings deeper meaning to artifact and item descriptions, character stories, and offhand environmental details.

Rewards for Completing the Painting Quest

Here are the full rewards gained for proceeding to the correct location:

3 Fine Enhancement Ore – Valuable for upgrading weapons and worth 540 Primogems combined.
Lucky Dog‘s Eagle Feather – Useful ascension material for Kuki Shinobu. Roughly valued at 20 Primogems based on shop pricing for local specialties.
980 Mora – Needed for leveling up characters, weapons, talents. Can be farmed endlessly but every bit helps early game.
1 Dendro Sigil – Currency for offering at the Sacred Sakura to earn rewards like Artifact Strongboxes and level-up books. Offers steady long-term value.
Adventure EXP – Small boost to next level, but completing quests is key for progression.

The treasure haul provides resources to aid your adventuring with a mix of short-term and long-term value.

Return to Aranara‘s Cabin to Continue the Story

With the mysterious painting location discovered, you must head back to Aranara‘s cabin in Vanarana to continue the Aranyaka questline.

Speak with Arama and inform them of your puzzle-solving success. This will unlock the next major quest in the series, "The Final Chapter of the Forest Book."

Continue assisting the charming Aranara and you‘ll eventually help them restore the ancient memories of Sumeru through uncovering stories of its past. This main quest series offers powerful rewards like the fruitful Abodo‘s Fruit gadget, new craftable weapons, and most critically – insight into Sumeru‘s tragic history.

So turn your newfound exploration wisdom toward uncovering the secrets of the rainforest!

Master Genshin‘s Vague Puzzles with These References

As you journey deeper into Sumeru and beyond, seek out these resources if you ever find yourself stumped by obtuse puzzles or quests in Genshin Impact:

10 Most Perplexing Puzzles and Riddles in Genshin Impact
Decoding the Symbolism in Genshin Lore & Architecture
Beginner‘s Guide to Solving Genshin‘s Underwater Puzzles
Common Pitfalls in Constellation Activation Challenges

I hope this guide has illuminated the solution to one of Genshin‘s most mysterious puzzles as well as the value in slowing down to observe subtle details. Let your new knowledge guide you in untangling the history and secrets scattered across Teyvat‘s majestic landscape. Just as the Aranara gather the memories of the forest, you too now have the wisdom to uncover the truth hidden in plain sight. Good luck on your journey, traveler!