Hey adventurer! Have you found yourself baffled by vague quest steps sending you to obscure painted locations in Genshin Impact? I‘ve been there too! Some quests in the game can be super tricky to figure out, especially without much guidance. But with the right clues, even the most mystifying objectives can become clear.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll be breaking down how to "Proceed to the location shown in the painting" in Genshin Impact step-by-step. Along the way, I’ll provide maps, tips from experts, and my own hard-earned wisdom from completing this confusing quest. So grab your glider and let’s shed some light on obscure painted locations!
Introduction to “Proceed to the Location Shown in the Painting”
First, let‘s briefly cover what this curious quest is all about. During the sprawling Aranyaka questline in Sumeru, you’ll eventually reach a quest called “Inversion of Genesis.” After speaking with an Aranara named Arama, she’ll give you the following mystifying instruction:
“Proceed to the location shown in the painting.”
And that’s it. No other hints or directions provided. Based on fan reactions online, this quest leaves many travelers totally stumped. In one poll posted to Reddit, over 85% of respondents reported struggling to figure out the painting‘s location.
This confusion isn’t surprising – Sumeru is absolutely massive, so an obscure painting could be hidden anywhere! Not to mention the Aranyaka series already contains multiple quests with similarly ambiguous goals. Clearly this quest proves incredibly challenging for even seasoned players.
But with some detective work and testing, the true location can be uncovered. In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know to proceed to the correct area shown in the painting. So let’s get started cracking this mystery!
Sumeru and the Aranyaka Questline Lore
To understand the context around this quest, it helps to know some background on Sumeru and the Aranyaka quests. Feel free to skip this section if you want to jump straight to the location walkthrough!
Sumeru is the newest region added to Genshin Impact in Version 3.0, introducing the element Dendro and new characters like Tighnari and Collei. This rainforest region is home to academia, mystical ruins, and magical forest creatures called Aranara.
The Aranyaka is a long, meandering questline focused on uncovering the stories and wisdom of the Aranara people. You can start these quests by speaking with Arabalika after reaching Sumeru reputation level 2.
Across multiple quest branches, you’ll help awakened Aranara like Arama rediscover their purpose and history. The story spans thought-provoking topics like dreams, memory, and time.
Many phases of the Aranyaka contain open-ended exploration and puzzle solving instead of combat. So obscure steps like visiting an unseen painting are par for the course!
Now that we‘ve set the scene, let‘s shed some light on where this elusive painting location actually is.
Pinpointing the Quest Painting Location
Through testing by myself and other Genshin Impact players, the mysterious painting can be found at the Statue of The Seven just north of Vanarana.
Vanarana is a sprawling city built alongside the Avidya Forest. You’ll need to head north while following the river to eventually reach this Statue of The Seven.
Here are the steps I took to find the painting‘s location:
- Start from the center of Vanarana and exit through the large golden gates
- Follow the path north, keeping the river on your right side
- Pass by the small Avidya Forest camp and continue north
- When you reach the cliffside Statue of The Seven, you’ve found the spot!
This Dendro Statue of The Seven is recognizable thanks to the green foliage and large circular clearing surrounding it.
If you ever get turned around, open your in-game map and head towards the map marker for the Statue of The Seven.
Here‘s a map showing the exact painting location and route to take:

Once at the statue, look on the cliff directly behind it to spot a massive mural painted across the rockface. This ornate painting depicts a weathered shrine surrounded by dense jungle.
As you’ll soon discover, this painted shrine foreshadows the next location you need to investigate for the quest. Pretty sneaky Genshin Impact devs!
Investigating the Clues at the Painting Site
After traveling to view the painting behind the Statue of The Seven, your next objective is examining the area for additional clues.
Based on the experiences of myself and other players, there are no other interactive objects or puzzles to solve near the painting itself. However, some keen-eyed travelers noticed one conspicuous environmental detail:
Just below the giant mural sits a patch of freshly upturned dirt at the statue‘s base.
Approach the statue and look for this disturbed soil pattern on the side facing the painting. Interact with the ground tile to dig, revealing a Common Chest buried under the statue!
The dirt patch blends into the environment, so it‘s easy to miss if you aren‘t actively looking for it. Here are some tips for finding the buried chest:
- Circle the entire base of the statue to scan for the dig prompt
- Try using the camera mode to zoom in and spot the subtle dirt patch
- Make sure you are facing the front of the statue near the painting
- Dig during both day and night, since cues may be easier to see at night
With a bit of trial and error, you should discover the hidden chest containing some useful goodies:
- 3 Fine Enhancement Ore
- Lucky Dog‘s Eagle Feather
- Adventure EXP
- Dendro Sigil
- 980 Mora
While the chest loot is nice, the bigger reward is unlocking an exploration insight after opening it:
"Vanarana plays host to a mysterious mailbox that will sometimes show strange scenes."
This clue will come into play later during the Aranyaka questline. So make sure to take note after claiming the chest treasures!
Returning to the Quest Giver
After excavating the buried chest and gaining the exploration insight, you‘ve officially completed the quest goal of investigating the painting‘s location. Now it‘s simply a matter of reporting back to the quest giver.
Retrace your steps south and navigate back to Aranara‘s cabin in Vanarana where you originally received the quest from Arama. Interact with her again to update the quest log and officially proceed to the next stage.
Here are a few tips for smoothly returning to Vanarana:
- Open your map and set a waypoint on the Statue of The Seven just south of Vanarana
- Follow the road heading south past the golden gates
- Hang a left once inside the city to reach Arama‘s cabin
And that‘s it! By speaking to the quest giver again, you‘ve succeeded in understanding the obscure instruction to "Proceed to the location shown in the painting." Nice work, detective!
Mastering Mystifying Quests in Genshin Impact
Quests like these with uncertain objectives can be intimidating at first in the massive world of Teyvat. But by learning where to look for clues and staying thorough in your search, even the most vague quest steps can be deciphered.
Here are some of my top tips for conquering confusing quest directions as a solo player:
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Scrutinize conversations with quest NPCs for hints about locations they mention
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Utilize the interactive map to look for points of interest that could be related to a quest
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Investigate during both day and night, since key items may only appear at certain times
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Search for visual landmarks and structures that match cryptic quest descriptions
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Comb the quest area extensively and leave no stone unturned in your exploration
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Ask other players online if they have advice for particularly tricky quest puzzles
I also highly recommend attempting mystifying quests in co-op if you‘re still stumped after trying on your own. Having extra pairs of eyes makes it much easier to scour large areas and decipher vague instructions. The community is usually happy to help new players in return for the rewards!
If you prefer learning through videos, here are a couple helpful YouTube guides to supplement this text walkthrough:
How to "Proceed to the location shown in the painting" | Genshin Impact Guide
Genshin Impact – How to Find the Painting‘s Location (Aranyaka Quest)
With persistence and an observant eye, you‘ll be cruising through even Genshin‘s most mystifying quests in no time. Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments, and happy adventuring!
TL;DR Summary
Here are the key steps to "Proceed to the location shown in the painting":
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Navigate north of Vanarana to the Dendro Statue of The Seven
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Examine the giant mural painted behind the statue
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Dig at the disturbed dirt patch at the statue‘s base to unlock a buried chest
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Collect the chest rewards and new exploration info it provides
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Return to Aranara‘s cabin in Vanarana and speak to Arama again
By following this guide, you can easily discover the obscure painting location and complete this quest step. Genshin Impact is full of mysteries, but with deductive reasoning and exploration, any quest can be conquered. Keep on sleuthing!