You're stuck. It happens to everyone playing through the Inazuma arc, specifically during the "Sacrificial Offering" world quest. You've reached the point where the game tells you to continue the investigation at the abandoned shrine, but the quest marker is basically a suggestion rather than a guide. It's frustrating. You’re standing in a forest that’s too dark, looking for ghosts that seem to disappear the moment you get close.
This isn't just a "go here and click F" kind of quest. It’s a logic puzzle hidden inside an atmospheric exploration mission. Honestly, the game doesn't do a great job of explaining that you are essentially playing a game of "musical chairs" with spectral shadows. If you don't move them in the right order, you'll be running in circles around Mt. Yougou for an hour.
Why the Abandoned Shrine Investigation is So Confusing
The "abandoned shrine" is located northeast of Konda Village. When you arrive, Paimon points out a "Mysterious Shadow." You see her standing there, looking slightly translucent and creepy. You talk to her, she vanishes, and then... nothing. The blue circle on your map is huge.
The core mechanic here is moving three specific ghosts to three specific fox statues. These statues are arranged in a circle around a larger Kitsune statue in a small clearing. The problem is that there are more than three locations where the shadows can spawn. If you find a shadow in the "wrong" spot, you have to talk to it to force it to move to one of the "correct" spots near the central statues.
It’s easy to lose track of which ghost went where. Most players get tripped up because one of the shadows is literally hiding on top of a roof, while another is tucked away behind a tree further down the mountain path than you’d expect.
Step-by-Step: How to Actually Continue the Investigation at the Abandoned Shrine
First, head to the shrine itself. You’ll see a ghost standing right in front of the main building. Talk to her. She disappears. This is your starting point.
Now, walk a bit further down the stone path leading away from the shrine. You’ll see another shadow standing near a small stone archway. Interact with her. She’ll move closer to the three fox statues in the clearing.
Here is the one everyone misses: Look at the roof of the shrine building. There is a ghost standing right there on the tiles. You have to climb up and talk to her. Once you do, she’ll teleport down to the clearing.
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The Clearing Puzzle
Once you have pushed the shadows toward the center, go to the clearing with the three Kitsune statues facing each other. You should see shadows standing behind them. If there are only two, you’re missing the third one who usually hangs out near a large tree nearby or further up the path toward the mountain.
The goal is to get all three shadows to stand directly behind the three small fox statues that form a triangle. When all three are in place, they will transform into three Exquisite Chests. More importantly, an item will appear in the center of the trio: the "Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual" guide.
Pick it up. This is what actually triggers the next phase of the quest. If you don't pick up that book, the "continue the investigation at the abandoned shrine" objective will never clear, even if you’ve found all the ghosts.
Using the Memento Lens
After you get the book, the quest directs you to the Grand Narukami Shrine. You’ll talk to Inagi Hotomi, who gives you the Memento Lens. This is where the investigation gets weirdly technical.
You have to go back down to the abandoned shrine. This time, you aren't looking for ghosts. You're looking for "Earth Kitsune" statues. These are the tiny, glowing fox statues that look like they’ve seen better days.
Equip the Memento Lens from your gadget menu. Use it to "scan" these small statues. Doing this reveals hidden memories and dialogue. It’s a cool piece of storytelling, but it’s also mandatory. You need to find specific memories that give you the "words" needed to break the barrier later.
Finding the Earth Kitsune Statues
There are several scattered around the area. You don't need all of them, but you need the ones that give you the lines for the ritual.
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- One is near the main shrine entrance.
- One is tucked into a small rocky alcove.
- Another is near the clearing where the ghosts were.
When you scan them, you’ll hear voices from the past. They mention things like "In the name of the Narukami Envoy" and "Bring forth the fried tofu." It sounds ridiculous, but these are literally the passphrases for the next step.
Unlocking the Barrier Under the Shrine
Once you have the clues from the Memento Lens, you have to find the actual barrier. It’s not at the shrine itself. Follow the small stream or look for a cavern entrance at the base of the cliff below the shrine area. There’s a gate here that requires a Rusted Key (which you should have found earlier in the well at Konda Village).
Inside, you’ll find a large Torii gate and a puzzle involving lanterns. This is the "cleansing" part.
The puzzle works on a sequence. The lantern you "Pray" at is always number 1. You then have to adjust the number of "commas" (magatama symbols) over the other lanterns to match the diagram shown in the center of the gate.
- The center lantern should be set to 2.
- The three lanterns around the perimeter should be set to 3.
If you get the sequence right and "Pray" at the first lantern again, a mini-boss called an Ochimusha will spawn. Kill it.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Sometimes the ghosts just... don't move. If you’re sure you talked to a shadow but she didn't appear in the clearing, check the bushes. There’s one spawn point that is obscured by foliage, making it look like she vanished into thin air.
Another issue is the Memento Lens. Some players try to scan the large statues. It won't work. The lens only reacts to the small Earth Kitsune statues that have a slight blue glow or "aura" around them. If you don't see the glow, you can't scan it.
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If the barrier puzzle isn't working, double-check your numbers. It’s easy to accidentally hit a lantern one too many times. The visual feedback (the glowing symbols) is the only way to know for sure what number a lantern is set to. One symbol equals 1, two symbols equal 2, and so on.
The Narrative Weight of Mt. Yougou
While you're running around trying to finish this investigation, take a second to actually look at the environment. This questline is widely considered one of the best in Genshin Impact because of the environmental storytelling. The "abandoned shrine" isn't just a level design choice; it’s a site of a forgotten tragedy involving the Kitsune Saiguu.
The "shadows" you are chasing are essentially lingering memories of people who once lived there. That’s why they disappear when you get close—they aren't ghosts in the traditional sense, but fragments of the past being held together by the filth (miasma) that you are trying to cleanse.
Understanding this makes the tedious task of chasing them feel a bit more grounded in the world. You aren't just doing chores; you’re performing an exorcism.
Moving Forward After the Investigation
Once you finish the battle in the cave, the quest doesn't actually end. Kazari (the masked shrine maiden) will appear and tell you there are more barriers to find.
Specifically, you’ll need to head to the Chinju Forest and the Araumi region to find the remaining cleansing sites. The Araumi one is particularly annoying because it involves an underwater puzzle and more Memento Lens scanning, so keep that gadget equipped.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are currently staring at your screen wondering where that last ghost is, do this:
- Check the roof. Seriously. 90% of players miss the ghost on top of the shrine building.
- Scan the foxes. If you've already moved the ghosts, make sure you use the Memento Lens on every small fox statue in the blue circle until your quest objective updates to "Recite the sacred words."
- Get the key. If you haven't done the Konda Village well quest yet, you cannot finish the abandoned shrine. Go back to Konda, jump down the well behind the chief's house, and find the Rusted Key on a table in the back room.
- Mark your map. The Chinju Forest and Araumi sites are next. Mark them now so you don't get lost when the quest markers inevitably become vague again.
The "Sacrificial Offering" quest is a test of patience. Once you get past this abandoned shrine, the rest of the Inazuma world quests start to fall into a more predictable (but still challenging) rhythm. Just keep the lens ready and watch the rooftops.