Above the mage!

Chapter 601 Purification of the Sea Festival
Gaode stopped and began to observe with great interest.

The monk was in his early thirties, and his robes were embroidered with fine gold lighthouse patterns on the collar and cuffs.

She also wore a small silver lighthouse pendant on her chest.

This seemed to be a signature decoration of the local classical sect, God thought to himself.

The monk stretched out his right hand, and a warm halo appeared in his palm.

He then gently placed his palm on an old man's broken ankle, softly reciting a short prayer: "Lighthouse of light, illuminating all things; divine radiance, soothing pain."

As the prayer ended, the halo in his palm shone even brighter.

The wisps of light slowly seeped into the old man's skin.

The old man's furrowed brows, which had been contorted in pain, gradually relaxed, and a look of relief appeared on his face.

A moment later, the mage withdrew his hand, and the halo dissipated.

“Old man, try moving around a bit,” the monk said gently.

The old man hesitated and moved his ankle.

He first gently rotated it, then slowly lifted it up, and a surprised smile instantly bloomed on his face: "It's healed! It's really healed! It doesn't hurt at all anymore! Thank you, Master!"

The surrounding crowd immediately erupted in exclamations of praise, and their eyes, in addition to gratitude, held an almost fanatical reverence as they looked at the monk.

The old man, his hands trembling, took out a few loose coins from the money bag at his waist, intending to give them to the monk, but was stopped by the monk with a smile.

“Old man, there’s no need for that,” the monk’s voice remained gentle. “Healing all beings is the mission that the lighthouse has given us, not a transaction to exchange for something in return.”

"Thank you, Lighthouse Church, thank you, Lighthouse Church," the old man bowed deeply to the monk and said repeatedly.

Other onlookers echoed in hushed tones, and many clasped their hands together, silently praying for blessings.

So this was a religious propaganda operation. Watching this scene, God gained a deeper understanding of the religious culture of Etherland County.

The "free medical consultation" by the Lighthouse shaman continues, with new injured people coming forward for help from time to time.

Gao De didn't linger any longer, turned his gaze away, and continued walking forward along the street.

After turning a corner, Gao De arrived at Guangxi Avenue, the main thoroughfare of Chenguang City, and the sight that greeted him immediately caught his eye.

The wide streets were teeming with pedestrians, several times more bustling than Dorne in County Barrow.

The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, the aroma of food, and the cheerful laughter of children, creating a joyful scene.

This bustling scene was clearly unusual, far beyond what one would expect from a typical market.

Upon closer inspection, one will notice that most of these pedestrians are carrying beautifully woven flower baskets filled with various kinds of fresh flowers.

Or it might be holding a huge, transparent glass bottle, half-filled with seawater, in which bioluminescent plankton swim.

Gao De, puzzled, grabbed a passing young man and asked, "Why is the city so lively? Is there some kind of festival?"

The young man, with an excited smile on his face, turned to look at Gao De and, seeing the backpack on his back, immediately understood:
"You must be from out of town. Today is the Sea Cleansing Festival, the most important festival in Etherland County."

Through the young man's enthusiastic introduction, Gao De quickly gained a comprehensive understanding of the Sea Cleansing Festival.

This is a traditional festival that has been passed down in Etherland for tens of thousands of years, and it is also the grandest festival of the year.

For locals, the Ocean Cleansing Festival is even more important than the Lunar New Year.

The Sea Purification Festival lasts for three days, and its core meaning is "to purify the sea with light and pray for blessings with goodness".

At this time of year, all the lighthouses in Etherland County operate at full capacity, releasing massive amounts of light into the sea.

These pure light elements not only purify the ocean of filth and hidden evil spirits, but also nourish the plankton and fish in the sea, making this area more abundant.

He arrived at just the right time, on the last day of the Clean Sea Festival, which is also the most important day.

At night, all the lighthouses along the coast of Etherland will simultaneously emit light.

It is said that the scene was like the stars in the sky being poured down, so most Etherlanders would go to the seaside to watch the ceremony.

As you can see, the shops on both sides of the main road are decorated for the festival, and many shops have also launched special delicacies for the Clean Sea Festival, making it a very lively place.

However, Gao De's goal was clear: his primary task in Etherland was to obtain the Art Museum Badge.

"Once the challenge is over, I can join in the fun tonight," Gaode thought to himself.

It is, after all, the biggest festival in Etherland. Just imagining the scene of all the lighthouses lighting up and releasing light elements is enough to make you feel extremely spectacular.

However, as soon as he turned around and flagged down a carriage by the roadside, explaining his destination, the driver smiled and stopped him: "Master, are you going to the magic academy? You can't go today!"

Gao De raised an eyebrow, and only after pressing for details did he learn a piece of news that left him both amused and exasperated:

His timing was both perfect and unfortunate.

As the final day of the Sea Cleansing Ceremony approaches, the people of Etherland are almost entirely busy preparing for tonight's celebrations.

Among them are the guardian priests of the Etherland Magic Hall, who will also personally participate in the purification ceremony of the Sea Festival tonight.

Therefore, today is the only day that the Etherland Art Museum is closed.

Well, how can this not be considered good luck? Gaode smiled helplessly, with a good attitude.

Anyway, it's only a one-day delay, so it won't matter. I might as well put aside the challenge and just join in the fun to see just how grand this Sea Purification Festival really is.

With some time to spare before the evening's sea purification ceremony, Gaode found a restaurant with a wooden sign that read "Langhuaju" next to Guangxi Avenue.

Fortunately, although the Ocean Cleanup Festival has forced most shops to close, some restaurants are still open to cater to tourists and residents returning home late, and have even launched special Ocean Cleanup Festival dishes today.

Gaode followed local customs and ordered a dish.

A moment later, the meal was served:
The broth was served in a transparent crystal bowl, with a few bluish planktonic organisms floating slowly at the bottom.

The risotto is topped with tender scallops and shrimp, and garnished with a few morning glory petals. The rice grains are soaked with seafood broth and have a faint blue sheen, and the aroma is irresistible.

Outside the window, the number of pedestrians on the street gradually increased.

Many people carried flower baskets and glass bottles and walked towards the coast.

The sounds of people talking and laughing came through the window, making the festive atmosphere even stronger.

By the time Gaode finished eating and left the store, it was completely dark.

The number of pedestrians on the streets did not decrease; on the contrary, it increased, with groups of three or five heading towards the coast outside the city.

Gaode Maps also moved forward with the flow of people.

The scenery along the way became increasingly lively:

Many people spontaneously formed a procession, with several religious shamans dressed in magnificent robes leading the way.

They chanted ancient prayers, the light patterns at the tips of their staffs flashing and leaving flowing trails of light on the ground, as if paving a path of light for the procession.

In the middle of the procession followed residents dressed in various colors. Some played instruments made of seashells, producing crisp sounds, while others waved flags with lighthouse designs, which fluttered in the night wind.

More often, people carried flower baskets and glass bottles filled with plankton. Stepping out of the city gates of Dawn City, the outline of the coastline gradually became clear in the night.

Gaode followed the crowd to a wide white sand beach.

The place was already packed with people, their dense figures swaying in the night, yet it wasn't chaotic.

Everyone consciously left a passage for the procession to pass through, and applauded and cheered for the monks and performers in the procession from time to time.

Dozens of bonfires were lit on the beach, the flames leaping and crackling, casting a red glow on the faces of those around them.

Along the distant coastline, lighthouses have already lit up.

These lighthouses come in various shapes, some are cylindrical, some are square, and some have exquisite patterns carved on their tops, but they all have a ring of light patterns inlaid on their bodies.

At this moment, the ring-shaped light patterns are flashing layer by layer from bottom to top, like lit steps, illuminating the dark coastline as a long ribbon of light.

However, the most dazzling building is the Morning Light Tower, which stands tall in Morning Light City.

The giant light element crystal at the top of the tower shone brightly in the night, brighter than the full moon, and dyed the surrounding sky a pale gold.

Gaode found a relatively high rock to stand on, where he had a wide view.

With his Mandora Eyes activated, he could clearly see countless golden points of light dancing in the air like fireflies, continuously converging and rising towards the lighthouses.

Ultimately, it blends into the light pattern of the lighthouse, making the lighthouse's light even brighter.

clang!
Just then, a distant chime came from the direction of the Morning Light Tower, piercing the night sky.

This is the signal for the start of the purification ceremony.

People on the beach spontaneously scattered flowers from their baskets into the sea and poured luminous plankton from their glass bottles into the ocean.

Flowers of various colors float on the sea, swaying gently with the waves, forming a colorful ribbon of flowers.

The plankton, once they enter the seawater, immediately disperse like countless fireflies, forming flowing ribbons of light on the sea surface, intertwining with the flower ribbons.

clang!
Then, the bell rang a second time.

The people on the beach gradually quieted down, and everyone looked at the lighthouses with pious expressions.

Many people clasped their hands together and prayed softly.

Some prayed for the safety and health of their families, some prayed for a bountiful fishing harvest next year, and some prayed for the seas to remain forever pristine.
A solemn atmosphere enveloped the entire beach, with only the sound of the waves and the distant wind remaining constant.

clang!
The third chime then rang out, exceptionally long and powerful.

The next second, all the lighthouses burst into brilliant light at the same time.

Thick beams of light element shot out from the top of the tower, piercing the night like sharp swords.

The beam of light was interspersed with tiny particles of light, like an inverted Milky Way.

These beams of light paused in the air for a moment before suddenly dispersing, turning into a shower of light that slowly fell onto the sea.

The light pillar of the Morning Light Tower is the thickest, with golden rays cascading down like a waterfall, covering a large area of ​​the sea.

This vast shower of light formed a magnificent net of light, connecting the night sky with the sea.

As the light rain fell into the sea, layers of light instantly appeared on the surface, illuminating the originally dark seawater like a piece of glowing glass.

Light and seawater blend together, creating countless sparkling waves.

The waves are interspersed with specks of blue light, which are planktonic organisms nourished by light elements.

They rise to the surface in groups, forming all sorts of wonderful patterns, sometimes like blooming flowers, sometimes like schools of swimming fish.

Not only mayflies, but many more marine creatures are awakened by the energy of light.

Schools of various fish chased the light spots in the sea, dolphins leaped out of the water, drawing graceful arcs in the air, and there were even some rare bioluminescent jellyfish, like lanterns floating in the sea.
The light element energy in the air reached its peak, and the pure and powerful energy, like a warm tide, enveloped the entire beach and sea, making everyone feel relaxed and comfortable.

Gao De also narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling the pure and powerful light element energy in the air.

Even though his cultivation method had nothing to do with the element of light, he could still sense that some of the element of light was surrounding him.

No wonder most of the mages in Etherlandshire join in the fun.

In this environment, even passively absorbing the overflowing light elements would be equivalent to several days of arduous cultivation for a mage practicing the light element cultivation method.

The children reached out to catch the particles of light falling from the sky.

The light particles landed in the palm of the hand, transforming into a soft halo that was warm but not scorching. They then slowly seeped into the skin, eliciting delighted laughter from the children.

Several artists dressed in traditional costumes took out their instruments and sang cheerful Etherland folk songs.

The melodious singing mingled with the sound of the waves and the cheers of the people.

Everyone was immersed in this wonderful atmosphere, looking forward to the light element continuing to purify the sea and bring a bountiful harvest and peace in the new year.

However, within the vision of Godmandora's demonic eye, the scene before her was completely different from what ordinary people saw:
After the light rain entered the sea, he clearly saw thousands upon thousands of jet-black energy streams surging rapidly from the bottom of the deep sea, like countless tiny black snakes weaving through the water.

Each one exuded a faint yet chilling aura, forming a stark contrast with the light elements on the sea surface.

This is a dark, cold current, a unique natural phenomenon off the coast of Etherland.

The dark, cold currents emerge periodically around the time of the annual Sea Cleansing Festival.

Although the cold energy carried by these cold currents is weak, it will slowly erode the marine ecosystem.

The core meaning of the Ocean Cleansing Festival is to use the light elements released by the lighthouse to completely purify these scattered, dark, and cold currents.

These thousands upon thousands of dark, cold currents collided with the light elements released into the sea by the lighthouse.

Golden light elements, like warm tides, enveloped every gust of black cold current.

The black cold front, like ice and snow encountering a raging fire, began to disintegrate rapidly.

However, the light element experiences a slight energy loss during the purification process.

When the energy is depleted to a certain extent, it will turn into smaller golden specks of light, which will then re-enter the seawater and nourish the surrounding plankton.

The entire process was well-organized, like a pre-arranged program, which is an important part of the ecological balance of Etherland County.

As time goes by, the dark, cold currents in the sea become fewer and fewer.

Most of them had been purified by the light element, leaving only a few stray rays that stubbornly surged upwards, but they were quickly dissolved the moment they came into contact with the light element.

However, just as the purification ceremony reached its climax, when the rain of light was at its most intense and the dark, cold current was about to be completely disintegrated, a sudden change occurred!

Gao De's pupils suddenly contracted.

His act of opening Mandora's Eye out of curiosity made him one of the first to notice the anomaly.

His Mandora's Eyes detected a completely different, dark, and chilling current!

(End of this chapter)