Like a group of stars escorting the moon, the merfolk escorted Bai Lixin’s submarine until they arrived in front of the temple.
In front of the temple were two tall merfolk statues.
Compared to the somewhat broken giant statues before, these two statues were vivid and lifelike. Although they were also carved from stone, the material used for these statues seemed different, showing no signs of erosion by the sea.
There were no moss or weeds on the statues, indicating they were diligently maintained.
The two statues stood opposite each other, with solemn faces.
These were male statues. Both mermen were holding harpoons, resembling the most dignified temple guardians.
When Bai Lixin saw these two statues, his consciousness was immediately drawn to the giant statues he had seen earlier.
Originally, he thought those statues were covered with thick seaweed because the merfolk didn’t attach much importance to their faith.
However, looking at this neat and tidy place, why were there so many weeds over there?
Was that truly the faith of all merfolk?
Thinking of a series of names, Bai Lixin’s mind gradually formed a conjecture.
That place might not be the place of the merfolk’s faith at all. The giant statues were like two peaks, enclosing the stone wall. The wall was covered in names, and the dying red-tailed mermaid even carved her name on it.
In the animal kingdom, some animal groups have a habit. When they realize their life is coming to an end, they leave the group and go alone to the burial ground of their species.
That area should be the burial ground of the merfolk, not the place for their faith. The red-tailed mermaid realized she was dying, so she carved her name on the stone wall, silently waiting for death.
The statues weren’t their faith. If anything, they probably served a similar purpose to these two statues, guarding the merfolk race.
The burial ground is a place where no living being willingly steps, just like animals approaching the place of death. Because no one actively steps in, there’s naturally no one to take care of it, explaining the overgrown weeds on the statues.
So…Bai Lixin’s gaze deviated slightly to the middle gate. This should be the true place for the merfolk’s faith.
The merfolk didn’t stop moving forward; they lifted him through the high steps and entered the temple.
The temple was enormous, and the walls were made of some luminous stone, emitting a faint glow in this lightless underwater environment.
On the way forward, on both sides of the long corridor, there were pairs of statues facing each other at regular intervals.
Despite the deep sea surrounding them, this temple was filled with light.
It felt as if they were completely cut off from the outside world.
After passing through the long corridor, they reached a large hall.
This pure white hall was grand and majestic, with a towering roof adorned with rows of beautiful white pearls. Delicate shells were embedded in the surrounding walls.
In front of the hall were several statues, among which the stone statue at the center was the tallest. Although the statues on the sides were smaller, they still gave a solemn aura.
Under these statues, there was a white plate filled with pearls and shiny shell fragments.
Several merfolk quickly swam from behind the submarine. They slowly approached the middle statue, curled up their tails after reaching it and knelt down with hands clasped in prayer, worshipping devoutly. As they worshipped, crystal-clear pearls gently fell in front of them.
After about ten seconds, the merfolk finished their worship. They picked up the pearls from the ground, carefully placing them in the plate in front of the statue.
The plate should be offerings.
The merfolk around the submarine swam away, and one by one, knelt devoutly in front of the statues.
Bai Lixin watched the merfolk’s worship for a while, then shifted his focus to the statues in front of him.
These statues were painted with colorful pigments, allowing him to distinguish the details more clearly.
The merman statue in the middle had a blue tail. He held a trident and had chestnut hair, the same as his current hair color.
The statue’s facial features were exquisite. He piloted the submarine closer and could even see the statue’s double eyelids.
The advantage of stone statues was their long-lasting preservation and resistance to damage.
However, the downside was evident; the carved images on the statues were challenging to display clearly.
The features are detailed yet blurred.
In simpler terms, you can’t see the face clearly.
There were no text prompts in front of the statue, so Bai Lixin had to move to the adjacent one.
The adjacent statue was a ferocious-looking merman statue.
His eyes are wide open with anger, and his skin, like tree bark, is full of wrinkles. His entirely green, with sparse hair on his head.
Large face, small eyes, snake-like nostrils, and a lamprey mouth.
Bai Lixin: “???”
‘Wait, a lamprey mouth?
Strange. Let’s take another look.’
Bai Lixin’s hand concealed in his sleeve tightened slightly.
Green skin, bark-like wrinkles, bald head, small eyes, a lamprey mouth…
‘Uh, isn’t this the merman from the Deep- Mermaid copy?
This merman is even holding a…?’
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘I have something to say but don’t know if I should say it.’
Afraid of another embarrassing mistake, Bai Lixin quickly shifted his gaze to other statues nearby.
Among the merfolk statues placed here, except for the normal blue-tailed merman in the middle, all the others, without exception, had green skin and lamprey mouths.
He even vaguely seemed to see a familiar face among them.
One of the statues looked exceptionally old, and upon closer inspection, a segment of his finger was missing.
This statue maintained an open-handed gesture, as if feeling the flow of water, or like a guardian protecting what’s behind.
An elderly merman with a severed finger.
It perfectly matched the Old Patriarch of the merfolk from the Deep-Sea Mermaid copy.
And wasn’t this statue’s pose identical to the one when the Old Patriarch emerged from the black dog to protect him.
*Scene was on this page https://knoxt.space/after-the-full-level-boss-entered-the-infinite-game-by-mistake-chapter-42-1/
If one or two things are coincidences, it’s now more than just a coincidence.
Then, could he boldly affirm that these statues are the merfolk from the Deep Sea Mermaid copy?
Is this copy really a continuation Deep-Sea Mermaid?
Bai Lixin’s gaze fell back on the merman in the middle.
If the surrounding merfolk were once real merfolk, then could the statue in the middle represent him?
Bai Lixin suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and lowered his head.
It’s not because he’s narcissistic.
But when he was in the Deep-Sea Mermaid copy, his appearance was a blue tail and his current chestnut hair. However, when he filled in his name in Task 3, it was incorrect.
Bai Lixin thought about it and asked the escape system in his mind: [Sister System?]
Escape System: [I’m here, Master Bai Lixin.]
Bai Lixin: [Was Task 3’s answer incorrect due to a writing error? Do I need to write the answer in merfolk language?]
Is that the issue?
Escape System: [No. If that were the case, the requirements for players would be too harsh. You can write in your own language; as long as the translated content matches the meaning of the answer, it’s considered correct.]
Bai Lixin remained silent for two seconds: [Is this a continuation of my past Deep- Mermaid copy? Could the statue in the middle be me?]
Escape System: [Yes! Congratulations, Master Bai Lixin, you’ve finally figured it out! This is indeed a continuation of the Deep-Sea Mermaid copy. Since you saved the deep-sea merfolk and this vast sea, in gratitude and commemoration, the merfolk carved your image into statues. Your features gradually influenced the aesthetic of the deep-sea merfolk, and after thousands of years of development and evolution, the merfolk were inspired by your looks and took on the beautiful appearance they have now.]
Bai Lixin felt a mix of emotions: [So, am I a plastic surgery template?]
Escape System: [Ah, hehe, well, you could think of yourself as their aesthetic enlightenment teacher?]
[During the evolution of the merfolk, your features have been deeply imprinted in their genes. This may be why these merfolk have a natural affinity for you when facing you. It’s an instinct from genetics.]
Bai Lixin: […]
‘Stop talking, that sounds a bit harsh to me.
Are these merfolk okay?
They guard my statues, only to treat me as plastic surgery templates instead of an object of worship?’
After going through so many challenges, he finally got the exam questions, only to find the answer different from what he thought?
During the Deep-Sea Mermaid copy, he knew merfolk had unique thought processes, but he didn’t expect it to be this bizarre.
‘Hey, can any of you merfolk tell me what your faith is?
If you don’t see me as faith, are you worshiping me for fun?’
He actually secretly asked Dijia for answers, using the handwritten method to ask about the merfolk’s faith, only for Dijia to shake his head mercilessly.
As a merfolk, Dijia didn’t even know what the merfolk’s faith was.
How is this different from a chick not knowing its mother is a hen?
Could it be Dijia is not part of this circle of merfolk?
He’s so different, even his teeth are not quite like regular merfolk.
Given Dijia’s temperament, this possibility is not small.
Well, he thought Task Three would be the easiest to complete, but unexpectedly, it’s the most confusing.
———————————–
In the live broadcast room.
[This temple is interesting, the statue in the middle looks good, but the surrounding statues are ugly.]
[Maybe the uglier, the more intimidating it is? The Eighteen Arhats are also ugly.]
[Brother, you offended the believers of the Eighteen Immortals with just a few words. Be careful when walking at night in the future.]
[…]
———————————–
The surrounding area was filled with sea water, so Bai Lixin could only silently drive the submarine, waiting for the merfolk’s worship to end. After the merfolk finished their worship, they picked up the submarine again and continued forward.
Exiting the main hall, they continued deeper into the corridor.
Bai Lixin noticed that as they progressed, colorful murals began to appear on the ceiling of the corridor.
Initially, it depicted a serene underwater scene, with two merfolk’s tails entwined. At that time, the merfolk were still green-skinned.
Later, turmoil began in the deep sea, and simultaneously, a unique blue-tailed merman emerged.
He created a crossbow and used it to kill massive sea creatures alongside other merfolk.
Afterward, densely packed split turtles appeared in the overhead images.
In the end, merfolk obtained a trident from the mysterious sea god, and slayed the culprit causing turmoil in the ocean. From then on, merfolk lived prosperous lives.
But the mural didn’t end here.
Other stories unfolded.
The green-skinned merfolk found a new dwelling and began to live anew in a completely different marine system.
In the subsequent days, things weren’t always smooth.
The natural enemies at the bottom of the ocean repeatedly destroyed their homes. Initially, they hid and prayed upwards, hoping for a miracle to reoccur.
Seeing them kneeling, Bai Lixin suddenly felt a bit bewildered.
When they knelt, were they thinking of him?
Hoping for his return to help them?
If so, the outcome was evident; he didn’t appear.
Indeed, on the next scene, as the merfolk knelt and prayed, a ferocious monster suddenly broke in.
The monster took merfolk into its sharp mouth, and the merfolk were frightened into hiding.
The vivid mural, though static, painted a scene of despair and tension in Bai Lixin’s mind.
Just as the situation took a dire turn, several merfolk rushed out.
Some wielded harpoons, others bows and crossbows, roaring as they charged the monster.
Initially, the monster easily tossed the merfolk aside.
But soon, new merfolk warriors stepped forward.
Their faces were painted similarly to the first batch of merfolk warriors, roaring as they charged at the monster again.
Later, more and more warriors joined the battle.
The monster was covered in wounds, while the merfolk suffered numerous casualties.
In the end, the merfolk relied on their perseverance and determination to overcome the ferocious monster. Countless merfolk cheered around the monster’s body, raising harpoons and crossbows, exuding the joy of victory.
And this victory came from every merfolk charging forward.
This time, he didn’t descend, but miracles still occurred.
They were the miracles.
One story ended, and a new one begun.
This time, the background seemed to involve tectonic movements, even the ocean wasn’t spared.
With the Earth’s crust in motion, the seabed was filled with magma and other various disasters.
In such a harsh environment, the merfolk’s living conditions were suppressed, and they began to migrate.
During migration, they encountered various disasters continuously.
Death happened at any time.
But in this migration, despite the difficulties, they overcame them all, finally finding a safe and suitable environment for their race’s survival.
Another story ended.
At this moment, the merfolk slowed their swimming speed, and another hall door appeared in front of Bai Lixin.
Different from the previous magnificent hall, this hall’s decoration was solemn and dignified.
The merfolk lined up in unison, and their expressions instantly became serious.
Leading them was the elderly mermaid, and under her guidance, all the merfolk swam through this door in unison.
At the end of the queue, Bai Lixin controlled the submarine and followed them into this hall.
Instead of exquisite statues, the walls of this hall were carved with a massive mural. The mural was filled with merfolk, their gazes were firm, wielding harpoons and roaring as they fought the behemoths before them.
Even though covered in blood, there was no trace of fear in their eyes.
It was a mural composed of tens of thousands of merfolk.
There were no protagonists, yet each was a protagonist.
Every detail in the mural was intricately carved, blending respect and homage from later generations to their predecessors.
Just by seeing this mural, Bai Lixin instantly felt the thrilling sensation of being on the scene.
Goosebumps covered his entire body.
