I’m Trapped in a Cube - Chapter 216

The “Merman Calendar’s” description of the Sea Moon Ceremony was very detailed.

“When thick fog spreads and decay runs rampant, the moon will rise from the sea to dispel the fog…”

Only the moon could dispel the increasingly severe thick fog that shrouded Merman Island.

Jeff explained that the fog on Merman Island had a special function, it could transform the environment into one suitable for mermen to live in.

This fog would make the air humid, adding moisture to all of Merman Island and maintaining its humidity.

It could also block direct sunlight, keeping all of Merman Island in a dim state to avoid harming the mermen from sun exposure.

Not only that, but Merman Island’s thick fog also had a function of making objects “decay” and become “old,” keeping all of Merman Island in an atmosphere of fishy rot.

Although humans would greatly dislike this atmosphere, for mermen, this atmosphere was most suitable for their survival.

Those fishy stenches were like fragrance to them. Smelling it would actually make them feel the air was very “fresh.” This was also a scent unique to Merman Island, smelling it was like coming home.

So the fog couldn’t be too much. In the “Merman Calendar,” this point was clearly written, warning future generations of mermen to prepare for the Sea Moon sacrifice in advance.

However, when extremes meet, after the thick fog continuously deepened, its transformative effect on Merman Island also became increasingly powerful.

The original moisture-retaining and water-preserving effect, after intensifying, would turn all of Merman Island into mudflats, muddy everywhere, even affecting the mermen’s movement.

The light-blocking effect would also become increasingly powerful, even plunging all of Merman Island into darkness.

This decay was completely unavoidable, and the “fragrance” scattered in the air would become even more intense.

Most terrifyingly, after the fog’s decay function strengthened, it would even affect the creatures on the island, causing some weak small animals to die, and would accelerate the rotting and damage of buildings in the mermen village.

Although mermen liked this smell, when any smell became extremely intense, it would become a burden, just like humans smelling an extremely rich and cloying perfume, mermen would even feel nauseous.

According to the “Merman Calendar’s” records, when the moon rose and after performing the moon sacrifice according to the recorded content, the moon would clear the excess fog on Merman Island and enter the next cycle of fog accumulation.

“I wonder if this sea moon follows the same pattern?” Mo Ling thought.

How one thought about it, it was like some kind of “heaven worship” ritual.

Humans also held celebrations and performed sacrificial activities during many festivals—these were just leftover customs.

Rather than saying what consequences not performing sacrifices would bring, it was better to say that sacrificial activities, or festival customs, were actually a form of comfort humans gave themselves.

Most of the time, festivals were just a form of psychological sustenance.

The more Mo Ling thought about it, the deeper he went, and he gained sufficient understanding of this “Sea Moon Ceremony.”

The mermen’s level of civilization didn’t seem very high. This kind of sacrificial activity might still inspire people and consolidate group consciousness.

Natural laws could not be violated. Even if humans did nothing, Earth’s revolution and rotation would still exist, and the twenty-four solar terms would still be there.

But in the Abyss, everything was just speculation.

“Must there be sacrifice? What happens if there’s no sacrifice?” she asked curiously.

Jeff thought for a moment and shook his head, “I don’t know. The ‘Merman Calendar’ says to perform sacrifices according to regulations, but there’s no record of not performing sacrifices.”

They certainly wouldn’t violate the content of the Merman Ancient Texts, after all, those were experiences left by their ancestors.

After hearing Jeff’s words, Li Luo nodded thoughtfully.

Li Luo had probably figured it out too and didn’t continue asking.

However, this fog was indeed too thick. The deeper they went into the island, the more severe the fog’s effects became. Collapsed trees could be seen everywhere, along with some corpses of dead small animals.

These trees had all withered because they couldn’t see sunlight, then accelerated their death due to decay. Small animals also found it increasingly difficult to survive due to lack of food and environmental changes.

The fog had seriously affected the island’s ecology.

The beams from the mermen’s flashlights swept back and forth in the dim fog. Gradually, the surrounding mermen could no longer be seen clearly—only the soft footsteps stepping on muddy ground could be heard.

Fortunately, Mo Ling’s vision wasn’t affected by the fog.

While following along, Mo Ling also observed the shocking environment on the island.

“It seems a grand ceremony must be held to stabilize people’s hearts.”

Walking along, a dazzling light swept over from the distant fog.

A beam of light like a lighthouse searchlight shone on the mermen’s group. After sweeping several times, it aimed at the road ahead of the group, seeming to guide the direction.

“We’re almost there.”

The mermen reinforced the water currents carrying the cargo and quickened their pace.

Following the light, they soon arrived beneath the lighthouse.

At this time, many mermen were already waiting under the lighthouse. After the transport team arrived, these mermen took over the cargo and transported it elsewhere.

After getting closer, a corner of the mermen village also appeared in Mo Ling’s vision.

The mermen’s houses seemed to be a mixture of many materials, wood, stone, and even sheet metal taken from humans. These different types of building materials were actually cleverly combined together.

Though it looked like a garbage pile, it had a feeling of order within chaos.

The architectural style was similar to stilt houses, using tall poles to support the houses above, with the poles deeply planted in the muddy ground as foundations.

These buildings varied in height, with poles intersecting and crossing chaotically, but this chaotic structure maintained a peculiar stability. The buildings above fitted together steadily, connecting into one piece.

Mo Ling even saw some mermen hopping around on the buildings. They used these interconnected buildings to shuttle back and forth, and their footholds didn’t shake at all—very sturdy.

“What a marvelous architectural form,” Mo Ling couldn’t help but sigh.

Those thin poles didn’t look like they could support such heavy buildings, but the mermen had managed it.

While Mo Ling was sighing, the mermen had already transferred the cargo into some low houses.

Li Luo also took this opportunity to ask Jeff about ship information going in the other direction.

But Jeff seemed to know nothing when asked, his wise fish eyes staring at Li Luo for a long time without saying anything meaningful.

“I happen to need to report to the Great Chieftain. I’ll take you to ask him,” Jeff said dully, holding the captain’s alcohol.

Li Luo looked at Jeff’s round fish eyes and could only agree.

The two continued walking toward the village interior.

Soon, a distinctive building appeared in Mo Ling’s vision.

This building was all wood, not using the architectural form of other mermen houses, but was like an overturned ship covered on the ground, completely out of place with the surrounding buildings.

After getting closer, Mo Ling could see clearly that this ship-house-like building also had huge space underground.

The materials in the underground space were also all wood, and these wooden walls showed no trace of decay whatsoever, they were incredibly new.

When Mo Ling observed carefully, he discovered that the surface of this wood seemed to have a layer of oil shine, like dried transparent gel, and also like a layer of plastic film, cleverly isolating the wood from the outside world.

Li Luo walked up close and was also very curious about this ship-house, staying for a long time.

“This is made of Immortal Wood. There’s only this one room in the entire village. It’s used to preserve Merman Ancient Texts, similar to a human library,” Jeff explained.

“The Great Chieftain should be inside.”