armyinform Chapter 628 Did You Get So Close on Purpose?
Chapter 628 Did You Get So Close on Purpose?
The spring is surrounded by white petals and sacred lotus flowers, symbolizing "light purifying all filth." Outside, neatly arranged seats for clergy are divided into three circles according to rank:
In the inner circle, high-level divine messengers and chief priests wore platinum robes and wore Holy Light Medals on their chests, representing their status.
In the middle circle, bishops and deacons from various branch temples all wear silver-gray vestments.
The outer circle consists of low-level priests, acolytes and apprentices, who are responsible for singing hymns and assisting in other tasks.
Further outside the square, the knights were on high alert, holding holy lances, wearing gold-studded armor, and gazing at the crowd expressionlessly.
As the morning bell rang twelve times, the seven chief priests slowly walked towards the center of the square. Each of them held a "holy lamp". What burned in the lamp was not a flame, but a cluster of solidified holy light fire - it was said to be the original flame brought by the God of Light from heaven. It was used to relight the runes of the spring in the annual ceremony.
Behind the holy lanterns, a chorus of a hundred hymn maidens, their skirts cascading like ripples, marched in unison, and chanted ancient hymns. Their voices, clear as silver bells and ethereal enough to linger in the heart and soul, enveloped the entire square in a sacred and undesecrable atmosphere.
The people watching the ceremony had already knelt down, with their foreheads touching the ground and their hands clasped together. Some prayed in low voices, while others shed tears quietly - they believed that only after being purified by the holy spring would the year be free from plague, famine and war.
The officiating priest placed the seven Holy Light Lamps in front of the seven Holy Light Stone Pillars, raised his staff, and began to recite the "Spring Purification Chant." This was an ancient divine language, and to mortals, each syllable sounded like the tolling of a bell in their hearts.
The chant lasted ninety-nine beats, each corresponding to an ancient sacred rune surrounding the spring. When the final beat fell, golden ripples appeared on the surface of the spring, as if responding to the chant.
At this point, seven deputy priests stepped forward and sprinkled "holy light powder" brought from the sacred mountain into the spring. Upon contact with the spring water, this powder released a pure aura of holy light, completely dispelling the impurities that had entered through a year of human use and natural consumption. The golden light in the spring grew even brighter, even reflecting the holy light of the sky.
After the purification is completed, it enters the most solemn stage - the Holy Light Seal.
The crystals on the seven holy stone pillars lit up simultaneously, and golden light converged above the spring, forming a slowly rotating ring of holy light. The chief priest and two high-ranking divine messengers stepped to the edge of the spring, simultaneously reaching their hands into the water and chanting the "Sealing Spring Mantra."
This spell does not prevent mortals from taking water, but rather adds a holy light mark to the spring water, so that it retains its sacred power when it flows to various springs and prevents heretical divine power from infiltrating.
When the spell is completed, the beam of light in the circle slowly falls down, like a transparent holy light covering the spring, and the ceremony will not be reopened until the next year.
After the sealing is completed, the chief priest will symbolically take a bucket of water from the spring, sprinkle it on his head, and then pass it to the clergy behind him, and pass it on in turn - this is the "spring bathing ceremony", symbolizing acceptance of the protection of holy light.
During this part, some devout nobles and believers can dip their hands into the spring water, take a drop and put it in their mouth, which is regarded as the highest blessing of the year. However, this opportunity is extremely limited, and only twelve non-clergymen are given this honor in each ceremony. They are often those who have donated huge wealth or accomplished great deeds.
The remaining spring water flows through the Holy Water Conduit dedicated to the Holy See to the sealed reservoir, and is then distributed to temples in various places, becoming a must-have for daily prayers, exorcism and baptism.
When the spring water was completely sealed, the hymns gradually weakened, and the chief priest raised the holy staff and declared: "The holy spring is clean, and the holy light will last forever." The holy light pillars around the square went out, leaving only a circle of warm golden ripples above the spring that slowly dissipated.
The clergy left in an orderly manner, the Knights of Holy Light began to disperse the crowd, and the people left reluctantly, still praying softly.
For most people, the ceremony on this day is a sacred festival; but for a few who know the inside story, it is a display of authority and faith, and a means for the Church to control the distribution of divine power and resources.
On the day the ceremony began, hundreds of clergy gathered in the square and silvery hymns echoed in the air.
Xingluo walked at the front of the group, his breath steady and his steps neither hurried nor slow, perfectly projecting the majesty of a god himself. The lower-ranking priests saluted one after another, some even whispering a prayer: "May the holy light guide your steps."
Pandora, dressed in a soft white ceremonial garment, followed him half a pace, like an accompanying acolyte. Whenever she lowered her head, her long hair would fall to her shoulders, and Xingluo would quietly help her pull it back - this small gesture made her feel nervous and shy.
When entering the periphery of the spring, a holy order array unfolded, scanning the aura of each participant.
When the light of the magic circle passed by Xingluo, it passed through without any abnormality. The divine messenger in charge of the inspection even glanced at him with a respectful expression.
When the light swept across Pandora, she subconsciously held her breath. Although her breath was the remnant of a true god, it was very weak and easily aroused suspicion. At this moment, Xingluo suddenly reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, superimposing his own disguised aura with hers.
The magic circle flashed slightly and finally let it go.
As they walked through the scanning area, Pandora whispered, "Did you get so close on purpose just now?"
Xing Luo curled his lips: "I'm helping you cover, otherwise you would be exposed. As for the close distance... that's incidental."
She couldn't help but hit him lightly, but there was a smile in her eyes.
The spring's management ceremony may seem solemn, but it's actually a process by which the Vatican confirms the spring's purity and reseals its source with holy light. Seven sacred pillars surround the spring, each inlaid with holy ray stone and engraved with intricate runes.
Xingluo and Pandora, as high-ranking divine messengers, were assigned to the spring's vicinity, tasked with assisting with the "Holy Light Water Seal." This was the key to their infiltration—Xingluo had to quietly transfer a portion of the spring's water without being detected for use in their subsequent plans.
When the hymn reached its climax, circles of light appeared on the surface of the spring, and the holy light could be faintly seen flowing in the clear spring water. Xingluo gently touched the water with his fingers and felt a sense of repulsion - the power of the Holy Order.
Pandora stood beside him, watching him operate, and whispered, "Be careful, this water is not ordinary water. Even the gods cannot take it away at will."
"Don't worry," Xingluo chuckled softly, "I'm not planning on taking it away. I just want it to take a detour."
As the seven chief priests began purifying the spring water, their attention was focused on the Holy Light and the golden ripples above the spring's eye. Xingluo seized this opportunity to quietly unleash the miniature magic array from his sleeve. A fine spatial crack, like a shadow, clung to the spring's surface, channeling a small stream of water into the spatial bag he had prepared.
Pandora pretended to organize the plates of holy light powder, blocking the view of several low-level priests. She also touched Xingluo's wrist lightly with her fingertips - both as a reminder and as if to say "hurry up".
Xingluo smiled inwardly and was about to make a joke, but suddenly noticed that among the Holy Light Knights on the east side of the square, there was a high-ranking Inquisition Knight who was staring at them with a gaze so sharp that it seemed as if he wanted to peel off their skin and flesh.
On the shoulder armor of the knight was engraved the double sword emblem representing the "Holy Order Judgment Authority" - this was a symbol used by the Holy See to identify fake clergy.
The moment Xingluo withdrew his hand, a tiny ripple appeared on the surface of the spring water. The knight frowned, whispered something to his deputy, then turned and began to walk towards them through the crowd.
Pandora noticed it immediately, a hint of vigilance flashing in her eyes: "Did they find out?"
"Maybe." Xingluo whispered, still maintaining the dignity of a high-ranking divine envoy on the surface, but his fingers had already secretly touched the weapon at his waist, "Are you ready?"
"Don't die yet." Pandora pursed her lips, her voice was very soft, but her fingertips scratched his palm - that was the secret signal they had agreed on long ago: once exposed, step back five steps, I will attract attention, and you take the opportunity to escape.