Chapter 45: Starlight
The prosperity of the textile industry enriched the material life of the Alliance, but Lin Chen noticed that differences in the spiritual realm still existed among the tribes. One clear night, he stood atop the Tower of Knowledge, gazing at the different sacrificial flames of the tribes, and pondered deeply.
"Every tribe has its own beliefs and rituals," he said to Canglan beside him. "This is the core of the culture and the source of differences."
Canglan nodded. "The Silver Moon Tribe worships the Wolf God and the Moon, the Mountain Tribe believes in mountain spirits and eagles, the Nomadic Tribe follows the wind and stars, the Lakeside Tribe reveres the Water God, and the Shell Tribe honors the power of the ocean. These differences have caused conflict in the past."
The next day, Lin Chen proposed a bold idea at the alliance meeting: "Instead of ignoring differences or forcing uniformity, it would be better to create common spiritual activities for the alliance, respect the traditions of each tribe, and establish shared rituals."
After intense discussion, the Alliance decided to try to create "Star Worship" - not a new religion, but to create shared rituals and celebrations based on the common astronomical observations of all tribes.
The first attempt was the "Alliance Star Observation." The astronomical knowledge of the various tribes was collected and collated, and surprisingly, despite the different names and legends, the tribes observed the same stars and followed the same astronomical laws.
"Look, the Silver Moon Tribe's 'Guiding Star' is the Nomadic Tribe's 'Migration Star,'" Feng Yi pointed out excitedly, "They're both that bright star!"
Shi Feng added: "The 'Mountain Eagle Star' of the Gaoshan tribe is actually part of the same constellation."
Shui Hen smiled: "The lakeside tribe uses that star to predict fishing seasons. It turns out everyone relies on the same celestial phenomenon."
Based on this discovery, the Alliance began to compile a unified star map, retaining the traditional names and legends of each tribe, but marking the corresponding relationships.
"It's not about replacement, but connection," Lin Chen explained the concept of this project. "It allows each tribe to see the unity within their differences."
Once completed, the star map was carved into the ground at the center of the Tower of Knowledge, becoming the focal point of the Alliance. The star legends of each tribe were recorded on the surrounding walls, showcasing the rich cultural diversity.
The first common celebration of the alliance was the Solstice Festival - a celebration of the longest and shortest days. Each tribe contributed its own solstice traditions, which merged into a new ritual.
The ceremony is jointly presided over by priests from each tribe, using common ritual symbols developed by the alliance. The sacrificial songs incorporate vocabulary from various languages, the sacrificial dances incorporate movements from various tribes, and the offerings include local specialties from each tribe.
The most touching moment is the Spark Relay Ceremony: representatives of each tribe hold the sacred fire of their own tribe and jointly ignite the "Star Fire" of the alliance, symbolizing that the light of each tribe converges into a greater light.
"Different flames, same light; different tribes, same starry sky." Elder Shi Yan said at the ceremony.
The shared worship of the stars was not limited to celebrations but also permeated daily life. The alliance developed a unified calendar based on the stars to guide the tribes' agricultural, hunting, migration and other activities.
"I didn't know the stars moved in such precise patterns!" Yunshan exclaimed after learning the new calendar. "It can predict seasonal changes more accurately."
Canglan was more practical: "Knowing the exact migration time can greatly improve hunting efficiency."
The Alliance also established a "astronomical observation network," with each tribe setting up observation points, recording astronomical phenomena, and sharing data. This not only improved the accuracy of predictions but also led to the discovery of new astronomical laws.
An unexpected benefit is its application in the medical field. Meiguo discovered a correlation between certain astrological changes and disease outbreaks: "Although I don't understand the reason, observations show that wounds are more susceptible to infection during the full moon. This pattern can help us better schedule surgeries."
This shared admiration for the stars even influenced art. Alliance artists created star-themed works that blended elements from various tribes: carvings, weavings, pottery, and even architectural decorations incorporated star imagery.
The most popular activity was the "Constellation Storytelling Session," where elders from each tribe took turns telling their own tribal legends about the stars. The children discovered that although these stories were different, their core themes were similar: guidance, protection, cycles, and interconnection.
"Although humans belong to different tribes, they look up at the same starry sky and think about the same problems," sighed an elder of a nomadic tribe.
The development of Starlight Unity has not been without its challenges. Some conservatives worry about diluting traditions, some skeptics question the accuracy of the unified calendar, and some pragmaticists believe that the focus on the stars neglects reality.
The Alliance addresses these issues through patient explanation and practical demonstration: emphasizing respect for rather than replacement of tradition; proving the value of the calendar with accurate predictions; and demonstrating the practical applications of astronomical observations.
A turning point occurred in the middle of the cold season. Astrological predictions predicted a rare meteor shower. The Alliance prepared for observation, and the tribes witnessed this spectacle together.
As a meteor streaked across the night sky, members of each tribe simultaneously exclaimed in wonder, their different languages expressing the same shock. In that moment, differences seemed insignificant, and shared wonder and curiosity became a bond of connection.
After the meteor shower, the Alliance created "Meteor Memory Tablets" to record each tribe's descriptions and feelings about the event and displayed them in the Tower of Knowledge.
"Same phenomenon, different descriptions, same emotion," Lin Chen wrote in his commentary. "This is the true meaning of shared admiration for Starlight."
During the Spring Equinox, the Alliance held its first "Star Festival." Representatives from each tribe gathered at the Knowledge Tower to share their astronomical observations from the past year and plan future astrological research.
At the festival, one special project attracted much attention: the "Star Team" composed of young people from various tribes, who were responsible for maintaining observation equipment, recording data, and even raising research questions.
"Let the next generation grow up in shared exploration," Feng Yi instructed the team members, "their hearts will have no boundaries."
On the night of the Star Festival, Lin Chen and Canglan strolled to the observation deck. Below, people from various tribes observed the stars together, their eyes different, their sky the same.
"Is this the spiritual alliance you imagined?" Canglan asked softly.
Lin Chen leaned on his shoulder and said, "It's beyond imagination. I used to think that we needed to unify our beliefs, but now I understand that sharing while respecting differences is more powerful."
He pointed to the integrated crowd below the stage and said: "Look, they maintain their own traditions, but share the same starry sky. This is not compromise, but enrichment."
Under the starry sky, the Knowledge Tower is like a gateway to the universe, and the signal light spots of each tribe surround it, like stars surrounding the Milky Way, each independent yet reflecting each other.
In this primitive and simple era, human beings are exploring the spiritual world in the most essential way: not through dogmatic unity, but through shared observation; not through exclusion of differences, but through inclusion of diversity; not through absolute truth, but through common exploration.
The shared admiration for the stars not only did not weaken the traditions of the tribes, but made them more precious; not only did not create conflicts, but created understanding; not only did not limit thoughts, but expanded horizons.
The soul from another world, standing on the observation deck, no longer misses the scientific rationality of modern society, but cherishes this spiritual exploration that combines observation, legend, practicality and mystery.
Here, science is not a cold formula, but the wisdom of life; faith is not an exclusive dogma, but an expression of culture; spirit is not a fantasy divorced from reality, but a guide to daily practice.
The Star Festival has passed, but the spirit of shared admiration for the Star continues. Across tribes and in the hearts of every individual, shared observations have taken root, mutual respect has grown, and common exploration is blossoming.
When the first Summer Star rises, the Silvermoon Tribe and its allies are ready to continue their exploration of the stars. The journey to a shared future for the stars has just begun, but the direction is clear: observe, share, respect, and explore.
On this starry summer night, human civilization, in its most ancient yet freshest form, continues its eternal pursuit: Who are we? Where are we? Where are we going?
And all this is just the beginning of countless questions.
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