Chapter 59: Eternal Covenant
The success of the inheritance plan ensured the continuation of the alliance's wisdom, but Lin Chen realized that as the alliance expanded and became more complex, a more fundamental cohesion was needed - a set of commonly recognized values and principles that could transcend changes in individuals, tribes, and even the times.
On a starry night, he stood on top of the Tower of Knowledge, looking at the lights of the Silver Moon Tribe below and the signal lights of the various tribes in the distant Alliance, and a grand idea arose in his mind.
"Our alliance needs a fundamental code," he said to Canglan beside him, "not a set of rules and regulations, but a shared commitment to values to guide the alliance's present and future direction."
Canglan's silver-gray eyes reflected the starlight: "Like the basic rules of a wolf pack, self-evident yet deeply rooted in the bones?"
"That's right," Lin Chen nodded, "but it's more systematic and clear, so that every new member can understand the core spirit of the alliance."
The idea sparked heated debate in the Union Parliament, with some representatives concerned about restrictions on freedom, others questioning whether it was necessary, and others worried that consensus would be difficult to reach.
"This isn't a restriction, but a clarification," Lin Chen explained, "just like the stars guide the direction but don't dictate the path."
After thorough discussion, the Alliance decided to experiment with drafting this "Eternal Covenant." This process itself embodies the Alliance's spirit: extensive consultation, robust discussion and debate, respect for diverse viewpoints, and the search for common ground.
The drafting committee was composed of representatives from various tribes, age groups, and fields. Lin Chen and Cang Lan co-chaired the committee to ensure an inclusive and efficient process.
The first challenge was to identify core values. Each tribe had different traditions and priorities. The Nomadic Tribe valued freedom, the Mountain Tribe valued honor, the Lake Tribe valued harmony, the Silvermoon Tribe valued wisdom, and the Shell Tribe valued craftsmanship.
Through in-depth discussions, they discovered deeper common values: all tribes value community well-being, respect for nature, pursuit of knowledge, and mutual assistance and cooperation.
“Appearances may differ, but the essence is the same,” an old wise man concluded, “just as different rivers eventually flow into the sea.”
The first chapter of the Eternal Covenant establishes these core values: "We cherish the well-being of our community, respect the balance of nature, pursue the depth of knowledge, and practice cooperation in mutual aid."
Chapter 2 defines the Alliance’s fundamental rights and responsibilities: “Every member has the right to be respected, educated, and protected, and at the same time bears the responsibility to contribute, learn, and safeguard.”
Special emphasis is placed on the balance between rights and responsibilities: "Rights come from the fulfillment of responsibilities, and responsibilities guarantee the realization of rights."
Chapter 3 sets out the principles of decision-making and governance: “Decision-making should be based on consensus, governance should be based on wisdom, power should be checked and balanced, and change should be gradual.”
Chapter 4 deals with the alliance's interactions with the outside world: "Open yet cautious, share yet protect, learn yet contribute, be peaceful yet firm."
The most innovative is Chapter 5, on eternal self-renewal: "This covenant is not cast in stone or iron, but must evolve with the times, adjust to wisdom, and change by consensus."
Each provision is accompanied by specific examples and historical cases to illustrate its origin and application. It is not only a regulation, but also an educational tool.
The drafting process took months, with countless discussions and revisions, before the final version was adopted almost unanimously at the Alliance General Assembly.
“It’s not perfect,” the Stone Rock elder said during the rite of passage, “but it’s the best of our current wisdom, and it will grow with us.”
The Eternal Covenant was inscribed on the Covenant Stone at the center of the Tower of Knowledge, using the Alliance's universal symbols for universal reading. Copies were distributed among the tribes, serving as a benchmark for education and decision-making.
Harmony House has developed educational games based on the Eternal Covenant to help people of all ages understand and apply these principles. Farsighted Eyes uses it to evaluate long-term decisions. Root Project uses it to guide cross-cultural integration.
The most direct impact is on dispute resolution. With a common value base, mediation is more effective. "It's not about who wins or loses," one mediator explained, "but how best to reflect our shared values."
The Eternal Covenant has also become required reading for new members. "Understanding this means understanding the core of the Alliance," said a new tribal representative.
In late autumn, the Alliance held the Eternal Festival to celebrate and reflect on the Eternal Covenant. Tribes demonstrated how they applied these principles to solve real-world problems and shared their experiences and insights.
A special part of the festival is the "Future Guardians" oath, where young people pledge to understand and uphold the spirit, not just the letter, of the Eternal Covenant.
"We swear to understand the spirit and not just the words, to apply wisdom and not just the rules, and to serve the purpose and not just the form." The oath echoed in the Knowledge Tower Square.
After the Eternal Festival, the Alliance established the "Covenant Guardian" system. It is not a power body, but an advisory group to help understand and apply the Eternal Covenant and recommend necessary updates.
Lin Chen and Canglan became the first guardians of the covenant, but it was made clear that this was only a temporary role and would be rotated among the tribes in the future.
"The true guardian of the covenant is every alliance member," Lin Chen emphasized, "who should embody the alliance's values in their daily choices."
On a snowy night, the Knowledge Tower held a "Promise Discussion" where people of all ages discussed the application of the Eternal Covenant in different situations.
A young man asked, "When personal freedom conflicts with the well-being of the community, how do we strike a balance?"
An elder responded, "It's not about choosing one or the other, but about finding a solution that respects freedom while ensuring well-being. Just like dancing, seemingly restrictive steps actually create beautiful freedom."
The most profound insights came from the children. When asked, “What is fairness?” one child responded, “Fairness isn’t about everyone being the same, but about everyone getting what they need.”
Another added: "Just like a garden, different flowers need different care, all are beautiful."
At the end of the discussion, people stood in front of the Covenant Stone and reflected on their understanding and commitment.
"The Eternal Covenant is not the end," said Elder Shi Yan, "but the beginning of dialogue, the starting point of thinking, and the guide for action."
Under the starry sky, Lin Chen and Canglan strolled to the Heart Valley Research Station. A small replica of the Stone of Joy stood at the entrance, its glowing stone softly illuminating the inscriptions.
"This may be our most important contribution to the alliance," Lin Chen stroked the inscription, "not a specific innovation, but a framework for continuous innovation."
Canglan nodded: "Like the laws of a wolf pack, guiding but not limiting; like the position of the stars, guiding but not determining."
They sat on the Double Star Platform, gazing at the Silver Moon Tribe beneath the starry sky. The signal lights of each tribe flickered rhythmically, as if proclaiming the promise of an eternal covenant.
"You know?" Lin Chen said softly, "In my original world, people pursued eternity through material things and technology. But now I understand that true eternity lies in values and relationships."
Canglan held his hand and said, "The Silver Moon Tribe believes that true love and wisdom can transcend time. Now, the entire Alliance has this possibility."
The impact of the Eternal Covenant is gradually becoming apparent. Decision-making is more consistent and transparent, disputes are more easily resolved, new members are more quickly integrated, and even external interactions are more explicit and confident.
“It’s respectable to know what you stand for,” a representative of the Iron Rock Alliance said in one exchange, “even if you don’t agree with the specific decision, you respect the principles behind it.”
The soul from another world, standing in front of the Covenant Stone, no longer missed the legal system of modern society, but cherished this organic norm based on consensus and values.
Here, norms are not external coercion, but internal recognition; they are not static provisions, but dynamic consensus; they do not restrict freedom, but protect freedom.
In the morning light, Lin Chen and Canglan watched the children in the school discuss the application cases of Eternal Covenant and put forward their own opinions.
"They not only learn the text of the covenant, but also understand its spirit," said a teacher proudly.
Lin Chen smiled and said to Canglan, "This is the true meaning of eternity—not eternal immutability, but constant rebirth in new understandings and applications."
The Eternal Covenant has been concluded, but the true implementation has just begun. Guided by this agreement, the Silvermoon Tribe and its allies will continue to explore, learn, grow, and move forward, writing the story of human civilization that never ends.
And in this story, every member is an author, every choice is a phrase, and every life is a chapter, together forming an eternal narrative - an eternal narrative about how to live, how to live together, and how to make life worth living.
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