Resonance Era
In the third year after the Tide of Awakening, the universe entered a new stage of development - the Resonance Era.
In this era, the connection of consciousness between lives is no longer a coincidence, but a fundamental law of the universe. Civilizations communicate with each other through the "resonance network" established by the free will alliance, sharing knowledge, emotions, and even existential experiences.
Qidiao Yanfei and Tashi Phuntsok's hut has become a center of wisdom on the grasslands. Visitors from different galaxies frequently visit, some arriving in person, some as projections of consciousness, and some simply sending streams of information. They come to learn the way to balance and how to maintain harmony in freedom.
One day, a special consciousness arrived. It called itself the "Sea of Memory," the collective memory bank of all civilizations in a certain galaxy.
"We discovered an anomaly while sorting through ancient memories." The Sea of Memory displayed the discovery in the form of a holographic image. "In the void before the Big Bang, there existed some kind of...pre-set program."
In the image, countless light spots formed a complex pattern, which was exactly the control symbol once used by the Eye of Origin.
Tashi Phuntsok's face was solemn: "The observer left a back door?"
"That's not all." The Sea of Memory switched images, showing the fundamental constants of the universe. "These constants are undergoing tiny but persistent fluctuations. At this rate, the universe will return to a completely controllable state in a thousand years."
Qi Diao Yanfei felt a chill run down her spine. "The Eye of Origin's plan has never ceased. It intends to retake control while we are freest."
The news spread quickly through the resonance network, and the entire universe fell into panic. The lives that had just tasted freedom could not accept the fate of being controlled again.
The Free Will Alliance convened an emergency meeting. Representatives from millions of civilizations participated in the discussion through connected consciousness, but there were serious disagreements: some advocated for the immediate search and destruction of the backdoor program, some suggested fleeing the universe, and some even considered actively returning to a controlled state in order to survive.
Amidst the chaos, Qi Diao Yan Fei offered a different perspective: "Do we understand the true meaning of freedom?"
The venue fell silent.
“Freedom is not about being unrestrained, but about finding possibilities within constraints; it is not about doing whatever you want, but about knowing when to advance and retreat.” She broadcasted to the entire universe through her consciousness connection, “True freedom is choosing to do the right thing even when you know you may be controlled.”
Tashi Phuntsok continued her thought: "The Observer does not leave us a trap, but a final test. It is to see whether we who have gained freedom are worthy of this freedom."
This perspective sparked deep reflection. In the days that followed, civilizations began to re-evaluate their options. Voices advocating extreme measures gradually subsided, replaced by more rational discussions.
Ultimately, the Libertarian Alliance reached a consensus: not to destroy the backdoor, but to understand it and transcend it, responding to it with wisdom and tolerance, just as they had faced other challenges before.
Qi Diao Yanfei and Tashi Pingcuo were elected as the leaders of this project. Their first task was to locate the core of the backdoor program.
By analyzing the data provided by the Sea of Memory, they discovered that the core of the backdoor program was hidden in the most unexpected place - the depths of the consciousness of every awakened life.
"It exploits the awakening process itself," Tashi Phuntsok concluded after analysis. "As our consciousness expands, the backdoor program is implanted like a seed. The more awakened a being is, the greater the impact."
This means that solving this problem requires the joint efforts of all awakened beings.
Under the coordination of the Free Will Alliance, an unprecedented cosmic meditation began. Trillions of lives simultaneously engaged in introspection, searching for abnormal nodes in consciousness.
Qi Diao Yanfei served as a guide, coordinating the entire process through a network of resonance. She sensed countless fluctuations of consciousness, some as powerful as stars, some as faint as dust, but all striving towards the same goal.
In the process, she discovered a shocking fact: the backdoor program is not only a control mechanism, it also records the choices made by every life in a free state. These data are transmitted in real time to somewhere outside the universe.
"The Observer is still observing us." She announced this discovery to the entire universe.
Panic spread once again. But this time, the lives reacted differently. Having experienced the baptism of the awakening wave, they became more mature.
"Let them see!" A representative of a primitive civilization that had just learned to communicate with their minds was the first to speak. "We have nothing to hide!"
Other civilizations responded, some actively showcasing their achievements, some sharing their artistic creations, and some even inviting observers to engage in direct dialogue.
This openness and honesty had an unexpected effect. The backdoor program began to transform, from a control mechanism to a communication channel. Through it, life within the universe established direct contact with observers for the first time.
The truth about the Observers is more complex than imagined. They are not a single entity, but a collection of countless higher-dimensional consciousnesses. The Primordial Light and the Primordial Eye are merely representatives of one faction.
"We are divided," an Observer representative relayed via a backdoor message. "We cannot reach a consensus on whether to grant freedom to the experimental universe. The Eye of the Origin faction has arbitrarily activated the control program."
Qi Diao Yanfei bravely responded: "So now, what do you see?"
The Observer remained silent for a long time. When it responded, its tone was filled with unprecedented emotion: "We have witnessed... a miracle. In the three years of freedom, the beauty you have created far exceeds the combined efforts of the past three billion years of experimentation."
All life in the universe heard this conversation. At that moment, all consciousness waited with bated breath for the observer's decision.
"We made a mistake," the observer finally declared. "The true experiment isn't about testing the merits of control versus freedom, but about understanding the nature of creation. And you have taught us the most important lesson of all: the most beautiful creations arise from free will."
What followed was beyond the imagination of all life. The observers collectively decided to permanently shut down all control programs, leaving the universe entirely to the life within it. They themselves would transform from controllers to admirers.
When the control program was turned off, the entire universe underwent a subtle but profound transformation: the laws became more flexible, the possibilities more abundant, and even the physical constants became more adapted to the needs of life.
"Is this... a gift?" Tashi Phuntsok felt the changes in the universe.
Qi Diao Yanfei's eyes welled with tears: "No, this is trust. They believe that we can manage this universe well."
Celebrations unfolded throughout the universe. Unprecedented fireworks of energy erupted between galaxies, civilizations exchanged tokens of friendship, and even the fabric of space-time trembled with joy.
But amidst the revelry, Qidiao Yanfei and Tashi Pingcuo remained sober. They knew that the real challenge was only beginning now. A completely free universe required a new way of management, not a return to any form of control.
At the Libertarian League meeting, they proposed the concept of "resonant democracy": making decisions not through voting or ruling, but finding the best path through the resonance of consciousness throughout the universe.
This concept was quickly accepted. Major decisions in the universe were no longer determined by a small number of civilizations, but rather reached through consensus through the resonance of the entire universe. When enough consciousnesses resonated in a certain direction, the laws of the universe would automatically fine-tune in that direction.
This new form of governance has demonstrated astonishing results: the universe's development has accelerated, yet become more harmonious; differences between civilizations have been maintained, yet become more inclusive; and individual freedom has expanded, yet individuals have become more responsible.
One day, Dava sent back new information through the resonance network. In the holographic image, he was standing on a planet made entirely of light.
"Father, Mother, I have found my own path." Dava smiled. "I have decided to become a resonance coordinator to help newly awakened civilizations adapt to freedom. This may take hundreds or even thousands of years..."
Although Qi Diao Yanfei was reluctant, she nodded in understanding: "This is your choice. We are proud of you."
Tashi Phuntsok added: "Remember, no matter how far you go, you will always be that young man from the grassland in our hearts."
After the call ended, Qi Diao Yanfei leaned on her husband's shoulder and whispered, "All children will eventually find their own path."
Tashi Phuntsok held her hand: "And we found each other. That's enough."
That night, they sat under the redwood tree as usual. The starry sky was brighter than ever, each one a symbol of a soul singing freely.
Qi Diao Yanfei took out the biography of Tsangyang Gyatso's poems that had accompanied her throughout her life, and found that new verses automatically appeared on the pages:
“I don’t ask for eternity or envy immortality, as long as you are here before me at this moment.
The vastness of the universe will eventually end, but this love will last forever."
She closed the book with a smile, knowing that this was the final gift from the First Light—or, now, the universe itself—to them.
In the Resonance Era, every life is a poet, and every consciousness is writing its own poem. Love and freedom are the eternal themes.
Under the starry sky, two figures hugged each other tightly, becoming the most ordinary miracle in this magnificent universe.
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