Tide of Awakening
On the seventh day after Dawa left, Qi Diao Yanfei felt something strange happening deep in the universe while delivering a mare that was having a difficult labor.
It was a subtle but distinct tremor, as if the heartbeat of the entire universe had suddenly accelerated. As she successfully delivered the foal and watched the wet little life struggle to its feet, a newfound sense awakened in her consciousness—she could feel not only the foal's will to live, but also the sun-seeking of every blade of grass on the grassland, the foraging instinct of every insect, and even the trajectory of every speck of dust in the wind.
"Phuntsok," she hurried to her husband, who was drying herbs, "did you feel it?"
Tashi Phuntsok put down the medicine basket in his hand, his eyes solemn: "The consciousness of the universe is awakening. Not just us, but all life."
Their hunch was soon confirmed. That afternoon, the elders of the tribe spontaneously gathered under the redwood trees, recounting similar experiences: shepherds discovering they can understand their sheep's emotions, weavers sensing the prairie memories lingering in wool, and even children displaying incredible intuition in their games.
"This is the impact of the Primordial Light's sacrifice," Tashi Phuntsok analyzed that night under the oil lamp. "The law of free will is permeating every corner of the universe."
Qi Diao Yanfei stroked the Mirror of Balance pendant on her chest and found that it was emitting a faint light again. "Dawa said that freedom is contagious. Now all life in the universe is awakening a certain...resonance ability."
This awakening isn't entirely a happy one. With heightened perception, hidden conflicts within life surface. Generational hatreds between herders and wolves over pastures, disputes between tribes over water sources, and even long-suppressed conflicts within families are all magnified by this heightened awareness.
Even more worryingly, some life forms are beginning to display overpowered abilities. A shepherd boy accidentally triggered a small-scale weather change, causing hailstorms on a neighbor's pasture. An elderly woman conversed with a deceased relative in a dream, unexpectedly opening a rift to the spirit world. Even a group of ants, through their collective consciousness, has taken control of the climate of their entire world.
"The power awakened too quickly, and the wisdom couldn't keep up." Qi Diao Yanfei looked at the news of another case of uncontrolled power with worry. "If this continues, there will be a big mess."
Tashi Phuntsok nodded. “We need to do something. But we should no longer control as guardians, but guide as pioneers.”
They decided to gather the elders and wise men of the grassland to discuss countermeasures. However, on the eve of the gathering, an unexpected visitor broke the peace.
He was a stranger in strange robes. His eyes seemed to encompass the entire sea of stars, and his voice had multiple echoes when he spoke.
"I'm an envoy from the Chaos galaxy," the stranger introduced himself in fluent Tibetan. "Our civilization experienced the same awakening three days ago. Through the cosmic resonance network, we sense that this place is one of the sources of the awakening."
Qi Diao Yanfei was shocked: "Other planets also..."
"The entire universe is awakening," the messenger said solemnly, "but not all civilizations are ready. Some worlds are falling into chaos due to uncontrolled abilities, while others are erupting in conflict due to the connection of consciousness. We need to establish a new order."
At the envoy's suggestion, Qi Diao Yanfei and Tashi Pingcuo agreed to attend an emergency intergalactic meeting. Through the equipment brought by the envoy, their consciousness was projected into a virtual meeting space.
The scene there astounded them: countless points of light represented different civilizations, some from technologically advanced worlds, some from dimensions of pure spiritual existence, and some even from collective consciousness. And they, as representatives of the source of awakening, commanded the attention of the entire audience.
"We have detected a wave of awakening originating from your galaxy," a representative of a mechanical civilization said. "Please explain the cause of this phenomenon."
Tashi Phuntsok truthfully recounted the sacrifice of the Primordial Light and the initiation of the All-Unifying Protocol. When the existence of the Observer and the experimental nature of the universe were heard, the audience fell into a brief commotion.
"So, we were once experimental subjects?" A representative of the plant civilization vibrated, "and now we are free?"
Qi Diao Yanfei responded: "Yes, but with freedom comes responsibility. We must now learn how to manage this new free universe together."
The conference lasted three full days. During this time, they witnessed the wisdom and foolishness of various civilizations, the possibilities for cooperation and the sources of conflict. Ultimately, the participating civilizations reached a basic consensus: to establish a "Free Will Alliance" to jointly maintain cosmic harmony.
But when they returned to the grasslands, they discovered that the situation had deteriorated further. The wave of awakening had triggered global anomalies: rivers were flowing backwards, mountains were moving, and even time was disrupted in some areas.
Most worryingly, extremist groups have begun to emerge, some advocating for the use of new abilities to rule over others, others seeking a return to being controlled by the Observer, and still others even attempting to create new laws of the universe.
"We need to help people understand," Qi Diao Yanfei told the gathered tribesmen. "Ability is not a tool for control, but a bridge for understanding."
She began holding "Resonance Workshops" to teach people how to balance their newly awakened abilities, while Tashi Phuntsok held "Wisdom Lectures" to share the balance they had learned from their time travel.
However, the crisis still broke out.
A group of young men who have gained powerful abilities, calling themselves the "New Gods," attempt to establish their own kingdom on the grasslands, manipulating the weather, changing the terrain, and even attempting to control the minds of others.
Faced with this crisis, Qi Diao Yanfei and Zhaxi Pingcuo did not choose to confront, but took an unexpected approach.
They went to the camp of the "New God" alone, without any weapons, only a pot of butter tea and some dry food.
"We are here to learn," Qi Diao Yanfei said to the surprised young people, "We want to understand why you are establishing a new order."
The young leader, a shepherd's son named Tsering, proudly displayed their abilities: "Look! We can call the wind and rain, move mountains and fill the sea! Why should we be bound by the old order?"
Tashi Phuntsok asked calmly, "And then? What do you plan to do after you rule the grasslands?"
Cairang was stunned: "...continue to rule more lands."
"And then?"
"...rule the world."
"And then?"
"..." I couldn't answer.
Qi Diao Yanfei smiled and said, "Ability can enable you to accomplish many things, but only wisdom can tell you what to do. We have experienced ruling and being ruled, creating and being created, and ultimately realized that true power lies not in control, but in understanding."
She invited young people to her workshops. Initially, they scoffed, but curiosity eventually led some to attend. In the workshops, they learned to perceive the web of life on the grasslands and understand the unique value of each life in the universe.
Cai Rang found Qi Diao Yan Fei after the third day of the workshop: "I had a dream last night. In the dream, I ruled the entire world, but I felt very... lonely. All living things were afraid of me, and no one truly understood me."
Qi Diao Yanfei said gently, "Because rule is based on distance, while understanding requires intimacy. True connection comes from equality, not control."
Gradually, the "New Gods" disbanded their kingdoms and reintegrated into the tribe. But their acquired abilities remained, becoming tools for serving the community: Cairang used weather manipulation to regulate the ranch's climate, others used telepathy to mediate disputes, and teleportation to deliver emergency supplies...
The crisis on the grassland has been temporarily resolved, but the problems at the cosmic level have just begun.
The Free Will Alliance has sent an urgent communication: Some civilizations are unable to adapt to the wave of awakening and are on the brink of collapse. Some have lost their individuality due to excessive connection of consciousness, some have destroyed their own homes due to uncontrolled abilities, and still others have fallen into existential crises after learning the truth about the universe.
"They need help." Qi Diao Yanfei felt heartbroken when she saw the miserable scenes in the communication.
Tashi Phuntsok held her hand. “But we can’t solve their problems for them. True freedom means finding the answers for ourselves.”
They came up with a compromise: establishing a "beacon of wisdom" to share their experience in the path of balance rather than direct intervention. Through the Free Will Alliance's network, they compiled the wisdom of the "Poetry of Tsangyang Gyatso," the teachings of the Redwood Monastery, and insights from across time and space into a universal information stream, which they sent to civilizations in need.
The response was unexpectedly positive. A civilization on the verge of civil war found a way to peaceful coexistence after embracing the concept of "harmony in diversity." A race, whose morals were corrupted by its explosive growth, rebuilt its ethical system after understanding that "power comes with responsibility." A world plunged into despair after learning the truth about the experiment rediscovered the meaning of life after realizing that "limitation is perfection."
"We are becoming the mentors of the universe." Qi Diao Yanfei said with emotion one night.
Tashi Phuntsok shook his head: "No, we are just pioneers. The real mentor is every life that seeks meaning in freedom."
Just as they were getting used to their new roles, news from Dava came back through the cosmic network. In the holographic projection, their son stood in a strange crystal world, surrounded by various forms of alien life.
"Father, Mother," Dava smiled. "I am here to help a newly awakened civilization. They are beautiful, like breathing crystal. I teach them to understand freedom, and they teach me to feel the poetry in vibration."
Qi Diao Yan Fei's eyes were filled with tears: "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Dawa's eyes were full of wisdom. "And I understand that the process of helping other civilizations is also a process of understanding ourselves. Every life is a mirror for the universe to understand itself."
At the end of the communication, Dawa left a thought-provoking message: "The wave of awakening is only the beginning. When all life understands the true meaning of freedom, the universe will enter the next stage - the Resonance Era. I have a feeling that there will be new challenges, but also new miracles."
That night, Qidiao Yanfei and Tashi Phuntsok sat together under a redwood tree, gazing up at a starry sky brighter than ever before. Each star represented an awakening civilization, each freely writing its own story.
"Sometimes I wonder," Qi Diao Yan Fei said softly, "how relieved it would be if the Origin of Light could see all this."
Tashi Phuntsok kissed her hair tenderly. "It has become all this. The law of free will is the continuation of its existence."
Under the starry sky, they felt the consciousness of countless lives flickering in the universe like points of light, each one exploring, growing, and freely loving and being loved.
And this great awakening has just begun.
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