Chapter 76: Burial Among the Stars

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June 6th, Year 5666 of the Celestial Calendar
Celestial Star had already transformed beyond recognition; now, every corner of the supercontinent bore traces of humanity, with intelligent facilities scattered throughout its cities.
Technology had advanced to the point where humans no longer needed the power of the Star Father to move mountains or fill seas; the supercontinent as a whole had become more suited for human habitation.
In the central city of Celestial Star, called Constellation City, towering skyscrapers and the floating central temple mirrored each other, composing a magnificent spectacle.
On the city’s transparent anti-gravity lanes, various flying cars darted about in orderly fashion, their streamlined designs and gleaming surfaces sparkling in the sunlight.
Citizens had grown accustomed to such routines, their hearts filled with pride and contentment for this new era.
In this age, everyone could enjoy the conveniences brought by technology, whether in travel, work, or entertainment.
Amidst abundant material wealth, Celestial Star had long achieved a utopian sense of prosperity.
As long as one completed daily tasks and surrendered a portion of their wages, they would be provided with sufficient resources for life.
Without pressure, leisure had become dull; the only thing people anticipated each day was to have some necessary work to fill the emptiness.
The civilization on Celestial Star called itself the Source of Stars, signifying that their culture originated from the creation of the Star Father.
Today, Celestial Star was already defined as the sacred planet of the Source of Stars civilization.
Because Celestial Star was the starting point of their culture, and because it bore witness to the rise and development of human civilization.
Each year, countless pilgrims from other planets of the Celestial Star system arrived here, hoping to experience the glory of the Star Father more intimately.
It is worth mentioning that, as technology developed, faith gradually faded, yet for the entire civilization, the Star Father remained the sole belief of the people.
The central temple was no longer a towering edifice piercing the clouds; instead, its main body had grown broader, its base encircled by transparent anti-gravity rings, floating like a disk at the continent’s center.
Shen Xing stood atop the Star Pavilion, gazing downward. The Star Pavilion was built within a cube suspended in the sky—minimalist in appearance, yet far more luxurious and spacious inside than before.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
A gentle knocking sounded outside the Star Pavilion’s door. Though other notifications could be used, knocking was a gesture of respect from others toward the High Priest.
“Come in.”
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With Shen Xing’s permission, the door to the Star Pavilion slowly opened. Outside stood an elder in silver-white priestly robes accompanied by a young man in casual attire, both bowing slightly to Shen Xing.
“High Priest, we have come today to apply for the removal of our ancestor’s remains.”
Shen Xing’s gaze swept over them. The elder wore a look of respectful solemnity; the young man was both excited and nervous, as if meeting him for the first time.
“You are descendants of Yan Feng, I presume?”
“Yes, High Priest. I am Yan Gong, and this is my grandson, Yan Guanwen.”
Yan Gong nodded slightly, and the young man hurriedly followed suit.
In Yan Feng’s era, names were generally drawn from everyday natural phenomena as surnames. At a certain point in the age of progress, Yan Feng’s descendants changed their surname to Yan—a similar pronunciation, preserving the ancestral name while keeping pace with the times.
“Why do you wish to take the remains?”
“High Priest, we have arranged for a star burial ceremony, to send our ancestor into the embrace of the Star Father.”
Shen Xing nodded slightly. The star burial ceremony was a farewell ritual that had gained popularity on Celestial Star in recent years.
After settling among the stars, faith had evolved over generations and new customs had gradually emerged.
So-called star burial, also known as stellar funeral or interstellar burial, involved sending the deceased aboard a small spacecraft, which was then launched into a star along with the remains.
People believed that stars were created by the Star Father, bringing light, hope, and life; thus, the departed would journey to the Star Father’s side with the light of the stars.
It was an extremely costly ceremony and the most solemn funeral rite in the Source of Stars civilization.
Hearing their wish to hold a star burial for the long-deceased Yan Feng, Shen Xing couldn’t help but recall Xie Huizhi, who had passed away some years ago.
That old priest who had always swept the central temple, under Shen Xing’s care, had died peacefully without illness or pain.
Since then, the Star Pavilion had ceased to see frequent visitors; Shen Xing always watched the progress of civilization outside in silent solitude.
“Very well. Submit the documents for the star burial, then proceed to the Institute of Life to collect the remains.”
Yan Gong saluted the High Priest, bowed, and departed with the still-excited Yan Guanwen.
Shen Xing watched their retreating figures; Yan Gong’s silhouette gradually overlapped with Yan Feng’s in his mind’s eye.
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A faint smile curved Shen Xing’s lips, and he found himself feeling somewhat sentimental.
The vastness of his consciousness meant almost every memory was preserved in detail; whenever he encountered people, events, or objects connected to the past, recollections would surface involuntarily.
He was silent for a while, then strode toward the wall of the Star Pavilion. At the moment he touched it, he slipped through as if entering water, unhindered.
He walked in the air, attracting the attention of citizens walking or driving below; many paused to offer him a respectful salute.
Step by step, Shen Xing approached a towering launch platform, where a simple star burial ship lay quietly docked.
At the heart of the ship rested a transparent chamber, inside which lay a bronze coffin—utterly out of place in this era.
In the adjacent waiting room, Yan Gong and Yan Guanwen were scanning the star burial documents at an intelligent terminal; they had arrived before Shen Xing came.
Time ticked by, and when all was ready, the star burial ceremony began.
As the ritual commenced, the ship’s engines slowly started, and then a dazzling beam of light pierced the night sky. Shen Xing’s gaze followed the ship’s ascent, then shifted his perspective to the cosmos.
In space, the ship swiftly approached the star of the Celestial Star system, then accelerated and plunged into its heart.
The instant it entered the star, it vanished, and for a brief moment, a flash of light flickered.
Now, Yan Feng could be considered a part of the star itself.
In a different sense, he truly became a radiant star, a companion beside the Star Father.
If souls exist in this world,
One could imagine Yan Feng’s soul finding peace in the star’s embrace,
And his life gaining new birth in the cycle of the cosmos.
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