Xiang Beifei sidestepped An Xiyu and continued walking forward, speaking as he went:
"You aim to be a Guardian, and a Guardian is tasked with protecting the safety of Jiuzhou's lands. A good Guardian should have goals like Professor Guo, researching various methods to keep desolate beasts at bay, learning to innovate their own defensive theories, and striving to surpass role models like Professor Guo, rather than proving oneself better than other amateur classmates, which is completely meaningless."
"If I were you, I would delve deeply into Professor Guo's theories and practices. Since you've chosen to be a Guardian, you should aim to become a leader in this sacred profession, not just to stand out among your peers, and even less so when I'm an outsider."
Xiang Beifei was actually very clear that An Xiyu could not surpass him.
The most direct reason was that she didn't have the ability!
Xiang Beifei, with his ability to Learn by Analogy, had studied Professor Guo's theories and had a thorough understanding of defensive knowledge. Once he finished studying all of Professor Guo's papers and insights, he would almost catch up to Professor Guo, which wouldn't take him long.
What he lacked, compared to Professor Guo, was seasoned defensive experience and profound cultivation.
Both were learning Professor Guo's theoretical knowledge, but Xiang Beifei would always grasp it better than An Xiyu.
If An Xiyu saw him as a target to surpass, she would live a life of exhaustion.
Even without exaggeration, she might become so exhausted that she'd close herself off!
After realizing she couldn't surpass an outsider, she might waver in her beliefs and doubt whether she was really fit to take the path of a Guardian.
Xiang Beifei didn't want the Guardian industry to lose such a girl because of him.
But if An Xiyu's goal was to surpass Professor Guo, even if she couldn't match up to him, her self-esteem wouldn't be hurt because in her heart, it was natural for Professor Guo to be better than her. With this mindset, she would still have the conviction to follow in Professor Guo's footsteps.
Xiang Beifei continued, "If you just want a college degree to find a job after graduation, then you can take me as a role model to surpass. But if you are unwavering in walking the path your father didn't finish and dedicate yourself to being a Guardian, then you should aim to surpass Professor Guo. Once you surpass Professor Guo, you will naturally surpass an amateur like me."
The only way An Xiyu might surpass Xiang Beifei was by exploring and innovating her own defensive theory. When her theory moved beyond what she learned from Professor Guo and included her own innovations, then she might have a slight chance to surpass Xiang Beifei.
——In fact, the likelihood was still small because as soon as An Xiyu innovated, Xiang Beifei could almost effortlessly Learn by Analogy.
But at least at that moment, An Xiyu had broken through her own limitations.
Setting Beifei, who had no interest in delving into defensive theories, as a goal would make it hard for her to reach that level.
"Look further ahead, and don't forget why you started."
Xiang Beifei's figure had already gradually vanished into the darkness, leaving his voice echoing in An Xiyu's ears.
"Don't forget why you started..."
An Xiyu watched in the direction Xiang Beifei had left, murmuring to herself.
As if she had undergone an enlightening moment, she seemed to have a sudden clarity.
She was a person with a strong competitive spirit, always wanting to prove she was better than her peers and to carry on her father's legacy; hence, she studied hard and had become one of the best among her contemporaries.
But how could her vision be limited to her peers?
Yes! What does it matter if she was better than her peers?
Now, as a teaching assistant, she was supposed to aim for surpassing Professor Guo!
"What kind of person are you, really?"
An Xiyu was becoming increasingly puzzled by this boy one year her junior, wondering why his actions and words were always so logical, why his talent was higher than hers, and why even his views on Guardians seemed more correct than her own.
She had held significant prejudice against Xiang Beifei, but his words and actions were shaking her biases.
This boy, immensely talented but never putting on airs or showing any sense of superiority, was very different from the typical SSRs, lacking the arrogant air that SSRs carried.
Most importantly, he wasn't even an SSR Awakener!
He was merely an N-rated individual, someone who had been looked down upon by many.
An Xiyu's mind was filled with images of Xiang Beifei, his words lingering, the person he was, and the things he had said and done, all of which disturbed her heart.
——Have I been too narrow-minded? Towards both the profession of Guardians and my opinion of him?
An Xiyu's heart was in turmoil; her role as a Guardian made her wary of many things, a professional ethic she had to possess.
How could she deal with the cunning desolate beasts without a sense of vigilance?
But when she did become alert, sometimes, she found herself raising her guard against people involuntarily.
Especially after what happened with Wu Shixuan, she couldn't bring herself to trust anyone.
But this time, was it really because she was too guarded?
An Xiyu stood pondering for a full half-hour until the laughter of students passing by in the campus interrupted her thoughts, pulling her back to reality.
Taking a deep breath, she turned and walked toward her dormitory.