"What test?" Xiang Beifei asked.
"I'm not sure, the test wasn't for us; it directed you to enter this stele. We have never entered it." The White Flame Skeleton tapped on the stele as it spoke.
Xiang Beifei examined the stele, which was formed by the system, but inside there was a mysterious array pattern fluctuating. He then realized it was a hidden consciousness, incredibly powerful and well-concealed. If one didn't look closely, it would be impossible to detect.
"Is it Grandfather's consciousness?"
His eyes lit up. At the moment, he needed answers desperately. If it was the consciousness his grandfather had left behind, he had to talk to him.
Xiang Beifei immediately placed his hand on the stele and sent his Spiritual Power along the stele toward that consciousness. Soon after, a flash of light burst before his eyes, and he was pulled into another world.
The world before him was fiery red, with seething magma boiling all around, emitting scorching heat that made it difficult to endure, even Xiang Beifei felt the threat of the flames.
He knew well that this wasn't real magma, nor did it reach the level that could devour Spiritual Power like the mound spirit outside. He could still resist the Si Hou's magma, but he had no means to defend against this mental magma!
This magma was not the mound spirit, yet it was infinitely more terrifying than the throat!
It was an absolute power that captivated the soul, rendering Xiang Beifei completely immobile.
A deep and solid voice exploded in the air like thunder, creating reverberating waves that struck the heart, causing Xiang Beifei's Orifice Soul to tremble slightly, and even his mind became unstable.
"Such immense spiritual power."
Xiang Beifei was secretly shocked. This terrifying spiritual power was even stronger than Elder Luo from the Heavenly Connection realm!
Then, he saw that familiar figure.
Clad in a gray long-sleeve shirt and black linen pants, wearing simple black cloth shoes, unadorned and plain, the old man looked no different from an ordinary elderly person. Standing there, his mustache somewhat unkempt and hair graying, with a few strands rebelliously sticking up on the left side of his temple.
But the old man's demeanor was extremely sharp, tall and majestic in stature, standing there as if he was the sky itself, making the heavens and earth pale in comparison.
Who else could it be but Xiang Beifei's grandfather?
Xiang Qingde's eyes were bright and deep, staring into them was like looking through his eyes at the vast starry sky. Xiang Beifei found himself briefly entranced with just one glance.
He quickly gathered his spiritual power to resist the strong oppression and clear his mind.
"It's me, Xiang Beifei."
Xiang Beifei felt a headache coming on; this consciousness was from over thirty years ago. At that time, he wasn't even a cell, how could his grandfather recognize him?
Xiang Qingde pondered this name, then seemed to remember something, waved his hand, and pulled Xiang Beifei over, examining him solemnly as he said, "Why would you have this name?"
"What if I told you, I am your grandson, would you believe me?"
Xiang Beifei pointed to the strand of hair sticking out on the left side of his head to indicate.
The Xiang family genes were somewhat strong; comrade Xiang Tianxing also had a rebellious strand of hair sticking up on the left temple, the grandfather did as well, and so did Xiang Beifei. A family should be neat and uniform.
"You are my grandson?"
Xiang Qingde looked at Xiang Beifei's hair, his brows slightly furrowed. But clearly, this hair wasn't very convincing; he just stared at Xiang Beifei, deep in thought.
"Your Spiritual Power is different from what I know," Xiang Qingde said, "If you are my grandson, you should have inherited my Cultivation Technique, so your Spiritual Power should be consistent with mine."
"That's a long story," Xiang Beifei said.
He stretched out his hand, and his Spiritual Power condensed in his palm, then split into two flames, one black and one white.
"Assuming you have taught me, that is," Xiang Beifei said.
"I would never not teach my descendants the corresponding Cultivation Technique."
Xiang Qingde focused on the Spiritual Power in Xiang Beifei's palm, and after a long while, his eyes shone with golden light, sweeping directly towards Xiang Beifei.
Xiang Beifei's heart turned cold, this seemed to be an exploration of his memory. He knew well how he had come to Jiuzhou, and some secrets couldn't be discovered.
Immediately he fortified the memories in his brain.
However, Xiang Qingde did not attempt to probe his memories; the golden light fell on Xiang Beifei and quickly dissipated.
Suddenly, Xiang Qingde's eyes revealed an incredulous expression.
"You don't have a system!" he exclaimed in surprise.
Xiang Beifei became alert.
As far as he knew, only Elder Luo knew about the system, and Elder Luo had inferred its existence from the matter of the Unrestrained, but how did Grandpa find out?
Xiaohei on Xiang Beifei's shoulder was also surprised.
"This little dog is very special."
Xiang Qingde's gaze fell on Xiaohei.
Xiang Beifei and Xiaohei were both slightly startled.
He could actually see Xiaohei!
Xiaohei, though not much of a fighter, was always invisible to ordinary people; it could choose whether to be seen or not, and clearly, in this situation, it had not chosen to be visible to Xiang Qingde.
However, Xiang Qingde had immediately noticed Xiaohei's extraordinariness.
This struck Xiang Beifei and Xiaohei as strange.
Xiang Qingde was sizing up Xiang Beifei, his eyes becoming increasingly surprised, "Are you really my grandson?"
"I don't understand," Xiang Beifei countered, "You can confirm my identity without the system?"
Xiang Qingde's authoritative aura subsided, a photo appearing in his hand. He compared the young man in front of him with the person in the photo for a long time before a delighted expression emerged in his eyes.
"You really are my grandchild," Xiang Qingde muttered.
A photo of Xiang Beifei at fifteen, young, immature, his expression cold and eyes full of rebellion.
The present Xiang Beifei had matured a lot, and though very different from the boy in the photo, the contours of his face were still recognizable.
"They left this behind?" Xiang Beifei asked.
"Yes, they told me I had a grandson named Xiang Beifei." Xiang Qingde looked at his grandson, a rare look of affection in his eyes.
"You've grown up so much," he seemed eager to take a longer look at Xiang Beifei, stepping a bit closer.
"They did their job well," Xiang Beifei said blandly.
Xiang Qingde hesitated, then after a long pause asked, "You've come here, so does that mean I'm no longer around?"
Xiang Beifei was silent for a moment before asking, "Why do you ask that?"
"You seem unaware of many things, so it seems I must have had an accident," Xiang Qingde sighed, then smiled resignedly, "I've come to regard life and death lightly. Managing to take care of you until you've grown up... that's worth it."
"I'm here to figure out what happened," Xiang Beifei didn't clarify directly, "I need answers."
"I can't give you the answers," Xiang Qingde shook his head.
"Then at least tell me, why did you come here! What were you planning to do at that time?" Xiang Beifei asked.
"The consciousness I left behind is limited, I can't give you those answers," Xiang Qingde said.
"Then what can you give me?" Xiang Beifei asked, "What about my parents? They came here looking for answers, what were they seeking? What lies at the end of the wilderness beyond the domain?"
"The end of the wilderness beyond the domain..."
Xiang Qingde seemed to recall something, a hint of confusion in his eyes, then after a moment his expression firmed, "You can't go there, it's too dangerous, I won't let you."
"What if I insist on going?" Xiang Beifei asked.
"You'll have to defeat me first."
Xiang Qingde's presence suddenly surged, a majestic and powerful pressure emerging once more, an overwhelming essence bearing down on Xiang Beifei like a great mountain collapsing thunderously upon him.
Xiang Beifei fell silent for a moment, he neither shrank back nor showed fear.
A black and a white spiritual power spiraled out from his body, intertwining around him.
"I am here to find the answers."
His fist suddenly lit up with flames, throwing a punch toward that terrifying pressure!