Xiang Beifei didn't care about anything; he had come all this way and it was impossible to turn back just because of a past consciousness—he had to obtain the answers he wanted.
So, he made his move.
Even though he was no match for his opponent, he felt no fear.
The bursting intent of his punch roared forward and smashed into Xiang Qingde, stirring up a violent gust.
However, the aura emanating from Xiang Qingde was incredibly potent, resembling an insurmountable wall. He simply extended his hand and effortlessly caught Xiang Beifei's fist, the terrifying fluctuations exploding in his palm, yet failing to elicit even a small splash.
"Are those answers so important to you?" Xiang Qingde inquired.
"I just want to know why I'm the only one without a system," Xiang Beifei said, "or tell me directly, what exactly do you know?"
He thought that his lack of a system was due to him being a transmigrator.
But the words of Comrade Xiang Tianxing that day were hard for him to let go of.
Because Comrade Xiang Tianxing had asked him if he had awakened to a system during the awakening ceremony.
That meant Xiang Tianxing knew he would not awaken to a system.
In the continent of Jiuzhou, it was abnormal to not awaken to a system. But Comrade Xiang Tianxing acted as though it was only to be expected.
Linking this to the Unrestrained philosophy, the actions of the Xiang Tianxing couple, and his grandfather's snowy system interface, Xiang Beifei began to harbor great doubts about his own identity.
"I don't know," Xiang Qingde shook his head.
"Then why are you so sure that without a system, I am still Xiang Beifei?" Xiang Beifei asked.
Xiang Qingde was silent for a long time before slowly saying, "In your mind, there are two starkly different memories, aren't there?"
Xiang Beifei was slightly stunned!
"I think you've fused two starkly different memories, and the dominant memory is from after you turned eighteen. Your memory holds a strong sense of tearing, causing you to doubt your existence and think you are two different people," Xiang Qingde continued.
Xiang Beifei's heart grew even more astonished. He stared intently at Xiang Qingde, "What do you know?"
"I'm just telling you, no matter what your memories were before you turned eighteen, or what they became afterward, no matter how you doubt your identity, one thing is certain—you are my grandson, you are not two people, but one complete individual," Xiang Qingde said, his expression complex as he held onto Xiang Beifei's fist, "That's why I can't watch something happen to you."
Xiang Beifei's inner world was tumultuous!
He had never been so astonished!
He thought he was just a transmigrator from another world, an outsider who occupied another's body and memory, therefore his existence did not fit into this world. Without a system, he could still cope with all system powers through his unique abilities.
But now Xiang Beifei was uncertain.
It was as if he was being controlled by someone else, made to have two starkly different pasts; for a moment, he even questioned if he was still himself?
"What have you done to me?"
Xiang Beifei had never mentioned to anyone that he was a transmigrator. He felt no sense of belonging to this world, so he wanted to find out the truth of the wilderness beyond the domains.
However, the old man's words had now overturned his understanding.
He didn't understand what he had experienced in the past, but clearly, if someone else knew he had two sets of memories, that person must be aware of this fact.
But Xiang Qingde did not give a straight answer, instead, he said, "If this is the extent of your strength, going on will only harm yourself."
In the orifice-transforming phase, Xiang Beifei facing him was still like an ant trying to shake a tree.
Xiang Beifei's fist hitting Xiang Qingde's palm was firmly blocked, and he couldn't even pull it back.
He knew his grandfather had been strong in the past, but he had never known just how strong.
Yet Xiang Beifei still didn't give up—he needed answers!
The aura of "Return to the Original State" surged violently from his body, traveling along his fist straight to Xiang Qingde's palm.
He knew that the person before him was just a consciousness, a consciousness that was not a real person. Even with formidable power, it would have limitations. If "Return to the Original State" could repair the consciousness left by Comrade Xiang Tianxing in the pioneering stone, then it could naturally also destroy a consciousness!
The terrifying power in Xiang Qingde's palm began to disintegrate under "Return to the Original State," and the force that had been irresistible to Xiang Beifei finally started to waver!
Xiang Qingde looked at Xiang Beifei with surprise.
Xiang Beifei shouted, "What have you done to me!"
The wild fist flame on his body burst out, the power of Return to the Original State pouring into Xiang Qingde's authority, disintegrating Xiang Qingde's consciousness.
However, in just an instant, Xiang Beifei was sent tumbling by the powerful aura from Xiang Qingde!
Xiang Beifei's "Return to the Original State" was very powerful, but the consciousness left by Xiang Qingde was still superior. Using his formidable power, it resisted "Return to the Original State" and repelled Xiang Beifei.
Xiang Beifei fell heavily to the ground.
"Go back to Jiuzhou, that's where it's safe for you," said Xiang Qingde.
"I don't need anyone to tell me where it's safe."
Xiang Beifei quickly got up again and charged forward.
He couldn't calm down.
He always thought he had encroached upon someone else's life, taken over another family's child's body and memory, so he worked hard to compensate for this, protecting the boy's grandfather, seeking out the Xiang Tianxing couple, helping the once rebellious boy make up for past regrets, and giving the boy who always waited at the window for his parents' return an explanation.