Jiang He had not expected that even after the boy regained consciousness, he would still remain like this.
He looked at the bewildered boy, steadied his emotions, and asked:
"Then who are you?"
"I am the God of Creation personally ordained by the God-King, wielder of the Authority of Creation." The boy answered without hesitation.
Even after regaining awareness, it was still the same answer?
But since he was already able to communicate…
"Then who is the God-King?" Jiang He asked with a frown.
"He is the King of the Gods, Lord of Heaven and Earth, the supreme existence that shepherds all living beings." The boy answered without a trace of doubt.
King of the Gods?
Jiang He's brows furrowed even tighter.
Once, on Blue Star, there had indeed existed the concept of "gods."
In the eyes of the ancients, they possessed divine powers to soar into the sky, burrow into the earth, move mountains, and fill seas. They were the supreme beings who created all life and all things, thus they were called—"gods."
Around them rose sacrifices, faith, and sects.
However, with the progress of history, with the frequent appearance of Transcendents—
People discovered that so-called gods were merely those who had awakened transcendent powers, beings just a little stronger than ordinary mortals.
Even those divine beasts who churned rivers and seas or commanded the wind and rain, were nothing more than powerful "exotic beasts."
Myths were nothing but performances of ancient Transcendents.
There was no such thing in this world as an omnipotent "god."
Nor did there exist such things as incense, willpower of faith, or ascension through belief.
Since the Millennium Change, when everyone gained the possibility of transcendence, all sects had lost their foundation and collapsed on their own.
Thus the world stepped into the "Transcendent Era."
Jiang He was born in such an age, and naturally he was an absolute atheist.
He only believed in power, only believed in the transcendent—
So, no matter how much the boy said, Jiang He would never believe in so-called "gods."
Even if such a "possibility" existed, Jiang He leaned more toward the idea that the so-called gods were merely some kind of powerful existence…
In fact, he could also feel this from the boy's reaction.
When the boy mentioned the so-called God-King, in his tone and expression there was not the slightest "reverence," "worship," "awe," or "faith." Only a simple statement.
As though he only knew this as an answer.
If it were truly a supreme "god," how could it be like this?
But…
Jiang He felt a chill in his heart.
If it was this "God-King" who made the boy become like this—
Then what kind of terrifying existence was he, that he could make even an X-rank Transcendent lose himself, even forget who he was?!
He had to remember, this boy was another Jiang He, with the exact same face as Jiang He.
Yet when he saw Jiang He, he couldn't even recognize "himself."
He had even just asked—
"Who are you?"
I am you!
You don't even remember what you look like?!
Jiang He's emotions surged, and he clenched his fists uncontrollably.
Suppressing his pity, anger, and sorrow, he asked: "Other than these god names, what else do you know?"
"Time, place, how you became a god, what the world is like, how the God-King appeared…"
"…"
The boy fell silent for a while, then shook his head. "...I seem to have forgotten everything else."
He sat up from the sofa, like a patient who had lain in bed too long, clumsily stood up.
He staggered, but regained his balance at the last moment. In an instant he grew adept at the act of "standing," then raised his eyes to survey the surroundings.
"You, and this place, make me feel very familiar…"
The boy saw his own reflection on the television screen, then glanced again at Jiang He.
Finding that they looked exactly the same, he suddenly realized.
"You really are me."
Jiang He: "...You really are a god now."
…
Perhaps it was the natural closeness one had to oneself.
Or perhaps it was the homely environment that made the boy feel comfortable.
His attitude was very friendly, and their conversation went quite smoothly.
Jiang He quickly gained a thorough understanding of him.
This "Boy Jiang He" was like an amnesiac who had just awakened from a long slumber, knowing only the names of two gods, and nothing else.
However, he wasn't entirely a blank slate, for he still retained some instincts—
For example, when Jiang He explained to him what a cellphone was and what it was used for, he listened in confusion, as if he had no concept of it.
But when he picked it up, he could directly state its name, knew how to light up the screen, how to open apps, how to input text…
As though related memories were being awakened.
This made Jiang He both relieved and troubled.
At least he didn't have to help the boy with rehabilitation, teaching him the basics of daily life.
But he also couldn't use the boy to learn about his future situation, nor the most important part—
How exactly had he become like this?
What had he gone through?
That was the crucial question!
Because just like White Crane and Old Jiang, this boy represented one of Jiang He's "possible futures"!
Since he was standing here, it meant Jiang He's future could very well be "hijacked," becoming nominally the "God of Creation," but in reality a "tool god" that merely repeated lines like a machine.
Who could accept that?!
Thus, Jiang He's greatest concern had already shifted from "becoming stronger" to "understanding the past of the third Heroic Spirit."
If he didn't know the reason, he wouldn't be able to eat or sleep in peace!
It was terrifying!
"Not being able to get information from my future self… doesn't mean I have no other options."
Without the matured White Crane and Old Jiang to rely on, with the third Heroic Spirit being a blank sheet—
Jiang He could only rack his brains on how to break this situation.
Fortunately, he quickly thought of a way.
"[True Spirit of Phoenix Egg]."
"This S-rank resource, apart from strengthening talents, can also serve as energy, allowing me to observe time and witness the past of Heroic Spirits."
"Although I don't know if it will work a second time… but I'll first get it in hand."
Jiang He's thoughts spun rapidly, and he looked to the side.
He saw the boy sitting on the sofa, holding a large bowl of Cui family's cold noodles, slurping them down until his lips were covered with red oil.
Noticing Jiang He's gaze, he drank down the broth in one gulp, smiling blissfully.
"This is cold noodles, right? Such a familiar taste, so delicious!"
Indeed.
No matter how much time passed, even if washed into a blank slate, he was still himself.
The most basic preferences did not change.
Jiang He's eyes softened. He took out his phone, showing the "Old Bai disguise photo" created by Old Jiang, and asked: "Can you change into this?"
"Of course." The boy pulled a napkin from the table and flicked it casually.
A brand-new mask appeared in his palm.
He pressed the mask to his face.
An invisible power spread out, and he instantly became the white-haired, tuxedo-clad "Old Bai."
This transformation was different from both White Crane and Old Jiang.
Curious, Jiang He asked: "What is this?"
"I am the God of Creation. Creation is my authority." He said: "Just now I extracted the strongest transformation trait that once appeared in this world…"
"It seems to be called 'Ever-Changing'."
"I made it into a temporary item."
"It granted me the authority of transformation."
Jiang He: "…Huh?"
That the boy could use transcendent powers did not surprise Jiang He.
After all, power was the instinct of a Transcendent. Even if he lost all his memories, as long as he focused, he would clearly know all of his own abilities and information.
But still…
The "Ever-Changing" he spoke of, was that not the ultimate ability of an Ultimate Beast?
Its material was still lying in Jiang He's spatial pouch, yet the boy casually made its trait into an item?!
Was this what an ultimate talent was?!
The Power of Creation?
"The ones you summoned before called themselves White Crane and Old Jiang…" The boy, now in the form of Old Bai, said: "Then I'll call myself the Craftsman God."