Decisiveness of Qiangu Dongfeng

Shrek City, Spirit Pagoda headquarters.

At the top of the tower, in the Pagoda Master's office.

"Yo, isn't this my dear brother? What brings you to see me today?"

Qiangu Dongfeng sat in the main seat, fiddling with a wine glass on the table while watching Qiangu Qingfeng, who had just pushed the door open, with great interest.

This dear elder brother of his had once given him a sound thrashing; the two brothers had never seen eye-to-eye since they were children.

That time, Qiangu Qingfeng had lost miserably, defeated in public at his most radiant, prestigious, and dazzling moment.

After winning, he had even deliberately said those words.

If their father hadn't been there and the Spirit Pagoda hadn't needed stability, that matter from years ago would certainly not be over even now.

But Qiangu Dongfeng no longer hated his elder brother; the fact that their father had given him the position of Spirit Pagoda Master had already proven everything.

He was the best candidate to lead the Spirit Pagoda.

Having won the big picture, what did losing a single duel matter?

However, one couldn't say they had a good brotherly relationship. Since that confrontation, the two had rarely met, usually only showing their faces during high-level Spirit Pagoda meetings.

Therefore, Qiangu Dongfeng was quite surprised by his elder brother's sudden visit.

"Are you aware of the situation regarding my grandson?"

Qiangu Dongfeng shook his head. He hadn't had a single day of leisure since succeeding as Pagoda Master; how to make the Spirit Pagoda the number one power on the continent had exhausted all his heart's blood.

He didn't even pay much attention to his own grandson, Qiangu Zhangting, so how could he possibly have noticed his elder brother's grand-nephew?

Qiangu Qingfeng smiled slightly, his face revealing the same confidence he had worn when he defeated him all those years ago: "This is Xiao Qian's file. Take a look."

Qiangu Dongfeng frowned, but he still picked up the file on the table and glanced at it.

But the further he read, the more his expression changed.

In the end, Qiangu Dongfeng was so agitated that he stood straight up.

"Are—are these things true? Brother, please, you must answer me."

Qiangu Qingfeng sat in his chair and retorted: "Am I the type of person to do things without certainty? If I were, you wouldn't have been defeated so miserably back then."

Qiangu Dongfeng nearly ground his back teeth to dust.

Why did this old thing obsess over those wins and losses every single day?

It seemed their father was right to pass the position to him; his elder brother's competitive nature was too strong, and he couldn't lead the Spirit Pagoda.

Suppressing the anger in his heart, Qiangu Dongfeng said: "If this matter is true, then I am willing to exhaust the entire resources of the Qiangu family to cultivate this grand-nephew."

"Oh? And what about your Zhangting?"

Qiangu Zhangting, Qiangu Dongfeng's grandson, had shown extraordinary talent since he was a child.

In the current Spirit Pagoda, everyone treated him as the next Pagoda Master, his status comparable to a crown prince of the Spirit Pagoda.

Qiangu Dongfeng walked to the window, where one could overlook the entire landscape of Shrek City from the top of the tower.

"Since he has enjoyed so many resources, and I have cultivated him without reservation as my successor, then Zhangting must also make contributions to the Spirit Pagoda."

Qiangu Qingfeng was slightly startled, not expecting his younger brother to be so decisive, without a shred of hesitation or favoritism toward his own descendant.

"You should know better than I do what it means to comprehend the Indomitable Staff Intent at the age of six, Brother."

Qiangu Qingfeng pointed toward Shrek Academy in the distance, where clouds swirled around a lush green ancient tree, his voice filled with resentment: "Why is Shrek Academy always able to keep us, the Spirit Pagoda, under their thumb?"

"Aside from that shitty sense of honor used to win over the hearts of the masses, isn't it just because they have the number one person in the world!!"

How Yun Ming had defeated the father he considered invincible—that scene haunted Qiangu Qingfeng like a inner demon.

The woman he loved but could not have was also deeply infatuated with that number one person in the world.

If Yun Ming had accepted her feelings generously, that would have been one thing, and Qiangu Dongfeng could have let go of his obsession. But that guy had always loved only Ya Li, rejecting the advances of everyone else.

This indirectly led to the sister of Leng Yaomo, another genius of the Spirit Pagoda, fleeing and becoming an Evil Soul Master.

Why did Yun Ming get to have all the good things?

Moreover, Shrek always stood on the moral high ground, spending all day suppressing their Spirit Pagoda.

Who in the current Federation couldn't see that it was just an empty shell?

The Tang Sect, Shrek Academy, the Spirit Pagoda, and the War God Hall were the four major forces, each occupying their own territory.

He wanted the Spirit Pagoda to be the number one on the continent and the Qiangu family to be the actual controllers of the Federation; this was a selfish desire, no doubt.

But what right did Shrek have to stand on the moral high ground and criticize his selfishness and ambition?

The elites of the Inner Court participated in so-called academy assessments, even going so far as to infiltrate military strongholds to steal aircraft or core soul guidance technology blueprints.

If you took these things individually, which one wasn't an act of treason?

And the Tang Sect—according to intelligence reports, they were even building military fortresses underground in certain major cities, almost hollowing them out.

Although there was no concrete evidence, given the Tang Sect's "cunning rabbit with three burrows" nature, it was likely true.

Putting both sides together, it was nothing more than the difference between a hypocrite and a true villain; neither had the right to call the other clean.

"I am telling you about Xiao Qian only so that he may one day reach the pinnacle of this world. If you intend to use him as a pawn, then I shall be the first to forbid it." Qiangu Qingfeng's aura condensed, and the light of materialized thought flickered behind his head.

This pressure made even Qiangu Dongfeng, a fellow Limit Douluo, feel a sense of unease.

It seemed that despite his brother's reclusive life over these years, his cultivation had not stagnated; he could now be considered a veteran demigod.

Qiangu Dongfeng chuckled lightly. "Hahaha, rest assured, Big Brother. How could I ever do something so beastly? I am counting on my grand-nephew to help me vent my frustrations."

"Then end your cooperation with the Holy Spirit Cult. They have no bottom line; dealing with those lunatics is like asking a tiger for its hide."

"Even if you manage to bring down Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect, can you guarantee that the Spirit Pagoda and the War God Hall will be able to handle that bunch of evil soul masters from the Holy Spirit Cult?"

Qiangu Qingfeng voiced his concerns. It was only recently that he had learned his younger brother was actually collaborating with those inhumane wretches.

Although he did not know the specifics, it was clearly aimed at Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect.

Unable to break through the blockade formed by the alliance of those two great powers using conventional means, it was expected that his dear brother would take a desperate path and choose to cooperate with the Holy Spirit Cult.

Qiangu Dongfeng was slightly taken aback; he had not expected his brother to discover his plans.

No matter, it was already halfway complete anyway.

"Rest assured, I had no choice before."

"But it is absolutely impossible for me to stop now. You know me, Big Brother; I always seek stability in my actions unless I am forced otherwise."

Qiangu Dongfeng walked up to Qiangu Qingfeng, straightened his lapels, and brushed the dust from his shoulders. "I hope that grand-nephew of mine can grow beyond our expectations."

"I have clearly understood your request. I will report this matter to Father. Although the old man is still in seclusion, I imagine he will make an exception and come out once he sees such a promising talent."

Qiangu Qingfeng was also stunned. He had not expected his brother to value Qian Jue so highly that he would actually plan to ask their father to emerge from seclusion to teach him.

He had only come here to ask Qiangu Dongfeng to find time to guide Qian Jue, as his martial soul was not the Coiling Dragon Staff, and his understanding of the true essence of the Indomitable Staff Technique was not deep enough.

"Very well, I await your news."

With that, Qiangu Qingfeng flicked his sleeves and departed.

Qiangu Dongfeng stood alone in the office, silently gazing at that continent's premier academy in the distance.

"I wonder what kind of scene this place will be when the fireworks bloom? I truly look forward to it."