Chapter 1111: Chapter 1105: The Path Forward
The Northern Frontier battlefield, within the palace suspended beneath a clouded sky.
Qiu Xunfa had rushed here over several days, hurrying to deliver his report.
He was now being led by a general toward the residence of his elder brother, Qiu Xundao.
Along the way, Qiu Xunfa’s thoughts were in turmoil. Though he had acted domineeringly before his clansmen, over these past few days his heart had been filled with fear and regret.
If not for the Li Clan possessing a Half-Step Body Integration expert—and those shocking battle achievements in the Western Frontier—he truly wouldn’t have feared them.
But things had unfolded just like this—as if he had casually patted a puppy, only for a lion to suddenly emerge and reveal it had been a lion cub all along.
How could he not be caught completely off guard?
Before long, he arrived at his elder brother’s courtyard. Just as he stepped through the entrance, he saw Qiu Xundao, clad in black armor, seated within and playing Go.
The armor made Qiu Xundao’s already broad shoulders appear even more imposing, his features sharp and resolute.
At a glance, he was clearly a towering, heroic figure of indomitable spirit.
Yet at this moment, his expression was as calm as still water. Seated on a stone stool before a neatly arranged Go board, he appeared utterly composed.
Despite being the infamous, blood-soaked Second Commander of the Asura Army, he resembled a scholar—holding a black stone between his index and middle fingers, his hand hovering mid-air, not placing it for a long time.
Qiu Xunfa’s footsteps were heavy, yet Qiu Xundao did not even spare him a glance.
“Eldest Brother.”
Qiu Xunfa bowed hastily. When he first arrived, he had only been anxious—but now his face had turned pale.
His elder brother was usually irritable and explosive before others. This calm demeanor now was like a hidden current beneath still water—it meant his mind was truly unsettled.
It was clear that, given the Li Clan’s current strength, even his elder brother had to proceed with caution.
“Eldest Brother, I have brought disaster upon you. I beg you to punish me!”
“Whoosh.”
A gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, rustling the leaves of the shade tree.
Bright green leaves withered and turned yellow midair. Only when one drifted down onto the Go board did Qiu Xundao murmur softly, “Ruined… it’s ruined.”
He then rose to his feet and turned toward Qiu Xunfa.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he placed both hands on Qiu Xunfa’s shoulders, straightening him.
Meeting Qiu Xunfa’s evasive gaze, he said, “Xunfa, it’s nothing serious. The two of us have relied on each other since childhood. To reach where we are today—what haven’t we endured?”
Hearing this, a trace of shame flickered across Qiu Xunfa’s eyes.
“Eldest Brother, this is my fault. But we both understand the value of that dragon.
If we had captured it, its skin and bones could forge supreme treasures, and its flesh and organs could push our cultivation even further.
I never imagined the Li Clan concealed themselves so deeply. If I had known about the Western Frontier sooner—”
Before he could finish, a suffocating force seized him.
In that instant, it felt as though the spiritual power within his body—and even his ability to breathe—had been stripped away.
The tree trembled violently, leaves falling one after another.
Qiu Xundao’s hand had already closed around Qiu Xunfa’s throat, pinning him against the trunk. His eyes were cold, utterly devoid of warmth.
“If you had known sooner? Who in this world wouldn’t want to know things sooner?
But there are things you did know.
For instance—this is the critical moment for me to break through to Body Integration. It is also the time when I must secure Foster Father’s complete trust.”
“Eldest Brother… Eldest Brother…”
Qiu Xunfa’s face flushed deep red, veins bulging across his forehead as he desperately clawed at Qiu Xundao’s hand, which carried the force of Half-Step Body Integration.
Qiu Xundao’s cold, oppressive voice echoed beside his ear.
“And yet, at such a time, instead of keeping your head down, you bring me a calamity of this magnitude.
Sometimes I truly wonder if you are even my brother. Back then, I should have strangled you to death—you useless burden.”
Only when a flicker of struggle passed through Qiu Xundao’s eyes did he release his grip.
Qiu Xunfa collapsed to his knees, terror-stricken, repeatedly kowtowing.
Qiu Xundao shook his head and strode toward the courtyard exit.
The “burden” hurriedly followed behind. “Eldest Brother, where are we going?”
“To see Foster Father.”
Qiu Xundao moved swiftly. As they passed by Li Xinghuo’s residence, he paused.
With a single glance, one could sense the demonic runes forming from spiritual power within, where Li Xinghuo and his wife resided.
One hundred and eight runes were gradually taking shape, constructing a Void Refinement domain.
“Li Xinghuo hasn’t made his move—he’s attempting a breakthrough to Void Refinement. Heh.”
Qiu Xundao let out a faint chuckle.
“Rushing to break through… he intends to challenge me. Even if he loses, he can still report to Foster Father that his value surpasses mine.
At that point, Foster Father will make his choice—and I, the Second Commander, may very well be cast aside. At the very least, I would no longer be able to interfere in your affairs.”
“Li Xinghuo?” Qiu Xunfa rubbed his neck, a flicker of wariness passing through his eyes.
But compared to his caution toward this rising star of the Asura Army, he was far more concerned about his own survival.
He asked, “Eldest Brother, why are we going to see the Grand Tutor? If what you say is true, hasn’t the Grand Tutor always favored Li Xinghuo? This…”
“Favor? No—wariness.”
Qiu Xundao took a slow breath. “Why do you think Foster Father accepted Li Xinghuo as his adopted son?”
“Let’s go. Foster Father has long been waiting for me. The old man will show me the path forward.”
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