After nine o'clock in the evening, while training with weights, Shen Qiang received a call from Bianyi.

He said cheerfully, "My dear boss, you should hurry over to the Immortal Realm Forum. The Long Yan people have made their move. They've posted a long article accusing you across the entire Cultivation World. They're calling you a local rogue and a thug, labeling you as a scourge of the Cultivation World."

"The content is written convincingly and movingly. You're simply unforgivably evil."

Shen Qiang frowned and said, "Stop kidding around and taking pleasure in my misfortune. Long Yan's actions are definitely not just about slandering someone."

Bianyi laughed, "Of course, we both understand that this long article from Long Yan is just laying the groundwork. Their next step will surely be to find reasons and excuses to start a war with us. But I'm not sure how exactly you want to get along with Long Yan."

Shen Qiang raised his eyebrows and said, "Two tigers cannot share the same mountain—that's an eternal truth. Even without any conflicts, Long Yan Sword Sect would never allow our rise."

"Don't forget about Doushi Temple in Provincial City," Bianyi said.

Shen Qiang said gravely, "The monks at Doushi Temple just farm and collect incense money and donations from their followers. They seldom engage in conflicts over fame and gain, so they are not a threat to Long Yan Sword Sect."

"But we are. We want to grow stronger, we need power, and that requires a lot of money."

"Without a strong financial source to buy Magical Treasures and recruit manpower, we can't do anything. And it's the same for Long Yan Sword Sect. Thinking we can coexist peacefully with them is an impractical fantasy."

Bianyi said, "Not necessarily. The Life-extending Hall and Zhong Family existed before in Provincial City."

Shen Qiang responded indifferently, raising his eyebrows, "That's because the Zhong Family and Life-extending Hall were just medical halls, and they posed no threat to them. But it's different for Shen's Holding. I'm tired of having to please others, and I'm scared of being poor, so we must become powerful enough—something the Long Yan Sword Sect ultimately cannot tolerate."

Bianyi was silent for a moment before saying, "The article from Long Yan marks the beginning. They will definitely target us next. Now, I have two strategies to manage our issues. One is handling it moderately, making some concessions, which would buy us some time to build our strength."

To Long Yan Sword Sect, such moderation is just perceived as weakness," Shen Qiang stated calmly. Change to another plan."

Bianyi laughed, "That would be meeting force with force, sparing no effort. Starting now, let's adopt a do-or-die stance to make them wary. This can also buy us some time, because without absolute certainty, Long Yan Sword Sect won't easily make a move."

"Let's do that," Shen Qiang said.

Bianyi said, "Apart from that, we have another issue to consider now. If we choose the second strategy, there will be no room for appeasement with Long Yan Sword Sect. In the end, it will either be the downfall of Shen's Holding or Long Yan leaving Provincial City."

"Regardless of the outcome, once we start, we can't avoid getting entwined with the Cultivation World. Thus, how we handle other powers in the Cultivation World must be considered."

Hearing this, Shen Qiang laughed, "Keep distant relations and attack nearby. Do I really need to teach you that? Also, make more money. From now on, ensure we have enough liquid assets because once we really start fighting with Long Yan, we have fewer men, and the Bounty Hunters platform is the simplest way to gain support."

"Understood."

Ending the call.

Shen Qiang continued his training.

Sitting under a street lamp reading a book, Xiu Ju glanced at Shen Qiang, and said, "Have you really decided to move against Long Yan?"

The intensely training Shen Qiang replied, "It's not about wanting to move against them, but to establish a foothold in Provincial City, we have no choice."

Xiu Ju frowned and said, "It's not that you have no choice, but that you don't want to choose. You could also open a chain of stores like Wan Xing Sheng He and Cheng Xinyi, selling Elixir Pills. People in the Cultivation World would welcome it no matter where it's located, and we could all get along harmoniously."

Sweating profusely, Shen Qiang sat down next to Xiu Ju and said, "What you say makes sense. Indeed, whether Wan Xing Sheng He or Cheng Xinyi open stores in any city, cultivators are very welcome, and for many Sects, having Wan Xing Sheng He and Cheng Xinyi open a branch within their area of influence is considered an honor."

"Just like here in Provincial City."

Shen Qiang raised an eyebrow and said, "For the Long Yan Sword Sect, Life-extending Hall and Zhong Family Medical Hall are like neighborhood clinics; they're convenient for minor ailments. And what about Wan Xing Sheng He and Cheng Xinyi? They are like the grocery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores in the area. It's convenient to buy anything because of their presence."

"So for the Long Yan Sword Sect, their presence is like an amenity, which is why they can live peacefully with them."

Xiu Ju earnestly said, "You could also open a medical hall. Isn't your greatest skill your Medical Skill and Elixir Pills? If you ran that kind of business, Long Yan wouldn't trouble you."

Shen Qiang laughed, "You are talking nonsense. Wan Xing Sheng He and Cheng Xinyi are immensely powerful, top-tier families filled with formidable people. No one dares to bully them or default on payments because wherever they open a store, no one raises objections."

"But what about me? What do I have? We lack a powerful patron, so everything depends on ourselves. Under these circumstances, opening a store selling Elixir Pills is like a child walking down the street clutching a gold brick. Do you know what the outcome would be?"

"The people from Long Yan Sword Sect would rack their brains to control us, making us work as their laborers."

Xiu Ju frowned, "The Dragon Group wouldn't allow such a thing to happen."

Shen Qiang laughed, "Please, the Dragon Group isn't omnipotent. These scoundrels in the Cultivation World, because they possess abilities ordinary people do not, act even more unscrupulously—extorting, blackmailing, killing, seizing treasures, and striving for fame and fortune occurs every day. Without sufficient strength, no one can escape."

After sighing, Xiu Ju said, "You don't necessarily have to stay in Provincial City."

Shen Qiang laughed, "Then where do you suggest I go? Which populous city isn't dominated by some power?"

"And you should know, those capable of cultivation are extremely rare, accounting for about 0.04 to 0.06 percent of the total population. This means that out of at least about two thousand humans, there might be one lucky individual who can cultivate."

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