"The effect is pretty good, isn't it?" Sitting in the car, Shen Qiang smiled and said, "Not only did we cripple the Yanqing Seven Sons and seize the Sect Treasure, the Yanqing Sword, but even those cultivators who initially looked down on us and ridiculed us have obediently changed their attitudes, haven't they?"

Bianyi laughed, his eyes gleaming fiercely, "My dear boss, I've always known you're not someone who acts impulsively over a few words. Now it seems I was right. Crippling the Yanqing Seven Sons and seizing the Yanqing Sword is far more terrifying than just smiling at them."

"There's no other way." Shen Qiang said calmly, "People are like that. The better you treat them, the more you smile at them, the more they think you're easy to bully. But when you lower your face and put on a fierce expression, unless they have a grudge against you, they'll either stay away from you or smile at you."

Taking the invitation list, which clearly stated who would attend the Mountain Villa celebration, from the hands of the Sleeping Fire Lotus Demon Ke Bizhu, Shen Qiang glanced at it briefly and then handed it back to her. He then looked at Bianyi and said, "They're all small sects. Most of them, I haven't even heard of."

Bianyi's smile turned cold, "It's normal. No matter how well you do, not everyone will acknowledge you. And now, the Kunlun Sword Sect is showing an attitude of opposition to us, so some powerful sects will obviously reconsider."

Shen Qiang fell silent.

Just then, the phone next to Xiu Ju rang. It was a call from Zhan Deyuan, saying he had something to take care of. Xiu Ju hurriedly got out of the car and left.

"Get in the car." Shen Qiang said to the Sleeping Fire Lotus Demon.

Ke Bizhu responded and got into the car, sitting next to Shen Qiang.

Even with the windows open, Shen Qiang could clearly smell the rich and enchanting scent of the Sleeping Fire Lotus on her.

"Having only these small sects attend the Heshenghe Mountain Villa celebration is not enough." Shen Qiang said with a calm expression, "Our Heshenghe now has the foundation of a top-notch family. If people see us as a low-tier weakling, it will be difficult to change that perception in the future."

"Cheng Xinyi, Wanxin Hesheng, and Long Chang should all come." Bianyi said, "You have good relations with them, don't you? The top forces in the Cultivation World are no more than the five top families and the three top sword sects. Of these eight, three have confirmed they'll come. I think that's pretty good, considering you can't please everyone."

Shen Qiang frowned slightly and, after a moment of silence, said, "I have a way to get all the notable figures in the Cultivation World, except the Kunlun Sword Sect, to come to the celebration."

"Don't do that." Bianyi smiled, "If they all come, it will be harder for us to take action against them. You understand, right? In the Cultivation World, the weak are prey to the strong. Unless your strength is sufficient, it's hard to have real friends."

After a brief silence, Shen Qiang said, "You have a point. In that case, it doesn't matter."

Turning to the Sleeping Fire Lotus Demon with a smile, Shen Qiang said, "Record all the sects that mocked us on the forums while supporting the Kunlun Sword Sect. There's no rush; we'll settle accounts with them one by one. Remember, if they call and want to attend our celebration, just reject them."

"Three have already scheduled to come." the Sleeping Fire Lotus Demon said.

"Reject them, cancel all their receptions." Shen Qiang said without a moment's hesitation, "Also, ban them from conducting any business in the Provincial City, whether commercial or otherwise."

"Understood." the Sleeping Fire Lotus Demon smiled, "But boss, as a professional secretary with over a century of experience, I must say that treating the business world like a battlefield, though fierce, ultimately aims for profit. Your strong stance might make you seem petty and cause you to miss many opportunities."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qiang smiled and said, "This is not about profit or socializing, but about attitude. Do you understand? Many people, after being hurt by others, will easily soften when those same people later apologize or show goodwill, thinking it's no big deal and mingling together again. But soon enough, they'll be hurt again."

"Because those who hurt them know that even if they hurt them, as long as they apologize or just smile, everything will be forgiven and nothing will happen."

Smiling at the Sleeping Fire Lotus Demon, Shen Qiang said, "If it were just me, I'd be willing to accept their goodwill, genuine or not, and laugh it off, acting harmoniously. But unfortunately, as the head of Heshenghe now, my attitude represents Heshenghe's attitude."

"If they openly ridicule us and then become our honored guests, swaggering around, staying in our hotels, and feasting at our banquets, wouldn't they be having too much fun?"

The Sleeping Fire Lotus Demon fell silent.

Bianyi laughed, "If things really got to that point, wouldn't Heshenghe be utterly humiliated? So, my dear boss, I think your decision is correct. In fact, when it comes to actual benefits, no one will easily back down, no matter how much they smile on the surface."

Shen Qiang smiled at Bianyi, saying, "So there's no room for negotiation on this matter. Our stance at Heshenghe must be steadfast and decisive. Even if we miss some opportunities to interact with other sects now, at least in the future, those cultivators who want to badmouth us behind our backs will think twice."

"If we act like fools, getting ridiculed yet still treating them as honored guests, it'd be like asking for humiliation. So there's nothing to consider here. Check the forums: as long as any core members or leaders of any sect oppose Heshenghe, list that sect as an enemy."

With a surprised glance, the Sleeping Fire Lotus Demon looked at Shen Qiang and asked, "Boss, if you decide based on that standard, then two-thirds of the current Cultivation World might end up as Heshenghe's enemies. Moreover, the remaining one-third won't necessarily be on good terms with us. If we can't get along with them, it won't be conducive to Heshenghe's development."

Shen Qiang smiled and, looking calmly at the Sleeping Fire Lotus Demon, said, "Do you think if we act friendly, those cultivators will genuinely accept the demons of Heshenghe from the bottom of their hearts? Do you think they'll get along with our people like close brothers, drinking and chatting happily?"

"Stop dreaming." Shen Qiang continued, answering his question, "They won't. Demons are demons. No matter how you put it, you can't make all cultivators believe that demons are kind. So drop the notion of playing heart-to-heart games with them; it has no meaning. What we should do is make them fear us!"

Seeing Shen Qiang's gaze, Bianyi laughed and said, "My dear boss, I just love your simple, direct, and brutal yet effective way of dealing with people. And from my perspective, I hope you can list all cultivation sects as enemies because in that case..."

Bianyi's eyes shone frighteningly, "I can extort them to my heart's content!"

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