Xiu Ju frowned under the streetlight and said, "I admit what you're saying is true, but so what?"

Shen Qiang smiled as he looked at Xiu Ju and said, "Hear me out. In fact, even if one has the aptitude for cultivation, most people still can't cultivate because they either don't meet a good mentor, miss out on opportunities, or come across opportunities when they have already passed the best age for cultivation, among other issues."

"Even if one is lucky enough to meet a great mentor at the right time and starts cultivating, about half of all cultivators will remain below the Foundation Establishment Stage for life, and seventy-five percent will be stuck below the Nascent Soul Stage," he continued.

Looking earnestly at Xiu Ju, Shen Qiang said, "That means if the Shen family wants to become stronger in the future and take decades to cultivate a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, we would need more than ten thousand newborns to have a chance of finding one with decent roots."

"If I were to place the Shen family in a small town where the birthrate over several years wasn't even sufficient to choose an heir, then dreaming of developing the Shen family into a giant like Wanxin Hesheng or Cheng Xinyi is simply a daydream!"

Xiu Ju frowned and said, "You don't need to involve so many people; you could simply open an elixir pill shop."

Shen Qiang laughed: "A woman's way of thinking is indeed strange. Alright, let's do as you say. I'll just open an elixir pill shop and set aside all other ambitions. Then tell me, how many cultivators are needed to protect a single elixir pill shop?"

"Because of the nature of elixir pills, which are destined to be expensive—costing from a few million to tens of millions, or even over a hundred million—for just one pill, and after consuming, one might see a sudden increase in cultivation or a lifespan extension of decades. All can be used immediately and might even alter one's fate. They are treasures."

Pulling out his phone and logging into the Bounty Hunter platform, Shen Qiang casually flipped to a completed assassination bounty and said, "Look at this—one for three million for a cultivator to kill someone. Elixir pills aren't just antiques that are only good for making money. Think about it, how many people would be eyeing the pills in the shop?"

"Theft, robbery, and all sorts of emergencies—if there aren't powerful figures presiding over, who can control it?"

Xiu Ju sighed helplessly and said, "Even so, that doesn't mean you have to stay in the Provincial City."

Shen Qiang laughed: "Provincial City has a network of transportation—highways, high-speed trains, airports—making everything convenient. Not only that, the population base is large. Last year alone, the city's newborn population was fifty thousand. Statistically, among these newborns, roughly five have the potential to become Nascent Soul Stage cultivators."

"But what about the county of my hometown? Last year, the entire county had just over two thousand nine hundred newborns. This means it would take three and a half to four years to potentially meet a newborn with the potential to reach the Nascent Soul Stage in cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Xiu Ju frowned: "Do you really have to go that big? You're not exactly short on cash right now. Isn't a carefree and simple life good?"

Shen Qiang laughed: "Carefree and simple? Let's talk about recent events. Take Xiduobao, for example. When we opened Xiduobao, as you know, we didn't think much, just wanted to open a store to make some money. But, it turned out that on opening day, Ancient Moon Pavilion and Yaqi went to wreck the place."

Xiu Ju said, "That's because of past grievances between you."

Shen Qiang laughed and said, "Alright, let's not talk about Xiduobao. Let's talk about Gao Hui and her steamed bun shop. She earned her money fair and square, but then her shop was destroyed, she was threatened, and someone even forced her to sell her recipe."

"That's because you have a conflict with Long Yan Group," Xiu Ju said.

Shen Qiang laughed: "Do you really think so? What about school, then? When you were bullied by classmates, was it because they had a conflict with you? When someone cut in line ahead of you, was it also a conflict? Or when they sold you counterfeit products, was it because they had a conflict with you?"

"The answer is no."

"Because competition is a human instinct. Where there are people, there are interests. Where there are interests, there is contention, whether it is over a drip of water falling off the eaves or a few words, small as that, or something as significant as national boundaries and survival and dignity. We are fighting everywhere."

"And it's not just humans; all living things are like this. Without competition, it means elimination and extinction. It's everywhere—in grades, income, connections, and even just for a convenient parking space in a community—all need to be fought for."

"If we don't fight for anything, and we give up every time someone wants what we have or retreat every time someone attacks us, then in the end, we will have nothing, not even the ability to survive. So, don't try to persuade me to deceive myself into believing that we can coexist peacefully with the Long Yan Sword Sect because that's impossible."

"Even if I had no ambition and just wanted to earn a small living, they wouldn't think I'm harmless."

After a moment of silence, Xiu Ju said, "What do we do next?"

Shen Qiang replied, "We'll block the soldiers and cover the water with earth—let things take their natural course. They play tricks; we play tricks. If they draw their knives, we'll take them down. There's nothing else worth thinking about. My focus is still on cultivation. I hope to reach the Nascent Soul Stage as fast as possible."

Xiu Ju laughed: "Your speed of cultivation has actually shocked me. In just over a month, you've already reached the late Golden Core stage. So now, I even start to believe that maybe you really can rush to the Nascent Soul Stage in half a year."

Shen Qiang shook his head with a smile: "That's too slow. I expect to reach the Nascent Soul Stage before the start of my duel with Cheng Hai."

Xiu Ju was stunned: "That's impossible. You have only one and a half months left. Even if you are a prodigy, it can't be done."

Shen Qiang stood up and continued his cultivation. As he cultivated, he said, "If I had told you before that in half a year, I would go from starting cultivation to reaching the Golden Core Stage, I believe you wouldn't have believed me either, but the fact is I did it. So when I say I will reach the Nascent Soul Stage before my fight with Cheng Hai, I will make it happen."

Upon hearing this, Xiu Ju frowned and said, "Shen Qiang, if you want to rush for the Nascent Soul Stage, you should stop Body Refinement now because the cultivation of True Qi is more important. No one can manage both Body Refinement and Qi Refinement at the same time."

Shen Qiang's mind flashed, and he entered his Sea of Consciousness. After glancing at Qingxuan sitting cross-legged, assisting Shen Qiang in running his True Qi, he smiled faintly and said, "Others can't, but I can!"

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