"It is indeed rather regrettable. I thought that even if they couldn't kill the Same Heart Demon on their own, they would at least be able to retreat in one piece. I didn't expect that kind of accident to happen."
Cultivator Kong shook his head and agreed.
"However, on the path of cultivation, everything depends on the word 'contend.'"
"Contend with the heavens, contend with the earth, contend with others—contend for cultivation, contend for fortuitous encounters, and thereby take another step forward."
"If you don't contend, fortuitous encounters and treasures will be seized by other cultivators, and the gap between you will gradually widen."
"Especially for people like us, who have neither a heaven-shaking family background nor a uniquely blessed, one-in-ten-thousand talent, we cannot afford to miss even a single fortuitous encounter."
"Fall behind one step, and you fall behind every step. Once you miss it, it becomes very difficult to catch up to others again."
Cultivator Kong spoke with some emotion.
Lu Xuan pondered for a moment, then said, "Senior Brother is right, but not entirely right."
"Fortuitous encounters do indeed have to be fought for by oneself, but it must be under the premise of ensuring one's own safety. If one risks one's life to contend with others for a fortuitous encounter, like that Senior Brother from before, and dies because of it, then what is left to contend with?"
"Junior Brother Lu, everyone understands this principle, but doing it is another matter."
"Let me ask you, in this world, are there any fortuitous encounters that can be obtained without taking any risk at all?"
Lu Xuan opened his mouth, then seemed to think of something and fell silent.
He had wanted to say that cultivating Spirit Plants carried no risk at all, but when the words reached