Chapter 493: Chapter 483: Which Identity Will You Choose? The Silt at the Riverbed

"In a tranquil lake, there are three kinds of things."

"They are ’the solid submerged rocks,’ ’the towering willow tree,’ and ’the riverbed sand.’

"A flood is about to sweep through this tranquil lake. If you were to choose among these three, what would you choose to withstand this turbulent flood?"

Dong’Er looked at Wu Zhong and slowly spoke.

Upon hearing this, Wu Zhong remained silent for a long time, pondering.

"I would choose the solid submerged rocks because their foundation is established in the riverbed. With a strong base and the rocks themselves being sturdy enough, they can withstand the flood’s erosion."

Wu Zhong provided what he believed to be the most reasonable answer.

After hearing this, Dong’Er seemed thoughtful, not rushing to speak.

At this moment, Wu Zhong asked in return, "If it were you, Dong’Er, what identity would you choose?"

After he finished speaking, Dong’Er raised his head and slowly said, "I would choose the third one — the riverbed sand."

Upon hearing this, Wu Zhong frowned, a confused expression appearing on his face.

The riverbed sand is small, without roots, subject to the flood’s onslaught.

"Why?" Wu Zhong inquired.

....

"The towering willow tree is rooted in the soil, its roots intertwined."

"But before a fierce flood, it also appears very fragile; the flood will wash away the soil, exposing the roots, either uprooting it completely to become driftwood, following the current."

"If lucky enough not to be washed away by the flood, its most important roots will also be exposed in the bare air, precariously hanging on."

At this point, Dong’Er paused, and Wu Zhong nodded in agreement.

"As for the solid submerged rocks, they use the riverbed as a foundation, stand out above the water, with solid foundations, sturdy in nature, not afraid of the flood’s erosion."

"However, when the flood subsides, it will take a lot of river water, causing the water level to drop. Much of the solid submerged rock will be exposed above the water surface, becoming a conspicuous target."

"The biggest charm of the submerged rock is that only the tip of the iceberg is exposed above water. Its true essence, its true body is hidden beneath the water surface, unseen by anyone."

"But after the flood, the rocks will turn into rock mountains, most of its body exposed, losing its mystery and essence."

"Due to forcibly resisting the flood, the rock will also be riddled with holes."

Hearing this, Wu Zhong’s eyes widened, and his expression subtly changed. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"But the riverbed sand, though small, always remains at the riverbed. No matter how raging the flood, it can only wash me away, not destroy me."

"When the flood recedes, it will still settle into the riverbed, unaffected."

After listening, Wu Zhong asked, "But even so, sand is still sand. Although it withstands the flood without being harmed, it remains small, just a grain of sand."

Of course, he understood the metaphor in Dong’Er’s words.

The flood is the great turmoil of the Divine Realm, a fight for power.

"Who says it’s just a grain of sand?" Dong’Er said leisurely.

"I’m talking about the sand as thousands upon thousands of grains at the riverbed."

"When dispersed, we are sand, settling at the riverbed, but when gathered, we become a rock mountain, towering above the water."

Hearing these words, Wu Zhong took a deep breath.

At that moment, he truly felt the absolute gap in their thinking between him and Dong’Er!

Dong’Er’s point is.

When the flood arrives, turn into thousands upon thousands of grains of sand in the riverbed, settling there, becoming unaffected by the flood.

When the flood recedes, the sand gathers to form a submerged rock or even a rock mountain, incredibly solid.

.....

In Wu Zhong’s plan, the Heaven Shepherd Alliance was positioned as the "willow tree."

That is, to enter the scene as a "medium competitor," to seize resources, more precisely, to capture resources as a "Middle Divine Domain."

Although the Heaven Shepherd Alliance’s strength has largely surpassed the standards of a Lower Divine Domain, it has not reached the level of a Middle Divine Domain, leaving it in an awkward limbo.

If entering the game with this identity, two results might ensue.

The first is to be uprooted by the flood, becoming driftwood, following the current, even if it doesn’t perish, it would have lost its foundation.

The second is managing to withstand the flood, but with roots in the soil exposed, the essence revealed, the weaknesses displayed, teetering dangerously.

...

In Wu Zhong’s understanding, Dong’Er’s idea must be to enter the scene as a "lower competitor," on the surface not vying, but in secret settling in to preserve strength.

Calming down, it seemed like that’s how it should be, he was too anxious to make progress, too eager to develop.

.....

"Dong’Er, if we don’t strive or vie, will we miss this opportunity?"

Wu Zhong continued to ask.

"Who says we neither strive nor vie?"

"The flood washes away the submerged rocks, making them riddled with holes, with ’parts’ that fall to the riverbed, turning into grains of sand."

"The flood erodes the soil under the willow roots, causing the fallen soil to sink into the riverbed, turning into grains of sand."

"What we need to do is incorporate these ’new sand grains’ that have fallen and grow stronger, waiting for the flood to retreat and gather into a larger submerged rock."

Hearing this, Wu Zhong was stunned. His brain buzzed as he finally understood Dong’Er’s ultimate idea.

......

Dong’Er’s thinking is, on the surface not to participate in this resource struggle, but secretly to seize those fallen resources.

As an analogy, in this resource competition, everyone is competing for significant resources, the important Great Realms, but those neglected resources, or small realms, would be overlooked.

Unflatteringly put, what the Heaven Shepherd Alliance needs to do is "pick up garbage," gathering "leftovers and scraps."

"I see."

"Earlier, I had a vague understanding of our alliance’s position, too impulsive. Luckily, I asked you first, or I almost made a great mistake."

"Now, thinking it over, picking up ’leftovers and scraps’ while low-key preserving strength is the optimal solution."

Wu Zhong said with a smile.

Hearing this, Dong’Er shook his head and said leisurely, "Brother Wu, what we’re picking up aren’t leftovers or scraps, but the overlooked delicacies."

Upon hearing this response, Wu Zhong’s eyes lit up, asking, "What do you mean?"

He finished speaking.

Dong’Er slowly took a fist-sized "Memory Crystal Stone" from his sleeve and handed it to Wu Zhong.

"Take a look, and you’ll know."

Wu Chong took the Memory Crystal Stone, examined the content inside, and widened his eyes.

Suddenly raising his head, his voice was filled with incredulity: "Dong’Er....how did you discover this?!"