"I know, it's a lot to take in. But it is something that we will only be able to realize if we are able to accomplish the milestones before that. First, creating a successful business. Second, turn it into a chain of business. Third, Expanding it into a conglomerate." Dylan dialed down as he elaborated what must be done.
"B-but..."The younger Dylan brought up his previous argument, "Weren't you the one who said we need to be worthy of the Cosmic God Mansion. If we simply rely on connections and this sect, how can we ever be worthy? At the end of the day, strength reigns supreme in this world."
"True, we cannot grow stronger conventionally right now. But if there is anything I have learned from seeing your memories and hearing stories of that fight a few days ago, this world is filled with unlimited possibilities, there could still be a chance that a method exists there to unlock our cultivation! I think it would be foolish to discount that possibility. We will use the conglomerate and the sect to find ways to unlock our cultivation!" Dylan Ford replied quite reasonably.
He continued to plan in the unfortunate case, "Though, for now, we may still be unworthy of the Cosmic God Mansion. Even if there is not, it would only be unfortunate that this space is not something that we could actually use despite being connected to it. That does not change the ambition since I will design the companies to be self-sustaining! It will only be a nice bonus to have and not something we will actively rely on."
Dylan Ford paused, his gaze burning with an unshakeable, resolute stillness that seemed to quiet the vast emptiness of the space around them. There was no hesitation in his stance, no flicker of doubt in his eyes.
"How can you be this undaunted despite the uncertainties...?" The younger Dylan's voice carried a mix of awe and lingering disbelief.
"Hahaha," Dylan Ford let out a soft, low laugh.
It was not done out of arrogance, but because he was someone who had already resolved to brave the storm before stepping into it.
"Because uncertainty is the natural state of existence," Dylan Ford answered smoothly, taking a step forward until he was looking the younger Dylan dead in the eye.
He spoke further, "The weak look at uncertainty and see danger, so they pray for certainty or a miracle. I'd say that's wishful thinking! But the ambitious? We look at uncertainty and see opportunity. It means the board isn't set yet. It means the future hasn't been written by anyone else."
He gestured to the surrounding space, sweeping his arm across the quiet expanse.
"If we fail, we fall back and try again. If a door closes, we breach a wall. Uncertainty only paralyzes those who rely on a single path to victory. I am undaunted because I do not plan on winning by chance. Regardless of the obstacles, I plan on winning through inevitability. Every obstacle is just a variable to be recalculated. What's important is how you bounce back and use that setback to move forward!"
Dylan Ford offered his hand once more, his grip firm as he held it out between them.
"You're one convincing motherfucker, you know that?" The younger Dylan shook his head as he shook Dylan Ford's hand.
"Hahaha, language, please. So what do you say? Partners?" Dylan Ford laughed nonchalantly as he closed another deal.
"Partners!"
The younger Dylan spoke in awe, "No wonder you were considered the greatest businessman in your world. Your words alone could close any deals. I have always thought that strength is what dictates the world. But if you can really turn this ambition into reality, you would embody the concept of wits over brawn"
Dylan replied, "I was only able to reach the pinnacle of my world through my brawns initially. But it dawned on me that had limitations, so I put in more effort in developing my mind and used both hand in hand! That allowed me to see what the view at the peak of Earth looks like."
"This "Planet Earth" that you belong to is highly fascinating. I keep getting surprised by it, the more I view it. It has these things called technology that far surpasses anything that my world has in terms of practicality. Devices that let you speak across continents, vehicles that run without beasts pulling them... all of it operates without a drop of Innate Energy, formation power or natural energy." The younger Dylan said in amazement as he recalled the memories he has gone through.
Dylan Ford replied as he also pointed out., "In contrast, your world possess cultivators, supernatural powers, mystical beasts, spirits, and other magical entities. It's a world with unlimited potential. To me, this world seems like its very fabric of reality bends to the will of those as long as you are strong enough. Here, it is truly possible to reach the pinnacle alone."
"Innate Energy and Natural Energy power this world." He cupped his chin, tapping a finger thoughtfully as he weighed the two realities. "It is a world of fantasy made manifest, where the only limit to one's existence is their comprehension, will and the strength of their cultivation. While my world sought to master the mind and the environment, yours masters the body and the soul."
"I agree. My world really does seem like a place of magic and fantasy to your eyes, huh." The younger Dylan replied with this realization,
"These things called phones, computers, cars, guns, robots, etc. All of it seemed so fantastical to me. Buildings that reach the heavens, vessels that explore the land, sea, air and even the void outside of the planet. A world without Innate Energy and Mystical Beasts yet humanity managed to progress in a way that is completely different from my world." The younger Dylan paused as vivid memory fragments played in his mind.
The quiet hum of machines, sky-reaching glass towers, soaring airplanes, sea-diving submarines, and spaceships operating without a drop of Innate Energy. To someone raised on tales of immortal masters, the idea that ordinary mortals could conquer nature through pure logic felt like a revelation.
"It felt like it was a world filled with wonder yet all of it was made by people without Innate Energy... In this world, they would have been ridiculed and bullied for being born less talented, even worse, if you can't cultivate like me..." The younger Dylan's voice noticeably became more bitter and self-deprecating.
A heavy, familiar shadow fell over the younger Dylan's expression. His shoulders slouched slightly under the weight of that quiet shame, the memory of scornful gazes and dismissive laughter echoing in his mind.
Dylan Ford said, "Back in Earth, we call that the indomitable human spirit."
"Indomitable Human Spirit?" The younger Dylan asked.
Dylan Ford expounded, "Yes, one of humanity's most admirable traits. The innate unyielding capacity to overcome adversity regardless of how difficult the hardships becomes. Science and Technology reflects this ideal perfectly. Mavericks and geniuses of that field discovered new knowledge and applications to improve humanity's quality life."
"Science and technology is a relentless pursuit of improvement, built on top of countless failures and innovations. With only the intellect and creativity of the common man, humanity heralded a new and modern age where the impossible became mundane."
"We conquered the skies, connected the entire globe with invisible threads of data, and unlocked the very secrets of existence. It is a testament to what a race can achieve when they refuse to settle for the limitations of their biology." Dylan said proudly.
"..." The words hit the younger Dylan like a physical impact, reframing his entire existence in an instant. For the first time, his inability to cultivate felt less like an absolute curse and more like a baseline obstacle waiting to be engineered around.
"In my world, we changed the environment around us because we couldn't change our physical limits," Dylan Ford continued, his tone turning thoughtful. "Your world focuses entirely on transcending the self to reach the divine. Seeing what humanity accomplished on Earth through pure grit and intellect... and seeing the boundless potential of cultivation here... it makes me wonder what happens when those two mindsets finally meet."
"That is why I can see an endless possibility of business ideas in my mind by applying my world's scientific knowledge and intellect to the mystical aspects of your world. That is the endgame concept of my company and the sect: a fusion between Earth's modern technology and the Great Mystic World's mysterious powers and artifacts!" Dylan Ford declared with unbridled ambition as he unveiled another step to his ambitions.
'There was even more to his ambition than just be a successful mogul and a shadow sect leader... He also wants to be a trailblazer of something unprecedented...' The younger Dylan could not help but be in awe once again to the seemingly never-ending depths of Dylan Ford's ambition.
"..."
A profound silence settled over the domain following the declaration, thick with the weight of a vision so audacious it verged on madness.
Yet, in the Dylan Ford's eyes, there was no sign of wild fantasy. There was only the razor-sharp clarity of an architect who had already drafted the blueprints. He thought, 'I will reach the pinnacle of this world!'
'He really is amazing.' The younger Dylan looked at his counterpart, feeling the cold embers of his own doubt reignite into something dangerous and thrilling.
'If I follow him, I might just be able to change my destiny!' The world had branded him a defective blank slate and ridiculed him for it. But standing before him was a man who saw the entire cosmos as an untapped market, he realized they weren't just planning to survive this world. They were going to conquer it!