"Even with Fei Mi and the others helping to watch over it, making that domain truly stable, expanding it, and building an effective defense system will take far more time and effort than we have now."
"It will be a long process."
He paused, then continued.
"Besides, so many Authority Holders have their eyes on that place. Why would they give up just because we occupy it for now?"
"We might seize it through a moment of boldness, but holding it will take lasting strength and sustained effort. What we lack right now is time and a solid foundation."
Shen Yi paused again.
"So instead of living on edge, constantly guarding against attacks from who knows where and draining the little energy we have, we might as well make ourselves look vulnerable, as though there's nothing behind our defenses." A chill entered Shen Yi's voice.
Something stirred in Xilos's mind.
Shen Yi went on.
"The Withered Wood Elder withdrew because he weighed the costs and decided that fighting us to the death over a Broken Universe he hadn't fully claimed wasn't worth it."
"Most of the other Authority Holders watching from the sidelines probably feel the same way. If we keep presenting a united front, ready for anything, they'll grow cautious. They'll join forces and wait for a safer opportunity."
"But if we deliberately show a weakness—if you and I leave together, for instance, and only Winnie and the others remain—someone will lose patience and think their chance has come."
"And then," Shen Yi said softly, his voice carrying an undeniable coldness.
"We wait for them to make a mistake. We wait for them to come to us. That's when we truly make an example of them. Hit them hard enough, frighten them enough, and make everyone see that even