Ning Fengzhi's fingers traced lightly over the map, finally stopping at the conspicuous red mark for the Martial Soul Sacred Hall.
He looked up at Chen Xin and Gu Rong, seated on either side of him.
"Launching a direct assault is out of the question." Ning Fengzhi's tone was calm, yet decisive.
Chen Xin sat cross-legged without a word. The razor-sharp aura emanating from him made his stance clear enough.
Gu Rong folded his arms across his chest, his expression grave.
"That's true. There's one Titled Douluo guarding the place, along with Yue Guan, Gui Mei, those two old geezers, and Old Poison. With four Titled Douluo stationed there, charging in would be suicide."
Ning Fengzhi nodded, agreeing with Gu Rong.
"Four Titled Douluo, plus the advantage of the terrain and formations at the Martial Soul Sacred Hall. A direct assault would have no chance of success."
Then he changed tack.
"But fortresses are often breached from within. Or rather, when the people inside a fortress come out, that's when they're at their most vulnerable."
Chen Xin opened his eyes.
"We wait for him to come out?"
"Exactly."
Ning Fengzhi traced a route on the map from the Martial Soul Sacred Hall to the outskirts of the city.
"Qin Yao can't stay in Heaven Dou City forever. His purpose in coming here was to gain experience. Now that he's captured a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, he'll have to return to Spirit City sooner or later. Spirit City is the only place where he'll be truly safe."
Gu Rong rubbed his chin.
"That's true. But even if he comes out, he'll surely have a heavily armed escort. Is there really much difference between fighting him out here and fighting him in there?"
"There's a world of difference."
Ning Fengzhi tapped the tabletop