Even though Fang Ping saw the Magic City powerhouses had left, he had no idea what happened exactly.
These high-ranked powerhouses would not report to Fang Ping about what they were doing either.
It was only until a few days later did Fang Ping receive news from Old Man Li.
...
Or perhaps one should say that he did not need Old Man Li to specially inform him.
Fang Ping saw the news!
January 12th. In the faraway Caribbean Ocean, there was a great earthquake in an island country!
According to the news report, this earthquake caused countless casualties in this small country with a small population.
Old Man Li’s put on a serious look, saying in a deep voice, “We’re in trouble!”
“What’s going on exactly?” Fang Ping frowned. “The Catacombs passageway has been broken through?”
Old Man Li shook his head. “If that’s really the case, it’s no big deal. It’s not like the Catacombs passageways haven’t been broken through the last few years!”
As he said that, Old Man Li added gloomily, “The island country didn’t have a Catacombs entrance initially. But, just a few days ago, an entrance suddenly appeared. All of a sudden. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Fang Ping’s expression changed. “You’re saying... that it’s completely unexpected? That there were no signs of scattered energy before it happened?”
Old Man Li took a deep breath, nodding. “Yes, precisely that!”
“That day, the passageway was opened almost instantaneously! A few Rank-9s who were nearby sensed it and rushed over immediately. However, the powerhouses on the other end have already charged out of the passageway. A great battle broke out between both parties!
“It was a desperate situation then. Sino Nation has also received the news. Large numbers of powerhouses went to offer aid.
“Even so, it still brought catastrophic destruction and massive casualties.
The reasons for this earthquake were not only because the Catacombs passageway was getting attacked but there was also a great war. On one occasion, the other party charged out. The war nearly sunk the island country.
“In the end, the other party was driven back in, the Rank-9 powerhouses have also disrupted the passageway, disrupting the energy. In the short run, it will be sealed off.
“But, this is not the main point... instead...”
Old Man Li took a deep breath once again. “Instead, the passageway opened suddenly, there was almost no warning. This means that perhaps, following the excessive amounts of passageways, it is now much easier to penetrate the protective barrier between both worlds!
“If that happens, we may be facing forces from all territories next!
“Now, not all territories have passageways. Right now, there are altogether 103 Catacombs passageways around the world... No, after adding on the one that has just opened, there are altogether 104 now.
“So far, all passageways correspond to one territory individually. There are no coincident areas at all.
“Do these 104 territories represent all territories in the Catacombs?”
This was also the first time Fang Ping knew that there were 104 Catacombs passageways in the world. He could not help but say, “If we calculate based on having at least 20 Rank-9s in one territory, does that mean that... other than the Central Territory in the Catacombs, there are at least 2000 other Rank-9s? Isn’t this too terrifying!”
Old Man Li shook his head and said, “Not to such an extent. There aren’t so many. Some territories are actually really small. Not all territories are like our side. Certain territories that opened have only three to five cities. Moreover, certain territories... don’t have protector monster plants and beasts.
“But, after calculating everything, there should be at least 1500 Rank-9s.”
“Then, that means that there are as many Rank-9s as are dogs? How many Rank-9s do we actually have here on earth?”
Old Man Li thought for a moment, saying, “On the surface, Sino Nation has 33. There may be slightly more. My guess is that there may be 40.
“After combining other countries, there should be around 200.”
“This also means that right now, our Rank-9 ratio is 1 to 6?”
There were more than two hundred Rank-9s globally. More than what Fang Ping had imagined.
In the Catacombs—thousands!
“Monster Life Clan hasn’t been launching any attacks earlier. A portion of Monster Plant Clan’s forts hasn’t attacked either. This includes the protector monster plants and beasts. They rarely appear too.
“As a matter of fact, about two Rank-9s can guard one Catacomb on average previously.
“Of course, it is only one person usually. Every Catacomb will have one Rank-9 stationed there permanently.
“Other Rank-9s have their own missions.
“Great wars between Rank-9s don’t happen as often, actually.
“Hence, this can’t be considered a ratio of 1 to 6. Last time when the Rank-9s fought, they typically fought one to one.”
Old Man Li explained, and added, “But now, we don’t know how many passageways are yet to open. Moreover, they’re opening quicker and quicker. It is possible... both worlds will officially integrate!”
When he talked about this, Old Man Li looked beyond solemn. He said in a guttural voice, “If a full-scale integration happens, it’ll really spell trouble. Both parties no longer have a boundary. If a full-scale war breaks out between both parties, we’re still fine, actually. But, what about the ordinary people?
“With enormous amounts of martial artists fighting... Perhaps, this will really sink the earth’s mainland!”
When powerhouses achieved the Grandmaster level, their survivability was beyond high. Even if you tossed them into outer space, they might still be able to survive too.
What about the others?
When a great war broke out, who would still have the time to care about the commoners!
If a war broke out, out of several billions of people, there might only be very few survivors!
A catastrophe resulting in human extinction might be approaching!
Fang Ping’s expression was solemn. When that time truly came, he might be able to survive. What about his parents and family?
Could he keep them safe?
Old Man Li did not care what he was thinking about. He continued, “Today, Sino Nation and a few other nations have already begun to gather powerhouses all over the world to discuss ways to respond to this.
“Whether we should make a full disclosure?
“Or perhaps, we should just give up some areas, allowing the Catacombs powerhouses to come and go as they like. We’ll place emphasis on guarding certain places, gathering in full force to resist the Catacombs’ invasion!”
Fang Ping’s expression changed unpredictably, asking, “Give up some of the passageways? That means that the battleground will shift to the ground surface?”
Old Man Li sighed. “I don’t know. That’s possible. Also, by giving up certain places, we can then utilize weapon technology, and flattening those areas straightaway!
“The Catacombs powerhouse can resurrect... but, there’s a price to pay!
“I’m afraid we can’t kill the Rank-9 powerhouses with weapon technology.
“Rank-8 is difficult too. But, Rank-7 powerhouses who didn’t hone a golden body will die as long as they are within the coverage of the weapons.
“If this happens, we’ll be able to save ourselves a lot of trouble.
“Today, Asia has the highest number of passageways. 23 in Sino Nation. After adding in the other Asian countries, there will be a total of 32.
“This also means that there are as many as 55 Asian passageways, occupying more than half of the total passageways in all!
“Therefore, Asia will never be given up because of the concentration of powerhouses are better used here. Other territories with scattered Catacombs passageways are more likely to be given up.”
Instead of feeling happy about this, Fang Ping felt like his head was about to split open. “If they were given up, what would happen to the people in those places?”
“A portion will migrate, a portion will... maybe they’ll let them perish on their own.”
Those words sounded especially cold-blooded.
However, this was also the truth!
There were too many people!
If the stronghold was in Asia, Asia could not afford the loss of billions of people.
Of course, they were still discussing it now. The powerhouses in other continents might not agree.
What was more, it might be possible for Asia to be given up.
After all, so many Catacombs entrances were gathered here, making it much easier for the modern weapons to cover the area, centralizing and launching attacks instead of launching separate attacks.
This was a matter of future situations. Fang Ping figured that it was difficult to reach an agreement.
Humans are selfish. If it was not until the eleventh hour, how could it be so simple to ask those higher-ups to give up on their own nations, give up on their own territory, and the people?
Unless they had come to a point whereby they were no longer capable of defending anymore and many places were broken through. In order to survive, these guys might compromise.
“Have we given up?”
Fang Ping mumbled, feeling an indescribable sorrow.
“After defending for so many years and sacrificing so many lives, are we about to give up now?”
“If we give up now, then, in the last few years, won’t the humans who died in the Catacombs battle shed their blood for nothing?
Old Man Li’s expression was unreadable. He said with a low voice, “No one wants to give up. But the situation is already getting worse! This is clearly seen in Sino Nation itself. The number of Sino Nation’s Catacombs is growing! 23 of them. Nearly a quarter of the entire world now!
“Although everyone thinks that stalling for time is more advantageous for us.
“But now, it seems like that strategy has no advantages, but disadvantages instead.
“Last time, there would be one Catacomb per city, with one appearing every four years. Our enhanced ability can actually cancel out the danger we’re facing with the increasing Catacombs entrances.
“But now, it is no longer one city’s forces in the Catacombs fighting against us, but multiple!
“If this continues, the speed of our increasing ability will not catch up with the multiple Catacombs entrances that are opening.”
After Old Man Li talked for a moment, he took another deep breath, saying, “Also... recently, there have been rumors coming from the higher-ups. They’re preparing to gather forces and wipe out one to two Catacombs!”
Fang Ping’s expression changed. He said, astonished, “How many Grandmasters will die then? Aren’t they afraid that the Catacombs will turn out in full force?”
In the Catacombs today, under normal circumstances, they were still battling with one city only.
If they intend to completely wipe out the other party, all the forts in the Catacombs would definitely turn out in full force. There would be heavy casualties beyond imagination!
If so many died, how were they supposed to guard the other Catacombs?
Could it be that Sino Nation was also abandoning some of the Catacombs?
This is without considering whether the Catacombs Restricted Area’s powerhouses would charge out or not.
“It’s only a rumor. Some people can’t take it anymore.” Old Man Li exhaled. “The pressure is growing, so much so that... a portion of people is unwilling to continue guarding and waiting. They rather risk their lives and go all out, try and see if they can turn the situation around.
“You do know that there are energy mines underneath Catacombs’ Royal City. After wiping out one Royal City, we’ll reap an enormous profit.
“If we destroy one Catacomb, it means that we can harvest countless energy from the mines and can nurture huge amounts of powerhouses!
“What these guys are trying to do is... they may be trying to take the elite route!”
Old Man Li looked even gaunter now. The so-called elite route was to give up a huge portion of martial artists who had no potential, let these martial artists stand in the frontline, exchange their lives for an enormous amount of resources to nurture powerhouses who did.
This was much crueler than rearing a poisonous insect!
If such a policy was approved, it was unsure how many martial artists would die. This included a big bunch of Grandmasters, even people like the elderly Grandmasters. If they had stopped progressing from the Grandmaster level for many years, they might be treated as sacrificial pawns.
No, a batch of Grandmasters would definitely become sacrifices!
Because if Grandmasters did not attack, they would not be able to suppress the Catacombs and would not be able to take the Royal City.
Take MCMAU Liu Polu for example, an old Grandmaster who had been stuck for many years at Rank-7. If a great war broke out, Liu Polu would definitely be enlisted.
Fang Ping fell silent. No matter what he thought or said, he would not be able to change the higher-ups’ decision.
However, it had not gone to that extent yet.
If it had really gone to that point... Fang Ping did not know what sort of changes would take place exactly.
Would those martial artists, who were destined to be sacrificed, be willing to?
Perhaps they would... many martial artists had prepared themselves after many years of bloodbaths.
Those powerhouses who came from martial arts universities and military schools, including powerhouses in the military, had always been instilled with the idea that they fought for mankind and the nation.
The establishment of the martial arts universities and the military schools that year had crippled the sects’ ability...
In this day and age, to put it bluntly, perhaps everything was prepared for this moment, to be able to make certain people face death willingly.
Martial arts universities and the military schools were both government institutions, carrying forward values like loyalty, to strive for the nation and the people.
Martial artists who came from ordinary martial arts education background, though, might not have such values.
Of course, their ability was also weak.
The government put together resources, subsidized the martial arts universities and military schools, nurtured military powerhouses, and even impaired the sect’s resources and scope for a reason. Now that they needed to fight for the nation and their homes, would these trained martial artists step forward?
Fang Ping believed that an enormous group of people might step forward!
Just like MCMAU’s old vice-chancellor, Nanjiang’s Zhang Dingnan, NMAU’s Vice-chancellor Chen...
These people would step forward bravely in times of need even if they risked dying in a foreign land!
Old Man Li said suddenly, “There’s one more thing. I’m afraid Tiannan’s Catacombs is about to open too. This opening this time is different from Nanjiang’s, whereby the passageway is not stabilized.
“When the Tiannan Catacombs opens, the passageway will stabilize immediately. Even Rank-9 powerhouses may find it difficult to seal off the passageway again.
“The government has begun to gather powerhouses to prepare for the Tiannan’s battle.
“I’m afraid... Tiannan’s battle will be horrifying.”
Old Man Li sighed softly. “If everything is as predicted, this time, the Catacombs martial artists in the Tiannan Catacombs will definitely turn out differently compared to Nanjiang. Instead of guarding outside the passageway, they will charge out straightaway. Currently, we still don’t know how it’s like on the other end.
“If you have any relatives or friends there, let them know and get them to leave Tiannan as soon as possible.”
“Is the Tiannan Catacombs about to open too?”
Fang Ping could not help but sigh. The situation was really getting more and more challenging now.
Back then, Tiannan Catacombs had been broken through. People had no choice but to retreat. That time, Fang Ping was still making preparations for Gaokao.
Now, two years had gone by in the blink of an eye. The opening of the passageway was close at hand indeed.
Fang Ping could not help but think of Yang Jian and other high school classmates. These guys were still at Tiannan Martial Arts University now.
Of course, he thought of Wang Jinyang more.
His instructor ventured into the depths of Tiannan Catacombs. Wang Jinyang would definitely sortie when Tiannan Catacombs opened.
However, the Tiannan Catacombs and the Nanjiang Catacombs were different. Here at Nanjiang, it was opened for the first time, most of the powerhouses on the other end did not know what was happening.
However, Tiannan was opened before. They had also fought humans for many years.
It was more dangerous there than it was in Nanjiang.
Moreover, Huang Jing had even mentioned earlier that Tiannan’s case had something to do with a Rank-9 paragon’s death. This made matters much more complicated there as well.
In addition to that... Earlier, there was also the matter in which the Tiannan Martial Arts University ex-deputy vice-chancellor had joined the cult’s higher-ups. All in all, Tiannan’s situation was extremely complicated and full of peril.
A Rank-9 paragon’s death, the cult’s interference, human’s stronghold removed, the passageway’s full-scale opening...
Earlier, Fang Ping did not feel much pressure.
Of course, there was still pressure, though he thought that there was still enough time.
Now, Fang Ping thought that there was truly insufficient time now.
The entire world will be thrown into chaos!
They were even beginning to consider giving up certain areas now. This made Fang Ping extremely depressed inside. Exactly how long left before a full-scale war would break out?
“I’m only a Rank-5...”
Fang Ping mumbled to himself. He was only cannon fodder. No, he did not even qualify as that!
When fighting against the Catacombs, a Rank-5 like him was truly not much help at all.
If he did not even qualify for cannon fodder, what about other MCMAU students?
They were all nobodies!
“I must achieve Rank-7 as soon as possible... No, perhaps I need to be a Rank-9!”
Fang Ping murmured. Beside him, the corner of Old Man Li’s eyes twitched slightly. He made it seem as if Rank-9 could be achieved by eating and drinking alone.
Fang Ping did not care what he was thinking. He said, “I’m not planning to enter the Catacombs before the New Year. After the New Year, I want to go to the Magic City Catacombs. Instructor, why don’t you go with me? You just need to stand ready for assistance.”
Bringing Old Man Li along guaranteed that he could run even faster when making an escape.
Old Man Li’s expression was frozen. He was already starting to invite him now. Was he really going to do a big one?
Without saying anything, Old Man Li nodded. ‘Let’s talk about it when the time comes.’
Fang Ping said no more. After learning the reasons why the Magic City powerhouses left, he was not interested in finding out how the higher-ups were discussing it anymore.
The ones negotiating were all Rank-8s. He was only a Rank-5. He still had a little status in MCMAU. If he brought it up, would anyone give him, a Rank-5, any face? He would not even be allowed to attend there.
Whether they would give up certain areas or perhaps give up Asia straightaway...
Fang Ping knew that he was not qualified to change that.
The only thing he needed to do was that when the time came, he would be equipped with the strength for self-defense. Moreover, he could also protect his family and friends. If the higher-ups really gave up certain areas, he could only go with the flow.