After listening to Shen Haotian's account, Xu Qingtong gained a general understanding of the situation in Central Province.
As things stood, all three Barrier Points in Central Province had erupted into full-scale conflict. The Wuji Sect was a lone tree unable to hold up the sky, while the other major sects struggled to take even a single step.
Central Province had already lost over half its cultivators. Though none of the Spirit Transformation cultivators had fallen, all were wounded. Of the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, sixty to seventy percent had been lost!
As they talked, the two arrived at the Anyang Sect's camp. Noticing Shen Haotian's arrival, Yu Jizi hurried out of a house and cupped his fists. "Sect Master Shen, if you need anything, just send word. Why trouble yourself to come in person?"
"Fellow Daoist Yu Jizi, our academy's Fourth Elder, Xu Qingtong, has just returned from the Netherworld and knows a fair amount about the situation there. I came today so that the Fourth Elder could tell us about it, and we could discuss how to respond."
Hearing this, Yu Jizi hastily cupped his hands again. "Elder Xu, your safe return from the Netherworld is truly cause for celebration!"
Xu Qingtong returned the salute. "Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist Yu Jizi!"
"Since you have returned from the Netherworld, Fellow Daoist Xu, how are things over there?"
Xu Qingtong pondered briefly, then said, "The Netherworld has done much the same as we have, setting up camp at the Barrier Entrance. Every night, they send people through the spatial passage into the Human Realm to kill and abduct cultivators. Before dawn, they withdraw to the Netherworld."
"Just how strong are their forces?"
Xu Qingtong thought for a moment. "I watched the barrier opening for a full day