Supreme Emptiness

"Hmm?"

Jiang Fan's eyes suddenly widened.

He couldn't believe his ears!

He hurriedly looked down.

Xia Chaoge was lying in Jiang Fan's arms.

Struggling to half-open her eyes, she dazedly asked, "Martial Uncle… why are you crying?"

She reached out and gently wiped away Jiang Fan's tears.

"You, you're not dead?"

Jiang Fan was overjoyed.

A heart that had fallen into an abyss of despair instantly soared to the nine-layered heaven.

He hugged her tightly once more.

Fearing that if he loosened his grip, she would be lost again.

This joy of regaining what was lost, all its varying flavors, were indescribable.

"Martial Uncle… I can't breathe…" Xia Chaoge weakly said.

A faint blush of shyness appeared on her face.

Jiang Fan quickly laid her flat on the ground, at a loss, saying, "Lie down properly, don't speak."

"I'll check your pulse."

Seeing the usually calm and composed Jiang Fan, who wouldn't change his expression even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, now so flustered like a medical apprentice.

Xia Chaoge secretly pursed her lips.

Warmth filled her heart.

"Several ribs are broken, and the internal organs are severely damaged, especially the heart."

"Fortunately, you took a Revitalizing Pill, and the injuries are rapidly healing."

"It's not a big problem anymore."

Jiang Fan let out a long sigh.

Then, he looked puzzled.

"But earlier… never mind, it's not auspicious to talk about it."

He was a bit bewildered.

Earlier, Xia Chaoge had indeed lost all signs of life.

As a medical expert, Jiang Fan couldn't have made a mistake in his judgment.

But how did she suddenly come back to life?

Shaking his head.

Jiang Fan didn't want to think about it.

Whatever the reason.

Xia Chaoge being alive was the best outcome.

Otherwise.

He would live in guilt forever, unable to let it go.

Everyone was happy for Xia Chaoge's resurrection.

Yet some wore a look of sadness as they approached, holding a blood-stained ancient zither.

"Jiang Fan."

Looking up, Jiang Fan saw it was Ming Youlian and stood up, showing a complex expression, "Elder Ming, what can I do for you?"

Ming Youlian's old eyes were clouded with tears.

She handed the ancient zither to Jiang Fan.

"This is Chaohun's zither, a Magic Artifact that can be upgraded."

"It's yours now."

Jiang Fan's heart skipped a beat, "Senior Brother Fu, he…"

Ming Youlian suddenly covered her face with her sleeve, sobbing uncontrollably.

Liang Feiyan, standing nearby, with reddened eyes, softly said,

"Senior Brother Fu… has fallen."

Fu Chaohun, dead?

Jiang Fan stood there, stunned.

Memories of his interactions with Fu Chaohun flooded his mind.

Though their relationship was once strained,

they had put aside their differences before the great battle, mutually wishing each other well.

The next news he heard.

Was that they were now worlds apart.

He felt an inexplicable sadness and asked,

"Was he killed instantly?"

"I gave him a Revitalizing Pill."

Ming Youlian's sobbing turned to wailing, "That Revitalizing Pill… he didn't ask for it for himself."

"It was to heal my injuries!"

"I was bitten by the Red-Scaled Evil Flood Dragon and lost both my arms, the wounds hadn't fully healed."

"He asked for the Revitalizing Pill for me."

Thump—

Jiang Fan's heart felt like a war drum had been struck.

Emitting a muffled, heavy sound.

Fu Chaohun, a proud man, had set aside his dignity to ask for medicine, not to save his own life.

But to give his master a better chance of survival.

Jiang Fan clenched his fists, self-reproaching, "I should have given him another pill."

Ming Youlian quickly responded, "No, no, don't say that."

"Chaohun was very grateful to you."

"He was also ashamed of his past actions."

"You are a noble gentleman, who should have been befriended."

"He said, if he survived this battle, he would bring his zither to the Green Cloud Sect to find you."

"To enjoy wine and discuss music, to delve into the Sound Path together, to be close friends like Bo Ya and Ziqi…" She recalled Fu Chaohun's face, full of hope for the future.

And she burst into uncontrollable sobs.

Unable to continue speaking.

Only silently handing the blood-stained ancient zither to Jiang Fan.

Then, with the help of the Heavenly Sound Sect disciples, she tearfully departed.

Jiang Fan felt a heavy weight in his hands.

He wasn't holding just a zither.

But an unfulfilled wish.

An incomplete regret.

A life full of beautiful expectations for tomorrow.

But all of this.

Had been shattered by the sudden Dead Corpse Army.

Jiang Fan lifted his gaze.

Glancing at the vast departing Dead Corpse Army.

Hatred ignited in his heart.

Why did Fu Chaohun have to carry his regrets, forever resting in the cold snowfield!

Yet the Demon Moon, the true culprit, could return unscathed.

He glanced at the sky, where remnants of thunder still lingered.

Jiang Fan quickly collected the ancient zither and leaped out beyond the Great Wall.

Liang Feiyan's face changed, shouting, "Junior Brother, come back!"

"Don't chase a cornered foe!"

He had already guessed what Jiang Fan intended to do.

But it was too dangerous!

Xia Chaoge struggled to sit up, gazing at Jiang Fan's receding figure, and said,

"Let him go."

"Whether he succeeds or not depends on fate, whether he goes or not is decided by his heart."

Liang Feiyan was taken aback.

After a long pause, he sighed deeply,

"I finally understand why former enemies were willing to befriend him."

"To have such a friend, this life is enough."

Soon after, amidst sobs and sorrow,

the Boundary Mountain was cleared.

Listening to the casualty reports from the sects, Lei Zhenhai couldn't help but display a sorrowful expression.

The Nine-Sect.

Except for the Green Cloud Sect, which had several seriously injured disciples.

The other sects all suffered heavy casualties!

Among them, the Desires Sect experienced the most devastating losses.

Over twenty disciples, three elders were killed in battle, twenty disciples fell.

Only Ji Ruyue, Xie Liushu, and one female disciple remained, just three survivors.

The True Thunder Sect also faced extreme losses.

Aside from the severely injured sect leader, three elders died in battle, over twenty members survived, but they were heavily wounded.

The other Six Major Sects saw more than half of their elders and disciples perish.

This victory was a hard-fought one.

Yet!

It was a victory worthy of being recorded in the history of the Nine-Sect!

Just a little over two hundred flesh-and-blood bodies had stopped the southern advance of an army of over ten thousand Dead Corpses from the Demon Race!

Such an achievement.

It was a miracle in external war!

A miracle that could never be replicated!

Lei Zhenhai took a deep breath and declared, "In this battle, humanity achieved a great victory!"

"The elders and disciples of each sect have performed extraordinary feats!"

"Our sect will petition the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion to award everyone first-class merits! As well as a box of Dust Heart Pills!"

First-class merit equated to a thousand merit points.

Enough to exchange for the top-grade resources the Nine-Sect disciples dreamed of!

An entire box of Dust Heart Pills could significantly elevate the elders' strength.

Generous rewards finally lifted everyone's spirits.

Dispelling the atmosphere of sorrow.

Li Qingfeng cupped his hands and said, "I feel ashamed as an elder of the Green Cloud Sect."

"I wish to distribute our Dust Heart Pills to the families of the fallen elders."

The Green Cloud Sect was the only sect without casualties.

This was greatly linked to the Replenishing Spirit Pills and Revitalizing Pills provided by Jiang Fan.

As the final reserve force, they played a decisive role.

Otherwise, if they had entered the battle first, it would be almost impossible to not suffer any casualties.

"Hey! That's not acceptable!"

Lei Zhenhai said, "The families of the fallen elders will be additionally compensated by the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion."

"Your Green Cloud Sect turned the tide and held the defense line, giving Heavenly Thunder enough time."

"You deserve the rewards without doubt."

The elders and disciples of other sects also agreed.

If not for the Green Cloud Sect's steadfast defense during the final counterattack.

If the defense line had broken, how could they have waited for the arrival of the Heavenly Thunder?

Besides, it was ultimately Jiang Fan of the Green Cloud Sect who controlled the Heavenly Thunder to decimate the enemy, turning defeat into victory.

Such a tremendous achievement, no reward would be too much for the Green Cloud Sect.

"As for Jiang Fan!"

Lei Zhenhai said loudly:

"Our young hero, step forward quickly!"