Chapter 505: Great Victory at Boundary Mountain

Jiang Fan's eyes widened suddenly. He couldn't believe his ears! He quickly looked down.

Xia Chaoge was lying in Jiang Fan's arms. With difficulty, she half-opened her eyes and asked blankly, "Uncle-master... why are you crying?" She reached out and gently wiped away Jiang Fan's tears.

"You, you're not dead?" Jiang Fan was overjoyed. His heart, which had plummeted into an abyss, instantly soared to the heavens. He hugged her tightly once more, afraid that if he loosened his grip, he would lose her again. The myriad emotions of this unexpected recovery were indescribable.

"Uncle-master... I can hardly breathe..." Xia Chaoge said weakly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

Only then did Jiang Fan quickly lay her flat on the ground, saying helplessly, "Lie still, don't talk. I'll check your pulse."

Watching Jiang Fan, who was usually calm and composed, never flinching even when Mount Tai collapsed before him, now flustered and clumsy like a medical apprentice, Xia Chaoge secretly pressed her lips together. A warmth spread through her heart.

"Several ribs are broken, and your internal organs are severely injured, especially your heart," Jiang Fan said. "Fortunately, you took a Rejuvenation Pill; your injuries are recovering quickly. There's nothing serious now." Jiang Fan let out a long breath. Then, a look of confusion crossed his face. "But you just... never mind, let's not talk about it, it's unlucky."

He was a little puzzled. Xia Chaoge had indeed lost her vital signs earlier. As a master of medicine, Jiang Fan couldn't have misjudged that. But how did she suddenly come back to life? He shook his head. Jiang Fan didn't want to think about it. No matter why, Xia Chaoge being alive was the best possible outcome. Otherwise, he would have regretted it for life, unable to let go.

Everyone was happy about Xia Chaoge's revival. But someone else approached, holding a blood-stained guzheng with a sorrowful expression.

"Jiang Fan." Looking up, Jiang Fan saw Ming Youlian; he stood up, a complicated expression on his face: "Elder Ming, what can I do for you?"

Ming Youlian's aged eyes brimmed with turbid tears. She handed the guzheng in her hand to Jiang Fan. "This is Chaojun's zither, an artifact that can be upgraded. Now, it's yours."

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

Ming Youlian suddenly covered her face with her sleeve, sobbing uncontrollably. Liang Feiyan, beside her, had red eyes and murmured softly: "Junior Brother Fu... has fallen."

Fu Chaojun is dead? Jiang Fan froze on the spot. Memories of his past with Fu Chaojun flashed through his mind. Although they hadn't gotten along well in the past, they had finally set aside their past grievances before the great battle, each wishing the other well. Now, hearing news of him again, he was already in the realm of the heavens. An inexplicable sadness arose in his heart, and he asked: "Was he killed instantly? I gave him a Rejuvenation Pill."

Ming Youlian's sniffling turned into full sobs, and she choked out: "That Rejuvenation Pill... he didn't ask for it for himself. It was for my injuries! My arms were severed by the Red-Scaled Fiend Dragon, and my injuries hadn't fully recovered. That's why he proactively asked you for a Rejuvenation Pill."

Thump— Jiang Fan's heart felt like a war drum being struck. A dull thud echoed. Fu Chaojun, such an arrogant person, humbled himself to ask for medicine, yet it wasn't to save his own life. Instead, he wanted to give his master a greater chance of survival. Jiang Fan clenched his fists, blaming himself: "I should have given him another one."

Ming Youlian hastily said, "No, no, please don't say that. Chaojun was very grateful to you, and ashamed of his past actions. You are a true gentleman; he should have befriended you properly. He said that if he survived this battle, he would carry his zither to Qingyun Sect to find you. To drink wine and discuss music, to delve into the Way of Sound together, to become true soulmates like Boya and Ziqi..." The image of Fu Chaojun, his face full of hope for the future, appeared in her mind, and she broke into uncontrollable sobs, unable to speak further. She simply placed the blood-stained guzheng silently into Jiang Fan's hands. Then, supported by disciples of the Heavenly Sound Sect, she left, tears in her eyes.

The guzheng felt heavy in Jiang Fan's hands. He wasn't holding just a zither; it was an unfulfilled wish, an unfinished regret, a life filled with beautiful expectations for tomorrow. But all of this was shattered by the sudden arrival of the undead army.

Jiang Fan raised his gaze. He looked at the vast undead army retreating in the distance. Hatred ignited in his heart. Why should Fu Chaojun lie forever on the cold snowy plains, filled with regret, while Yaoyue, the culprit, could return safely? He glanced at the sky; residual lightning still lingered. Jiang Fan put away the guzheng and leaped over the Great Wall.

Liang Feiyan's expression changed, and she said, "Junior Brother, come back quickly! Don't chase a cornered foe!" He had already guessed what Jiang Fan intended to do, but that would be too dangerous!

Xia Chaoge struggled to sit up, looked at Jiang Fan's retreating back, and said: "Let him go. Whether he succeeds or fails is up to fate; whether he goes or not is up to his heart."

Liang Feiyan was stunned. After a long moment, she let out a silent sigh: "I finally understand why even his former enemies were willing to befriend him and become his confidants. Having such a friend is enough for this lifetime."

Soon after, amidst profound sorrow and lamentation, Jieshan was cleared. Listening to the casualty reports from each sect, Lei Zhenhai couldn't help but show a mournful expression.

Of the nine major sects, aside from a few severely wounded disciples from the Qingyun Sect, all the other sects suffered heavy casualties! Among them, the Pleasure Sect suffered the most devastating losses. Over twenty members, three elders, and twenty disciples were killed in battle. Only Ji Ruyue, Xie Liushu, and one female disciple remained, a mere three survivors.

The Righteous Thunder Sect was also exceptionally tragic. Aside from their sect master being severely wounded, all three elders were killed in battle, and of their more than twenty members, only five remained alive, all of whom sustained grave injuries.

The remaining six major sects saw more than half of their elders and disciples killed or wounded. The victory in this battle could be called a Pyrrhic victory, yet it was a great triumph worthy of being recorded in the history of the Nine Sects! A mere two hundred or so flesh-and-blood bodies had blocked the demon race's undead army of over ten thousand from advancing south! Such a battle outcome was truly a miracle in foreign warfare, an unrepeatable miracle!

Lei Zhenhai took a deep breath and declared solemnly, "In this battle, we humans achieved a great victory! The elders and disciples of all sects have established unparalleled merits! Our sect shall petition the Heavenly Secret Pavilion to bestow First-Class Merits upon everyone! And distribute a box of Dust Heart Pills!"

A First-Class Merit means one thousand merit points, which can be exchanged for the supreme resources that the disciples of the Nine Sects have always dreamed of! An entire box of Dust Heart Pills can also greatly enhance the strength of the elders. The generous rewards finally lifted spirits, dispelling the atmosphere of grief.

Li Qingfeng cupped his hands and said, "The elders of my Qingyun Sect feel ashamed. We wish to distribute the Dust Heart Pills we received to the families of the fallen elders." The Qingyun Sect was the only one that suffered no casualties. This was greatly related to Jiang Fan providing them with Spirit Replenishment Pills and Rejuvenation Pills. Their role as the last-appearing reserve force was also a decisive factor. Otherwise, if they had entered the battle from the start, it would have been nearly impossible for them to suffer no casualties.

"Hey! No!" Lei Zhenhai said, "For the fallen elders, I will personally petition the Heavenly Secret Pavilion to provide additional compensation to their families. Your Qingyun Sect turned the tide, holding the defensive line until the end and gaining ample time for the Heavenly Thunder. You truly deserve these rewards."

The elders and disciples of the other sects strongly agreed. If it weren't for the Qingyun Sect withstanding the final counterattack, once the defensive line broke, how could they have waited for the Heavenly Thunder to arrive? Moreover, it was Jiang Fan, a disciple of the Qingyun Sect, who ultimately controlled the Heavenly Thunder to annihilate the enemy and completely turn the tide of battle. Given such immense merit, no amount of reward for the Qingyun Sect would be excessive.

"As for Jiang Fan!" Lei Zhenhai declared loudly: "Our young hero, why haven't you stepped forward quickly?"