The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

Just then, a strange movement suddenly came from Jiang Chuan's body.

A dark green light flashed, and the Xuan Snake with Azure Scales appeared.

As soon as Qinglin appeared, it opened its mouth and inhaled sharply. The surrounding demonic energy was drawn in by an invisible force and rushed into its mouth.

The azure scales swelled rapidly, becoming enormous, reaching a length of several tens of feet. It swung its massive body and rammed fiercely into Xian Zhen.

A loud bang shook the earth violently.

Xian Zhen was sent flying, arcing through the air before crashing heavily into a distant mountainside, causing it to instantly shatter and sending debris flying.

This sudden turn of events left everyone present stunned.

Jiang Chuan got up from the ground, staring at the huge blue scale in front of him, his face full of disbelief.

He had never imagined that the black serpent within him possessed such immense power.

After Qinglin landed a successful attack, she did not continue to attack. Instead, she slowly shrank her size and finally gently landed back in Jiang Chuan's arms, nuzzling him affectionately.

Watching from the side, Lu Hao couldn't help but tease, "Jiang Chuan, you're really lucky. Qing Lin is so powerful, yet it protects you like this. Maybe it really sees you as its 'mother'!"

Jiang Chuan looked embarrassed and annoyed, "Go away, don't talk nonsense!"

Outside Weicheng, the long and fierce siege gradually came to an end.

The 100,000 ghost soldiers, who had been attacking frantically, seemed to receive a mysterious command, and stopped their offensive in an orderly manner, slowly retreating.

In the plaza between the inner and outer city, the undead cavalry turned their horses around, kicking up clouds of dust.

The survivors of the Heyang cavalry battalion watched the enemy army depart, their feet seemingly nailed to the ground, too heavy to take another step in pursuit.

Of the three thousand cavalrymen who went out of the city to meet the enemy, only one thousand remain. Two thousand vibrant lives have been lost forever on this cruel battlefield.

Zhao Dun, this resolute general, leaned on the Wuji Blade that exuded a sharp aura; though his figure showed signs of fatigue, it remained upright.

He watched silently as the army of the dead retreated, and looked around. Only a few thousand soldiers remained scattered on the outer city walls.

During the siege, the soldiers of Heyang charged up the city walls time and time again, fighting desperately. The walls were piled high with corpses, leaving a scene of utter devastation.

The fire continued to burn relentlessly, and thick smoke billowed, obscuring the sky and threatening to devour everything in the world.

The garrison at Weicheng was reduced from 50,000 before the battle to 30,000, with 20,000 soldiers sacrificing their lives on the battlefield, their lives forever left behind there.

Zhao Dun sighed softly, his face showing exhaustion and helplessness. He ordered the three armies to rest temporarily and move into the inner city.

The outer city gate had been cleaved open by Xian Zhen's sword, leaving it in ruins and unable to bear the heavy responsibility of guarding the city.

Those who survived had neither the time to collect the bodies of their fallen comrades nor the time to rejoice in their own survival.

They were filled with confusion, completely unaware of whether they would be lucky enough to be alive when the sun rose tomorrow.

The Heyang army was in chaos, with soldiers committing atrocities in the inner city, venting their long-suppressed fear and anger without restraint.

The cries of women echoed throughout the city. Some of their husbands had died on the battlefield, while others could only watch helplessly as their loved ones were bullied, powerless to resist and forced to live in humiliation, their hearts filled with resentment towards the perpetrators, yet they could only silently curse them in their hearts.

Zhao Dun summoned his generals in his tent.

His face was grave, and he said in a low voice, "Weicheng cannot be defended. At midnight tonight, the three armies will withdraw through the rear gate."

Upon hearing this, the generals all fell silent.

Zhao Dun must have made this decision after careful consideration. The situation left them with no other choice, after all, the soldiers who had died in battle had mysteriously joined the army of the dead, which made them feel powerless.

Jiang Chuan returned to his courtyard. The city was in chaos, with cries and curses coming from all around, but he paid no heed.

With Yu Youwei's abilities, there is no need to worry about her safety.

Jiang Chuan dragged his exhausted body into the room. As soon as he entered, he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood, which splattered on the floor, a shocking sight.

He quickly sat down cross-legged, took out the healing pills that Yu Youwei had given him and swallowed them. Then he closed his eyes and silently circulated the Pure Yang True Scripture, trying his best to regulate his breathing and heal his injuries.

An hour later, he felt that the internal energy in his body was more abundant than before.

Although this life-or-death battle was dangerous, it also helped him improve his skills through the experience.

Jiang Chuan didn't have time to remove his armor before instructing his soldiers to wake him up before midnight, then fell into a deep sleep.

In the latter half of the night, Qinglin, who had been quietly staying at Jiang Chuan's collar, slowly emerged.

It affectionately licked Jiang Chuan's cheek, then slowly curled up in the blanket beside him, its body emitting a soft blue light that stood out in the dark room.

Jiang Chuan had a strange dream while he was sleeping.

He dreamt that he and Chen Yuanfang secretly went to Cheng Village to peep at Xiao Moli taking a bath. They were so engrossed in watching that they were discovered by Xiao Moli's big wolfhound.

The large wolfhound opened its mouth wide, barking wildly as it lunged at them.

The two were so frightened that they turned and ran. In the chaos, Jiang Chuan's neck was entangled by a vine, and he was suddenly pulled to the ground.

The large wolfhound pounced on him instantly, pinning him down.

Jiang Chuan struggled desperately in his dream, but he could not break free from the giant wolfhound's control.

Suddenly, Jiang Chuan woke up from his dream and felt something wrapped around his neck.

He quickly looked down and was so shocked he almost cried out.

A naked little girl was tightly hugging his neck, curled up against his chest, fast asleep.

Jiang Chuan instantly realized that this little girl was very likely Qing Lin.

He quickly sent a telepathic message to Lu Hao, asking, "What's going on? How did Qing Lin turn into a little girl?"

Lu Hao thought to himself, "This is truly 'interspecies love'!"

Jiang Chuan was both angry and anxious, but there was nothing he could do.

Just as the little girl seemed to sense something, she slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes were clear and bright green, sparkling with liveliness. She looked at Jiang Chuan and obediently licked his cheek again.

Jiang Chuan was caught off guard by this sudden action and was at a loss for what to do.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and an attendant soldier respectfully reminded him from outside: "Sir, it is midnight."

As if startled, Qinglin instantly transformed into a streak of blue light and swiftly burrowed into Jiang Chuan's collar.

Jiang Chuan tried to calm himself down and replied, "I know, I'm coming."

The hour of midnight had arrived, and the soldiers of the three armies held their mouths shut, trying their best not to make a sound.

The back gate of Weicheng opened quietly in silence, and the Heyang army began to retreat in an orderly manner.

On the ruins of Weicheng, Li Tianxing quietly gazed at the retreating Heyang army.

A month ago, the Heyang army stormed into Weicheng with great momentum and imposing presence.

However, just one month later, the Weicheng aristocratic allied forces suffered a major defeat, and the Heyang army occupied the city.

Who could have predicted that just one day later, the situation would change drastically, with Weicheng once again surrounded by enemy forces, and the Heyang army suffering a crushing defeat? Li Tianxing, dressed in black robes, stood atop the city wall, gazing northwards at Hulao Pass. He was determined to engage Xie Xuan in a life-or-death duel in this southern region, a fight to the death.

The night wind blew fiercely, whipping up the snow on the plains and hurling it into the night sky, where it slammed heavily onto people's faces, causing them great pain.

The retreat of the Heyang army was a complete failure and escape.

On the battlefield, they watched helplessly as their comrades, after dying in battle, mysteriously rose again and became part of the enemy army.

This terrifying situation instantly threw the morale of the Heyang army into chaos.

Left with no other option, Zhao Dun had to order a retreat.

It seems that Xie Xuan's "three-day order" was not violated at this moment.

On the first day, Xian Zhen did not attack the city; on the second day, he breached the outer city; midnight arrived, and the third day came as scheduled.

Rather than sitting idly in the inner city waiting for the city to fall, it would be better to withdraw the troops on the third day. This would at least save the lives of 30,000 people and give them a chance to return to Heyang City alive.

When the Heyang army captured Weicheng, everyone thought the war was over, and no one expected it would continue.

The palace containing the underground protective formation of Weicheng was unguarded.

The palace was easily destroyed, and the defensive formation of Weicheng completely collapsed.

In Xian Zhen's eyes, Weicheng was now extremely vulnerable and defenseless.

Heyang City is different. The city's defensive formation is guarded by elite troops in layers, and the loyal guards in the palace will never easily allow the enemy to destroy the crucial Zhou Tian Formation.

Therefore, Heyang City was the truly impregnable defensive line.

Jiang Chuan and Yu Youwei rode their horses side by side, moving slowly forward.

Subtle emotional shifts were subtly revealed during their conversation.

Jiang Chuan was worried about Yu Youwei's safety and kept asking her along the way, "Youwei, are you alright? Be careful on this journey."

But Yu Youwei seemed to be doing it on purpose, never responding to his calls, thinking that she wanted him to experience what it felt like to worry about the safety of others.

Having experienced the trip to Dushan and the Battle of Weicheng, Jiang Chuan's demeanor has become noticeably more mature and composed.

He is no longer the naive young man he once was. Having gone through many life-and-death trials, every move he makes exudes composure.

Yu Youwei also realized in this war that the martial arts world was far from the peaceful place she had imagined, but rather a place rife with undercurrents and hidden dangers.

As they were talking, Jiang Chuan accidentally touched Yu Youwei's face.

The two of them froze instantly, as if the air around them had solidified.

Uncle Long's face darkened, and he instinctively wanted to draw his sword, but Qing'er quickly stopped him.

Yu Youwei snapped out of her daze and teased, "Jiang Chuan, what's wrong with you? You're acting like a young girl experiencing her first love."

Jiang Chuan blushed when she said that. He opened his mouth but couldn't say a word, looking extremely embarrassed.

The Heyang army dared not stop during their retreat, traveling through the night. A terrifying army of the dead could pursue them at any moment.

Thirty thousand soldiers marched at breakneck speed, taking three whole days. Finally, on the evening of the third day, they arrived at the walls of Heyang City. This marching speed was the pinnacle of the northern frontier in a century.

When Lu Qian, the acting garrison commander of Heyang, learned of the army's return, he personally came to the city gate and opened it to welcome the army into the city.

To reward the soldiers for their hard work on the journey, Lu Qian specially prepared a sumptuous feast.

Jiang Chuan also received an invitation to the dinner.

Before the banquet began, as everyone was saying goodbye, Jiang Chuan hesitated for a moment before approaching Yu Youwei and softly asked, "Youwei, what are your plans for the future?"

After pondering for a moment, Yu Youwei said, "With the current chaos of war, returning to the Song Dynasty is too dangerous. Let's wait until the Southern Regions are at peace before making any plans."

If you have time, come find me at the Chamber of Commerce, and we'll go to Zuixianlou together to try their famous "Immortal's Intoxication."

After saying that, she turned and boarded the carriage prepared by the Chamber of Commerce, and slowly drove away.

In Qingfeng Garden at Hulao Pass, Xie Xuan was sitting opposite a special guest dressed in white, enjoying tea.

This man in white exuded a profound aura, clearly not an ordinary person; his true age was far more than the thirty years he appeared to be.

The two sipped tea while discussing the situation in Dushan.

The man in white spoke first: "I heard that Xian Zhen's 60,000 ghost soldiers passed through Dushan, and 10,000 of them were left there forever."

Xie Xuan gently put down his teacup and explained unhurriedly, "Those are not ordinary ghost soldiers, but demon soldiers."

Seventy years ago, Xian Zhen's army of 60,000 was annihilated at Dushan. The resentment and obsession in their hearts were awakened by the Demonic Sect through special means, thus transforming them into the army of the dead they are today.

The man in white breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Luckily, they weren't real ghost soldiers. If they were, they would have been really difficult to deal with."

The two exchanged a smile, each picked up their teacup, and raised it towards the air.

Zhao Dun's reward was like a timely rain, allowing the soldiers' long-tense nerves to completely relax.

The taverns and restaurants in the city were packed with soldiers in military uniforms.

They picked up their large bowls, drank heartily, and chewed on the delicious meat, their joyful laughter echoing in every corner.

The fatigue from the Battle of Weicheng seemed to be gradually dissipating under the influence of this fine wine and food.

They reveled in this rare moment of relaxation, as if the brutal battle had been nothing more than a terrible nightmare, and that the dream had ended, with the terrifying demons vanishing without a trace.

Zuixianlou, the most luxurious restaurant in Heyang City, is bustling with activity.

The building was brightly lit, and the melodious sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments drifted through the air.

On the rooftop of the restaurant, Jiang Chuan and Mu Chen had already removed their battle-worn uniforms and changed into lighter clothes, sitting opposite each other.

The cold winds of the North were howling, but they did not dampen their spirits.

Jiang Chuan reached out and picked up the wine pot, deftly pouring a cup of wine for himself and Mu Chen each.

The wine sloshed gently in the glass, releasing its rich aroma.

He picked up his wine cup and said to Mu Chen, "Brother Mu, let's drink to our hearts' content today!" With that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Mu Chen also smiled, picked up his wine glass, and drank it all in one gulp.

He put down his wine glass, looked at Jiang Chuan with a hint of curiosity, and asked, "Brother Jiang, I've always had a question. You once said that there are dead people coming back to life on the battlefield. What exactly is going on?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chuan's thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the past.

He poured himself another glass of wine and slowly said, "I heard about this from Master Xie Xuan. He once mentioned a divine medicine called 'Immortal Grass' when he was drunk."

Legend has it that this "immortal herb" can bring people back to life; even those who have been dead for a long time can regain their vitality after consuming it.

At this point, Jiang Chuan clenched his fists tightly and said resolutely, "In this life, I must become the most powerful person in the Nine Provinces, find the Immortal Grass, and resurrect the woman who died because of me."

Mu Chen felt a growing respect for Jiang Chuan. (End of Chapter)