I just finished Act 9 yesterday after being away since last May...
Up until the end I thought to myself, "There is going to be someway to bring them back." or "No they are not really dead, maybe absorbed into the sword!"
But it was not to be. Sitting there watching my character and Jinsoyun mourn and the appearance of my students at the end is one of the few times in a game that actually had me shedding some tear at having lost them and the only thing I could say was *cricket* this game *cricket* this game!"
I am still hoping to maybe grind out some Dragon Balls or maybe find a time machine.