"Senior."
Li Xiaoyu and the others looked at the illusory figure.
They bowed respectfully to him.
"You..."
The Withered Elder's remnant soul looked at them, astonishment appearing on his illusory face.
"You can actually see me?"
His voice was filled with disbelief.
"Yes."
Li Xiaoyu looked at him and nodded firmly.
"We can see you."
"Heh."
At this, the Withered Elder's remnant soul gave a self-deprecating laugh.
He looked at Li Xiaoyu and the others, his eyes, formed from the power of space and time, filled with relief.
"You truly are the variable capable of finding a sliver of hope for this world."
At his words, Li Xiaoyu fell silent.
He looked at the figure about to fade away, his heart filled with complicated emotions.
"Senior."
After a long while, he finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"Do you have any unfulfilled wishes?"
He looked at the illusory figure and spoke steadily.
"If you do, I will do everything in my power to fulfill them for you."
His words were utterly sincere.
At this, the Withered Elder's remnant soul smiled with relief.
He looked at Li Xiaoyu and slowly shook his head.
"I have no unfulfilled wishes."
He looked at the forest formed by the stone statues, a trace of calm appearing on his illusory face.
"Our Time-Warding Clan has guarded this place for generations."
"Our mission was to protect the peace of that Ancient Well and allow no living being to disturb the order of time."
"Now, we have fulfilled our mission."
"We can die without regrets."
His words were filled with tragic resolve.
Li Xiaoyu and the others bowed respectfully to the forest of stone statues.
"Very well."
The Withered Elder's remnant soul looked at them and spoke slowly.
"I don't have much time left."
"Before I fade away,