Chapter 282 The EndThis place no longer belongs to us
As the spiritual Chi continued to dissipate, the impact of the virus on humans gradually decreased, and even awakened individuals found their abilities weakening.
The power of technology began to rise again, leading to a resurgence in the human population.
Fiona realized that her era had ended, so she handed over all her responsibilities to Nora and returned to Azure Isle to enjoy the remainder of her life.
At this time, Azure Isle was the only place in the world still retaining sufficient spiritual Chi, thanks to the spirit-gathering formation that continually concentrated the world's remaining spiritual Chi.
When the spiritual Chi in this realm eventually vanished, Elijah set up an additional barrier formation to prevent the loss of spiritual Chi from Azure Isle.
Using spirit stones embedded in his ring, he ensured that Azure Isle remained densely filled with spiritual Chi and that none of it leaked into the outside world.
For the next hundred years, Elijah occasionally practiced and celebrated with the women, observing the changes in the outside world.
A hundred years was enough for several generations to pass away.
Many of Elijah's acquaintances, like Gabriel, Emily, Xavier, and Vincent, all eventually died.
After all, Chi Refining cultivators have a maximum lifespan of fifty to a hundred years.
Although the Azure Isle provided some relief by purging the accumulated virus, it couldn't extend their lifespans beyond their natural limits.
Even Lillian eventually left Elijah.
Only the people on Azure Isle, benefiting from the spirit stones and spiritual Chi, continued to live long lives.
Due to the protective formation covering Azure Isle, it gradually became unknown to the outside world over the following century.
After a hundred years, Elijah's cultivation progressed to the late Golden Core stage.
Among the women, only Daisy continued to advance after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, eventually breaking through to the early Golden Core stage.
The others, whether due to innate limitations or limited aptitude, saw their progress stagnate after the Foundation Establishment stage.
Seeing this, Elijah chose not to break through the void but instead decided to remain there.
Time passed slowly again for another hundred years.
By then, the spiritual stones in Elijah's spatial ring were nearly exhausted, and they could no longer maintain the barrier around Azure Isle.
Elijah and the women returned to the now-thriving city and bought a villa in the suburbs, beginning to experience the life of ordinary people once more.
Without the sustaining spiritual Chi, even though they didn't use their mana regularly, the women's realms gradually fell.
First was Grace, whose appearance aged quickly after falling back to the Foundation Establishment stage.
Then Katherine, Sophia, Jasmine, and others followed in their decline.
Elijah and Daisy, with the highest cultivation and supplemented by the purified soul crystals from corpse cores, were less affected.
However, they still changed their appearances, growing old alongside their beloved ones and sisters with whom they had spent hundreds of years.
Years passed, and after more than a decade, Elijah and Daisy returned to Azure Isle. They buried Fiona's remains there.
Alongside Fiona, they also interred the remains of others such as Hannah, Katherine, and Grace, who had spent hundreds of years on the island.
This place held their youth and their lives.
Standing before the graves, the two looked at the tombstones in silent contemplation. Now, only the two of them remained.
"Daisy!"
"Yes, Elijah!"
"This place no longer belongs to us. We should leave."
"Yes, Elijah, wherever you go, I will follow."
As the words were spoken, the two elderly figures standing before the tombstones gradually began to rejuvenate. Enjoy exclusive content from empire
One became a handsome youth, and the other a youthful maiden. They held hands, and the youth made a sweeping gesture with his finger.
In the blurred vision, one could see a small, infant-like figure within him making the same gesture.
The void in front of them was suddenly torn open, revealing the chaotic void beyond.
The youth did not act immediately but instead sensed something and said, "I've found Charlotte's location!"
In his consciousness, a faint thread connected to an unnamed distant place.
"Let's go!"
The two transformed into a streak of light and plunged into the void.
Inside an ancient stone building, a graceful woman sat cross-legged, practicing her cultivation. Nearby, an old man observed her with a satisfied nod.
"This girl's innate talent is her spiritual consciousness, a power that only cultivators beyond the Foundation Establishment stage possess. With this foundation, breaking through Foundation Establishment is indeed effortless!"
However, his brow soon furrowed.
"But this girl lacks spiritual roots. Cultivation after Foundation Establishment will be challenging. She needs a new cultivation method!"
The old man pondered for a long while until the graceful woman opened her eyes.
"Master, I've succeeded in Foundation Establishment!" the woman said happily.
"Very good!" the old man nodded in approval. Then he continued, "Now, use your innate talent to show me."
"Certainly, Master!" The woman replied, immediately activating her spiritual consciousness and directing it towards the old man.
The old man was startled, feeling as though he was being observed by a peer at his own level.
"Spiritual consciousness?" the old man asked in astonishment.
Spiritual consciousness was a technique possessed only by Golden Core cultivators.
Unlike the spiritual consciousness of Foundation Establishment, which can only perceive a few meters around oneself and is mainly used to aid in cultivation, spiritual consciousness can cover several miles, or even tens of miles.
A late-stage Golden Core expert like the old man could extend it across dozens of miles.
Beyond its extensive range, spiritual consciousness is also powerful in exploration, aiding in artifact refinement, alchemy, and even combat.
Despite the fact that her spiritual consciousness was still weak, it was indeed unmistakably spiritual consciousness.
"An innate talent indeed, quite mysterious. Although people from your world lack spiritual roots and are not suited for new methods... Perhaps ancient cultivation methods from the predecessors might suit you better!"
"Ancient immortal cultivation methods?" The woman's eyes were filled with curiosity.
"Never mind, I will go to the sect's Scripture Pavilion to find one for you. If it's not available in our sect, I will go to other sects and get one for you, even if it means begging," the old man said, then transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the sky.
Watching her master depart, the graceful woman felt a sudden pang of nostalgia for her homeland.
"Sixty years have passed in the blink of an eye. I wonder how Daisy and the others are doing now..." she sighed, then used her spiritual consciousness to check herself.
She felt a cluster of energy, huddled together near the back of her head, as if it were very afraid of her.
"The Seed of Consciousness is still there, meaning that fellow is safe. I wonder when they will come..."
At that moment, as she retracted her spiritual consciousness, the Seed of Consciousness in the back of her head suddenly stirred, as if sensing something, but it quickly settled down again.
"Mm? Is that... Elijah?"
(The End)