Lightning Is the Only Way

The elders were incredibly nervous. They hadn't faced such a danger to the Lightning Sect before in their lives. After all, Lasar was the strongest Sect Master out of all the Sect Masters. On top of that, they also had Old Man Lightning. In their minds, there hadn't been anything that could threaten the well-being of the Lightning Sect.

The elder responsible for internal affairs had already started planning. After all, planning these things was his responsibility. "I see four possible solutions to this," he said.

Old Man Lightning looked at him. "Then let's hear them."

The elder walked into the middle of the hall. He was too riled up, and his brain thought too quickly to stay put in his throne. "First solution. We won't make any more Destruction Lightning disciples. Like this, we can keep the old Sect and the quota. Of course, the bad thing is that we would give up our path forward."

"I disagree with that," said another elder. "Giving up our path forward isn't worth it."

Stor also nodded. "I also disagree."

Old Man Lightning lifted his hand to stop the discussion. "What's the second one?" he asked.

The elder continued. "Second solution. We keep a carefully maintained balance of disciples that cultivate natural lightning and Destruction Lightning. Like that, no side can become more powerful. Of course, that could still lead to civil war, and keeping the numbers equal isn't the same as keeping the strength equal. One side just needs one more top expert to dominate the other."

"Also disagree," one elder said. "This would still create a civil war. Like this, the Sect will split into two. This is no solution."

Old Man Lightning shook his head. "This is unacceptable. Third solution, please," he said.

"Third solution. We split the Sect into a Destruction Lightning Sect and Natural Lightning Sect. Like this, we don't have any conflicts between the side."

time. This solution was worthwhile

instance, but become weaker. After all, we

"This is a bad solution. You guys don't

looked at Old Man Lightning. "What do you mean?"

Tempering Realm," Old Man Lightning started explaining. "You have the choice between natural lightning and

realized what Old Man Lightning meant, and they

weaker element? Destruction Lightning is objectively more powerful. If we split our Sects, the Destruction Lightning Sect will flourish while the old Lightning Sect would deteriorate until nearly nothing remained. Without new blood to replace the old, the

the elder responsible for internal affairs again. "What's the last

from now on, learn Destruction Lightning. The new will completely replace the old. Until the natural lightning people die out, we will maintain the current rules. Like this, the internal conflict will still be there, but there won't be any civil war.

in all, logically, this was the best decision. The

same element. It bound them together into one force. Yet, if they decided to go through with this, they would become the last members that would cultivate this, ever. To them, it felt like they were a

different from others. They felt like they were the last humans. They felt like they were about

the Destruction Lightning cultivators as other people. They also cultivated lightning, after all. They weren't different from them. Yet, with

it or if both parties were at the same level. If both parties were at the same level, it only needed one side to agree. Natural lightning cultivators would find that unfair since Destruction Lightning cultivators could

fight four or five levels above his own in the Energy Gathering Realm, yet he could only barely

level higher in the Energy Gathering Realm. Yet, this half level, or one level, could be

they thought about the differences, they also saw several things that they would consider unfair. Someone with Destruction Lightning could bully or anger anyone with natural lightning as long as they were at the same level.

up when between factions would anger the Destruction Lightning cultivators. After all, it had always been the Realm that decided the fairness in a fight. If Destruction Lightning cultivators were only allowed to fight one level above themselves against natural lightning cultivators, this would break the fairness in their

kind. The cultivation of natural lightning was about to die out. The fourth solution was the best one, logically speaking, but the most painful for the elders to make. It felt like they brought the blade down on their own kind. Their kind was about

for keeping the peace," Old Man Lightning