Lightning Is the Only Way

Gravis teleported once more and arrived at the usual clearing. However, he wasn't alone this time.

Gravis looked at Stella and also noticed her brother, Liam, beside her.

When Stella saw Gravis, she smiled happily. She had missed him.

Gravis smiled back at her. He had also missed her.

However, Gravis' gaze turned to Liam, and it was no longer friendly.

Liam harrumphed and looked away. By now, Liam had become an Early Minor Circulation Immortal King. However, his Will-Aura was on the level of a Late Minor Circulation Immortal King's, quite impressive. It wasn't nearly as powerful as Gravis' Will-Aura, but having a Will-Aura two levels above oneself was really impressive, especially since they had only been apart for about 25 years.

Back then, Liam's Will-Aura had only been on the level of a Peak Immortal's. His Will-Aura had increased by three cultivation levels since then, which meant that he had probably gone through his fair share of battles.

Stella's Realm and Will-Aura were still mostly the same, but not completely. Her Will-Aura had taken a minuscule step forward, but this didn't count for anything.

She had probably tried to increase her Will-Aura but realized that it just wasn't that easy anymore. Her teacher's interference had hit her hard.

"Hey, Gravis," Stella said with a happy smile as she came closer. "As you can see, I'm back."

Gravis looked at her, but his expression turned to a bitter smile. Then, he released a sigh and narrowed his eyes.

Stella was surprised by Gravis' reaction. Why was he suddenly so serious?

However, when she saw Gravis glaring at her brother, she realized why. "Oh, it's fine!" Stella said. "Don't worry, he is not going to attack you."

Liam rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, sis has convinced me," he said nonchalantly. "You can do whatever you want. I'm only here to keep an eye on her."

Stella smiled at her brother. This meant a lot to her.

After all, her brother was the closest and most important person in her life, and there was a great possibility that Gravis might also become one of the most important people in her life in the future. She didn't want any animosity between them.

Gravis continued looking expressionlessly for several seconds, not saying anything.

As time passed, Stella felt uncomfortable.

Why was Gravis acting this way?

As far as she knew, this didn't fit Gravis at all. They had talked a lot, and in her mind, Gravis was definitely not a person who held needless grudges.

Liam's eyes also narrowed as he looked at Gravis. "What are you looking at?" he asked with some annoyance. Being constantly stared at was not comfortable.

Gravis turned away from Liam after some seconds and looked at Stella with narrowed eyes.

For some reason, Stella felt nervous when Gravis looked at her like that. What was going on? Gravis was utterly different from usual.

"I have told you in the past that I can't tell you how to solve your issue," Gravis said to Stella in an even tone. "Knowing what it is will make it harder to comprehend it. However, this is only one part of the story."

Stella felt uneasy as she heard Gravis while Liam summoned some of his Energy. Stella might not know it, but Liam knew where this was going.

Because of that, Liam slowly took out his weapon, which was a thin rapier.

Stella saw Liam taking out his weapon, and her face whitened.

What was going on!?

"The other reason," Gravis said slowly as he turned to Liam. "Is that it requires you to be at the lowest point in your life. Only when you have lost everything can you realize it."

A dark feeling of foreboding suddenly appeared in the atmosphere, and Stella's face transformed into horror.

Liam gritted his teeth as he teleported away.

"I'm doing this for your own good," Gravis said.

SHING!

Gravis also teleported away.

Silence.

'W-What?' was all that Stella could think after some seconds.

BOOOOM!

Lightning exploded in the distance. The explosion wasn't very loud, but Stella knew how far away it had happened.

she screamed as she

SHING!

at the location of the explosion after three

her world

and before him was a gigantic

and burned body parts with tons of wealth strewn all around

what had happened, and

of your life," Gravis' dark and emotionless voice appeared inside

keep

only the first step," Gravis said. "You need

only barely registered Gravis' words as she looked at the crater in horror

SHING!

the crater and looked at the body parts. One part, in particular,

head, with

brother's eye, Liam's

grabbed it and looked at it. The

Gravis couldn't fake that!

signet of the Nine Elements Sect among the objects surrounding Liam's corpse. It still held the

no

Her brother was dead.

Gravis had killed him!

quietly, her voice barely

no joy in the act. I had no

the reason why I've done this. It pains me to do these things to you,

her rage exploded. She quickly retrieved her saber

attack me now, you will never become more powerful," Gravis said

Stella's body shook.

in direct conflict. Right now, she hated Gravis so much that she wanted to kill him

her mind tried to take control of

was

already lost her

sacrifice had

now would make the death of her

anything, Stella felt like she no longer knew the person in

the nice boy she had

Stella hesitated.

said slowly as he walked closer. "From now on, you are no longer in control over

with emotions

Gravis' eyes narrowed.

SLAP!

mind was filled

there in horror,

Step!

vision as Gravis stopped in

throat and lifted her

suppression, and for that, I must

registered Gravis'

SLAP!

other hand to wake her up. Stella's eyes saw white

him and looked

you are no longer

"You are mine."

CRK!

Cultivation. In fact, he

to resist. Your emotions are screaming at you to kill me, but your mind is unsure. You didn't even unleash a Law with your attack because you are

gritted her teeth as uncertainty

she unleashed a

she didn't even dare to attack

first time, Stella

He had killed

would never be able to become powerful in the future!

Gravis wouldn't bring her brother

to do whatever

she would still have a

would still

have a path to supreme

she thought these things, her rage and

was only thinking

mind, she only