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.

as she

SHING!

at the location of the explosion

world

stood Gravis, and before him

were some scattered and burned body parts

and her feelings became a confusing

and emotionless voice appeared inside Stella's mind. "I'm doing

keep his

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

Gravis' words as she looked at the crater in horror

SHING!

at the body parts.

was half a head,

brother's eye, Liam's

and looked at it. The

Gravis couldn't fake that!

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

was no denying

Her brother was dead.

Gravis had killed him!

said quietly, her voice barely

and cruel voice appeared in her mind. "Realize that I took no joy in the act. I had no enmity with

why I've done this. It pains me to do these things

LIAM!" Stella suddenly shouted as all her rage exploded.

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

Stella's body shook.

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

tried to take control of

Gravis was

already lost her

had

make the death

more than anything, Stella felt like she no longer knew the

this? Was this still the nice boy

Stella hesitated.

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

body shook with

Gravis' eyes narrowed.

SLAP!

the side, her body skidding on the ground for many meters. Her mind was filled with shock and horror. This had been a serious attack, and her

just lay there in horror,

Step!

foot appeared in Stella's vision as Gravis stopped in front of

her throat

suppression, and for that, I must take everything

registered Gravis'

SLAP!

to wake her up. Stella's

him and looked directly into her

on, you

"You are mine."

CRK!

Gravis was no longer below Stella in Cultivation. In fact, he was an

at you to kill me, but your mind is

her teeth as uncertainty wrecked

unleashed

to her that she didn't even

Stella felt

to die! He

power! If she killed him, she would never be able to become

wouldn't bring her brother

was to do whatever Gravis

this, she would

she would still have

would still have a path to supreme

these things, her rage and disgust exploded even

brother had just died, but she was

her frenzied mind, she only saw