Lightning Is the Only Way

"No, you can't just cultivate all of the Elements. That's not how it works."

A middle-aged man with black hair was currently standing in front of several youngsters in a lecture hall. The students listened intently to their teacher as he taught them the basics of Cultivation.

"Why not?" a youngster near the back asked with a frown.

"Because, no matter what you do, the Elements will clash in one way or another," the teacher said.

The teacher walked over to the blackboard, and three pictures appeared on the blackboard like magic. All three pictures showed a stickman and a white sphere.

The first picture showed how the white sphere was inside the stickman.

The second picture showed how the white sphere was bound by a chain, which was being held by the stickman.

The third picture only showed the stickman, but there were lines that indicated that he was shining.

"As you all already know," the teacher said. "There are three ways to cultivate with an Element. However, every single method has an issue when more than one Element appears."

The teacher pointed to the first picture.

"The first method is to absorb the Element into your body, creating an Elemental Seed. As you all know, this method is the easiest to cultivate, but you can't use it forever. At one point, you have to switch to one of the other two. Yet, the later you do it, the harder it becomes."

Suddenly, a black sphere appeared beside the white sphere in the first picture.

"Now, can anyone tell me what will happen if we introduce a second Element?" the teacher asked.

One of the very few girls in the class stood up. "They will clash inside your body. You will most likely die, but if you somehow manage to survive, the two Elements will either have canceled each other out, or one will have prevailed, leaving you with that one."

The teacher nodded with appreciation. "Correct."

"Now, the second method," the teacher said as he pointed at the second picture, the one with the chained white sphere. "The second method is to completely subdue the Element. Cultivating this method is harder, but you won't be influenced by the temperaments of the Elements."

Then, the black sphere appeared again.

"What if we introduce a second Element?" the teacher asked.

The same girl answered again. "The same thing will happen. Just because you have the Element under control doesn't mean that they won't clash with each other."

The teacher nodded.

Then, he pointed at the third picture. "The third method is to assimilate the Element. This is one of the easiest and most powerful ways to connect with an Element. Your affinity towards it will also increase by several ranks. Sadly, advantages come with disadvantages, and disadvantages come with advantages."

"This method will slowly change your mindset until you are not yourself anymore. You will slowly adopt the temperament of the Element until your own temperament nearly perfectly reflects it."

The students didn't think much of these words since they had heard them before.

However, if any member of the Nine Elements Sect or its subsidiary Sects had heard these words, they would explode with righteous anger.

This was forbidden!

forbidden way to

with the Elements was possible, and yes, it would increase one's affinity with

become incredibly dangerous depending on which Element a

Wood Element was fine. The person cultivating it would only

Element was also fine. The person would become a bit

okay. The person would think of themselves as better and always right, but they could still

would

simply become more taciturn and inflexible. However, they would become very dependable

okay. The person might seek battle more than others, but they would still

the

more, the Cultivator would retaliate with deadly force against anyone that was perceived to be going against

battle. Humans needed some downtime too. They couldn't fight endlessly all the time. How could such a person fit amongst

become an unfeeling psychopath. They would manipulate other humans for

forbidden in this world

were found by the righteous Sects, he would immediately be executed

the third method?" the teacher asked with a smile. "What

answered again. "You

The teacher nodded. "Correct."

student who asked the question. "Does this answer

brows and threw the

is a

The students groaned.

let the teacher

answered patiently. "There could be a fourth method. After all, I don't know everything. However,

student gritted

was

you so sure?" the student asked with an icy

you see, I'm rather old. I only came to this academy as a guest-teacher because I was bored. I'm simply living out

the teacher said with a nostalgic

student dismissed what

teacher. "Get off your high horse! Our last elemental teacher only knew of a single method, and it was far worse than

student wanted to argue back, but he

the strongest of the class

would tear him to pieces in a

heart, the student

the student a glance and looked back at the

"Excuse me for my choice of words," he said politely. "Please continue

Gravis nodded and waved off Big Barry's apology.

and Mr.

hour later, the students

city streets with a happy and excited smile as he bought some food from a middle-aged lady in an

cart was very remote since she enjoyed standing in the cool shadows of the buildings,

bought two bowls of

reached the outskirts

Mr. Gravis went past the last building and walked up a