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!

was a forbidden way

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

dangerous

was fine. The person cultivating it would only become tranquil

The person would become a bit moody,

of themselves as better and always right, but they could still interact

was also fine. The person would

was fine too. The person would simply become more taciturn and inflexible. However, they would become very dependable in

The person might seek battle more than others, but

the last three

Even more, the Cultivator would retaliate with deadly force

maniac. They would require constant bloodshed, destruction, and battle. Humans needed some downtime too. They couldn't fight endlessly all the

also be horrible. The Cultivator would basically become an unfeeling psychopath. They would manipulate other humans for their personal gain, which

method that was seen as forbidden in this world was being taught

this teacher were found by the righteous Sects, he would

third method?" the teacher asked with a

girl answered again.

The teacher nodded. "Correct."

who asked the question. "Does this

at the teacher with furrowed brows and threw the girl that had answered

a fourth method?" the boy

The students groaned.

let the

method. After all, I don't know everything.

student gritted his

teacher was

you so sure?" the student asked with an

know. Also, as you see, I'm rather old. I only

I've seen quite a bit of the world," the teacher said with a nostalgic voice. "The entirety of my knowledge can only

what the teacher

big guy in the second row shouted towards the student that had been arguing with the teacher. "Get off your high horse! Our last elemental teacher only

back, but he

strongest of the class and also the

him to pieces

student sat down and went

Barry shot the student a glance and looked back at the

Big Barry bowed politely. "Excuse me for my choice of words," he said politely.

waved off Big Barry's apology. "It's

back down, and Mr. Gravis continued

hour later, the

and excited smile as he bought some food

standing in the cool shadows of the buildings,

Gravis happily bought two bowls of noodles and

Mr. Gravis reached the outskirts of the city.

Mr. Gravis went past the last building