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!

a forbidden way

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

method could become incredibly dangerous

Wood Element was fine. The person cultivating it would

person would become a bit moody,

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

would only desire freedom and become

The person would simply become more taciturn and inflexible. However, they

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

problems were the last three

only follow their own moral compass. Even more, the Cultivator would retaliate with deadly force against anyone that was perceived to be going against them. Humans needed to work together. One couldn't

battle-crazed maniac. They would require constant bloodshed, destruction, and battle. Humans needed some downtime too. They couldn't fight endlessly all the time. How could such a person fit amongst

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

that was seen as forbidden

teacher were found by the righteous Sects, he would immediately

with a smile. "What if I introduce another

girl answered again.

The teacher nodded. "Correct."

who asked the question.

at the teacher with furrowed brows and threw the girl

if there is a fourth method?" the boy

The students groaned.

let the

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

gritted

was underestimating

so sure?" the

pretty strong, you know. Also, as you see, I'm rather old. I only came to this academy as a guest-teacher because I

the world," the teacher said with a nostalgic voice. "The entirety

student dismissed what the teacher

guy in the second row shouted towards the student that had been arguing with the teacher. "Get off

to argue back, but

was Big Barry, the strongest of the class and also the school

would tear him to pieces in a

an unwilling heart, the student

shot the student a glance and looked back

my choice of words," he

nodded and waved off Big

sat back down, and Mr. Gravis

hour later, the students

with a happy and excited smile as he bought some

since she enjoyed standing in the cool shadows of the

Gravis happily bought two bowls of noodles and

an hour of walking, Mr. Gravis reached the outskirts of

Mr. Gravis went past the last