Lightning Is the Only Way

Gravis wasn't sure how he should feel. He had just realized that the children he had fathered and loved for millions of years had actually never existed.

Yet, on the other hand, it only felt natural not to have strong emotional attachments to things that weren't real.

It was just like a long dream.

"How was it?" Mortis asked from the side.

Gravis looked at Mortis with a bitter smile. "Just like you would think. However, I really don't feel much attachment to the things I have experienced and the people I have met. It really feels like a dream."

Mortis took a deep breath.

He knew that Gravis' personality was very stable, and he knew that Gravis wouldn't feel any issues.

However, what about Mortis?

Would he react this calmly?

"Now, it's your turn," Orthar said to Mortis. "Are you ready?"

Mortis took another deep breath and nodded.

Orthar nodded and extended his hand towards Mortis.

And then, Mortis' eyes became vacant.

Gravis looked at Mortis with interest.

"I thought this was instantaneous," Gravis said.

"I can only make time move so fast," Orthar explained. "Samsara doesn't need to invent things. All the perceived realities are already there, and it only has to replay them. That's why Samsara is instantaneous."

"In comparison, I have to continually manage the perceived reality Mortis is currently experiencing. I can only make it move so fast without endangering the management of the actual Cosmos," Orthar explained.

"Huh, so even you can't do anything," Gravis added with a smirk.

"Of course not," Orthar said. "I'm not some omnipotent being. I'm a Cultivator, just like you and everyone else. The only difference is that you can create life via procreation, while I can create a Cosmos. It's not very different. It's only on a grander scale."

"Okay, so how long will Mortis take?" Gravis asked.

"About five years. That's how long it took you."

"Five years? That's pretty fast," Gravis answered.

Orthar didn't answer for several seconds.

"What did you feel during the end of your perceived reality?" Orthar suddenly asked.

"Tons of regret," Gravis answered immediately. "However, that's only natural. I want to cultivate anyway, and I knew from the beginning that I wouldn't truly be happy if things turned out this way."

"Sure, living a fulfilling life with all my friends and family is great, but it's simply too short. I want to cultivate, but when I have been in the perceived reality, it was like I've simply accepted that I wouldn't cultivate anymore."

"Now that I'm awake, it feels so stupid. Why wouldn't I just continue cultivating? That would've solved all my regrets," Gravis said. "In a sense, I feel like I've never had the chance to do what I wanted, which makes the entire dream feel surreal. It's like someone else has lived my life."

Orthar nodded. "That's a good response. Someone with strong convictions won't feel attached to the dream since it forces you into doing something you don't truly want to do. That's also why the dream has basically no effect on you."

"What about Mortis?" Gravis asked.

Orthar only looked at Mortis.

"Huh?" Mortis said in confusion as he opened his eyes.

was currently sitting

a frown. "You said you wanted to see the

Mortis quickly

was now

longer

Opposer and Orthar had gotten

continue cultivating with Stella, while Mortis

sunset together with

had

memories had returned to Mortis, he

dreamed of in the past had finally become a

future since he and Azure would spend their

just staying by each other's side. None of the two of

something to complain about. As soon as she

and Azure simply enjoyed

didn't want to stay in Eternal Fire Sect since they wouldn't cultivate anymore. Staying in the Cultivation world would only invite danger,

and Azure traveled throughout the entire world, and

soon as he had decided to stop

so interesting how the instincts of young and weak animals and beasts worked. It

to think of them as cute

some children," Azure said at one

when Mortis had realized that all these thoughts about simple and weak beings had been a manifestation

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

children, but these new children would be completely different from the old

to her children back then, but things

Mortis soon saw their first batch of children, and they watched them from a distance. Since Azure was a beast and Mortis counted as half a beast,

Azure and Mortis looked

the last time, the kids didn't feel any kind of

Azure and Mortis

only had to be there for

a selfless feeling, and they didn't mind that their children basically

that in the past, and she had

enough, while some of them had died, others managed to become

become Star Gods apologized to Azure and Mortis for their previous conduct, and Azure and Mortis accepted their

was time for the two of them to

it happened, Mortis

only have 13 million years in total left, three million as an Ancestral God, and ten million as

have a long

point, it

Mortis spent their time together with their family, and eventually, it was time to become Divine

total life have passed, and ten million

'I'm still young.'

as more time passed,

years passed and death came closer, Mortis felt more

only have so much time left. I've already lived for so long, and only this little

Death was coming closer.

couple of years, Mortis and Azure only

want to let

wanted to stay together

However, they couldn't.

was experiencing a limited time of happiness, they would always look towards the end.

towards the

they would keep in mind how long

end drew closer, the person

Mortis wasn't ready yet.