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.

currently sitting on a

Azure asked with a

yeah, right, sorry," Mortis quickly

was now

survival no longer

Opposer and Orthar had gotten over

to continue cultivating with Stella, while Mortis had decided to stop

watch the sunset together

had to

memories had returned to Mortis, he felt a deep

had dreamed of in the past had finally

future since he and Azure would spend their time together from

the cliff, just staying by each other's side. None of the two of them spoke during all of this. In comparison to Stella and Gravis, Mortis

didn't have something to complain about. As soon as she could

Azure simply enjoyed

Opposer City. They 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

traveled throughout the entire world, and

beings, but as soon as he had

and weak animals and beasts worked.

of that, Mortis started to

have some children," Azure said at one

these thoughts about simple and

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

these new children would be completely different from the old

emotional attachments to her children back then, but things were different

from a distance. Since Azure was a beast and Mortis counted as half

this time, Azure and Mortis looked at their children

time, the kids didn't feel any kind of familial love towards

Azure and Mortis were

had to

they didn't mind that their children

had also been like that in the

of them had died, others managed to become Star

ones that managed to become Star Gods apologized to Azure and Mortis for their previous conduct,

day, it was time for the

Mortis

million years in total left, three million as an Ancestral God,

a long life

one point, it

time together with their family, and eventually, it was

my total life have passed, and

'I'm still young.'

more time passed,

passed and death came closer, Mortis felt more and

so much time left. I've already lived for so long, and

Death was coming closer.

of years, Mortis and Azure only embraced each

didn't want

to stay together

However, they couldn't.

someone was experiencing a limited time of happiness, they would always

looked towards the end, knowing that it would

time dragged on, they would keep in mind

drew closer, the person would

Mortis wasn't ready yet.