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.

sitting on a

with a

Mortis quickly said as

now his

survival no longer hinged on

Orthar had gotten over

continue cultivating with Stella, while Mortis

the sunset together with

had to be apart

memories had returned to Mortis, he felt

had dreamed of in

needed to fear his future since he and Azure would spend

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

have something to complain about. As soon as

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

Azure traveled throughout the entire world, and they looked at all the different things

the past, Mortis hadn't been interested in weaker beings, but as soon as he had decided to stop cultivating, he had become

instincts of young and weak animals and beasts

that, Mortis started to think of them as

Azure

thoughts about simple and weak beings had been a manifestation of his

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

these new children

to her children back then, but things

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,

this time, Azure and Mortis

met them, and just like the last time, the

Azure and Mortis were

to

they didn't mind that their

had also been like that in the past, and

them had died, others managed to become

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

the two of them to become Ancestral

Mortis

as an Ancestral God, and

have a long life ahead of

at one point,

together with their family,

of my total life have passed, and ten million

'I'm still young.'

passed,

death came closer, Mortis felt more and

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

Death was coming closer.

Mortis

want to

to

However, they couldn't.

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

just started, people already looked towards the

dragged on, they would keep in mind how long they

end drew closer, the

Mortis wasn't ready yet.