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

with a frown. "You said

Mortis quickly said as his memories

was now

no longer

the Opposer and Orthar

with Stella, while

watch the sunset together with Azure to commemorate their

finally never had to be apart

returned to Mortis, he felt

dreamed of in the past had

no longer needed to fear his future since he and Azure

the cliff, just staying by each other's side. None of the two of them spoke during all of this. In

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

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

traveled throughout the entire world, and they looked

but as soon as he had decided to

instincts of young and weak animals and

that, Mortis started to think of them as

some children," Azure

about simple and weak beings had been a manifestation of his desire to

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

new children

emotional attachments to her children back then, but things

Azure was a beast

Mortis looked

just like the last time, the kids didn't

Azure and Mortis were used

had to

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

been like that in

enough, while some of them had died,

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

day, it was time for the two of

happened, Mortis felt a

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

still have a long life ahead

at one point,

their family, and eventually, it was time to

my total life have passed, and

'I'm still young.'

as more time passed, Mortis felt

the 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 bit of

Death was coming closer.

Mortis and Azure only

want to

to

However, they couldn't.

always look towards the end. School holidays and vacations were such

it just started, people already looked towards the

they would keep

end drew closer, the person would

Mortis wasn't ready yet.