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 on a

paying attention?" Azure asked with a frown.

Mortis quickly said as his memories

now his own

longer hinged

Orthar

to continue cultivating with Stella, while Mortis

to watch the sunset

finally never had

returned to Mortis, he felt a

in the past had

he and Azure would spend their time

of them spoke during all of this. In comparison to Stella and Gravis, Mortis and Azure

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

enjoyed being

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 at all

weaker beings, but as soon as he had decided to

the instincts of young and weak animals and beasts

that, Mortis started to think of

children," Azure said at one

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

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

had had plenty of children, but these new children would be

attachments to her children back

watched them from a distance. Since Azure was a beast and Mortis counted as half a beast, the children were born with beast bodies,

Mortis looked at

and just like the last time, the kids didn't

and Mortis were used

to

and they didn't

had also been like that in the past, and she

sure enough, while some of them had died, others

ones that managed to become Star Gods apologized to Azure and

the two

it happened, Mortis felt a

years in total left, three million as an Ancestral God, and ten million as a Divine God,' Mortis

long life ahead

point, it will

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

life have passed, and ten million are

'I'm still young.'

more time passed, Mortis felt more

came closer, Mortis felt more and more

lived for so long, and only this little bit of time is

Death was coming closer.

years, Mortis

want

wanted to stay together

However, they couldn't.

happiness, they would always look towards

towards the end, knowing

as time dragged on, they would keep in

end drew closer,

Mortis wasn't ready yet.