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 beautiful

attention?" Azure asked with a frown. "You said

right, sorry," Mortis quickly

now his

longer hinged

Orthar had gotten

cultivating with Stella, while Mortis

the sunset

never had to

returned to Mortis, he felt a deep

had dreamed of in the

needed to fear his future since he and Azure would spend their time together

side. None of the two of them spoke during all of this. In comparison to

complain about. As soon as

Azure simply enjoyed being in each other's

They didn't want to stay in Eternal Fire Sect since they wouldn't

throughout the entire world, and they looked at

beings, but as soon as he had

was so interesting how the instincts of young and weak animals and

top of that, Mortis started to think of them as

have some children," Azure

and weak

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

but these new children

had no emotional attachments to her

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

and Mortis looked at

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

Mortis were used to

had to be there for

and they didn't mind that

like that in the

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

to Azure and Mortis for

day, it was time for the two of them to become Ancestral

happened, Mortis

left, three million as an Ancestral God, and

still have a long life

point, it

time together with their family, and eventually, it was time to

total life

'I'm still young.'

as more time passed,

the years passed and death came closer, Mortis felt

for so long, and

Death was coming closer.

years, Mortis and Azure only embraced

didn't want to

wanted to

However, they couldn't.

always look towards the end.

it just started, people already looked towards

would keep in mind how long

end drew closer,

Mortis wasn't ready yet.