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

are you paying attention?" Azure asked with a frown. "You

Mortis quickly

now

longer

Opposer and Orthar had gotten

cultivating with Stella, while Mortis had decided to stop

had planned to watch the sunset together with Azure

never had to be

had returned to

of in the past had

no longer needed to fear his future since he and Azure would spend their

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

something to complain about. As soon as she

enjoyed being in each

of them moved to 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

traveled throughout the entire world, and they looked at

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

of young and weak animals and beasts

that, Mortis started to

children," Azure

these thoughts about simple and weak beings had been a manifestation

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

but these new

had no emotional attachments to her children back

they watched them from a distance. Since Azure was a beast and Mortis counted as

Mortis looked at

the kids

and Mortis

had to

they didn't mind that their children

like that in the past, and she had

while some of them had died, others managed to

apologized to Azure and Mortis for their previous conduct,

the two of them to

happened, Mortis

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

have a long

point, it will

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

five million years of my total life have passed, and

'I'm still young.'

more time passed, Mortis felt

passed and death came closer, Mortis felt more and more

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

Death was coming closer.

years, Mortis

want to let

wanted to

However, they couldn't.

would always look

just started, people already looked towards the end, knowing that it

would keep in mind

drew closer,

Mortis wasn't ready yet.