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 beautiful

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

sorry," Mortis quickly

now

survival no longer hinged on

and Orthar had

continue cultivating with Stella,

to watch the sunset together with Azure

had to be apart

memories had returned to Mortis, he felt a deep

had dreamed of in the past had finally

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

of them spent many days on the cliff, just staying by each other's side. None of the two of them spoke during all of this. In comparison to Stella and Gravis, Mortis and Azure were on

about. As soon as she could complain about something, she

enjoyed

want to stay in Eternal Fire Sect since they wouldn't cultivate anymore. Staying in the Cultivation world would only invite danger, and

throughout the entire world, and

interested in weaker beings, but as soon as he had decided to stop cultivating, he had become

interesting how the instincts of young and weak animals and beasts

to think of them as cute

some children," Azure said

these thoughts about simple and weak beings had been a

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

children, but these new

emotional attachments to her

was a beast and Mortis counted as half a beast, the children

time, Azure and Mortis looked

time, the kids didn't feel any

Mortis

only had to be there

and they didn't mind that their children

been like that in

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

to become Star Gods apologized to Azure and Mortis for their previous conduct, and

day, it was time for the two of them

it happened, Mortis

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

a long life ahead

one point, it will

time together with their family,

life have passed, and

'I'm still young.'

as more time passed, Mortis

passed and death came closer, Mortis

for

Death was coming closer.

couple of years, Mortis and

didn't want

wanted to

However, they couldn't.

experiencing a limited time of happiness, they would always look towards the

already looked towards the end, knowing

time dragged on, they would keep

the end drew closer, the

Mortis wasn't ready yet.