Lord of the Truth

"...Soul Creature Trading Hall?" Robin gasped in astonishment, his eyes widening as he swiftly opened that section from the interface. "What is this...?"

<White Wild Rabbit Family — a small, peaceful clan of spiritual creatures. Total Soul Units: 230. Price: 270 Energy Pearls.

Note: Guaranteed to produce an additional rabbit every ten years, each offspring possessing 20 Soul Units.>

<Mixed Aquatic Life Pack — a collection of various fish species. Total Soul Units: 50. Price: 50 Energy Pearls.>

<Ice-Scaled Hexa-Colored Wolf — a rare and majestic predator. Soul Units: 200 Units. Price: 250 Energy Pearls.

Note: Exhibits greater offensive capabilities than other beasts of equivalent unit level.>

<Crimson Bat-Falcon — a winged nocturnal tracker. Soul Units: 30. Price: 70 Energy Crystals.

Note: Possesses an extraordinary ability to detect and follow targets across great distances.>

Robin's brows knitted together tightly, eyes glowing with intrigue. His hands moved with feverish speed, navigating between the listings as if he were racing against time itself. Each new entry sent a jolt of excitement through his chest.

"Amazing..." he muttered, breath catching in his throat. "Is Dreamer Morpheus the one behind all this? Is he the one selling these awesome soul creatures?"

<The soul creatures that belong to Morpheus The Dreamer are sacred and peerless — they are beyond comparison and certainly not available for sale,> the fairy replied with a proud smile.

<All these creatures are being sold by fellow users of the Soul Society, people just like you. In fact, you too can list any soul creature you own on the marketplace.>

She continued with a light, professional tone,

<You are free to set whatever price you deem fair. However, it's widely accepted that one Soul Unit is equal to one Energy Pearl. The higher your asking price goes beyond this average, the harder it becomes to find a buyer. Still, if your creature possesses rare abilities or unique traits, it will attract attention — even at a premium.>

Robin's eyes suddenly flashed with intensity as he pointed at another listing.

"Wait... There's a Crocodile Lion Pride here! Seven hundred Soul Units in total?!"

He inhaled sharply, heart pounding. "Damn it all... I want to buy every single one of these creatures!!"

For the first time in what felt like ages, a surge of raw, childlike excitement bloomed in his chest. Immediate reinforcement of his Soul Unit count — and a steady future stream from breeding or harvesting spiritual essence — what more could he possibly want? With the million pearls in his account, he could easily acquire everything needed to push himself to the mythical mark of one million Soul Units!

But then—

"Wait!" Neri's voice cut through the moment, and she came dashing toward him from behind. She gestured insistently toward the sprite. "Why don't you ask her why everyone isn't doing this already?"

"Hmm?" Robin blinked, his enthusiasm pausing. Something clicked in his memory...

Even Renara — as reserved as she was — surely had access to immense wealth. A million pearls wouldn't be a stretch for someone like her. And yet, she had personally said that she only possessed 170,000 Soul Units. Why hadn't she just bought her way up like he was about to?

<You possess a fine planetary spirit, Mr.Human,> the sprite said with a warm smile, as if reading his thoughts.

She raised her index finger,

<Firstly, the vast majority of the soul creatures listed here are simply too weak. They offer little value in combat situations, and often serve no real benefit beyond padding unit numbers.>

She then raised another finger,

<Secondly — and far more concerning — is that acquiring too many soul creatures from unknown, external sources can damage your soul field. Each beast originates from someone else's soul domain, and you never truly know what might be lingering inside. Those who recklessly accumulate unfamiliar creatures are at risk of developing "Heart Phantoms" — shadowy afflictions that can haunt and weaken the soul.>

Then, a third finger rose,

<And finally, perhaps the most inconvenient reason — soul creatures don't immediately become your own. They require time, effort, and refinement before they fully bond with your Soul Domain. You cannot simply bloat your soul force overnight. There are also—>

"Alright, alright — that's enough." Robin waved her off sharply, the tension showing clearly on his face. "I don't need any more reasons."

Sure, he could brush off the first issue. After all, with the Sun of Nihari by his side, she could empower even the weakest of creatures into formidable allies. But the second and third reasons... those were far more problematic.

Especially the third — the one that crushed his momentary dream. If these spirit creatures needed to be cultivated and refined slowly, then how were they any different from the fledgling soul orbs already floating behind him? What was the point?

If that was truly the case... then he might as well keep his pearls— and his hopes — to himself.

Robin exited the Soul Creature Exchange Hall without hesitation, his curiosity now piqued but far from satisfied. He continued to browse the remaining sections of the Soul Society slowly, savoring each discovery. "Hmm? Life Partner Hall?" he muttered, raising an eyebrow as the name hovered in front of him.

The background of the mirror shifted, revealing a grand, radiant ballroom filled with elegantly dressed men and women. It looked like a wedding celebration in full bloom—gleaming chandeliers, floral arrangements, and flowing music. Every individual was dressed in their absolute best, flowers tucked into their lapels or pinned to their dresses. But what stood out most—none of them wore masks.

"Seriously? We're doing this now?" Robin asked dryly, glancing toward the fairy floating beside the mirror.

<You'd be surprised, Mr. Human, how many souls find their destined partners here each and every day,> she said with a radiant smile, her tone unshaken by Robin's skepticism. <Why not give it a try? Even the strongest souls need companionship.>

Robin gave a short, dry laugh and shook his head. "No thanks. Maybe in another life."

He swiped the interface again, resuming his tour.

"Let's see… Simulation Hall... Challenge Hall... Meditation Hall... Shadow and Meditation Hall... Knowledge Archives... Soul Lineage Registry... Trade Exchange Hub... Hall of Seals and Techniques... Contract Chamber... Judiciary Hall... Grand Lobby... News Pavilion... Hall of—wait, How many are there?!"

The mirror unfurled row after row of names before his eyes—each hall with its own unique function, its own clientele, and its own mystery. The sheer size of it all was staggering.

"Heh... credit where it's due, nameless fairy," Robin muttered with a smirk. "This place really is enormous. No wonder it's said the Soul Society was woven together over tens of millions of years. A construct of such immense scale... there's no way I could ever grasp all of it. Not in a lifetime. And time... that's something I don't have much of."

With a resigned shake of his head, Robin began to pull his hand away from the mirror, ready to close the interface and return to his tasks.

<That's perfectly fine, Mr. Human,> the sprite said, her voice soft yet insistent. <If nothing captured your interest today, at the very least… allow me to introduce you to one last hall. I truly believe it's something you need.>

Before he could object, she quickly scrolled through the long list until the highlight settled on a hall titled: Soul Attire Hall.

Robin's brow rose slightly. "Hmm? What's this? Something I need?" He tapped into the hall's options—and immediately understood.

Color. Fabric. Style. Armor. Cloaks. Light. Shadow.

The interface exploded with visual choices. Attire for soul avatars, fully customizable in both form and hue. Robes that sparkled with celestial patterns, cloaks of shadow that swallowed light, glowing armor sets that looked forged from dream essence itself.

<From this hall, you may acquire spiritual garments for your fragments and soul projections,> the sprite explained with pride. <You can design them however you like—shape, color, texture. Most importantly, these garments allow you to hide your true soul color. Whether it's white, silver, or even violet.>

She pointed directly at Robin.

<As your Soul Unit count grows, the hue of your manifestation deepens—especially for those wielding silver-tier soul force. Skilled opponents can measure your strength with just a glance. And most soul masters find that risk unacceptable.>

She motioned back toward the hall.

<This is why my master, Morpheus the Dreamer, devised this unique system—one that only he could create. A veil for your power. A mask of mystery to keep your secrets safe from both allies and enemies alike.>

Robin was silent for several long seconds, eyes scanning the endless displays, until something caught his attention—a black-and-red cloak, sleek and ominous, with a deep hood that obscured the entire face, "Ha! I know this one," he chuckled, voice thick with nostalgia. "That's the outfit of the Impatient Woman!"

He scrolled further and spotted another familiar design—this one radiated pure white light, encasing the projection in a brilliant, ethereal glow while preserving its shape. "And this one too… I've seen it before."

He glanced down at the price.

"Two thousand energy pearls for the first purchase, and a hundred pearls per month? That's actually... pretty fair." Robin scratched his chin in thought. "Now... does the effect extend to my techniques and soul creatures too? Or is it just for manifestations?"

<Each extension has its own price, of course,> the sprite replied smoothly. <If you wish to apply the effects to your techniques or soul creatures, you'll need a higher-tier subscription.>

She motioned toward a corner of the hall.

<And if you're willing to invest more, we offer premium attire—ones with animated effects, rare abilities, and full customization down to the thread and glow. Designs that are tailored to your personality. Of course… they cost a little extra.>

With a grin slowly spreading across his face, Robin tilted his head left and right, cracking his neck.

"Ohhh... looks like I'm going to be here the rest of the night."