Lord of the Truth

Robin then drew out several more tablets from within the ring, their surfaces glowing faintly with runes that flickered like living fireflies. His voice was calm yet carried a weight of authority, "I know that Sky Opening City has been working on developing their own Oath Tablet, and this one here contains additional suggestions for refinement, along with warnings and alerts in case someone tries to break or escape the oath. Inside, you'll also find a number of soul techniques and array designs—some are mere drafts that crossed my mind briefly and still require proper development, while others I personally purchased from different sources. In short, this is going to be a shared project between you, Emily and your soul masters, and Sky Opening City, or at least that's how I see it."

"This looks fascinating!" Zara instantly abandoned what she was doing, her curiosity sparked like a flame. She hurried over to inspect the tablets with eager hands and bright anticipation.

In truth, she was among the seventy true soul masters of the empire, and her soul force surpassed eighty thousand units, a level far beyond most. Yet Robin had never even considered burdening her with more responsibilities; she already carried far more than enough duties for a single person, and he knew well that she was constantly at her limit.

Even Emily, who had been tense moments ago, felt the weight lift from her shoulders. Her lips curved into a rare, relieved smile. "Do you have anything else related to the Soul Path, Your Excellency?" she asked carefully, as if still hoping for a miracle.

Robin leaned back for a moment, his brows furrowing as he sank into deep thought, then answered decisively with a single word: "No."

The Soul Path was undeniably one of the hardest roads to tread. Any power that wished to advance along it would inevitably have to rely on ghost farms as the primary source of progress. If Robin were to hand over the massive reserves of soul emeralds that he now possessed, they could easily raise hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of new soul masters in a short span of time… but then what?

He would be left with a thousand spirit cultivators with no innate talent, dependent entirely on external supplies of emeralds, always hungry for more, never satisfied. He had indeed come today with the intent of handing them a portion of his emerald reserves, but Emily's report was far too discouraging to allow him to move forward with that decision.

"Now then, setting aside the matter of soul strengthening for the time being," Robin gestured for Emily to set aside the first batch of tablets. His hands moved again, and more glowing slabs of jade and crystal appeared. "Here you'll find detailed introductions to different categories of spells and curses—their crafting processes, the inscriptions needed, and the methods of providing them with sustainable power. One of these in particular is a spell capable of boosting a weapon's strength by at least half a grade. I don't think I need to explain how decisive such an advantage could be in real combat."

"Wow!" Zara was the first to extend her hand and examine the new set of tablets, her voice tinged with awe. "Looks like I'll definitely be needing a lot more rune masters, hehe."

An increase of half a grade wasn't something minor. It could decide the outcome of countless wars. If two weapons of equal rank—say, low-epic—clashed on the battlefield, but one was reinforced with such an enchantment, the duel would already be decided before it even began.

"You'll need not just more rune masters, but also higher-quality ones," Robin corrected with a slight wave of his hand. "Spells and curses exist on a plane far above ordinary inscription techniques. If even five of those seventy soul masters manage to study and grasp the basics of spellwork, I would already consider it a success."

He paused briefly, then added with deliberate emphasis, "By the way, I've already secured an agreement with Damir, the son of the Behemoth of Curses, to supply us with a stock of genuine curses and spells. They'll start arriving very soon. You can use them as initial reference materials, samples to familiarize yourselves with the texture and final form of that power."

"Haha, excellent!" Zara's face lit up further, her joy contagious. For her, every time her father revealed a new ally or collaboration, the empire itself seemed to leap forward by decades in a single day.

"..." Kristan, however, froze momentarily when he heard the term son of Behemoth. He let out a quiet sigh and resumed his work without comment, though the slight tightening of his jaw betrayed his thoughts.

"There is still one last matter I need your help with, Zara," Robin continued, producing two final tablets and handing them to her. "Here you'll find a simplified explanation on how to use the Path of Purity to lessen the effects of negative karma, as well as a healing method for those who become tainted by specters. And in the second tablet, you will find the major fundamental law of purity itself."

Leaning back once more against the throne, his expression turned stern. "I want you to begin producing arrays and talismans on a large scale based on this knowledge. I've seen the negative aura gathering on our generals and imperial guards—it must not be allowed to continue unchecked."

Negative karma was not just a vague, mystical concept—it could manifest in the harshest of ways. A general could be struck by a sudden migraine mid-battle, his focus shattered, or perhaps an ill-timed misstep caused by clouded judgment could lead him right into a fatal blow. In fact, Malik and Wade had nearly been killed because of the weight of their negative karma; it had dragged them into the jaws of a massive ghost herd.

They had been injured severely when, with their mastery of time and space, they should have been able to escape with ease. Yet a single poor decision, born of clouded minds, had nearly cost them their lives.

Perhaps their intentions had been noble—they wanted to lure more specters toward themselves, to reduce the burden pressing down on Robin—but there had been countless better ways to achieve that same goal. Ways that a clearer mind, free of karmic interference, would have easily conceived.

"Don't trouble yourself with this matter anymore, Father. Consider it already resolved." Zara carefully tucked away the tablets, determination flashing across her face. She had a mountain of work waiting for her this time, but her spirit blazed with resolve.

"You created something like this!?" Kristan nearly jumped out of his skin, springing to Zara's side with an expression of shock and barely contained excitement. His voice cracked with urgency. "When can we begin? Tell me it can start immediately!"

Robin's lips curved into half a smile, though his eyes betrayed a deeper understanding. The negative karma clinging to Kristan was massive, almost suffocating—it might very well have been the invisible chain that dragged him into the tragic fate he once endured beneath the ground. Of course he would be the first to seize upon this new opportunity, desperate for a way to cleanse himself.

With a faint chuckle, Robin inclined his head toward him, speaking deliberately, "Hey, nephew of mine… there's something I want you to do in the coming period. No—actually, there are two things."

Kristan's brows knitted tightly. He could hear the subtle layer of sarcasm in Robin's tone, as though his uncle was poking at his desperation, but he held his tongue. Instead, he waited in silence, prepared to accept whatever assignment was handed down.

"The first task," Robin announced, his voice carrying the weight of authority that filled the hall, "is to begin overseeing the transfer of planets into Nihari's orbit, and to establish the foundation of the Galaxy Seed. The ascension process will be carried out in Sector 99."

"…!!!" All three listeners stiffened, their brows furrowing deeply. The air grew heavy. This was not just a passing instruction—it was a monumental declaration, a decision that had been hanging over them for ages.

"Oooh…" Zara exhaled with a long sigh, her tone somewhere between worry and resignation. "I don't think big brother Caesar will take this kindly." She could already imagine his fury—after centuries of bloody wars and tireless efforts to establish the Multi-Planet Cradle Empire, he would now learn that he would not be the guardian of the Galaxy Seed after all. Instead, the Seed would be moved elsewhere, stripped from under his watchful eyes.

And what would sting him most of all? That Aro—of all people—would be the one chosen to bask in the honor and responsibility of protecting the Seed.

"He'll understand," Robin replied, his smile calm but unyielding. "As long as he still bears the mission of building an empire, he'll accept it and continue the work he started. If anything, I would be disappointed in him if he allowed anger to halt his expansion. That would mean his vision was never as strong as I believed."

Kristan straightened his back and gave a firm nod. "Very well. I'll begin drafting the preparations and informing the people. Soon, Jura will be moved into Nihari's orbit." His tone carried a weight of determination, already laced with calculation. In his mind, strategies unfolded—evacuation routes, support systems, defensive protocols. After all, who truly knew what dangers or anomalies a planet might face during such a colossal transfer? They could not afford to be unprepared.

"Now then," Robin continued, his smile widening into something sharper, "this brings us to the second request." He leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with intent. "I've already entrusted Theo with the fifth-grade scrolls of every law our empire possesses. I believe they've reached you, haven't they?"

"Yes, they're secured in the treasury. What about them?" Kristan raised a skeptical brow.

"Good." Robin nodded, his expression growing solemn. "I want you to distribute them to the generals and the most promising talents of Planet Jura—under strict oath, of course. Make sure they swear heavily before even laying a finger on them. After that, tell them they're free to attempt breakthroughs. Anyone who feels confident in their potential should head to the Mid-Belt, claim a high-grade stabilizer, and attempt the crossing there at their own pace."

"…?!" The three of them exchanged sharp looks, their brows tightening once more. Zara's voice carried the concern of all present. "Wouldn't that risk triggering an immediate promotion for Planet Jura if even one of them succeeded in breaking through?!"

"Correct," Robin said without hesitation, his tone steady as stone. He leaned back in his seat, folding his arms as though daring them to challenge his logic. "That is precisely the gamble. Which is why I want Jura to be left untouched for the time being. Move all the other planets into Nihari's orbit, but keep Jura isolated. Who knows? Perhaps one of those talents will succeed—perhaps Planet Jura will rise in grade long before the six hundred years are up. And if that happens, we will gain a weapon no empire in this belt will be able to ignore."

The weight of his words settled over them like a cloak, heavy yet burning with the spark of possibility.