Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1326: Auction List

170 Years After Robin Entered the Middle Belt – Planet Zaron

Shhhh...

After one final, deliberate stroke of the pen, Robin lifted his hand. His golden, burning eyes—fierce as twin suns—dimmed at last. A long, heavy sigh escaped his lips, like the weight of centuries leaving his chest.

”Finally...” he murmured.

”Woooow...”

Beside him, sitting on the stone floor, Pitsu’s jaw hung open. A mixture of awe and reverence colored his youthful face.

”I’ve watched you draw for decades, again and again. But you only use those glowing eyes on rare occasions... Did you complete something extraordinary this time?”

Robin nodded, a calm smile spreading across his face.

”Yes. I did.”

He gently placed the completed tablet on top of a tall stack near his bed—a pile that held over a thousand carved slates, each one humming with force.

”I haven’t done anything this big before.”

Pitsu blinked.

”Wait—you? Nothing big? Are you forgetting that just two years ago you published ten martial arts systems, each one has grades from stage one up to the third stage? Each one worthy of founding an entire martial lineage—something that could be passed down for hundreds of thousands of years!”

He threw his arms in the air in disbelief.

”You shook the entire Middle Belt! Your name spread like fire through dry grass. You became a living myth!”

Robin laughed softly, rubbing his neck with a nostalgic grin.

”Heh... yeah, the profits were definitely enjoyable.”

He leaned back with a sigh, his voice lowering.

”But now that the money phase is over... it’s time to wrap things up with some style.”

Then he turned to Pitsu, his gaze growing serious.

”I’m afraid... today is where our paths split.”

”W-What?!”

Pitsu jumped to his feet in panic.

”W-What are you saying?! You’re my master! You can’t just leave me behind!”

Robin shook his head slowly.

”I’ve never taken you as a disciple. And you were never my servant, Pitsu. I merely allowed you to stay, thinking you’d eventually leave on your own. But you didn’t. And even now... I still don’t know why.”

His gaze turned away, voice colder.

”But this ends today. The organizations hunting me have tightened their grip on Sector 100. It’s only a matter of time before they track me to Zaron.”

”...You mean you’re leaving the entire sector?!”

Pitsu’s voice trembled. Then he looked down, silent for a moment, before speaking softly:

”Then I’m coming with you.”

”No.”

Robin’s tone was sharp and unwavering.

”You’ll only slow me down. I let you stay all these years for two reasons. First—because I’ve remained stationary for once. Second—because I pitied you... after what I did.”

He waved dismissively.

”But it’s been nearly 170 years, Pitsu. That’s more than enough. Go home. Return to your family. That humanity you once tried to steal from me to save... it’s still calling you. Answer it.”

”And who could serve humanity more than you?!”

Pitsu dropped to his knees, voice cracking with desperation.

”Yes—I followed you at first out of confusion. But once I realized who I was following... I understood. There’s no doubt. You are the next Great Truth Chosen!”

He rushed forward, arms wrapping around Robin’s leg, clinging like a man drowning at sea.

”Please! Let me serve you. Please! This is my destiny! Fate gave me this chance—don’t take it away from me!”

The words poured out, frantic and sincere:

”I’ll carry your bags! I’ll fetch your supplies! I’ll build you soundproof domes to protect your thoughts! I’ll massage your shoulders, gather new disciples—anything you need!”

His eyes shone with raw devotion.

”If you want me to recruit new followers from the Maizer Family, I can! Just give me two weeks and you’ll have dozens. I have my ways—I won’t even reveal you as the Great Truth Chosen!”

Robin rubbed his temple, sighing again.

”You’re making this sound way too official.”

Then his voice softened, as though speaking a painful truth.

”I won’t be the ’Great Truth Chosen’ until I reach the Fifth Stage officially... and honestly, I don’t even know if I’ll live to see that day.”

As the days passed, Robin began to fully grasp the overwhelming disparity between the fourth and fifth stages of the Law of Truth.

He recalled when he first uncovered the essence of Spacetime—back then, he was merely a Saint.

Yet even in that stage, he had felt it deep within his soul: that one monumental discovery, one glimpse into a grand cosmic truth, would be enough to carry him not only through the entire Sage Realm, but perhaps even act as the catalyst for his leap into the Martial Emperor Realm.

And it had done just that.

That third-stage comprehension of the Spacetime Law had been one of the central reasons he had ascended to such heights.

But now... things were different.

This time, he had uncovered the first stage of a Master Law—a law as complex and as vast as Spacetime. Not only that, but he had also advanced in several other Master Laws, hoping that spreading his mastery across multiple truths would accelerate his progression.

He had believed this multi-faceted approach would bring him closer to the long-awaited breakthrough.

And yet—he still felt no closer to piercing through the barrier of the fifth stage.

Robin slowly turned to face Pitsu, a tired breath escaping his lips.

”After today’s auction... I don’t know where I’ll go next, nor what kind of trials await me,” he said quietly, his voice thick with burden.

Then his gaze shifted, firm and resolute like polished steel.

”But I do know this: the path ahead will not be easy. If you truly intend to follow me to the bitter end, then prepare yourself—not just for pain or hardship, but for death itself.”

Pitsu’s mouth opened instinctively.

”Of course, I—”

But Robin raised his hand, cutting him off with a silent command.

”I’m about to enter the Soul Society,” he said with calm finality.

”You have until I open my eyes again to make your decision. If, when I return, you’re still sitting here in this room... then that means you’ve willingly turned your back on everything you once were.”

His voice became gentle.

”It means you’ll follow me not with hesitation or obligation, but with your entire heart and soul.

then I will allow you take a soul oath and follow me formally. And if you choose to leave...”

He gave a faint nod.

”I’ll understand. Completely.”

He patted the young man’s shoulder with a soft, almost brotherly motion.

”Go. Do the math.”

For the first time, Pitsu truly saw the gravity behind Robin’s words.

The weight of his decision crashed over him like a tide.

Weakly, almost inaudibly, he whispered,

”...Understood.”

And then, with heavy limbs and a conflicted heart, he went and sat in the corner of the room, alone with his thoughts.

As for Robin—he smiled faintly to himself.

Then he exhaled, a long and steady breath, before closing his glowing eyes and settling into a meditative posture.

”Hooooooh~”

--------------

Within Robin’s Soul Domain – Before the Sacred Sapling

Robin lifted his hand gently and touched the mirror before him—its surface shimmered faintly under his fingers.

Then, without a word, he placed it behind his back once again.

VMMMMMMM—

The mirror came to life, glowing with an ancient hum of power.

A radiant fairy appeared onscreen, her usual bright smile greeting him as a sterile white background shimmered behind her.

”No. I intend to attend the auction personally.”

Robin’s voice was firm, his gaze unwavering. ”When does it begin?”

The fairy beamed brightly, her wings fluttering with excitement.

She nodded with reverence.

She raised her hand and made a polite gesture.

Robin lifted his hand casually and gave a soft wave, his tone thoughtful.

”Before that... this ’main event’—what exactly will it entail? Will there be other items up for auction, or is everyone simply coming for the Planetary Displacement Gear?”

The fairy did a full spin in the air, grinning mischievously.

Robin gave a nod of approval.

”Excellent. Then add this item to today’s list.”

He extended his hand—and a large, glowing white orb slowly drifted into the mirror, pulsing with faint spiritual energy.

The fairy tilted her head slightly, her expression puzzled watching the white orb approaching.