Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2067 New Era

”2 trillion...” Robin exhaled slowly, a cold, measured sigh that seemed to freeze the air around him.

What a number.

Once upon a time, Niri had worried about her colossal Pearl reserves. She had admitted, almost sheepishly, that she possessed three billion Pearls, scattered across countless mining zones, each one carefully guarded and accounted for. She had promised that more would be formed over time, but even she knew the magnitude of what she possessed was nothing compared to what Robin now held.

For Robin, and even for Niri herself, that had been a number that teetered on the edge of impossibility, a figure almost too vast to comprehend.

And now... Temari, with casual nonchalance, had told him that he had 2,000 billion Pearls.

No, it wasnʼt even exact. The true figure might very well be 2,358 billion Pearls, or perhaps slightly more. Yet she had dismissed the extra 358 as trivial, rounding down to the neat figure of two trillion.

He had come a long, long way.

”This number is certainly not small, Lord Human,” Temari said with unshakable confidence, her eyes sparkling with the certainty of knowledge. ”Sales have slowed after the first month following your product announcement, but they continue steadily, and we expect yet another surge in demand very soon.”

”Hmm?” Robin raised a brow, his surprise thinly veiled. ”Why is that happening now?”

”Recently, the concept of the Lone Cultivator has emerged,” Temari said, raising a finger for emphasis. ”Itʼs becoming a huge trend among young people. They are fascinated by it.”

”The Lone Cultivator?” Robin echoed, curiosity piqued.

”Yes. These are individuals who owe loyalty to no clan, empire, or governing power. They roam from city to city, planet to planet, seeking resources, exploring ruins, growing stronger with every move,” Temari explained, her tone precise and deliberate. ”Such individuals existed in the past, yes, but in exceedingly small numbers. They were often seen as beggars or outcasts, with most ultimately ending up as mercenaries just to survive, scraping by in the shadows of greater powers.”

”And what has changed now?” Robin asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

”The world itself has changed,” Temari said, shrugging elegantly. ”Ever since the rumors of the Cosmic Elderʼs death, the balance of power flipped completely. Then you, Lord Human, confirmed this new path and ignited fifteen Mid Sectors one your own. Your actions created a fear among the populace about announcing allegiance to any major power. Now, with every major force embroiled in conflict with another, people have no choice but to carve their own paths, to navigate independently, and to fight for survival on their own terms.”

”... And you didnʼt stop there... you became more than just a catalyst of this new era. You reinforced it by selling multiple tools designed for individual use, stripping control away from the empires and governments. You gave ordinary people access to power that had been locked away for centuries.”

Temari chuckled softly, a sound full of amusement and satisfaction.

”Until recently, everything was monopolized by empires, clans, and similar powers. Anything one wanted required massive arrays controlled by the empire, or ancient techniques that had been jealously guarded for generations. You had to pledge loyalty, swear obedience, and adhere to countless rules just to gain access. But you broke that mold. You began offering items directly to individuals: the Youth Recovery Device, the Race Alteration Device, the Second Chance Array, even the Fate Unlock Disk. Ordinary people could now acquire and use these tools without being watched or hindered by the empires, kingdoms, or ruling authorities.”

”This shift,” Temari continued, leaning forward slightly, ”inspired other Truth Chosens and even some of the top-tier merchants to emulate your methods. When they witnessed the enormous success and influence you achieved, they began using the Soul Society and other platforms to sell directly to individuals. Weapons, law cultivation techniques, even renting race-upgrading equipment- all available for personal acquisition at fair prices. Some forces have even begun injecting those seeking beast blood for minimal costs, generating unprecedented daily profits and altering the entire market landscape.”

”In the current era, the concept of the Lone Cultivator has spread widely for this very reason,” Temari explained, raising a finger for emphasis and pausing to let the weight of her words sink in. ”They possess the devices, equipment, and techniques that allow them to survive alone in the wilderness, far from any support or shelter, but they lack a consistent source of income. Because of this, most of them turn to one of two main options. The first is to work as mercenaries, as has always been the traditional path. This not only fuels ongoing conflicts but also increases the empiresʼ need for money to pay these mercenaries, forcing them to engineer yet more wars just to fill their overflowing coffers and maintain their dominance across multiple sectors.”

She raised another finger, emphasizing her point with a deliberate motion. ”The second option they take is far darker. They resort to theft, sabotage, and personal vendettas against local families, killing them outright and raiding their vaults for resources. And, as you can imagine, this has created a ripple effect: it has increased the rates of murder and destruction within the empires themselves, compelling families and local powers to constantly strengthen themselves in order to defend their territories and maintain control over their wealth.”

Robinʼs expression froze completely in shock. He could barely form words, caught between disbelief and awe. Had he, without intending to, reshaped the universe once again merely by the ripple effect of his previous actions?

”That is why I say we can expect a significant surge in sales,” Temari clicked her fingers sharply, punctuating her statement with authority. ”Your role in initiating the phenomenon known as the Lone Cultivators has opened new avenues that had been locked for countless generations. No one knows what will happen next. Everyone is cautious, everyone is anxious, and everyone is buying whatever they can to ensure they can survive and thrive during this era of unprecedented change.”

She laughed, a soft, knowing laugh that carried both amusement and admiration. ”That is why I told you so many powers and authorities will now sell their high-level planetary displacement equipment in exchange for simple weapons and basic army gear. The chaotic conditions outside make this necessary. Demand is rising, and they have no choice but to trade what they would normally guard jealously.”

”...” Robin rubbed his forehead slowly, still trying to process the magnitude of what she was describing. ”I honestly donʼt know what to say. This... this changes everything I thought I understood about the current balance of

power.”

”Say that you are ready to push this trend forward!” Temari clapped her hands decisively, her voice ringing with energy. ”You cannot imagine the profits the Soul Society, the merchants, and the capital holders are earning because of these changes. Previously, a single empire would only buy what it strictly needed, but now, trillions within that same empire are equipping themselves individually. The number of consumers has grown exponentially, profits have skyrocketed, and the capital holders are more than satisfied.”

She pointed directly at Robin, her gaze firm and commanding. ”And you, Lord Human, must participate strongly in this movement, for you are the one who started it! You cannot ignore the responsibility that comes with initiating such a shift in the very structure of power.”

”Heh~” Robin exhaled, letting out a soft, weary sound, his mind turning over the implications. ”And how exactly do you think I should participate?” Perhaps Robin had never intended to spark this movement directly, but redirecting his enemies toward individualism rather than consolidation within empires seemed far from a bad strategy for someone who wanted to control sectors. Divide and conquer had never failed those who wielded it with precision and patience.

”Hmm,” Temari tapped her chin thoughtfully, the motion slow and deliberate. ”If Lord Human is to introduce something new, it cannot be small or subtle. It must be monumental, something enormous that will reshape the universe once again, as you always do with every major step you take.” She snapped her fingers decisively, the sound echoing in the room. ”Found it! Iʼve figured it out!” She turned to Robin, a broad, triumphant smile spreading across her face. ”The current obstacle for the Lone Cultivators is the cultivation paths themselves. There is almost nothing available to them except cheap beast-blood injections. The Soul Path is prohibitively expensive and painfully slow. The Elixir Path is even costlier, while the fourth foundational energy path and combat arts are tightly controlled by clans and empires, with very limited access and you know how weak and inaccessible this path is, even for talented individuals.” ”And what do you want me to do about this?” Robin asked, his smile now strange and contemplative, his voice carrying an edge of curiosity mixed with

caution.

”Hehe, do not hide anything from me now,” Temari winked slyly. ”You do have a

Fifth Path of the Body, donʼt you? Surely you can create a version of it, one that

is accessible to the public and gives them real options.” Robinʼs smile faded.