Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1365: Cowardly Nexus State

”...How will I spend it?” Theo let out a laugh—one that brimmed with disbelief, as if Robin had just asked the most trivial question in existence. ”I’ll simply withdraw the full amount and transfer it directly into the empire’s treasury, of course! Emily and the Prime Minister know far more than I do when it comes to managing large-scale operations. My task has always been to figure out how to make money—not how to spend it!”

Robin shook his head slowly, his gaze sharp with layered thoughts. ”Emily and Kristan already shoulder immense responsibilities... and Zara is in desperate need of financial reinforcement. But let’s imagine we set aside the cost of stabilizing the Young Belt planets—what would that take? A billion pearls? Maybe two? Give them five, just to be certain. That still leaves you with ten billion. What then? What will you do with all that surplus?”

”...That’s...”

Theo looked downward, his fingers drumming unconsciously on the armrest.

How does one even begin to spend ten billion pearls? Was there anything in the empire or beyond that could even absorb such an astronomical sum?

Then he raised his head again and met his father’s eyes. ”Do you have suggestions, Father?” he asked, a hint of respect laced with curiosity in his voice.

If his father had posed this question, it meant he already had a plan—or at least an expectation. Better to let him say it himself.

Robin leaned back against his chair, eyes half-lidded in contemplation. His voice lowered, thoughtful.

”The four planets we seized from the Iron Boar Empire... how are they being treated? What’s being done to prepare them for integration? And more importantly—how are their native populations being handled?”

Theo furrowed his brow and exhaled, the question tugging at nerves he’d buried for months.

”Prepared...? To be honest—very little is being done. We’ve been hesitant.

There’s this ever-present fear... if we begin large-scale development or make any major moves, the World Cataclysms stationed in the Nine Paths Empire might be pulled from our front to defend another.

And if that happens, we’ll be left alone to face the Iron Boars—and those planets would be retaken in a matter of hours.

So we’re asking ourselves... why invest in rebuilding what may be lost in a blink?”

He leaned forward slightly, voice steady.

”As for the populations of those planets... they’re vast in number and culturally diverse. They’re not of the Iron Boar bloodline, yet they lived under their rule, served them, survived under their heel.

When the battles ended, the Iron Boars retreated completely—leaving only these people behind.

We haven’t oppressed them, but we haven’t helped them either. They live the way they always did—self-sufficient, without support, just like during the reign of the Boars.”

Robin nodded once, slowly, lips tightening.

”Just as I suspected. As long as fear dictates our actions—as long as we act like the planets are only ’borrowed’—we’ll never truly benefit from them. Fear keeps us from planting roots.”

Then suddenly, he shifted the subject with precision, his tone sharpening.

”You mentioned an upcoming full-scale assault on the Nine Paths Empire... When exactly is it expected? And are our four planets within the warpath?”

Theo straightened up. His face turned serious.

”If nothing changes, the assault is projected to begin within the next century—specifically, in ninety-six years.

And yes... our planets are among the primary targets.”

He clenched his fists slightly. ”The Iron Boar Empire feels deeply humiliated—they crave vengeance. Their strategy revolves around overwhelming force. They intend to send their entire army, alongside their World Cataclysms, to retake one planet at a time. Once they reclaim one, they’ll move on to the next. It’s a systematic purge.”

He hesitated, then continued, his voice tinged with grim weight:

”There are rumors... that the Planetary Emperor himself will join the offensive. A Nexus State entity.”

Robin’s eyes widened. His voice dropped. ”A Nexus State... the Iron Boar Empire actually has a Nexus State expert?!”

He let out a low, bitter laugh.

”Are those handed out in alleyways now?!”

”Father,” Theo said with a composed tone, one that carried the weight of certainty, ”any time you hear the term ’multi-planetary empire’, know this—without a single exception, their ruler is always, always a cultivator in the Nexus State.”

He leaned forward, fingers interlocked, as if sharing a secret written into the laws of the universe.

”If a World Cataclysm tries to build a government, the best they can manage is a planetary kingdom—something modest. They rule over a single sphere, and usually not even a prestigious one. Just some distant, underdeveloped world, filled with desolate terrain and artificial populations. They buy their citizens in bulk and scatter them across barren lands to make it feel like a real domain.”

He paused, letting the gravity of that sink in.

”But the Iron Boar Empire... they held sixteen planets at the start of the war. Sixteen fully-functioning worlds. It’s only natural to assume they were backed by at least one powerhouse of the Nexus State. How else could they maintain so much territory without collapsing?”

Robin frowned, absorbing the implication. Theo pressed on.

”The Nine Paths Empire is another example. They’ve stabilized around ninety planets, give or take, and the only reason they can hold that many is because of their two trump cards—Empress Rinara and her sister Elinor.

Both are women of legendary bloodlines. Each has a complete, fully awakened Nine-Tail lineage. They’re in the lower tier of the Nexus State, yes... but Rinara in particular is said to be standing on the threshold of the middle tier.”

Robin scoffed, arms crossed. ”Then why are those two just sitting on their thrones? Why not launch a strike and eliminate the Iron Boar emperor before he makes his move? End the war while they still have the advantage.”

Theo chuckled darkly. ”There’s an old saying passed between rulers and generals: ’World Cataclysms are fearless. Nexus States are cowards.’”

He gestured vaguely toward the sky, as if pointing toward unseen beings beyond the atmosphere.

”There are so few of them. So few who’ve touched the edge of true cosmic authority. Once someone reaches the Nexus State, their priorities shift. They start to treat every move like it could be their last. They’ve poured thousands of years, mountains of resources, and countless near-deaths into reaching that level.

They carry sacred weapons, protective seals, relics older than civilizations. Every encounter is a potential gamble.”

He gave Robin a pointed look.

”If Rinara or Elinor misstep—even once—it could unravel the entire Nine Paths Empire. And who knows what techniques the Iron Boar emperor has waiting?

A sacrificial technique that drags his opponent into death with him?

A forgotten formation that locks them down?

Even a single loss among the two sisters would invite chaos.”

Theo’s voice lowered.

”And if either of them falls... the Twilight Spectrum Empire would seize the moment. They’ve already surpassed expectations ever since they acquired that Royal Soul Master. With four Nexus State entities now on their side, they’re lurking, watching, waiting for weakness.

If Rinara falls, Elinor wouldn’t last the week.”

He spread his hands slowly.

”Every Nexus State cultivator is a cornerstone. They don’t just carry power. They anchor entire empires.

To see one of them take the battlefield personally is so rare, so shocking, that the entire universe feels the ripple.”

Then he shrugged gently, ”On the one hand, it could be said that every Nexus State has to preserve its life because everything else depends on it. Finding a Nexus State moving on its own in the field is something miraculous and quickly spreads quickly, and that’s exactly what the Empress of the Pit of Destruction does, by the way, that’s the reason her broken empire still fight, and that’s most likely will be the reason behind her death.”

”That woman won’t die from a few ambushes. Anyone waiting for her to die will have to sit around for a long time!” Robin waved a few times to dismiss the thought, ”...Anyway, according to what you’re saying, we’ll never be safe on our planets without world cataclysm. Relying on Renara’s army alone isn’t enough.”

His voice sharpened, cutting through the air like a blade:

”Your first mission, Theo, is simple:

Use whatever funds you need—purchase as many World Cataclysm Realm warriors as you can. Establish permanent garrisons on each of the four planets.”

Theo’s face hardened, eyes burning with resolve. ”Consider it done. I’ll start the bidding immediately.”

But after a moment of silence, he hesitated. ”...And what about the Iron Boar planetary emperor himself? What if he actually shows up—himself?”

Robin didn’t answer immediately. He let the question linger in the air. Then he spoke, with quiet certainty.

”I’ll handle that.”

Theo blinked. ”...You will?”

Robin nodded once, his eyes distant. ”When the time comes, I’ll speak with Rinara. I’ll offer her whatever price she asks. No matter what.

If she agrees to face him in my place—then the skies will stay intact.”

But even as he said it, Robin felt the weight of the truth in his chest.

World Cataclysms were manageable. With enough influence and wealth, they could be hired. Controlled. Bargained with.

But Nexus State entities...

It seems that the lack of Nexus States under my command will hunt me for a very long time...

”...Father. How about just buying a Nexus State?”