Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1795 Founding of the two cities

”Control a part of the universe?” Shaddad scratched his head slowly, confusion clearly written across his face. ”What exactly do you mean by that?”

”Heh~” Robin shook his head with visible disappointment, as though the answer should have been obvious from the start.

Despite Shaddad being hundreds of thousands of years old, he had spent the overwhelming majority of that vast lifespan buried in libraries and research halls, his mind occupied with nothing except refining and expanding the Body Cultivation Path.

Politics, authority, governance, the rise and fall of empires-none of these had ever crossed his mind in any meaningful way. Not once, in all his long years, had he bothered to learn how rulers think or how power spreads across a realm.

Robin cast a brief glance toward Jabba. ”Explain it to him,” he said before turning his glowing eyes back toward the volunteers and the changes spreading through their bodies.

”Young brother,” Jabba said gently as he patted Shaddadʼs shoulder, ”the Master wants to use the Fifth Path exclusively within his empire at first. He intends to absorb every benefit it offers, build an unshakeable foundation of powerful Body Path warriors under his direct command, and only after that will he decide whether publishing the path is a good idea or not.”

”...” Shaddadʼs brows tightened so hard they almost touched. He lowered his head, frustrated, torn between logic and his own ideals.

”What?” Robin smiled lightly. ”You were ready to release the technique to the entire world with my name stamped on it... but youʼre not willing to delay the release for a little while?”

”Itʼs just...” Shaddad exhaled deeply, his shoulders sinking. ”Itʼs your Fifth Path after all... you can handle it however you want.”

”Heh~” Robin let out a small, amused laugh. ”There are things you need to consider more deeply than that, Shaddad...”

”I only want to give ordinary people a real chance to grow stronger-to defend themselves and their families without injecting their bodies with corrupted beast blood or kneeling before predatory clans that twist their lives for a bit of labor. Thatʼs it. Thatʼs my entire motive.” Shaddad sighed again, his voice heavy with sincerity. ”But... if delaying the announcement will help the Master, then I donʼt mind waiting. Youʼre the one who sped up the entire breakthrough anyway.”

Robin stayed silent for a moment, then he pointed with his chin toward the volunteers. ”Itʼs true that you reduced the cost of using the Body Cultivation Path to something realistic. For example, the first bath -the one that elevates a person to the tenth level- can now be reached for the tiny price of a hundred Pearls of energy. And yes, while thatʼs still fairly expensive for common folk, itʼs undeniably far more accessible than before. Thatʼs because the bathʼs ingredients are now distributed across multiple simultaneous targets with far greater efficiency.”

”...But thatʼs only the surface. The current path depends entirely on a massive, immovable array. The structural components of that array alone cost tens of millions of Pearls. And thatʼs not counting the reinforcement materials, the specialized inks, the catalysts-resources that must be bought repeatedly and replaced constantly” Robin raised a brow. ”Tell me, Shaddad-who do you think can afford all of that?”

”...Empires?” Shaddad answered, his voice tiny, uncertain.

”Exactly. Even if you handed out the arrayʼs design and instructions for free, small clans and wandering families wouldnʼt be able to build one. Only ancient empires with deep foundations and centuries of accumulated wealth could handle that level of consumption.” Robin nodded slowly. ”You lowered the cost for the individual trainee, yes-but only for an empire that already exists and already has the wealth and ambition to expand its followers.”

”...Are you saying we accomplished nothing?” Shaddad felt his knees weaken, as though the floor beneath him was tilting. ”The Fifth Path is still owned by the rich... after everything?”

”Thereʼs an enormous difference,” Robin said, shaking his head slowly, as though emphasizing every word. ”Before all this, even as an Emperor with absurd wealth and resources, the best I could do was choose a tiny, very tiny handful of followers and personally help them advance through the Body System. It was something limited, restrictive, almost symbolic. But now? Now I can spread it on a massive scale-across the True Beginning Empire, the Grave and Cradle Empires, and even the Crumbled Dreams Empire. Instead of supporting ten individuals, we can support a hundred thousand with ease.”

”...A hundred thousand people who have no talent in soul cultivation or internal energy. A hundred thousand whose lives will be entirely reshaped because of you, Shaddad.” Robinʼs voice softened for a moment. ”Be proud. You really have made a difference.” Then his expression sharpened again, and he added, ”But that difference needs to stay contained within my three empires for the time being”

He continued, ”If we publish this array right away and empower the other major empires, that will turn into a direct obstacle-an obstacle not only for me but for both of you as well, now that you stand on my side. Especially if the array spreads to the sectors where my vassals and rivals are already struggling to hold influence.”

”Understood.” Shaddad forced himself to steady his breathing, gathering every ounce of courage, resolve, and loyalty he could muster before nodding firmly. ”....” Robin narrowed his golden eyes slightly, noticing the lingering hesitation in Shaddadʼs expression. ”Donʼt trouble yourself. Soon weʼll seize control of Middle Sector 99 and become a genuine power in the universe. When that happens, youʼll be free to publish the path however you want, alright? Until then, Iʼll rent it from you and Jabba. Iʼll pay each of you one hundred thousand Pearls for every array constructed on my land, and a thousand Pearls for every soldier who begins receiving the doses. Satisfied?”

”T-That... thatʼs far too much! The array belongs to you just as much as it

belongs to us!” Shaddad nearly choked on his words; the numbers were simply

staggering.

In truth, though he was a Truth Chosen who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, his personal savings were dangerously close to depletion-

shattered after countless eras of research into Body Power.

Shaddadʼs toes, forcing him to stay quiet before he ruined the deal.

”Haha-accepted, Master, fully accepted.” Jabba crushed his foot onto

”Good.” Robin nodded, satisfied. ”Prepare your bags. Both of you will be

departing very soon.”

”Huh?” Shaddad blurted out instinctively.

”To the Grave Empire-Apocalypse Planet,” Robin replied without turning away from the volunteers. His golden eyes remained fixed on the ongoing transformations. ”Preparations must begin immediately to convert a large portion of the army to the Fifth Path. You also need to MAKE several World Cataclysms from our local populations in the Middle Belt. The Grave Empire has more than a thousand planets now-meaning they have more than enough volunteers waiting to be used.”

He continued in a firmer tone, ”You will also take control of the headquarters of Sky Opening City in the Grave Empire, seize full authority there, and expand it until it surpasses the scale of the one in the Young Belt.” He pointed directly at Shaddad. ”Specifically, you will be the one in charge. Choose a team dedicated to the Fifth Path, assist them only when necessary, and personally supervise every remaining branch. Gathering scientists and researchers should be easy- just tell Aro what you need, and heʼll move half the empire for you.” Then he turned to Jabba. ”As for you-you already possess the Space Flow Bracelet. Youʼll be traveling back and forth between Sky Opening City in the Grave Empire and the True Beginning Empire for several years. Your job is to coordinate both sides, unify standards, transfer experience, and stabilize the operations entirely. Once that is done, youʼll head to Young Sector 100, and from there move to Middle Sector 100 to establish a third branch in the Cradle Empire. That branch will be under your complete authority, and from there you will spread the Fifth Path throughout the First Army.”

Finally, he placed his hands behind his back. His voice deepened, carrying the weight of authority and ambition. ”This wonʼt merely be the seed for launching the Fifth Path in the three empires. It will be the foundation for the rise of NEW Sky Opening Cities-led by two Truth Chosen. Cities that must surpass the one in the Young Belt... or I will be very, very disappointed.