Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1789 Masterʼs point of view

”Haah!” Holak threw his arms wide open, his entire face lighting up with an unmistakable, genuine joy that seemed to radiate from his very being. ”BOSS!!” ”Holak?” Robin raised a single brow, a subtle smirk playing across his lips, then stepped further into the barn with a calm, serene smile, his every movement exuding quiet authority. ”What are you doing here?”

In truth, among all his followers, Holak held a place unlike any other. While most of Robinʼs close followers had been bound to him because he either bought them, defeated them, or enhanced their abilities, Holak was the only one who had chosen to follow Robin out of pure conviction, genuine admiration. This bond was not forged by force or gain but by respect and trust.

”Your disciples were getting a bit bored and decided to observe a piece of art, so they sent me an invitation to come along,” Holak explained, glancing briefly over his shoulder with a hint of amusement. ”And I sincerely hope that their witnessing of such greatness proves fruitful, inspiring them in ways they didnʼt expect.”

”Hmm?” Robin turned toward Jabba and Shaddad, raising an eyebrow. ”What exactly is Holak talking about?”

”...” Shaddad slowly rose to his feet, still staring at Robin as though he were a hungry wild bear that had just spotted an enormous, juicy piece of meat. ”Master, after twenty long years... you finally stepped out!!” His voice trembled slightly with a mix of awe, relief, and disbelief.

”Master, did you finally leave your love for caves and start appreciating the charm of residential apartments? Twenty years without ever leaving your secluded spot?” Jabba began moving toward Robin as well, though the surprise and awe on his face were considerably more restrained.

”Yes, Iʼve grown quite fond of residential apartments, it seems,” Robin replied with a light laugh, tilting his head slightly. ”Are you satisfied now?” Then, without waiting further, he stepped fully into the barn, his presence commanding attention effortlessly.

Behind him, Morgana followed gracefully, clad in a captivating, flowing black gown that seemed to absorb the light around her. Her lips and the areas around her eyes were intensely dark, giving her a striking, almost otherworldly aura. Her hair cascaded behind her like a waterfall of night, fluttering with every subtle motion. Every aspect of her appearance radiated an air of mystique, maturity, and quiet authority. Yet, despite the overwhelming aura, she lifted her hand delicately and waved, her movement elegant and calm. ”Hello, everyone.” ”Hello!” came the resounding response as everyone waved back with broad, enthusiastic smiles, even the volunteers who had been almost lifeless moments earlier, their faces now lighting up with hope and relief.

”Haah- this feels... comforting” Robin murmured, moving to sit on the chair Shaddad had been occupying. He positioned himself directly facing the massive array in the center of the barn, observing everything with careful attention. ”Anyway- I hit a dead end in my work, so I thought a short walk would clear my mind. Iʼll return to my solitude shortly. Iʼm not sure what year it feels like for you this time... but do you have something you need assistance with? Iʼll grant you an hour.”

”WE DO!!” Shaddad exclaimed, sprinting toward a small wooden room on the side. He emerged clutching a handful of canvases rolled up in a haphazard yet deliberate manner. Then, poof, he carefully placed them on the ground in front of Robin, unrolling each one with meticulous care and positioning it in its intended spot.

”Let me help!” Jabba said, moving instinctively, picking up canvases and arranging them in their appropriate locations with methodical precision.

”...” Robin observed silently, his brow slightly raised in curiosity.

Typically, Shaddad would bring one or two canvases with issues and request guidance or solutions. This, however, was the first time he seemed so nervous, uncertain, and visibly tense, his entire demeanor betraying the weight of responsibility and expectation he felt.

But soon, Robin began piecing the entire picture together, analyzing each stroke, each detail with keen eyes. Minutes passed, and he furrowed his brows, leaning slightly forward in his chair, losing his usual relaxed posture. He focused intently, trying to absorb and understand every intricate detail of what lay before him, ensuring he missed nothing.

”Are you all right, young friends?” Morganaʼs gaze shifted from the Truth Chosens to the volunteers, her face filled with deep compassion and concern for their weary state.

”...!!” The volunteersʼ hearts raced like tolling bells, and almost half of them panicked, their legs shaking uncontrollably as they nodded anxiously, like chickens pecking at scattered grains. ”Ahaha, weʼre... perfectly fine!”

”Thank you for your concern, Teacher,” one of the volunteers stammered, relief evident in his voice.

”No, no, you all appear extremely exhausted, and they... they are even more so!” Morgana said, her eyes softening as she looked at the young volunteers on the ground, their energy nearly depleted. Closing her eyes, she placed her hand gently over the red-and-black pendant resting on her chest. ”I will help you. I wonʼt let your efforts go in vain.”

All the young men-whether standing tall or utterly collapsed on the ground- turned their eyes toward Morgana. Their gazes trembled, shimmering with a mixture of awe, disbelief, and hope. Even at that moment, if she had merely handed them a cup of water, their empty stomachs would have felt full, and a sense of relief would have spread through their chests. Their fatigue, their strain, the soreness in their limbs-all of it could have been soothed by something as simple as water. Yet, they knew the truth: this was not just about physical exhaustion.

Healing, real healing, was another matter entirely. None of them truly believed that Morgana could help them. No matter how skilled the soul masters were, no matter the sheer power of the most advanced soul techniques-they had no way to restore the body itself. That was universal knowledge. Soul energy could enhance, manipulate, or even amplify life force, but it could not undo fractures in bones, bruises in muscles, or the exhaustion of a body pushed beyond its limits. What could she possibly do with her soul units? Summon a legion of soul creatures to bandage them? Or perhaps radiate energy to mend every bruise and tear? The thought was almost laughable.

Yet then... something unexpected, something uncanny began to unfold.

Hmmmm...

The chain around Morganaʼs neck began to hum faintly, almost as if awakening, and a soft glow spread along its length. Slowly, deliberately, the light crept toward the central pendant, glowing brighter, almost pulsating with life. A sudden warmth seemed to fill the room as the glow reached the middle of the necklace. Then, in a fluid motion, Morgana raised her hand and gestured toward the young men. From her palm, streams of emerald-green energy began to flow downward, enveloping them like a gentle cascade of light. ”This...?!” The students cried out, some in shock, some in sheer wonder, as they looked down at their own bodies. They began flexing their fingers, bending their wrists, and inspecting their arms and legs. The signs of exhaustion, the bruises and strain embedded in their muscles, even the small injuries in their bones-all of it began to visibly fade. The pain they had felt just moments ago seemed to dissipate as if it had been nothing more than an illusion.

After a few fleeting seconds, Morganaʼs eyes sparkled. She clapped her hands together with sheer delight.

”Hehe! Iʼve been wanting to do this for so long!” she exclaimed, a genuine joy radiating from her voice.

Having obtained the pendant that cleverly bypassed the restrictions of the heavenly laws allowing soul units to activate it in place of energy-she had immediately instructed Harper to gather a carefully curated selection of techniques and combat arts that would best complement its use. He had brought her arts and disciplines specializing not only in healing but also in escape, reconnaissance, travel, and other adaptive techniques. Some had been created by the geniuses of Sky Opening City, while others had been acquired from the Shadow Swords.

And now, this pendant and its energy flow were being tested in practice, bringing to life one of those specialized techniques.

”Amazing!” someone murmured.

”Long live Teacher Morgana!” another voice called out.

”Long live! Long live!” echoed from a chorus of the students. ”...Hmm...” Robinʼs gaze lingered on the enormous blueprint spread across the floor, every line and symbol meticulously drawn. ”In truth... this is very good. No-brilliant, even. From a theoretical standpoint, every element here is possible. I donʼt see a single major flaw capable of halting the process entirely.” Jabba and Shaddad, standing nearby, both exhaled long, heavy breaths. Shaddad finally spoke, a mix of exasperation and awe in his voice: ”Thatʼs exactly whatʼs driving me insane, Master. Pressure has absolutely no effect on the weaponisation materials after absorption! Not a single effect. Itʼs...

maddening!”

Jabba nodded in agreement. ”I told him this already. The problem, every single

bit of it, lies in the ink itself.”

”The ink?” Robin snapped his fingers impatiently, the motion sharp. ”Bring me

the formula. Now.”

”Here” Shaddad replied quickly, handing over a thick document. ”This is the latest combination we have finalized.”

”...?” Robin blinked slowly, his green eyes widening. The list in his hands was massive-over 350 distinct materials were cataloged, and beside each one, a precision ratio was recorded, measured down to fractions of a gram. ”Are you seriously joking with me?” Robin exclaimed, waving the list in disbelief and frustration. ”Youʼre arguing among yourselves, yet you still have no idea where the actual problem lies! If the ratio of any single component changes- even by a quarter of a gram-everything will change! For better or for worse. Thereʼs no way to know except through painstaking trial and error! And donʼt even get me started on removing one or two components!

How on earth did you even manage to assemble such an enormous quantity of materials in the first place?!”