Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2017 Nexus

”...Itʼs time to seriously begin thinking about how to create Nexus States through a body strengthening path!”

”..!!”

Everyoneʼs eyes snapped wide open in unison. Shock rippled through the hall- so intense that even the Truth Chosen currently on duty was visibly shaken. Every single training path had taken millions of years to be explored, refined, and have its foundations firmly established.

Up to the realm of a Martial Emperor, perhaps the road was relatively clear: discovering the energy accumulation core was straightforward, and intelligent creatures across countless planets needed no more than tens of thousands of years to understand how to build and reinforce their foundations using celestial laws.

But the moment one crossed into the domain of the first World Cataclysm, everything changed.

From that point onward, the difficulty rose exponentially.

It was said that intelligent beings did not learn how to break through into a World Cataclysm until at least five million years of recorded history had passed -followed by an additional three million years simply to uncover the method for breaking into the Nexus State.

And those numbers were not universal.

They applied only to individuals blessed with exceptionally high affinity to the laws.

Three million years to leap from World Cataclysm to Nexus State...

And yet City Lord Shaddad intended to begin researching it barely fifty years after the successful creation of their very first World Cataclysm?

”City Lord, donʼt you think youʼre pushing matters too far?”

”City Lord, shouldnʼt we first bring the array to absolute perfection, then evaluate what must be done for the next step?”

”I believe our current resources are barely sufficient to improve what we already possess. Looking too far ahead may cause more harm than benefit, wouldnʼt you agree, City Lord?”

The researchers surrounding Shaddad were drenched in sweat. Their objections were clear and firm, yet every single one carefully softened their words by ending with a question-careful not to provoke his notorious temper. To their surprise, Shaddad did not grow angry.

On the contrary, he seemed pleased.

He nodded several times, a confident smile forming on his face.

”Historically speaking, all of you are correct,” he said calmly. ”But our situation here is... slightly different.” He then gestured toward the group. ”Which one of you can remind everyone of the method for breaking through into a Nexus State? Iʼm referring specifically to the internal energy system.”

”I would be honored!” One of the advisors immediately raised his hand.

”A World Cataclysm is achieved by transforming the energy gathering center into a super-gravity focal point, something like the beast crystals. This focal point compresses ambient energy to such an extreme degree that it reverts close to its original form-primal energy. That is precisely why World Cataclysms can contain incomparably greater amounts of energy within their bodies.”

He paused briefly before continuing, his tone turning grave.

”In fact, a single World Cataclysm could drain all the energy from an entire planet if they attempted to cultivate on a Young Sector world. This is one of the primary reasons strict prohibitions were placed upon them.”

”...However,” the advisor continued, ”even such overwhelming energy can only be converted into tangible power through the body and the veins. This creates a severe limitation. No matter how much energy a World Cataclysm possesses, their physical structure restricts how much of it they can truly wield.”

He raised a finger, emphasizing his next words.

”And this is where one of the great geniuses of the past made a breakthrough. He devised a method to freely utilize that power within the focal point itself. By strengthening and transforming the veins, he turned every vein in the body into something akin to an energy gathering center.”

”The energy pathways,” the advisor concluded, ”were no longer thin like needles-they became pumps, capable of moving vast torrents of power without restraint.”

”That method seamlessly connected the immense energy focal point directly to the skin itself. It granted its user absolute freedom-the freedom to access one hundred percent of their power and release it at will, without delay or restriction. More than that, it allowed the practitioner to absorb primitive energy straight from space, bypassing the inefficient process of first absorbing natural energy and only then compressing it within the focal point...”

He paused briefly, letting the implications sink in, before continuing, ”That new form of power placed the cultivator in a true Nexus State with both their own inner strength and the surrounding environment. It erased the separation between self and power, between body and world, and in doing so, it opened limitless horizons for all intelligent races.”

He raised a finger once more, emphasizing the gravity of his next words.

”And even to this day, we have discovered no method capable of strengthening the human race beyond the optimal Nexus State, except through communion with a heavenly law-receiving its blessing and borrowing its authority. Thus, it can be said with certainty that the peak of the Nexus State represents the greatest true power any individual can reach without relying on external

assistance.”

”Good.”

Shaddad raised his thumb in approval, his expression calm yet sharp.

”So, for an internal-energy cultivator, a Nexus State is a method that removes every limitation from the bodyʼs energy pathways. Then...” He took a few measured steps forward, his footsteps echoing faintly. ”...what, exactly, is a Nexus State when it comes to body strength?”

After a short pause, he added,

”There already exists something that is called a Nexus State for body power. The extremely wealthy, as well as certain Behemoths, use it on occasion to forcibly enhance their physical bodies. All they do is increase the amount of stabilizer within their bodies to stuff in more energy.”

His tone turned cold.

”But that approach turns the body into nothing more than an overinflated balloon-movement becomes sluggish, balance is compromised, and destruction comes all too easily. I do not see this direction as suitable in the

slightest.”

Silence fell over the room.

Everyone exchanged glances, unease written across their faces. This question was far more difficult than it had initially sounded.

A World Cataclysm in terms of body power was fundamentally different. It was a form of full-body armament-one that allowed every single cell to endure massive quantities of energy, becoming both resilient and elastic. The cells expanded as they absorbed more power, then compressed it inward, forging extremely dense primitive energy. Under such a system, traditional energy pathways simply did not exist.

And without pathways... there was nothing to link.

”City Lord, that is precisely why we said this isnʼt the right time for you to trouble yourself with this matter,” one of the researchers stepped forward, instinctively positioning himself slightly ahead of Shaddad.

”No-this is exactly the right time.”

Shaddad came to a halt and turned his gaze toward the distant horizon, his

eyes burning with resolve.

”...The Master is preparing for great things in the near future-things of truly immense scale. And while he has not directly ordered me to create Nexus States within a fixed timeframe, I can read between the lines.””

His voice lowered.

”There is a span of time that will end after three centuries. Every institution

under His Majestyʼs authority is racing to accomplish something monumental before that deadline arrives. How could I possibly stand aside and not

contribute?”

”City Lord... are you saying-” one of those present murmured, barely finishing

his sentence.

”Before three hundred years have passed,” Shaddad declared, his voice

exploding with his familiar fury,

”I will ensure that a body-strength Nexus State is born from the womb of the Doubled Centennial Grave Empire. These are my words-Shaddadʼs!” ”And now,” he snapped, ”clear my path. Youʼve wasted more than enough time.”

The crowd immediately parted. They stood frozen in place, watching as

Shaddad vanished into the sea of trainee array workers, his presence swallowed by motion and machinery.

After a long moment, one of them muttered quietly,

”...Will everything really be alright?”

”I donʼt know,” another replied softly. ”But chances are... we wonʼt see him here

with us for a very, very long time.”

”Heh~ weʼll be counting on you, brother Baldor.”

”...Iʼll do everything I can.”