2376 – The Truth of Death
"..." Glacion felt a shiver at the sight of Robin's dreamy smile.
Based on the flow of the conversation, based on that confident smile, the balance of Cosmic Powers had been thrown to the wind.
Was Lord Robin now weaker than the Archon, the Cosmic Elder, and the Ruler of Chaos? Perhaps—that was uncertain. Even though he was lower than them in level, he possessed The Seals and held six laws, not just one like them.
But one thing was certain... when Lord Robin reached the sixth level like them, he would not be their fourth equal—he would rank above them!!
"Hooo~" Glacion let out a long exhale. "I'll go prepare some cold food for you."
He had now obtained information that most likely neither the Behemoths nor even the great icons of the universe possessed. How many people in history had reached six Master Laws for them to share such secrets?
And frankly, this information was more than enough for today—his head was already starting to ache!!
"No, wait." Robin pulled The Seals into his hand and stood calmly, then began doing some light stretches. "We're leaving."
"Is that really alright, My Lord?" Glacion asked quickly. "Didn't you say you were tired? That you felt weak?!"
"I feel weak compared to the start of the journey, but I'm still stronger than I was when I fought the Executioner." Robin chuckled softly, "And as for the fatigue, it's due to the depletion of Golden Momentum from most of the Seals, but they'll take time to fully recharge, and I don't intend to stay here until then."
Then he continued, "Simply traveling between Sectors doesn't consume a large amount of momentum; I can jump a few more times comfortably before the momentum is completely depleted... I must finish my obligations before I return to my seclusion... I have much to complete before the coronation."
"Obligations?" Glacion furrowed his brows, "Do you finally intend to send Support to Lord Zavarus and Lord Kiryān?"
"....." Robin maintained a heavy silence for a moment, "Well, I have that too."
"....?"
"Let's go, Glaci." Robin waved gently in front of him; this time, the Golden Engravings did not appear across his body—he himself chose not to show them.
*HOOOM*
And indeed, a Fifth-level spacetime gate activated.
Robin showed a wide smile, "As I expected," then he began advancing calmly.
—————
Sector 100—Planet Uraginus
In a certain spot within the Imperial Palace, one of the most heavily guarded locations by both human and automated forces...
Caesar sat quietly with his hands resting on his knees, watching something before him in silence with a face devoid of emotion.
He was watching something beautiful, something that would drive most living beings to give their lives just to sit in the same posture as Caesar for a few minutes... He was looking at Helen in her crystal coffin.
But he wasn't looking at her sculpted body or her carved features, but rather at her neck specifically.
That was where all the magic was happening.
The spinal cord is the connection between the head and everything else; it links the Soul Domain, the Life Artery, the heart, and the Energy Gathering Center—the vital places that cause instant death to any cultivator no matter how powerful they are... and that is why fighters always target severing the neck.
Not for the bleeding—there are other places in the body that can bleed more and are easier to target—but they know cultivators can easily control such situations... rather, they target the neck for any chance to scratch the spinal cord, that's all.
And before Caesar, something strange was happening to the spinal cord...
The upper part touching the brain directly was active; he could feel a living movement within it, could feel signals trying to break through to farther distances... but the lower part was completely dormant, refusing to receive or pass those signals no matter how hard it tried.
It wasn't alone in its dormancy—the heart, the Life Gathering Center, and the Energy Artery, everything below that point was entirely inert... dead.
Of course, Immediate Corpse Preservation had kept it in excellent condition, and the Arrays pumping Life Force daily made decay impossible; not even the slightest change in the body had occurred.
But it was still a corpse.
And the reason...
Caesar turned his gaze back to the highest point at the back of the neck...
If those signals broke through the path and continued downward, would the corpse move? Even if its Life Artery was drained?
But can one even call it a corpse, when he sees brain activity with his own eyes?
Which matters more? The soul or the body?
"...Everything below that point is dead, and everything above it refuses to acknowledge that... How many humans have been buried under rubble while their consciousness screamed, refusing what was happening?" Caesar muttered in a low voice, "Perhaps in the end, death for humans is not the opposite of life, but the severance of dialogue between parties... an eternal feud between the body and the soul."
*Hooo~* Caesar's eyes turned white for a moment, and his heart froze for an instant. His appearance was terrifying for a fraction of a second—if his assistant Lily were here, she would undoubtedly have screamed.
But this didn't last long.
Caesar's eyes regained their luster. "Ugh." Then he clutched his chest with both hands. "That awful feeling again—it's been growing increasingly bothersome lately."
Then he sighed, letting out a cold breath—literally.
He stood up.
Then he took a step toward the crystal coffin and opened it *creaaak*. He stood there in silence for a few seconds, staring at Helen's stunning neck.
Before slowly extending his fingers.
*Hoooom*
"What are you doing, you insolent one? ...Hmm? Tsk tsk~ Victoria won't refuse if you give her a hint."
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