Lord of the Truth
Chapter 1291 1291: Robin's soul trait

"...Whoever wishes to test their soul trait, step forward now—or prepare to wait until next year!"

The bald examiner spread his arms wide, his voice slicing through the air like a blade. He scanned the crowd with a sharp, calculating gaze that betrayed both weariness and disappointment. After a moment, he clicked his tongue in irritation and muttered, "Tsk~ Only three traits in this entire expedition? Has the once-proud land of Zaron truly become so barren of talent?"

With a sigh, he gave a casual shrug and turned away, his excitement clearly drained. Step by step, he walked back to the wooden table and began methodically gathering the crystal vials of refined essence scattered across its surface. Though this task was officially labeled as a voluntary service—something noble for the good of the clan—everyone knew he would be generously rewarded for it. And today? Today, he had made a small fortune collecting all those so-called "crystal usage fees." His mood had improved significantly.

Just as he reached for the final vial, a voice rang out:

"Excuse me… I'd like to try!"

"Hmm?" The bald youth turned his head slowly, lifting one eyebrow in surprise. His sharp eyes landed on a figure stepping forward from the crowd. A young man. A human.

"A human?" he murmured, then nodded with indifference. "Very well. Come forth."

But his tone changed, growing colder, sharper. "But if this is just a waste of my time... don't expect mercy. You'll have no one to blame but yourself."

Though spirit cultivation was known to be the most compatible path for humans—especially those seeking to preserve their frail physiques—that didn't mean they were ideal candidates. They were rare among the gifted. In fact, since this recruitment expedition began nearly a week ago, this examiner had tested only three humans. None of them had been remarkable. None had passed.

"Haha, no need to worry," the young man replied, stepping forward with a calm confidence that turned more than a few heads. "I don't know exactly what kind of result I'll get—but I'm sure there will be one. I just have a feeling."

There was something in his voice—something light, yet unwavering.

The people around him murmured. Surprise. Curiosity. Concern.

"Brother, are you sure about this?" a fellow human beside him suddenly grabbed his arm, desperation on his face. "That examiner... he's mad! He whipped two people yesterday just because they failed! Please, don't do this!"

But Robin—calm as ever—simply smiled. "Don't worry. Everything's going to be just fine~"

And without another word, he continued forward.

What most people didn't know was that Robin had been marked as unusual since childhood. Taken from his mother when he was only three years old, he had spent years moving between secluded chambers and secret training grounds. His relatives had suspected something rare lay within him—a unique spirit. But even they didn't know exactly what it was. The tools they used to test him were crude, old, and incapable of showing the full picture. All they had were whispers and guesses.

Now, standing before the first soul-testing crystal, Robin exhaled deeply. With no hesitation, he raised his right hand and gently pressed his palm against its cool, glassy surface. He closed his eyes. He let go of all his mental defenses. He opened himself completely.

HUUUUUMMMMM

The crystal activated immediately, a deep, resonant hum echoing through the air. A soft pulse of energy flowed out from it, enveloping Robin's body. At first, the energy was gentle—warm, almost soothing. But then it shifted, pushing past the physical and into his spiritual core. It began testing him.

BAM BAM

The gentle force transformed, knocking against the boundaries of his soul domain like a polite, persistent visitor. Then it surged inward, flooding his core and exerting pressure. It pressed from all sides, compressing his inner space.

But because there was no hostility. No malice. Robin didn't resist.

Seconds passed. Then the pressure withdrew. The energy faded.

Robin opened his eyes.

The crystal before him pulsed with a dark glow—deeper, heavier than any seen before. That darkness condensed into the center for a heartbeat, then spread outward in a wave of shimmering color. Again and again, the cycle repeated—gather, release, gather, release.

The crowd gasped.

"Whoa... look at that!"

"He's got a soul trait!"

"Incredible!"

Excitement rippled through the crowd. For many, seeing a soul trait revealed was a moment of joy and inspiration. Even if it wasn't their own.

"Haha! Well done, brother!" the human youth among the crowd called out enthusiastically.

Robin gave a lopsided grin and scratched his head. "...Well, no stars, no comets... but at least it's not blank. Looks like I'll be going home un-whipped today. Hehe."

The bald examiner stepped forward, examining the crystal's glow with a thoughtful expression. Then he turned his eyes back to Robin and nodded with approval. "Not bad... for a human," he said with a dry smirk.

"Your soul trait is called Elastic Domain. You've passed. You may join the clan, and you'll be assigned to the Guard Hall."

"Elastic Domain?" Robin blinked, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"What does that mean?"

"The Elastic Domain trait—just as the name suggests—grants your soul domain the ability to expand and contract at need, within certain limits, without suffering internal damage." The bald examiner spoke clearly, his tone suddenly more respectful. He even offered a faint, approving smile. "Now, while this trait might not be as flashy or awe-inspiring as some of the rare celestial ones it's far from useless. In fact, for someone seeking to build a solid foundation in the art of defense, this trait is a blessing."

He clasped his hands behind his back as he continued. "Its strength lies in its adaptability. It makes your soul barrier incredibly difficult to penetrate, and its flexibility allows it to absorb shock and pressure from powerful attacks in ways that rigid domains cannot. With the right nurturing techniques and a well-balanced set of defensive arts, you could become a vanguard warrior—one who stands tall and unwavering at the frontlines of the clan's future wars."

The young man didn't skimp on the details, clearly making an effort to show respect—after all, Robin might very well be an ally in the near future.

"Elastic, huh?" Robin repeated with quiet awe. He tilted his head slightly, brows furrowing in thought. "That actually sounds... kind of incredible."

His eyes widened ever so slightly as memories rushed back—dozens of strange experiences with his soul domain over the years, moments that never made sense at the time but suddenly seemed to click. Could that odd resistance, that recoil from pain, that unnatural resilience... have been this trait all along?

Then he pointed toward the second crystal resting beside the first.

The bald examiner nodded. "You may proceed if you wish. That second crystal will measure the raw number of spirit units within you. If your count is sufficiently high relative to your physical age, you'll be granted immediate admittance to the clan's training halls."

Robin blinked a few times, lost in his thoughts again, but soon smiled and raised a hand with calm certainty.

"No, thank you. That won't be necessary. I don't plan to join any clan right now."

"What?!" The bald man's calm demeanor shattered in an instant. He clenched his jaw and stepped forward, eyes sharp. "Every other day I have to deal with people who think they can freeload off the clan's resources and leave without consequence. Do you think this is some sort of public testing center? A joke?"

Robin chuckled softly, unfazed by the growing tension. He stepped forward and reached out to pat the man gently on the shoulder.

"Whoa, whoa, no need for the dramatics." His tone was light and teasing, his grin still firmly in place. Then, without hesitation, he reached into the spatial ring on his own hand—an item rare and expensive in itself—and pulled out another ring.

Holding it between two fingers, he offered it to the examiner.

"Here. I'll pay for the technique. Fair and square."

The entire area went silent.

"…?!" The bald examiner's eyes grew impossibly wide. The crowd around them gasped audibly, and someone even dropped a flask, shattering it on the ground. A spatial ring? If genuine, even the smallest ones cost hundreds of pearls!

Gulp.

The examiner, now visibly sweating, extended his spiritual sense into the ring. His voice came out as a whisper—almost involuntarily.

"…There are a hundred pearls inside."

"Then please, the technique." Robin extended his right hand patiently, his smile never wavering. There was a sincere gleam in his eyes—a hunger for understanding. This wasn't about the money. It was about knowledge, growth, mastery.

If someone had offered him this chance back when he was still stuck in the Young Belt, he would've gladly paid a thousand times more without hesitation.

"Ah, yes, of course!" The bald youth snapped to attention. He turned, almost stumbling in his haste, and shuffled over to a side shelf. From a secure compartment, he retrieved a small booklet bound in deep blue hide—clean, firm, and glowing faintly with spiritual runes.

He returned and presented it with both hands.

"Here it is. A second-tier nurturing technique. Far superior to any green-tier method. It's not specifically designed for the Elastic Domain, sadly—our clan doesn't possess any exclusive techniques for that trait at the moment—but this one is well-regarded for general use with defensive traits. If you look in section thirteen, you'll find targeted advice for elastic traits in particular."

Robin took the booklet in silence, flipping through a few pages as glowing symbols caught the light. His brows drew together slightly—perhaps in mild disappointment.

"Hmm... not exactly perfect, but I suppose I can make it work."

Then he smiled again, lightly clapped the examiner's arm, and added casually:

"Keep the ring."

With that, he tucked the blue booklet under his arm and turned to leave, his stride relaxed, confident, and unbothered by the stunned silence behind him.

"Ah—wait—"

The bald examiner was left frozen in place, eyes wide, unable to form coherent words. Around him, the crowd buzzed with disbelief.