Lord of the Truth-Chapter 1159: Opening the treasury-1

After Three Months –Planet Poison Rock –Beneath the Imperial Palace

This place was one of the five most forbidden zones on Planet Poison Rock—and perhaps even within the entirety of the Serpent Empire. For centuries, only one man had ever been allowed to set foot in this sacred space: the late planetary emperor, Pythor.

Here lay the Imperial Treasury, a vault of immeasurable worth, said to contain secrets, artifacts, and knowledge spanning countless generations. It was a place whispered about in legends, where even the highest-ranking officials had never dared to enter.

But today, the hallowed silence of this place had been shattered.

BAM BAM

Tssssssss—

"Careful… Careful… Watch your steps!"

More than a hundred meters beneath the surface, a vast subterranean chamber buzzed with movement. The thick, stale air carried the scent of burned metal and stone dust, mixing with the sweat and exertion of countless workers moving with relentless urgency.

At least seventy figures could be seen spread throughout the massive underground hall, each engaged in a specific task. Some crouched low, carefully etching arcane runes into the ancient stone floor, while others hammered reinforced spikes into the thick walls. The air crackled as cultivators wielding the paths of Fire and Light welded massive metal plates together, fusing key components of their operation.

The entire operation was a chaotic dance of precision and skill, like the inner workings of a great machine.

Overseeing it all was a single elderly man, his wrinkled hands gripping a worn manual, the pages filled with intricate calculations and diagrams. His sharp, scrutinizing eyes scanned the chamber, ensuring every detail was executed flawlessly.

"Move faster! We don't have all day! One of the Five Princes could arrive at any moment!"

His voice was sharp, edged with impatience, but he did not single out any individual for blame. Despite the tension in the air, the work was proceeding without issue.

WHOOSH!

A sudden gust of wind stirred the dust-laden air, and in an instant, a new figure materialized beside the elderly overseer, "Is everything ready?"

The newcomer was a man with tight, battle-hardened skin, a towering presence, and eyes sharp as blades. Though appearing in his early twenties, the countless scars crisscrossing his face and arms told of a life steeped in combat. There was no wasted movement in the way he stood, no unnecessary expressions on his face—only an unyielding sense of control and an aura of absolute authority.

"Oh, Your Highness Peon, I am honored by your presence."

The old man offered a respectful bow, then straightened with urgency. "We need just a few more minutes… This should be our final attempt."

Months had passed since the True Beginning Empire had conquered Planet Poison Rock.

Immediately after securing the planet, Robin had taken it upon himself to refine a portion of the planet's spirit, allowing him to unveil the hidden locations of the five Imperial Treasuries.

However, unveiling the vaults was one thing. Opening them was another matter entirely.

Day after day, Caesar and his most powerful generals attempted to breach the impenetrable gates of the treasuries.

Each attempt ended in failure.

No weapon could scratch the surface. No energy attack could make a dent. No formation master could decipher the multi-layered seals that bound the vaults shut.

Even with hundreds of soldiers and master cultivators working around the clock, the vaults remained untouched, sealed away by layers of incomprehensible security.

In their frustration, the Empire's finest minds turned to alternative solutions. They dug around the vaults, trying to access them from different angles. They examined ancient records, hoping to find any clue that could lead to a breakthrough.

Nothing.

The treasuries were crafted from epic-level materials, the same celestial alloys used to forge the Empire's epic weapons. However, these vaults were far thicker, far stronger, and reinforced by forbidden formations that could redirect energy, disperse force, and nullify physical impact.

It was widely believed that Pythor had imported these vaults from the Middle Belt, breaking them open with brute force was a fantasy—a fool's errand.

And yet, despite the impossibility of the task, Caesar made a bold decision:

He ordered their destruction anyway.

A massive force had been gathered—dozens of martial emperors, warlords, and elite cultivators, all summoned with one goal in mind:

To obliterate the treasuries, no matter the cost.

The moment the destruction order was issued, a massive siege was prepared. They were prepared to rain hell upon the vaults, to unleash an assault until they make it somehow.

But then—

Zara stopped them.

She arrived in person that day on Planet Poison Rock, stepping boldly in front of the treasury gate.

By pure coincidence —Emily, the Lady of the Headquarters, arrived at the exact same time.

She had come for the very same reason.

Two of the most influential women in the Empire, standing in defiance of the Empire's supreme command, refusing to allow the irreversible destruction of the Imperial Treasuries.

Their presence alone forced the operation to a grinding halt.

They justified their stance by stating that they did not want to repeat the catastrophic events that had unfolded when Tree Father Hohenheim's treasuries were forcefully opened in the past.

At that time, the renowned Jabba, Old Gu, and several other powerful generals had attacked the vaults from the outside, attempting to break them open through brute force. However, the consequences were disastrous—the sheer impact of their assault had caused massive shockwaves that pushed debris inward, crushing countless ancient plants that had thrived for millions of years.

To make matters worse, one of the vaults had caught fire, and the flames had spread rapidly, consuming a significant portion of its irreplaceable contents.

That alone had been a devastating loss.

But what would happen this time if an even greater force —the combined might of the Warlords and the gathered Martial Emperors— were to concentrate their attacks on a single point?

Even if they succeeded in forcing the treasury open, at least a quarter of its contents would be instantly destroyed in the process.

Faced with Zara and Emily's unyielding opposition, Caesar had no choice but to step back and surrender the matter to them.

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Immediately, Zara took action, dispatching a highly specialized team to analyze the intricate protective seals surrounding the treasury. They worked tirelessly to construct neutralization matrices designed to disable the defensive enchantments, as well as complex unlocking formations that would allow them to open the treasury without causing damage.

But weeks passed.

Then months.

And still, nothing worked.

Every attempt had ended in failure, and the treasury remained as impenetrable as ever.

Peon's expression darkened.

"It had better be ready this time," he muttered coldly, his gaze sharpening. "Otherwise, I will handle this myself."

He had received a direct notification that yet another attempt would be made today. Furthermore, it had been explicitly requested that one of Robin's five children be present for the occasion.

Since:

Caesar was preoccupied with overseeing the empire's rapid expansion,Theo was immersed in training more Shadow Swords and managing the Night Cats Clan,Zara was buried under endless volumes of ancient knowledge from the Second Heaven's Chosen Library,And Richard was engaged in refining and reshaping Planet Jura,

…The responsibility had fallen to him this time.

"What exactly do you mean by 'handling this yourself,' Your Highness?"

The elderly project director, who had been supervising the operation for months, wiped the sweat from his brow.

"This site is under the direct jurisdiction of the Research and Development City," he continued nervously. "Even if we fail today, I beg you—grant us three more weeks! We have devised another plan that we wish to test!"

"That is no longer an option." Peon silenced him with a single wave of his hand. "My eldest brother, Caesar, is draining the imperial treasuries at an alarming rate to finance his grand city-building project across all imperial planets. Meanwhile, my younger sister, Zara, has launched multiple large-scale initiatives after obtaining The Second Heaven's Chosen Library—and each of them demands an unimaginable amount of financial support.

Beyond that, we are in dire need of resources to replenish our army's losses, distribute war merit rewards, and compensate the soldiers who fought bravely in the recent campaigns."

Peon turned his piercing gaze toward the elderly man.

"We no longer have time for delays or pointless experiments. Even Zara and Emily have run out of patience. If the treasury is not opened today, I will personally summon the Warlords to obliterate it by force."

The elder's lips trembled.

"Bu—but…"

Hoooh…

He let out a long, heavy sigh, nodding several times in resignation.

When one of the Five Princes had made a decision, the matter was final.

Any attempt to change his mind would be nothing more than a futile effort. "The Array Master's Assistant, Donal, you can begin."

At that moment, one of the Rune Masters stationed near the treasury stepped forward to inform the elder.

All around them, the sounds of hammering and welding gradually died down. The workers stepped back, their movements controlled and precise.

No one showed fear.

No one showed excitement.

Only focused determination filled the air.

It was clear that this wasn't their first attempt at such an operation.

The elder swallowed hard.

This is it.

He took a few slow steps forward, inhaling deeply.

Either he would succeed, securing a monumental achievement under his name…

Or he would fail yet again, tarnishing his distinguished record with another humiliating defeat.

"Now!" Three thin threads of energy erupted from Donal's feet, streaking forward with precise control. Each thread struck one of the three anchor spikes in perfect unison—