The Martial Unity

“Still, that alone isn’t enough to dismiss their value,” Rui replied thoughtfully. “Thus, I would suppose that most Martial Masters find a balance between the two. Or better yet, it’s quite likely that most Martial Masters create two versions for important techniques, one that is extremely integrated with the Martial Mind and one that can function without it.”

Master Ceeran nodded, impressed. “That is exactly what the current paradigms for Martial Masters are. It’s remarkable that you managed to arrive at a solution that was created over centuries, instantly.”

“Hmmm…” Rui grew engrossed in the matter. “Creating two versions is a highly intensive training process and is really only worth it for the most core and central techniques of one’s Martial Art. Still, I suppose I can put it on my list.”

He began fleshing out his journey in the Master Realm.

From his conversations with his grandmother he knew that the condition to breaking through to the Sage Realm was knowing the true answer to the question that all Martial Masters needed to ask themselves.

The best way for Martial Artists to arrive at the answer to that question was to simply unlock their true selves by gaining immense power. The power they gained would give them the power to choose things they were too weak to be able to do before. The choices they then made would illuminate who they truly deep in the depths of their mind.

His grandmother had advised him that his Body was one of the lowest-ganging fruits as far as gaining more power.

“Time to drink up another enhancement potion.” Master Ceeran smiled wryly. “You know, even for Martial Masters, getting access to them is not easy. One needs to breach grade fifteen to even have any chance at all at getting them within a reasonable span of time.”

“I shot past such a level of power,” Rui calmly remarked. “Besides…”

He glanced at his friend with a smirk. “I am the Void Prince. I can drink ten potions right now if I want.”

“That’s true, but…” Master Ceeran shook his head. “That would be a blunder, I’m sure you know that.”

“I’m aware. I was jesting.”

The more potions one drank, the stronger one became, however, the delicate physical configuration would be warped beyond salvaging after a certain point of enhancement, leaving one’s Body out of sync with one’s Art and Mind.

At the Master Realm, individuality had reached such an extraordinary degree, that Martial Masters truly diverged from each other as entirely different beings from one another. The sheer amount of variation was extremely high.

It also meant that each technique that a Martial Artist created was carefully calibrated for their highly unique beings in both their theoretical foundation and the muscle memory that had been built for them.

“Making too many changes to the foundations of the Body will make my own Art, Mind, experience, and muscle memory entirely incompatible with it.”

“Just so.” Master Ceeran nodded approvingly. “It’s good that you haven’t let your political power get to your head and do things that will completely sabotage yourself. It’s best to consume them over a much larger span of time to avoid self-sabotage.”

Rui nodded. “Consuming a physical potion is definitely the easiest boost in power that I can take. I even know what kind of potion I wish to consume.”

The clear choice was a stamina potion.

Stamina was at the foundation of one of his most important but under-appreciated technique systems; the Metabody System.

The system had saved his life more times than he could count. While the VOID algorithm used to require time, as did the SOUL System now, it would often be the very thing that bought him the time he needed.

Consuming a stamina potion would give the Metabody System a much-needed boost.

He would likely be able to use each of his techniques for much longer than he could before.

Furthermore, the boost would come immediately and the acclimatization would be minimal too, since it merely increase his energy reserves, not his power.

“Of course, that still will not close the gap in accumulation of power over time, but it will aid significantly,” Rui noted. “The objectively best way to improve my Body.”

“Improving your Body and increasing the integration between techniques and mind is all well and good, but it’s not enough,” Master Ceeran remarked.

Rui raised an eyebrow.

“You need more individuality. A potion alone will not give you that.” Master Ceeran remarked. “The Martial Union has collected immense data on the things that separated Martial Sages before they broke through to the Sage Realm with Martial Masters that haven’t, and one of the differences that separate those that break along is how much individuality they imbue in their Martial Art.”

Rui’s eyes lit up with realization. “Individuality…that bears a lot of resemblance to the answer to ‘Who am I?’”

Master Ceeran nodded enthusiastically. “That is why developing your power is the best way to reach the Sage Realm. Not only does power unlock who you are, but the individuality you imbue in your Martial Art serves as a reflection of your true self.”

“…That makes sense,” Rui murmured. “Tsk, should have thought of that before.”

“Hah,” Master Ceeran scoffed. “It’s no wonder that you haven’t considered it, considering how busy you’ve been since returning home. At least now, all of your problems are finally done.”

Rui’s expression grew complicated at those words. It was not true.

He still had several things to address. The official ownership of the alien flora lifeform.

The matter regarding his agreement with the Elder Tree and implementing it.

His multiple agreements with the Divine Doctor and implementing it.

“God, I can’t wait for my father to wake up,” Rui muttered.

He was vastly more qualified at implementing and managing the minutiae of such matters than Rui was.

“Soon…” Rui murmured to himself. He couldn’t wait to finally be free.

To be emancipated from his many problems.

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