The Martial Unity

Chapter 2552: The Key

Ruiʼs attention shifted to the alien flora specimen.

He hadnʼt thought much about it, but he had to admit that coming face to face with an alien was still a surreal experience.

Not just life like alien microbes, but a sophisticated and complex life form that resembled a sapling.

He knew based on the Divine Doctorʼs previous discoveries that this life form was based on an entirely different model of life than the Gaian Tree of Life or even the Earthen Tree of Life. It was jarring for him to stare at a living being that wasnʼt part of the Gain Tree of Life because he couldnʼt see the antithetical environment to it subconsciously by virtue of the Tree of Life model.

And yet, it was as fascinating to him as it had been the first day he had seen it.

To think that there could be life that was comprised of layers, rather than cells. This was a fundamental divergence in the very foundations of the models of life. It meant that all the knowledge that the Divine Doctor had accrued over the span of his entire life was entirely invalid when it came to studying this alien specimen.

”I have since managed to deduce much about the home world of this specimen,” the Divine Doctor added. ”My scientific theory on its home world is that it must have had immense geochemical activity on its surface, far more so than anything on our world. So much so that its surface was most likely continuously bathed in fluxes of chemicals and compounds in an endless cycle that continuously covered everything it touched. You see...”

The clinical curiosity in his eyes grew increasingly intense.

”Only in such an environment would a layer centric model of life emerge,” he calmly explained. ”Most likely, the surface of the planet was volatile and aggressive in its chemical cycles, perhaps due to a higher temperature than Gaia, causing layers of chemicals and compounds to rapidly settle and develop upon one another. Only in such a circumstance could a layer based model of life naturally occur.”

Rui stirred at his words. He became even more curious about the alien home world and what kind of tree of life it had. Aliens were a truly fascinating concept even for a hardcore martial arts fan like him.

”I have managed to put together a range of geochemical and atmospheric conditions for a planet to yield this kind of model for life and have passed it on to Astromind to scour the universe to see if we can find it,” the Divine Doctor continued. ”But it will take time to find it.”

”Even if you find it, itʼs not as though you can visit it.” Rui heaved a sigh. ”Itʼs too far away.”

”If itʼs too far away...” The Divine Doctor turned to Rui. ”Then how did this specimen find itself on Gaia?”

Rui stirred at his words, before shrugging. ”Could very well have taken billions of years.”

The Divine Doctor turned back to specimen. ”Perhaps, but I am immortal. I have all the time in the universe.”

Rui raised an eyebrow. ”Why are you this concerned with another planet? I thought your ultimate ambition was to heal Gaia or whatever.”

”...My hunch tells me that the secret of this alien specimen will be the key to figuring out whatʼs happening to Gaia.”

Rui frowned, but remained silent.

Frankly, he was deeply skeptical of the planet being alive, and he was even more skeptical of this alien specimen having some supposed connection to Gaiaʼs alleged condition, but oh well.

He didnʼt really care.

”Well, I suppose you just want me to scour Gaia in hopes of finding something that will allow you to diagnose Gaia?” Rui raised an eyebrow.

”Precisely.”

Rui threw his hands up with exasperation.

Now that he actually focused on the details of his deal with the Divine Doctor, it truly sounded silly.

Was he just supposed to walk across the Panama Continent lifting every rock in hopes of finding some clue to what was allegedly making the planet sick or something?

He truly didnʼt understand what the hell he was supposed to accomplish, but as long as it satisfied the Divine Doctor, he didnʼt really care.

”Well, alrighty then. You, uh, have fun with the alien plant.”

He quickly departed from the lab that housed the Divine Doctor before heading over to one final person that he wished to speak with before he departed from the Kandrian Empire.

He left Vargard and flew straight to the forest in the southeastern parts of the Kandrian Empire, into the forest where the Silas Clan resided.

In the past eight years since their arrival to the Kandrian Empire, the Silas Clan had integrated into the Kandrian Empire much more intimately, having learned not just the Kandrian language but also properly becoming a part of the civilization and the economy.

Their lives had grown significantly better having joined the Kandrian Empire since then. They had gained access to the very best healthcare thanks to the Divine Doctor imparting his extraordinary knowledge. They had also gained access to the very best resources in the entire world thanks to the flush of high-grade esoteric substances gained due to the now closed Elder Tree Connection. They were especially pleased to gain the life-prolonging potions that compensated for the abuse of the Eye of Prophecy.

And most importantly, they gained the protection of the most powerful human polity in existence.

No Sage-level force dared to go after the Silas Clan after it joined the Kandrian Empire and its twenty-four Martial Sages and nearly three hundred Martial Masters.

The past eight years truly vindicated Matriarch Nephiʼs decision to permanently set roots in the Kandrian Empire.

”You look well, grandmother,” Rui calmly remarked. ”Certainly much better than you did during the war.”

Just the mention of it caused a scowl to erupt on her face. ”Hmph! Your scoundrel of a father worked me like a slave. Why, I ought to head to his fancy palace and give him a piece of my

mind!”