The Martial Unity

He had the rest of the day to relax and prepare for the main tournament. It was a tournament with three rounds, each round eliminating half of the contestants in four one-v-ones. The matchups of the rounds had not been decided ahead of time. This was probably to prevent any preparation on the part of the Martial Artists or their patrons. At the end of the day, it was preferable that the fights reflected their regular strength and capabilities.

Rui was actually quite impatient for the next round, unlike a lot of the contestants. 

However, there was an entire half day before the next day arrived. He didn't feel the need to delve into any further optimization of his mind or body at this moment.

Instead, he consulted with Master Deivon over some matters that he was interested in.

"I had a feeling you would ask me about primordial seed and the abyssfeeder species," Master Deivon smirked, sitting opposite Rui. "It makes too much sense for you to be interested in it."

"Well?" Rui asked. "Can I get access to some research data on it?"

Rui considered asking for actual samples of the substance but ultimately decided against it. There was no point in asking for things that he simply was not ready for. It was better he at least started to understand the nature of what he was trying to meddle with so that when he decided to tackle the project of integrating primordial seed into his Metabody System, he would have a strong foundation.

"That's not too problematic," Master Deivon replied. "At least, as far as low-grade information is concerned."

"What about high-grade research information?" Rui asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That is a bit more complicated," Master Deivon informed Rui.

"I thought the whole point of you being my patron is that I get benefits I wouldn't ordinarily be able to get in exchange for giving you the religious political capital for finding a virodhabhasa seed that excelled in the Martial Contest." Rui raised an eyebrow.

"You have already expended a good bit of the capital you get by getting patroned by me with the stabilizing treatment, the actual expensive medical treatment, the Senior-level training chambers, the Master-level mask, and the potions we supplied that helped you fulfill the Martial Body condition of the breakthrough to the Senior Realm," Master Deivon pointed out.

Rui could not argue with that. Denying Martial Seniors a Senior-level training chamber and instead giving it to him was something no Martial Squire would ever be able to get from an organization. After all, no sane organization or person would debilitate their own Martial Seniors for a Martial Squire.

Master Deivon simply had the luxury to afford to be able to piss off a Martial Senior, it was still quite the boon to Rui to be able to gain high-quality training chambers that could contain his power.

He could deny the value of it, he would not have been able to complete Nemean Blossom without it. Furthermore, he would not have been able to refine the Metabody System without it either. Which meant he would not have performed anywhere nearly as well in the Martial Contest without it.

Given how close the battle against the abyssfeeder was, he may not have passed the third round without the generosity of Master Deivon.

"I appreciate all of what you have done for me," Rui began by saying. "I would have taken a lot longer to reach my current stage if not for the aid that you have provided even before the Martial Contest began. Thank you for all of that."

"But…?" Master Deivon flashed an amused smirk.

"But I know my value, and I know that the impact I have had is significantly greater than you anticipated," Rui remarked. "For example, in the third round. Nobody was supposed to defeat the abyssfeeder, correct?"

A hint of appreciation appeared on the Master's face. "Indeed. Master Greminga originally intended for nobody to overcome the abyssfeeder. But it appears that he underestimated you. Then again, everybody did."

Rui figured as much. The strength of the abyssfeeder was too high for Rui to believe that the possibility of anybody overcoming it was intended.

"Still, it is not nearly as simple to gain access to research into primordial seed," Master Deivon explained. "For one, for better or worse, the Virodhabhasa Faith does very little to explore avenues of research that do not directly benefit Martial Art. Primordial seed is an exciting esoteric that can become anything, it is not considered an esoteric substance that is generally relevant to Martial Art as much as it is to esoteric technology. It is much easier to apply it to the latter than the former."

Rui sighed as he considered the matter. It meant that the Virodhabhasa Faith simply was not invested in the matter to possess what he needed.

"Furthermore," Master Deivon continued. "Even the shallow foundation we possess in regards to research into this inscrutable substance is not something that can easily be supplied to you even considering my patronage."

"Why not?" Rui raised an eyebrow. "It's just data."

"Don't play dumb, you know full well that exclusivity is the only reason information is valuable, young man," Master Deivon tutted. "Furthermore, because of how inscrutable the substance is, we have employed extravagant means to learn more about it, increasing the value of the information obtained from these extravagant means."

"Extravagant means?" Rui raised an eyebrow.

"Martial Masters… and even a Martial Sage," Master Deivon revealed, smiling at Rui's reaction.

"What?" Rui furrowed his eyebrows. "You're telling me a Martial Sage participated in a research project?"

"Does it sound that strange?" Master Deivon explained. "Knowing you, you must have already figured out why."

Rui threw him a knowing look. "Given that a Martial Artist's senses, intuitions, and instincts seem to grow stronger over time, and much stronger across Realms… I can only imagine the sheer amount of information that a Martial Sage is able to derive by studying esoteric substances. They are incapable of engaging in the scientific method, but their insights are probably incredibly helpful."