The Martial Unity

"Because the yielded attunement from the added unrefined individuality is low, you make very little progress with drawing out the potential of your mind, leaving it weak. Because it is weak, it cannot survive the Squire evolution breakthrough process," Rui explained patiently. "That is why you haven't reached Squire's candidacy."

Prince Raijun was shocked by the revelation.

He had long grown frustrated with his lack of progress, especially since he had always fostered a deep sense of admiration for Martial Artists.

How could he not? Rather, he never understood why none of his brothers and sisters felt the same way.

Martial Artists were strong!

Martial Masters did not lower their head or chin even in the presence of the Royal Family, barring the Royal Emperor.

Martial Sages bowed to nobody.

All thanks to their personal power. The power that they themselves had cultivated, belonged to them. That nobody could take from them.

He had been overjoyed when he became a Martial Apprentice at the optimistically young age of fourteen. While that age had not crossed into genius-level territory, it was a sign of a great talent and affinity for Martial Art.

It also happened to be the same age that Rui broke through to the Apprentice Realm. Yet despite twenty years of commitment to his Martial Art and Path, he had never reached Squire candidacy.

He never understood why.

Today, he did.

was actually astonishing how

a brief and concise manner that made it simple to understand," He realized. 'Not even Martial Masters had such a conscious grasp of the problem on a theoretical level. He explained the problem the way a scientist would, rather than a

scholarly knowledge, only now did he

interested in that at the

be about in

same answer after all. The cause of your problem is

stared straight into

"Experience…?" Prince Raijun murmured.

every other Martial Art, have refined Martial Art. Tell me, Prince Raijun, when was the last time you fought genuine

Raijun's head lowered with

"You haven't experienced any life-or-death battles

"…"

with your life on the line? Seriously? Surely you jest? There's no way there exists a Martial Artist that has never once staked their life

Prince Raijun only grew more embarrassed

many enemies I have because of my status? There are countless people and nations that don't think well

"I'm aware of that. But you need to balance risk with

to, I cannot. We, children of the Empire, are constrained by security protocols of the state much more harshly than you can imagine. Especially since my late brother died nearly five years ago because he did precisely what you are suggesting to

paused once

ago en route to the Kandrian Empire from the Virodhabhasa Theocracy after participating in the

second Virodhabhasa Martial Contest."

back to a distant memory that he

'It's been so long and so much has

believe that he had died back