The Martial Unity

Chapter 3829: High Risk and High Reward

Of course, altering the gene pool of an entire supercontinent for selfish purposes was excessive, but it was worth it if it truly would help him reach the Transcendent Realm and beyond.

’I’m starting to understand why the Demon of Asmodeous had decided to consume all of Panama with the Gu,’ Rui realized. ’The condition for achieving Transcendence is truly extraordinarily difficult. And extraordinary challenges require extraordinary efforts and solutions.’

He was starting to suspect that reaching Transcendence potentially required more than just enlightenment about finding water here and there. He was starting to suspect that Transcendent Candidates needed to go above and beyond to find their Paths across the entire world.

One way to do that was to drown the entire world with your path.

That would explain why Sage Asmodeous wanted to expand the Gu until it consumed all of Gaia, so that the world itself would become Death, helping him gain the ultimate enlightenment and transcend.

’...did the previous Martial Transcendents do something similar to reach Transcendence?’

He wasn’t sure. Human civilization was woefully uninformed about these aloof beings, and it was entirely possible that they had actually not been as non-interventionist once upon a time.

Perhaps the Conqueror of Chaos had tried drowning the entire continent in chaos in order to reach Transcendence. The Astral Sovereign had altered the trajectory of human civilization with the Virodhabhasa Faith in the form of a self-fulfilling prophecy, so it wasn’t unthinkable.

The Martial Primordial had subjugated the Martial World after breaking through to the Sage Realm and had left his imprint upon it. Was that one of the reasons that he had also reached Transcendence first?

”...I think I’m onto something.” He murmured aloud.

”Onto what?” Princess Ru raised her eyebrows, gazing at him with a curious expression.

”Nothing.” He shook his head.

He didn’t think it was an absolute condition to warp the world in the flavor of your Martial Path to reach Transcendence. After all, Damian reached Transcendence without ever intervening in human civilization.

’It might simply be another option at our disposal, but it should be possible to reach Transcendence even without it, but...’

Why would he not make use of a method to get to Transcendence even if that was the case? After all, he had chosen even extremely risky methods such as dying to enlightenment of self when he was a Martial Master.

’In that case, maybe spreading my seed to create a civilization of homo antithesis would be something that I should aim for, all to increase the probability of my ascension to the Transcendent Realm. But the consequences...’

His expression grew complicated. ’It could ruin human civilization with a poor mix. I don’t want human civilization to end up like Whisperer of the Hlakaschken Trade Empire, with a failed fusion of elven and therianthrope blood. Urgh...’

He needed to be very careful with how he approached this. If he were too greedy, then his actions could bring ruination to human civilization for all of eternity. At the very least, this wasn’t something that he could push for right away.

’I’ll have to consult several experts and try to foresee the future with the Eye of Prophecy, among other things. I’ll also need to get a damn immortal sage for this kind of stuff.’

”What’s the matter? You seem deep in thought.”

”Just considering the merits and cons of spreading my seed across human civilization,” Rui remarked with a thoughtful expression. ”The stakes are high, as are the rewards. It will not be easy either way, and it’s not something I can decide here.”

”It is best that you give it a long, long thought and consult the relevant experts.” She approved of his caution. ”An Emperor cannot and should not make decisions by himself. Even our father, a master in many fields, had specialized consultants for every single matter. He made decisions after giving it all the consideration that they needed. You’re not a solo show anymore. You have your secretary and the Shepherd, you have Ranea, and now you have me on your team.”

Her tone softened as he turned his attention to her, studying her.

It truly struck him how much she resembled their father in not just his appearance but his mannerisms and thought process. Even her tendency to grow exasperated with some of his shortcomings reminded him of Rael.

”It’s good to have you, Ru.” He nodded with a softening expression. ”You’re a highly competent statesman. Your position as Minister of Harmony is important. It is a position that goes beyond simply mediating between my regime and our civilization. Your true duty is to preserve our father’s legacy. I’m sure you’re aware of that.”

She nodded with determination lurking in the depths of her golden irises. ”I understand its true purpose with the choice of name you made for the ministry and position. Rest assured that I will not allow everything that our father built to crumble. I will ensure that your regime remains harmonious...”

A smile of affection emerged on her face. ”...big brother.”

His ethereal eyes lit up at those words. It was one he had a soft spot for since it was how the kids at the orphanage called him when he had become the grown up.

Despite the maturity and wisdom beyond her age, she still retained the youthful energy of someone who was her age, twenty-one years old. In that regard, she felt much more like a little sister.

”I’ll entrust it to you, little sister.”

His tone was one of trust. Perhaps that was naive of him, since he couldn’t sense her mind and thus didn’t know for a fact where her loyalties lay, but those were the cards that most rulers were dealt.

Her expression grew hazy as she recollected the past. ”There was a time when I idolized you as the perfect being. A savior and a god in living form.”

Rui raised an eyebrow at the unexpected confession.

”And then later, I began to hate you for your very human flaws,” she remarked with a knowing tone. ”Your carelessness and selfishness. The messes that you created that I watched our father work day and night to fix. But... only now am I able to reconcile the two real sides of you into the one person before me.”

She directed a knowing gaze at him. ”A flawed, but miraculous individual. I didn’t see it before, but I think you have the potential to become a truly great emperor. That is why I have ultimately decided to serve you as a subordinate.”

Her expression pointed. ”Please do not make me regret this.”

His smile grew wry. ”Well, I can’t allow myself to disappoint a little sister, now can I?”

”Huhu... I’m glad to hear you say that. I look forward to your reign as Emperor, Your Majesty.”