"That's quite the high esteem," Rui remarked. "I'm not sure if I have the ability to earn their approval."

"Nonsense," Master Ceeran huffed. "You have already earned their approval. The only ones who don't approve of you are jealous!"

Rui winced at the man's strong statements. Rui would never dare to say such a thing, he had far too much respect for every Martial Master. "Rest assured that most Martial Masters are pleased with you just from your contribution of the Hungry Pain technique, you have enriched all future Martial Squires, something that will undoubtedly benefit all Martial Sects, and thus their leaders as well," Master Ceeran smiled. "While you have been rewarded heftily by the Martial Union, there is no doubt that have managed to gain the debt of the Martial Sects as well. When the time comes, many of them will honor that debt and approve your nomination as a constituent of the fiscal committee."

Rui nodded. "Well, I can only hope that that will be the case."

"You were rewarded with a hundred hours of time from Martial Masters, I believe," Master Ceeran remarked. "If that is the case, then you can use it not only to gain advice from some of the foremost experts in the field but also build a relationship with some of them."

That wasn't a bad idea. The only thing that he was worried about was that they would realize that and see through him. Perhaps he ought to purely with the intention of guidance with Martial Art, and let himself grow acquainted with them naturally. "That's good advice."

"However, your potential has been known for a while now, so I think you won't even have to do that much. There have been people awaiting your return long before you came back because of the potential of the impact you could make on Martial Art, when you returned as the youngest Martial Senior in history, many of us, myself included, were vindicated," Master Ceeran smirked. "On top of that, you have sent ripples across the Martial community of the Kandrian Empire regarding the Hungry Pain technique which has already made a substantial impact. We Martial Masters are not blind to potential, especially when it's brimming right in front of our eyes. It would be the height of foolishness to ignore it. Thus even with pure self-interest in mind, many will support you."

Rui nodded silently.

The two of them conversed for some more time before their conversation finally came to an end. Neither of them had too much free time to squander in idle conversation.

"I shall inform you of Her Highness' response, however, I'm sure she would be quite interested in speaking to you," Master Ceeran remarked. "Fare thee well, my young friend."

Rui had much to think about as he made his way back home after bidding Master Ceeran farewell.

It hadn't even been ten days since he returned, yet he already felt like it had been a while since he came home. The memories he had of the time away from home grew more distant. In the ten days that he had come home, he had already gotten dragged away into a bunch of matters and engagements.

Headmaster Aronian had not been kidding when he said that everybody wanted a piece of the pie that Rui represented. From the Martial Union to the government, to the Martial community and sects, to the princes and princesses.

It was not easy for him to get a break.

Yet part of it was because he was not willing to take too much of a break. While he didn't like it, fact of the matter was that he was in circumstances that affected one of his main interests; his family.

Especially since it grew bigger since he had left it all those years ago. It concerned him because the bigger it was the more liable it was to be affected by the Kandrian Throne War. He didn't want that to happen.

So much so that he was willing to do whatever it took to ward off the threat.

Before he had realized this, his desire to protect his family from the Kandrian Throne War had already replaced the drive to protect them from Chairman Deacon. It drove him to pursue more strength and power atop his main drive; the fulfillment of Project Water. He had expected that once he returned to the Kandrian Empire, his drive would cool off a bit due to one of its constituting desires had been fulfilled, he had not expected it to grow stronger.

Yet here he found himself undertaking long-term measures to prevent stagnation in the distant future. It was not something he would have done had he been more relaxed. This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

'Still, long-term measures are good, but I also need to consider my short-term and mid-term growth,' Rui mused. The Water Sect of the future would not help with the Kandrian Throne War. The war would have long been settled by the time the sect was set up.

His short-term power and value were what would allow him to influence the Kandrian Throne War in a direction that would be most beneficial to his interests. He had already proven his value, spreading his Martial Art to improve the breakthrough rate to the Master Realm, and also the Hungry Pain technique that could cause huge boosts in power to the Martial Body.

However, value without the power to defend it was vulnerable. If he did not want to be toyed with by various forces that sought his power, then he would have to deter them with his power.

Rui knew that the fact that he was a high-grade Martial Senior had already deterred others from taking a more aggressive and ruthless approach. What is he had been a normal person with the secret of the Hungry Pain technique without any power to defend himself?

Would Headmaster Aronian have requested him to hold the presentation?

Would the Minister of Martial Art have requested him as humbly as he did?

The answer was no. Power was the foundation of the world, it was also the path forward to fulfilling Project Water, it was time he took another step in gaining more.