The Martial Unity
chapter-2084

"…Additionally," he continued, "the Martial Union has also taken the liberty to analyze the data from your duel to further reduce the tediousness of this process. Based on it and the fact that you have grown stronger, the Union has decided to deploy six grade-twenty-five Martial Artists to test your power."

Rui's eyebrows lit up at the mention of their grade.

"…High grade," he murmured.

"Indeed, Your Highness," the Martial Master confirmed. "The Martial Union believes, in consideration of your prior matches, that testing you with grade-twenty-five Martial Artists, the first of the high grades, will lead to the most accurate evaluation."

"…Sounds like grades are much more rough in the Master Realm," Rui remarked. The Martial Master nodded. "In the Master Realm, grades are far less accurate and precise when it comes to measuring combat level. They are merely used as a reference and nothing more. Unfortunately, the Martial Union has yet to come up with a better way to quantify Masters."

Rui nodded, pondering the man's words. As a combat scientist or, at least, someone with the memories of a combat scientist, he knew just how difficult it was to quantify beings as complex and powerful as Martial Masters. "Your services are much appreciated, Masters," Rui expressed gratitude.

"It is an obligation, Your Highness," he replied. "By partaking in this test, you agree to partake in the evaluation of as many Martial Masters aiding in your evaluation. Each Master must agree to this."

Rui immediately understood the point of this.

It was to ensure that there always were Martial Artists available when others required themselves to be evaluated.

Thus, Martial Masters had essentially created a self-serving system where they took care of each other's needs rather than needing to commission a bunch of them each time.

"I don't mind," Rui calmly replied.

"Then, let us begin without any further ado. I am Vertol of the Earth Sect, and I shall be your first opponent."

Rui's eyes fixed on the man.

He had a sturdy, heavy body; in addition, he had a large paunch that undoubtedly made it harder to inflict any damage on him. Nothing above par for a defense-oriented Martial Master.

Rui could already imagine the trouble that he might have with this particular Master due to his lack of offense. It almost made him want to drop out and come back after spending a few years honing his offense.

However, it was imperative that he knew how strong he was at this very moment before he entered training.

This was so that he would know exactly how much stronger he had gotten after training. Without measuring his current combat level, he would be unable to gauge the gains that he would make from entering his training phases.

Not to mention, he just wanted to fight more Martial Masters.

He could use the experience.

"Any time, Master Vertol." Rui smiled.

The two of them immediately shifted to a large battlefield in the isolated Daracol Region, taking their stances.

Master Vertol took a strange stance.

He brought his feet together, "I have been looking forward to this, Your Highness," Master Vertol admitted. "Show me the power that you have accumulated. Rest assured, I won't go down nearly as easily as Master Grais did."

"Is that so?" Rui smiled wryly.

Master Grais had not gone down easily at all.

In fact, he had almost won.

"Come."

Master Vertol's challenge was firm.

Rui didn't need any more warning.

BADUMP!

Their Martial Hearts and Minds blazed into action as Rui surged forward. A tremendously powerful Flowing Canon flew towards the man's solar plexus with immense momentum.

Yet, he didn't so much as twitch, allowing the blow to land. The full power of Outer Convergence, Reverberating Lance, and Fire Breathing struck him unguarded.

Yet, what unfolded was beyond Rui's expectations.

BOOM!!!

His eyes widened as a tremendous resistive force from within the man's body emerged out of seemingly nowhere, pushing back at Rui's powerful blow, knocking him away.

The man hadn't so much as moved.

Rui narrowed his eyes, refusing to give up. Since the Master was a defensive Martial Artist, he didn't feel the need to be careful about a counter at range. He leaped away, gaining some distance, before sprinting towards the man at top speed.

He activated Gale Force Breathing, Outer Convergence, and Parallel Walk, surging towards the man at extremely heightened speeds, accumulating even more momentum than last time.

A second Flowing Canon surged forward.

This time, it was far stronger due to the greater momentum accrued this time.

Yet, it was to no avail.

BOOOM!!!

Rui gritted his teeth as an enormous repulsive force blasted his attack away, bruising his fist. The man hadn't so much as shifted.

Yet, the sheer power that his body was able to exert thoroughly broke Rui's attack, flinging him away.

STEP

Rui landed at a distance, furrowing his eyebrows as his powerful mind surged into thought as to exactly what he was dealing with.

"What's the matter, Your Highness?" Master Vertol smiled. "I didn't even feel anything. You're going to have to do better than that if you want to overcome the Yin-Yang Shield."

Rui's eyes lit up at that name.

It was a name that many Martial Artists would recognize.

"You mean…?" Rui stared at him, stunned.

"Indeed." He nodded. "This is the one and only Yin-Yang Shield of the Gen Temple."

The Yin-Yang Shield technique was said to be one of the most powerful defensive techniques in existence, said to be impervious to any and all forms of attack. It was developed by the Gen Temple, one of the three Sage-level powerhouses of South Panama and was their primary defense technique.

The reason that the technique was valued so much and was held in such high regard was because it was a grade-ten technique as far as its potency went, yet only grade-five as far as difficulty went.

Normally, extreme power came with extreme difficulty.

The Yin-Yang technique was one of the rare techniques that did not adhere to this principle so much so that Martial historians accredited the Yin-Yang shield to be one of the reasons that the Gen Temple managed to rise above others over the span of five centuries, becoming a Sage-level powerhouse in the process.