The Martial Unity

Soon enough, he was led into a building and into a wide hall with a counter of staff members who immediately supplied him with forms and statements to sign.

Thankfully, it was nothing that proved to be too difficult. Most places on the Panama Continent had light immigration protocols, and the Seonmun branch of the Virodhabhasa Church was no different.

Once Rui entered the town, he took the opportunity to gather as much information as he could.

The first step was, of course, simply observation.

The architecture of the town reminded him of Vatican City. Every avenue of art, engineering, and architecture was given a religious tone. He saw various sculptures and artwork decorate the streets and the buildings of the town. It was in sharp contrast to any other place that Rui had ever visited before.

Although this town did serve to attract Martial Artists towards the Virodhabhasa Faith, it did have a fair bit of normal residents. Yet they were anything but normal. They all wore ethnic attire that bore religious inclinations, and it seemed as though everything in the town revolved around religion.

Furthermore, he could tell by the body language and demeanor of all the people that this wasn't just an occupation, this was a way of life for them. They ardently devoted their entire day to the religion.

Rui felt uncomfortable.

The town was truly beautiful, but the heavy religious inclinations of the people of the town creeped him out. It was one thing to believe in a God, it was another thing to center your entire life around such a belief.

Of course, it wasn't as though Rui expected too much more from a church town dedicated to faith. Still, he disliked religion and he hated cults.

Furthermore, it wasn't as though the entire town was like that.

For instance, the second that Rui stepped into the town, he sensed countless Martial Artists.

In fact, it was not an exaggeration to say that half of the population was comprised of Martial Artists.

He senses countless Martial Apprentices, many Martial Squires, and even some Martial Seniors!

Furthermore, when he sized the few of them he could immediately see, he could tell that they were not necessarily as religiously inclined as the ordinary townsfolk.

('They're visitors, just like me.') Rui mused.

According to the information that he purchased from Guildmaster Bradt, the town was a Senior-level town that possessed a great many resources that he could access.

What surprised him was the fact that such a heavily religious town was also highly sophisticated Martial Arts and technological sectors centered around Martial Art, potentially able to provide him with the information that he sought.

This was something that ran contrary to what he knew of societies with heavy religious inclinations. Usually, such societies were technologically behind more secular states. As far as Rui knew, cultural liberalism was the hallmark of a religious society taking its first step towards becoming a technologically sophisticated society.

Yet it appeared because of the heavy focus on Martial Art, and all fields that were useful to Martial Art, the Virodhabhasa Faith had managed to maintain religious dogma while also becoming a more sophisticated religion that did not fall behind on the times.

('Interesting…') Rui mused as he came across a large bustling religious shopping complex. ('Fancy.')

It appeared that being religious did not stop them from making the best use of those who visited the town.

He stepped in, taking a good look around.

A majority of the commodities sold were trinkets, products, or idols that were meant for personal consumption devotion or religious rituals.

"Welcome, young man," An elder woman smiled, greeting him with a gentle beckon. "Do you have an interest in joining the Virodhabhasa Faith?"

Her entire body was armed with religious attire. Rui had no illusions that this woman was probably the most religiously indoctrinated person that he had ever met in his entire life!

Yet, she exuded warmness and grace that was sincere.

"I was just interested in learning about it," Rui explained.

"Then you have come to the right place," She smiled even more. She plucked a book from a table in the store.

It was a dark leather-bound book with a symbol that he had seen everywhere in the town.

"I'm guessing this…" Rui muttered.

"This is the Virodhaveda," She explained with a deeply reverential tone and demeanor. "This is the holy book of our religion, one that was promulgated by our progenitor the Astral Sovereign."

Rui's eyes widened as he recognized that name.

The Astral Sovereign was a Martial Transcendent, and one of the most ancient Martial Artists alive. It is said that the man had been alive for nearly half millenium, since the Age of Martial Art had begun.

That was the reason that Rui had been taken aback.

He had no idea that the Virodhabhasa Faith had been started by a Martial Transcendent of all people.

He narrowed his eyes in confusion.

That didn't make any sense. Why would a Martial Transcendent of all people start a religion?

As far as Rui was aware, the birth of religion was rooted in ignorance, fear, and hope. These three human traits were the core reason that religions came into existence.

Why would a Martial Transcendent, a being who was so far detached from the human condition, begin a religion?

It didn't make sense.

Rui's first suspicion was that this was made up.

After all, being supported by a Martial Transcendent would make their religion insanely popular. So perhaps the true religious leaders of the religion had collectively fabricated a lie that the Martial Transcendent had given birth to their religion, just to gain his implicit endorsement.

Spreading the lie that their religion was created by a Martial Transcendent would also make their religion more pliable to Martial Artists like himself. After all, as a religion centered around Martial Art, their biggest target audience was Martial Artists like himself. Especially younger ones of lower Realms like himself.