Not sure I see the path. Given the fact that choosing this spirit addresses the only 3-age spirit in the game (keep it for 6, 7, and 8), and that you need good diplomatic relations with opponents to be successful with it, it seems like it is primarily useful as a diplomatic game flow choice. If you are strong enough to manage a diplomatic game at this stage, it seems unlikely you could not win a transcendent victory without it. I seldom reach age 10 without having 9 or 10 values in all my fabrics anyway. At that point, I typically have at most about 12 turns in Transcendence before winning anyway. High culture and a couple techs and you are at 15.

It is certainly a fun alternative to always spamming production/culture/war, and trying to find different paths through the game is part of why I like it. But it seems inherently weaker than Commanders or Colonialism in general play, or scholars and inventors for fun.

Daniel, escort it in neutral territory, send the Master into only territories that are not hostile, or escort in open borders lands. You can generate an enormous number of apprentice artists. The only hard part is getting your initial art production up. If you go to unfriendly places, you may lose the Master. You can promote others though.

It may be OP, maybe not --- other powers and spirits can be awesome, too. But if things go smoothly, and you get into Transcendence, you're super prepared.

how do you get your grand master to another city without it being killed in neutral territory?