The First Cultivator - Changing Existence - Chapter 724

Chapter 724: Return and Reports – 724 Chapter 724: Return and Reports – 724 Skymender returned to the Faceless Empire’s camp and once again saw Sword Master Shang.

He clearly had some injuries, but he was standing as calmly as he had when Skymender first met him.

The Emperor spoke to everyone in the surroundings, including the soldiers who could hear him.

“Although many have died in this battle, it is not a battle wasted.

Neither Empire had the upper hand, and to avoid even more deaths, we have mutually agreed to stop here today.

Though more battle exists in the near future, do not fear, for you fight not only for yourselves, but for the people you care about in the Faceless Empire.

Your wives and children, your mothers and grandmothers, your elders and your neighbors.

Never forget who you fight for.” His speech declared the end of the battle, as well as reminded the soldiers why they fought.

If one looked at the situation closely, and with a greater understanding, they would realize that, in the eyes of the common people, this war would not do any good.

It was fueled by the Faceless Empire’s aggression, and the Ancient Empire, so far, had merely fought back.

Of course, there were claims that they had been preparing to start a war of conquest for a long time, but in the end, they had taken no action until after the Faceless Empire.

Essentially, this war was for dominance over the known world.

If the Faceless Empire won, then the world would belong to the Emperor.

If the Faceless Empire lost, then the world would belong to the Emperor of the Ancient Empire.

This was a war so important that the likes of it had never been seen throughout all of history, and it all began with one man, the Emperor.

The Faceless Empire’s army began to travel back to the Faceless Empire.

Although many horses had been lost in the battle, so had many soldiers.

There were enough horses to carry back everyone at a fast speed.

Within half a year, they had all returned to the Faceless Empire.

Some had died of injuries along the way, and some had been healed.

Skymender returned with the group that went to the Imperial Capital.

As they returned, they were welcomed with a festival.

Although they had not necessarily won, they had also not lost.

This was a good enough outcome.

The ordinary soldiers that returned participated in the festivities, while those like Skymender, whose decisions were important within the Empire, merely rode a large carriage through the Imperial Capital towards the Imperial Palace.

They gathered in the war room, digesting everything that happened.

Most notable was the statements from the Sword Masters.

First was the weakest that had participated, Sword Master Gargantuan.

Although technically the weakest, he was surely among the greatest Sword Masters in the world.

“Those two were definitely difficult to fight together, but I suspect that they have actually worked on their teamwork.

Otherwise, it would not have been so one sided.

I also believe that it is important to note that I feel like I’m approaching the level of a rank 1 Sword Master.” Sword Master Gargantuan explained.

It was not completely unexpected, as he had fought back against two rank 2 Sword Masters.

What determined a Sword Masters rank was more or less their pure skill using the Sword.

Sword Master Gargantuan, though extremely large and strong, was only a rank 2 Sword Master in terms of skill with the Sword.  This meant that Yi Shuzanhao could defeat him.  Everyone was glad to hear Sword Master Garagantuan’s announcement and gave their congratulations.

It was important to know that, even in the entire history of the Faceless Empire, and any Empire in fact, there had never been more than two rank 1 Sword Masters at the same time.  It was actually much more common for there to be no rank 1 Sword Masters in an Empire than two.

This also went for a large part of the history of the Faceless Empire, though the Ancient Empire had always had at least one rank 1 Sword Master.

If Sword Master Gargantuan could become a rank 1 Sword Master, then the Faceless Empire would be the first Empire in history to have three rank 1 Sword Masters at the same time, even if it was only true because Sword Master Shang was technically not a Sword Grandmaster.  Regardless, having someone near the level of a Sword Grandmaster, as well as two rank 1 Sword Masters, was even better than three rank 1 Sword Masters.  The next to speak was Yi Shuzanhao, who reported his battle with the rank 1 Sword Master of the Ancient Empire.

“We are essentially completely even.

A winner between us is unlikely, but if it were to happen, it could be either me or him, a 50 50 chance.” Although the news was not as good as Sword Master Gargantuan’s, it was still good news.

They were even, which was much better than Yi Shuzanhao being inferior.  The final one to report was Sword Master Shang.

When he began to speak, the room became so silent that a pen dropping would sound as loud as a cannon.

Although it had been quiet when the other two had spoken, and everyone had paid attention, this silence was more of a deathly silence than a focused silence, despite everyone being even quieter than before, doing their best to not breathe loudly.

Sword Master Shang began to speak.

“Sword Grandmaster Tianzhao is still stronger than me, but not by much.

If he wanted to kill me, he would most likely die in the process as well.

In addition, he is old and his Sword arts have plateaued.

I am still young compared to him, and can grow.

Within twenty or thirty years, I should enter the level of a Sword Grandmaster.” Though this was undoubtedly good news, everybody knew that the fate of the Faceless Empire and the Ancient Empire would be decided within twenty years.

By the time he became a Sword Grandmaster, there may or may not be a Faceless Empire left in the world.