The First Cultivator - Changing Existence

Skymender looked at the Emperor. He was completely calm, with only a look reminiscent of a sneer on his face.

However, Skymender's mind was in turmoil, not because of the assassination itself, but because of the assassin's last words, which he never completed.

Although not many in the Empire would understand them, Skymender's sister was a potential Sword Master.

She had told him information that he normally would have never known.

Even among Sword Masters, there were levels, or ranks. It was classified from ranks one to four.

Being a 4th rank Sword Master meant that, while you were a Sword Master, you could not annihilate an entire army.

At the 3rd rank, you could do so, but only at the cost of your life, whether that be after destroying 90% of it, or dying from injuries afterwards.

At the 2nd rank, you could destroy an entire army with injuries, but still remain alive.

At the 1st rank, as it was said for Sword Master Shang, you could decimate an entire army and return home in time for dinner.

However, there was an even more unknown piece of information, one which Skymender had to beg Skybelle to tell him.

Above the Sword Master, there was another level. The Sword Grandmaster.

Throughout all of history, there was only one Grandmaster. He was the Sword Grandmaster of the Ancient Empire.

It was unknown how long he had been alive, but it seemed longer than any normal human could live.

The oldest records of his existence dated back nearly 200 years ago.

However, if Sword Master Shang was a Grandmaster, then the entire world would be upheaved by this news.

The strength of a Grandmaster, unlike Sword Masters, was simply unknown. However, there was a legend, not confirmed to be true, but stood as a testament to the might of a Sword Grandmaster.

Once, back when the Sword Grandmaster of the Ancient Empire was younger, an Empire declared war on the Ancient Empire.

The Sword Grandmaster walked through the gates of that Imperial Capital, guarded by perhaps millions of soldiers, and when he walked out, that Empire was erased from the maps.

Not just an army, but multiple armies, multiple Sword Masters, and it was done in a single day.

Since that day, no Empire had declared war on the Ancient Empire, which led Skymender to believe that the legend was true.

Sword Master Shang walked to the side of the Emperor. The Emperor had stopped in the middle of the stairs.

"As you can see, our enemies are nothing but fools. Sending an assassin at a time like this, thinking I would let my guard down, is a pathetic attempt at planning."

A voice rang out from above. "Indeed. Those bunch of no good idiots are gonna be wiped out sooner or later, even if we don't do it."

Skymender looked up. Leaning on the rails was the Imperial Scholar, as wise looking as ever.

Skymender did not even know when he appeared.

The Emperor smiled. "Well said. Care to come down and join us?"

The Imperial Scholar could not refuse the Emperor in front of so many people. Although unwilling, he came down and stood to the other side of the Emperor.

These three, standing in the middle of the stairs, represented the highest authority, intelligence, and power in the Empire.

It was an incredible display of dominance for the whole room to see.

The Emperor did end up finishing his walk down the stairs. The Imperial Scholar and Sword Master Shang did not sit, but stood behind him.

The Imperial Scholar had to pull out a cane, clearly too old to be standing for too long.

The Emperor spoke a few words, and the noble gathering officially began. There were few events, but they were not taking place just yet. There was a period of free time to roam around before anything like that.

Most of the nobles went to pay respects to kings or the Emperor. After today's events, the Emperor's standing increased in their hearts once again.

Even as they bowed to the Emperor, their hearts were still filled with turmoil.

The body of the assassin and its limbs had long been cleaned up, but blood stains remained in the carpet, being cleaned up by some servants.

Skymender himself did not go over. His status was not high enough to get too close to the Emperor right now.

Rather, he went to the side and got some food. Few people were doing so at the same time. After all, most of the focus was on talking to others and greeting the Emperor and Kings.

Most of them were children.

As Skymender grabbed a plate and walked around, someone bumped into him.

Skymender took a step forward, while the person who bumped into him fell to the ground.

"Oww." Skymender heard someone say.

He turned around, and some boy, seemingly around nine years old, was getting up from the ground.

He looked warily at Skymender for a moment before apologizing. 

"I'm sorry. I need to watch where I'm going."

Skymender nodded. "It's alright. Don't worry about it."

He began to move on when the kid spoke again.

"You look familiar. Who are you?"

"Skymender of the Sky Barony."

The kid thought for a moment before speaking. "Yes. I remember. You were the one who saved the Duchess's daughter."

As if she had been receiving a call, the Duchess's daughter, Val, walked over to Skymender.

"Skymender. My mom wants to introduce you to some people."

Skymender nodded and walked over with her.

The kid did not follow, but seemed to be trying to remember Skymender.

Led by Val, Skymender made his way to a circle of nobles talking. They were near the Emperor, but not close enough for him to hear them.

Skymender instantly noticed someone as he walked over, someone he had not yet seen, but had been looking for. At the same time, she saw him.

Melly's eyes brightened and she shook her fathers hand off. She walked around the group that was speaking and met Skymender before he and Val reached the group.