The First Cultivator - Changing Existence

"When we first arrived at the Mainland, I was anything but cautious and careful. We spent three days building a camp for some to stay at, and then set off. We soon stumbled upon a city in the Scholar Region. Without meaningful resistance, we took it over. It wasn't until we took over the tenth location that the Scholar Region noticed, though I know now that the Ruler of the Scholar Region most likely knew from the moment we arrived."

"We fought head on against the Scholar Region, and they were naturally no match for us. We took over the capital just a month after arriving at the Mainland, though the Ruler of the Scholar Region was nowhere to be found."

Saying this, the Emperor paused.

"They say that a concealed threat is more dangerous than a hidden one, but I really wish that the Ruler of the Scholar Region had made his trump card known. As I'm sure he told you, he has the ability to anger the Treant, the most powerful existence in this world."

"However, he did not use it even after we took over the capital. We continued on, ignorant of the threat. Naturally, taking over the Scholar Region alerted the other Regions. They understood what we did not, and out of fear that the Ruler of the Scholar Region would resort to angering the Treant, they launched a huge attack on us. In total, they sent ten first rank Masters and two Grandmasters. The two Grandmasters were the two of the five that were not Rulers of their Regions, but that did not make them any weaker than the Rulers. If anything, they were more terrifying, both of them being old and experienced."

"As soon as they attacked, Sword Grandmaster Shang was on the defensive, and within ten minutes, he was on the verge of death."

The Emperor paused here.

"That is when the Seeker appeared. The most ancient existence among a group of people known as the Seekers. The Ruler of the Scholar Region is just one of the Seekers, though he is undoubtedly just as terrifying as the Seeker himself. He was scrawny and old, but he had mastered one of the two unique arts of the Seekers. One is known as, Hear the Wind. That is what the Ruler of the Scholar Region has mastered. The other is known as, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword."

"This art put the Seeker on the level of a Grandmaster, and with his intervention, a temporary stalemate was reached. Sword Grandmaster Shang, filled with rage, managed to decapitate one of the Grandmasters, shocking everyone present, even the Seeker himself."

"I suppose I should mention that throughout Heaven and Earth, Shang is the most talented person I have ever met. If faced with endless battle, he would achieve endless growth." The Emperor interjected.

"The other Grandmaster retreated with the seven first rank Masters who remained. Nobody chased him. We ourselves only had two first rank Sword Masters remaining. We had only managed to survive the onslaught of ten first rank Masters due to some plans I had laid out, but those are irrelevant in the bigger picture."

"The Seeker had a long conversation with me. The gist of it was, great changes were destined to occur, and he wanted us to assist each other. He had joined this battle in order to establish a good relationship with us. Though I naturally didn't trust him, I accepted this alliance."

"Defeating the first wave was necessary, but it caused a wave to travel across the Mainland. They couldn't accept these foreign invaders, and for the first time in countless years, a unified army was formed. All three regions, save for the Temple Region and the conquered Scholar Region, allied together. Their leader was none other than the Ruler of the Scholar Region himself. I had not known how terrifying he was at the time."

"Before the allied army could attack, I was visited by another person. It was a woman in golden clothes, wearing a veil. Alongside her was a Grandmaster Spearman, as well as three first rank Masters. She explained that she came from a hidden nation within the Mainland. Like the Seeker, she wanted an alliance. Knowing what was coming, I accepted it. Naturally, I took my precautions as well."

"Perhaps sensing the dire situation, Sword Grandmaster Shang trained tirelessly, his strength growing. When the time for war came, the Mainland was still on the superior side. It was only due to some of my tactics that I managed to force a stalemate."

"This was not without reciprocation. The ruler's knowledge and tactics were terrifying. The tides were nearly turned many times. War continued for years and years, before Shang managed to kill a Grandmaster. His domineering bearing struck fear into the enemy. Another year of war ensued, with no winner being quickly crowned. Although both sides had the same amount of Grandmasters now, we had a slight upper hand."

"It was not long after that the Empire gained a second Sword Grandmaster, the terrifying Sword Grandmaster Gargantuan. His strength was immense, and his skill with the sword immeasurable. With this new upper hand, we pushed the Mainland's forces back. Then, the Ruler of the Scholar Region personally intervened. Nobody knew, but he himself was at the threshold of becoming a Grandmaster. With his weapon, a metal fan, he single handedly fought with Sword Grandmaster Gargantuan. He could redirect even the heaviest of attacks, and occasionally counter attack."

"His opponent soon changed, becoming the Seeker. I learned then that the Ruler of the Scholar Region had deserted his birth clan, being viewed as a traitor. The Seeker himself wishes to kill the Ruler of the Scholar Region."

"Despite the intervention of the Ruler of the Scholar Region, we had a slight upper hand. That was until the Temple Master arrived. Bathed in a golden light, he appeared in front of the Seeker. The Seeker couldn't even react as a hand pierced his chest and ripped his heart to shreds. By then, the Ruler of the Scholar Region had disappeared."