The First Cultivator - Changing Existence-Chapter 739: Awards -

As soon as the Deprivation poison hit the snake's scales and burst open, the snake's pupils constricted. It instantly regained control of its body, wrestling control from the Serpent Master.

As a result, its tail stopped moving.

It sensed the Deprivation poison on its back and began to roll around.

Even the land on its head was smashed into the ground, injuring all three of the Ancient Empire people.

Once again, the snake began to suffer, but so did Skymender.

This was his third time feeling the effects of the Deprivation poison. The first time, his heart had turned cold and nearly stopped beating. The second time, he went blind.

This time, his skin began to age and his body grew dim. He could tell quickly that this time, he was being deprived of his youth, or time.

He quickly aged from a young man to a middle aged man.

Perhaps because of his resistance through multiple exposures, he stopped there. Otherwise, he may have very well become an old man today.

All in all, this did not affect Skymender much. In fact, he felt as though his strength had grown and his bearing was grander.

Inadvertently, he had gained a bit from this use of the deprivation poison. However, if he could decide, he would not have done this at all.

He had lost more than fifteen years of life, somewhere around twenty. It was a devastating loss.

He shot forward, heading towards the injured Emperor, Imperial Scholar, and Serpent Master.

They were unable to truly react as he grabbed the Imperial Scholar of the Ancient Empire by the neck and squeezed.

His neck snapped on the spot.

Next, he reached the Emperor. With a smooth punch, he was knocked unconscious. Finally, all that remained was the Serpent Master.

He simply looked at Skymender. There were so many emotions on his face that it was hard to discern them all. It seemed as if he was looking back on everything that led up to this.

Without wasting a word, Skymender grabbed his sword and slashed.

As the Serpent Master's head came off, a small snake jumped out of his clothes and bit at Skymender's face. Skymender opened his mouth and bit on its neck.

It did not manage to move enough to bite him. He soon ended the snake's life as well.

All that remained was to deal with the Mountain Serpent. He carried the Emperor of the Ancient Empire on his back as he carefully made his way off of the raging Mountain Serpent.

He soon managed to meet up with the two Sword Masters, Yi Shuzanhao and Sword Master Gargantuan.

"Is the job finished?" Yi Shuzanhao asked.

Skymender nodded.

"What should we do with this snake?" Sword Master Gargantuan asked.

"What can we do with it? I say we just leave it be. It stayed quiet for so many years, it will probably do so once the effects of my poison wear off." Skymender said.

They nodded, and after committing the mythical snake to memory, turned and left.

They ran fast, rarely taking any breaks.

They soon made it back to the battlefield, which was now deserted save for a few carriages.

Someone came up to them from a distance. "Sword Master Yi Shuzanhao. Sword Master Gargantuan. Imperial Scholar Skymender. The Emperor congratulates your victory. We have a carriage prepared to take you home."

Before long, they were on their way back to the Faceless Empire.

It took a few months, but they soon returned.

The other soldiers had returned only a few days before them, and the festivities welcomed their return. Although the many soldiers had received a grand welcome, it felt even grander when it was focused on three people.

The names of Sword Master Yi Shuzanhao, Sword Master Gargantuan, and Imperial Scholar Skymender represented the peak of the Empire. Above them were only really the Emperor and Sword Master Shang, who was now widely known as Sword Grandmaster Shang.

They did not waste any time, reporting directly to the Imperial Palace.

When they entered the throne room, it was crowded. Generals, scholars, nobles, wealthy commoners, all of the important people in the Empire were present and on the side.

Skymender, Yi Shuzanhao, and Sword Master Gargantuan stood in the middle of the room, watched by all.

They gave their report to the Emperor, including their testimony of the Mountain Serpent.

They especially noted Skymender's contributions.

Skymender's change had been noticed since he entered the throne room. He now looked similar in age to Yi Shuzanhao. However, it was still clearly him.

Skymender simply told the Emperor that it was the work of the Deprivation poison and he understood.

"I would now like to award a medal of honor to the three of you, who bravely chased down the Imperial Scholar, Emperor, and Serpent Master of the Ancient Empire, killed two of them, and brought me the Emperor of the Ancient Empire. In addition, you even managed to fight and escape the legendary Mountain Serpent." The Emperor announced.

He personally walked down and gave all three of them a medal of honor.

There had been an award ceremony before their return, but only one person had received a medal of honor at that time, and that was Sword Grandmaster Shang, who slew the Sword Grandmaster of the Ancient Empire, ending an ancient legend.

After handing them their awards, the Emperor headed outside of the throne room, followed by all those who had been within it.

The Sword Masters of the Faceless Empire, as well as Skymender, stood next to him.

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He walked out onto the balcony overseeing the Faceless Empire, and spoke to a vast crowd. Within this crowd were Emperors of allied Empire's, Kings of the Faceless Empire, messengers, and countless others from all around the world. Naturally, the citizens of the Faceless Empire were also present.

Everyone was here to hear the announcement made after the victory.

The Emperor stood tall and spoke. "As of today, the Faceless Empire rules the world."