Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

[Day 26 of the Great Turmoil: Your unit was returning to the Capital when ambushed. During the battle, you got hit by a poison arrow, but due to the Qilin Heart, you managed to expel the poison from your body.

You also saved Huangfu Hao, who then swore brotherhood with you, becoming sworn brothers.]

...

[Day 30: The rumor-mongers were secretly executed, and the Imperial Court issued a proclamation to prove your innocence, but the news had already spread wildly in the Capital, nearing an uncontrollable state. A giant net is slowly unfolding.]

...

[Day 37: Your true identity was completely exposed, causing turmoil throughout the city. The Emperor could no longer maintain a peaceful situation, but thanks to the mediation of the Xiao Family, you weren’t executed but were thrown into prison.]

[Simulation ends, you can retain one of the following options.]

[One, these ten days of martial arts experience.]

[Two, the realm of the Heart Method.]

[Three, clues to the Nan Zhou Treasure.]

Chen Mo once again chose one.

Although a warm current flowed through his body, Chen Mo furrowed his brow.

”Why is it like this again?”

Chen Mo muttered softly.

Yesterday, after selecting one in the simulation, Chen Mo felt his realm was at a critical point.

According to reason, in today’s simulation, he should have broken through to a First Grade Martial Artist.

But not only did he not break through, even after choosing ten days of martial arts experience again, there was still no breakthrough.

It’s like leveling up in a game.

From a Second-Grade Martial Artist to a First Grade Martial Artist, there is an experience bar.

But his experience bar was clearly full, even overflowing, yet there was no breakthrough.

This puzzled Chen Mo, what’s going on?

At this time, he thought carefully, and it seemed that in all previous simulations, he had never broken through to a First Grade Martial Artist.

Chen Mo furrowed his brows.

However, no one around him could give him an answer to these questions.

Therefore, Chen Mo planned to return to Bianliang to ask Lin Su Ya.

...

According to the message from Huangfu Hao, the army had already set out to return to Bianliang, and Chen Mo was urged to catch up quickly.

Chen Mo took only Gao Zheng with him, leaving the rest of the men in Celestial River City.

The two mounted horses and chased after the army.

...

...

On the other side.

At a certain mountaintop.

”Reporting to the Chief, the Song Army has already left Yellow Armor City and is heading our way.” A rebel scout reported to Han Zhong.

”Good, pass down the order to have the army lie in ambush. I must catch them off guard.”

Han Zhong had an excited expression on his face.

He was confident that the Song Army must have thought he retreated towards Western Shu after withdrawing from Yellow Armor City.

Unexpectedly, not only did he not retreat, but he set up an ambush at the only route the army must take back to the Capital.

Just waiting for Huangfu Hao to bring the army into the trap.

...

Chen Mo and Gao Zheng were making their way swiftly.

Meanwhile, the army was a mix of foot soldiers and cavalry with baggage trains, moving at a slower pace.

Traveling non-stop, Chen Mo caught up with the army before nightfall.

”Take me to see the Commander immediately.” After rejoining, Chen Mo requested to see Huangfu Hao.

The soldiers certainly did not obstruct this request.

...

”Commander, General Chen Hong has urgent matters to discuss with you,” a personal soldier reported to Huangfu Hao.

”Please, quickly.”

”Commander,” Chen Mo said urgently as he approached Huangfu Hao on his horse.

The army was still on the march, so Huangfu Hao slowed his pace, riding alongside Chen Mo.

Seeing Chen Mo’s arrival, Huangfu Hao also smiled, ”I didn’t expect you to catch up so quickly, Chen Hong. What’s the urgency, did something happen?”

”There is indeed an urgent matter.” Chen Mo cupped his hands toward Huangfu Hao and said, ”Reporting to the Commander, on my way here, I intercepted a secret letter from the rebel army.

The rebels intend to ambush us on our way back to the Capital.”

”What?” Huangfu Hao’s expression changed, and he quickly reined in his horse and stopped. Seeing this, the personal soldiers immediately relayed orders to halt the army.

”Where is that secret letter?” Huangfu Hao’s expression turned grave.

Chen Mo took out the fake secret letter he had prepared earlier and handed it to Huangfu Hao.

Huangfu Hao eagerly opened the secret letter to read it.

Chen Mo kept a close eye on Huangfu Hao’s expression.

The content was written by Luo Zhen using her left hand, so Chen Mo was not worried that Huangfu Hao would decipher anything from the handwriting.

After reading the letter, Huangfu Hao frowned, ”How did you intercept this secret letter?”

”While on my way here, I happened to spot a carrier pigeon with a letter tied to its leg, so I captured the pigeon. After seeing the contents of the letter, I discovered it was from the rebels,” Chen Mo explained the reason he fabricated on the way.

Although still slightly skeptical, Huangfu Hao mostly believed it.

After all, the previous assassination hadn’t gone awry.

”Do you know where the rebels plan to ambush us?” Huangfu Hao asked.

Chen Mo shook his head.

The simulation only mentioned that the rebels would ambush them on their return journey but did not specify the exact location.

However, it mentioned the timing, which was today.

The day had already passed without encountering an ambush, so it must be tonight.

”Quickly notify the commanders at or above deputy camp level to come for a meeting,” Huangfu Hao instructed the personal soldiers beside him.

”Yes.”

...

On a grassy field, Huangfu Hao squatted next to a spread-out map, displaying the army’s route. Behind him stood commanders of deputy camp level and above.

”Chen Hong, inform them about the secret letter you intercepted,” Huangfu Hao said.

”Secret letter?” The commanders were slightly surprised.

Chen Mo briefly explained the rebels’ plan to ambush them on their way back to the Capital.

The commanders raised their eyebrows; one of them frowned, ”How did the rebels know we were heading back to the Capital and set up an ambush ahead of time?”

”There must be rebel informants in the Capital, perhaps even within the court itself. When we suppressed the rebels in Nanyang, I noticed this,” Xiao Teng surprisingly spoke up in Chen Mo’s defense.

The commander did not doubt further and asked, ”Where might the rebels ambush us?”

”On the map, if the rebels are truly lying in wait, a suitable location would be Jiangyong Mountain or Huayang Slope,”

Huangfu Hao pointed to the two locations on the map, finally resting his finger on Huayang Slope, ”The rebels ambushed General High at Jiangyong Mountain last time; they likely won’t choose the same spot again.

Thus, Huayang Slope might be a good place for an ambush.”

During the previous suppression of the Nanyang rebellion, they hadn’t passed through Huayang Slope.

This time, returning from Yellow Armor City, they had to go through such a place.

And an unfamiliar location could very well be where the rebels set up their ambush.

”Pass down the order to find out if anyone knows the terrain of this location.”

”Yes.”