Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

”Hmm, not bad.”

Xiao Yunxi tasted it and was immediately amazed by the flavor of the sweet tofu brain, then asked Xiao Qing’Er to try it as well, saying, ”Qing’Er, did the person who brought these mention what this tofu brain is made of?”

Xiao Qing’Er took a bite, showing a bit of confusion. The taste was just average; it wasn’t as delicious as Her Majesty made it seem.

She did not know that Xiao Yunxi ate it with a different mindset.

”I think I heard it was soybeans,” Xiao Qing’Er replied.

”Soybeans?” Xiao Yunxi was stunned, having seen soybeans before: ”How can soybeans be made like this, all white...”

”I don’t know,” Xiao Qing’Er shook her head.

Xiao Yunxi pursed her lips, took another spoonful of tofu brain, and put it in her mouth. As the sweet taste and tofu fragrance spread in her mouth, her longing for Chen Mo grew stronger, and she unconsciously tightened her legs a little.

Xiao Qing’Er stood silently by her side.

While Xiao Yunxi pondered on how to leave the palace.

It’s known that a consort cannot leave the palace at will.

Even for Empress Xiao Yunxi.

The usual way to leave the palace is to accompany the Emperor for outings like summer retreats or worships.

Even going alone is not allowed.

There’s also visiting family when they are sick...

But Xiao Yunxi had already used that method last time.

”Alas...” Xiao Yunxi sighed as she looked out the window.

Little did she know, the opportunity would come so soon.

...

Two days later.

The forty-seventh day of the great turmoil.

Bianliang was struck by a series of bad news.

The two First Grade martial masters sent to quell the unrest in Jizhou and Western Shu had perished one after another.

The southwest was in urgent distress.

The Grand Commandant suddenly fell ill at this time, and Zhao Ji sent multiple physicians to examine him, all reporting back that Xiao Yunqi was already critically ill, hanging by a thread.

It was said that two days ago, an assassin infiltrated the Xiao Mansion, and since then, Xiao Yunqi fell sick and refused visitors.

Upon hearing this news, the officials aligned with Xiao Yunqi’s faction became anxious.

And at this moment, King Yan sent an envoy to the capital.

It’s well known that without the Emperor’s edict, vassal princes are not allowed to send envoys to the capital on their own.

Even though it was just an envoy, it drew the attention of everyone.

It’s known that King Yan is not an ordinary vassal prince; in terms of ability and power, he is stronger than Zhao Ji, but unfortunately, he was not born to the Empress Dowager nor the eldest son, so he has no claim to the throne.

Yet to the ministers, Zhao Jiang is always eyeing that dragon throne in the Golden Hall.

...

Chen Mansion.

Yi Yao was incredulous upon hearing Xiao Yunqi was critically ill.

He was a First Grade martial artist, whose lifespan could reach over two hundred years, yet at less than seventy, he was critically ill. Who would believe it?

However, there were rumors that it was because of the assassin who infiltrated the Xiao Mansion the other day. Xiao Yunqi was accidentally wounded and poisoned, with no cure in sight, leading to his current state.

Xiao Yunqi’s strength ranked among the top ten of First Grade martial artists, and even if an assassination occurred at home, it shouldn’t be that simple to harm him.

Yi Yao felt that something strange was at play everywhere in this matter.

Although she held no goodwill, or even harbored some hatred towards Xiao Yunqi,

she still wished for his recovery.

In her view, the Xiao Family served as Chen Mo’s backing. If the Xiao Family fell, given Chen Mo’s identity as a ”Fake Eunuch,” it would only be a matter of time before things turned sour for him.

”No, I must quickly inform the master of this matter.”

”Come,” Yi Yao called out to the outside of the house.

”Madam,” a maid entered.

”Where is the master?” Yi Yao asked.

”I heard General Gao returned. The master is hosting a banquet for him at the Hongfu Restaurant in the southern city,” the maid replied.

”Go quickly and tell the master that if I have urgent matters, find him,” Yi Yao instructed.

”Yes.”

...

Chen Mo was not at the Hongfu Restaurant in the southern city.

The banquet was a guise; the real mission was testing the Fire Bottle Bomb in the wilderness.

A dozen or so miles outside Bianliang City in a forested area.

Outside the forest, the Fire Qilin Army had it surrounded tightly, vigilant to the point that not even a bird could fly in.

”Boom!”

Suddenly, an explosion burst from the forest, and a pine tree about twenty centimeters in diameter fell to the ground.

A group of people hurriedly went to investigate.

The Fire Bottle Bomb was buried at the base of the pine tree, which exploded from the bottom, blasting a chunk away and creating a hole the size of a barrel on the ground.

Some generals inhaled sharply, realizing that if the bomb had exploded next to them, they’d be dead by now.

The power was indeed impressive, but Chen Mo checked the range of damage.

On a tree two meters away, he found a finger-sized hole, with an iron ball the size of a soybean embedded inside.

Having dissected a Flame Bomb earlier, Chen Mo noted that besides the mixed gunpowder, inside were iron balls the size of soybeans.

After the Fire Bottle Bomb exploded, these iron balls, driven by the blast, shot out, causing damage.

Martial artists of the Postnatal level, whose physical bodies are not much stronger than ordinary people, are equally defenseless against these flying iron balls.

Imagining the bomb exploding on a battlefield, the resulting damage would be stunning.

Moreover, the commotion could send mounted troops into disarray.

Chen Mo wanted to experience it firsthand, so he had a thick rope brought over to tie a Fire Bottle Bomb to a tree at waist height.

Then Chen Mo stood next to the Fire Bottle Bomb, less than ten centimeters away.

Gao Zheng’s eyes widened in shock: ”My lord, you intend to?”

”Step back,” Chen Mo told Gao Zheng and the others to retreat.

”My lord, it’s dangerous; you don’t have to try it yourself...”

Gao Zheng guessed Chen Mo wanted to see the effect on a live target, but there was no need for him to try it himself; a death row inmate could be dragged from the Imperial Prison.

After all, the lives there were cheap and expendable.

”Back,” Chen Mo released True Qi, forming a protective shield around his body, one that only a First Grade martial artist could create.

He then suppressed his strength to Third Grade, overlaying it on the First Grade shield to see if the Fire Bottle Bomb could significantly affect an Innate martial artist.

Seeing Chen Mo resolute, Gao Zheng and the others had no choice but to step back a bit.

Chen Mo snapped his fingers, igniting the fuse of the Fire Bottle Bomb.

Seeing this, Gao Zheng and his group quickly hid behind trees.

Chen Mo activated the Ancient Heavy Pupils, clearly observing the moment the Fire Bottle Bomb exploded after about three breaths.

In an instant, the outer iron shell expanded outward, then burst open, with shattered pieces and inner iron balls showering the protective shield of Third Grade True Qi.