Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

A giant cauldron weighing ten thousand jin, usually only an Innate Martial Artist can handle.

However, there are exceptions to everything. Some with Innate Divine Power, at the Fourth or even Fifth Grade, can lift a giant cauldron weighing ten thousand jin.

Li Weiqiu slowly walked towards the giant cauldron weighing ten thousand jin.

All eyes focused on Li Weiqiu, not noticing that Chen Mo in the private booth had already been replaced.

Although Li Weiqiu was first in riding and archery, the martial examination is conducted in stages, meaning that as long as someone who performed mediocre in the first two stages wins first place in the martial competition, they’ll still be the champion.

Yet, in everyone’s hearts, Li Weiqiu was already seen as the best, thanks to his dazzling performance and the knowledge of Myriad Swords Manor.

”Young Master Li, you’re the first to pass, please go ahead.” A nearby judge beamed at Li Weiqiu.

Although Li Weiqiu currently holds no official position, it’s practically certain from his performance that he will rank highly, and once he joins the army, his position will definitely not be low.

Therefore, there’s no missing a chance to curry favor.

Li Weiqiu nodded, looking at the giant cauldron in front of him, feeling a surge of passion within him.

The first two sections were both first; this one must also be first.

But merely lifting it, there are more than just himself capable at the scene, at least ten others could do so, thus there’s nothing particularly spectacular in that.

To everyone’s surprise, Li Weiqiu glanced at the nearby eight-thousand-jin cauldron.

”What is he planning to do?”

”Not lifting the ten-thousand-jin cauldron? Does he only want to lift the eight-thousand-jin one?”

”Why bother with the eight-thousand-jin? Anyway, as long as he passes, why waste effort on heavier things? Wouldn’t it be wiser to conserve energy for the next round?”

The distant watchers whispered among themselves.

Even those in the private booth, Zhao Chong and others, were somewhat curious.

Soon after, Li Weiqiu stood before the eight-thousand-jin cauldron, gripping the cauldron’s ear with one hand, veins bulging on his hand, and with a tremendous shout, he tossed the eight-thousand-jin cauldron into the air.

The nearby judge jumped in fright, hurriedly dodging aside, fearing the cauldron might fall and crush him.

”Is he really lifting the eight-thousand-jin?” The crowd looked on in sheer amazement.

But then a shocking scene unfolded.

After tossing the eight-thousand-jin cauldron into the air, Li Weiqiu swiftly moved to the ten-thousand-jin cauldron, gripping the ear on either side with both hands, and with a tremendous roar, True Qi surged through him, lifting the ten-thousand-jin cauldron with its feet facing up.

Li Weiqiu took two steps to the side.

The eight-thousand-jin cauldron he had thrown into the air came crashing down, with the sound of wind howling in the ears of those competitors who had passed the round, falling precisely where Li Weiqiu had been standing.

”Is he...?”

Everyone’s eyes widened in that instant.

Wu Chang’an, Peng Yun, and others knew what Li Weiqiu intended to do, their expressions turned serious.

Li Weiqiu, holding the giant cauldron, could not see what was happening above, yet his expression remained extremely calm, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, as True Qi coursed through his arms into the cauldron, ultimately emanating from the cauldron’s three feet.

The falling eight-thousand-jin cauldron, influenced by True Qi, originally plummeting sideways, suddenly overturned to land with its feet down, dropping vertically.

”Clang!” A massive crash ensued.

The eight-thousand-jin cauldron came to rest atop the ten-thousand-jin cauldron, its three feet aligning with those of the ten-thousand-jin cauldron.

Boom!

The immense force transmitted to Li Weiqiu, his originally upright body abruptly bent at the knees, adopting a horse-riding stance, shattering the bluestone slabs beneath his feet with a spray of dust.

Everyone instinctively covered their ears.

That clang was so deafening it felt as though their eardrums might burst.

As the dust settled, every gaze swept towards Li Weiqiu’s position.

They saw that the ground where Li Weiqiu stood had fractured, forming a small pit.

He stood upright, holding the cauldrons aloft, with the eight-thousand-jin cauldron stacked atop the ten-thousand-jin cauldron over his head.

However, judging by Li Weiqiu’s flushed face, it wasn’t an easy feat.

Now the place erupted into cheers.

Everyone burst into a chorus of cheers and amazement.

To them, it was nothing short of spectacular.

This scene was highly entertaining.

The young maidens yet to be wed blushed as they watched Li Weiqiu, clearly captivated by his performance.

Even the ministers were astonished by Li Weiqiu’s display.

Everyone knew that dropping an eight-thousand-jin cauldron atop a ten-thousand-jin one, and stacking them together, is far more than merely eighteen-thousand-jin, even doubling it wouldn’t be overstated.

”Investigate his background, find a way to win him over.” Xiao Yunqi exited the private booth and ordered someone to find out more about Li Weiqiu.

”Understood.”

”This Li Weiqiu, truly impressive, how come I’ve never heard of him before?” Hu Mei’Er praised looking towards ”Chen Hong’s” booth.

”The Empress Dowager is right, he is indeed formidable, and his mastery of True Qi is perfect,” Zhao Chong said.

Xiao Yunxi, Zhao Fujin, Zhao Jiangning said nothing, their attention all on Chen Mo.

But at the moment, there was no sign of Chen Mo in the weightlifting area.

Wu Chang’an’s expression wasn’t too pleased; he originally intended to showcase his skills in this round.

But with Li Weiqiu’s brilliant performance, unless he surpassed him, it would be difficult to capture everyone’s attention.

And exceeding him was difficult, with a high risk of failure, and if he failed, it would be extremely embarrassing.

For Wu Chang’an, who highly valued his reputation, this was absolutely unacceptable.

Thus, he gave up on the idea and lifted a ten-thousand-jin cauldron in a standard manner.

Peng Yun and the others followed suit.

Despite Li Weiqiu’s dazzling display, it didn’t significantly impact the following rounds; the effort spent in this round might be better saved for the martial competition.

So, there were Innate Martial Artists who even lifted a four-thousand-jin cauldron, passing the round smoothly.

As the Innate Martial Artists passed one after another, the later competitors’ cauldron-lifting didn’t have much spectacle.

While everyone anticipated the final round.

”…Chen... Chen Mo, must win!”

Suddenly, a voice sounded from the stands, pleasant and melodious like a nightingale, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

”Who is Chen Mo?”

”Seems like Chen Hong’s younger brother?”

”And who is Chen Hong?”

”...”

Wu Chang’an’s expression changed, for this voice was extremely familiar.

At the same time, he saw the person called by this voice.

A handsome young gentleman in a green robe.

Jealousy inexplicably arose in his heart.

Li Weiqiu also looked over, as he had previously noticed Chen Mo, now feeling a bit of anticipation.

”Fujin, what are you doing?” In the nearby private booth, Xiao Yunxi frowned upon hearing Zhao Fujin’s shout.

Zhao Fujin blushed and said nothing.

Having not seen Chen Mo earlier, seeing him now made her impulsive and voice her support.

She initially wanted to call him junior brother but changed her words at the last moment.

Zhao Jiangning didn’t dare look at Zhao Fujin, feeling somewhat guilty.

Chen Mo’s mouth twitched when he heard the shout.

Especially when he sensed Wu Chang’an’s unfriendly gaze.

Isn’t this drawing hostility towards me?

In an instant, almost everyone’s eyes were on him.

He walked towards the cauldrons.

While everyone expected him to do something different.

After all, someone on the stands was cheering for him, and those seated there were either wealthy or noble, so they were curious about what capabilities someone cheered by such an influential person had.

But an unexpected scene unfolded.

He approached the four-thousand-jin cauldron and lifted it.

The crowd: ”...”

Is this what disappointment feels like after high expectations?

This is it.

”Tch.”

The scene was filled with the sound of disdainful whistles.