Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Even Zhao Fujin, who was cheering for Chen Mo, was stunned. Had they not switched yet?

”Pfft...” Hu Mei’Er couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter, then covered her mouth and said, ”Didn’t Chen Hong say his brother could compete for the top prize? Why is he only lifting four thousand pounds? That’s so embarrassing.”

”You only need to pass the weight test; there’s no need to waste energy lifting ten thousand pounds. As long as you win in the subsequent martial arts competition, that’s all that matters.” Xiao Yunxi took a sip of tea and said.

Clearly, she was speaking in defense of Chen Mo.

”Oh?” Hu Mei’Er was taken aback, then gave a charming smile, ”Could you really believe he might actually compete for the top prize, sister?”

”Just watch and see.” Xiao Yunxi said.

Below.

Li Weiqiu also looked disappointed. He had held some expectations earlier.

Then, without looking at him anymore, he made his way to the martial arts arena.

Wu Chang’an’s face improved a bit. He thought Chen Mo was very strong, but it turned out to be just a bluff. It seems that what His Highness said earlier was purely because Chen Mo is Chen Hong’s brother, right...

Thinking this, Wu Chang’an glanced at Chen Mo again and lost interest.

This kind of person doesn’t even qualify to be his opponent.

...

As the weight test concluded, those who passed could proceed to the final round.

The martial arts competition.

This is also the most important round; the strongest contestant will be the champion of this martial exam.

It is worth mentioning that the remaining participants are all quite attractive.

The martial arts competition was held in the center of the Martial Arts Training Ground, where a stage was set up, surrounded by railings, with weapons such as swords, spears, and staffs placed around.

If knocked off the stage, it counts as a loss.

Of course, one can also choose to concede defeat.

The referee would arrange the contestants’ names carved on bamboo slips, shuffle them, and place them into two boxes.

Then the two boxes were delivered to Zhao Chong’s private room.

Zhao Chong understood the rules, casually drew a bamboo slip from the box. The name on it was Liu Xiao.

”Mother, you can go next.” Zhao Chong looked at Xiao Yunxi.

Xiao Yunxi nodded, drew a bamboo slip from the other box, which read Peng Yun.

An elder eunuch waiting nearby took the bamboo slips from Zhao Chong and Xiao Yunxi, walked out of the private room, and announced to the gathering below:

”The first match, Liu Xiao versus Peng Yun.”

Hearing the eunuch’s voice, the referee below also spoke up: ”Peng Yun, Liu Xiao, please enter the stage. Be sure to give your best, no need to overexert...”

Upon hearing the contestant’s name, Peng Yun remained very calm. After the referee finished speaking, he leaped onto the stage, glanced at the weapon rack beside him, and with a distant grip, selected an iron staff.

However, Liu Xiao, who was only at the Fifth Grade realm, changed his expression upon hearing that his opponent was Peng Yun.

Postnatal Martial Artist against Innate Martial Artist.

Even with a Celestial Tier treasure in hand, it’s hard to bridge this gap.

For a moment, he hesitated and dared not take the stage.

The referee, seeing Liu Xiao not stepping up, urged him.

Liu Xiao still didn’t take the stage and chose to concede.

After all, the difference in strength was too great; going up to compete would only result in a beating. It was better to surrender outright and avoid the pain.

The losers then entered the losers’ group.

To battle the subsequent losers, thereby determining the true ranking.

Of course, there’s no such thing as a resurrection match.

For example, the first in the losers’ group would not make it to the finals to fight against the winners’ group.

This doesn’t exist.

After all, luck is also a part of strength.

As for this result, people were not surprised; only a few, who found it unexciting, muttered a few words about cowardice.

In the private room, Zhao Chong extended his hands into the two boxes again, selecting contestants for the second match.

This time, it was again a Postnatal Martial Artist against an Innate Martial Artist.

The difference was, this time it seemed to be a Third Grade versus a Fourth Grade.

And this Third Grade Martial Artist was the one who passed the four-thousand-pound lift.

So the Fourth Grade Martial Artist didn’t know the exact strength of the opponent.

They took the stage for a fight and were knocked off, losing completely.

Clearly, they were playing dumb to catch the tiger.

After several more fights, the battles were not particularly exciting.

Because this draw method can’t ensure both contestants have equal realms, this often results in one having much more strength than the other.

Of course, there’s a chance that both contestants’ strength is about equal.

However, this method is relatively fair.

”Fujin, you take this one.” After several draws, Zhao Chong lost interest compared to the first draw and handed one box over to Zhao Fujin.

Zhao Fujin had long wanted to put Chen Mo out to compete.

She then sensed through the box, found the bamboo slip with Chen Mo’s name, and pulled it out.

She then wanted to draw from the other box to find a relatively weaker opponent for Chen Mo.

Indeed, relatively fair doesn’t mean absolutely fair.

Cheating is still possible.

But at this moment, Hu Mei’Er spoke up, ”Your Majesty, may I have a try?”

Zhao Chong was taken aback. Hu Mei’Er was, after all, his father emperor’s consort and his elder. Since she personally asked, how could Zhao Chong refuse, especially for a trivial matter? So he handed the other box to Hu Mei’Er.

Zhao Fujin was a bit displeased.

But she couldn’t just snatch it away.

So she thought of secretly swapping a bamboo slip.

However, at this moment, Hu Mei’Er asked again, ”Your Highness, who did you draw?”

For a moment, all eyes in the private room turned to Zhao Fujin.

With everyone watching, Zhao Fujin naturally couldn’t cheat and only said, ”How about you?”

Hu Mei’Er naturally caught sight of the bamboo slip Zhao Fujin drew, seeing that it was Chen Mo’s name. Hence, she also sensed the box, trying to find the slip with Li Weiqiu’s name.

But it wasn’t in this box; it must be in Zhao Fujin’s box.

In Hu Mei’Er’s box, she only recognized Wu Chang’an and Peng Yun.

Peng Yun was her person.

Since she didn’t want people to quickly know of her connection to Peng Yun, she chose the slip with Wu Chang’an’s name.

After taking out the slip, she pretended to be surprised: ”Lord Wu Lu, it’s Wu Chang’an.”

”My son?” Wu Lu was also taken aback.

And Zhao Fujin’s expression subtly changed. She wasn’t sure if Chen Mo could be a match for Wu Chang’an.

”Your Highness, it’s your turn.” Hu Mei’Er smirked.

Xiao Yunxi had already anticipated something, took the bamboo slip from Zhao Fujin’s hand, and, as expected, it bore Chen Mo’s name.

”It’s Chen Mo.” Zhao Chong said.

Soon, the news of Wu Chang’an versus Chen Mo spread throughout the Martial Arts Training Ground below.

Because of Zhao Fujin’s earlier shout, everyone knew who Chen Mo was.

Thus, hearing the names of both contestants, the arena’s surrounding buzzed with chatter once again.

Although they weren’t clear on Wu Chang’an’s real strength.

Seeing as one lifted a ten-thousand-pound cauldron and the other only a four-thousand-pound cauldron.

Even without thinking, they knew the outcome.

Therefore, the entire arena had little confidence in Chen Mo, believing he was bound to lose.