Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

The seventy-ninth day of the Great Chaos.

On a remote country road more than five hundred miles from Qinyang County.

Zhao Ji knew that the current imperial court was under Xiao Yunqi’s control. To prevent the court from discovering his whereabouts and sending people to assassinate him, Zhao Ji barely dared to walk on official roads and certainly did not dare to stay in inns.

After staying one night in a tavern last night, the silver he carried was almost stolen. It turned out to be a den of thieves; if Zhao Ji were not an Innate Martial Artist, he would have been doomed there.

These days, he could only eat coarse food, and even relieving himself was done in the wild.

Being pampered from a young age and having been the supreme ruler for over a decade, he had never been so aggrieved.

At the same time, his hatred for Xiao Yunqi grew ever deeper.

He swore that even if it cost him his life, he would bring ruin to Xiao Yunqi.

In the late morning when the weather was hottest, the glaring sun mercilessly beat down on Zhao Ji, combined with the incessant chirping of cicadas beside the path, it made him extremely irritable.

Without the Dragon Chariot, and no Palace Maid to fan him, he had to rely on his own feet to quickly reach Fengzhou.

Rustling sounds.

Just as Zhao Ji was about to hide under a big tree for shade and observe, three Black Shadows suddenly sprang from the bushes on both sides.

The leading Black Shadow pulled out an image from his chest, compared it to Zhao Ji, nodded to the other two, and, without a word, charged at Zhao Ji.

”How audacious.”

Even though Zhao Ji was now fallen, the aura of a ruler remained. Seeing the three daring to attack him, he immediately shouted in rage.

However, the three were professional assassins and weren’t frightened by Zhao Ji’s shout, attacking decisively, each move carrying Killing Intent.

Zhao Ji, having been in the higher echelons for so many years, rarely handled matters personally, let alone killed anyone with his own hands.

Thus, he lacked combat experience.

In the first few exchanges, the three assassins gained the upper hand.

But soon, Zhao Ji began to gradually reverse the situation.

Once an Emperor, he had cultivated Celestial Tier Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts, taught hand-in-hand by a First Grade Martial Artist. As he began to move more adeptly, Zhao Ji started gaining the upper hand.

With a Dragon Capturing Hand, he locked the throat of the assassin leader, his eyes icy: ”Who sent you to assassinate me?”

Yet before he could answer, the longsword of one assassin pierced through the leader from behind, through his chest. The leader then hugged Zhao Ji fiercely, attempting to die together, only to be shaken off by Zhao Ji’s immense True Qi.

With the leader dead, Zhao Ji turned to attack the other two assassins.

Knowing they were no match, the two exchanged a glance and fled in different directions.

...

Fengzhou.

Prince’s Mansion.

”Your Highness, there’s a letter for you.” Zhao Mu’s advisor hurriedly left the mansion, found Zhao Mu, and handed him the letter.

Seeing the advisor’s anxious expression, Zhao Mu couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow: ”Where’s the letter from?”

The advisor replied solemnly, ”From Nanyang.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Mu’s hand, holding the letter, trembled as if he already guessed the contents.

He quickly dismissed the advisor, entered his room, and read it alone.

The letter was written by Zhao Jiang.

It detailed Zhao Ji escaping from the Capital and offered Zhao Mu two choices.

...

Outside Qinyang County, the ground was filled with dust, rows of soldiers in armor were arrayed neatly and orderly.

In the distance, Zhao Jiang had already positioned the allied forces, waiting for the opposing army’s charge.

He never expected, after sending Zhao Lu to attack Luan Mountain County in the morning and an ambush on the way,

the city gates of Qinyang County opened, the drawbridge lowered, and hordes of Imperial Guards poured out, looking to fight to the death.

For a moment, Zhao Jiang felt there was a traitor in his ranks. Otherwise, how did the enemy dare come out to confront him just after he divided his forces?

Clearly, they knew the forces were weakened, or knew the plan, realizing if Luan Mountain County fell, Qinyang County was close behind, hence planning to battle.

But Zhao Jiang wasn’t scared; instead, he saw it as an opportunity.

The allied forces far outnumbered the enemy, even with divided forces, Zhao Jiang still had six hundred thousand men, several times the opponent’s, the advantage was his.

...

Feng Ji didn’t understand what got into Chen Mo, defending the city well, but now abandoning it, taking the army out to confront the enemy, clearly intending for a bloody battle.

Even after trying to dissuade him in the city, Chen Mo didn’t stop.

Now the two armies were face-to-face, Feng Ji still wanted to advise: ”Commander, we can completely hold until reinforcements arrive from other places, there’s no need to fight to the death, it’s unfavorable for us, let’s retreat.”

”Indeed, Commander, the enemy troops are ten times ours; facing them outside isn’t beneficial,” another commander advised.

Li Yang even felt that after two major victories, Chen Mo was getting overconfident.

Just when some commanders thought there was no need for a bloody battle.

”Report—Report—”

Suddenly, urgent shouts came from the city, a Scout almost tumbling out, squeezing through the ranks to reach Chen Mo, urgently saying: ”Report, Commander, large enemy forces and many siege equipment are discovered at Luan Mountain County, rapidly approaching, urgently seeking reinforcements...”

”What?”

”Enemy forces at Luan Mountain County?”

”Did they divide their forces, what were our sentries doing, they divided forces and didn’t know...”

The revelation threw Feng Ji, Li Yang, and Dai Xishan into chaos.

Luan Mountain County couldn’t be lost.

If Luan Mountain County fell, Qinyang County would be in grave danger.

Some commanders sought Chen Mo’s permission to lead troops to support.

After the shock, Feng Ji’s pupils contracted, staring directly at Chen Mo: ”Commander, did you know already?”

Chen Mo nodded.

Seeing Chen Mo nod, the commanders were amazed, was he that prescient?

Feng Ji finally understood Chen Mo’s intention to confront outside the city.

If Chen Mo sent troops to aid, the defenses of Qinyang County would be thin, the enemy could exploit it.

Not to mention potential ambushes on the way to reinforce.

If they didn’t reinforce and Luan Mountain County fell, Qinyang County couldn’t hold for long.

So Chen Mo chose to fight outside the city, as long as he defeated the main enemy force, Luan Mountain County’s crisis would resolve naturally.

But this move was very risky.

”You’re insane,” Feng Ji was taken aback by Chen Mo’s audacity.

”Would Old General Feng care to join me in the madness?”

”Do I have another choice?” Feng Ji glared at Chen Mo.