Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Chen Mo was covered in blood, his whole body seemingly drained of strength.

This blood battle had raged from morning until the sun set in the west, lasting five or six hours. Despite the presence of the Qilin Heart, the True Qi within Chen Mo was nearly exhausted, and his physical strength was almost depleted.

He didn’t care if the ground was stained red with blood, nor did he pay any mind to the dead enemy soldier beside him, staring lifelessly at him.

Chen Mo sat on the ground, leaning against the corpse, the Tianwen sword planted in the ground as he gasped for breath.

”You... you okay?” Jiang Ruoqing dragged her weary body over, unbothered by the scene around her, and sat down next to Chen Mo, leaning against him.

”I’m fine, just a bit tired.” Chen Mo leaned against Jiang Ruoqing. The two supported each other, looking at the now darkened sky. She said, ”Is it finally over?”

Chen Mo did not answer.

The evening breeze carried the smoke of battle across the sky.

Feng Ji cradled Feng Jing’s corpse, not so much saddened by Feng Jing’s death in battle, but more shocked at their unexpected victory.

He didn’t know the enemy’s exact number, but based on their claim of two million troops, it was certain that the enemy main force was well over a million.

On their side, they had only 150,000 troops, half of whom lacked combat skills, so they could only count on 100,000.

Against such ten-to-one odds, they managed to win the battle.

Although he was sent by Xiao Yunqi to monitor Chen Mo, as an old General, he could not help but admire and cheer for the victory achieved by the main General in such an outnumbered battle.

Atop the city wall, Li Yang’s eyes were like a hawk’s, sharply watching the two people nestled among the corpses below, filled with emotion.

He was terrifying.

Fighting alone against multiple Innate Martial Artists around Zhao Jiang, if Zhao Jiang was included, there were already two First Grade Martial Artists.

Yet these Innate Martial Artists fell before him like chopped vegetables.

Each sword strike brought down an Innate Martial Artist, and the Sword Qi even affected nearby soldiers who came to help.

The final result was that most of the Innate Martial Artists around Zhao Jiang died at Chen Mo’s hands, including one First Grade Martial Artist. The remaining Innate Martial Artists and Zhao Jiang’s Personal Soldiers shielded Zhao Jiang as they quickly fled.

Such an overwhelming momentum reminded Li Yang of Lin Su Ya during the campaign against Buddhism.

Back then, she fought against three First Grade experts of Buddhism alone. These experts had mastered the top Martial Arts of Buddhism and were among the best globally.

Yet even so, in front of Lin Su Ya, they ended up with two dead and one injured.

Li Yang vaguely saw the shadow of Lin Su Ya in Chen Mo.

The difference was that Lin Su Ya was indifferent to fame and fortune, showing little interest in anything.

Moreover, after the campaign against Buddhism, she never participated in factional conflicts or clashes between other powers. Being a woman also made both the Imperial Family and powerful officials very reassured about her.

But Chen Mo was different; he founded the Fire Qilin Army, knew how to win people over, and was both courageous and wise.

With each battle, he even consolidated military loyalty.

Such a talented person, if not utilized by Anyang Palace, must be eliminated.

Otherwise...

Li Yang watched Wu Xin’Er approach Chen Mo, a flash of light in his eyes.

...

”Are you okay?” Wu Xin’Er asked the same question as Jiang Ruoqing.

Chen Mo shook his head.

”I... I’m sorry.” Wu Xin’Er seemed a bit embarrassed.

It should be known that when they first knew Chen Mo was going to battle the enemy, Elder He was dumbfounded and even wondered if Chen Mo was crazy.

With such a vast gap in military strength, how could they win?

So Elder He made every effort to stop Wu Xin’Er from participating.

Although he couldn’t control Chen Mo, he could block Wu Xin’Er. Besides, his duty was to protect Wu Xin’Er’s safety, so he would never let her get involved in such dangerous matters.

The two of them did not participate in the battle but watched the blood battle unfold from the city wall.

Of course, as spectators, this battle of the few against the many was extremely shocking to both of them.

Chen Mo led his Personal Guard and forcibly fought into the enemy’s Central Army. Chen Mo himself moved toward the opponent’s Main General. Amidst such chaos, he managed not to lose sight of his target, as if he was locked onto the Main General.

Just like a War God.

Chen Mo was taken aback when he heard the apology from Wu Xin’Er, not knowing the reason behind it.

Upon learning it was due to standing by and doing nothing, Chen Mo smiled and didn’t take it to heart.

Furthermore, this battle had nothing to do with them from the beginning.

...

The next morning.

A deep bell sounded throughout the Capital.

The officials passed through the palace gates and entered the Taihe Palace, discussing the war situation in Qinyang County as usual.

Now that Luan Mountain County and Tazhen had been lost, Qinyang County was in a state of isolation, completely surrounded by enemy forces.

Therefore, the officials believed that another army needed to be dispatched to aid Qinyang County and break the siege.

But with the Yellow Turban Bandits ready to move, the Capital needed enough troops to defend it.

Currently, after multiple deployments, the Capital’s forces were down to less than 200,000.

They couldn’t send more.

Just as the officials chatted briefly, a herald’s shout echoed from outside the hall: ”Report—victory report—”

The officials fell silent upon hearing it was a victory report and quickly turned their heads towards the outside of the hall.

Zhao Chong, seated on the throne, remained still, but from behind the curtain, Xiao Yunxi slightly raised her hand, ”Speak.”

The herald hurried into the hall, then knelt on one knee, speaking urgently:

”To report to Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager, last night at the early watch, the General, with the entire army of 150,000, engaged the enemy outside Qinyang County. By the third watch, they decisively defeated the enemy, causing the enemy Alliance Leader Zhao Jiang to flee, after which the General ordered Deputy General Dai Xishan to pursue...”

”Wow—”

The herald couldn’t finish his quick report before the outburst of the officials’ astonishment interrupted him.

Even Xiao Yunqi, who was seated, widened his eyes in disbelief.

”Won?”

”How is it possible, they actually won.”

”How did Chen Mo, with just that few troops, defeat an enemy force of a million?”

”Did I hear wrong?”

”...”

Various noises from the officials followed suit.

After all, in the officials’ minds, it was already commendable if Chen Mo could hold Qinyang County. They never expected him to take the offensive and rout the enemy army.

It was genuinely incomprehensible.

However, behind the curtain, Xiao Yunxi, unlike the officials’ excitement, clenched her hands a little tighter and publicly asked, ”Then Chen Mo... is the General unharmed?”

”To report to the Empress Dowager, the General is uninjured,” the herald replied.

Only then did Xiao Yunxi let out a sigh of relief and, like the others, became extremely excited.