Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Zhao Qianyi stared blankly at Chen Mo for a few seconds, then a slight smile played at her lips as she stood up, ”Don’t even think about leaving me behind.”

Chen Mo raised his hand and gently caressed Zhao Qianyi’s cheek, ”Are you confident in breaking through to Foundation Establishment?”

The Foundation Establishment Pill from the Nan Zhou Treasure had been given to Jiang Ruoqing, so Zhao Qianyi would have to rely on herself to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

”I don’t know either, I’ve never been able to touch that boundary. However, we can feel that to break through that step, an enormous amount of energy is needed.” At present, Zhao Qianyi’s cultivation was at the late First Grade, seemingly just a step away from Foundation Establishment, but throughout history, many have been stuck there.

For instance, the old monsters from Fan Yanglou during the treasure hunt were stuck at the late First Grade for nearly a hundred years and still didn’t break through.

This is related to talent to some extent, but the most important factor is the constraints of this continent.

Suddenly, Chen Mo thought of something.

Mount Gen.

Before leaving, Master had told him that the Late Emperor built Mount Gen hoping to harness its power to break through to First Grade in one go.

Since it could help break through to First Grade, Mount Gen must provide some energy, so perhaps Qianyi could use Mount Gen to break through to that step.

Even if it doesn’t work.

Chen Mo still had other ways, as he held three drops of Dragon Blood in his hand.

Now that there was a method, Chen Mo wasn’t as worried anymore. He looked at Zhao Qianyi’s stunning face and scooped her up in his arms:

”Come on, let’s go cultivate.”

The result was.

The bed collapsed...

Too much strength was used in cultivation, and the bed frame couldn’t withstand the power of two elite masters, causing it to collapse.

In the middle of the night, Zhao Qianyi crouched beside the bed holding two wooden planks, trying to repair her carved bed in the pitch darkness.

Zhao Qianyi’s face was flushed red. Fortunately, there were few people at the Princess’s Mansion, and Chen Mo had arranged matters in advance, so they wouldn’t be discovered.

If others knew she not only had a private meeting with Prince Zhen Nan but also broke the bed, it would probably become the laughing stock among the citizens of Bianliang in no time.

Even so, she hurriedly set to work repairing it. If not repaired, it would easily be noticed by her maidservant, and what the maidservant would think...

Because the bed collapsed during cultivation, Zhao Qianyi was only wearing a dudou and thin undergarments, her whole body leaning forward on the bed while her beautiful, slender legs kneeled on the ground, her jade-like feet slightly raised...

Her rounded hips encased in undergarments moved back and forth in front of Chen Mo.

”Bring me another plank...”

Zhao Qianyi reached her hand backwards.

But immediately after, she sensed something was wrong. She heard a rather peculiar sound, and then her hand was grabbed. Chen Mo’s voice came, ”Qianyi... let’s fix it later...”

...

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The troops were fully assembled.

Provisions from Jiangnan were en route to Bianliang towards Jizhou, and the main army would encounter it midway.

At the muster field, Zhao Qianyi was clad in light golden armor, with the weapon Heavenly Inquiry given by Chen Mo at her waist, her gaze scanning the crowd below.

The sea of people surged, command flags fluttered, and golden drums sounded in unison.

On both sides of Zhao Qianyi stood Jiang Ruoqing, He Qingzhou, Li Weiqiu, and others, clad in battle armor, standing solemn and erect.

Zhao Qianyi declared loudly, ”From this day forth, I am your supreme commander. Until the day we succeed in the campaign against the Yellow Turban rebels, my words are military orders. Any violation will be punished by death without mercy!”

As the last word left Zhao Qianyi’s mouth, a fierce and murderous aura shot out from her eyes.

The main general is the soul of an army, and a commander who bullies the weak and fears the strong cannot gain the soldiers’ allegiance.

Setting off, Zhao Qianyi had to project an image of impartiality and strict military discipline in the hearts of everyone.

Silence fell among the people below.

Actually, Zhao Qianyi’s actions were somewhat unnecessary.

She had guarded Tiger Stronghold Pass for over a decade, and her leadership of the Celestial Dragon Army was renowned for its invincibility. The troops were aware of this, and although they were surprised to learn she was the supreme commander, none were defiant.

Amid this silence, Zhao Qianyi waved her hand, and the drums roared, command flags waved, and the army officially set off from Bianliang to campaign against the Yellow Turbans.

...

The army was on the move for half a month.

Jizhou, Julu.

Zhang Jiao, upon learning that the Imperial Court had sent troops to suppress him, gathered the rebel forces from across Jizhou and passionately stirred them up, boosting their morale.

He said our moment of life and death had arrived. The court had dispatched three hundred thousand Imperial Guards to suppress us, but we need not fear. Our rebel army numbers in the millions, ten times as many, and with the aid of the descended deity, victory is assured for the rebel army.

The Yellow Turban Army in Julu were followers of the Taiping Dao, having been brainwashed by the teachings of Taiping Dao, believing firmly that Zhang Jiao was the Great Teacher of Virtue, the reincarnation of the Celestial General, and they vowed to eradicate the vile dogs sent by the court to oppress them, overthrow the Imperial Court, and establish a Taiping utopia.

Indeed, in the teachings of Taiping Dao, the court’s army were portrayed as vile dogs oppressing them.

Thus, under Zhang Jiao’s fervent proclamation, their morale soared.

Inside Zhang Jiao’s tent.

To deepen his rapport with his subordinates, he had been living and eating alongside his soldiers, dressed simply in hemp garments and trousers, with his legs bound, sitting on a small stool like a farmer resting after work.

A long table was set before him, filled with bowls of tea, as he and his thirty-six lieutenants devised strategies on how to resist the government’s forces.

The claim of easily defeating the court’s vile dogs was Zhang Jiao’s tactic to pacify his underlings, but if they were truly treated with contempt, the battle would not be a guaranteed victory but certain defeat.

”Zhao Jiang refused to ally with us, presumably wanting to watch the tigers fight from a distance, hoping to profit from the outcome. Fortunately, Zhang Xiu agreed to ally with us. Once we confront the main court army head-on, his Five Pecks of Rice Sect will launch a flank attack on the Song Army.

This is the Imperial Court’s main force. If we can defeat them, the court will be seriously weakened and unable to suppress us, allowing us to divide the kingdom with the Emperor...”

After Zhang Jiao finished speaking, a burly man with a slightly anxious appearance stood up, ”Celestial General, I, Ma Yuanyi, volunteer to be the vanguard for the rebel army and face the court’s vile dogs.”

”Yuanyi, as expected, you are my strong right-hand man.” Zhang Jiao laughed heartily at Ma Yuanyi’s gesture.

Across from Zhang Jiao, a scholar-like adviser stood up, ”Virtuous Teacher, if we can capture Huamu City before the main court army arrives, we can use the river’s defenses to split the court’s army in two, making them fear us and favoring the rebel army.”

Xu He was Zhang Jiao’s chief military strategist, and many of Zhang Jiao’s decisions were based on his counsel.

Hearing this, Zhang Jiao nodded and ordered, ”Yuanyi.”

”Present.” Ma Yuanyi respectfully clasped his fists.

”Take your men and set off for Huamu City immediately; you must capture it before the Song Army arrives,” Zhang Jiao commanded.

”Understood. I shall not fail the Celestial General’s expectations,” Ma Yuanyi responded.