The Empress's bedroom.
"Chong'Er, what exactly happened?" Xiao Yunxi believed her son would not act without reason.
Zhao Fujin also listened intently, curious.
"Mother, I noticed a trace of Evil Qi on this little eunuch," Zhao Chong said slowly. "You know, Evil Qi is usually found only on ghosts or those who have been to battle and killed. How can a eunuch possess it?"
Hearing this, Xiao Yunxi frowned, then said, "I heard from Wang Ying yesterday that little Hongzi went home for a funeral some time ago. His parents died, and his hometown was flooded. Perhaps he picked it up then."
"He is so pitiful," said Zhao Fujin next to her.
In her mind, being a eunuch was already pitiful enough, and now his parents were also dead.
Zhao Fujin couldn't help but feel sympathy for Chen Mo.
"It's possible," Zhao Chong frowned slightly, then said, "But Mother, ordinary people with Evil Qi don't live long. To avoid ill omens, it might be best to replace him with someone else."
Xiao Yunxi nodded, then sighed and said, "It's a pity, I don't have many trustworthy people around me, and just last night Qing'Er was caned to death by your father..."
"I heard about it—seducing Father, she deserved it," Zhao Chong said.
"Sigh, I actually hoped Qing'Er could seduce His Majesty. You know, Chong'Er, your father hasn't stayed in my bedroom for many years. He just comes to look and then leaves," Xiao Yunxi said with a face full of sorrow. "Do you think I've grown old and am no longer attractive to your father?"
"Mother's not old at all. In Fujin's heart, Mother is the most beautiful," Zhao Fujin sweetly said, holding Xiao Yunxi's arm.
Feeling sympathy for his mother, Zhao Chong added, "If Mother doesn't have any trustworthy people, you don't need to chase little Hongzi away."
"Hmm?"
"Just let him train," Zhao Chong said. "Though he carries Evil Qi, his foundation is excellent. If he cultivates True Qi, he should achieve something. Plus, he's a rootless person; even if he achieves something, he won't be too high to control."
There was something else Zhao Chong didn't say.
As a eunuch without power or influence, he could only rely on his master, so he wouldn't easily betray.
"Cultivation?" Xiao Yunxi pondered. There was no rule against eunuchs cultivating in the Imperial Palace. Instead, all the palaces wanted those who had entered the grade. However, graded eunuchs required special registration, and they often didn't like serving in the harem, opting instead for tasks in the two factories for His Majesty.
After all, the mortality rate for eunuchs in the harem was abnormally high.
"Does Chong'Er have any cultivation techniques to recommend?" Xiao Yunxi inquired.
"Doesn't Mother have a copy of the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture? It contains records of Child Fire and Mother Fire. Just give him the Child Fire version; with Mother Fire in Mother's possession, even if his realm surpasses Mother's later, you can easily control him," Zhao Chong thought and said.
He added, "The Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture is a Celestial Tier Lower Grade cultivation technique, enough for him to be grateful to Mother."
Zhao Fujin, somewhat afraid, looked at her brother, thinking, "Brother is truly worthy of being the Crown Prince, so capable of scheming..."
"Let me think about it..."
...
Back in his room, Chen Mo took out the Jade Bottle given by Zhao Chong, opened it, and smelled the pungent medicinal scent wafting out.
Chen Mo frowned a little.
But he soon relaxed.
If Zhao Chong really wanted him dead, he could easily do it with words alone; there was no need to go through the trouble of giving him medicine.
Therefore, after applying the medicine properly, Chen Mo began today's second simulation.
[Currently available talents: Yang Spirit Body, Cyan Rainbow True Eye, Water Spirit Body, Stone Body...]
[Please select three from the above talents and start the Immortal Cultivation Simulator.]
Chen Mo widened his eyes.
Wow, four orange talents appeared at once.
No, make that two.
Yang Spirit Body and Cyan Rainbow True Eye were obtained through expansion.
Chen Mo looked at the descriptions of the Yang Spirit Body and others.
[Yang Spirit Body (Orange): A slightly superior Tripod Furnace Physique, capable of absorbing others to enhance self-strength. However, those absorbed will die during the process, which is easily detected and only effective against those with yin and cold physiques. Highly flawed.]
[Cyan Rainbow True Eye (Orange): Can see through others' cultivation roots, Evil Qi, Killing Intent, life, and has a certain probability of seeing fate.]
[Water Spirit Body (Orange): Has a great effect on practicing water-based cultivation techniques, allowing rapid progress.]
[Stone Body (Orange): Has a great effect on practicing physical body and earth-based cultivation techniques, with amazing defense.]
...
Wow.
No need to think.
Empress Xiao undoubtedly possesses the Yang Spirit Body.
No wonder she absorbs others.
The reason is found.
Apart from the fixed Fighting Saint Body,
Chen Mo also chose the Cyan Rainbow Eye, Stone Body, and a common blue talent.
Then he devised a general plan in his mind for this simulation's direction.
Last time's experiment showed that if not cultivating, he indeed could live a little longer, and his Fake Eunuch identity wasn't exposed.
But what's the point of that?
Living humbly in the Imperial Palace?
Always serving others?
Constantly worried about being exposed?
If so, then go bold and see what happens if he starts cultivating openly and unreservedly.
Of course, he can't cultivate in the Imperial Palace; he'd end up absorbed by the Empress.
[Day 1: Great turmoil arrives, and the Great Song Dynasty is engulfed in the call for rebellion. Heaven is dead, and the Yellow Heaven shall rise. You find a way to leave the palace and exit the Imperial Capital.]
[Day 2: You comprehend the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture, becoming a Ninth Grade Martial Artist.]
[Day 3: You are on the road.]
[Day 4: You enlist in the army under your former identity in Qingshan City.]
[Day 5: With Ninth Grade Martial Artist strength, you become a valued member of the army, a Decurion.]
[Day 6: You perform excellently in training.]
[Day 7: You continue to excel in training.]
[Day 8: The rebellion spreads to Qingshan City, and you and the army work to quell it.
You achieve Killing Intent in battle and breakthrough to Eighth Grade Martial Artist.]
[Day 9: The rebellion in Qingshan City is quelled; you are promoted to Centurion due to your performance.
That evening, at a celebratory banquet in Qingshan City, you fall in love at first sight with the City Lord's daughter, and the City Lord is eager to match you two.]
[Day 10: A large number of rebels attack Qingshan City. The city breaks, and you die.]
[This Immortal Cultivation Simulation is over. You can permanently retain one cultivation talent for the real world.]
[Simulation over, total time: ten days. Cooldown: 100 minutes.]