Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Chen Mo couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

”You’re renaming it, what a waste.”

Coming from the Capital, with the surname Zhao, it’s clear to everyone that she’s a member of the Imperial Family.

The officials beside Liu Tan all bowed low, looking at Zhao Fujin with respectful awe.

Zhao Fujin realized the issue, glanced at Chen Mo apologetically.

Chen Mo said, ”Bring the case files for us to see.”

”Quickly, quickly.”

Liu Tan dared not delay, immediately sending the master to fetch them. Her Highness personally coming to capture the evil spirits shows how seriously the Capital regards this matter. Liu Tan didn’t dare to slack, and immediately said obsequiously:

”The two Immortal Masters have come from afar and must be exhausted. I have prepared fine wine and dishes at Qingfeng Tower for you two.”

Zhao Fujin still took a look at Chen Mo. Chen Mo coughed and then bowed slightly to Zhao Fujin, saying, ”Your Highness, it’s already noon, time to dine.”

Zhao Fujin nodded.

Liu Tan immediately winked, and an official slipped out of the county office, running to Qingfeng Tower to prepare the wine and dishes.

”This way, esteemed Immortal Masters.” Liu Tan bowed low, inviting Chen Mo and the others to proceed first.

...

Liu Tan led Chen Mo and the others in a circle before arriving at Qingfeng Tower.

As they arrived, the dishes were being served.

During the meal, though Liu Tan was an Eighth Grade official, he served the two like a servant, bending low.

After the meal, the case files conveniently arrived.

As Liu Tan handed the files to Chen Mo, he said, ”Immortal Master Chen, all the case files are here.

The victims all died with their blood entirely drained, and the wounds on their bodies were identical. Therefore, we determined it’s the work of the same person, draining their blood, possibly using some kind of evil sorcery, hence it’s the work of demons and evil spirits…”

The Great Song Dynasty designated cultivators using forbidden techniques, sustaining themselves on human blood, hearts, etc., and some accomplished spirits, ghosts, and beasts as demons and evil spirits.

”Were there any witnesses?” Chen Mo asked while looking over the files.

”There were, but the demons always committed the crimes at night, and the witnesses didn’t dare to get close. They only saw a Black Shadow flash by...” Liu Tan explained all he knew to Chen Mo.

Thus, we estimated the demon’s power to be around Fourth Grade.

This is because a Fifth Grade Martial Artist died at its hands, after a fierce struggle before death.

If the demon were an Innate Martial Artist, it wouldn’t have given a Fifth Grade Martial Artist a chance to fight back, it could have killed him in one blow.

”Where are the victims’ bodies?”

”In the county office’s morgue...”

”Then let’s go.”

”This...” Liu Tan hesitated.

”What’s the matter?” Chen Mo frowned.

”Immortal Master will know once you see it...”

...

In the scorching summer, bodies decompose quickly.

Moreover, with their entire blood drained and affected by evil sorcery, in less than half a month, these bodies had all decayed, emitting a pungent foul odor.

Though Liu Tan prepared scented handkerchiefs in advance for Chen Mo and the others to cover their noses, the smell was still nauseating.

Chen Mo could handle it, but Zhao Fujin, being of noble blood, couldn’t stand such a scene, and immediately felt nauseous, clutching her chest as she left the morgue.

”Immortal Master Zhao...” Liu Tan’s expression changed slightly.

”Don’t worry, let’s continue.” Chen Mo smiled.

But Liu Tan was still concerned, as he couldn’t afford any harm to Zhao Fujin.

However, with Chen Mo inside, he had to accompany him.

Chen Mo walked up to the victims’ bodies, took some hair, and gently pinched it between his fingers. The hair spontaneously combusted, quickly turning into a small pile of ashes.

Liu Tan’s eyes twitched at the sight and he exclaimed, ”Immortal Master Chen, what are you doing?”

Chen Mo smiled and took out a piece of Yellow Paper from his chest. As a disciple of the Shenxiao Sect, talisman painting was a basic skill.

He mixed the hair ashes with cinnabar and then painted a Talisman.

”Great Dao of the Tai Chi, Immortal’s Guidance, urgent as a command!”

Chen Mo focused his mind and quickly formed seals with his hands, then the Talisman in front of him automatically folded into a paper crane, flapping its wings and flying up out of thin air.

Immortal’s Guidance is a relatively simple Daoist Technique, but it requires an Innate Martial Artist to perform.

The principle is, if the demon drank the victim’s blood, then it would carry the victim’s aura.

By using the victim’s hair to make a Talisman, Chen Mo could use the aura to trace the demon.

Liu Tan was astonished, as if witnessing a miracle.

The paper crane circled once around Chen Mo, then flew out the window.

Chen Mo glanced at Liu Tan and said, ”Quickly, follow it.”

Liu Tan hurried to gather the people.

...

On the street, a paper crane floated in the air, moving slowly. Chen Mo and Zhao Fujin led Liu Tan and a group of constables, following behind, attracting the gaze of the townspeople.

The paper crane flew directly out of the county town, heading towards the outskirts.

It then entered the forest.

But the paper crane’s speed was not fast, and by the time it reached the forest, it was already dusk.

Liu Tan grew a bit fearful, ”Immortal Master Chen, it’s getting dark, maybe we should continue tomorrow...”

Before he could finish, Chen Mo interrupted him. The paper crane, having circled in the forest, suddenly flew straight into a cave.

”Found it.” Chen Mo swiftly moved, following it.

At the cave’s entrance, Chen Mo instructed Liu Tan, ”Master Liu, keep watch outside with your men.”

”Your Highness, let’s go in.”

With those words, Chen Mo dashed into the cave boldly.

Zhao Fujin lightly bit her lower lip and followed.

”Master, we...” The constables were all somewhat nervous and jittery. The closer they got to the cave, the more uneasy they felt.

”Didn’t you hear the Immortal Master’s words? Stay outside with me,” Liu Tan, though afraid, dared not leave without permission. He shouted once and bravely held his composure.

The origins of these two Immortal Masters were significant. If they left and anything happened to them, they would face severe consequences.

...

The cave was pitch-black and extended in all directions, its destination unknown.

Yet it did not hinder Chen Mo and the others as they followed the paper crane deeper inside.

Suddenly, the paper crane, which was moving slowly forward, spontaneously combusted, turning into a pile of ashes on the ground.

At the same time, cries of agony echoed around them, sending chills down their spines.

”Such petty tricks, dare to show off here, reveal yourself now.”

”Break!”

Chen Mo shouted sternly. His voice seemed to carry some power, and the scene before them changed from pitch darkness to a stone chamber, where a figure in a red dress stood with her back to them.

Hearing the commotion, the figure slowly turned around, her face pale, blood streaming from all seven orifices, and in her hand, she held an iron cage.

Inside the cage, a White Fox cried out in agony.