Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

”But doesn’t the Red Sun Bell clearly indicate a small island off Qingdu? Isn’t this it?” Jiang Ruoqing looked puzzled.

Wu Xin’Er shook her head, ”What I mean is, the location might be here, but it’s not on the island, rather it’s underwater.”

Wu Xin’Er pointed at the waves crashing against the cliffs below, ”If the route and reference points are correct, then it’s here.”

Everyone looked down, but all they could see were the waves, nothing more.

Chen Mo activated his Ancient Heavy Pupils. Although he could see through the waves, with the depth of the sea, he couldn’t see the bottom with his current strength.

”You all wait here. I’ll go down and take a look.” Having come this far, Chen Mo did not intend to give up halfway. He asked Wu Xin’Er to hold the Red Sun Bell and Tianwen for him.

But Wu Xin’Er tried to stop him, ”Husband, this is just a guess, it’s uncertain. You must not risk your life.”

The book recorded that some sea beasts were stronger than First Grade Martial Artists, and being underwater would weaken one’s power significantly. Encountering a random current could be dangerous.

”Haven’t some people come onto the island? Why not catch a couple of unlucky ones and have them explore the way for us,” proposed Old He.

”Fine, I’ll go catch them,” Jiang Ruoqing said.

Wu Xin’Er nodded in agreement as well.

Chen Mo thought for a moment and accepted the suggestion, indeed it was safer.

...

Qingdu Island wasn’t large. Including Chen Mo himself, there were three First Grade Martial Artists, who quickly caught two unlucky ones through a carpet search.

From the mouths of these unlucky ones, Chen Mo learned that the clue to the Nan Zhou Treasure was on himself and that this news had already spread within Jiangnan Martial Arts.

The reason so many experts were moved to provoke Chen Mo just to get involved was because, besides the treasure’s wealth, the Foundation Establishment Pill it contained was what everyone really desired.

For a First Grade Martial Artist, the Foundation Establishment Pill increased the success rate of Foundation Establishment, while Postnatal Martial Artists could significantly boost their power with it. Who wouldn’t be tempted by such allure?

The news also indicated that Prince Zhen Nan was alone in Jiangnan.

Prince Zhen Nan was strong, but he was just one person. They had numbers on their side; even a wild punch could kill an old master.

The two realized that with their skills, it was hard to get a share of the spoils. After deducing that the Nan Zhou Treasure might be on Qingdu Island, they immediately came to the island, tirelessly searching.

Upon noticing someone coming ashore, they quickly hid but were still discovered and captured by Chen Mo and his group.

”Mercy, Prince Zhen Nan, I was blinded by greed and dared to covet your things. I deserve to die, but I have elders and children to care for. I beg for your grace to spare my life,” pleaded Chen Ye, a third-rate martial artist in Jianghu, kneeling before Chen Mo, begging for mercy and claiming kinship to preserve his life.

His accomplice, seeing this, did the same, knocking his head loudly.

When they had knocked enough, Chen Mo finally spoke, ”I can give you a chance to live, but you need to do something for me.”

Before Chen Mo could even finish what he wanted them to do, Chen Ye quickly agreed, pledging loyalty, ”It’s my honor to serve Prince Zhen Nan. Please command, and I will go all out.”

”Same for me,” chimed in his companion, unwilling to be outdone.

”Very good.” Chen Mo nodded in satisfaction, leading the two to the cliff, ”Jump down and see if there is anything mysterious underwater.”

Chen Ye looked down, horrified. The water was at least a hundred feet below, and his Lightweight Skill was lacking. Jumping from such a height could be fatal or at least crippling, so he immediately pleaded for more mercy.

His partner’s face turned pale as well.

”You have two choices: jump, or die,” Chen Mo threatened, like an enforcer of evil.

The two hesitated, ultimately nodding. If lucky, there was a slim chance of surviving the jump, but not jumping meant certain death.

They believed Chen Mo would keep his word. After all, the man before them was once called the God of Slaughter.

Chen Ye took a deep breath, grit his teeth, and leaped. Moments later, he landed in the sea, a wave crashing over him, and he vanished.

His partner, witnessing this, was so scared his legs gave out, and he sat limply on the ground, terrified to jump.

Chen Mo frowned, considering the wave’s power; mistiming the leap could lead to being smashed against the rocks, risking instant death.

Yet, by chance, when the wave receded, Chen Mo saw him plunge into the water.

”Don’t worry, your friend is fine.” Chen Mo assured the terrified partner beside him.

The man remained skeptical. How could one be fine after vanishing beneath the waves?

...

Meanwhile, several fishing boats arrived at Qingdu Island, and those disembarking were notable experts from Jianghu.

”Brother Qian, long time no see. Didn’t expect you here too.”

”The Nan Zhou Treasure is on this island. How could I miss the fun?”

Old friends gathered in threes and fours, mutual watches in place.

At this moment, a commotion arose among the crowd as someone was seen stepping on a round wood, gliding across the sea. Upon nearing the shore, the person leapt and, with a few light taps on the water, landed in front of the crowd.

”Amitabha, greetings benefactors,” Yuan Kong said softly.

The crowd looked at Yuan Kong silently, and after a brief moment, someone finally recognized him, exclaiming, ”The monk Yuan Kong from Yuan Mountain Temple?”

”Yes, it’s Yuan Kong the monk!” another person confirmed.

”Buddhist remnants...”

”How could it be him? Wasn’t he said to have fallen into deviant paths?”

The crowd murmured among themselves.

Elder Tian Can removed his conical hat and approached, ”Master Yuan Kong, long time no see.”

”Patron Liu An,” Yuan Kong replied, ”Upon receiving your letter, I dared not delay and rushed here at once.”

Elder Tian Can’s real name was Liu An, a friend of Abbot Fang Hui.

”Elder Tian Can!” someone in the crowd exclaimed again as he was recognized.

Elder Tian Can ignored the murmurs and introduced his men to Yuan Kong.

”Master Yuan Kong, this is the Poison King, this is Chang Wuming, this is...”

Each introduction slightly shook the crowd.

For these were all top-notch martial artists in Jiangnan Martial Arts.

”Where is Prince Zhen Nan? Has the Nan Zhou Treasure emerged?” Yuan Kong asked, getting to the point.

”Prince Zhen Nan is on the island.” With Yuan Kong’s arrival and with his entourage, Elder Tian Can felt more assured. He wasn’t seeking a deathmatch with Prince Zhen Nan but rather to negotiate for a share.

To strengthen his position, Elder Tian Can also rallied the martial artists on the island, joining forces against Prince Zhen Nan.

Though Prince Zhen Nan was formidable, no one dared to face him one-on-one confidently. Banding together to oppose him was the best strategy.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Then, they marched grandly into the woods.

Shortly after the group left, three figures appeared on the island.

...

”Prince Zhen Nan, we found it, we found it! There’s an undercurrent down here,”

Chen Ye surfaced and shouted to Chen Mo above.

The group continued to combat the Prince Zhen Nan, as confronting him alone proved too daunting for anyone’s self-assured judgment. Thus, combining forces to face Prince Zhen Nan seemed judicious.

Everyone nodded agreeably.

After that, the throng robustly marched toward the forest.

Not long after they left, three figures emerged on the island.

The force of Prince Zhen Nan was indeed great, and no one would guarantee that they alone, along with a few companions, could challenge Prince Zhen Nan; therefore, it was best to unite powerfully against him.