The Empress wore a complex expression, silent.
Her moist apricot eyes seemed filled with embarrassment, mixed with anger, ultimately transforming into a long, deep sigh.
Sun Senior Palace Lady dared not continue the topic, silently pressing her beautiful back, as a deathly silence pervaded the hall.
After a long while, the Empress spoke: "The Heavenly Human Martial Exam is about to start, isn’t it?"
"Yes, Your Highness, it’s half a month from now, and disciples from various sects have already started arriving in the capital," Sun Senior Palace Lady replied, "This year is particularly grand, it’s said that even the Three Saint Sect will send people to attend."
The Empress’s eyes darkened slightly.
The Heavenly Human Martial Exam was a grand event for martial arts selection initiated by the Grand Ancestor.
Of course, the martial exam was just a general term, be it martial arts, Daoism, techniques, or Buddhism... all rely on individual capabilities, nothing is forbidden.
Held once every ten years, any disciple under the age of thirty from any sect within Jiu Zhou, as well as military officers from the court, can participate.
The rewards for victors are exceptionally rich, gold, silver, treasures, spiritual elixirs, magic artifacts... abundant enough to gather till one’s hands are tired. The champion shall earn the title "Heavenly Human Martial Arts Champion," a supreme honor!
In its heyday, the Great Yuan court was at its peak, its power extending across the seas, everyone within the realm was subjugated.
This move was to showcase Imperial Power’s authority, solidify rule, intimidate sects, and concurrently, to select talented and promising individuals to serve the court.
However, times have changed.
In recent years, the realm has been turbulent, just the war with the Southern Barbarians alone claimed too many lives, and amidst internal and external threats, martial prowess has gradually declined, leaving only a few noteworthy among the younger generation.
Conversely, sects have become increasingly prosperous, talents emerge in an endless stream.
The last Heavenly Human Martial Exam, the Three Saint Sect didn’t even attend, and just the Eight Great Sects took the top three, the court became a laughingstock!
Even so, this martial exam must persist through gritted teeth, after all, the ancestral law cannot be violated, and suddenly canceling would appear cowardly...
"Nowadays, sects independently divide and self-assert, flaunting arrogance, blatantly disregarding national laws, making governance difficult... Particularly the Three Saint Sect!"
"To change the situation, military deterrence and strategic division must go hand in hand!"
"This time, during the Heavenly Human Martial Exam, the court’s authority must be asserted!"
The Empress’s pretty face exuded a cold frost.
Emperor Wu Lie once relied excessively on sects, sharing too many benefits, causing an uncontrollable situation now.
To deal with sects’ internal threats, the court employed various means, including but not limited to: restricting cultivation resource trade, establishing an Inspection Department to monitor sect dynamics, supporting small and medium sects to dilute major sects’ power, and increasing the study of "Jianghu Ethics" at the Imperial College to educate...
Yet these measures could only maintain stability, unable to solve the problem at its root.
Ultimately, it’s about establishing authority!
"Yu Youhan may be ambitious, but one must admit, her bloody methods in destroying two sects proved effective, treating Jianghu people who disdain the court must be !"
"However, that woman is more dangerous than any sect, I naturally can’t rely on her."
"The court has invested so much silver in the Heavenly Martial Arena, and it’s time to see returns."
The Empress propped herself up with her white, lotus-like arms, her ample chest swayed as she said in a clear voice, "Issue orders, officials who win the martial champion will be promoted one rank and gain access to the second level of the Heavenly Armory!"
Sun Senior Palace Lady responded, about to withdraw, but was stopped by the Empress.
"Also, inform Chen Mo, he’s not allowed to hide and shirk his duties!"
Chen Mo settled the two and left the room.
Originally, he didn’t plan to engage further, but Yu’er insisted, igniting his fire once again.
Then there was the familiar practice again...
Little Gu Saintess endured and embarrassed, cursed him as a "big villain," yet couldn’t help but shed tears, almost fainting in the end...
"Is this the worth of the First Succubus of Unmatched Immortal?"
Chen Mo sighed inwardly.
Already so challenging to handle now, what would it be like when her physique reaches mastery?
He glanced at the sky, it was already the evening, and if he rushed to the Inspection Department now, they’d likely be finishing up, so he decided to skip and head to the Heavenly Martial Arena instead.
He had refined a lot of Leopard Bloodfire Elixir recently, it should be enough for now, and once all acupoints are filled, he can prepare to break through to the Divine Sea Realm.
On his way back from the Donghua Region, encountering a mysterious expert added a sense of urgency in his heart.
One must rely on one’s own strength.
He couldn’t always rely on the Empress to save the day, quickly advancing his realm was the most important.
In fact, with his strength, there were few rivals among his peers, but the level of enemies kept rising, even a Third Rank appeared!
"Once I step into the Fourth-Level Divine Sea Stage, with various divine skills, I should have the ability to escape even when facing a Grandmaster..."
Chen Mo pondered as he made his way towards the front courtyard.
He barely turned the corner of the corridor when he encountered a Martial Arts Grandmaster’s attack.
"Easy, easy, it hurts!"
He Yuzhi appeared from nowhere, pinching and twisting Chen Mo’s ear several times, angrily saying:
"You little brat, you’ve got some nerve, daring to bring any sort of woman home, and two at once?!"
"Chen Fu even tried to cover for you... thinks I’m a fool? Not noticing two more people at home?"
Chen Mo didn’t intend to hide it from her, grimacing, he said, "Mom, let go first, my ear’s about to be pulled off."
He Yuzhi snorted coldly and released her grip.
Chen Mo rubbed his red ear, smiling wryly, "They’re just temporarily staying at our house for a few days, and they aren’t just any random women..."