The Azure Continent is primarily a world of martial arts, pursuing unparalleled combat power, entering the Dao through martial arts, and finally shattering the void.
Before that, lifespans were generally not very long; without shattering the void, one only had three hundred years of lifespan.
Ordinary people who train their bodies and strengthen their muscles are called Body Forgers.
After Body Forging, they practice basic martial arts and various power-exerting techniques, which are called Martial Apprentices.
Once the fundamentals are solid, they accumulate vital energy and blood, applying the martial skills they have learned, which is called Ancient Martial Arts.
Ancient Martial Arts is the culmination of martial arts for ordinary people, considered preparatory education for cultivators.
To cultivate further, one must enter the Dao through martial arts, absorb spiritual energy to clear the meridians throughout the body, allowing the muscles, meridians, cells, and blood to be infused with spiritual energy. This stage is called Body Refining.
Afterward, spiritual energy impacts the lower abdomen, opening the Dantian, where liquid spiritual energy is stored. This stage is called Foundation Establishment.
Using spiritual energy to strengthen the body and perform various martial arts, projecting spiritual energy for mid-to-close range attacks, is called Qi Transformation.
The liquid spiritual energy in the Dantian is continuously compressed and solidified, forming a Dan Body that automatically filters and absorbs spiritual energy. This is called Dan Condensation.
Opening the Middle and Upper Courts, allowing divine sense to extend a hundred meters, is called Spirit Platform.
Spiritual energy, divine sense, and soul, forming a trinity, is called Integration.
Subsequently, when the accumulation and quality of spiritual energy, the physical body, and divine sense reach their peak, and one masters speed, offense, and defense with at least Purple-tier skills or abilities, it is called Mahayana.
Shattering the void, seeing one's true self, and transforming the mortal body into an immortal body, becoming a Martial Dao True Immortal, is called Martial Immortal.
Martial Immortals who master laws and construct the elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth are called Divine Realm.
With this system update, the measurements for cultivators have been standardized.
Cultivation Realms and Combat Power: Body Refining, Foundation Establishment, Qi Transformation, Dan Condensation, Spirit Platform, Integration, Mahayana, Martial Immortal, Divine Realm.
Items, Skills, and Talents: White, Green, Cyan, Blue, Purple, Red, Gold, Legend, God-tier.
[Host: Chu Chen. Age: Twenty-three. Cultivation: Body Refining.]
[Official Title: Third Rank Imperial Palace Internal Affairs Eunuch. Actual Position: Personal Eunuch to Fifth Princess Li Xinyue.]
[Cultivation Technique: Martial Immortal-tier True Essence Profound Art.]
[Talents: God-tier Craftsman, Hundred Herbs, Alchemy, Troop Training, Military Strategy, Cultivation, Foresight... ]
[Skills: Blue-tier Ingenious Stratagems.]
[Items: Qiankun Ring (Height: 5 meters, Area: 100 square meters) Preschool-tier Pills: 1000.]
[Points: 200.]
Chu Chen looked at the system's displayed information and found it simple and clear.
He checked the system's functions. The Life Simulation function was the same as before, with no limits on consumption or uses. The Lucky Draw and Shop functions were still available.
During the Life Simulation, ten points are added for each year lived. Each Lucky Draw costs one hundred points, and shop exchanges cost ten thousand points.
After reviewing the system and obtaining what he desired, Chu Chen went to sleep contentedly.
Over the next month, Chu Chen spent a small portion of his time accompanying Princess Xinyue to solidify his position. The rest of his time was dedicated to providing new recruits with resources to boost their cultivation.
The training of the new recruits involved morning literacy classes, morning body forging, afternoon drills for formations and troop movements, and learning various military weapons. They would receive their cultivation boosts in the evening.
Since cultivation training occurred in the evening, when people normally rested or slept, no spies were aware of this activity.
A month quickly passed.
South City Barracks Grand Parade Ground
A competition involving two princesses' new recruits drew the attention of nobles, royalty, and even the Empress herself in Shuangyue City.
For this occasion, the Ministry of War had specially constructed a temporary two-story wooden platform, nine meters high, on the edge of the barracks grand parade ground for the Empress and the nobles to be seated.
"Little Chenzi, I'll be cheering for you here later. Perform well."
Princess Xinyue encouraged Chu Chen, who stood respectfully by her side.
"Your Highness, I understand. Please rest assured."
Chu Chen smiled confidently.
Soon, Chu Chen arrived at the parade ground below, standing at the forefront of the new recruit formation.
"New Recruit Inspection begins!"
From the high platform, commands echoed.
Following that, a large banner erected at the very front of the parade ground was raised by strongmen, swaying slightly with two smaller banners on either side.
"First New Recruit Battalion, prepare!"
The leading general of the small formation on the far right, upon seeing the command from the banner, immediately shouted.
The previously dense formation quickly dispersed.
"Thrust!"
"Kill!"
"Thrust again!"
"Kill!"
Under the general's command, the actions performed by the new recruits looked somewhat impressive.
Next, under the general's orders, this battalion of new recruits demonstrated sword swings, shield advances, dense formations with spear thrusts, and shield defenses to the Empress and ministers on the high platform.
Finally, they returned to their positions, tapping their spears on the ground three times as a military salute.
The inspection requirements for new recruits trained for only one month were not very high. As long as they understood basic formations, could wield their weapons, and attacked upon command, they were considered qualified.
There were not many inspection items, only these five, but it still took considerable time for ten battalions to complete their displays.
The battalions ranked later in the order, initially maintained good order, but as they waited longer, the training disparities became apparent.
On the high platform, the Empress frowned, looking at the Sixth to Tenth Battalions, which were about to be inspected.
In just over fifteen minutes, their formations were no longer as neat as they were at the beginning, with some even standing askew or leaning on their spears.
The generals of the Ministry of War, seated on the stairs to the Empress's right, naturally noticed this.
They cautiously turned their heads to check the Empress's expression, inwardly cursing the generals of these battalions.
"My esteemed ministers, in just this short while, I can already discern the strengths and weaknesses between the new recruit battalions."
"I will not elaborate on the state of the Sixth to Tenth Battalions."
"However, the Eleventh and Twelfth Battalions have maintained their formations as perfectly as they were at the start, tight and orderly. May I know who is leading them?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, the Eleventh Battalion is led by the Deputy Commander of the Third Prince's personal guard."
"And the Twelfth Battalion is led by the personal eunuch, Eunuch Chu, by the Fifth Princess's side..."
Although the Ministry of War was already aware of this, hearing again that a new recruit battalion was led by a young eunuch, such an absurd situation, still caused them displeasure.
Even if he was the eunuch by the Fifth Princess's side, so what?
Except for dispatching eunuchs to supervise armies during wartime, even the Empress had never allowed eunuchs into the barracks during normal times.
"It is understandable for new recruits trained by the Deputy Commander of the personal guard to perform this well."
The Empress commented indifferently, then looked at the Twelfth Battalion with interest: "As for the performance of this 'Little Chenzi' by Xinyue's side, it has exceeded my expectations. I did not expect that such a young eunuch could actually train troops."
The Empress had not objected before, assuming Chu Chen was merely running errands for Xinyue, managing things, and gaining experience, with the actual training being handled by members of the personal guard.
But now, seeing Chu Chen standing at the front of the Twelfth Battalion, it was evident that he was personally training them.
If not, and if he were to make a fool of himself later, he would be guilty of deceiving the emperor.