There is a system to use when cultivating new generals that I was told about and have tested.

When you receive a new general, DO NOT PUT STARS ON!
Increase the experience to level 16 and stop. Cultivate until you can’t any longer.
Put one star on and increase experience to level 20. Cultivate until you can’t any longer.
Put on second star and increase experience to level 23. Cultivate again.
Continue this process has save a lot of gems due to much less negative results.

This part is IMPORTANT – don’t waste your gems or material on anything lower than Dragon gear. Don’t cultivate a general unless they are gold historic and it is worth it in the long run.

If you aren’t sure, ask your alliance! If you don’t want to ask in alliance chat (AC) then feel free to whisper to a R4 or R5.