My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

In the backyard of the Prince of Qin's mansion, under a newly planted grapevine, Li Chen was lying on a rocking chair with his eyes closed, resting.

The warm sunshine of early spring makes one feel lazy to the bone.

"Squeak—"

The side gate to the backyard was pushed open a crack.

A towering, dark figure peeked in like a thief, half its head inside, and looked around.

After confirming that there were no outsiders in the courtyard, the dark figure crouched down and tiptoed in.

He carried two heavy rosewood boxes under his arms, and his feet shuffled along, looking just like a black bear stealing corn.

It was none other than Cheng Yaojin, the Duke of Lu of the Tang Dynasty.

"Oh ho! What a rare guest!"

Li Chen didn't even lift his eyelids, slowly waving a folding fan in his hand. "You, a dignified Duke, are here to steal in broad daylight?"

Cheng Yaojin was startled and quickly straightened his back.

He chuckled twice, then slammed the two large boxes under his arms onto the bluestone table with a thud, making the teacups on the table jump.

"Sixteenth Prince, look at what you're saying. I was just afraid of disturbing your peaceful cultivation."

Cheng Yaojin rubbed his large, fan-like hands together, and his usually fleshy old face turned a rare red, revealing a hint of awkwardness.

Li Chen opened one eye and glanced at the two sandalwood boxes.

The box lid wasn't fully closed, and the warm luster of pearls and top-quality jade shone through the gaps, clearly indicating that it was a very expensive gift.

"Those who offer unsolicited favors are either treacherous or thieves."

Li Chen sat up straight, tapped his folding fan twice in his palm, and said, "Speak, what trouble have you gotten into that requires me to cover for you?"

"I didn't cause any trouble! I absolutely didn't cause any trouble!"

Cheng Yaojin waved his hands repeatedly, strode up to Li Chen, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of flattery.

"Your Highness, I overheard Eunuch Wang, who serves Your Majesty, mentioning that your elusive 'master' possesses extraordinary abilities to see through the flow of time and foresee the future."

Upon hearing the word "master," Li Chen's lips twitched involuntarily.

He rolled his eyes inwardly. What master? That was just Old Li finding a plausible excuse for his outrageous cultivation level!

Now, things have gotten really complicated. All the powerful and influential people in the Tang Dynasty have come to believe in this fictitious "immortal master."

"So?" Li Chen picked up his teacup and blew on the floating leaves.

Cheng Yaojin chuckled dryly twice and shamelessly moved closer.

"Old Cheng, I'm going to shamelessly ask you for a favor. Could you perhaps use your magical powers to let me see... what my future holds?"

Fortune telling?

The teacup in Li Chen's hand stopped in mid-air.

He looked the big black bear up and down, and suddenly the historical records about Cheng Yaojin's descendants flashed through his mind. A barely perceptible wicked smile slowly crept up from the corner of his eyes to his eyebrows.

"Want to see the future?" Li Chen drawled, his eyes becoming playful. "This is revealing heavenly secrets, and the consequences are extremely serious."

Upon hearing that there was hope, Cheng Yaojin quickly pushed the two large boxes on the table in front of Li Chen.

"I understand the rules! As long as Your Highness is willing to open your eyes, you can take whatever treasures you fancy from the Cheng family's storeroom!"

"Alright then," Li Chen nodded reluctantly.

Just then.

"Old Cheng, you emptied the warehouse behind your family's backs, just to come here for fortune telling?"

A deep voice came from the direction of the east courtyard.

Qin Qiong, shirtless with a sweat-soaked towel draped around his neck and carrying a pair of gold-plated maces weighing over 100 pounds, strode over.

He had just finished sparring with Crown Prince Li Chengqian at the training ground, and his muscles were still twitching slightly, radiating an astonishing aura of vitality.

Cheng Yaojin's face flushed. "Old Qin, what do you know! His Highness the Sixteenth Prince's abilities are those of an immortal, capable of seeing through the past and present! I'm just taking precautions in advance!"

Qin Qiong leaned his golden mace against the stone table, casually pulled over a chair and sat down, then picked up the teapot on the table and took a big gulp.

He wiped the water from his mouth, his tiger-like eyes looking at Li Chen with a strong sense of curiosity.

"Your Highness, can you really see the future?"

Qin Qiong put down the teapot. "If it's really possible to see, could I listen in on Old Cheng's affair?"

Li Chen leaned back in the rocking chair, crossing his hands behind his head.

"I have no objection. You should ask him."

Qin Qiong turned to look at Cheng Yaojin.

Cheng Yaojin waved his hand dismissively, his face showing complete indifference.

"Listen! Listen all you want! I, Cheng Yaojin, am an upright and honorable man. I have spent half my life following His Majesty through countless life-and-death battles, achieving great feats! The future history books will surely be filled with tales of my Cheng family's loyalty to the country and the glory of our lineage!"

He patted his chest, making his casual clothes slap loudly, "I'll let Old Qin see for himself the future glory of the Duke of Lu's mansion for the next hundred years!"

Looking at Lao Cheng's overly confident appearance.

Li Chen couldn't hold it in any longer, and his mouth stretched from ear to ear.

"Okay, since you're so confident."

Li Chen stood up, straightened his moon-white robe, and said, "Then today, I will grant your wish."

He stood with his hands behind his back, no longer concealing his aura.

"Buzz—!"

A vast, ocean-like surge of Golden Core stage spiritual power instantly erupted from his body, transforming into an invisible gust of wind that whipped up the fallen leaves in the courtyard.

Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin felt their breath catch in their throats, as if a mountain was pressing down on their heads. They instinctively held their breath and stared intently at the sky.

The light in mid-air began to distort eerily.

Countless dazzling golden lights converged from all directions. Accompanied by an ancient and weathered metallic roar, a huge, illusory ancient book exuding endless pressure slowly condensed above the two people's heads.

A History of Time!

The golden light illuminated the entire backyard, making it shine brilliantly.

"This...this is the celestial scripture?"

Cheng Yaojin's eyes widened, his Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty, and even his calves trembled uncontrollably.

Li Chen raised his right hand and gently touched the ancient book in mid-air with his fingertip.

"Splash—"

The thick, golden pages began to turn rapidly, creating visible ripples of spiritual energy.

"Cheng Yaojin, open your eyes wide and see clearly."

Li Chen's voice became ethereal and otherworldly, as if it were descending from the heavens.

"What's written here is your fate, and the fate of your Duke Lu's mansion!"

The pages of the book suddenly froze.

The golden light transformed into rows of large characters, which were clearly reflected in the suddenly constricted pupils of Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong.

Cheng Yaojin stared intently at the first line of text, his breath catching in his throat.