My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

Undercurrents surged wildly beneath Chang'an City.

Meanwhile, inside the main palace, in a side hall of the Lizheng Hall, there was a burst of laughter and joy.

"Wow--!"

Two clear female voices rang out at the same time.

Princess Chang Le, Li Lizhi, and Princess Gao Yang, Li Ling, were staring wide-eyed at the short, black staff in Xiao Sizi's hand, completely lacking any decorum.

"Whoosh! Snap!"

Little Sizi pressed the button on his staff with a smug look on his face.

A fist-sized ice crystal shot out and smashed into a flowerpot in the distance.

The sudden burst of cold air froze the precious autumn chrysanthemums into an ice sculpture.

A cool breeze spread through the stuffy side hall, making everyone feel comfortable.

"Sizi, this...this really was made for you by your sixteenth brother?"

Princess Chang Le stepped forward, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.

Although she lived deep within the palace, she knew that there was no such thing as a magical artifact that could conjure ice out of thin air with a mere wave of its hand, without needing to light a fire or chant incantations. It was practically a legendary magical artifact!

"Of course!"

The little swan raised its head, like a proud little swan.

"Sixteenth Brother is amazing! He lives in that huge palace, which is filled with lots of flowers and delicious fruits!"

Princess Gaoyang, who was always spoiled, was extremely envious at this moment.

She leaned forward, grabbed Xiao Sizi's arm, and shook it playfully.

"Good little sister, good Sizi! Can you lend me this staff to play with for a while?"

"Just for a moment! I'll trade you some rubies from the Western Regions!"

"No, no, I won't change it!"

Little Sizi clutched the staff tightly to his chest and cautiously took two steps back.

But seeing the longing in her two older sisters' eyes, the little girl's eyes darted around, and she revealed an exceptionally sly smile.

"However... since you're Sister Sizi, you can have a couple of rounds of fun."

Little Sizi held up two chubby fingers, "You can only press twice! Don't press more than twice, or Sixteenth Brother will get angry!"

"Okay, okay! Twice it is!"

Princess Gaoyang couldn't wait to snatch the staff.

Following Xiao Sizi's instructions, she pressed the button forcefully.

"Whoosh! Snap!"

Princess Gaoyang screamed with excitement as she watched the ice crystals fly away, thoroughly enjoying herself.

Princess Chang Le watched from the side. Although she did not lose her composure like Gao Yang, her eyes still gleamed with an unusual light.

She had always been somewhat frail and burdened by long-standing worries. In particular, the marriage, which had been delayed for three years, weighed heavily on her heart like a boulder.

But at this moment, looking at this magical staff and listening to the omnipotent "sixteenth brother" from Sizi's mouth.

A strong sense of curiosity suddenly arose in Chang Le's heart.

The sixteenth brother, who was once completely invisible in the cold palace, and whose appearance was barely remembered by anyone.

What kind of amazing and brilliant person has he become now?

……

Time flies.

Two days passed quietly amidst the anticipation, doubt, calculation, and tension of countless people.

The day of the tribulation was at noon.

The weather in Chang'an was originally a clear, cloudless sky.

The scorching sun of late summer hung high overhead, baking the ground until it was scorching hot.

People from all over the city came out of their homes and gathered in the streets and squares. Some even climbed onto the rooftops, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the newcomers.

On the city walls, and in the streets and alleys.

Tens of thousands of fully armed imperial guards from both the Northern and Southern courts stood guard every three steps and sentries every five. Their gleaming swords and spears flashed coldly in the sunlight, maintaining order in the city with unwavering resolve.

The elite guards of the Eastern Palace completely surrounded the Qin Prince's Mansion, located north of the Eastern Market of the Imperial City.

Not even a fly could get in.

"Isn't it almost time? Why is there no sound from the sky?"

"Yes, could it be that the imperial court is just trying to make us happy?"

A few whispers and murmurs began to ripple through the crowd.

however.

Just as the sundial's shadow precisely points to the noon mark!

"BOOM—!!!"

A deep, muffled sound, as if it came from the heavens, exploded in the sky above Chang'an without warning!

This thunderclap was not like an ordinary thunderclap; it was more like a heavy hammer that slammed into the hearts of millions of people in the city!

"Look at the sky!!!"

Someone pointed to the ceiling in terror and let out a distorted scream.

Everyone looked up in horror.

The sky, which had been clear and blue just moments before, suddenly darkened at a terrifying speed visible to the naked eye!

Thick, dark clouds from all directions seemed to be pulled madly by some kind of suction force, frantically converging directly above Chang'an City!

The clouds were as black as ink, hanging extremely low, as if they might crash down on the walls of Chang'an at any moment.

Daylight turned into night in the blink of an eye, in just a dozen breaths!

"roar--!"

Deep within the dark clouds, purple-white lightning bolts, like raging ancient thunder dragons, rolled and roared within the clouds. Blinding flashes of light intermittently illuminated the entire pitch-black city of Chang'an, radiating a destructive, celestial pressure.

This extraordinary phenomenon, which transcends the comprehension of ordinary people, instantly shattered the psychological defenses of many.

"Oh my god! Divine punishment! This is divine punishment!"

"Help! God is angry!"

Terrified screams began to erupt from the crowd; some people fell to the ground in fright, while others turned to run away.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

At that moment, a loud gong sounded simultaneously at the gates of all 108 wards in Chang'an City.

The Imperial Guards, maintaining order, mounted their tall horses, drew their swords from their waists, gathered their strength, and roared in unison.

"His Majesty has decreed! This is a true immortal undergoing tribulation! It is not divine punishment!"

"The Great Tang Dynasty has immortals who protect all its people! Anyone who dares to cause trouble will be killed without mercy!"

The deafening military orders, combined with the previous reassuring imperial edict, acted like a shot of adrenaline, forcibly stabilizing the millions of people who were on the verge of chaos.

People stood trembling in place, staring intently at the rolling thunderclouds.

It was in this suffocating oppression that...

The very center of the Qin Prince's Mansion.

"Clang!"

A clear, high-pitched sword cry, like a dragon's roar, suddenly tore through the darkness!

Under the utterly shocked gaze of millions of people in the city.

A dazzling, meteor-like azure sword light rose from the depths of the Qin Prince's mansion!

The sword light went against the tide, trailing a long tail of light, and rushed straight into the depths of the oppressive and terrifying thunderclouds!

And above that sword light.

Indistinctly, a tall figure stood with flowing robes and hands behind his back.

He was alone with his sword.

Facing the heavenly thunder, he alone shattered the boundless darkness of Chang'an!

"A sage... he really is a sage!"

I don't know who was the first to react, but they knelt down on the cold bluestone slab with a thud.

Then, like dominoes, it started to fall.

On the streets of Chang'an, there were countless ordinary people, peddlers, and even spies from aristocratic families who originally harbored ulterior motives.

At this moment, everyone was completely awestruck by this incredible miracle.

A dense crowd, kneeling in large groups, stood on the ground.

"May the immortals bless the Tang Dynasty!"

"May the immortals protect us!"

The overwhelming cries converged into a massive force of collective thought, even briefly drowning out the thunder overhead.

over nine days.

Li Chen stood on a flying sword, hovering ten thousand meters above the ground.

The raging thunderclouds rolled less than a hundred feet above his head, and the terrifying static electricity made his clothes flutter and his hair dance wildly.

He lowered his head, looking down at the millions of living beings kneeling at his feet like ants.

He could clearly feel that, along with the calls of those mortals, a vast imperial aura, so rich it appeared dark gold, was rising from all directions of the Daming Palace and Chang'an City, transforming into a phantom golden dragon that coiled around his body.

"With good fortune protecting you, everything is ready."

Li Chen raised his head, and in his dark eyes, the first bolt of lightning that was frantically gathering in the clouds was reflected.

A wildly arrogant smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"Come on. Let me see just how powerful this Golden Core stage tribulation lightning really is!"

"boom--!!!"

The moment the words fell.

A bolt of purplish-white lightning, as thick as a bucket, carrying a violent aura capable of destroying the heavens and the earth, tore through the dark clouds and struck down fiercely towards Li Chen's crown!