My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

"boom--!!!"

A bolt of purplish-white lightning, as thick as a bucket, carrying a violent aura capable of destroying the world, instantly tore through the thick black clouds.

This bolt of lightning was like a menacing thunder dragon, its target aimed directly at Li Chen, who was suspended in mid-air!

Inside Chang'an, millions of people were so frightened that they closed their eyes, and some even covered their heads with their hands and lay on the ground, afraid of being affected by this power of heaven and earth.

Taiji Palace, the highest point of Daming Palace.

Li Shimin, Empress Zhangsun, Crown Prince Li Chengqian, Princess Changle, and the baby Sizi being held in their arms were standing on the star-gazing platform, staring intently at the figure in the sky.

"God……"

Empress Zhangsun's face was deathly pale, and she twisted the silk handkerchief in her hands so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Even though she knew Li Chen possessed extraordinary immortal abilities, seeing a heavenly lightning bolt powerful enough to shatter a city wall into dust crashing down on him still made her heart leap into her throat.

"Sixteenth brother, you must hold on!"

Li Chengqian clenched his fists, his palms covered in cold sweat.

Although he has now developed a body of steel, he knows that he cannot withstand even half a bolt of lightning in the face of such divine might.

Li Shimin's face was ashen, and he remained silent.

But his dragon eyes, fixed intently on the sky, betrayed his inner tension and shock.

over nine days.

Faced with the first lightning strike that came crashing down on him, Li Chen did not dodge.

A haughty smirk curled at the corner of his mouth as he swung his right arm upwards with a sudden movement.

"Smash it!"

There were no magical artifacts, nor were any spells cast.

Li Chen actually managed to smash that purple-white heavenly lightning bolt with his powerful physical body, which was at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment!

"Bang--!"

A deafening thud exploded in mid-air.

That seemingly terrifying bolt of lightning was actually blasted into countless tiny sparks by his punch, scattering in all directions.

"hiss--"

The generals watching below, including Li Jing and Cheng Yaojin, all gasped in shock.

To withstand heavenly lightning with one's own body?

Is this even human?!

However, the Heavenly Tribulation is not limited to just this one.

As if provoked by Li Chen, the black tribulation clouds overhead began to churn and shrink wildly.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The second, third, and fourth bolts of heavenly lightning followed one after another!

Moreover, each one was thicker and more robust than the last, and each one was a deeper shade of color than the last.

By the time of the fifth bolt of lightning, the color of the lightning had turned into a chilling dark purple.

The relaxed expression on Li Chen's face gradually faded.

He felt a tingling, stinging sensation in his arm, and the surging true energy within his body was being severely depleted.

"You really think I only know how to use my fists?"

Li Chen snorted coldly and patted the storage bag at his waist.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

More than a dozen array flags emitting a faint glow shot out, instantly forming a small defensive array around his body.

Immediately afterwards, a heavy shield, entirely black and forged from the finest black iron, was raised above his head.

These were all defensive magical artifacts that he had casually crafted using top-quality materials "sponsored" by Li Shimin and those aristocratic families.

"BOOM—!!!"

The sixth and seventh bolts of lightning crashed down.

The light screen formed by the array flags flickered violently, but after only two breaths, it shattered into countless points of light with a "crack".

The remaining force of the thunderbolt struck the black iron shield fiercely, causing it to slam downwards and reveal fine cracks on its surface.

Li Chen gritted his teeth and frantically poured his true energy into the shield, enduring the terrifying destructive power.

The eighth bolt of heavenly lightning struck!

"Bang!"

The black iron shield let out a mournful cry of despair, exploding into countless pieces of iron that scattered in all directions.

The remaining lightning struck Li Chen, instantly charring his blue robe and causing a trickle of blood to escape from the corner of his mouth.

"Chen'er!"

On the observatory, Empress Zhangsun cried out in surprise, tears welling up in her eyes.

Little Sizi also sensed something was wrong and burst into tears, waving his little hands frantically towards the sky: "Sixteenth Brother! Sixteenth Brother, get out of the way!"

Li Shimin pressed his hands firmly against the white marble railing, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

At this moment, Li Chen had reached the most critical juncture.

Within his dantian, the true essence vortex, like liquid mercury, had been compressed to its limit.

As long as you survive the final lightning tribulation, you can break free from your cocoon and transform into a butterfly!

The raging clouds in the sky stopped rolling.

The entire city of Chang'an fell into a suffocating silence.

Everyone knows that the most terrifying final bolt of lightning is brewing.

Suddenly, a crack appeared in the very center of the calamity cloud.

A bolt of lightning, only as thick as an arm but with an eerie, jet-black color, struck down silently!

There was no deafening thunder, but wherever this black lightning passed, even the air was torn apart, leaving visible black ripples.

This is a fatal calamity!

Li Chen's eyes instantly turned bloodshot.

He spread his arms and let out a long howl.

"May I borrow the destiny of the Tang Dynasty!!!"

With that loud shout.

The entire city of Chang'an seemed to tremble.

The millions of people kneeling and praying for blessings in Taiji Palace, Daming Palace, Qin Prince's Mansion, and even in the 108 wards of Chang'an City.

An incredibly rich, dark golden imperial aura surged up!

This aura rapidly gathered in mid-air, transforming into a phantom image of a five-clawed golden dragon, hundreds of feet long.

The golden dragon let out a silent roar, spiraling upwards into the sky, completely protecting Li Chen within its embrace.

"boom--!!!"

Black lightning struck the golden dragon phantom fiercely.

A blinding burst of light erupted in an instant, forcing millions of people in the city to close their eyes, turning the world into a white expanse.

The terrifying shockwave spread out at an altitude of 10,000 meters, shattering the thick dark clouds within a radius of tens of miles!

I don't know how much time passed.

As the bright light gradually faded, people cautiously opened their eyes.

The dark clouds in the sky have completely disappeared.

Instead, a clear sky without a single cloud appeared.

And above those nine heavens.

A dazzling golden light, like a giant pillar of light reaching to the heavens and the earth, shot down from the depths of the universe, completely enveloping Li Chen's figure!

Li Chen floated within the pillar of light.

His charred clothes instantly turned to ashes, replaced by a flawless white robe formed from pure spiritual energy.

He kept his eyes tightly closed.

Inside the dantian, the liquid true essence vortex finally solidified completely after experiencing the baptism of the lightning tribulation that brought him to the brink of death!

A golden pill the size of a longan, radiating brilliant golden light, perfectly round and flawless, floated quietly in his dantian!

Golden Core stage! Success!