My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

The following morning, at Taiji Palace, in the Taiji Hall.

The atmosphere in the main hall became unusually strange after the whips had been cracked three times during the morning court session. The courtiers, who usually argued fiercely over trivial matters, were unusually quiet today.

In everyone's eyes, there was an undisguised fervor and greed.

Yesterday at noon, the Golden Core Tribulation that shook the entire city of Chang'an, and the golden spiritual rain that followed, completely shattered the established values ​​of these mortals.

That's a true immortal!

That's a magical technique that can bring withered trees back to life and broken bones to grow back!

Who in this world isn't afraid of death? Especially these powerful families who control half of the wealth and power of the Tang Dynasty. They have everything, and what they desire most is to live a long and prosperous life, forever enjoying the riches and glory of this world.

"Your subject, Cui Mingan of the Cui family of Qinghe, has a memorial to present!"

An elderly official with white hair and beard, dressed in a scarlet robe, strode out of the ranks of civil officials, holding a court tablet in his hand.

Although he tried his best to suppress it, his voice still trembled slightly.

"Yesterday, auspicious omens descended from the heavens, a true immortal descended to earth! This is the foundation upon which our Great Tang will endure for ten thousand generations! Your Majesty, I humbly request that you issue an edict to find this guardian immortal. The court should build the highest-standard Tongtian Pavilion for this immortal within Chang'an, appoint him as the Grand Preceptor of the Great Tang, and grant him perpetual royal veneration!"

"I second that proposal!"

"We second that proposal!"

Splash!

Officials from prominent families, led by the Five Clans and Seven Families, knelt down en masse.

The construction of the Tongtian Pavilion was a pretense; their real purpose was to use the imperial court's name to find immortals, and then each family would use their own methods to win them over and seek the secret to immortality.

On the dragon throne.

Li Shimin looked down at the group of aristocratic officials with their backsides sticking out, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Oh."

Li Shimin let out a cold laugh, which echoed in the empty hall, carrying with it the domineering pressure of the Heavenly Khan.

"My dear ministers, you all seem to be quite concerned about this immortal."

Cui Mingan's heart tightened, and he forced a smile, replying, "Your Majesty, immortals are a vital treasure of the nation. We are only doing this for the sake of the Tang Dynasty's stability and prosperity!"

"No need."

Li Shimin waved his hand, directly interrupting their grandiloquent speech.

"How can the immortal's secluded place of cultivation be defiled by mortals? Since he is willing to protect our Great Tang, he must have his reasons. I have already issued an edict that no one is allowed to search for the immortal's whereabouts or disturb him under any pretext!"

Li Shimin leaned forward, his dragon eyes wide open, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling aristocratic officials like a knife.

"I'm making this clear. Anyone who dares to offend the immortals for their own selfish desires will have their entire family wiped out before the immortals even lift a finger! Court adjourned!"

After saying this, Li Shimin flicked the wide sleeves of his dragon robe, stood up, and strode into the inner hall, leaving behind a group of aristocratic officials looking at each other in bewilderment.

After the court session, the heads of several prominent families gathered in a large carriage.

"His Majesty is determined to eat all the food himself!"

The head of the Wang family gritted his teeth and slammed his fist on the carriage. "What do you mean by 'do not disturb'? It's obvious the Li family wants to seize the secret of immortality for themselves!"

"Hmph, can he guard against the civil and military officials in the open, but can he guard against the underhanded tactics of each of us?"

A sinister glint flashed in the eyes of the Cui family head.

"Last night I bribed the Imperial Guard commander on duty at the palace gates. I found out that the night before His Majesty issued that 'Welcoming the Immortals' proclamation, His Majesty went out of the palace incognito to a certain place."

"Where?" everyone asked in unison.

"North of the East Market, that newly bestowed...Qin Prince's Mansion!"

……

As night fell, a crescent moon was obscured by thick clouds.

The streets of Chang'an were under curfew, and all was quiet.

The Prince of Qin's residence was so quiet that not a sound could be heard.

Outside the towering courtyard wall, dozens of dark figures clung to the base of the wall like ghosts. These people were all dressed in night clothes, holding short blades coated with deadly poison, and breathing heavily; they were clearly top-tier assassins kept by powerful clans.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Several ropes with grappling hooks were silently hung on the wall. The shadowy figures moved as nimbly as monkeys, quickly vaulting over the high wall and landing in the outer courtyard of the Qin Prince's mansion.

Deep within the Prince's mansion, on the bed in the main hall.

Li Chen sat cross-legged, his body radiating a faint golden halo.

Having just formed his Golden Core, he is currently consolidating his realm.

As the uninvited guests from the outer courtyard landed, Li Chen slightly opened his tightly closed eyes.

A chilling glint flashed in those abyss-like black pupils.

"What a bunch of flies that don't know what's good for them."

A mocking smile tugged at the corner of Li Chen's mouth.

He had set up a maze around the palace, so once these assassins entered, they were doomed to be trapped.

However, Li Chen was too lazy to lift a finger for these mortal ants and get his hands dirty.

With a slight movement of his divine sense, he locked onto the powerful aura residing in the east wing of the Prince's Mansion.

"Brother, wake up, it's time to get up and work."

Li Chen's voice transformed into an extremely condensed thin line, directly entering Li Chengqian's ears.

In the guest rooms of the east courtyard.

Li Chengqian was lying sprawled out on the bed, fast asleep.

Hearing the voice suddenly ring in his mind, he sprang out of bed with a swift motion. Far from being sleepy, his eyes instantly flashed with a wild, predatory light.

He grabbed a black outfit draped over the screen, quickly put it on, and barefoot, pushed open the door.

"Sixteenth brother, what's wrong?" Li Chengqian asked in a low voice.

"Some rats from aristocratic families have gotten into the outer courtyard."

Li Chen's voice rang out again, tinged with a hint of laziness and a touch of instructiveness, "Go and clean up. Remember, be quick and don't make too much noise. Si Zi is sleeping soundly next door; if you wake her, I'll hold you responsible."

Upon hearing that there was a fight, Li Chengqian's blood instantly boiled!

For the past two weeks, he had mastered that low-level body-tempering technique in the cold palace and consumed countless elixirs. Ever since he beat up Li Tai at the Prince of Wei's residence that day, his fists had been itching to get rid of the urge.

Sparring with that chaotic ironwood puppet was a one-sided beating, and it wasn't satisfying at all.

Now, finally, a real punching bag has been delivered to our door!

"Don't worry, Sixteenth Brother."

Li Chengqian grinned, revealing a particularly ferocious and excited smirk.

"Make sure they can't make a sound."

He rubbed his wrist, and his knuckles made a series of teeth-grinding "crackling" sounds.

Like a tiger breaking free from its cage, Li Chengqian strode towards the front yard.