My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

"With your poor health, you were probably switched at birth at the Imperial Hospital, weren't you?"

Li Shimin's words were like an invisible sword, piercing Li Chen's heart with pinpoint accuracy.

The air in the entire backyard of the Qin Prince's mansion seemed to freeze at that moment.

Li Chen, who was being lifted up in mid-air like a chick by Li Chengqian, instantly changed his expression from utter despair to a flushed face of embarrassment and anger.

"Let me go!"

Li Chen twisted his body suddenly, his Golden Core stage true essence trembled slightly, and he broke free from Li Chengqian's iron-like grip, landing steadily on the ground.

He turned his head sharply, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, glaring fiercely at Li Shimin, who was beaming with pride.

"Old Deng, stop trying to glorify yourself!"

Li Chen pointed at Li Shimin's nose and launched into a fierce verbal battle without any hesitation.

"With your meager genes, you think you can produce a top-grade mutated ice spirit root? You must be dreaming! My elder sister's talent clearly comes from absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, what does it have to do with you?"

"Hey! You unfilial son!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin not only wasn't angry, but laughed even louder, his face crinkling into wrinkles. He had completely found Li Chen's Achilles' heel today.

"How can it not concern me? Lizhi is my own flesh and blood, and Sizi is also my bloodline! Although Chengqian used to be a cripple, with his current physique, he's definitely a one-in-a-million genius!"

Li Shimin, with his hands behind his back and swaggering with an arrogant gait, circled around Li Chen, making mocking "tsk tsk tsk" sounds all the while.

"Look at you, look at you. Any one of my children is either a peerless genius or has exceptional talent. But you, on the other hand, have to go through a lot of hardship, hiding in the cold palace every day to cultivate yourself, just to barely make something of yourself."

Li Shimin leaned close to Li Chen, deliberately lowering his voice, and said in an exceptionally irritating tone, "Admit it, Chen'er. You're just jealous. You're jealous that your imperial sister's talent surpasses yours, and jealous of my impeccable bloodline!"

"I'm jealous of you, my foot!"

Li Chen was so angry that he almost spat blood onto Li Shimin's smug face.

"I call this 'accumulating strength for a late bloom'! I call this 'diligence makes up for lack of talent'! What do you know about cultivating immortality! I'm now a Golden Core stage cultivator, I can summon wind and rain, I can fly on a sword! Can your proud bloodline grant you immortality? Can it let you ascend to the heavens?"

"Oh dear, he's in a panic! This mighty living immortal of the Tang Dynasty is in a panic!"

Li Shimin spread his hands, winked at Empress Zhangsun and the Crown Prince, and his smile was more dazzling than the summer sun.

"Although I cannot ascend to heaven, my daughters can! If you're so capable, why don't you give birth to a top-tier mutated ice spirit root and show me?"

"you--!"

Li Chen pointed at Li Shimin, his fingers trembling.

When it comes to arguing, he has never lost.

But today, faced with this iron-crushing "talent gap," he was rendered speechless by this feudal emperor.

It's not very harmful, but extremely insulting!

"Alright, alright, why do you two, father and son, always act like fighting cocks the moment you meet? Aren't you afraid the kids will laugh at you?"

Just as Li Chen was on the verge of losing control, Empress Zhangsun finally stepped forward.

Helplessly, she pulled Li Shimin aside, rolled her eyes at the dignified emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and then walked up to Li Chen, gently trying to smooth things over.

"Chen'er, that's just your father's temper. You always seem so calm and collected, but today he finally found a weakness in you, so naturally he had to make a few sarcastic remarks. Don't take it to heart."

Empress Zhangsun took Li Chen's hand and turned her gaze to Princess Chang Le, who was standing to the side, still looking like a fairy in the icy blue afterglow.

Her eyes sparkled with undisguised excitement and anticipation.

"Chen'er, your mother doesn't understand what a top-grade mutated ice spirit root is. Your mother only has one question for you."

Empress Zhangsun held Li Chen's hand tightly, her voice trembling slightly, "Since your elder sister has such an extraordinary destiny to become an immortal, can she also embark on the path of immortality and cultivate the art of longevity, just like you?"

Upon hearing her mother's question, Princess Chang Le raised her head.

Those clear, watery eyes were filled with longing for the unknown world. If she could cultivate immortality and control her own destiny like her sixteenth brother, she would no longer be bound by worldly conventions and etiquette.

Li Shimin and Li Chengqian also stopped what they were doing, turned to look at Li Chen, and held their breath.

Facing the expectant gazes of his entire family, Li Chen took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the sour jealousy in his heart.

His expression turned serious, and he shook his head.

"no."

"Why?!" Li Shimin exclaimed first. "Didn't you just say that Li Zhi's talent is one in a million? If it's so amazing, why can't she cultivate?"

"It's precisely because she's so amazing that I can't teach her."

Li Chen sighed, his tone filled with deep helplessness.

"The methods of cultivating immortality emphasize teaching according to aptitude. The cultivation techniques I currently possess are all common, basic Five Elements techniques, suitable for someone like me with mixed spiritual roots to slowly cultivate. But my royal sister is different."

Li Chen pointed at Princess Chang Le, his expression extremely serious.

"She possesses a top-grade mutated ice spirit root. This physique is pure to the extreme. If she were to cultivate any kind of trashy technique, not only would she fail to unleash even a fraction of her talent, but it would also pollute the pure frost essence within her, completely ruining this promising talent!"

Li Chen paused, then looked at Chang Le intently.

"Royal sister, cultivating immortality is no child's play. If you really want to walk this path, you must have the most top-tier ice-based cultivation technique to match. I don't have that kind of technique on hand right now."

Upon hearing this explanation, the light in Princess Chang Le's eyes dimmed slightly.

But she quickly smiled, her expression gentle and understanding, and nodded.

"Sixteenth Brother, there's no need to be troubled. Lizhi is already content to know that she possesses a destiny to immortality. As for the cultivation method, let nature take its course. At worst, I'll just stay in this mortal world a little longer and keep Father and Mother company."

Empress Zhangsun also breathed a sigh of relief, patted Chang Le's hand, and looked very pleased.

"Lizhi is right. You can't force things like destiny. As long as our family is safe and sound, that's more important than anything else."

however.

Chang Le could let things take their natural course, but the Great Khan of the Tang Dynasty beside her could no longer suppress the restlessness in his heart.

Seeing that his eldest daughter had revealed extraordinary talent, and that his younger daughter was also a potential cultivator, Li Shimin's imperial heart, filled with a yearning for immortality, instantly ignited like oil on a raging fire.

He strode to the white jade round table, his gaze fixed intently on the ancient spirit-testing plate.

"Chen'er!"

Li Shimin suddenly turned his head, his eyes shining, and grabbed Li Chen's arm, his tone filled with undisguised fervor and urgency.

"Quick! Quickly, give me a test too!"

"I am the Son of Heaven, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty! Since my children possess such extraordinary destiny, my spiritual root must also be unparalleled and unprecedented in history!"

As Li Shimin spoke, he eagerly rolled up the sleeves of his bright yellow dragon robe, about to press his hand onto the spirit-testing plate.

"stop!"

Li Chen reacted quickly and grabbed Li Shimin's wrist.

He looked at Li Shimin, whose face was full of excitement, and his lips twitched twice.

This old man really thinks he's something special. Does he really believe that cultivating immortality is as easy as cabbage, something anyone can do whenever they want? If the test turns out he has a useless physique with no reaction whatsoever, this ego-fueled Khan will probably collapse on the spot.

For the sake of the Tang Dynasty's empire, and even more so for his own peace of mind.

Li Chen decided to completely extinguish Li Shimin's unrealistic idea.

"What testing? Don't even dream about it."

Li Chen unceremoniously shook off Li Shimin's hand and rolled his eyes dramatically.