My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

On the spacious east courtyard's martial arts training ground, one could see...

A man who was eight feet tall and as burly as a black iron tower was shirtless, doing a creepy "morning exercise" in the morning light.

Beneath the man's bronze skin, his muscles bulged like granite, radiating an extremely violent masculine hormone and a fierce aura with each breath.

Of course, what shocked Qin Qiong and his son the most was not the man's physique.

It was something he was "playing with" in his hand.

It was a thick horizontal bar made of thousand-year-old refined ironwood, and at each end of the bar hung two solid iron lumps as big as millstones!

These things together must weigh at least two or three thousand pounds! This is definitely a heavy weapon used to smash city gates during a siege!

But now.

That burly man was actually doing squats, with both hands gripping the terrifying iron barbell and carrying it on his shoulders!

"Whoosh—ha!"

The man shouted, and the muscles in his legs instantly tensed up like a fully drawn bowstring.

Despite the terrifying weight of two to three thousand pounds pressing down on him, he only frowned slightly before steadily standing up!

"Bang!"

After doing more than a dozen squats, the man seemed to feel that it wasn't enough.

With a burst of strength from both hands, he actually managed to lift the barbell, which weighed several thousand kilograms, over his head!

Then, just toss it aside!

"BOOM!!!"

The massive iron lump slammed into the bluestone pavement of the training ground, creating two deep craters and sending debris flying. The entire ground shook violently!

"This...this...is this even human?!"

Qin Huaidao, standing outside the door, was so frightened that his voice changed and his legs went weak.

This kind of pure and extreme physical violence is a devastating blow to the faith of any martial arts practitioner!

Qin Qiong stared intently at the figure wiping away sweat in the morning light.

His breathing became extremely rapid.

"That silhouette...that gaze..."

A figure flashed through Qin Qiong's mind, but reason told him that it was absolutely impossible.

Just then, the man in the courtyard seemed to notice the commotion outside the door.

He casually grabbed a black samurai outfit and draped it over his shoulders. Turning his head, his sharp gaze, like two knives, shot directly at the half-closed courtyard gate.

"Who's lurking around outside? Come in!"

A thunderous shout rang out.

Qin Qiong took a deep breath, pushed open the courtyard gate, and walked in with his two children.

When both parties can see each other's faces clearly.

Qin Qiong and his two sons gasped in unison, completely stunned!

"Your Majesty... Your Highness the Crown Prince?!"

Qin Qiong's eyes widened as he pointed at the muscular giant before him, who resembled a demon god, and exclaimed in surprise.

Although I had heard from the battle report of the great victory at Shuofang about the Crown Prince's heroic feat of single-handedly charging into the enemy lines and capturing the commander alive, seeing is believing.

Who would have thought that the once frail crown prince, pale-faced due to a leg ailment and needing crutches to walk, was actually a man of letters?

How has he transformed into this terrifying figure, capable of tearing tigers and leopards apart and lifting two or three thousand pounds of pig iron with his bare hands?!

"The Hegemon-King is back in the world... This is practically Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, resurrected!"

Looking at Li Chengqian's explosive muscles, Qin Qiong felt a surge of emotions.

With such a crown prince, what barbarian tribes in the surrounding areas would dare to cause trouble for the next hundred years?! The crown prince alone could probably twist the head off their Khan and use it as a chamber pot!

"Oh, it's Uncle Qin."

When Li Chengqian saw that it was Qin Qiong, the sharpness in his eyes instantly disappeared, replaced by a hearty smile.

He strode forward and looked at Qin Qiong, who was standing and walking, with surprise and delight.

"Uncle Qin, are you cured? Sixteenth Brother's methods are truly miraculous!"

Qin Qiong swallowed hard, barely suppressing the shock in his heart, and respectfully cupped his hands in greeting.

"This old minister greets Your Highness. Your Highness's... your incredibly strong and muscular physique truly broadens my horizons! You are simply a god descended to earth!"

Li Chengqian waved his hand dismissively and let out a hearty laugh.

"Uncle Qin, you flatter me. How could I be a god descended to earth?"

He turned his head and glanced in the direction of the main hall where Li Chen lived, his eyes filled with fervent worship.

"My strength is nothing more than a low-level body-tempering manual that my sixteenth brother gave me out of pity, and he just casually gave me a few pointers. Compared to my sixteenth brother's heaven-reaching immortal techniques, my skills are just some farming tricks, not worthy of being called elegant."

boom!

Upon hearing this, the worldviews of Qin Qiong and his two sons were shattered once again!

A second-rate martial arts manual that was casually tossed aside?

Did you just offer a few casual pointers?

How could someone with a leg disability be trained into an unparalleled warrior with superhuman strength of several thousand kilograms in just a few months?!

If the immortal master were to teach seriously, what would become of them?! This Qin Prince's mansion is simply a terrifying arsenal capable of mass-producing humanoid monsters!

Just when the Qin father and son were questioning the meaning of life.

"Hahahaha! Uncle Bao! I saw you standing up from afar!"

It was accompanied by a burst of exceptionally arrogant yet familiar laughter.

Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty, dressed in a bright yellow casual robe, strode into the east courtyard with a ruddy complexion.

Following behind him was Empress Zhangsun, whose face was beaming with joy, and Xiao Sizi, who was holding half a meat bun.

This family, with their children in tow, was clearly here at mealtimes to "visit the sick" and also freeload a meal at the Prince of Qin's residence.

"This old minister pays his respects to Your Majesty! He pays his respects to Her Majesty the Empress!"

Qin Qiong was excited and wanted to bow, but Li Shimin stopped him.

"No need for formalities! Your ability to stand up is the greatest joy of our Great Tang Dynasty today!"

Li Shimin looked Qin Qiong up and down, and seeing his rosy complexion and smooth breathing, he clapped his hands with joy.

"Where's Chen'er? Is that kid sleeping in again?"

Li Shimin looked around but didn't see Li Chen. He immediately shouted at the top of his lungs towards the main hall.

"You unfilial son! Get up and greet me! I've brought the finest imperial wine today; quickly order the kitchen to prepare some hearty dishes!"

From the bedroom in the main hall, a muffled thud came from the door, followed by Li Chen's voice filled with gritted teeth.

"Old Deng! When will you ever stop?! Shouldn't my Qin Prince's Mansion be renamed the Imperial Dining Hall of the Tang Dynasty?!"

"Enough nonsense! It's only natural for me to eat my own son's food! Get up!"

Listen to this most distinguished father and son in the world exchanging barbs from afar.

Qin Qiong stood in the courtyard and smiled at Crown Prince Li Chengqian.

At that moment, the veteran suddenly felt that the rest of his life seemed to be much more exciting than the first half of his life spent fighting on the battlefield.