I Have A Trillion Protagonist Halos

"This…"

Elder Miao's expression was strange.

If it were any other disciple or even an elder, they would probably give face to the Crown Prince. However, when it came to Su Zhan, it was really hard to say.

But it wouldn't be appropriate to say such words in front of the East Palace Steward, so he just smiled and said, "Then I wish Steward Qi a smooth journey!"

"Farewell!"

The steward nodded and his figure floated down from the mountain. He walked out of the White Cloud Peak Formation and then released a round disc-shaped mystical tool, flying through the air.

…

One day later.

The imperial capital of Xia Kingdom, Eastern Palace.

Crown Prince Xia Qitian, in his thirties, stood in the main hall of the Eastern Palace, dressed in bright yellow robes. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking towards the outside of the hall, as if waiting for something.

"Old servant pays respects to Your Highness!"

At that moment, the Eastern Palace Steward walked in from outside and knelt down about five meters in front of Crown Prince Xia Qitian, respectfully speaking.

"No need for excessive formalities, Steward. Please rise." Xia Qitian revealed a faint smile. "How are the tasks I assigned to you progressing?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, they have been completed!" The Eastern Palace Steward held a pale blue voice transmission talisman in both hands and presented it.

"Good." Crown Prince Xia Qitian took the voice transmission talisman, but didn't activate it immediately. He rubbed his fingers together, seemingly lost in thought.

"Your Highness, the Summer Splendor Gathering is an annual event, only inviting aristocratic clans and high-ranking officials. Su Zhan belongs to the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect, which never interferes in political affairs. Why did Your Highness invite Su Zhan to the Summer Splendor Hall?" Standing beside him, the Eastern Palace Steward cautiously voiced his biggest doubt.

"This person is different from other disciples of the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect. His name as a genius has spread to various countries after his trip to the Dark Star Forest."

"If we can bring him under our command in the palace, our prestige will spread to other countries as well. Moreover, this Su Zhan indeed possesses great talent, and in the future, he could be a great help in realizing the ambitions of the palace!"

"Your Highness is farsighted and unparalleled in wisdom!"

Xia Qitian glanced at the Eastern Palace Steward and smiled. "Alright, enough with the flattery. Tell me, what did this Su Zhan say to me?"

"No need to wonder about that."

The Eastern Palace Steward smiled. "It's nothing more than some flattering words like ‘I have long admired the renowned name of the Crown Prince. I am honored to receive the Crown Prince's invitation.'"

"I don't think so."

Xia Qitian shook his head slightly. "Even if he's flattering, someone as talented as Su Zhan would express it in a much more subtle manner. It wouldn't be as direct as you described."

"I guess he simply thanked me briefly and might even find a reason to decline the invitation!"

"Does he dare to refuse the invitation from Your Highness, the Crown Prince?" The Eastern Palace Steward smiled knowingly. "That's impossible!"

"A genius is proud and arrogant, and nothing is impossible for them!" Xia Qitian was a little irritated by this stupid guy. He infused his true qi into the voice transmission talisman. "Speaking of which, I am also very curious. Since that's the case, let's listen and see whether your assessment is correct or mine!"

As soon as the words fell, he activated the voice transmission talisman. In the faces of Crown Prince Xia Qitian and the Eastern Palace Steward, who were filled with anticipation, a voice with a cold and impatient tone rang out:

"I won't go."

Both of them were stunned.

Xia Qitian's smile immediately vanished. He had originally thought that even if Su Zhan refused, he would at least come up with an excuse. He didn't expect him to be so straightforward.

He didn't give any face to the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace!

The Eastern Palace Steward was the first to curse, "This damn Su Zhan, how dare he show such disrespect to Your Highness, the Crown Prince! This old servant must–"

"Can you defeat Qin Jincheng?" Xia Qitian suddenly asked.

"Well… I cannot defeat him." The Eastern Palace Steward deflated immediately. "However, Your Highness, you are the Crown Prince, with a supremely noble status. If you want to pressure the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect, you only need to invite several peak experts from the palace, and even Qin Jincheng would have to be cautious!"

"You fool!" Xia Qitian scolded with a cold face. "Is it necessary go that far? Go and draft an order for Su Zhan on behalf of the palace. State that after the Summer Splendor Gathering, the palace will personally visit the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect!"

"Personally visit?" The Steward was taken aback. "That must not be done! Your Highness, you are the future king, the supreme authority. Su Zhan has shown such disrespect, and for you to be magnanimous and not hold it against him is already a favor to him. How can you lower your status and personally visit a disciple of a sword sect?"

"If you know that the palace is the supreme authority, don't you think Su Zhan knows as well?" Xia Qitian's lips curled up, revealing a faint smile. "Just think about it. How do you think Su Zhan would feel and act when he learns that the palace is not holding him accountable but is personally visiting him?"

"Well…" The Eastern Palace Steward's eyes brightened. "He would definitely feel grateful and moved to tears! On the day of Your Highness's visit, he will definitely be waiting outside the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect to welcome you, full of admiration and loyalty!"

"You only see that?"

Xia Qitian laughed heartily. "Not only can the palace recruit Su Zhan, but once this matter spreads, everyone will know that the palace respects and welcomes talented individuals. Why worry that talents from all over the world won't come to join the palace?"

"Your Highness truly possesses the qualities of an emperor. This old servant is in awe!"

"Alright, don't waste time. Go and make the arrangements! This palace is becoming impatient. It will be quite interesting to see the proud Su Zhan kneeling and showing gratitude outside the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect. I'm looking forward to it!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

…

Several days later, at the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect.

Su Zhan finished his seclusion and cultivation. During these days, he didn't step out of his residence, ignoring worldly matters. Finally, he broke through to the great achievement in Firestar Sword Technique through intense practice.

Although he couldn't find a suitable opponent to spar with for the time being, Su Zhan could clearly feel that his Firestar Sword Technique, with a single sword qi strike, could easily overpower martial practitioners at the Initial and even Mid-Stage of the Origin Elixir Realm.

As for the Late-Stage of the Origin Elixir Realm… He couldn't be sure until he had a real fight.

"Now that the Firestar Sword Technique has reached the great achievement, I can visit the main peak hall and hand over the ancestral sword techniques to the Sect Master."

Some of those sword techniques were already known within the sword sect, but most of them had been lost. Now that the Firestar Sword Technique was perfected, Su Zhan finally had some free time to deliver those sword techniques to Qin Jincheng.

Huh?

Another message from the Crown Prince?

In the front courtyard, Su Zhan's gaze fell on the envelope pinned to a tree by a small flying needle. Seeing the large characters written on it, his eyebrows furrowed, and he took it down.

The Crown Prince wants to visit me, and the time… happens to be today?

Is he out of his mind? Instead of thinking about how to govern the country, he wants to visit me?

Su Zhan crumpled the letter into a ball and casually dropped it on the ground as if it were trash. He didn't pay any attention to the matter at all and headed straight towards the main peak.

Meanwhile…

Outside the gate of the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect.

A massive carriage, pulled by four flying demon beasts known as Crimson Feather Horses, descended from the sky.

Guards at the Martial Master Realm were stationed on both sides of the carriage, flying on their artifacts and landing alongside the carriage.

"Your Highness, it seems that Su Zhan is not here?" The Eastern Palace Steward, who also acted as the coachman, glanced at the frightened and awed outer disciples near the gate and furrowed his brow as he spoke from within the carriage.

"Not here?" The curtain of the carriage opened slightly, and Xia Qitian glanced out, his face slightly cold. "I personally come to visit, and he doesn't even wait at the gate to greet me?"

"Your Highness, perhaps Su Zhan is waiting at the inner gate? After all, the distance between the inner gate entrance and the main gate is quite far. He might be seeking convenience."

"That could be it!" Xia Qitian nodded. "Back then, Qi Yang, the first genius of the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect, came from afar to pay his respects to me! Su Zhan, upon receiving a personal visit from me, such an honor, how could he not be grateful and eagerly wait for my arrival?"

"However, I overestimated his emotional intelligence. He actually didn't wait at the gate for the sake of convenience. He really lacks proper etiquette!"

"Let's go, slow down a bit. Let Su Zhan, who is waiting at the entrance of the inner gate, wait a bit longer. It will help soften his sharpness a little. Displaying both grace and power is the way of an emperor!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" The Eastern Palace Steward's face darkened as he steered the carriage into the gate of the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect.