I Have A Trillion Protagonist Halo's

After speaking these words, Su Zhan's true qi erupted forth, instantly sending all three disciples flying backward without him even lifting a finger.

The four inner disciples of the Yuan Condensation Realm crashed to the ground, their faces pale with terror as they stared at Su Zhan, no longer daring to approach.

"Now it's your turn," Su Zhan said, shifting his gaze toward Zhao Li.

At that moment, Zhao Li stood frozen in bewilderment.

Isn't he supposed to be a new disciple? How could my four subordinates be defeated in the blink of an eye?

Damn it! How can a new disciple possess such overwhelming strength?

Zhao Li forced a trembling smile. "This is all just a misunderstanding! A complete misunderstanding!"

"So you won't be collecting protection fees from me anymore?" Su Zhan asked with casual indifference.

"Absolutely not! I'll never demand them again! Junior Brother, please feel free to go wherever you wish!" Zhao Li replied with an apologetic smile.

"If you won't collect protection fees," Su Zhan's lips curved into a cold smile, "then I'll be the one demanding payment instead!"

Upon hearing these words, Zhao Li's expression changed dramatically. "Junior Brother, surely you're joking?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

As soon as those words fell, Su Zhan's smile vanished completely, and his Heavenly Frost Sword Intent descended like winter's judgment, enveloping Zhao Li in its terrifying aura.

"Alright! I'll give them to you!" Zhao Li felt the murderous sword intent that could end his life at any moment, his legs weakening as he immediately shouted in submission.

Under his trembling leadership, a total of five storage rings were handed over to Su Zhan.

"You clearly aren't good people, and the contents of these rings are probably ill-gotten gains anyway," Su Zhan said casually as he pocketed the five storage rings. "I'll put them to better use helping those in need. Does anyone object?"

"No objections whatsoever!"

"Junior Brother—no, Senior Brother—please feel free to take everything!"

"Senior Brother, you've taught us a valuable lesson, and we're grateful for helping us realize our mistakes!"

The defeated disciples spoke with forced smiles that looked more painful than tears.

"Excellent," Su Zhan nodded with satisfaction, displaying a slight smile as he continued walking toward Baiyun Peak.

Only after Su Zhan had disappeared into the distance did Zhao Li and his companions finally dare to breathe again.

"Terrifying! Absolutely terrifying!" one of them gasped.

"This person's cultivation appears to be only at the middle stage of the Yuan Condensation Realm, but his actual combat power probably exceeds even late-stage Yuan Condensation experts!" another observed with lingering fear.

"His combat strength is secondary—what's most frightening is that his defensive technique seems to have reached a level beyond perfection. I attacked him with my full power, yet I couldn't even scratch his defenses!"

Seeing the fearful expressions of his subordinates, Zhao Li's face darkened with humiliation. "You useless bunch of trash! Instead of gaining even a single spirit stone, we ended up losing everything!"

"Senior Brother Zhao, don't you know Senior Brother Luan Jian, who ranks first among the inner disciples? Why don't we ask for his assistance?" one of the Yuan Condensation Realm disciples suggested cautiously.

"Do I need you to enlighten me about such matters?" Zhao Li sneered coldly. "Today I was humiliated by a mere new disciple. If word of this spreads, how can I, Zhao Li, continue to maintain my standing within the inner sect? Quickly—follow that person, discover where he resides, and I'll ask Senior Brother Luan Jian to intervene. We'll retrieve our belongings and teach this insolent fool a proper lesson!"

Upon hearing this plan, all four inner disciples immediately perked up with excitement.

If Luan Jian took action, Su Zhan would surely return their belongings without resistance!

They could even use this opportunity to retaliate for today's humiliation!

One Hour Later

Su Zhan finally arrived at Baiyun Peak.

The entire mountain was surrounded by powerful barrier formations. Only true disciples or servants responsible for attending to them were permitted entry.

Of course, Su Zhan was a notable exception.

As he approached the invisible barrier with his special token in hand, the formation immediately recognized his authorization and parted like a curtain, allowing him passage.

Su Zhan walked through the opening and began ascending Baiyun Peak's winding paths.

The mountain was sparsely populated—even when he reached Cave Dwelling Number Seventeen, he encountered no one along the way.

This was entirely normal. Across the vast expanse of Baiyun Peak, only around twenty true disciples maintained residences there. Including the servants who attended them, the total population didn't exceed two hundred souls.

Cave Dwelling Number Seventeen proved to be remarkably spacious, featuring medicinal gardens, clear ponds, beautifully landscaped courtyards, and even a small mountain peak over a hundred meters tall adjacent to the backyard.

After touring the grounds and admiring the magnificent scenery, Su Zhan settled down to begin his cultivation practice.

"The next activation of Baiyun Peak's Spiritual Energy Gathering Formation is still half a month away," he mused to himself. "With that formation's assistance, I should be able to break through to the late stage of the Yuan Condensation Realm. Until then, I'll focus on mastering these new martial techniques. I'll study the basics of the Yangyan Scripture first, then set it aside temporarily. Once the spiritual energy gathering formation activates, I'll be able to cultivate it much more efficiently."

After settling on this cultivation plan, Su Zhan officially began his training.

As he circulated the Yangyan Scripture, spiritual energy from heaven and earth surged toward him in visible streams.

Simultaneously, a dominating solar force radiated down from the high-hanging sun above, flowing directly into his body.

This was the power of the Great Sun being drawn by his Sun God Divine Body—an energy that could temper his divine physique and make his true qi more refined and potent!

Meanwhile, at the Inner Sect Courtyard

At the edge of the tranquil lake, Luan Jian—who bore the prestigious title of "Half True Disciple"—listened with a darkening expression as Zhao Li spoke incessantly before him.

"Are you telling me the truth?" Luan Jian finally interrupted coldly. "How could a mere inner sect disciple possibly be granted residence at Baiyun Peak?"

"It's absolutely true, Senior Brother!" Zhao Li replied hastily. "My subordinate witnessed it with his own eyes! Moreover, he truly possesses only Yuan Condensation Realm cultivation. Besides, everyone knows the faces of the true disciples residing at Baiyun Peak. How could I possibly mistake him for one of them?"

"Yuan Condensation Realm cultivation... yet an inner sect disciple living at Baiyun Peak?" Luan Jian's voice carried disbelief and growing irritation.

"No inner sect disciple has ever been granted such an honor," Zhao Li continued with calculated flattery. "But if such a privilege were to exist, it should rightfully belong to someone with exceptional talent—someone like you, Senior Brother!"

"In terms of strength, I, Luan Jian, am unquestionably first among all inner disciples. In terms of talent, I likewise stand supreme. How can a newly admitted inner disciple be more valued by the sect than I am? What possible justification could there be?" Luan Jian's voice carried mounting frustration.

"Senior Brother, perhaps it's merely a temporary lapse in judgment by the elders," Zhao Li suggested cunningly. "As long as you defeat this Su Zhan in combat, you'll prove definitively that you're superior to him. At that point, the one residing at Baiyun Peak will surely be you, Senior Brother!"

"Baiyun Peak..." Luan Jian took a deep breath, his expression growing increasingly dark. "I will assist you with this matter, but I cannot enter Baiyun Peak's territory directly. You must station guards around the clock. The moment he leaves Baiyun Peak, I'll challenge him publicly!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother! This battle will surely establish your reputation and reclaim the Baiyun Peak position that rightfully belongs to you!" Zhao Li responded with obvious delight, bowing respectfully.

"Leave now. Don't disturb my cultivation further. Su Zhan is nothing more than an insignificant ant in my eyes. What matters now is rapidly advancing my cultivation to the Spirit Forging Realm!" Luan Jian dismissed him with a wave.

"Of course, Senior Brother!"

Half a Month Later

Thousands of inner sect disciples surrounded the base of Baiyun Peak, their faces bright with excitement and anticipation.

Even some outer sect disciples who had cultivated sufficient connections to enter the inner sect grounds had gathered near Baiyun Peak's perimeter.

Today marked the quarterly activation of the Spiritual Energy Gathering Formation.

When the formation activated, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth would condense into visible droplets and descend upon Baiyun Peak like ethereal rain. The twenty-three true disciples residing there would compete to absorb this spiritual precipitation according to their individual talents and capabilities.

The stronger one's talent, the more spiritual rain they could successfully absorb. While it appeared to be a routine cultivation session on the surface, it was actually an intense competition among the true disciples.

The event had become so popular that the inner sect had established numerous betting stalls where disciples could wager spirit stones on the outcomes.

"I'm certain my Senior Brother Qi Yang will claim first place in this spiritual rain absorption!" one female disciple declared confidently.

"What do you mean your Senior Brother Qi Yang? He's my idol!" another protested hotly.

"Senior Brother Qi Yang has such a gentle disposition, but I prefer someone more masculine like Senior Brother Wang Hao! I'm betting on Senior Brother Wang Hao to win!" a third chimed in enthusiastically.

Throughout the various pavilions and tea houses at Baiyun Peak's base, female disciples of the inner sect engaged in heated debates about their favored champions.

Not only regular disciples attended—even sect elders had gathered around Baiyun Peak to witness this quarterly spiritual rain competition.

On this momentous day, Su Zhan finally emerged from his extended period of secluded cultivation and stepped into the spacious front courtyard of his cave dwelling, prepared to receive the baptism of spiritual rain.