Volume Two: The Youth of a Thousand Faces, Truth in Disguise Chapter Sixty-Two: The Society of Stars

Huo Ye rose to his feet and revealed the secret behind Feng Wuming's supernatural technique. "After burning that slip of paper, an ability rushes toward me, gathering a tremendous amount of air in an instant, then releasing it to create an explosion right at a fixed point. The resulting shockwave travels through the muscles all the way to the organs, delivering an attack from outside to within. I’m not wrong, am I?"

At that moment, Feng Wuming retrieved his whisk and applauded. "Haha, sharp eyes! Brother Huo, you saw through my air explosion talisman at a glance. This ability-drawing talisman is the masterpiece my master poured his heart and soul into for half his life."

"It’s certainly impressive, and if you’d followed up with another blow just now, I might have been finished," Huo Ye replied with a squinting smile. "I didn’t expect to be the one injured first. With the energy stored in my body, I can barely recover from such a serious wound. To maintain mobility, I probably won’t be able to fully heal."

"Hardly," Feng Wuming said. "When you stabbed at me a moment ago, if you’d slashed across with your other hand, my head would have rolled. Wouldn’t you agree?"

Huo Ye exhaled. "Enough with the pleasantries. I can’t hold back anymore. This battle should end here."

As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Ye stepped forward, and suddenly, darkness enveloped the world with him at the center.

Feng Wuming cried out in shock, "You—"

Five minutes later, the two walked out together from the main entrance. Feng Wuming remarked with a calm smile, "I didn’t expect you to have such an ability hidden, Huo Ye. You finished me before I even had a chance to unleash my trump card."

"That’s a secret. Keep it for me, won’t you?"

"Of course. I am, after all, the president of Windchime Valley. If only Windchime Valley knows about it, it’ll be an advantage during the club wars."

"You’re right. In the end, we’re rivals."

"You overstate it. The direct clashes between clubs are just small skirmishes. Our true enemy has always been disaster, haven’t they?"

"Yes. First, the ordinary ultimate forms, then the calamity-level threats, and finally, the Twelve Calamities. One day, I want to defeat the King of Disaster and drive all havoc from this world." But Huo Ye did not say this aloud, for it was a dream that might require his whole life to achieve.

Bonded by their mutual interests, Huo Ye and Feng Wuming soon became tea companions, frequently discussing philosophy and savoring tea together.

Three days later, after Jiang Feng’s week-long campaign across every channel, nearly everyone at the academy knew that Huo Ye’s club would officially be established that day.

After the banquet, Huo Ye had worked tirelessly to prepare the club venue, eventually applying for a floor in a downtown office building, where the other seven major clubs had also chosen their locations.

Though the Seven Great Clubs wielded immense influence among the students of Bancroft, in truth, they were just small groups banding together to hone their abilities. Most activities were coordinated online, and training matches were conducted in VRF, so large physical spaces weren’t really necessary.

Thanks to Jiang Feng’s effective publicity, students knew about the club’s launch, and many who’d previously avoided club life, preferring independence, were preparing to submit their applications. After all, the foster son of Eddie Halls forming a club was bound to stir up waves throughout the academy.

Only when they tried to search the official website did they realize they had no idea what Huo Ye’s club was called.

"What’s the name of Huo Ye’s club?"

"Same here, anyone know the club’s name?"

For a while, every major forum post at the academy was asking about the name of Huo Ye’s club. But in fact, Jiang Feng had already written it in the title of the promotional article: "This is an Era of Brilliant Stars."

The club’s name: The Constellation.

Huo Ye had said it would be an elite club, where every member must shine like a star.

"The Constellation Club? That’s a good name," Xia Lan Huo said as she stepped out of the elevator. Their club, Sacred Ring Radiance, was just above the Constellation Club’s floor. The Constellation Club had sent invitations to their leadership, and today she was here to accept.

At the same time, another elevator stopped at the same floor, and Feng Wuming, dressed casually, exited, calling out loudly, "Brother Huo, I’m here! Is the tea ready?"

"Welcome, both of you, to the Constellation Club," Jiang Feng said, waiting by the elevator door like a service attendant. Upon seeing the two club presidents, he respectfully led them inside.

The Constellation Club, occupying an entire floor, boasted comprehensive facilities—even the president and vice president had their own offices.

To Huo Ye, the club would never exceed thirty members. After all, Bancroft was only an academy; where would hundreds of experts come from? With only six members so far, there was no real need for offices—it was like a group of friends making a chat group, with just the group owner and a couple of admins, no regular members yet. Managing air, perhaps?

But others insisted that if they aimed to be the academy’s top club, they should have the grandeur of a major organization. Huo Ye had no rebuttal.

Xia Lan Huo and Feng Wuming were led to Huo Ye’s office. He greeted them, "Welcome, welcome. Please, have a seat, senior, brother Feng."

The three sat down, and Huo Ye poured tea into the cups he’d prepared. "Here, try my treasured Golden Eyebrow."

The clear tea, with its subtle fragrance, was instantly recognized by Feng Wuming, a tea lover, as excellent. He eagerly took a sip and sighed in delight, "Ah, enchanting indeed. Real tea is far superior to anything virtual, Brother Huo. My days are humble—I’ll likely be dropping by often to mooch some tea."

"That’s no trouble," Huo Ye replied.

Xia Lan Huo glanced around the Constellation Club. The president’s office was encircled with transparent walls, offering a panoramic view of the floor. After looking around, she asked, "You only have a few people here?"

Huo Ye answered, "Quality over quantity. Every person here could be an officer in any of the seven major clubs."

Feng Wuming laughed, "He’s right. I’ve met several members over the past few days—they’re all exceptional."

Xia Lan Huo snorted, "Of course I know. Don’t forget, Alice was poached from our Sacred Ring Radiance."

Huo Ye smiled wryly; he truly had no excuse there.

In truth, Xia Lan Huo was only posturing. Huo Ye was her cousin, Alice his sister. To Xia Lan Huo, Alice was her own little sister as well—what a bargain, buy one get one free.

She then asked, "Has anyone else visited before us? Surely we’re not the only guests this morning?"

Huo Ye laughed awkwardly, "Maybe I’m not so popular. Only you two have come."

The two thought to themselves: Don’t you know why you’re not popular?

But Feng Wuming spoke up, "I actually know the reasons why the other presidents aren’t coming."

Feng Wuming, easygoing and sociable, had always gotten along well in the academy, chatting with anyone he met. He thus knew a bit about the other club presidents.

He counted on his fingers. "Due to the recent large exams and the attack at the Night Rain Cold Crow signing event, the academy’s finances have taken a hit. Qin, president of the Extreme Frost Domain and student council treasurer, helps manage finances and is swamped lately—I doubt he has time for a visit. The president and vice president of Blaze Mountain both have strong opinions about Brother Huo and are unlikely to come."

Huo Ye pursed his lips. That was an understatement. When he sent Leilimi with invitations, Flame Demon Hall had simply burned the invitation outright. He gave Leilimi a second invitation, thinking they’d at least accept after burning the first. But this time, Xiao Linghuo burned the second one too, leaving Leilimi utterly bewildered. Clearly, Huo Ye had left them with deep psychological scars.

Feng Wuming continued, "The president of Thunderbolt is a cold person. I rarely interact with him, so he wouldn’t attend a stranger’s event. Tan Xiao of Dark Hall is currently away training, so he’s not at the academy. As for Jin Puxian, president of Between Truth..."

Feng Wuming stroked his chin, searching for the right words. "He seems to bear a grudge against the Constellation Club because he repeatedly invited classmate Kazama but failed, only to see her join you."

Huo Ye drew in a sharp breath. So, only two out of seven club presidents bothered to show up for his grand opening? What happened to the promised magnificent debut?