223: Chapter 223 Starry Night Talks

"A code name, huh..."

Xing Yaoyan did not speak immediately.

The top ten Star Cult Priests all had their own code names. Usually, no one knew who the others were, and they only addressed each other by code name when they met. It could be said that this code name was their virtual identity within the Star Cult.

Now it seemed that Huan Wuxing had not disclosed her true identity to the other Priests.

To be a qualified "lurker," her code name must not be flashy, nor could it be too weak. More importantly, she absolutely could not let others guess any information about her from her code name...

"Just call me 'Nameless'."

After much consideration, Xing Yaoyan spoke. This was the best code name she could think of.

"Sorry, this code name is already taken. You need to think of another one."

Huan Wuxing's illusory figure spread her hands, rejecting her code name almost instantly.

Wh... what? It's taken... Is it really that coincidental...

"Then... Hyacinth?" Xing Yaoyan glanced at the cluster of hyacinths on the table and said casually.

"That's also taken..."

Huan Wuxing's light words felt like a heavy hammer striking her down.

Wait... did I just have a streak of bad luck today?

"Then can I just be called 'Hyacinth Flower'?" Xing Yaoyan was exhausted.

"No... those two code names were used by our founding Cult Leader and members. To avoid suspicion, you cannot choose any code name that contains those characters..."

Hearing Huan Wuxing's words, Xing Yaoyan almost lost her composure and Face-planted onto the table.

"Star." "Taken." "White Wolf." "Taken." ...

Finally, after being rejected a dozen more times, the on-the-verge-of-collapsing Xing Yaoyan finally settled on her code name—'Qiming'.

"Alright, let us all welcome the new Priest 'Qiming'!"

To Xing Yaoyan, Huan Wuxing's voice now sounded like music to her ears. She suddenly clasped her hands together, feeling an urge to cry.

She was a "naming failure" herself, so thinking of so many code names had really been difficult for her...

"Clap, clap, clap!" Only Huan Wuxing was clapping enthusiastically in the entire room, while the other figures sat quietly in various poses, showing no other reaction.

The Star Cult had a very strict hierarchy; all members only obeyed the orders of those with a higher status than themselves. Priests only listened to the Cult Leader's orders, so even though Huan Wuxing's seat was higher than theirs, they were still of the same Rank, and everyone had no obligation to give her Face.

Xing Yaoyan also clapped symbolically and stopped after seeing everyone else's reaction. When in Rome, do as the Romans do...

"Sigh, boring..." Huan Wuxing sighed, then, like a little girl who was bored and sulking because no one would play with her, she slumped onto the table, waving her hands around randomly.

Her curvaceous figure could not be hidden even by the loose white robe as she moved, but the others completely ignored it.

Suddenly, Xing Yaoyan felt the light in the entire space brighten significantly. The black mist that had been spreading around dissipated instantly, and the white boundary walls could be vaguely seen.

"Greetings, everyone." The voice seemed to come from all directions.

Xing Yaoyan's gaze instantly sharpened. She saw a figure in a black robe suddenly appear on the black main seat opposite her, which was covered in peculiar patterns.

His robe was too loose, and the voice was very neutral, making it impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman.

"Since everyone is here, I announce that the 240,053rd 'Star Brilliance Meeting'... is officially started."

As soon as the words fell, violent applause immediately broke out in the entire meeting room.

Unlike the others, Huan Wuxing, who was closest to the Cult Leader, remained listless, clapping on and off, looking as if she wouldn't even give the Cult Leader any Face.

Yet, this Star Cult Leader was surprisingly magnanimous and didn't pursue it at all, instead starting a routine inquiry like a heartless machine.

"Qiming... how is the progress on the Star Gazer matter..."

Xing Yaoyan sat up straight instantly. She hadn't expected this Star Cult Leader to ask about her work as soon as they started.

"Of course, I first made a detailed plan, but I encountered many problems during the actual execution. Right now, I am still in the confirmation stage regarding the Star Gazer and still need some time. I will definitely continue to work hard to follow up on the progress, and I will definitely have greater progress by the next report..."

Xing Yaoyan calmly dodged the question, as if she had said everything, yet also as if she had said nothing. There had been too many things going on recently, causing her to not pay any attention to this task at all.

To her further surprise, the black-robed figure just nodded and didn't say anything more.

The next moment, she saw Him suddenly lower his head and say to Huan Wuxing, who was still in a state of slacking off right next to him: "Phantom Demon, you have completed the task of recruiting new members. Next, please keep an eye on the Esper who has been quite prominent among humans recently, White-Robed Mysterious Person..."

"Oh, I know, I know..." Huan Wuxing replied casually. Seeing that the people around them remained indifferent, it seemed they were already accustomed to such scenes.

However, just as everyone thought that Huan Wuxing's inquiry would end in a rush as usual...

"Wait, report to Cult Leader, I almost forgot just now... Something happened on my end, so even if I wanted to complete the task you gave me, I lack the energy to do so..."

Xing Yaoyan looked up. Huan Wuxing's illusory figure was resting her Face on one hand, facing her direction, and said as if she were in a difficult position:

"My whole Soul is currently with Qiming, you know... She is so bad, she imprisoned me in a strange place... Sometimes I just want to look at the scenery outside through the 'window', but she won't let me. And, what's even more outrageous is that she even sent a bunch of terrifying monsters to guard me; I don't even have a chance to run..."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire space fell silent. Fortunately, due to the special nature of this space, everyone's expressions of extreme shock were well concealed.

"Phantom Demon... are you saying... you were captured by this newcomer?!" The Sixth Seat said, scanning back and forth between Huan Wuxing and Xing Yaoyan, his voice filled with irrepressible shock.

Although everyone knew that this unreliable First Seat of the Star Cult was always spouting nonsense and liked to find amusement with the various Priests and even the Cult Leader, whenever she admitted something publicly, it was never false.

So... did this newcomer, the Tenth Seat, really have special means to control this person—the Phantom Demon—who was said to have lived for who knows how many years and had always been the First Seat of the Star Cult?!

Xing Yaoyan could clearly feel the malicious red light from everyone directed at her fade rapidly, replaced by deep wariness and fear.

But she didn't feel happy about this; on the contrary, she felt she was starting to lose her grasp on this First Seat of the Star Cult Priests.

Why would she say that... what was her goal... why push me onto the stage suddenly... and say such things that make me stand out... Is she not afraid that I have other trump cards that could be detrimental to her...

She was only at the Four Marks right now, and controlling Huan Wuxing was entirely due to her carelessness and the restraint of her "Star Swallowing Art · Soul Constraint" over the Soul... Wait!

Suddenly, a thought that sent chills down her spine emerged in her mind—was she really controlled by me, or was she voluntarily controlled by me for some ulterior motive!