In a blink of an eye, nearly a week had passed since the start of the University term.
As the astonishing events from the first Charm and Talisman class spread widely, the school's gossip organizations dug up every single one of Zheng Qing's few stories.
Suppressing a Pig Demon in Four Seasons Square!
Resisting a demon on a special plane!
A Publicly Funded Student of Nine Provinces College!
A Freshman who skillfully mastered all basic Talismans!
As the gossip spread, the versions of these stories became increasingly bizarre.
For instance, it was rumored that the Pig Demon in Daming Ward was half-dead from his Thunder Spell; it was rumored that he defeated the female demon on the special plane and saved a group of Little Elves; it was even said that his miraculous Talisman skills were inherited from the mysterious Kunlun World.
The rampant rumors caught Zheng Qing off guard.
Even though he repeatedly explained to others that he couldn't cast a Thunder Spell, nor did he suppress a Pig Demon, and that he was almost scared to pee by the female demon on the plane.
But no one listened to his explanations.
The excited University students took his many explanations as humility, or a peculiar hobby.
The only satisfying consequence of these exaggerated rumors for Zheng Qing was their effect on Li Meng.
Perhaps the rumored Thunder Spell and suppression Talisman were too terrifying; the little girl now never mentioned the matter of her Li Meng's Older Cousin dueling Zheng Qing.
Somewhat overcorrecting, Li Meng even stopped talking to Zheng Qing.
Every time the boys approached her, the little girl would huffily raise her nose, stomp her small leather shoes, and clatter away.
This left the boys feeling somewhat helpless.
Zheng Qing's current troubles were not limited to this.
On his way to class every day, strangers constantly rushed up to him to greet him; on his seat, small cards with girls' perfume often mysteriously appeared.
The influx of invitations that followed almost burst the drawers of his dormitory.
Besides professional clubs like 'Talisman Association' and 'Jade Writing Gold Talisman', there were also clubs unique to Nine Provinces College like 'Examiners Alliance' and 'Five-Three Simulation', and even other Academies, such as Starry Sky Academy's 'Unlimited Combat Competition', Atlas Academy's 'Glory of the Lord' and 'Profound Enlightenment', Alpha Academy's 'Advanced Club', etc., all sent invitations to Zheng Qing.
Roughly calculated, this pile of invitations could be exchanged for nearly ten credits from Professor Yao!
Credits came too easily!
"The key is, why would these clubs invite me?" Zheng Qing pulled out the 'Unlimited Combat Competition' invitation with a pained expression and threw it on the table: "Do I look like I can fight well?"
"If you two don't stop this show-off behavior, I will calm down, transform, and evaluate your combat power," Xin Fatty roared in agony, his face covered by the Fat Cat named Tuantuan.
The Blue Giant's threat was very effective.
Although he really wanted to see the effect of Xin Fatty's transformation after he calmed down, Zheng Qing still obediently swept the letters on his desk back into the drawer.
These things were indeed a great stimulus to Xin Fatty.
In the entire dormitory, Xin Fatty received the fewest invitations.
Similar to Zheng Qing, Xiao Xiao also received dozens of invitations.
Even the Vampire Werewolf who liked to live in a coffin received four or five.
In contrast, Xin Fatty only received one invitation from the 'Freaks' club.
This made Xin Fatty's heart extremely unbalanced.
"My middle school alchemy grades were so excellent, why didn't the school's Alchemist Association send me an invitation!" Xin Fatty rubbed the Fat Cat on his face and said in a muffled voice.
"Under normal circumstances, only Freshmen who fill out an application form and pass a qualification review will receive invitations from those student organizations. These actively issued invitations should be for star students," Xiao Xiao said, frowning, holding an invitation from the 'Astrology Association': "The key is, I'm not some famous person! Why would I receive such preferential treatment?"
"Perhaps because you're a special recruit?" Xin Fatty pulled Tuantuan off his face, maliciously speculating: "Some students know your Family is a reclusive wealthy Family, so they're making a friendly investment!"
"If not having changed into new clothes for three years counts as being wealthy, I can consider your conjecture," Xiao Xiao said expressionlessly, rolling up his sleeve to reveal a wrinkled, old shirt.
"Maybe they sent it to the wrong person," Xin Fatty continued to rub the Fat Cat, still speculating with the greatest malice.
"One or two being sent to the wrong person is understandable, but if so many student clubs are brainless, then First University is doomed to fail," Dylan's head emerged from the red curtain, scoffing.
"Unless you count that brawl," Zheng Qing had a premonition that his most troublesome matter was yet to come.
Indeed, no matter what, the gossip about the Nine Provinces Freshmen in the University spread too quickly.
It was as if there was a dedicated team orchestrating it behind the scenes.
Of course, he would never have imagined that the gossip spreading on campus was spread by some people for their own dignity.
...
...
Arthur Ness was a second-year student at Alpha Academy, from an ancient wizarding Family in Europa, possessing the excellent Bloodline highly valued by Alpha Academy, and had good attainments in alchemy and ancient Magic Writing studies.
These advantages made him quite favored by some large clubs in Alpha Academy. In his Freshman year, he received nearly ten club invitations.
Among them was one of the two major clubs of First University, Alpha's most powerful student organization—the Blood Union.
After nearly a year of observation, at the end of his Freshman year, Arthur finally gained the recognition of the Blood Union, transitioning from an external member to an official executive.
This was a huge incentive for the young wizard.
Throughout the summer, he was in a state of extreme excitement and narcissism.
This emotion reached its peak when the Blood Union assigned him his first club task.
The task was very simple.
Invite the youngest initiate of First University in the past century to join the Blood Union.
However, Arthur had no fondness whatsoever for the child named Lin Guo.
No Family, no background, just a little talent beyond the ordinary, and he could get an invitation from the Blood Union!
This was undoubtedly a huge humiliation for Mr. Ness, who had worked so hard to become an ordinary executive of the Blood Union.
Fortunately, he had other options.
Arthur Ness touched the two letters in his pocket and made up his mind.
The two letters in his pocket, one from the Blood Union, the other from the 3A Club.
The University's Association Union did not limit the number of clubs students could join; many students simultaneously participated in multiple student clubs.
Although Mr. Ness was only an ordinary executive in the Blood Union, in another Alpha Academy club—3A Club—he was already a mid-level cadre.
Both 3A Club and the Blood Union extended an olive branch to Lin Guo.
As a messenger, Mr. Ness believed he had sufficient reason to decide which twig to offer the little boy.
He decided to pull out the 3A Club's invitation first.
Then he was rejected.
Lin Guo's rejection caught him somewhat off guard.
Although he didn't like this little boy entering the Blood Union without any hindrance, he found it even more unacceptable to see that silly, stupid expression on the little boy's face!
Did he have the right to refuse?
Mr. Ness's anger had not yet subsided when a bucket of gasoline was poured on it.