After dealing with the Blackwater Bandits, Wei Yi and the others soon set off again.
No one else came to intercept them or cause trouble afterward.
After all, the Wei Clan and Zhu Clan parties numbered nearly a hundred people combined, every one of them an elite. Ordinary bandits and roaming outlaws simply lacked the nerve to harass them.
Yuwen Bei, the Blackwater Bandits...
Wei Yi turned the names over in his mind.
I'll leave Yuwen Bei aside for now. Once I enter the Overlord Sect, there'll naturally be opportunities to deal with him.
But those Blackwater Bandits have crossed me time and again. I must find a chance to teach them a harsh lesson.
Still, the Blackwater Bandits have always liked hiding here and there. Ordinary people have no idea where their lair is. That's a difficult problem...
At that thought, Wei Yi could not help feeling a slight headache.
Although he was confident he could handle the Blackwater Bandits, finding their lair was no simple matter.
The reason the Blackwater Bandits had remained safe and sound all these years was their skill at hiding. Otherwise, given their death-seeking ways, who knew how many times they would have been wiped out by now?
Feeling helpless, Wei Yi could only set the matter aside for the time being.
His most important task right now... was entering the Overlord Sect.
That afternoon, Wei Yi and Zhu Ling'er returned to the True Martial Academy.
"Big Brother Wei, to join the Overlord Sect, you first need to secure a place. Have you made any preparations?"
After spending time together on the journey, Wei Yi and Zhu Ling'er had grown much closer.
Knowing what Wei Yi had in mind, Zhu Ling'er took the initiative to ask.
"How do I secure one?"
Wei Yi only knew about the ten places. He really was not too clear on the specifics.
"The dean usually allocates these ten recommendation places personally. If you want one, you first need his approval."
"Why don't I take you to see the dean first?"
Zhu Ling'er asked.
She had already secured a place in advance, so her relationship with the dean was clearly no ordinary one.
"Then sorry for the trouble."
Wei Yi did not refuse.
"It's no trouble. Actually, I hope you can get a place too. Qingqing can't go with me, so if you can go, I'll at least have some company." A trace of delight appeared on Zhu Ling'er's little face.
"Heh, all right. Once we enter the Overlord Sect, I'll definitely have your back!"
Wei Yi patted his chest in assurance.
"You said it! I'm taking that seriously." Zhu Ling'er blinked, a sly smile flickering in her bright eyes.
"Of course."
Wei Yi nodded without the slightest hesitation.
With his current strength, aside from powerful members of the older generation, he truly feared no one his own age, not even the elite geniuses nurtured by the Overlord Sect.
Hearing Wei Yi's assurance, Zhu Ling'er's smile grew even brighter.
She said nothing more.
Zhu Ling'er soon led Wei Yi to the door of the dean's office.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
Zhu Ling'er stepped forward and knocked politely.
"Come in."
An elderly voice rang out.
Zhu Ling'er and Wei Yi pushed open the door and entered.
There were quite a few people in the dean's office at that moment. Aside from the elderly dean seated there, seven or eight academy instructors were also present.
When Zhu Ling'er and Wei Yi entered, everyone's gaze involuntarily gathered on them.
Zhu Ling'er was the young lady of the Zhu Clan, her eldest uncle was the academy's vice dean, and she also held the title of "academy belle." Naturally, practically everyone present knew her.
Even the elderly dean smiled and nodded, his eyes filled with affection.
As for Wei Yi, though he had previously been unknown, he had suddenly risen to prominence recently and had even defeated two instructors in succession. This had made him extremely famous not only among ordinary students, but also known to quite a few instructors.
However, these instructors were not nearly so friendly toward him. At the very least, their attitude toward him was nowhere near comparable to their attitude toward Zhu Ling'er.
Toward Zhu Ling'er, they were generally kind and affectionate.
But toward him, most simply watched with cold eyes.
After all, he was a troublemaking student who stirred up wind and rain and had made two instructors lose all face. Naturally, they had their own thoughts about him.
Only the elderly dean's expression remained unchanged.
"Ling'er, you little girl, you haven't come to see me in ages. What brings you here today?"
The elderly dean asked with a smile.
"That's not true." Hearing the elderly dean say that, Zhu Ling'er could not help blushing a little. "I came to see you as soon as I returned to the academy."
"Really? You came to see me as soon as you returned? All right, then. You've seen me now, so you can leave."
The elderly dean had grown shrewd with age. Zhu Ling'er was no match for him.
Everyone could not help laughing at his words.
Zhu Ling'er froze, momentarily at a loss for words. She could only resort to shamelessness and protest, "Grandpa Dean, how could you do that... I'll tell my grandpa you bullied me."
However sharp the elderly dean's tongue might be, he could do little against Zhu Ling'er's wheedling and shameless antics.
"All right, I was wrong. I was wrong, isn't that enough... Don't go complaining to your grandpa, or that old fellow will come tear down my academy."
"Tell me, what exactly did you come to see me about?"
The elderly dean wore a helpless expression.
"Of the ten recommendation places our academy has for the Overlord Sect, a few are still unused, aren't they..." Zhu Ling'er wasted no time and directly stated why she had come.
"Haven't I already given you one?"
Though the elderly dean said that, he had already turned to look at Wei Yi, who stood beside Zhu Ling'er.
He had clearly understood Zhu Ling'er's intentions.
At this point, without needing Zhu Ling'er to say anything further, Wei Yi stepped forward himself.
He cupped his fist and bowed respectfully to the elderly dean before saying, "Dean, I'm the one who would like a recommendation place for the Overlord Sect."
"Oh?"
"You're that boy from the Wei Clan, aren't you? Wei Yi?"
The elderly dean looked Wei Yi up and down several times, his eyes flickering slightly as he asked with a smile.
"Yes, I am Wei Yi."
"Hmph. You think you're worthy of a recommendation place for the Overlord Sect? You're only a second-year student. Do you think you qualify?"
Just then, an instructor beside them snorted and mocked him coldly without the slightest courtesy.
Wei Yi narrowed his eyes slightly.
He raised his head and swept an indifferent glance over the man.
"Instructor Xu, I'm a second-year student too. Do you think I'm unqualified to enter the Overlord Sect as well?" At that moment, Zhu Ling'er stepped forward and asked.
Her words undoubtedly made things rather awkward.
Though Zhu Ling'er was a second-year student, she had been among the first to secure a place.
The corners of Instructor Xu's mouth twitched twice. Zhu Ling'er had powerful backing at the True Martial Academy, and he did not dare offend her. He could only answer sullenly, "You're different, Miss Zhu. Elder Ximen of the Overlord Sect personally named you as a disciple he wanted to recruit. Naturally, you're an exception."
Hearing that, Wei Yi could not help glancing at Zhu Ling'er.
He had not expected Zhu Ling'er to have such a connection.
"Ahem."
At that moment, the elderly dean gave two dry coughs.
Everyone immediately turned their attention to him. After all, he was the dean of the True Martial Academy and the person who controlled these ten places.
"Student Wei Yi, I can understand your desire to enter the Overlord Sect."
"However, what Instructor Xu said is also true."
"After all, you're only a second-year student right now. There are still many third- and fourth-year students above you waiting. Comparatively speaking, they're somewhat older and need this opportunity more than you do."
The elderly dean spoke slowly, his expression unchanged.
"Grandpa Dean..."
Hearing the elderly dean say this, Zhu Ling'er's expression shifted slightly, and she immediately wanted to speak up and plead on Wei Yi's behalf.
A trace of gloating appeared on Instructor Xu's face.
Wei Yi stopped Zhu Ling'er, stepped forward, and asked the elderly dean, "Surely there are exceptions to everything. Who needs an opportunity is only relative."
"If I can prove that I'm better than those third- and fourth-year students, would I qualify for a place?"
A trace of appreciation surfaced deep in the elderly dean's eyes. "You could put it that way. However, how do you intend to prove you're better than them?"
"I do have a suggestion."
Just then, Instructor Xu's eyes flashed, and he suddenly spoke before anyone else could.
Then he looked at Wei Yi with a faint, ambiguous smile.
"I have a suggestion. I just don't know whether Student Wei Yi would dare accept it..."