The ten nomination slots for entry into the Overlord Sect were soon decided.
Five fourth-year students!
Three third-year students!
Two second-year students!
Those two second-year students were, without question, Wei Yi and Zhu Ling'er.
For an academy with several thousand students, ten slots were undoubtedly far too few, a ratio approaching one in a thousand.
Of those ten, aside from a handful of predetermined candidates, such as Zhu Ling'er, who had been selected directly by the Overlord Sect, the others were essentially all top-flight geniuses of the True Martial Academy.
Of course, that did not mean Zhu Ling'er lacked talent. She was simply younger and had spent less time cultivating, so her cultivation and strength were undoubtedly slightly inferior to those third- and fourth-year geniuses.
Fortunately, everyone knew her status was special, and her place could not be taken.
But Wei Yi, also a second-year student, was not so lucky...
Although Wei Yi had made quite a name for himself lately, which of the True Martial Academy's geniuses did not have a resounding reputation?
By comparison, Wei Yi's rise had been too recent, which made him seem easier to "pick on."
For several days running, people sought him out to challenge him at practically every moment. They included not only second-year students but also many third- and fourth-year students, all with exactly the same goal: the slot in Wei Yi's hands.
"Has the date for going to the Overlord Sect still not been decided?"
"If they don't decide soon, I'll really have to find somewhere to hide..."
Wei Yi spoke with an exhausted look on his face as he hid in the academy's reading room.
Hearing this, Zhu Ling'er and Yang Qingqing both covered their mouths and giggled.
Naturally, they both knew about Wei Yi's miserable experiences over the past few days.
Being challenged might not have been painful in itself, but being chased by countless people demanding challenges every day was hardly pleasant.
"It should be soon. Probably in the next few days."
Zhu Ling'er thought for a moment before answering.
"Ah, once you all leave, I'll be the only one left at the academy."
Yang Qingqing's gaze was reproachful.
It was not directed at Zhu Ling'er, but at Wei Yi.
Looking embarrassed, Wei Yi could only give a few dry coughs.
Perhaps because he had saved her life back then, Yang Qingqing had some feelings for him.
"There's still Lu Xing, isn't there?" Wei Yi patted Lu Xing beside him and changed the subject.
"That's right. There's still me."
Lu Xing raised his head and answered with a clueless, silly grin.
Yang Qingqing rolled her eyes helplessly.
"Wei Yi, I actually have an idea for your current problem," Lu Xing suddenly said.
"What idea?"
"You could make them put up a stake. Say, a thousand taels of silver per match. Only fight them if they're willing to put up the stake. Wouldn't that cut down on a lot of opponents? You could also collect quite a few winnings. Of course, that depends on you winning."
"That's a good idea!"
Hearing Lu Xing's explanation, Wei Yi's eyes immediately lit up.
"But a thousand taels per match is too little. Ten thousand would be more like it... Anyone without money can get lost!"
Wei Yi immediately clapped his hands and said,
"That would mean ten thousand taels for one match, a hundred thousand for ten, and a million for a hundred..."
"That's even faster than robbery!"
At this point, Wei Yi's eyes widened.
Why hadn't he thought of it from the start? This was an absolutely perfect opportunity to rake in money!
"Are you sure you want to challenge me?"
"You know the rules I just set, right?"
On the academy's training grounds, Wei Yi looked at the fourth-year student opposite him with an odd expression as he asked.
He actually knew that a stake of ten thousand taels of silver per match was rather steep.
After all, the students were mostly teenagers. Even those from distinguished backgrounds could not have too much money on hand.
But he had still vastly underestimated the appeal of joining the Overlord Sect. He had barely put the word out before someone came knocking to challenge him to a wagered match.
"Ten thousand taels of silver is nothing."
"But are you sure you'll give up your slot for joining the Overlord Sect if you lose?"
The fourth-year student opposite him asked with a frown.
In his eyes, ten thousand taels of silver could not compare to a slot for joining the Overlord Sect at all.
"Of course."
"But you'll have to beat me first."
Wei Yi answered with a light chuckle.
Even Instructor Xu, a fourth-stage Great Martial Master, was no match for him. How could an ordinary student possibly beat him...? That was the real reason he dared make such a promise.
Then again, if a student really possessed that kind of strength, they would have no need to come and fight him for a slot.
"In that case, let's begin."
This student was clearly from a wealthy family and did not place much importance on ten thousand taels of silver.
Or rather, compared to a slot for joining the Overlord Sect, ten thousand taels of silver was hardly worth mentioning.
"Take this!"
With an angry shout, he immediately stirred the True Qi in his dantian, and the longsword in his hand thrust swiftly toward Wei Yi.
His sword was astonishingly fast, and his sword moves were quite seasoned.
His cultivation was that of a seventh-stage Martial Master.
Among the True Martial Academy's students, he could indeed be considered first-rate.
To Wei Yi, however, he was far too ordinary.
Still, I can go a little easy on him.
A strange smile flickered across Wei Yi's lips as an idea instantly occurred to him.
He could have won easily.
He could even have won in a single move.
But he did not do so. Instead, he did his utmost to suppress his strength, keeping it just a notch above his opponent's.
The result was... after exchanging dozens of moves, Wei Yi won by the narrowest of margins.
"Here's your ten-thousand-tael banknote!"
Having actually lost by such a tiny margin, the student's face alternated between green and white. In the end, he flung down ten thousand taels of silver and left, utterly unwilling to accept his defeat.
"Thanks for the match."
Wei Yi accepted the banknote with a smile.
Ten thousand taels was no small sum.
His entire fortune currently amounted to only a few tens of thousands of taels. Having it increase by ten thousand all at once made Wei Yi very happy.
"Who else wants to challenge me?"
"As long as you beat me, you'll have a chance to get a slot for joining the Overlord Sect. Opportunities like this don't come often. Don't miss out!"
Wei Yi kept enticing them.
Everyone watching could not help being tempted by his words.
They had watched the match just now, and Wei Yi's strength did not seem all that impressive.
Perhaps... they had a chance of winning.
"I'll do it!"
"Here's a ten-thousand-tael banknote!"
Soon, another young master from a prominent family with no shortage of money chose to challenge him.
"Good!"
The smile on Wei Yi's face grew even wider.
Just as before, Wei Yi controlled his strength again, exchanging dozens of moves before finally winning "with difficulty."
This led more and more people to "see through" Wei Yi's abilities, and more and more became willing to put up a stake and challenge him...
"That brat, how does he come up with so many tricks? He's even deliberately holding back his strength..."
After watching from a distance for a moment, the old dean instantly saw through Wei Yi's plan and could not help shaking his head with a chuckle.
Standing beside him was the academy's vice dean, Zhu Ling'er's eldest paternal uncle, Zhu Yuanhe. At the sight, he could not help laughing as well.
"I suppose you could call this having a knack for making money."
Zhu Yuanhe said with a chuckle,
"Ten thousand taels of silver a match. That's no slow way to make money. Even I'm getting a little tempted watching him."
"That little rascal. Let's see what he does if he really loses!" the old dean could not help cursing with a laugh.
But he also knew that was essentially impossible.
Based on his estimate of Wei Yi's strength, never mind ordinary students-even among the academy's instructors, there were probably few who could defeat him.
"Even if he really loses, we'll still have to give him a slot and let him enter the Overlord Sect."
Zhu Yuanhe suddenly sighed and said quietly.
The old dean was taken aback, then gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Yes. Our True Martial Academy's reputation has declined day by day over the past few years. We've fallen quite far behind those other academies. I just wonder how this brat will perform once he enters the Overlord Sect..."
"True gold does not fear the trial of fire. Whether he's a dragon or a snake, we can't tell in the shallows of our academy."
"The Overlord Sect is where he'll truly be tested."
At this point, both men could not help feeling somewhat expectant.
"By the way, why are you in such a hurry to send Little Ling'er into the Overlord Sect? At her age, there's no need to rush, is there? Wouldn't it be better to wait another two years?" The old dean seemed to remember something and could not help asking curiously.
"There are some things I can do nothing about. Ling'er, she... Ah, she's a child with a bitter fate too." As though something had come to mind, a trace of shame welled up in Zhu Yuanhe's eyes.
"Could your father's health have...?"
Vaguely guessing something, the old dean's expression changed slightly.
Zhu Yuanhe nodded faintly.
"If Father hadn't developed health problems, Ling'er wouldn't need to enter the Overlord Sect so early..."
"As for what happens in the future, I'm afraid she'll have only herself to rely on."