Starting with helping Zhao Kai ascend the throne in the snow

Taking some of the world's most powerful forces as examples—Longhu Mountain, Liangchan Temple, Wudang Mountain, Lantuo Mountain, Wu Family Sword Tomb, and Shangyin Academy—these forces have been passed down for hundreds to thousands of years. Through the continuous efforts of their disciples throughout the ages, their reputations have spread throughout the world, and their status is extremely transcendent. Even if, at some point, a sect falls into a slump and is forced to close its doors to the world, disciples will still come to seek them out and learn their skills, ensuring that their lineage will not be interrupted.

Take Wudi City for example. Its fame is entirely supported by Wang Xianzhi. With Wang Xianzhi's presence, Wudi City has become one of the three major forbidden areas with a superior status. But once Wang Xianzhi is gone, Wudi City will probably fall apart immediately.

In terms of foundation, Dongyue Sword Pool is far inferior to the other families. At its peak, it was barely on par with Wu Family Sword Tomb. However, after the previous generation was defeated by Li Chungang, it immediately declined and almost fell out of the ranks of first-class forces.

If it weren't for the fortunate emergence of two sword masters, Chai Qingshan and Song Nianqing, the Dongyue Sword Pool would likely be a completely different entity by now. However, good fortune cannot always favor the Dongyue Sword Pool. Therefore, after Song Nianqing became the sect leader, he was eager to elevate the Dongyue Sword Pool's status, aiming to reach the same level as the other major transcendent powers.

Despite Song Nianqing's decades of effort, including a personal challenge to Wang Xianzhi, the second-best swordsman in the land, he has yet to achieve his goal and has been unable to elevate the status of the Dongyue Sword Pool. And once he and Chai Qingshan pass away, the Dongyue Sword Pool will likely decline and fade into obscurity.

Although the sect has discovered disciples with exceptional swordsmanship talent like Dan Eryi in recent years, talent is talent and strength is strength. A genius who has not fully matured can never become the pillar of the sect.

Moreover, and most importantly, Shan Eryi is a woman. If she were to marry in the future, all the hard work Dongyue Jianchi put into nurturing her would be for naught.

Therefore, these problems often perplexed Song Nianqing, causing him to have distracting thoughts and making it impossible for him to achieve clarity of mind, which in turn prevented him from achieving sword enlightenment, thus affecting and hindering his progress in sword cultivation.

However, Shen Qing's suggestion of establishing official schools at this moment gave Song Nianqing a different perspective. If the swordsmanship of Dongyue Sword Pool were included in official schools, then any disciple who enrolled in the martial arts department and chose to study swordsmanship would be considered to be from Dongyue Sword Pool.

This not only indirectly enhances the influence of Dongyue Sword Pool, but also ensures that once these students become military officers, they will naturally become close to Dongyue Sword Pool, becoming its hidden foundation. With such accumulation over time, Dongyue Sword Pool will soon become a transcendent power.

Shen Qing wasn't in a hurry to see Song Nianqing deep in thought. He didn't believe that Song Nianqing could remain unmoved by such conditions. If that were the case, he wouldn't necessarily insist on Dongyue Sword Pool.

"Lord Shen, I hope that the Dongyue Sword Pool can become the only official martial arts school." After a long while, Song Nianqing stared intently at Shen Qing and said.

“That’s absolutely impossible.” Shen Qing blurted out without hesitation upon hearing this. At the same time, he looked at Song Nianqing with surprise, not expecting that she had discovered the key points of the official school so quickly. It seemed that he had underestimated her.

The affairs of official schools are of great importance, involving a series of future plans and balances for Shen Qing. Naturally, it is impossible to allow Dongyue Sword Pool to have a monopoly. Otherwise, if the entire martial arts department were to be dominated by Dongyue Sword Pool disciples, the entire military system would be infiltrated and undermined by Dongyue Sword Pool. This is something Shen Qing absolutely cannot allow to happen.

Martial arts must be diverse and vibrant, with a hundred schools of thought contending, only in this way can a balance be maintained, which is in the best interests of the Yue King's Mansion.

"Lord Shen, are you really not going to reconsider? As long as Lord Shen agrees to this, I will immediately represent the Eastern Yue Sword Pool in agreeing to submit to the Yue King's Mansion," Song Nianqing said, squinting her eyes and coaxing him gently.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qing looked at Song Nianqing with a firm expression and said, "Sect Leader Song, let's not mention this matter again. Agreeing to make Dongyue Sword Pool an official school is already my bottom line. If Sect Leader Song is still greedy, then I'll pretend I was never here today and I'll turn around and leave immediately."

Looking at Shen Qing's resolute expression, Song Nianqing finally sighed and said, "I was greedy. Since Lord Shen does not agree to this condition, then pretend I never said it. However, I hope that all the conditions that Lord Shen promised before will be fulfilled."

When Shen Qing saw that Song Nianqing had finally agreed, he felt a pang of pain, as ten thousand taels of silver and ten martial arts manuals were a considerable expense.

Shen Qing was indignant and naturally didn't want Song Nianqing to feel comfortable either. He immediately looked at Gao Liqiu and the others and said, "Since Dongyue Sword Pool is willing to submit to the Yue King's Mansion, then it certainly wouldn't mind to offer a pledge of allegiance, would it?"

Upon hearing this, Song Nianqing's lips twitched slightly, but he still nodded in agreement. Originally, he only wanted to expel Gao Liqiu and the others so as not to completely offend Prince Zhao Yi of Guangling, but now that Shen Qing had made such a request, he could not refuse, otherwise it would seem that Dongyue Sword Pool was not sincere.

The group then returned to the crowd. Shen Qing looked at Gao Liqiu with a playful gaze and a mocking smile on his face. This damned eunuch had just been incredibly foul-mouthed; now he would have to pay for it with his life.

"You little brat, what are you looking at?" Gao Liqiu, unaware that his death was imminent, was still shamelessly mocking Shen Qing.

"Sect Leader Song, it's getting late. We shouldn't delay Eunuch Gao's auspicious departure time." Shen Qing was too lazy to waste words on a dying man, and instead turned his gaze to Song Nianqing.

Upon hearing Shen Qing's words, Song Nianqing turned and nodded slightly to Li Yibai. As a disciple, Li Yibai naturally understood his master's meaning. He immediately looked at Shen Qing in disbelief, then excitedly picked up his sword and walked towards Gao Liqiu.

Ever since this damned eunuch arrived at the Dongyue Sword Pool, he has been arrogant and has been insulting the disciples of the Sword Pool at every turn. If it weren't for his master's sake, Li Yibai would have wanted to kill him with a single sword strike long ago.

"What are you doing? Don't come any closer, Song Nianqing! How dare you! Aren't you afraid of offending my lord?" Gao Liqiu immediately sensed something was wrong after seeing Li Yibai's actions and panicked. He then hurriedly threatened Song Nianqing.

"Shut up, you damned eunuch, you never thought you'd end up like this, did you?" Li Yibai drew his longsword and approached Gao Liqiu step by step.

"Hurry up and protect us! You all remember this, Dongyue Sword Pool! The Prince will not let you get away with this!" Although Gao Liqiu wanted his two guards to protect him as he left, it was wishful thinking in the face of Li Yibai's attack. He was pierced through the heart by a sword in just a few moves.

Even in death, he could not believe that the Dongyue Sword Pool dared to defy the majesty of the King of Guangling. With extreme resentment, he returned to the underworld.

The group from Dongyue Sword Pool were stunned when Li Yibai made his move. They only came to their senses after Gao Liqiu was killed. Then they all looked at Song Nianqing. You see, when Gao Liqiu was bullying others in Dongyue Sword Pool, many disciples had complained, but their complaints were all suppressed.

After all, behind Gao Liqiu stood Zhao Yi, the Prince of Guangling. Now that he had been killed, while everyone felt a sense of satisfaction, they were also filled with worry, fearing that the Prince of Guangling's army would sail down the river and how they would face them.