Starting with helping Zhao Kai ascend the throne in the snow

One incense stick's time is about 30 minutes. Ten arenas with 200 people competing at once would take half an hour. If all the people compete in one round, it would take 28 hours. The arena starts at 8:00 am every day, rests from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, and ends at 5:00 pm. There are 16 matches every day, which takes about four days to complete the first round of selection.

With two spots advancing at once on the stage, the competition gradually became more interesting. Especially after several rounds of battles, many contestants grasped the essence of the game. Some concealed their strength at the beginning, only to suddenly surge ahead at the last moment, thus gaining the opportunity to advance. Others, however, deliberately stirred up public opinion from the start, eliminating the strongest contestant of their cohort to secure their own advancement.

Of course, besides these contestants who used their wisdom to defeat their opponents, there were also some exceptionally talented individuals. One of them, who was skilled with a hammer, used his innate superhuman strength to smash all his opponents off the stage, leaving only him to advance.

Wu Liuding and Wen Hua also displayed amazing strength in the competition, sweeping away all their opponents with a single sword and securing their spots in the next round. Shen Qing was also shocked when he heard their names, never expecting that these two would come to participate in the martial arts competition.

Li Yibai, on whom Shen Qing had placed high hopes, lived up to expectations, advancing alongside a disciple from the Dongyue Sword Pool.

In addition, a martial artist from the Northern Barbarians was skilled with a long spear. His spear technique was as agile as a dragon. Even when he stood still, he was surrounded and attacked by everyone in the arena, and he was completely unaffected.

There was also a warrior from the Nanzhao Kingdom who was skilled in bee control. He could control countless bees to attack, stinging everyone on the stage until their heads were covered in welts.

Martial artists from all over the world are now displaying their unique skills on the martial arts arena. The various techniques they employ leave the martial artists below mesmerized, and their cheers and applause resound through the sky.

However, Qi Jiajie, who had been under Shen Qing's watchful eye, behaved in a very proper and unconventional manner, leaving Shen Qing wondering what the other party was planning to do.

"What are you thinking about, Brother Shen?" Zhao Kai turned his attention away from the competition and then saw Shen Qing frowning in deep thought, so he couldn't help but ask curiously.

"I'm thinking that future martial arts examinations shouldn't be as chaotic as they are now. First-rank martial artists are already grandmaster-level experts, so there's no need for them to participate in the martial arts examinations. If they want to become officials, they can directly come to the Yue Prince's Mansion and state their intentions. Also, for contestants with special abilities like bee control, shouldn't they be allowed to be selected through a special process, rather than just the martial arts examination? After all, sometimes these methods can have unexpected effects." Shen Qing summarized the problems he discovered during the competition, planning to make certain improvements after future martial arts examinations. No matter how much one plans ahead, nothing is more reliable than the experience gained during the process.

While the Yuezhou martial arts examination was in full swing, Xu Fengnian of Beiliang once again disguised himself and traveled north to Beimang, intending to probe Beimang's strengths and weaknesses before the Liang-Mang war, and also to bring Xu Huainan back. However, people's hearts are fickle; humans are emotional beings, not heartless machines. Xu Huainan, having spent many years in Beimang, was grateful for the kindness shown to Empress Murong and ultimately could not bear to betray her, yet he also had no face to see Xu Xiao and his former brothers. Therefore, he chose to commit suicide to repay the emperor's kindness, and at the same time, he asked his grandson Xu Beizhi to fulfill his long-cherished wish, thus remaining true to Beimang and Beiliang.

Guangling Road, Honglu Cave.

Cao Changqing gazed fondly at Jiang Ni in the distance, his expression momentarily mirroring the image of her once breathtakingly beautiful figure. Alas, fate had played a cruel trick; they had met before she was married. By the time Cao Changqing met her, she was already the Empress of the Great Chu, while he was merely a lowly chess attendant. Moreover, his love was unrequited; he could only keep his feelings hidden, content to simply see her every day.

Unfortunately, even such a humble wish was soon shattered. That year, the Great Chu was breached by the iron cavalry of Beiliang, and the entire Western Chu fell. At Xu Xiao's behest, his beloved, under the command of Xu Xiao, died alongside her husband with a white silk ribbon tied to the bottom of a pool.

In the blink of an eye, Cao Changqing, who had been a famous chess player in Western Chu, became a citizen of a fallen kingdom and wandered the world. It wasn't until some shameless people in Western Chu blamed her for the fall of the kingdom that Cao Changqing finally became a man in a fit of rage.

Even if his beloved were to die, Cao Changqing would never allow anyone to tarnish her reputation.

Just then, several middle-aged men with extraordinary expressions walked in together. They were a group of people who were unwilling to accept the fall of the Western Chu Kingdom. Some of them were officials of the Western Chu Kingdom, while others were literary giants who were extremely famous in the country at that time.

When Western Chu was in power, these people were all high-ranking and privileged. After the fall of Western Chu, their status plummeted. They did not receive the treatment they desired in the new Li Yang dynasty, and they barely survived under the oppression of Zhao Yi, the Prince of Guangling. Each of them was filled with dissatisfaction and anger. How could these former nobles live in such a wretched state? Therefore, they secretly plotted to restore Western Chu and wanted to regain everything they had lost.

"We pay our respects to Mr. Cao." The bowing of the crowd interrupted Cao Changqing's recollection.

"How are the preparations going, everyone?" Cao Changqing came back to his senses and looked calmly at the nobles among the remnants of Western Chu.

As a top expert of his time, and renowned for his strategic brilliance in chess, how could Cao Changqing not see the hidden desires in the heart of the person before him? But what did it matter if he saw through them? At least for now, everyone's goal was to restore the kingdom. As long as Western Chu could be restored smoothly, Cao Changqing would have his own means to solve these problems.

"Reporting to Mr. Cao, preparations are almost complete. We await your command, and the Guangling Road will be turned upside down." The group said, suppressing their excitement.

Cao Changqing nodded in agreement, pondered for a moment, and said, "Wait a little longer. On the one hand, I have already sent people to investigate the border situation to ensure that if the Northern Barbarians really want to invade, it will be able to distract Liyang. On the other hand, next month is Zhao Yi's birthday. Every year at this time, he imposes heavy taxes in Guangling Road, causing the people to complain. We can take advantage of this to stir up public sentiment and give Zhao Yi a big gift."

After receiving Cao Changqing's reply, the group left with great joy. They had been planning for the restoration of their kingdom for so many years, so what was a little more time?

"Gu Jiantang and Chen Zhibao are both easy to deal with. Zhao Bing is ambitious and will definitely watch from the sidelines. Chen Zhibao has just gained a foothold in Shu and doesn't have the strength to stir up trouble. The only question is whether this Prince of Yue, Zhao Kai, will become a variable. However, judging from the information we've received, he's not on the same side as Tai'an City, and he probably won't be able to work with Zhao Yi either. Once we take Guangling Road, the situation will open up. As long as Western Chu begins its restoration, the remnants of the eight kingdoms hidden throughout the world will surely be tempted..." Cao Changqing muttered to himself, looking at the map.

"Uncle Cao, have some tea and rest." Just then, Jiang Ni came over with a cup of tea.

"Your Highness, this old minister has troubled Your Highness to do this personally." Upon seeing this, Cao Changqing hurriedly took the teacup.

"Uncle Cao, you're too kind. You've worked so hard for the restoration of the Great Chu. I can't be of much help with these important matters, I can only do what I can," Jiang Ni said with a smile. Then, looking at the departing group, she asked, "Uncle Cao, are you preparing to start an uprising?"

Cao Changqing nodded. "I plan to set the date for Zhao Yi's birthday next month, which will be the time for the restoration of the Great Chu Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ni hesitated before speaking, then said, "Uncle Cao, wouldn't that mean a lot of people would die? I don't really care whether or not the Great Chu is restored. If it takes countless lives to restore the Great Chu, I'd rather be an ordinary person for the rest of my life."