Starting with helping Zhao Kai ascend the throne in the snow

Although the martial arts examination held in Yuezhou could not compare to the upcoming great war between Liang and Mang, nor to the wave of restoration that Cao Changqing of Western Chu was about to launch, it was still being paid attention to by many people.

Qi Yanglong, the Grand Master of Shangyin Academy, is one of them. Since the collapse of the Qin Empire, the reason why Shangyin Academy has been able to stand firm in the martial arts world and the imperial court for so many years is because of its powerful network of connections throughout the world.

Every disciple who studies under the Shangyin Academy will always receive the attention of the Shangyin Academy. Those who perform well will receive secret support from the Shangyin Academy. Therefore, after these disciples rise to prominence in the imperial court, they will give back to the Shangyin Academy and build a network of relationships that spans the world.

With the concept of Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher, as long as the Shangyin Academy does not openly rebel and court death, it will naturally gain a transcendent and lofty status, and be known as one of the three sacred sites of the world, along with the Two Chan Temples and Longhu Mountain.

Unlike the Liangchan Temple and Longhu Mountain, which need to frequently go down the mountain to spread their teachings and build their reputation, Shangyin Academy's position is as solid as a rock and unshakable, relying solely on the protection of its disciples.

For example, Xun Ping, one of the disciples of Qi Yanglong, the current Grand Master of Shangyin Academy, spearheaded the reforms of the Liyang Dynasty. Although he ultimately met a tragic end, his legacy endured, laying a solid foundation for the Liyang Dynasty's strength. Even though Xun Ping was abandoned for various reasons, this kindness was remembered by several emperors of the Liyang Dynasty.

Secondly, let's not even mention Yuan Benxi. His famous quote, "I'm willing to be a puppet in Mr. Yuan's hands," cemented his reputation as the Imperial Tutor. With him around, the influence of the Shangyin Academy was undeniable. The Shangyin Academy, with its centuries-long history, had countless disciples like him. Each Grand Master taught numerous exceptionally talented students, accumulating a profound and unfathomable foundation over generations. Therefore, Zhao Dun's support for Zhang Julu in establishing the Imperial Academy was a genuine attempt to undermine the Shangyin Academy's position and a testament to his deep-seated fear of them.

When Zhao Kai entered Shangyin Academy, he attracted Qi Yanglong's attention because of his special identity. In particular, Huang Longshi, in order to fulfill the prophecy of "the white-robed one will slay the python dragon together", secretly promoted Zhao Kai and made him receive special attention.

Therefore, after Zhao Kai became the King of Yue, Qi Yanglong continued to pay attention to Zhao Kai's development. After all, the connection he had made with Shangyin Academy back then was a valuable asset.

"I'm getting old, getting old. Talented people emerge in every generation. I never expected that this young man named Shen Qing could thwart Qi Jiajie's open scheme with just the words 'I have a dream.' He's truly an extraordinary young man." Qi Yanglong exclaimed in amazement, holding the detailed intelligence from the martial arts examination.

At this point, Qi Yanglong chuckled and put down the letter, saying, "Tan Tan Weng has really lost face this time. In his old age, he almost ruined his reputation."

As a renowned sage of his time, he had a complete grasp of the world's strategic situation and could naturally see that Qi Jiajie was merely a puppet on stage, and that the person who uttered those words behind the scenes was someone else entirely.

Zhao Dun wanted to regain face in Tai'an City, so he naturally needed someone to help him. The chief minister Zhang Julu would never lower himself to help, and he disdained to do so. Lu Daolin was not capable of doing so. Others could only come up with some underhanded tricks, but the only one who could play such a fair and square scheme was Huan Wen, that old fox.

"Yuezhou? Looks like it's time to put up some grounds." Qi Yanglong stroked his beard, his gaze falling on a map of the world hidden in the study. This map was even more detailed than the map in the Li Yang Imperial Palace. Every prefecture, county, and district was clearly recorded on it, marked with various peculiar symbols. By matching these symbols with the roster placed beside it, one could identify that each marked city was a disciple associated with the Shangyin Academy.

----

In the world of One Piece, the familiar black light appeared. Shen Qing, along with Xuan Yuan Qingfeng and the old sword god, once again arrived in the world of One Piece by following the coordinates of the ship's anchor. However, this time, they did not appear on Hawkeye's Kuraigana Island, but on an unfamiliar sea.

The black ship crashed onto the sea, splashing water everywhere. Beside it was Hawkeye's personal vehicle, the Coffin Boat, whose unique design was unforgettable at first glance. Shen Qing was sometimes curious about Hawkeye's peculiar aesthetic sense. Was it because the castle he lived in was called the Ghost Castle that he had developed such down-to-earth aesthetics?

"Mr. Mihawk, where is this? Are you going out?" Shen Qing asked curiously, looking at the scene before him. Hawkeye was dressed neatly, carrying the Black Blade Night on his back, and had a serious expression on his face, clearly indicating that something had happened.

“Brother Shen, we’ve run into some trouble in Dressrosa. I’m going to help out in Dover. This area isn’t far from Dressrosa now; it should take about five more hours to reach the Kingdom of Dressrosa,” Hawkeye replied immediately.

"Dover's in trouble?" Shen Qing's expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and he hurriedly asked, "What exactly happened?"

Shen Qing was extremely worried at this moment. If his arrival caused a butterfly effect, causing the Dressrosa storyline to be brought forward, and resulting in the destruction of Luffy's Donquixote Family, where Doflamingo lived, then he would truly be devastated.

Once Dover is captured and brought to Impel Down, becoming the infamous Newspaper King, it will be virtually impossible for Shen Qing to rescue him given his current power, even with Hawkeye's help.

Luffy and his crew's previous escape from Impel Down was already a slap in the face to the World Government. How could the World Government make such a mistake twice? Therefore, Impel Down is currently under heavy security.

"Brother Shen, don't be nervous. Dover is fine for now. It's just that the Don Quixote family is being targeted." Seeing Shen Qing's anxious expression, Hawkeye assumed he was worried about Dover and felt fortunate to have such a friend.

Shen Qing breathed a long sigh of relief upon hearing Hawkeye's words. As long as Doflamingo wasn't rushed into the city, there was still room for redemption.

"Mr. Mihawk, what exactly happened?" Shen Qing asked again.

After Hawkeye explained, Shen Qing finally understood what was going on. Not long ago, Hawkeye learned from a casual conversation with his friend Shanks that the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates were heading towards Dressrosa. Moreover, according to intelligence from the Red-Haired Pirates, the new Shichibukai, Whitebeard Jr., and the Navy were also keeping a close eye on the movements in Dressrosa.

This sudden news immediately alerted Hawkeye to something amiss. After ending his conversation with Shanks, Hawkeye told Doflamingo to be careful lately, and then headed towards Dressrosa to lend Doflamingo a hand. Regardless of whether these people were causing trouble for Doflamingo, Hawkeye wanted to help keep things under control to avoid being caught off guard.