115: Chapter 115 Official Investigation: "They Want Your 'Cultivation Technique'"

Official Communication at the Entrance of the Pole Array

Just as Chen Wu's team stepped into the light path inside the Pole Array, Lin Mo's tactical tablet suddenly popped up a "Highest Priority Communication" alert. On the pale blue virtual interface, the holographic images of the Minister of the Special Incident Response Department and the head of the Asia-Pacific region of Interpol appeared simultaneously, with the United Command Center filled with documents as the background. Their expressions were more solemn than when they had previously reported the Hydra threat. The global live broadcast camera automatically focused on the screen, and the barrage of 52 billion viewers instantly changed from "Looking forward to the Pole Array exploration" to "New intelligence." The ever-active migrant worker brother, "Watcher of Huangtu Slope," was the first to leave a message: "There must be results from the investigation into the Snake Queen!"

"Chen Wu, we have an important discovery that needs to be reported in person," the Minister's finger slid across the virtual file, pulling up a report marked "Top Secret · Joint Investigation No. 071." "Interpol just destroyed three secret strongholds of the Snake-Headed Hydra organization in Southeast Asia. Core intelligence extracted from the database shows that their goal is not as simple as the 'Muscle Tendon Change Classic' —" He paused, his gaze falling on Chen Wu, "What they really want is the 'Xingji Fist' Cultivation Technique you created after fusing Yijin Energy, Xingyi Fist, and Baji Fist, as well as the 'Yijin Fusion Method' passed down by your great-grandfather."

Lin Mo's fingertips flew rapidly across the keyboard, and the tablet synchronized the download of the report content. In the pale green night-vision screen, dense text and data scrolled rapidly: In the past three years, the Snake-Headed Hydra organization has plundered the core Cultivation Techniques of 17 traditional martial arts schools globally, including the "Qi Channel Control Technique" of Indian Yoga and the "Stealth Energy Method" of Japanese Ninjutsu. However, all plundering operations revolved around a common goal — "Fusion-type Cultivation Technique Research." The Technical Department's real-time analysis popped up on the screen: "They are trying to fuse the Qi Energy of different schools to create a 'Super Cultivation Technique without Weaknesses,' and your Xingji Fist is currently the only combat-type Cultivation Technique in the world that has achieved 'perfect Fusion of hard and soft energy.' It has more research value than all the Cultivation Techniques they have plundered before."

Grandpa Wang's dry tobacco pipe made a dull thud against the side of the light path, the sparks from the pipe bowl particularly striking under the pale golden light inside the Pole Array. The old man flipped out the "Tomb Guardian Secret Records" left by his grandfather, the yellowed pages glowing pale blue under the holographic light. One page was marked with cinnabar as "History of Cultivation Technique Plundering": "In 1948, the Qijue Sect tried to steal the Tomb Guardian's 'Yijin Fusion Method' but was repelled by your great-grandfather. At that time, their goal was to 'fuse the energy methods of different schools.' Today's Snake-Headed Hydra is just repeating the same mistakes!" The pipe bowl pointed at the records on the page. "Your great-grandfather said back then, 'The importance of a Cultivation Technique lies in the soul of its Legacy, not the form of its Moves.' These people only want the surface Moves of the Cultivation Technique, but they don't understand that the core of Fusion is martial virtue and original intention!" A Bronze Token engraved with the two characters "Guard Technique" suddenly flew out of the camphor wood box. Pale golden Qi Energy spread along the token, resonating with Chen Wu's Xingji Fist Qi Energy, forming a "Cultivation Technique Protection" totem on the light path.

In the Flower Girl's basket, the eight-colored petals of the inheritance grass suddenly unfolded towards the holographic screen. Dewdrops rolled on the leaves, reflecting the key data in the report — the "Cultivation Technique Fusion Failure Record" of the Snake-Headed Hydra organization showed that they had tried to fuse Spirit-Devouring Energy with Taiji Power, resulting in the Qi Energy of 12 experimenters going berserk and dying. In the document marked "Ideal Fusion Template," there was actually a combat screenshot of Chen Wu performing Xingji Fist, with the Qi Energy trajectory of each Move marked in red, and the words "Goal: Copy this Fusion ratio" written next to it. The little girl dripped "talisman power dew" onto the petals, and the seven-colored light merged with the report data, projecting an "Analysis of Fusion Failure Reasons" on the stone wall: "The lack of Yijin Energy as a buffer medium caused the hard and soft energy to collide directly, leading to Qi Energy disorder — this is exactly the key to why they need your Cultivation Technique!"

The global live broadcast barrage instantly exploded. The connection with the Egyptian traditional martial arts expert was re-established. In the screen, the old man held up an ancient clay tablet and sighed: "The reason why the 'Qi Energy Fusion Technique' of ancient Egypt was lost is because there was no 'buffer medium.' The Snake-Headed Hydra's line of thinking is correct, but they chose the wrong direction. Plundering will never obtain the true essence of Fusion!" Nurse Emily from London sent the latest findings from the hospital: "We detected residues of 'Qi Energy Modification Agent' in the blood of the captured men in black. This agent can forcibly increase the success rate of Fusion, but it will cause the user's Qi Energy to wither and die within three months — the Snake Queen doesn't care about the lives of her subordinates at all!"

Su Chen's Mystic Water Energy suddenly unfolded into a water curtain on the light path, projecting the "Cultivation Technique Plundering Map" from the report onto it: "In that case, the Snake Queen setting Qi Energy bombs in the Pole Array is not only to stop us from obtaining the 'Muscle Tendon Change Classic,' but also to take advantage of the chaos to seize Chen Wu's Cultivation Technique memories!" He pointed to the red dots on the map. "These strongholds all have 'memory extraction devices' that can read a Martial Artist's Cultivation Technique memories through Qi Energy fluctuations. The previous Poison Vortex likely came with this kind of device!"

Key Clues from the Corpse of Poison Vortex

Just as the news of the joint investigation was reported, the "Qi Energy Forensic Team" of the Special Incident Response Department conducted a remote autopsy on the corpse of Poison Vortex through holographic projection. On the pale blue virtual autopsy table, the corpse of Poison Vortex glowed pale green in the night-vision screen. The forensic scientist's Qi Energy probe gently pierced into his left chest — that was the location of the "Qi Energy Core" that Chen Wu had previously frozen. The moment the probe touched the residual Qi Energy, a string of complex code suddenly popped up on the screen, perfectly matching the signal characteristics of the "Cultivation Technique Memory Extraction Device" in the report.

"There really is a problem!" The forensic scientist's voice was filled with excitement. The probe explored carefully at the Qi Energy Core. "A miniature 'Qi Energy Memory Chip' is implanted on the inside of his ribs, which can automatically record the Fusion trajectory when it comes into contact with the target Cultivation Technique's Qi Energy — Chen Wu, when you attacked him with Xingji Fist before, the chip likely already recorded part of the Xingji Fist Qi Energy data!" The tablet showed that 63% of the chip's storage capacity had been used, 30% of which was data from other Cultivation Techniques plundered by the Snake-Headed Hydra organization, 20% was the basic trajectories of Xingji Fist's "Xingji Collapse" and "Xingji Lean," and the remaining 13% was the detonation program for the "Qi Energy Bomb" at the core of the Pole Array.

Li Xuantong's Five Elements Energy was suddenly injected into the holographic projection, the pale brown Qi Energy flowing along the probe's trajectory, forming a "Qi Energy Shielding Layer" at the chip's location: "The chip must be destroyed immediately. We cannot let them get the complete Xingji Fist data!" Chen Wu nodded, his palms condensing the soft energy of Xingji Fist. The pale golden Qi Energy was remotely injected along the "Qi Energy Channel" of the holographic projection, precisely wrapping the chip — the slow-motion footage of the global live broadcast showed that the soft energy was like a layer of delicate silk, slowly peeling the chip away from the Qi Energy Core without triggering any data leakage.

Lin Mo's tablet synchronized the chip data, and the Technical Department's "decompilation System" quickly cracked it: "There is a hidden folder in the chip marked 'Snake Queen's Ultimate Plan'," the boy's voice carried solemnity, "The content shows that the Snake Queen plans to use the 'Cultivation Technique Extraction Cannon' to forcibly read Chen Wu's memories when detonating the Qi Energy bomb at the core of the Pole Array, then escape overseas with the data, complete the replication of Xingji Fist at the 'Hydra Remnant Base,' and then use the replicated Cultivation Technique to mass-produce 'Super Soldiers'!" The tablet also showed that the Snake Queen's "Cultivation Technique Extraction Cannon" needed the "Earth Pulse Qi Energy of the Pole Array Core" as energy, which was also the reason why she had to hold the core of the Pole Array.

In the barrage of the global live broadcast, viewers from all over the world expressed their anger and support. "Watcher of Huangtu Slope" sent a message: "I found a suspicious truck near the old nest of Qijue, with the 'Hydra Logistics' logo on the body. I have notified the local police to intercept it!" The Brazilian Martial Artist Alliance stated that it had organized 2,000 Martial Artists to search for the backup base where the Snake Queen might be hiding in the Amazon rainforest; the United Nations Security Council even passed an emergency resolution, authorizing the "Global Anti-Snake-Headed Hydra Alliance" to use all necessary resources such as satellite positioning and special forces to assist Chen Wu's team in preventing the implementation of the plan — a barrage from the UN Secretary-General received 1 billion likes: "Cultivation Technique Legacy is a common cultural heritage of mankind, and we will never allow anyone to tarnish it with plundering and violence!"

Grandpa Wang's dry tobacco pipe knocked out a brisk rhythm against the side of the light path. The old man flipped the "Tomb Guardian Secret Records" to the "Cultivation Technique Protection" chapter: "In order to protect the 'Yijin Fusion Method' back then, your great-grandfather specially engraved the key steps in the 'Tomb Guardian Bloodline Mark,' which can only be activated by direct descendants," the pipe bowl pointed at Chen Wu's peace lock, "Your Xingji Fist fused Yijin Energy, and the core mnemonic is also hidden in your Bloodline Qi Energy. Even if the Snake Queen gets the surface trajectory, without the Bloodline activation, she cannot practice the real Xingji Fist!" Pale golden Qi Energy surged out from the peace lock, intertwined with the Qi Energy of Chen Wu's Dantian, forming a "Bloodline Totem" in his palm, proving the uniqueness of the Cultivation Technique.

Deployment of Joint Tactics

At the temporary tactical meeting inside the Pole Array, Chen Wu's team and the experts from the United Command Center jointly formulated the "Pole Array Core Combat Plan." On the virtual sand table, the Pole Array was divided into three areas: "Outer Defense Belt," "Middle Qi Energy Corridor," and "Core Detonation Zone." The Snake Queen's main forces were concentrated in the middle corridor, while the core area was equipped with "Qi Energy Bombs" and "Cultivation Technique Extraction Cannon," forming a trap of "waiting for the attack by defending."

"The first step is for Zhang Hao and Love to lead the 'Qi Energy Assault Team' of the Special Incident Response Department to draw fire from the left side of the middle corridor," the Department Head said, tracing the attack route on the sand table with his finger. "Elder Su's Mystic Water Energy will be responsible for freezing the Poison Energy traps on both sides of the corridor, while Elder Li and Elder Zhao will use Five Elements Energy and Baji Energy to destroy Snake Queen's Qi Energy supply station and cut off her energy supply." The Interpol lead added, "We have coordinated with special forces from 12 countries globally to simultaneously raid the overseas strongholds of the Snake-Headed Hydra, preventing them from sending reinforcements to the Polar Array. You can focus on dealing with Snake Queen herself."

Lin Mo's tablet suddenly popped up a "Cultivation Technique Protection Plan": "The Technical Department has developed a 'Qi Energy Memory Shield'," the boy said, holding up a silver device the size of a fingernail. "As long as you wear it, it can block 99% of Cultivation Technique memory extraction. Even if Snake Queen's Extraction Cannon hits you, she will only obtain information on the Basic Breathing Technique." He also pulled up a document for a "Fake Xingji Fist Technique": "Based on the trajectory of Xingji Fist, we deliberately modified 30% of the Qi Energy ratio. If Snake Queen steals it, training with it will only cause Qi Energy disorder. It's the perfect trap for her!"

Chen Wu took the shield, injecting his pale golden Yijin Energy into it. The device instantly resonated with his Qi Energy, forming a layer of transparent protective shield around his body. "Then what is my responsibility?" His gaze fell on the core detonation zone of the sand table. "Snake Queen's target is me. I should go to the core area to attract her attention while searching for the bomb's detonation device." Grandpa Wang suddenly stood up and handed the "Tomb Guardian Tactical Map" from the camphor wood box to Chen Wu: "The 'Core Assault' tactic your great-grandfather used against the Qijue Sect back in the day can be used today." His pipe pointed to the "detour route" on the map. "The Earth Vein Qi Energy in the Polar Array core has a 'Blind Spot Channel'. If you circle around to Snake Queen's back from there, you can avoid her main force and catch her off guard to destroy the Extraction Cannon!"

In the Flower Girl's basket, the eight-colored petals of the inheritance grass suddenly formed the characters for "Tactics". Dewdrops rolled on the leaves, reflecting the "Blind Spot Channel" on the sand table—the flow speed of the Earth Vein Qi Energy there was twice that of other areas, which was perfect for letting Chen Wu's Xingji Fist utilize its "Hard-Soft Transformation" advantage to Move quickly without being detected. The little girl mixed "talisman power dew" with "energy-breaking dew" to create a "Tactical Enhancer" and dripped it onto Chen Wu's tactical suit: "Elder Zhou says this will make your Qi Energy even more concealed in the Blind Spot Channel and enhance the effect of the shield. Even Snake Queen's Perception Talisman won't be able to detect you!"

In the global live stream chat, the audience spontaneously organized an "Online Tactical Support Team". Some marked Snake Queen's potential ambush points based on the sand table map; some analyzed the energy weaknesses of the "Cultivation Technique Extraction Cannon" and suggested using the Metal Energy from the Five Elements Energy to cut the circuits; others compiled Snake Queen's combat habits from previous battles, warning Chen Wu to watch out for her "Snake-Form Poison Energy Assault". Real-time data from the Technical Department showed that in just half an hour, global viewers had submitted 1,200 valid tactical suggestions, 37 of which were incorporated into the final operational plan—the suggestion from "Watcher of Huangtu Slope" to "use dual-energy daggers to disguise as Snake Queen's subordinates" was even rated as the "Best Tactical Idea".

When the tactical deployment was completed, the light paths inside the Polar Array suddenly rippled violently. Lin Mo's tablet showed that Snake Queen had discovered the joint investigation's actions and was pre-starting the warm-up procedure for the "Qi Energy Bomb". The Earth Vein Qi Energy in the core area began to become chaotic, and the traces of dark red Poison Energy became increasingly obvious. "There's no time left, we must act immediately!" Chen Wu gripped the dual-energy daggers in his hands, the Qi Energy of the Xingji Fist condensing in his palms. "Everyone, stick to the plan and be safe. I will wait for you to rendezvous in the core area!"

Cultivation Technique Protection in the Depths of the Polar Array

As Chen Wu advanced along the "Blind Spot Channel", the Earth Vein Qi Energy inside the Polar Array appeared as a complex network structure in his Perception Talisman vision. In the pale golden flow of Qi Energy, dark red Poison Energy lurked like a venomous snake; a moment of carelessness would trigger a trap—but the effect of the "Tactical Enhancer" far exceeded expectations. His Xingji Fist Qi Energy perfectly merged with the Earth Vein Qi Energy of the channel, not even triggering the "Qi Energy Sensing Lines" set up by Snake Queen. In the night-vision footage of the global live stream, Chen Wu's figure was like a streak of pale golden light, shuttling rapidly through the complex passage. The chat of 52 billion viewers flooded with uniform messages of "Go for it!", and even those who had previously worried about the danger were won over by his precise Qi Energy control.

At the end of the passage, the outline of the Polar Array's core area gradually became clear. A pitch-black "Qi Energy Bomb" floated in the center of the core, surrounded by dense red Qi Energy lines connecting to energy nodes in all directions. Snake Queen stood beside the bomb, holding a half-meter-long "Cultivation Technique Extraction Cannon". The muzzle glowed with a dark red light, pointed directly at the entrance of the passage—she had indeed anticipated that Chen Wu would appear from here, but she had not expected the "Tactical Enhancer" to make his Qi Energy completely concealed.

"Come out, Chen Wu," Snake Queen's voice carried a strange, eerie smile, and the muzzle of the Extraction Cannon slowly turned. "I know you are here. Although your Xingji Fist Qi Energy is concealed, the flow of Earth Vein Qi Energy cannot deceive me—stop struggling. Hand over the Cultivation Technique, and I can let you die quickly." Chen Wu's palms suddenly condensed the hard power of the Xingji Fist, with pale black Baji Energy and light brown Xingyi Fist Energy merging in a 6:4 ratio, preparing to launch a surprise attack the moment she turned around.

Just then, the communication from the Joint Command Center suddenly sounded: "Chen Wu, wait! Interpol just discovered from the stronghold database that the energy core of the Extraction Cannon is at the tail of the cannon. Use your Xingji Lock to freeze that spot, and you can disable it!" Lin Mo's tablet simultaneously transmitted the "Energy Core Location Map". In the light green image, the red highlight at the tail of the cannon was particularly eye-catching. Chen Wu adjusted the direction of his Qi Energy, and Yijin Energy spread along his fingertips, preparing to lock onto the core precisely—

Snake Queen seemed to sense something and suddenly turned around, the muzzle of the Extraction Cannon pointed directly at Chen Wu's chest. "Too late!" She pulled the trigger, and the dark red "Extraction Beam" shot towards Chen Wu, but the moment it touched the "Qi Energy Memory Shield", it was reflected by the pale golden protective shield, striking the adjacent stone wall and leaving a black mark. "How is this possible?!" An expression of disbelief appeared on Snake Queen's face. "How could your memory be shielded?!"

"Because you don't understand, Cultivation Technique can never be obtained through plunder," Chen Wu's Xingji Fist suddenly erupted, and the pale golden Qi Energy surged towards Snake Queen like a tide. "It requires the original intention of inheritance, the support of martial virtue, and countless times of practice and realization—these are things you will never obtain!" The moment the fist power struck the tail of the Extraction Cannon, the pale golden Yijin Energy precisely froze the energy core. The dark red light extinguished instantly, and the cannon body lost power with a "click".

The global live stream chat exploded instantly, with 52 billion viewers simultaneously sending messages like "So cool!" and "Cultivation Technique protection successful!". The cheers from the Joint Command Center came through the communication, and the Interpol lead announced: "The strongholds in all 12 countries globally have been completely destroyed, and the remaining forces of the Snake-Headed Hydra organization have been thoroughly cleared out. Chen Wu, you have succeeded!"

Snake Queen looked at the disabled Extraction Cannon and then at the approaching Chen Wu team, suddenly showing a crazy smile: "Even if I can't get the Cultivation Technique, I will blow this place up and let the Muscle Tendon Change Classic and you all be buried with it!" She reached out towards the detonation button of the "Qi Energy Bomb", but her wrist was instantly frozen by Su Chen's Mystic Water Energy, and Li Xuantong's Five Elements Energy chains immediately wrapped around her body, rendering her unable to Move.

When Zhang Hao's iron arm pressed the "Emergency Stop" button of the bomb, the Earth Vein Qi Energy in the Polar Array core area finally returned to stability. Pale golden light once again enveloped the entire space, and the patterns on the stone walls glowed with a soft light, as if cheering for the victory of the Cultivation Technique protection. Chen Wu walked up to Snake Queen, the "Bloodline Totem" in his palm glowing with pale gold: "The Cultivation Technique you want is hidden in my Bloodline, hidden in the inheritance of traditional martial arts. As long as there are Martial Artists like us, you will never succeed."

The final image of the global live stream lingered on the holographic group photo of Chen Wu's team and the Joint Command Center. The chat from 52 billion viewers formed a golden ribbon of light that read "Cultivation Technique Protection", circling above the Polar Array core area. The voice of the Department Head of the Special Incident Response Department was filled with excitement: "From today on, your Xingji Fist will be included in the global ancient martial arts protection list, and the authorities will provide you with the most comprehensive support for inheritance—because this is not just your Cultivation Technique, but the cultural wealth of all humanity!"

Chen Wu knew that although the battle in the Polar Array core had ended, the road for the inheritance of traditional martial arts was still long. However, he was no longer worried, because with official support, the protection of global Martial Artists, and the "Xingji Fist"—a sharp blade fused with original intention and martial virtue—no matter what challenges he encountered in the future, the light of traditional martial arts would never be extinguished.

The final lines of text scrolled in the chat: "Official endorsement protects the Cultivation Technique, global unity guards the inheritance; the battle of the Polar Array ends in victory, set off again before the Yijin Pavilion!" This message was simultaneously lit up by 52 billion viewers, like a river of light crossing the underground palace, illuminating the final path to the Yijin Pavilion and the hope for the future of traditional martial arts.