160: Chapter 160 The Young Master of the Li Family's Provocation: "Nothing but a show-off."

Section 1: Uninvited Guest: The Li Family Young Lord Breaks Through and Appears

Night deepened over Zhongnan Mountain. Beside the Li Family Ancestral Home's Origin Qi Energy Pool, Mu Qing was leading Disciples in setting the final formation eye of the Five Elements Formation—pale green Wood Energy, pale yellow Earth Energy, and pale blue Water Energy interlaced by the pool, forming a semi-transparent Qi Energy shield that firmly locked the Origin Qi Energy within the pool, ensuring it wouldn't leak when the Allied Forces arrived for replenishment. Granny Yao sat to one side, guiding the martial arts fan representatives in identifying the leaf patterns of Spirit Incense Grass. Xiao Juan held a model of the Meridian Mandarin Duck Axes gifted by Ling Shuang, seriously drawing hidden weapon launch trajectories in her notebook. The entire ancestral home was immersed in the tranquility of preparation.

"Boom—!" A massive explosion suddenly erupted from the west side of the ancestral home. Accompanied by an explosion of pale black Qi Energy, a two-meter-wide gap was blown into the perimeter wall. Amidst flying rubble, a black figure lunged into the ancestral home like a leopard. The Qi Energy stirred up upon landing carried a distinct "Dual Energy Distortion" characteristic—it was neither the Li Family's orthodox Taiji Form-Extreme Dual Energy nor the modern traditional martial arts Fusion Energy, but a sinister Qi Energy mixed with faint Spirit-Devouring Energy.

"That old fogey Li Xuan actually sold out the Family Legacy just to save his own life!" The black figure removed his mask, revealing a young face seventy percent similar to Li Xuan's. He looked about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, but his eyes held a sinister glint unfitting for his age. Hanging from his waist was half a jade pendant identical to the Li Family totem. This was Li Xuan's only son and the Li Family Young Lord, Li Yue. "A bunch of reclusive trash hiding their heads, plus a few modern traditional martial arts frauds propped up by technology, actually dare to talk about 'uniting against the Spirit-Devourers'? It's enough to make one die laughing!"

The global live stream's night monitoring cameras immediately captured this scene. Viewers who were about to rest were instantly jolted awake, and the bullet chat was filled with questions: "It's the Li Family Young Lord! How did he escape?" "This Qi Energy isn't right; it smells like Spirit-Devouring Energy!" "What does he want to do?" Chen Wu and Grandmaster Yang Mingyuan heard the commotion and immediately rushed out of the guest rooms. Lu Feng and Wang Lei simultaneously stood in front of the inheritance grass, their Qi Energy expanding around them to form a solid defensive line: "Li Yue! Your father has been arrested by the Special Department. Resisting pointlessly will only lead you to a dead end!"

Li Yue sneered, raising his right hand as pale black Qi Energy condensed in his palm, actually forming a miniature "Dual Energy Vortex." "A dead end? You're the ones at a dead end! My Li Family has guarded the Origin of traditional martial arts for generations; why should we give it to outsiders like you? Today, I'll show you what true 'Dual Energy' is. Your grandstanding tricks aren't even worthy of being mentioned in front of a true Legacy!" His Qi Energy fluctuations grew stronger, and the Five Elements shield by the Origin Qi Energy Pool began to vibrate slightly. Mu Qing's expression changed: "Not good! His Qi Energy can interfere with the Five Elements balance. If this continues, the shield will be broken!"

Section 2: Public Provocation: The Arrogant Declaration of a Distorted Legacy

Li Yue didn't strike immediately. Instead, he walked to the center of the Martial Arts Arena and began a non-stop tirade of mockery toward the global live stream cameras. Every word was like a needle pricking the hearts of everyone present and the global martial arts fans.

"The Cloud Hidden Sect's Flowing Cloud Sky-Step? Merely flashy moves!" He pointed at a cluster of wooden stakes in the distance. "Jumping around on wooden stakes is called lightfoot technique? If you really encountered a dense attack from Spirit-Devouring Puppets, your Flowing Cloud Qi wouldn't even be enough for self-defense, let alone 'evasive strikes.' I think 'evasive fleeing' is more like it!" Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng stood in the crowd, his expression calm, but he quietly tightened his grip on his bamboo sword as the Flowing Cloud Qi around him began to flow slowly, ready to respond to any emergency.

"The Stone Buddha Temple's Vajra Zen Energy? Just a clumsy way of taking hits!" Li Yue raised an eyebrow toward Master Xuankong. "Relying on Zen Energy to tank Spirit-Devouring Energy might look impressive, but it's actually a waste of Qi Energy! Once your Zen Energy is exhausted, won't you just be handled by the Puppets as they please? My Li Family's Dual Energy can directly absorb Spirit-Devouring Energy and convert it for our own use. This is the brilliant method of 'using evil to control evil'!" Master Xuankong pressed his palms together, as golden Zen Energy formed a thin layer of protection around him. "Benefactor, you mistake the 'Evil Path' for 'brilliance.' Spirit-Devouring Energy is incredibly toxic; forcibly absorbing it will only backfire on oneself, eventually leading one to fall into the Demonic Path. It is not advisable."

"And you, Mu Qing of the Five Elements Gate!" Li Yue turned to Mu Qing, his tone even more disdainful. "Fiddling with a few broken jade pendants and planting some useless grass, and you dare call them 'Anti-Spirit-Devourer Divine Artifacts'? I could release a single strand of Spirit-Devouring Energy and make your Five Elements Formation collapse. Do you believe me?" Mu Qing didn't get angry; instead, he calmly pulled up the Qi Energy data of the Five Elements Formation. "My Five Elements Energy may not be flashy, but it can generate and overcome itself in an endless cycle, making it a hundred times more stable than your distorted Dual Energy. Why don't you try it now and see if your Spirit-Devouring Energy breaks the formation first, or if my Earth Energy traps you first?"

What infuriated people most was his mockery of modern traditional martial arts: "Chen Wu, that 'Fusion Energy Technique' of yours is nothing more than a hodgepodge of bits and pieces!" Li Yue pointed at Chen Wu, his eyes full of contempt. "Relying on smart devices to correct your posture and points to exchange for healing pills—without technology, you are nothing! You even dare to be the commander of the Allied Forces? I see you as nothing but a grandstanding clown, only capable of using live streams to grab attention. If you ever met the core strength of the Spirit-Devouring Organization, you wouldn't even know how you died!"

Zhang Qiming sent urgent intel through the Qi Energy communicator: "During his prison break, Li Yue stole the 'Dual Energy-Spirit-Devouring Energy Fusion Sample' researched by the Li Family and killed two Special Department members. His Qi Energy is already severely distorted and highly aggressive! Our support team is 15 minutes away. You must hold your ground and don't let him provoke you!"

Chen Wu took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, and said to Li Yue, "The value of a Legacy doesn't lie in whose energy technique is more 'powerful,' but in whether one upholds the original intent to 'protect.' Your father abandoned that intent and ended up ruined and disgraced. Now, you are colluding with the Spirit-Devouring Organization and distorting your Family Legacy; you will only end up worse than him! If you surrender now, you might receive leniency. If you continue to be stubborn, only the spurning of the traditional martial arts world and the judgment of the law await you!"

"Leniency? Spurned?" Li Yue laughed as if he had heard the world's greatest joke. Pale black Qi Energy erupted around him, causing fine cracks to appear in the bluestone slabs of the Martial Arts Arena. "I don't need your 'handling,' and I certainly don't care about your spurning! Today, I will destroy this so-called 'Traditional Martial Arts Allied Forces,' take back everything that belongs to my Li Family, and let you all know that only I, Li Yue, am worthy of inheriting the Origin of traditional martial arts!"

Section 3: Energy Technique Duel: Distorted Dual Energy vs. Allied Energy

As soon as Li Yue finished speaking, the Dual Energy Vortex in his right hand suddenly accelerated, and pale black Qi Energy swept toward the inheritance grass. His goal was clear: to destroy the core auxiliary power of the Traditional Martial Arts Allied Forces and completely bankrupt the plan to seize the fusion jade.

"In your dreams!" Lu Feng was the first to act, condensing Form-Extreme Hard Energy into a pale gold Qi Energy wall in front of him to block Li Yue's attack. The moment the energies collided, Lu Feng was actually shaken back two steps, his arm feeling slightly numb. "What powerful distorted energy! It's even stronger than a normal Late Stage Hidden Energy Puppet!"

Wang Lei and Amir immediately followed suit. Wang Lei's Hard Energy went straight for Li Yue's chest, while Amir used Pyramid Qi Energy to circle behind Li Yue, attempting to pin down his movements. Li Yue didn't panic at all; he shifted his body to dodge Wang Lei's attack while condensing Qi Energy in his left hand and waving it toward Amir. The pale black Qi Energy formed an arc that directly dispersed Amir's Qi Energy. "With only this much skill, you dare call yourselves the 'Assault Team'? I think 'Delivery Team' is more like it!"

Seeing things take a turn for the worse, Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng unsheathed his bamboo sword. Flowing Cloud Qi condensed on the blade as he stabbed toward Li Yue's wrist—his goal wasn't to harm Li Yue, but to interrupt his Qi Energy condensation. Li Yue reacted extremely quickly, flipping his wrist to block the bamboo sword with his Dual Energy Vortex. The Flowing Cloud Qi and the distorted energy collided, producing a piercing sound of Qi Energy friction. "The Cloud Hidden Sect's sword techniques are nothing special!" He exerted sudden force, intending to blow away Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng's bamboo sword, but he didn't expect the priest to suddenly change moves. The bamboo sword slid gently along the direction of the vortex, actually circling behind Li Yue, with the tip of the sword pressing against his lower back.

"Benefactor, please stop." Master Xuankong took the opportunity to step forward, his golden Zen Energy forming a shield around Li Yue to temporarily trap his distorted energy. "Your Qi Energy has already begun to backfire. If this continues, your Dantian will be completely damaged, and you will never be able to practice energy again."

Li Yue seemed to have gone mad, suddenly erupting with even stronger Qi Energy. Within the pale black Qi Energy, a phantom of a Spirit-Devouring Puppet actually emerged: "Enough talk! Even if my Dantian is damaged, I'll take you down with me!" He violently broke free from Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng's restraint, his Dual Energy Vortex rushing toward the Origin Qi Energy Pool, "If I destroy this Origin Qi Energy Pool, let's see how you provide supplies to the Allied Forces!"

"Stop him!" Chen Wu finally acted, the Four Symbols Qi Energy expanding around him. The pale golden Hard Energy and pale green Soft Energy intertwined, forming a Fusion Energy wall even stronger than before, blocking the way to the Origin Qi Energy Pool. Li Yue's Dual Energy Vortex crashed into the energy wall and actually reached a stalemate — the pale black Qi Energy surged continuously, but the energy wall remained completely still, even beginning to slowly absorb the Spirit-Devouring Energy within the vortex and transforming it into pure Qi Energy.

"How is this possible?!" Li Yue's face was full of disbelief, "How could your hodgepodge energy technique block my twisted dual energies?"

Chen Wu looked at him, his eyes filled with disappointment: "Because my energy technique is the 'Energy of Guardianship,' embodying the original intention of modern traditional martial arts and hidden Legacies; whereas your energy technique is the 'Energy of Greed,' tainted with the sinister power of the Spirit-Devouring Organization — when the original intention differs, the Foundation of the energy technique differs. You thought you could become strong by twisting the Legacy, but you didn't know that an energy technique that deviates from its original intention, no matter how strong, is just a flash in the pan."

As he spoke, Chen Wu suddenly exerted force, pushing the Fusion Energy wall forward. Li Yue's Dual Energy Vortex was instantly dispersed, and the pale black Qi Energy, under the influence of the energy wall, gradually transformed into pale golden Origin Qi Energy, merging into the Origin Qi Energy Pool. Li Yue was knocked back several steps by the force, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth as waves of intense pain radiated from his Dantian: "No... impossible... how could I lose to you..."

Section 4: Conspiracy Exposed: Ironclad Evidence of Collusion with the Spirit-Devourers

Li Yue still wanted to struggle, but Granny Yao suddenly stepped forward, holding a stalk of Spirit Incense Grass and gently placing it on Li Yue's arm — as soon as the Spirit Incense Grass touched Li Yue's Qi Energy, it instantly turned from pale green to pale black, and its leaves began to wither: "This is the evidence of your 'using evil to suppress evil,'" Granny Yao's voice echoed through the Martial Arts Arena, "Spirit Incense Grass can absorb Spirit-Devouring Energy. Your Qi Energy contains not only Spirit-Devouring Energy but also fragments of an 'Artificial Qi Energy Core,' a characteristic found only in those who cooperate deeply with the Spirit-Devouring Organization!"

Mu Qing immediately pulled up the "Li Family Research Data" sent by the Special Department, displaying it on the global livestream screens via holographic projection: "This is the research record Li Yue left in the Li Family's secret room before his escape. It clearly states 'cooperate with the Spirit-Devouring Organization, use dual energies to fuse Spirit-Devouring Energy, and after seizing the fusion jade, jointly control the Origin of traditional martial arts.' There are also communication records between him and his contact in the Spirit-Devouring Organization, with the time, location, and content all clearly documented!"

The evidence on the screen was like a bombshell, completely shattering Li Yue's final excuses — in the communication records, Li Yue had not only provided the Spirit-Devouring Organization with information on the distribution of Ancient Martial Arts Schools in Zhongnan Mountain but also promised to take the opportunity during the exchange meeting to seize the inheritance grass to provide Vitality Qi Energy for the upgrade of the Spirit-Devouring Organization's 'Artificial Qi Energy Core.' The research records even contained cruel data from his 'Dual Energy - Spirit-Devouring Energy Fusion Experiments' using Li Family Disciples, making everyone present and martial arts fans worldwide burn with rage.

"So you not only twisted the Legacy but also harmed your fellow Disciples and colluded with the Spirit-Devouring Organization!" Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng's tone finally became stern, the bamboo sword in his hand trembling slightly. "The Li Family has guarded the Origin of traditional martial arts for generations, yet a degenerate like you emerged. This is truly intolerable by heaven!"

"No wonder your father was arrested; it turns out you father and son had colluded long ago!" Wang Lei shouted angrily, "You thought destroying the Origin Qi Energy Pool could stop the Allied Forces? Let me tell you, our original intention is to protect, and we don't rely on the Qi Energy in a single pool. Even without the Origin Qi Energy, we can use our own energy techniques to defeat you evil entities!"

In the global livestream's comments, angry messages flooded the screen: "Kill him! Such scum doesn't deserve to practice traditional martial arts!" "Punish Li Yue severely! Give traditional martial arts back a clean environment!" "Go Traditional Martial Arts Allied Forces! You must expose the Spirit-Devouring Organization's conspiracy!" Data from the Technical Department showed that the global audience's "Anger Index" had reached 90%, with over 1 billion messages supporting the Traditional Martial Arts Allied Forces. The Special Department's support hotline was overwhelmed as countless martial arts fans demanded to personally participate in the operation to clear out Spirit-Devourer strongholds.

Li Yue looked at the evidence on the screen and listened to the angry rebukes around him, finally breaking down. He slumped on the ground, his eyes hollow: "I just wanted to make the Li Family strong... I wanted everyone to revere the Li Family... I wasn't wrong... it's you who don't understand..."

"Your mistake was that you mistook 'becoming stronger' for 'control' and 'reverence' for 'fear,'" Chen Wu walked up to him. "The 'strength' of traditional martial arts is the ability to protect others; the 'reverence' for traditional martial arts is the adherence to one's original intention, not something gained through violence and conspiracy — from the very beginning, you misunderstood the meaning of the Legacy."

Section 5: Allied Forces Unite: Stronger Resolve After the Crisis

A support squad from the Special Department arrived quickly, placed Qi Energy suppression handcuffs on Li Yue, and led him away from the Li Family Ancestral Home. Watching Li Yue's departing figure, the mood of those present did not lighten — Li Yue's appearance proved that the Spirit-Devouring Organization had already penetrated the core of Ancient Martial Arts Families, and the subsequent anti-Spirit-Devourer battles would only become more difficult.

"Everyone, although Li Yue's provocation brought a crisis, it also allowed us to see the Spirit-Devouring Organization's ambitions clearly and made us understand the importance of the traditional martial arts union," Chen Wu said to the crowd. "He called us 'grandstanders,' so we must prove through our actions that we are 'guardians'; he wanted to destroy our union, so we must make the union stronger and let the Traditional Martial Arts Allied Forces become the strongest line of defense against the Spirit-Devouring Organization!"

Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng nodded: "The Cloud Hidden Sect will accelerate our investigation progress tonight, striving to draw a complete map of the Taiji Secret Realm before dawn tomorrow, marking the distribution of all Spirit-Devouring Puppets and traps."

Master Xuankong added: "Stone Buddha Temple Disciples have arrived at Taiji Villa. By tomorrow, they will complete the setup of the Vajra Zen Energy shield to ensure the safety of the Allied Forces before their departure."

Mu Qing pointed at the Origin Qi Energy Pool: "After Li Yue's twisted energy was transformed, the Origin Qi Energy has actually become purer. I will readjust the Five Elements Formation to increase supply efficiency by 50%, providing stronger Qi Energy support for the Allied Forces."

Granny Yao took out several stalks of cultivated Spirit Incense Grass: "I have used the Vitality Qi Energy of the inheritance grass to improve the Spirit Incense Grass. Now it can not only absorb Spirit-Devouring Energy but also provide an early warning of the Spirit-Devouring Organization's approach. Before we set off tomorrow, I will distribute one to every member of the Allied Forces to ensure everyone's safety."

Xiao Juan walked to Chen Wu's side and held up her Meridian Mandarin Duck Axes model: "Teacher Chen, I want to join the Allied Forces too! I will practice hidden weapons diligently to help everyone attack the Puppets' weaknesses!" Li Mengmeng smiled and patted her head: "We're all joining; the Traditional Martial Arts Allied Forces needs every one of us!"

The final scene of the global livestream stayed on the assembly of the Allied Forces in the Martial Arts Arena — Chen Wu stood at the very front, with hidden masters, representatives of Ancient Martial Arts Schools, and martial arts fans behind him, everyone's face filled with determination. The Five Elements shield of the Origin Qi Energy Pool shimmered with seven-colored light, and the inheritance grass bloomed by the pool, its eight-colored petals reflecting the banner of the "Traditional Martial Arts Allied Forces." In the distant night sky, the Flowing Cloud Qi of the Cloud Hidden Sect Disciples moved like dots of starlight toward the Taiji Secret Realm.

Neat lines of text scrolled through the comments: "The Young Lord's provocation reveals an evil heart, the Allied Forces unite to shatter the plot; the original intention of traditional martial arts is never forgotten, bravely moving forward against the Spirit-Devourer evil!" 260 billion viewers lit up their screens simultaneously, forming a cross-border "Guardian Light River" that intertwined with the moonlight of Zhongnan Mountain, illuminating the Traditional Martial Arts Allied Forces' journey to the Taiji Secret Realm.

Chen Wu looked at the people before him, and the Four Symbols Qi Energy in his Dantian resonated strongly with the surrounding Ancient Martial Arts Qi Energy and modern traditional martial arts Qi Energy — he knew that Li Yue's provocation was not the end, but the beginning. However, as long as the Traditional Martial Arts Allied Forces remained true to their original intention and united as one, there would be no difficulty they could not overcome and no evil they could not destroy. The fusion jade of the Taiji Secret Realm and the core of the Spirit-Devouring Organization would all return to the Righteous Path under the protection of the Traditional Martial Arts Allied Forces. The future of traditional martial arts would finally bloom with the most dazzling radiance through union and Legacy.