168: Chapter 168 Rift Horror: Ancient Soul Devourer Awakens and Resonates with the Origin

Section 1: Deep into the Rift: The Dual Trial of Extreme Cold and Qi Energy Distortion

The cold wind of the Eternal Night Icefield swirled with ice particles, scraping against the reconnaissance team's battle armor like knives. Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng, Amir, and Erik wore anti-Spirit-Devourer low-temperature armor and carried Qi Energy detection equipment as they slowly descended along the ice walls of the Eternal Night Rift. The rift was bottomless, and faint 'cracking' sounds came from the depths, as if the ice layers were slowly fracturing, or perhaps like the breathing of some ancient creature, making everyone's hearts tighten.

"Watch out for the ice shards underfoot; the ice layers here have been distorted by Qi Energy, making it easy to slip!" Erik walked at the front, the Qi Energy sensing staff in his hand glowing with a faint golden light. The tip of the staff touched the ice wall from time to time to detect Qi Energy fluctuations. Just as the tip touched a protruding ice shard, the gemstone suddenly turned from pale gold to deep purple. Erik stopped immediately: "Ten meters ahead, the Qi Energy fluctuations are exceptionally strong. It's the direction of the signal source we monitored earlier, but the Leyline Qi Energy here is 'flowing in reverse,' which will interfere with our Qi Energy control!"

Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng took out a 'Flowing Cloud Qi Lamp.' After injecting pale white Qi Energy, the wick lit up with a soft glow, illuminating the icy path ahead. The ice walls in front were covered in distorted black patterns, like a spiderweb soaked in ink. A faint black Qi Energy flowed within the patterns, similar to previous Spirit-Devouring Energy but older and colder. "This isn't the Qi Energy of the modern Spirit-Devouring Organization," Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng reached out toward the patterns, his Flowing Cloud Qi condensing into a thin shield at his fingertips. "It carries the 'decayed aura of the ancient leylines,' like an evil entity that has slumbered for tens of thousands of years, disturbed by our Qi Energy."

Amir's pyramid Qi Energy sensor suddenly emitted a rapid alarm. The Qi Energy curve on the screen fluctuated violently, the values soaring from 'Dangerous' to 'Lethal': "Fifty meters below, there is a 'super-large-scale Qi Energy source'! Its Qi Energy coverage reaches 100 meters, and its intensity is three times that of a Spirit-Devouring Sovereign!" Just as he finished speaking, a deafening 'roar' came from the bottom of the rift. Black Qi Energy surged up from the depths like a tide, and the black patterns on the ice walls instantly lit up. The entire rift began to shake violently, and ice shards fell in succession.

"Quick! Use Flowing Cloud Qi to secure yourselves!" Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng reacted extremely fast, his pale white Flowing Cloud Qi wrapping around the waists of the three like ribbons, firmly anchoring them to the ice wall. Erik thrust his Qi Energy sensing staff into the ice wall, activating the 'Leyline Anchor.' Pale golden light spread along the staff, temporarily stabilizing the surrounding ice. Amir took the opportunity to adjust the detector, synchronizing the location and intensity of the Qi Energy source to Taiji Villa: "Teacher Chen! An 'Ancient Spirit-Devourer Qi Energy Source' has been discovered at the bottom of the rift. The intensity is extremely high. Requesting backup!"

In the global live broadcast of the 'Rift Investigation,' viewers watched the shaking ice path and the surging black Qi Energy through the cameras on the team's helmets. The bullet chat was filled with worries: "It's too dangerous! Get them out of there!" "This Qi Energy is stronger than a Spirit-Devouring Sovereign, can the recon team hold out?" "Send backup quickly!" Data from the Technical Department showed that the global audience's 'Tension Index' had surpassed 95%. The 'Remote Support' function of the traditional martial arts APP was instantly activated, and hundreds of millions of martial arts fans spontaneously initiated 'Qi Energy Resonance' to transmit power to the reconnaissance team.

Section 2: Ancient Spirit-Devourer: The Terrifying Appearance of the Icefield Ancient Evil

When the reconnaissance team painstakingly reached the bottom of the rift, the sight before them made the three gasp. The bottom was a massive ice cavern. In the center stood a black 'Ancient Spirit-Devouring Stone,' wrapped in thick chains of black Qi Energy. At the end of the chains was a giant, snow-white creature. It resembled a polar bear but had three eyes glowing with red light. Its body was covered in translucent ice armor, with black Qi Energy flowing beneath it. This was the source itself—the 'Icefield Ancient Evil'!

"This is... the 'Ancient Spirit-Devourer Guardian' recorded in ancient texts!" Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng looked at the Ancient Evil, his eyes full of shock. "Legend says they were 'living weapons' of the ancient Spirit-Devouring Organization, sealed deep in the icefield by ancient traditional martial arts practitioners using Spirit-Devouring Stones. I didn't expect us to awaken it today!" The Ancient Evil seemed to understand his words and let out a deafening roar. Black Qi Energy rays shot out from its three red eyes, heading straight for the team.

Erik immediately raised his Qi Energy sensing staff, forming a shield of pale golden Origin Qi in front of them. The rays hit the shield with a 'sizzling' corrosive sound, and black marks instantly appeared on the shield's surface. "Its Qi Energy can corrode Origin Qi!" Erik shouted. Amir took the chance to condense pyramid Qi Energy, which shot out like a pale golden spear, hitting the Ancient Evil's ice armor. With a 'bang,' only a shallow white mark was left on the ice armor. The Ancient Evil was unharmed but instead enraged, swinging its massive claws toward Amir.

"Use Flowing Cloud Qi to restrain its movements!" Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng's pale white Flowing Cloud Qi surged out like a tide, wrapping around the Ancient Evil's claws in an attempt to slow its attack speed. Amir quickly circled behind the Ancient Evil, thrusting the detector's 'Qi Energy Sampling Needle' into a gap in the ice armor to collect a sample of the black Qi Energy. Erik set up a 'Leyline Warning Array' around the cavern to prevent the Ancient Evil from breaking free of the Spirit-Devouring Stone's chains and escaping the rift.

Just as the sampling was nearly complete, the Ancient Evil suddenly erupted with intense black Qi Energy, shattering the Flowing Cloud Qi wrapped around its claws. A massive claw swung toward Amir's back. At the critical moment, Erik lunged forward and pushed Amir away, but he was grazed by the claw himself. His battle armor was instantly corroded, leaving a large gash. Black Qi Energy invaded his body through the wound, and Erik's face turned pale instantly.

"Erik!" Amir turned immediately, injecting Origin Qi into Erik's wound to try and purify the black Qi Energy, only to find it more stubborn than expected. "Its Qi Energy can devour Origin Qi! Ordinary purification won't work!" Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng immediately took out the 'Origin Protection Core' given by Chen Wu and pressed it against Erik's wound. Pale golden and pale green light erupted instantly, and the black Qi Energy receded rapidly like snow meeting fire. Erik's complexion gradually returned to a healthy glow.

"The Origin Core can suppress its Qi Energy!" Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng shouted in surprise, holding the core above his head. The pale golden and pale green light spread through the ice cavern. The Ancient Evil's movements became noticeably sluggish, and the red light in its three eyes dimmed slightly. In the global live broadcast's bullet chat, viewers breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank goodness for the Origin Core!" "I'm so glad Erik is okay!" "Hurry and find a way to Seal it completely!"

Section 3: Emergency Support: Main Allied Forces Rush to the Icefield

When the reconnaissance team's distress signal reached Taiji Villa, Chen Wu was leading the main allied forces in a 'Polar Tactical Drill.' Upon receiving the news, he immediately adjusted the deployment: "Master Xuankong and Granny Yao, lead the Defense-Healing Team. Bring Spirit Incense Grass and Zen Energy purification equipment, and take the Qi Energy transport plane to the rift first. Mu Qing and Ling Shuang, lead the Five Elements-Hidden Weapon Team. Prepare the 'Five Elements Origin Sealing Array' and set out afterward. I will lead the Assault Team, carrying the fusion jade and the Leyline Qi Energy Stone Shunt Core, to provide direct support at the bottom of the rift!"

The Qi Energy transport plane flew toward the Eternal Night Icefield at top speed. Inside the cabin, Master Xuankong and Granny Yao were busy preparing the 'Zen Energy-Nature Qi Purification Combination.' Master Xuankong injected golden Zen Energy into the Spirit Incense Grass, making the leaves glow with a dual light of pale gold and pale green. Granny Yao forged purified Puppet alloy into 'Qi Energy Sealing Nails,' intended to reinforce the chains of the Spirit-Devouring Stone. "The Qi Energy of this ancient Spirit-Devourer carries the 'Power of Leyline Decay.' Ordinary Zen Energy can only suppress it temporarily. It needs to be combined with Nature Qi and Origin Qi for complete purification," Granny Yao explained to the team members. "Once we reach the bottom of the rift, everyone deploy in a 'Triangular Formation.' Do not approach the Ancient Evil alone."

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Half an hour later, the defense-healing team was the first to arrive at the top of the fissure. Following the Flowing Cloud Qi markings left by the reconnaissance team, they quickly descended into the ice cavern—at this moment, the Spirit-Devourer was struggling desperately, attempting to break free from the Spirit-Devourer Stone's chains. Black Qi Energy raged within the ice cavern, and the reconnaissance team could only barely hold on by relying on the Origin Core.

"Deploy the Zen Energy Barrier!" Master Xuankong shouted. Golden Zen Energy formed a massive barrier above the ice cavern, blocking the onslaught of black Qi Energy. Granny Yao led her team to insert the "Qi Energy Seal Nails" into the junction of the Spirit-Devourer Stone's chains. Light green Nature Qi spread along the nails, and the black Qi Energy of the chains was gradually purified, becoming stronger.

"Inject Origin Qi Energy!" The assault team led by Chen Wu arrived shortly after. They placed the fusion jade and the Leyline Qi Energy stone-splitting core in front of the Spirit-Devourer Stone. Light gold and light green Origin Qi Energy poured into the stone body like a waterfall. The black patterns on the stone's surface began to fade rapidly, revealing the light golden ancient runes within.

"These are the 'Seal Runes' of the ancient traditional martial arts practitioners!" Grandmaster Yang Mingyuan shouted excitedly. "As long as we use Origin Qi Energy to activate these runes, we can re-reinforce the Seal and let the Spirit-Devourer sleep forever!"

Mu Qing and Ling Shuang's Five Elements-Hidden Weapon team also arrived at the ice cavern, quickly setting up the "Five Elements Origin Seal Array" around the perimeter—five jade pendants were embedded into the five corners of the ice cavern. Light multicolored Qi Energy intertwined with Origin Qi Energy, Zen Energy, and Nature Qi, forming a massive "Multi-Energy Seal Web" in the ice cavern, firmly enveloping the Spirit-Devourer and the Spirit-Devourer Stone.

Sensing the power of the Seal, the Spirit-Devourer let out a desperate roar. The black Qi Energy frantically struck the Seal Web but was firmly blocked by the light gold, light green, and multicolored light, unable to break through.

In the "Support Scene" footage of the global broadcast, viewers watched the tacit cooperation of the coalition teams. The live chat was filled with cheers: "Such great teamwork! The coalition is indeed the best!" "The Multi-Energy Seal Web is so powerful! The Spirit-Devourer can't escape!" "Go! You must completely Seal it!"

Data from the Technical Department showed that the number of participants in the global "Remote Qi Energy Support" had exceeded 200 million at this moment. Origin Qi Energy was being continuously transmitted to the ice cavern through the live broadcast signal, injecting power into the Seal Web.

Origin Resonance: The Echo of Ancient and Modern traditional martial arts

As the coalition's Qi Energy continued to be injected, the ancient runes on the Spirit-Devourer Stone were gradually activated. Light golden light flowed across the stone's surface, echoing the glow of the fusion jade, forming an "Origin Resonance" that transcended time and space—the ground of the ice cavern began to vibrate slightly, and the Leyline Qi Energy beneath the ice layer surged like a tide, intertwining with the Qi Energy of the Seal Web. Above the ice cavern, phantoms of ancient traditional martial arts practitioners slowly appeared. They were dressed in ancient martial attire, holding ancient weapons, and performing the same sealing actions as the coalition.

"It is the 'Spiritual Imprint' of the ancient traditional martial arts practitioners!" Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng looked at the phantoms, his eyes filled with shock. "When they Sealed the Spirit-Devourer in ancient times, they injected their own Qi Energy and spirit into the Leylines. Today, our Origin Qi Energy has activated these imprints; they are helping us Seal it together!"

The actions of the ancient phantoms were synchronized with the coalition. Light golden Qi Energy shot from the phantoms' hands, merging into the Seal Web, instantly tripling the power of the Seal Web. The Spirit-Devourer's black Qi Energy was completely suppressed, and it could only struggle in vain within the Seal Web.

Chen Wu seized the opportunity and pressed the fusion jade onto the central rune of the Spirit-Devourer Stone—the light gold and light green Origin Qi Energy, like a key, inserted into the "keyhole" of the rune. All the ancient runes lit up instantly, and light golden light spread along the Spirit-Devourer Stone's chains, wrapping around the Spirit-Devourer's body, extracting the black Qi Energy from within it bit by bit and injecting it into the Spirit-Devourer Stone.

The Spirit-Devourer's size gradually shrank, and the red light in its three red eyes grew dimmer and dimmer, finally extinguishing completely. Its body turned into a white light, which was completely absorbed by the Spirit-Devourer Stone, leaving behind only an "Icefield Guardian Stone" glowing with light golden light.

"Success! The Spirit-Devourer has been completely Sealed!" Amir shouted excitedly. The black Qi Energy in the ice cavern dissipated completely, and the Leyline Qi Energy resumed its normal flow. The ancient phantoms nodded slightly to the coalition and then slowly dissipated, as if they had completed a mission that spanned ten thousand years.

Erik looked at the Qi Energy sensing staff in his hand; the gem at the tip of the staff was permanently glowing with light golden light, echoing the radiance of the Icefield Guardian Stone: "From now on, this fissure will be the 'Icefield Guardian Ground'. The Guardian Stone will automatically purify the surrounding evil Qi Energy, and the Eternal Night Icefield will never be in danger again!"

The coalition members gathered in front of the Guardian Stone, looking at the guardian power that had risen from the crisis, their faces full of relief—Master Xuankong pressed his palms together, praying for the guardian heart of the ancient traditional martial arts practitioners; Granny Yao planted Spirit Fragrant Grass beside the Guardian Stone, allowing Nature Qi and the Qi Energy of the Guardian Stone to jointly nourish the icefield Leylines; Mu Qing and Ling Shuang reinforced the Five Elements Seal Array to ensure that the power of the Guardian Stone would not leak; although Xiao Juan and Karim's signal team did not arrive at the scene, they sang ancient traditional martial arts songs for the coalition via remote communication. The singing echoed through the Qi Energy network in the ice cavern, warm and firm.

Legacy Echo: traditional martial arts Guardianship Spanning Ten Thousand Years

When leaving the fissure, the setting sun had already dyed the sky of the Eternal Night Icefield red. The coalition members walked on the melting ice layer toward the Icefield Qi Energy Station—Erik walked at the very front, the Qi Energy sensing staff in his hand glowing with light golden light, guiding the way; Daoist Priest Yun Qingfeng and Amir walked side by side in the middle, discussing the connection between ancient traditional martial arts and modern Legacy; Chen Wu walked at the back, looking back in the direction of the fissure. The Origin Dual Qi in his Dantian resonated with the Qi Energy of the Guardian Stone across the distance, as if he were conversing with the ancient traditional martial arts practitioners.

In the "Legacy Echo" special of the global broadcast, viewers watched the sunset over the icefield and the backs of the coalition members. The live chat was filled with comments: "So moving! traditional martial arts guardianship spanning ten thousand years!" "Ancient traditional martial arts practitioners and modern traditional martial arts practitioners protect the world with the same original intention!" "This is the charm of traditional martial arts, everlasting Legacy, never giving up!"

Data from the Technical Department showed that after this fissure exploration event, the "Legacy identification" of traditional martial arts practitioners worldwide had increased to 98%. The number of reservations for the "Ancient traditional martial arts Course" on the traditional martial arts APP exceeded 100 million, and countless martial arts fans were eager to learn more about the wisdom of ancient traditional martial arts.

After returning to the Icefield Qi Energy Station, Chen Wu spoke to the global live broadcast camera, recounting this story of guardianship that spanned ten thousand years: "Today at the bottom of the fissure, we not only Sealed the ancient Spirit-Devourer, but also witnessed the Legacy of the 'Guardian Original Intention' of traditional martial arts—ancient traditional martial arts practitioners used their lives to Seal evil, while modern traditional martial arts practitioners use united strength to protect peace. This original intention has spanned ten thousand years and has never changed. In the future, we will continue to explore the wisdom of ancient traditional martial arts, combine it with modern Legacy, and let the guardian power of traditional martial arts illuminate every corner of the world forever."

The Traditional Martial Arts Protection Bureau subsequently released the "Ancient traditional martial arts Exploration Plan"—forming a "traditional martial arts Archaeology Team" to go deep into traditional martial arts ruins around the world to excavate ancient traditional martial arts classics and guardian relics; establishing an "Ancient traditional martial arts Research Institute" to invite reclusive masters and archaeological experts to jointly interpret the wisdom of ancient traditional martial arts; and launching a "traditional martial arts Time-Space Exhibition" to allow global martial arts fans to "Transmigrate" to ancient times through VR technology and experience the Qi-training and guardian life of ancient traditional martial arts practitioners.

The final scene of the global broadcast lingered under the night sky of the Icefield Qi Energy Station—the light golden light of the Guardian Stone intertwined with the light from the Qi Energy station, forming a massive beam of light that shot straight into the clouds. The coalition members sat around the beam of light, sharing the gains of this exploration. The Qi Energy devices in their hands lit up simultaneously, resonating with the beam of light. The virtual avatars of global martial arts fans, through live broadcast projection, surrounded the beam of light to form a "Global traditional martial arts Guardian Totem," transcending time, space, and geography to jointly witness the greatness of the traditional martial arts Legacy.

In the live chat, 380 billion viewers simultaneously sent "traditional martial arts Everlasting! Guardianship Eternal!", forming a "Legacy River of Light" covering the globe, intertwining with the beam of light on the icefield, illuminating the future journey of traditional martial arts. Chen Wu knew that the story of the fissure was not the end, but a new beginning for the exploration of ancient Legacy in traditional martial arts; as long as traditional martial arts practitioners worldwide continued to uphold the original intention of "Guardianship" and united as one, they could allow traditional martial arts to bloom with an even more dazzling light in the combination of ancient wisdom and modern power, protecting the peace and tranquility of the world forever.