94: Chapter 94 A disciple claiming to be a member of the "Xingyi School": "My master invites you."

Xingyi Fist Shadows on the Bluestone Slab

The morning light of the training hall just spilled over the bluestone slabs when Chen Wu's peace lock suddenly shimmered with dark golden ripples.

Three faint brown trails of Qi Energy swept across the ground, forming a standard "Three-Body Stance"—the signature starting posture of the Xingyi Sect.

Where the fist shadows dissipated, a youth of about seventeen or eighteen stood, dressed in coarse cloth short-sleeved attire.

At his waist hung an ink jade pendant engraved with the characters "Xingyi," and his right hand gripped a short staff wrapped in red cloth, the tip of which was still damp with morning dew.

"Mr. Chen, my Master Li Cangsong invites you."

The youth's voice carried a vigorous fluctuation of Qi Energy.

He tapped the short staff lightly on the bluestone, and the faint brown Qi Energy suddenly exploded, carving the trajectory of a "Crushing Fist" on the ground.

"My Master says that Mr. Su of the Xuanshui Pavilion is already waiting at the Xingyi Villa, and the three of you need to discuss the matter of the earth palace."

His sleeve suddenly slipped, revealing a faint brown birthmark, identical to the patterns on a certain bronze fragment in Grandpa Wang's camphor wood box.

Lin Mo's tactical tablet suddenly popped up a "Martial Arts Recognition" prompt.

The System scan showed that the youth's "Three-Body Stance" Qi Energy reached 65% purity, and the red cloth on the short staff was wrapped with a wisp of extremely faint "Spirit-Devouring Energy"—similar to the toxin components of the Grey Shadow, but with an added, unique "Tiger Form Energy" of the Xingyi Sect.

"His Qi Energy is problematic!"

The youth's fingertips danced across the virtual keyboard, sweat dripping from his temples onto the touchpad.

"There is a miniature listening device hidden in the fibers of the red cloth; it's the same model as the 'Spirit-Devourer insect' on the bottom of the luxury car last time!"

The tablet suddenly popped up Li Cangsong's real-time location.

The Qi Energy field of the Xingyi Villa showed abnormal fluctuations, with black "Qijue Energy" mixed into the faint brown "Xingyi Energy."

Grandpa Wang's dry tobacco pipe tapped a dull sound against the bluestone.

The old man hurried over with his cane, pointing the pipe bowl at the youth's short staff: "This is the 'Tiger-Tail Staff' of the Xingyi Sect, made of hundred-year-old jujube wood. The tip of the staff can detect the purity of Qi Energy."

He suddenly leaned in close to the youth.

"Your Master practiced the 'Five Elements Fist' with me back in the day. During the 1956 Tomb Guardian competition, he used the 'Tiger Form Fist' to help your Great-grandfather block a sneak attack from the Qijue Sect!"

A bronze fragment suddenly flew out of the camphor wood box and landed in the youth's hand.

It pieced together with his ink jade pendant to form a complete "Xing" character.

Faint brown Qi Energy spread along the joint, drawing a route on the ground leading to the Xingyi Villa.

In the Flower Girl's basket, the leaves of the inheritance grass suddenly turned a faint brown.

Dewdrops rolled on the leaf surfaces, reflecting the birthmark on the youth's sleeve—that was the emblem of an "Inner Sect Disciple" of the Xingyi Sect, which only successors who had mastered "Five Elements Energy" could possess.

The girl mixed the juice of snow lotus and tiger bone grass.

When the faint brown "Discernment Dew" dripped onto the leaves, they suddenly trembled violently.

"Elder Zhou says this is a 'Xingyi Warning,'" she said, her fingertips lightly tapping the dew.

"The Grey Shadow people are following him. The listening device inside the short staff has already been activated and is transmitting our conversation!"

An armored vehicle of the Special Incident Response Department braked sharply at the alley entrance.

The Chief of the Execution Division rushed in, holding a thermal imager.

The screen showed five blurry figures around the training hall, whose Qi Energy fluctuations were identical to the "Snake Form Energy" of the Qijue Sect.

"They are spies planted by the Grey Shadow in the Xingyi Sect, trying to use the invitation as an opportunity to figure out our action plan."

The Section Chief suddenly attached a miniature jammer to Chen Wu's collar.

"Li Cangsong was likely threatened by the Grey Shadow. We must prepare for two possibilities—to attend the appointment, but also to guard against traps!"

The Section Chief's tablet showed that Zhang Hao was rushing to the training hall; his Iron Arm Power could temporarily withstand the "Tiger Form Energy," and Su Chen's Maybach was already on standby at the alley entrance, with Mystic Water Energy ready to freeze the "Spirit-Devourer insect" at any time.

When Chen Wu's "Yijin Energy" was injected into the youth's short staff along his fingertips, the peace lock suddenly resonated with the ink jade pendant.

Dark golden Qi Energy intertwined with the faint brown Xingyi Energy at the tip of the staff, and the indicator light of the listening device suddenly turned from red to blue—Lin Mo's tablet showed that the jammer had successfully reverse-controlled the device.

The Grey Shadow's real-time monitoring feed was playing on the screen; three technicians were gathered in front of a computer, recording keywords like "Xingyi Villa Route" and "Earth Palace Water Eye."

"Is your Master being controlled by the Grey Shadow using 'Spirit-Devouring Energy'?"

Chen Wu's voice carried a probe.

The youth's body suddenly stiffened, and the Qi Energy fluctuation of the short staff showed obvious stuttering.

"Don't worry, we can help your Master break the curse."

The Tiger Form Maze of Xingyi Villa

When Su Chen's Maybach drove into the gate of the Xingyi Villa, faint brown Qi Energy suddenly surged from the mountain forests on both sides.

Countless trajectories of the "Crushing Fist" emerged from the cracks in the bluestone road, forming a massive "Tiger" character on the ground—Lin Mo's tablet showed that this was the "Tiger Form Maze" of the Xingyi Sect.

Every trajectory was a Qi Energy trap, and touching one would trigger a chain attack of "Five Elements Energy."

"Follow the tip of my staff."

The youth's short staff suddenly glowed with a faint brown light, and the tip drew a winding route on the ground that avoided all the traps.

"This is the 'Breaking Array Formula' my Master taught me; only an Inner Sect Disciple can recognize it."

His footsteps suddenly paused.

A tiger's roar came from the forest on the right, and the faint brown Qi Energy transformed into a fierce tiger and pounced, only to be frozen into a block of ice upon contact with Su Chen's Mystic Water Energy—slow-motion footage showed a streak of black "Qijue Energy" hidden inside the ice, clearly a trap modified by the Grey Shadow.

Grandpa Wang's dry tobacco pipe tapped a dull sound against the car window.

The old man flipped out the 1956 "Xingyi Sect Array Manual," and the yellowed pages recorded the flaws of the "Tiger Form Maze."

"The 36th 'Crushing Fist' trajectory is fake," he said, the pipe bowl pointing at the 3D model on the tablet.

"There is an 'Earth Form Energy' mechanism hidden underneath. If triggered, it will spray 'Spirit-Devourer Powder'!"

The bronze fragment in the camphor wood box suddenly resonated with the Qi Energy outside the car window, and the faint brown Xingyi Energy spread along the fragment, marking the location of all traps on the virtual screen.

"Your Great-grandfather broke the array back then by relying on the 'Array Eye Recognition' function of this fragment!"

In the Flower Girl's basket, the leaves of the inheritance grass suddenly spread out like tiger claws.

Dewdrops rolled on the leaf surfaces, reflecting the real-time scene of the villa's main hall—Li Cangsong was sitting in the main seat, his body wrapped in faint brown Xingyi Energy, yet a streak of black "Qijue Energy" was hidden at his Dantian.

His fingers were tapping the table unconsciously, the rhythm matching the frequency of the Grey Shadow's "Death Summoning Talisman" exactly.

The girl mixed the "Discernment Dew" with the juice of Mystic Ice Grass.

When the faint brown "Curse-Breaking Dew" dripped onto the leaves, the black Qi Energy in the image suddenly receded by half an inch.

"Elder Zhou says this is a 'Xingyi Curse-Breaking Agent,'" she said, her fingertips lightly tapping the dew.

"It can temporarily suppress the 'Qijue Energy,' but someone needs to get close to Master Li and inject it into his Dantian!"

In the tactical center of the Special Incident Response Department, the Minister was issuing orders facing a holographic sand table.

The Special Police team had already deployed a cordon around the villa, and the thermal imager showed that the Grey Shadow's mercenaries were hiding in the side rooms on both sides of the main hall, holding "Spirit-Devourer Guns" with their muzzles aimed at the seats in the center of the hall—clearly planning to launch a surprise attack when Chen Wu and the others sat down.

"Mr. Su's Mystic Water Energy is responsible for freezing the mercenaries," the Section Chief's holographic image cut in with static.

She pulled up an action plan.

"Zhang Hao will use Iron Arm Power to control the entrance of the main hall, and Chen Wu, you take the opportunity to get close to Li Cangsong and inject the 'Curse-Breaking Dew'!"

The tablet showed that Lin Mo had hacked into the villa's surveillance System and could transmit the scene inside the main hall in real-time, providing cover for everyone.

When Chen Wu's footsteps entered the main hall, Li Cangsong's "Tiger Form Fist" suddenly struck.

The faint brown Qi Energy transformed into a fierce tiger, but it paused the moment it touched Chen Wu's "Yijin Energy"—slow-motion footage showed a flash of clarity in Li Cangsong's pupils, and the fist energy deviated at the last moment, smashing into the bluestone slab on the ground and blasting out a pit of faint brown Qi Energy.

"Careful..."

Li Cangsong's voice was filled with pain, and the black Qi Energy at his Dantian suddenly erupted.

His body twitched violently.

"The Grey Shadow... they put 'Qijue Poison' in the wine..."

Su Chen's Mystic Water Energy suddenly transformed into a pale blue barrier.

The faint brown Xingyi Energy and the black Qijue Energy collided in front of the barrier, creating a blinding light explosion—the Grey Shadow mercenaries in the side rooms suddenly rushed out, and the black Qi Energy from the "Spirit-Devourer Guns" attacked like a rainstorm, only to be blocked by the defensive line formed by Zhang Hao's Iron Arm Power and Love's Taiji Power.

"Quick, inject the Curse-Breaking Dew into Master Li!"

Zhang Hao's roar carried ripples of Qi Energy.

Although his iron arms no longer had alloy reinforcement, he could still take the attacks of the "Spirit-Devourer Guns" head-on, and every punch could knock back two mercenaries.

"We can hold this place!"

The True Meaning of Xingyi at the Moment of Breaking the Curse

As Chen Wu's "Anti-Curse Dew" flowed from his fingertips into Li Cangsong's Dantian, a light brown Xingyi Energy suddenly erupted. The black Qijue Energy melted away like ice and snow. Li Cangsong's body stopped convulsing. He suddenly grasped Chen Wu's hand, and the light brown Qi Energy spread along the point of contact, tracing the trajectory of the "Five Elements Fist" on Chen Wu's palm.

"Many thanks, Mr. Chen," he said, his voice filled with gratitude, as he pulled a roll of yellowed silk from his bosom. "This is the Xingyi Sect's 'Five Elements Energy Solution,' capable of breaking the underground palace's 'Earth Form Array.' Back then, your Chen Wus Great-grandfather helped me guard the villa, and I promised that 'the Xingyi Sect will always be an ally of the Tomb Guardian'!"

Lin Mo's tablet suddenly popped up a "Qi Energy Analysis" notification. The "Five Elements Energy" on the silk resonated with Chen Wu's "Yijin Energy," and the two types of Qi Energy formed a rotating "Five Elements Yijin Diagram" in the virtual space. The System's Deduction showed that the fused Qi Energy could break all of the underground palace's "Five Elements Formation" traps.

"The Grey Shadow people want to seize the silk!" the young man's voice was filled with excitement. The tablet showed that Grey Shadow reinforcements outside the villa were approaching, their Qi Energy fluctuations perfectly consistent with the Qijue Sect's "Snake Form Energy." "Their target is the 'Five Elements Energy Solution'; they want to enter the underground palace alone!"

Grandpa Wang tapped his dry tobacco pipe against the silk in a rhythmic beat. The old man flipped open the 1956 "Tomb Guardian Log," where the yellowed pages recorded the agreement between Chen Wus Great-grandfather and Li Cangsong: "The Xingyi Sect is responsible for guarding the 'Earth Vein' of the underground palace, Xuanshui Pavilion is responsible for the 'Water Vein,' and the Tomb Guardian is responsible for the 'Dragon Vein.'"

The pipe bowl pointed to the "Earth Form Array" diagram on the silk. "Back then, they joined forces to set up the 'Three Talents Formation' specifically to prevent the Qijue Sect from colluding with Grey Shadow. Now, we need to recreate the 'Three Talents Combined Energy' of that year to open the final door of the underground palace!"

The bronze fragment in the camphor wood chest suddenly resonated with the silk, and the light brown Xingyi Energy spread along the fragment, tracing a route on the ground leading to the underground palace's "Earth Form Array."

In the Flower Girl's basket, the leaves of the inheritance grass suddenly bloomed with brown and gold flowers. The petals formed a miniature "Five Elements Formation" model, and dew drops rolled across the leaves, reflecting real-time images of the Grey Shadow reinforcements—they were using "Spirit-Devouring Energy" to destroy the villa's Qi Energy barrier, with black Qi Energy surging in like a tide.

The young girl mixed the "Anti-Curse Dew" with "Combined Energy Dew." When the light brown-gold "Formation Protection Dew" dripped onto the leaves, the model suddenly lit up. "Elder Zhou says this is 'Three Talents Combined Energy Dew,'" she said, her fingertips lightly touching the dew. "It can increase the Fusion speed of Xingyi Energy, Mystic Water Energy, and Yijin Energy by five times, just like installing a booster for the Combined Energy!"

The Special Incident Response Department's SWAT team suddenly launched an all-out attack from outside the villa. Under the effect of the "Three Talents Combined Energy Dew," the Grey Shadow reinforcements' Qi Energy barrier became incredibly fragile.

Su Chen's Mystic Water Energy froze the front-line mercenaries, Zhang Hao's Iron Arm Power crushed the middle defense line, Love's Taiji Power entangled the enemies in the rear, and the Xingyi Sect Disciples used the "Five Elements Fist" to clear out the remaining forces—slow-motion footage from the live broadcast showed Chen Wu's "Yijin Energy," Su Chen's "Mystic Water Energy," and Li Cangsong's "Xingyi Energy" forming a massive "Three Talents Formation" in mid-air, with light gold, light blue, and light brown Qi Energy intertwining to completely purify the black "Spirit-Devouring Energy."

"The Grey Shadow's lair is at the abandoned factory in the West Mountains!" Li Cangsong suddenly shouted. His Xingyi Energy spread along the Qi Energy network, marking the location of the Grey Shadow headquarters on the virtual screen. "Their 'Spirit-Devouring Bomb' core is there. As long as we destroy the core, we can completely neutralize the Qijue Sect's poison!"

The tablet showed that the elders of the eight great ancient martial arts families had received the news, and Chen Qingshan of the Chen Family was leading Taiji Sect Disciples to the West Mountains, preparing to assist the SWAT team in destroying the core.

When the last Grey Shadow mercenary was subdued, a three-colored light suddenly erupted from the bluestone slabs of the Xingyi Villa. Chen Wu's Yijin Energy, Su Chen's Mystic Water Energy, and Li Cangsong's Xingyi Energy formed a rotating "Three Talents taiji diagram" in mid-air. The surrounding inheritance grass suddenly grew wildly, and the patterns on the leaves perfectly overlapped with the taiji diagram, tracing a complete route to the underground palace on the ground.

"This is the ultimate form of 'Three Talents Combined Energy,'" Li Cangsong's voice was filled with excitement. His black jade pendant, along with Chen Wu's peace lock and Su Chen's Mystic Water pendant, all lit up at the same time. "The Combined Energy that your Great-grandfather couldn't complete back then, we have achieved today!"

The Covenant of Legacy in the Light of Combined Energy

As Chen Wu, Su Chen, and Li Cangsong walked side-by-side toward the gate of Xingyi Villa, the setting sun stretched their shadows long. Light gold, light blue, and light brown Qi Energy formed a massive "Three Talents Formation" behind them, perfectly overlapping with the villa's "Tiger Form Maze Array" and the training hall's "Mystic Water Pattern."

The global live broadcast's bullet comments suddenly exploded. The golden "Go for it!" sent by 18 billion viewers simultaneously formed a wall of light in the virtual space. An overseas Disciple of the Xingyi Sect left a message: "Finally, the day of the Three Talents Combined Energy has arrived! The Xingyi Sect will always stand with the Tomb Guardian!"

Lin Mo's tablet suddenly popped up a "Underground Palace Preparation" notification. The System had integrated the methods to break the "Mystic Water Array," "Earth Form Array," and "Dragon Vein Array." The Combined Energy of the three powerhouses could withstand all the traps in the underground palace. The Special Incident Response Department had prepared "Underground Palace Exploration Equipment," including protective suits that could absorb the three-colored Qi Energy and decoders that could crack Qi Energy passwords.

"Zhang Hao and Love are already on standby in the helicopter," the young man's fingertips danced across the virtual keyboard. "The Disciples of the eight great ancient martial arts families have also assembled; we can set off for the underground palace tomorrow!"

In the small window at the bottom right of the tablet, A-Mings younger sister held up a drawing where the Qi Energy of Chen Wu, Su Chen, and Li Cangsong was entwined together, like three giant dragons guarding the underground palace, with "Wish you success" written in crooked letters on the side.

Grandpa Wang tapped his dry tobacco pipe against the camphor wood chest in a rhythmic beat. The old man flipped to the last page of the "Tomb Guardian Log." On the yellowed paper was drawn a complete "Three Talents Combined Energy" diagram, exactly the same as the taiji diagram currently in the air.

"Your Great-grandfather said, 'When the Three Talents combine, the underground palace opens; when the three energies fuse, the Legacy endures,'" he said, his pipe bowl pointing to the center of the diagram. "The middle volume of the 'Muscle Tendon Change Classic' in the underground palace contains not only martial arts manuals but also the Tomb Guardian's 'Dragon Vein Guardian Mantra.' Only by mastering it can one truly guard the secret treasures of the underground palace!"

The bronze fragment, Mystic Water pendant, and Xingyi black jade pendant in the camphor wood chest suddenly merged into one. Three-colored Qi Energy spread along the accessories, forming the complete character "Guard" on the ground.

In the Flower Girl's basket, the leaves of the inheritance grass suddenly bore three-colored fruits. The moment the fruits split open, countless tiny seeds carrying light gold, light blue, and light brown Qi Energy flew into the air, landing on the shoulders of every Martial Artist—the purity of the Xingyi Sect Disciples' "Five Elements Energy" increased by 10%, the freezing speed of the Xuanshui Pavilion successors' "Mystic Water Energy" increased by 5%, and Chen Wu's "Yijin Energy" could even be freely converted into the other two types of Qi Energy.

The young girl sprinkled the last drop of "Three Talents Combined Energy Dew" toward the setting sun. The light three-colored radiance formed the character "Combine" in mid-air. "Elder Zhou says this is the 'Legacy Seed,'" she said, her fingertips lightly touching the fruit. "It allows different Qi Energies to coexist within a Martial Artist, just like the Combined Energy of you three—indispensable to one another."

The Special Incident Response Department's helicopter hovered over the villa. The Chief of the Execution Division walked over quickly, holding a metal box containing three sets of "Three Talents Combined Energy Protective Suits." "These were specially made by the Technical Department based on your three's Qi Energy characteristics," she said, suddenly opening the box. The patterns on the protective suits were identical to the taiji diagram in the air. "They can enhance the power of the Combined Energy, allowing you to maintain your best state underground."

The tablet showed that the "Spirit-Devouring Bomb" core at the Grey Shadow West Mountains headquarters had been controlled by the SWAT team, and Chen Qingshan was leading Taiji Sect Disciples to dismantle the final detonator, clearing the last obstacle to the underground palace exploration.

As the three powerhouses boarded the helicopter, the setting sun stretched their shadows long. Light gold, light blue, and light brown Qi Energy intertwined in mid-air, like a band of light spanning generations, illuminating the path to the underground palace.

Chen Wu suddenly understood that the Xingyi Sect's invitation was not a trap, but a "Covenant of Legacy" left by their ancestors—true martial Dao Legacy is never about fighting alone, but about having allies who share the same conviction and march forward side-by-side when needed.

In the global live broadcast's bullet comments, a neat line of text suddenly scrolled by: "When the Three Talents Combined Energy gathers, the secret treasures of the underground palace appear." This message was lit up by 18 billion viewers simultaneously, like a river of light spanning time and space, flowing forever above the Xingyi Villa, illuminating the new journey of exploring the underground palace.

As the moonlight washed over the villa, the "Three Talents Formation" on the bluestone slabs and the three-colored patterns of the inheritance grass were slowly fusing, forming a brand-new character "Martial," as if telling an eternal truth: true strength is never the radiance of one individual, but a group of people standing side-by-side, allowing different martial Dao radiances to intertwine into an even more dazzling galaxy.