107: Chapter 107 The "Traditional Martial Arts Craze" Online: Martial Arts Schools Fully Booked

The Morning Registration Surge

The morning mist at the Xingyi Sect branch had not yet dispersed when Lin Mo's tactical tablet emitted a piercing alert. The "Registration Data" interface of the Global Martial Arts System was jumping frantically, the red numbers rising by 100,000 with every refresh—the number of appointments for the "Xingji Fist Experience Class" had broken through 50 million, the number of registrants for the "Basic Breathing Technique" offline teaching locations exceeded 30 million, and even the small martial arts gyms in remote areas had registration queues stretching three months out. "The Technical Department's servers are about to collapse!" The youth's fingertips flew across the virtual keyboard, beads of sweat from his forehead dripping onto the touchpad. "Just received news, people were queuing at the Beijing Xingyi Fist gym at 3 AM, and the Shanghai Baji Fist gym has added 10 weekend classes, but it's still not enough!"

The tablet suddenly popped up an overseas live stream: Outside a Wing Chun gym in London, a crowd of diverse people held signs saying "I want to learn Chi Sao," and the gym master Liang Yue's niece was using a holographic projection to demonstrate "Tan Da"; at a Baguazhang teaching location in New York, Yin Tian's Disciple was surrounded in the center, teaching passersby the "Circle Walking" footwork hand-in-hand; most shocking was the temporary Xingyi Fist teaching location in Rio de Janeiro, where Zhang Hao's overseas fans had spontaneously organized an "Iron Arm Fist Experience Camp," with dozens of people surrounding a sandbag, taking turns practicing the "Xingji Burst." Although their movements were immature, no one was willing to stop. The comment section instantly exploded with golden banners of "traditional martial arts is on fire," and the number of online viewers exceeded 45 billion. One comment from an Antarctic research station was particularly eye-catching: "Can you open online classes? We want to practice breathing too!"

Grandpa Wang's dry pipe tapped a dull sound against the edge of the martial arts arena. The old man flipped out the "Martial Arts Gym Chronicle" left behind by his grandfather. Tucked into the yellowing pages was an old photo from 1958—outside the "Shouling Martial Arts Gym" opened by Chen Wu's Great-grandfather in Shanghai, only a sparse dozen people were queuing to register, forming a sharp contrast with the explosive scene today. "Your Great-grandfather's greatest wish back then was for ordinary people to be able to learn ancient martial arts," he said, pointing the pipe bowl at the gym sign in the photo. "If he could see this scene today, he would definitely laugh his pipe right out of his mouth!" A yellowed registration book suddenly flew out of the camphor wood chest, recording the student information from back then. The last page was written in cinnabar with the words "traditional martial arts will rise, the value lies in popularization." Pale golden Qi Energy spread along the pages, resonating with the registration data on the tablet.

In the Flower Girl's basket, the eight-colored petals of the inheritance grass suddenly bloomed into the character "Martial." Dewdrops rolled on the leaves, reflecting real-time images of martial arts gyms everywhere: at the Xuanshui Pavilion teaching location in Chengdu, Su Chen's Disciple used "Mystic Water Energy" to demonstrate "Frozen Spirit" to the students, drawing bursts of exclamations; at the Xingyi Fist gym in Xi'an, Li Xuantong's grandson was using "Five Elements Combined Energy" to shatter wooden boards, and the surrounding children clapped excitedly; most heartwarming was the temporary teaching location at a rural elementary school, where volunteers used a simple sand table to draw the "breathing trajectory," and the children followed the rhythm, taking deep breaths, their little faces flushed red but exceptionally serious. The little girl mixed the eight-colored juices, and when the seven-colored "Life Qi Dew" dripped onto the leaves, the petals suddenly opened towards the direction of the live stream camera: "Elder Zhou says this is the 'traditional martial arts Awakening Light'," she said, her fingertips lightly touching the dew, "It can let more people feel the charm of ancient martial arts, just like watering a seed!"

The Section Chief of the Special Incident Response Department walked over holding a holographic report. The screen displayed the chain reaction of the "traditional martial arts Fever": sports brands launched "Ancient Martial Arts Training Wear," with sales skyrocketing by 300%; publishers urgently reprinted "Xingyi Fist Essence" and "Basic Breathing Technique," the first run of 1 million copies selling out in half a day; even fitness apps added a "Xingji Fist Check-in" feature, with daily active users breaking through 200 million. "Government departments have also sent congratulatory messages," the Section Chief suddenly turned the report toward Chen Wu, "saying that the 'traditional martial arts Fever' has driven national fitness, and they are preparing to include the Basic Breathing Technique in the pilot program for primary and secondary school physical education classes!" The tablet showed that the Technical Department had urgently expanded the servers, adding 100 "Global Online Teaching Channels," where Disciples from the eight major sects took turns teaching. Even Love had voluntarily applied for "Taiji Xingji Fist" bilingual teaching, and the former boxing champion said with a smile, "Finally, I can be a real coach again."

When Chen Wu greeted students globally via holographic projection, pale golden Yijin Energy suddenly erupted in the virtual space. Students in martial arts gyms everywhere stopped their movements simultaneously and bowed to the projection screen. "Hello, Teacher Chen" in different languages gathered into a warm stream of Qi Energy—students in London said "Thank you" in Chinese, children in New York held up hand-drawn "Xingji Fist" posters, and fans in Rio collectively shouted the slogan "Combining hardness and softness." "See that? This is the charm of traditional martial arts," Li Xuantong's voice was filled with emotion. He patted Chen Wu on the shoulder, "It's not about relying on powerful Moves; it's about the warmth that people can feel, the power that can make people persevere."

Stories of Ordinary People and traditional martial arts

In the early morning at the Beijing Xingyi Fist gym, 65-year-old retired teacher Zhang Guilan was the first to rush into the classroom. She clutched a yellowed slip of paper in her hand, on which her grandson had copied the "Xingji Lean" footwork formula for her. Although the characters were written crookedly, the edges were frayed from being folded repeatedly. "I've practiced square dancing for ten years, and my knees have always hurt," the old woman gestured to the coach. "I saw on the live stream that breathing can nourish the body, and the Xingji Lean can strengthen the knees, so I wanted to come and try it. If it's good, I'll teach it to my old sisters in the neighborhood!" The coach patiently helped her adjust her stance, and light brown Xingyi Energy flowed gently around her—when Zhang Guilan completed the basic footwork of the "Xingji Lean" for the first time, she suddenly shouted in surprise: "My knees don't ache anymore! They really don't ache anymore!" This footage was uploaded online and instantly received 200 million likes, with the comment section full of messages saying, "I want to bring my parents too."

In the weekend class at the Shanghai Baji Fist gym, 12-year-old boy Wang Lele was practicing "Xingji Burst" against a sandbag. His father was a firefighter who had injured his arm during a rescue last year. After watching Chen Wu's live stream, he specifically brought his son to learn martial arts: "I hope he can develop some resilience, so that no matter what happens in the future, he can solve it calmly like Teacher Chen." Although Lele's punches didn't have much strength, he carefully followed the principle of "Dantian urging energy" for every punch, and pale black Baji Energy flickered weakly in his palms—the coach suddenly discovered that this child's "breathing rhythm" was exceptionally standard, better than many adults. It turned out that he practiced breathing by watching the live stream replays every day, and he would even silently recite the formula three times before going to sleep.

In a corner of the Wing Chun gym in London, 28-year-old Nurse Emily was practicing "Chi Sao" following the holographic projection. There were still scars on her arms from the pandemic, and she would occasionally frown due to old injuries when practicing, but she never thought of giving up: "When the pandemic was at its worst, I relied on following the live stream to practice breathing to relieve stress," she said in not-so-fluent Chinese, "Now learning Chi Sao is because I want to make myself stronger, so I can better take care of patients in the future." Liang Yue's niece suddenly walked to her side, adjusting her hand posture hand-in-hand, and light green Wing Chun Energy flowed between their palms—when Emily successfully "deflected" the coach's force for the first time, she excitedly hugged the other person, tears sliding down her cheeks: "I did it! I can also learn ancient martial arts!"

Lin Mo's tablet suddenly popped up a "Student Stories" collection page, and in just half an hour, he received 100,000 submissions: there were cerebral palsy patients who improved their limb coordination through breathing, depression patients who walked out of their low points by practicing "Xingji Fist," and children in mountainous areas who were determined to become "traditional martial arts Teachers" to bring kung fu back to their hometowns. "The Technical Department is preparing to make these stories into a documentary," the youth's voice was choked with emotion. He pulled up a special submission: "This elderly person in Africa used the 'Mystic Water Frozen Spirit' they just learned to make ice water for the children in the village, saying 'Ancient martial arts can not only strengthen the body, but also help people.'" The comment section suddenly flooded with a uniform "traditional martial arts has heart," and the heart emojis sent simultaneously by 45 billion viewers formed a seven-colored river of light in the virtual space.

The Section Chief of the Special Incident Response Department walked over, holding a tablet displaying a submission from a blind student: "Although I cannot see the Qi Energy, I can feel the warmth in my Dantian when breathing, and I can touch the hand form the coach taught me for 'Xingji Beng'." The Section Chief's voice was filled with emotion: "The Technical Department has urgently developed a 'Tactile Teaching Device' that can indicate whether a Move is correct through vibration. It will be delivered to special education schools across various regions next week."

The tablet showed that the Elders of the eight major schools were formulating a "traditional martial arts Popularization Plan." Li Xuantong was responsible for writing the "Simplified Xingyi Fist Tutorial," Zhao Lie was leading the "Baji Fist Campus Promotion," and Su Chen was preparing to develop the "Mystic Water Energy Rehabilitation Course," allowing traditional martial arts to truly enter the lives of everyone who needs them.

Fusion Teaching of Schools and Modernity

The martial arts arena of the Xingyi Sect branch suddenly turned into a "Global Teaching Live Room." Li Xuantong stood in the center, and the holographic projection behind him broke down the "Five Elements Combined Energy" into 32 simplified Moves, each equipped with "Common Mistake Tips": "For 'Earth Element Energy,' you must drop your shoulders and not shrug, otherwise the Qi Energy will stagnate in your chest; for 'Fire Element Energy,' your punch must be fast, but your retraction must be slow, just like a candle slowly extinguishing after burning out."

Students at 5,000 teaching points around the world practiced along simultaneously, and the virtual screen displayed everyone's Move scores in real-time. Students who scored over 80 points received an "Xingyi Little Expert" electronic badge, which instantly ignited everyone's enthusiasm.

Zhao Lie's "Simplified Baji Fist Course" was full of fun. He had Zhang Hao wear a "motion capture suit" to demonstrate the slow-motion version of "Xingji Beng." The pale black trajectory of the hard energy was magnified through the holographic projection, and even the concentration point of the Qi Energy on the fist face was clearly visible: "See that? The hard energy must condense three inches inside the palm, not the whole fist exerting force," the old man suddenly threw a punch at the camera, "It's like hitting a sandbag; it's not about using brute force, but using clever energy. Look at young Zhang; how hard was his Iron Arm back then? Hasn't he learned to be smarter now?"

Zhang Hao scratched his head embarrassedly and demonstrated "Xingji Beng" on a sandbag on the spot. The sandbag did not swing much, but it emitted a muffled "thud," proving the penetrating power of the hard energy—the practice enthusiasm of global students was instantly ignited, and the barrage was filled with comments like "I want to try it too."

Su Chen's "Mystic Water Energy Rehabilitation Course" attracted a large number of people in need of conditioning. He sat in front of the holographic camera, demonstrating the "Mystic Water Breathing Technique": "When inhaling, imagine yourself soaking in warm water, with the Qi Energy entering your body through your pores; when exhaling, imagine the water flowing out with toxins." Pale blue Mystic Water Energy flowed around him: "This method can relieve insomnia and anxiety; practicing for 15 minutes every day is more effective than taking sleeping pills."

The live broadcast screen suddenly cut to the rehabilitation department of a hospital, where several stroke patients were practicing "Mystic Water Breathing" under the guidance of a nurse. Although their movements were slow, one could clearly see their fingers moving slightly—a doctor's message popped up on the screen: "The patients' limb coordination has improved by 20%. Thank you, Xuanshui Pavilion!"

The most popular was still Chen Wu's "Xingji Fist Q&A Course." Addressing the questions from global students, he demonstrated the "Hard-Soft Energy Adjustment" one by one: for children, he reduced the hard energy ratio of "Xingji Beng" to 3:7, using soft energy to guide the movements; for office workers, he taught everyone to practice "Seated Breathing" in the office, using their lunch break to condition their bodies; for the elderly, he simplified the stance of "Xingji Lean," using "wall-leaning practice" instead of the charging lean to avoid injury.

"traditional martial arts are not immutable," Chen Wu's voice carried a gentle ripple of Qi Energy, "You must adjust according to each person's situation to truly help everyone." This live broadcast was edited into short videos, with views exceeding 10 billion on global social platforms. Even the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization sent a congratulatory message, calling it "a contribution of Eastern wisdom to global health."

Grandpa Wang's dry tobacco pipe tapped a lively rhythm on the edge of the martial arts arena. The old man flipped through the "Teaching Chapter" of the "Martial Arts Hall Chronicle." The yellowed pages recorded Chen Wus Great-grandfather's teaching philosophy: "Teach the person before teaching the fist; train the heart before training the energy." The pipe bowl pointed at the teaching data on the tablet: "What you have done today is more comprehensive than back then; you not only teach Moves but also teach how to use traditional martial arts to improve life. This is truly passing down traditional martial arts!"

The registration book in the camphor wood chest suddenly turned pages automatically, and the newly added student information filled in at a speed visible to the naked eye. Beside the cinnabar characters on the last page, a line of pale gold handwriting appeared: "traditional martial arts shall flourish; it is now within reach."

The Foreshadowing of the Underground Palace Behind the traditional martial arts Craze

As the setting sun illuminated the martial arts arena, the "Legacy Data" interface of the Global Martial Arts System suddenly popped up a System prompt: "'traditional martial arts Popularization' task exceeded, triggering the 'Global Qi Energy Resonance' effect!"

Pale gold Qi Energy surged from the tablet, intertwining with the Qi Energy of the eight major schools and the breathing Qi Energy of global students, forming a huge "Harmony" character in the center of the martial arts arena—Lin Mo's tablet showed that this resonance could provide a continuous stream of basic energy for the Underground Palace "Legacy Array," and the "insufficient Qi Energy" problem that had previously troubled everyone was surprisingly solved in the traditional martial arts craze.

"The Technical Department's deduction shows that the current Qi Energy resonance intensity allows you to mobilize the breathing energy of global students in the Underground Palace," the boy's voice was filled with excitement, "Even if you encounter the 'Hard-Soft Counter-Collision' trap, you can easily crack it!"

In the Flower Girl's basket, the eight-colored fruits of the inheritance grass suddenly split open, and countless tiny seeds, carrying the Qi Energy of global students, flew into the air. The seed that landed in Chen Wu's palm glowed with pale gold light. After it fused with his Yijin Energy, the peace lock suddenly erupted with unprecedented brilliance—pale brown Xingyi Energy, pale black Baji Energy, and pale blue Mystic Water Energy flowed across the lock body, like a condensed light belt of global traditional martial arts.

"Elder Zhou said this is a 'Legacy Seed'," the little girl's fingertips lightly tapped Chen Wu's palm, "It allows you to establish a Qi Energy connection with global students in the Underground Palace, as if 45 billion people are supporting you from behind!"

The Section Chief of the Special Incident Response Department walked over holding a holographic report, the tablet displaying the latest data on the Underground Palace "Legacy Array": "After the global Qi Energy resonance was activated, the success rate of cracking the 'Hard-Soft Counter-Collision' trap increased from 85% to 100%." She suddenly turned the report toward the Elders of the eight major schools: "All preparations are ready. Tomorrow morning, we can set off for the Underground Palace to obtain the full volume of the 'Muscle Tendon Change Classic'!"

The tablet also popped up an unexpected surprise: global students spontaneously organized a "Underground Palace Blessing" event. Students in martial arts halls across various regions practiced the "Basic Breathing Technique" simultaneously, using Qi Energy to form a "Guardian Light Belt" that spanned mountains and seas, escorting Chen Wu and the others.

When Chen Wu thanked the global students through the holographic projection, the applause of 45 billion people echoed in the virtual space. Nurse Emily in London held up a "Come on" sign, Wang Lele in Shanghai gestured "Xingji Beng" at the camera, and fans in Rio collectively shouted "traditional martial arts Will Win"—the most moving part was the elderly Zhang Guilan in Beijing; she, along with her old sisters from the neighborhood, used the newly learned "Xingji Lean" stance to form the character "Fortune." Although the movements were not standard, they were full of sincere blessings.

The barrage was filled with neatly scrolling messages of "Waiting for you to come back and teach us new Moves." 45 billion messages formed a golden river of light in the virtual space, illuminating the ultimate journey of the Underground Palace expedition.

As the moonlight washed over the Xingyi Sect branch, the "Harmony" totem in the martial arts arena echoed the "Guardian Light Belt" across the globe. Chen Wu suddenly understood that this "traditional martial arts craze" was never an "accidental popularity," but an "inevitability of the Legacy"—true traditional martial arts are not secret skills hidden in manuals, but life wisdom that allows ordinary people to feel warmth; true success is not about how many competitions you win, but about making more people better because of ancient martial arts.

The final scene of the global live broadcast paused at the moment Chen Wu and the Elders of the eight major schools were fully prepared to set off. Behind them was the "traditional martial arts Big Family" composed of 45 billion people, the "Qi Energy Resonance" that transcended national borders, and the "original intention of the Legacy" that had never changed from ancient times to the present. The barrage finally scrolled a line of neat text: "traditional martial arts flourish, the world is at peace; the Underground Palace opens, the Legacy continues." This message was lit up by 45 billion viewers simultaneously, like an eternal river of light, flowing over the Xingyi Sect branch and shining forever in the hearts of everyone who Loves traditional martial arts.