68: Chapter 68 The First Generous Fan Who "Rewarded a Million"

The bluestone slabs of the training hall had just been dampened by morning dew when the live broadcast interface of the Global Martial Arts System suddenly exploded with blinding golden light. A virtual rocket trailing golden exhaust flames streaked across the screen, and the bullet chat instantly fell into a dead silence, only to be overwhelmed three seconds later by a flood of exclamations— "Holy crap! It's the 'Tomb-Guarding Protection' effect! It's worth one million points!" "The first million-point tip since the Global Martial Arts System opened!" "Who is this tycoon? The ID is 'Bronze Token'!"

Chen Wu's tactical tablet emitted a rapid beeping, and System notifications refreshed like a waterfall: "User 'Bronze Token' has tipped 1,000,000 points, message: 'Please accept this gesture of respect, to be used for the Mutant Rehabilitation Center'." Lin Mo's fingertips slid frantically across the screen, the youth's voice trembling with disbelief: "I can't find any information! This is a top-level anonymous account with higher clearance than even the Special Incident Response Department!"

Grandpa Wang's dry tobacco pipe tapped against the bluestone slabs, striking a spark. The old man squinted at the golden rocket on the screen, the embers in his pipe bowl reflecting his suddenly brightening eyes: "This effect... looks exactly like the 'Protector of the Nation Medal' the state awarded to martial arts grandmasters in 1951." He suddenly straightened his back, his voice unconsciously rising, "Someone who can use this kind of clearance is likely no ordinary tycoon."

Flower Girl's basket nearly fell to the ground. She held up her phone to record, and on the screen, the golden rocket happened to pass by Chen Wu's figure as he practiced his standing stake. The cyan-gold Qi Energy and the golden special effect intertwined in the air to form the character for 'Protect': "Master Chen, look! The global bullet chat is being flooded with 'A Big Shot has arrived'!" The number of online viewers in the livestream room instantly surpassed 900 million, and the server issued an alarm due to traffic overload, prompting technical personnel from the Special Incident Response Department to go online urgently to expand capacity.

The encrypted channel of the Special Incident Response Department lit up simultaneously. The message from the Chief of the Execution Division carried a rare confusion: "The Director checked the System backend; the funds for this 'Bronze Token' tip came from anonymous accounts in seventeen countries. Every transaction was specially encrypted, making it impossible to trace the source." An attached screenshot showed that at the moment of the tip, a "Mutant Special Fund" was suddenly added to the Global Martial Arts System's point mall, established using those very funds.

Chen Wu's Qi Energy spread along the tablet, attempting to analyze the energy fluctuations of the anonymous account. Cyan-gold data streams formed a complex matrix on the screen, only to be bounced back upon touching the "Bronze Token" ID—the opponent's defense mechanism carried familiar bronze patterns, identical to the Tomb-Guarding Beast Token left by his grandfather. "Stop checking," Grandpa Wang suddenly pressed down on his wrist, his pipe bowl pointing to a tiny emblem in the corner of the screen. "See that? That's the insignia of the Council of Tomb Guardians; only successive generations of Guardians are qualified to use it."

Before the golden rocket effect had even dissipated, a second message from "Bronze Token" popped up: "Requesting a live explanation of the high-level variations of the 'Tomb-Guarding Beast Breathing Technique,' specifically targeting the Qi Energy disorder symptoms in genetic mutants." This seemingly ordinary request caused Chen Wu's pupils to contract sharply—this content hadn't even been authorized for public release by the Special Incident Response Department; it was a core secret of the Tomb Guardians.

Lin Mo's tablet was suddenly granted access to the highest-level clearance channel of the Global Martial Arts System. A virtual Bronze Token rotated slowly on the screen, projecting an encrypted video: the footage showed a secret room filled with ancient books, where a white-haired elder was writing on bamboo slips with his finger. The bronze vessels in the background perfectly matched the patterns on the statues in the training hall. "This is... internal data from the Tomb Guardian Archives!" the youth's voice was filled with shock, "'Bronze Token' has opened up clearance for us!"

Grandpa Wang suddenly started coughing, his pipe bowl tapping out Morse code on the ground. Chen Wu instantly understood the old man's warning: "According to the rules, high-level Mind-Cultivation Techniques require the Council's approval before they can be taught. However, since the other party knows the Tomb-Guarding Beast Breathing Technique and is willing to fund the mutants, they might be a friend rather than a foe." The old man's dry tobacco pipe pointed toward the special visitors at the courtyard gate—three people in Zhongshan suits stood there, the leader holding a red sandalwood box. The bronze lock on the lid perfectly matched the insignia of "Bronze Token."

"Mr. Chen, Mr. 'Bronze Token' asked us to deliver this." The man in the Zhongshan suit placed the wooden box on the stone table. The moment it was unlocked, cyan-gold Qi Energy suddenly erupted, resonating with Chen Wu's peace lock. Inside the box, lined with dark red velvet, lay half of a broken Bronze Token. The patterns at the fracture were a perfect complement to the token held by the statue in the training hall. "He said that when the two halves of the token become one, you will understand his identity."

The live camera captured this shocking scene. Global viewers watched as the half-piece of the Bronze Token hovered in the air, combining with Chen Wu's peace lock to form the complete characters for 'Tomb-Guarding'. Archaeologists in the bullet chat collectively lost their minds: "This is a 'Tomb-Guarding Token of Faith' from the Warring States period! Historical records said it was lost long ago!" "No wonder 'Bronze Token' is so generous; it turns out he's a descendant of the Tomb Guardians!"

The "Bronze Token’s" third message followed immediately: "Use this half-token to exchange for special protection during your live broadcast." The tipping interface suddenly refreshed as one million points were automatically converted into a "Qi Energy Shield" item, capable of resisting any malicious attacks targeting the broadcast signal. A System prompt indicated that this was a hidden function of the Global Martial Arts System, only activatable by those holding the token.

The most unexpected request appeared in the afternoon. "Bronze Token" suddenly initiated a connection request, and a blurred silhouette appeared in the virtual image, its voice specially processed: "Could we have the A-Ming siblings appear on camera? I'd like to see the effects of genetic mutants practicing the breathing technique." When Chen Wu turned the camera toward the two who were currently recovering, the silhouette's shoulders visibly trembled, and the faint sound of bamboo slips being flipped could be heard in the background.

A-Ming's younger sister suddenly pointed at the screen: "There's a copy of 'Daily Life of the Tomb Guardians' on your bookshelf! I've seen the same one in Master Chen's ancient books!" The blurred silhouette fell silent instantly. A few seconds later, the ancient book in the image was suddenly flipped open, revealing a yellowed photograph tucked inside—a young man holding an infant was standing at the entrance of the training hall, the peace lock in his arms identical to Chen Wu's.

Grandpa Wang's dry tobacco pipe fell to the ground with a 'clack'. The old man stared at the young man in the photo, his lips trembling, unable to speak. Chen Wu suddenly remembered a record in his grandfather's diary: "In 1983, my second brother moved overseas with his family, taking half of the Tomb-Guarding token and promising to return to the team twenty years later." The cyan-gold Qi Energy suddenly became restless in the wooden box, creating a cross-temporal resonance with the bronze patterns on the screen.

Before "Bronze Token's" identity was revealed, the Gray Shadow Organization's retaliation arrived. The Global Martial Arts System's bullet chat was suddenly flooded with malicious spam: "Chen Wu is colluding with a mysterious tycoon to wash money!" "Using mutants for experiments to make a profit!" "The Tomb-Guarding Beast Breathing Technique is a conspiracy serving Grey Shadow!" Technical personnel tracked these accounts and found they all came from paid water armies on the dark web, with the mastermind being Grey Shadow's information department.

Bronze Token's counterattack was startlingly fast. The moment the malicious comments appeared, the Global Martial Arts System suddenly popped up a massive amount of evidence—transaction records of the Grey Shadow Organization using Genetic Medicine to control tycoons, the transaction flows of the dark web water armies, and even their internal emails planning the attack on the live signal. Each piece of evidence was accompanied by an Interpol certification tag, and the voices of doubt in the bullet chat were instantly drowned out by cheers of "The Big Shot is awesome!"

The Special Incident Response Department's black sedan drove directly into the training hall. The Chief of the Execution Division rushed into the courtyard holding a document, a look of disbelief on her face: "'Bronze Token' utilized the joint authority of seventeen countries' police forces to expose Grey Shadow's global money-laundering network!" On her tablet, the number of Red Notices was increasing frantically. "The Director said this operation has broken Grey Shadow's capital chain for at least three months."

Scarface suddenly rushed into the crowd. He held up his phone to record, displaying footage of Grey Shadow's remaining forces causing trouble on the streets: "They said they're going to smash all the traditional martial arts gyms!" Before his voice could fade, the live broadcast suddenly cut to surveillance footage from multiple locations around the world—bodyguards in black suits appeared outside various martial arts halls, all wearing Bronze Token badges. These were the private security forces mobilized by "Bronze Token."

The most dramatic turn happened in the points mall. The one million points tipped by "Bronze Token" were exchanged for one hundred thousand portions of nine-turn soul returning ointment, distributed to mutants worldwide through the Special Incident Response Department's channels. When A-Ming's primary doctor displayed the recovery data after using the medicine, showing a gene repair rate of 89%, the official account of the International Red Cross suddenly sent a cooperation request, hoping to include the formula in the global emergency medical System.

Bronze Token’s fourth message carried a faint warmth: "Next Saturday is my grandfather's death anniversary. Could you live stream the sacrificial ritual at the training hall?" This seemingly personal request caused the global audience to fall silent instantly. When Chen Wu nodded in agreement, countless commemorative messages suddenly flooded the bullet chat—it turned out many people had once received favors from the Tomb Guardians, but had simply never known the identity of their protectors.

Grandpa Wang bathed and burned incense in the training hall late at night. The old man took a dusty wooden box from under the altar, containing a set of sacrificial robes embroidered with bronze patterns: "When your grandfather presided over the ritual in 1987, 'Bronze Token's' father stood right where you are now." He carefully unfolded a yellowed ritual vessel list, "These ritual procedures can finally be taught to you in full today."

Chen Wu's Qi Energy poured into the half-piece of the Bronze Token, and a blurred star map suddenly emerged from the fracture. When he docked the token with the statue in the training hall, the entire building suddenly hummed, and cyan-gold Qi Energy spread along the foundation, forming a complete Tomb-Guarding Array on the ground—this was the "Return of the Tomb Guardian" ritual recorded in his grandfather's diary, and he hadn't expected it to be completed through the trigger of a mysterious fan.

During the sacrificial ritual on Saturday, which was broadcast globally, a fine rain suddenly began to fall. Chen Wu wore the sacrificial robes prepared by Grandpa Wang, the cyan-gold silk threads forming a Tomb-Guarding Beast pattern on the hem, perfectly echoing the half-token sent by "Bronze Token." As he walked toward the altar holding the token, the global audience watched the ancient ritual procedures, and the discussion in the bullet chat suddenly became solemn: "This is the true Legacy—it's not about fighting and killing, but about reverence and protection."

Bronze Token’s virtual image appeared in full for the first time. The white-haired elder on the screen was wearing the same sacrificial robes and bowed deeply toward the training hall. The bronze vessels in the background suddenly resonated, forming a perfect harmony with the hall's bells. "I am Chen Mo," the elder said as he pulled back his hood, revealing features similar to Chen Wu's. "I am your grandfather's second brother, and the current Deacon of the Council of Tomb Guardians."

The name made Grandpa Wang’s eyes well up with old tears. The old man tremblingly pulled a yellowed photograph from his robe, the very same one Chen Mo had just shown: "When I saw your father off in 1983, he said he would definitely make sure his child returned to his roots." Cyan-gold Qi Energy flowed between the two, revealing the Bloodline bond that spanned mountains and seas before the live camera.

Chen Mo's live broadcast screen suddenly switched to an overseas Tomb Guardian Branch. Countless Bronze Tokens hovered in a secret room, each corresponding to a different guarded area: "All these years, we have been secretly opposing Grey Shadow, but we were few and weak. It wasn't until I saw your livestream that I knew the sparks of traditional martial arts had never been extinguished back home." He held up his half of the token, and it merged with Chen Wu's half on the screen. "Now, it is time for the power of the Tomb-Guarding Beast to fully awaken."

The true purpose of the million-point tip was revealed at this moment. Chen Mo displayed the construction progress of the Mutant Rehabilitation Center: branches in seventeen countries were commencing work simultaneously, each equipped with medical devices capable of analyzing Qi Energy, all supported by the funds converted from those million points. "This is only the beginning," the elder's gaze fell on Chen Wu through the screen. "Next week, I will bring the members of the Council back to the country to officially launch the 'Global Tomb-Guarding Plan'."

The climax of the live broadcast occurred at the end of the ritual. Chen Mo suddenly initiated a global multi-connection, and countless familiar faces appeared on the screen: there were mutants who had resisted Grey Shadow in public squares, martial arts instructors from New York's Chinatown, and even the UFC champion who had once questioned Chen Wu. Everyone held their own handmade Bronze Tokens and bowed simultaneously across different time zones, their cyan-gold Qi Energy connecting into a complete star map on the broadcast screen.

The Director of the Special Incident Response Department personally came to the training hall. The old man saluted the live camera, with a squad of special police behind him holding brand-new bronze badges: "From today on, the Special Incident Response Department is officially merged into the Tomb Guardian System to jointly protect the balance of Qi Energy." On the uniform of the Chief of the Execution Division, the original shield-shaped badge had been replaced by a Bronze Token, shining solemnly in the sunlight.

When the last ray of sunlight swept over the tiled eaves of the training hall, the "Bronze Token" tip effect bloomed once more. This time it wasn't a golden rocket, but bronze petals fluttering through the air, each carrying a message from the global audience: "We are willing to become guardians of traditional martial arts," "The Mutant Mutual Aid Association applies to join," "Please tell us how we can contribute our strength."

Chen Wu stood before the altar, looking at the unified Bronze Token. Cyan-gold Qi Energy swirled on the token, reflecting the youthful smiles of his grandfather and Chen Mo. He suddenly understood that the million-point tip from "Bronze Token" was never just about money; it was the attachment to the homeland from the overseas Tomb Guardians, the voice of the scattered practitioners across the globe longing to return to the fold.

Just like the slogan on the Global Martial Arts System's homepage at this moment, shining brightly under the golden rocket effect: "True wealth is not points, but making more people believe in the power of justice." Perhaps the significance of the first million-point tip lay in this—it was like a stone thrown into a lake, and the ripples it stirred were gathering into a wave to protect the world, and all of this was only just beginning.