97: Chapter 97 Xingyi Sect Elder: "Your kung fu doesn't seem like it's from a self-taught school."

Section 1: The Elder's Council Chamber in the Morning Light

The morning light at the Xingyi Sect branch had just swept over the vermilion gates when Li Cangsong led Chen Wu toward the council chamber. The "Xing" totem on the bluestone path shimmered with pale brown Qi Energy. With every step, a circle of subtle ripples rose beneath their feet—this was the "Treading on Snow Without a Trace" introductory skill of the Xingyi Sect; only an Inner Sect Disciple could make their Qi Energy resonate with the totem. The threshold of the council chamber was half a foot higher than that of ordinary courtyards, and an ebony plaque hung over the lintel. The four golden characters "Five Elements Return to One" glinted coldly in the morning sun, and the bronze bells at the corners of the plaque moved without wind, emitting a sound that synchronized perfectly with the breathing rhythm of Xingyi Fist.

"Three Elders are sitting inside," Li Cangsong lowered his voice slightly and tapped the door knocker three times. The rhythm was the Xingyi Sect's "Entry Signal." "Grand Elder Li Xuantong has practiced 'Five Elements Energy' for seventy years, Second Elder Li Qingya is skilled in the 'Xingyi Spear,' and Third Elder Li Moshan is a Master of 'Hidden Weapons.' They value orthodox Legacy above all else. When you speak later, mention your Great-grandfather's affairs from back then more often." The tablet suddenly popped up information on the Elders: the Grand Elder's "Five Elements Combined Force" had repelled tomb raiders in 1968, the Second Elder's spear techniques could knock down a fly within ten steps, and the Third Elder's "Storm Pear Blossom Needles" never missed. The "Three Talents Array" formed by the three of them had never been broken in the ancient martial arts world.

Lin Mo's tactical tablet suddenly popped up a System prompt: "Detected the Qi Energy field of the Xingyi Sect's core Elders. Triggered the 'Legacy Certification' side quest—pass the Elders' inquiry to prove the origin between 'Yijin Energy' and Xingyi Fist. Quest Reward: 800,000 Legacy Points + fragments of the Xingyi Sect's 'Sect-Guarding Spear Technique,' and unlock the hidden passage of the 'Earth Form Array' in the underground palace." The youth's fingertips flew across the virtual keyboard, sweat from his forehead dripping onto the touchpad. "The live stream is still going! Current online viewers: 21 billion. The audience is guessing what difficult questions the Elders will pose. Wing Chun Young Miss Liang's fans are still spamming 'Go Chen Wu,' afraid you'll be picked on by the Elders!"

Grandpa Wang's dry tobacco pipe made a dull thud outside the council chamber. The old man pulled out the "Chronicles of the Xingyi Sect" left by his grandfather. Tucked within the yellowed pages was a 1954 photograph—Chen Wu's Great-grandfather shaking hands with the three Elders' Master at a Tomb Guardian ritual. Both their gloves were embroidered with the "Five Elements" totem. "The Grand Elder competed in 'Five Elements Energy' with your Great-grandfather back then," the tobacco pipe pointed at the young Elder in the photo. "Your Great-grandfather used 'Crushing Fist' to break his 'Earth Element Energy.' He didn't admit it verbally, but he accepted it in his heart. Later, you can show a bit of 'Five Elements Yijin Energy'; he'll definitely see the depth in it." A bronze fragment suddenly flew out of the camphor wood chest and landed in Chen Wu's palm. The "Five Elements" patterns carved on it were identical to the wooden plaque in the council chamber, and pale brown Qi Energy spread along the fragment.

In the Flower Girl's basket, the petals of the inheritance grass suddenly turned deep brown. Dewdrops rolled on the leaf surface, reflecting the real-time scene inside the council chamber—the three Elders sat in the main seats. The Grand Elder's fingers lightly stroked the edge of his teacup, the rhythm being the precursor to exerting "Five Elements Energy." The Second Elder's spear shaft leaned against the side of his chair, the tip pointing toward the door, clearly ready to test at any moment. The Third Elder's cuffs were slightly bulging, hiding Qi Energy fluctuations of hidden weapons. The little girl mixed the juice of Tiger Bone Grass and Golden Thread Lotus. When the deep brown "Energy-Discerning Dew" dripped onto the leaf, the trajectory of the Elders' Qi Energy suddenly became visible in the dew: "Elder Zhou said this is a 'Qi Energy Mind-Reading Agent,'" her fingertip lightly touched the dew. "It allows you to predict their Moves in advance, like having X-ray vision for your eyes."

As Chen Wu stepped over the threshold of the council chamber, Grand Elder Li Xuantong's "Earth Element Energy" suddenly attacked. Pale brown Qi Energy overflowed from the edge of the teacup and spread along the floor, coiling like a brownish-yellow snake toward Chen Wu's ankles. The slow-motion footage of the global live stream showed that the moment the Qi Energy touched the soles of Chen Wu's shoes, it was suddenly repelled by dark golden Yijin Energy, drawing a rotating Five Elements diagram on the ground. "This is... a counter to 'Earth Element Energy'?" The Grand Elder's pupils suddenly dilated. He put down the teacup and stared intently at Chen Wu's palm. "In your energy, there's the flavor of my Master's 'Five Elements' from back then!"

Section 2: Legacy Q&A within the Five Elements Energy

"What did your Great-grandfather use to break my 'Earth Element Energy' back then?" The Grand Elder's question was suddenly thrown out, his fingertips lightly tapping the "Five Elements" rhythm on the table. "Don't tell me it was 'Crushing Fist'; that's just the surface. What was the real key?" The atmosphere in the council chamber suddenly grew tense. The Second Elder's spear shaft vibrated slightly, and the Third Elder's cuffs also tightened. The comments on the global live stream instantly went quiet as 21 billion viewers waited for Chen Wu's answer.

Chen Wu's peace lock suddenly resonated with the bronze fragment. Dark golden Yijin Energy spread from his fingertips, drawing a "Crushing Fist" trajectory on the tabletop. The end of the trajectory suddenly split into five subtle strands of Qi Energy, corresponding to the Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. "Great-grandfather said the core of 'Earth Element Energy' lies in 'stability,'" his fingertip lightly touched the Qi Energy strands. "The hard energy of the Crushing Fist is just a feint. What truly breaks the situation is the 'Five Elements Spiral Energy' hidden within the hard energy. By drilling into the gaps of the Earth Element Energy, one can disrupt its Foundation." Pale brown Qi Energy surged from beneath the table, forming a rotating Five Elements diagram with the dark golden Yijin Energy. The Grand Elder's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had seen an old friend he hadn't met in years.

"Well said!" The Grand Elder suddenly slapped the table and stood up. The tea in the cup splashed out but was steadily held by his "Earth Element Energy." "That's exactly what my Master said back then!" He suddenly pulled a roll of yellowed silk from his robe, which had the "Five Elements Energy" diagrams drawn on it, perfectly matching the Qi Energy strands Chen Wu had drawn. "This is my Master's notebook. It says 'Five Elements Energy should avoid pure hardness and must hide spirals like pearls.' Your Great-grandfather won back then using this Move!" The tablet suddenly popped up a System prompt: "Grand Elder's Approval +30%, Legacy Certification progress 30%, unlocked 'Earth Element Energy' and 'Yijin Energy' Fusion techniques."

Second Elder Li Qingya's spear shaft suddenly flew toward Chen Wu. Pale brown spear energy struck like lightning, and the Qi Energy at the spear tip transformed into a "Metal Element" totem in mid-air. The slow-motion footage of the global live stream showed that the spear tip's trajectory hid three hidden energies: Stab, Flick, and Entwine. If Chen Wu took one wrong step, it would trigger a subsequent "Fire Element" attack. "Your Great-grandfather competed in spears with my Master back then," the Second Elder's voice carried a challenge. "He took three of Master's spear strikes with his 'Crushing Fist.' Do you dare take three of my strikes today?"

Chen Wu's "Five Elements Yijin Energy" suddenly turned into a dark golden barrier. When the spear tip struck, he didn't dodge. Instead, he lightly placed his palm on the spear shaft. Dark golden Qi Energy traveled along the shaft, neutralizing the sharpness of the "Metal Element Energy" while using spiral energy to entwine the spear shaft, making it impossible for the Second Elder to retract it. The slow-motion footage showed that the angle at which Chen Wu's palm rotated on the spear shaft was exactly the standard angle of the Xingyi Sect's "Entwining Spear Stance," only with the addition of the Yijin Energy's rotation. "This is... 'Five Elements Entwining Spear'?" The Second Elder's pupils dilated. He suddenly retracted the spear, the Qi Energy fluctuations of the spear shaft showing obvious excitement. "My Master said this Move was lost. How do you know it?"

"It was written in Great-grandfather's notes," Chen Wu's voice carried Qi Energy ripples. His fingertip lightly tapped the spear shaft, and pale brown Qi Energy suddenly erupted, forming a "Five Elements" totem in mid-air. "'Entwining Spear Stance' is not lost; it just requires 'Yijin Energy' to exert its maximum power. The Five Elements Energy is responsible for entwining, and the Yijin Energy is responsible for rotating. Only by combining the two can any spear Move be locked." The Second Elder suddenly burst into laughter and handed the spear shaft to Chen Wu: "Good! Good! Good! The Xingyi Sect's spear techniques finally have a successor!" The System prompt sounded again: "Second Elder's Approval +40%, Legacy Certification progress 70%, obtained 'Xingyi Spear' basic diagrams."

Section 3: A Contest of True Meaning in the Hidden Weapon Trial

Third Elder Li Moshan's cuff suddenly shot out three silver needles. Pale brown Qi Energy wrapped around the silver needles, striking toward Chen Wu's face, chest, and Dantian. The slow-motion footage of the global live stream showed that the silver needles' flight trajectories hid "Five Elements" changes: the needle at the face was "Metal Element," the one at the chest was "Fire Element," and the one at the Dantian was "Earth Element." If even one was blocked incorrectly, it would trigger a chain attack from the other two. "Your Great-grandfather competed in hidden weapons with my Master back then," the Third Elder's voice carried a hint of a smile. "He used the Qi Energy of 'Crushing Fist' to blow away Master's 'Storm Pear Blossom Needles.' Today, do you dare to catch them without using Qi Energy?"

Chen Wu's peace lock suddenly erupted with dark golden light. He didn't use Yijin Energy for defense. Instead, he reached out his palm toward the silver needles. Pale brown Qi Energy and dark golden Yijin Energy intertwined in his palm, forming a miniature Five Elements diagram. The moment the three silver needles touched his palm, they suddenly lost their Qi Energy support and fell gently into Chen Wu's hand. "This is... 'Five Elements Neutralizing Energy'?" The Third Elder's pupils dilated. He suddenly pulled a brocade box from his sleeve, which contained twelve hidden weapons of different materials. "My Master said this Move requires 'neutralizing hardness with softness.' How did you manage to neutralize the force without using Qi Energy?"

"Great-grandfather said the power of hidden weapons lies not in the needle, but in the Qi Energy," Chen Wu's fingertips held the silver needles, and pale brown Qi Energy was injected through his fingers, making the needles suddenly glow. "As long as you understand the 'Five Elements' attributes of the Qi Energy and gently guide it along its trajectory, you can make the hidden weapons lose their power—just like water flowing around a stone, not blocking it head-on, but going with the flow." He suddenly threw the silver needles toward the brocade box. Under the influence of the Qi Energy, the twelve hidden weapons automatically arranged themselves into a "Five Elements" totem. The Third Elder's eyes suddenly grew moist: "That's exactly how my Master taught me back then, but unfortunately, I never fully understood it..." The System prompt exploded: "Third Elder's Approval +30%, Legacy Certification progress 100%, obtained the method to break 'Storm Pear Blossom Needles.' Quest rewards have been distributed!"

Lin Mo's tablet suddenly popped up the System settlement interface: "'Legacy Certification' side quest successfully completed. Quest Rating: SSS. Obtained 800,000 Legacy Points, fragments of the Xingyi Sect's 'Sect-Guarding Spear Technique,' and unlocked the hidden passage of the 'Earth Form Array' in the underground palace." The youth's fingertips danced across the virtual keyboard, integrating the Deduction models of the "Sect-Guarding Spear Technique" and "Yijin Energy." The System prompted: "After Fusion, spear technique power increased by 60%, capable of breaking 95% of the traps in the underground palace's 'Earth Form Array'." In the live stream comments, the pale brown "Xingyi Might" of the Xingyi Sect fans intertwined with the golden "Tomb Guardian Must Win" of Chen Wu's fans. The number of online viewers exceeded 22 billion, setting a new record for Legacy Certification live streams.

Section 4: The Legacy Promise Behind the Council Chamber

When the three Elders placed their hands together, pale brown "Five Elements Energy" suddenly erupted. The four golden characters "Five Elements Return to One" on the council chamber's wooden plaque suddenly lit up, resonating with Chen Wu's "Yijin Energy" and Su Chen's "Gensui Jing" (Mystic Water Energy). They formed a giant "Xingyi" totem in mid-air. The image of the global live stream suddenly froze: Chen Wu stood in the center of the totem, holding the "Xingyi Spear" handed to him by the Second Elder. The Qi Energy at the spear tip perfectly fused with the "Five Elements Energy" of the three Elders, like a Legacy light belt spanning across eras.

"From today on, you are an 'Honorary Disciple' of the Xingyi Sect!" The Grand Elder's voice was filled with excitement. He handed an Ink Jade Tablet carved with the "Five Elements" totem to Chen Wu. "This is the Xingyi Sect's 'Legacy Transmission Tablet.' With it, you can call upon all the classics within the sect, including the Complete Manual of the 'Sect-Guarding Spear Technique'!" The tablet suddenly popped up the attributes of the Ink Jade Tablet: "Can absorb Five Elements Energy, increase the purity of Yijin Energy, and unlock the 'Five Elements Yijin Spear' Fusion Moves."

Grandpa Wang's dry tobacco pipe made a cheerful dull thud inside the council chamber. The old man turned to the last page of the "Chronicles of the Xingyi Sect," where the "Legacy Oath" was recorded: "All who recognize the Five Elements are people of Xingyi; all who guard the Legacy are allies." The tobacco pipe pointed to the blank space next to the oath. Chen Wu's name and the names of the three Elders automatically appeared under the influence of Qi Energy. Pale brown Qi Energy spread along the writing, perfectly overlapping with the patterns on the bronze fragment. "The 'Honorary Disciple' title your Great-grandfather didn't get back then, you've gotten today. His spirit in heaven can finally rest in peace."

In the Flower Girl's basket, all the petals of the inheritance grass's Xingyi flowers suddenly turned toward Chen Wu. Dewdrops rolled on the leaf surface, reflecting the real-time scene of the underground palace's "Earth Form Array" hidden passage—the Qi Energy within the passage was of the same origin as the Xingyi Sect's "Five Elements Energy." It could be opened as long as one used "Five Elements Yijin Energy." The little girl sprinkled "Energy-Discerning Dew" into the air. The deep brown light fused with Chen Wu's Qi Energy, condensing into a miniature "passage" model in his palm. "Elder Zhou said this is a 'Channel Guiding Light,'" her fingertip lightly touched the dew. "It allows you not to get lost underground, like having a compass attached to your feet!"

The Section Chief of the Special Incident Response Department suddenly walked over holding a holographic report. The tablet showed that the "Earth Form Array" hidden passage of the underground palace had been activated through the Ink Jade Tablet. The Qi Energy fields of the eight major schools resonated with the Qi Energy field of the passage. As long as everyone was ready, they could set off at any time. "The last remaining forces of the Grey Shadow have been completely cleared," the Section Chief's voice was full of excitement. "We have already set up a Qi Energy protective shield at the passage entrance and prepared 'Five Elements Supply Packs,' which contain Medicinal Pills that can enhance Five Elements Energy to ensure everyone's condition in the underground palace!"

When Chen Wu walked out of the council chamber side by side with the three Elders, the Disciples of the Xingyi Sect bowed collectively. Pale brown Qi Energy formed a "Five Elements" totem above their heads, intertwining with Chen Wu's "Yijin Energy" and Su Chen's "Mystic Water Energy." It formed a giant "Alliance" symbol in mid-air. The final image of the global live stream froze at the moment everyone raised their spears. The pale brown Qi Energy of the Xingyi Spears and the dark golden light of the Yijin Energy intertwined like a light belt spanning across Legacy, illuminating the path to the underground palace.

When the final System prompt popped up, Chen Wu suddenly understood that this Elder certification was never a simple "test," but rather a "Legacy Handover" of the Xingyi Sect—allowing him to continue the friendship of his ancestors through the Q&A, grasp the true meaning of Xingyi through the contest, and become a part of the Xingyi Sect through the recognition. As the moonlight swept over the Xingyi Sect branch, the "Five Elements Return to One" plaque of the council chamber and the "Xing" totem on the ground slowly merged, forming a brand new "Tong" character, as if announcing that the gates of the underground palace had opened for the Alliance.

In the global live stream's comments, a line of neat text was finally spammed: "Xingyi recognizes the Legacy, Yijin connects to the underground palace." This message was simultaneously lit up by 22 billion viewers, like a river of light spanning across mountains and seas, flowing forever over the branch and illuminating the new journey of the underground palace exploration.