The weather is getting colder. Qingning County, located in the southeastern region, always experiences strong winds and heavy snow in mid-October every year.

Over these past few days.

The mansion has distributed cotton-padded clothes, which provide significant warmth when worn.

The daily morning training has not been canceled. Li Xian races across the snow, leaving others behind. After completing three laps early, he still doesn't stop.

His breath is steady, and there's no fluctuation in his Qi-Blood. Running in the snow is as if moving on flat ground. Suddenly, his speed increases sharply, and his steps become even lighter.

［Skill: Running］

［Skill Level: 1950/3000 Great Success］

［Description: Running while stepping on snow, moving with the wind. You have realized the characteristics of 'Snow Stepping'.］

The snow is soft, like cotton spread on the ground. Every step inevitably sinks into it. With this, the ground doesn't provide the needed force, and running becomes less effective.

It's hard to increase speed.

The biggest obstacle to running in the snow is indeed this.

However, the characteristic of "Snow Stepping" lies in treating the snow as a "slippery surface", using subtle force with every step.

Instead of trampling the snow into a pit, it takes advantage of its softness, sliding a distance instead. This conserves more physical strength while increasing speed.

Li Xian's mind was focused, and in that instant, his speed increased by seventy percent.

"Speaking of running in the snow... even the beasts in the wilderness probably aren't faster than me."

Inside the Guardian Mansion, Pang Long ordered people to brew "Warming Soup". After returning from the morning run, each bodyguard drank a bowl, warming up quickly.

They began practicing in the courtyard.

Li Xian's Clear Wind Leg and Four Directions Fist steadily improved each day.

When it reached the hour of Si.

Pang Long suddenly and enthusiastically walked towards everyone.

"Hahaha, you all are lucky, yesterday Hua Hanying caught a mountain tiger."

"So you all get to enjoy tiger meat today. Hehe, this is a rare treat. The mountain tiger is the king of forest beasts and strengthens the muscles and bones."

Pang Long raised his thick eyebrows and laughed.

His features were rugged, with large eyes, mouth, ears, making his expressions very clear, unable to hide his thoughts.

It was a genuine happiness from the heart.

"Master Eagle? Master Eagle is back?"

The guards exclaimed in surprise.

This Hua Hanying is an A-class bodyguard.

The lady has tens of thousands of fertile fields and other lands like mulberry fields and tea gardens. Some guards are sent out to station in a place for long periods.

To deter petty criminals.

"Haha, it seems you all still remember me."

As he spoke, a tall man stepped out from behind Pang Long with a hearty laugh.

This was Hua Hanying, truly a formidable and prominent figure among the guards.

His eyebrows are like sharp peaks, with an extraordinary pride. As he glanced at everyone, he did not conceal his sense of superiority.

"Hanying, you rarely return, let everyone see a performance?" Pang Long said with a smile.

Hua Hanying was pleased to see the guards show such admiration and was also tempted to display martial arts. So he said, "I'll show my hand."

He walked amidst the crowd and prepared his stance.

His martial arts were well-practiced, with a solid foundation. At just the lightest touch, one could tell his formidable strength.

He suddenly leaped into the air, clawing violently towards the ground. With a "bang," snowflakes flew several feet high, drawing a chorus of exclamation from the crowd.

"Master Eagle, impressive!" The guards cheered.

However, upon closer inspection, everyone was even more astounded.

A section of snow on the ground was cleared, revealing yellow-brown earth. A burnt smell emanated from the claw marks, scorched black…

"Master Eagle, your Fire Eagle Claw is indeed formidable."

"One strike like this on a person, what could withstand it?"

"Master Eagle, invincible."

...

Among the crowd, Li Xian nodded internally; this claw was truly powerful.

From above, whether in terms of force, angle, or application of inner energy, only surpassed by Pang Long.

"I have now mastered the Four Directions Fist, which allows me to see more intricacies."

Li Xian thought to himself.

"Hanying, you have indeed cultivated the Fire Eagle Claw to the Great Success Realm!" Pang Long came over, joyfully patting his shoulder, generously praising, "Very good, very good!"

"I must thank Commander Pang for his guidance." Hua Hanying said with a faint smile.

"Have there been any movements from Mountain Wind Stronghold or Hongquan Gang recently?" Pang Long pulled Hua Hanying into the house, asking as they walked.

"Hmph, this ragtag group, what moves could they dare to make?" Hua Hanying responded coldly.

Pang Long didn't mind the hierarchy and poured Hua Hanying a cup of tea liberally, sitting down casually, and continued:

"That's a treasured land, and some of the lady's medicinal plants can only grow there. I feel at ease only with you overseeing the area."

"Commander Pang, I understand." Hua Hanying replied.

"Alright, I have good news to tell you as well." Pang Long raised his eyebrows, extending his palm, "Take a look at what this is."

"Empty and void…" Hua Hanying studied for a moment, then his pupils shrank, as he saw a little white smoke rising from Pang Long's palm.

This is…

One of the characteristics of the Rebirth realm, called "Immortal Mechanism in the Palm," signifying that those who can reach this level have grasped some immortal mechanism in some mysterious way.

Hua Hanying's throat moved, mind in upheaval, trembling and asking, "Could it be… could it be… you…"

"Hahaha, still early, just a small half step." Pang Long didn't notice Hua Hanying's agitation, immersed in his own joy.

"Con… Congratulations." Hua Hanying hurriedly lifted his cup and took a sip, slightly relaxing.

...

...

"Tiger meat isn't as delicious as imagined."

In the Vegetarian Restaurant.

The tiger meat was divided and consumed, with A-class guards eating the tiger's claws, head, heart, and gallbladder. B-class guards ate the tiger's legs, penis, and back.

C-class guards ate the miscellaneous meat.

As for D-class guards, even drinking the soup required hustling.

After A-class and B-class finished their feast, the C-class guards finally got to enter the restaurant to eat.

Li Xian took a wooden bowl, and the cook served him a bowl of soup, with two large pieces of tiger meat.

"Thanks, brother." Li Xian said with a hearty laugh, carrying the bowl away.

The tiger meat was quite tough and chewy; those with bad teeth might find it hard to chew. The flavor was quite ordinary as well, with an indescribable gamey smell.

［You consume tiger meat, 'Consumption' skill level +5］

But it is indeed a great tonic.

At fifteen, Li Xian's body gains rapid nourishment from eating such beast meat, quickly replenishing previous deficiencies.

The more he ate, the brighter his eyes became. With ample nutrition in the body, everything worked doubly more efficiently when well-fed.

After a meal, Li Xian also drank up the soup, requiring a big white steamed bun to wipe the bowl clean, leaving nothing to waste.

"Can I have another bowl?"

Li Xian asked with a thick-skinned face.

"You boy… alright." The kitchen hesitated for a moment, then served Li Xian another bowl of soup, along with a piece of tiger bone the size of a fist.

The tiger bone contained marrow, with a milky white gelatinous consistency, already cooked till off the bone, easily sucked in with a slurp, all entered his stomach.

［Sucking tiger marrow, nourishing Qi-Blood, strengthening physique, 'Consumption' skill level +6］

This morsel was indeed the essence of essences.

After eating and drinking thoroughly, Li Xian's body emitted waves of heat, with "Inner Qi" continuously generating in his body, gathering in the Dantian.

"The 'Consumption' skill has indeed enhanced efficiency, aiding faster and greater absorption, and also… I was malnourished before, the inner Qi I cultivated couldn't thrive."

"Now after a feast of tiger soup and tiger meat… it has filled the previous void, so the inner Qi is returning the favor?"

This meal's effort has increased the inner Qi by thirty percent.

His eyesight and hearing seem to have become sharper.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.