Luo Fang was terrified, thinking to himself, "Oh no, oh no, what ability does this Li Xian have to be favored by Madam Wen?"

"I have offended him terribly in the past. In the future... in the future... life is going to be really difficult."

His heart was burning with anxiety.

Yet he dared not make a sound.

Li Xian followed the order and raised his head. Although young, his features were distinct and handsome.

"Quite a good-looking face."

Madam Wen did not hesitate to praise, nodding approvingly, "It's just too youthful. In a few more years, he would be more to my liking."

Pang Long casually said, "Madam, I've long said, this kid is the most handsome in the nursing home."

Li Xian modestly replied, "I don't dare to agree," but thought in his heart, "When have you ever said that, and why don't I know?"

As he lifted his head, he finally saw the true face of the madam.

Perhaps Madam Wen had already reached the 'rebirth' realm, as there were no traces of martial arts on her body.

Her posture was graceful, inherently exuding an aura of elegance and sophistication. Her skin was fair, yet it glowed with a faint cold, detached luster.

The details of her features and attire were too intimidating to scrutinize.

Li Xian only glanced briefly, not daring to study her closely. Yet he also noticed a tear mole under her right eye.

This small detail added a touch of charm to her face.

His mind instantly thought:

"I've long heard that the madam is extremely beautiful. Seeing her today, it's truly not wrong. Such a woman is a rarity for someone like me even in two lifetimes."

"Yet, seeing her today, no matter how extraordinarily beautiful, she's ultimately a 'person.' Not as demonized as they say."

He then lowered his head, only able to see the hem of the madam's white dress and the front tips of her white boots beneath.

"Every stitch and thread is true gold and silver."

Li Xian muttered to himself.

Compared to the madam's appearance, he was more interested in how much her attire was worth.

Next was the distribution of meat and soup. Madam Wen always did justice to rewards, calling Li Xian over was not about appreciation nor favoritism.

People like her wouldn't value a mere nursing home guard. It's just about rewarding merit and punishing faults—nothing more.

Li Xian was well aware of this, and he felt neither joy nor sorrow. This slight essence food was merely a hard-earned reward from risking his life twice.

He deserved it.

"Pang Long, take a piece of meat and give it to Li Xian," Madam Wen instructed.

"Yes!"

Pang Long complied, placing a piece of essence food the size of a knuckle in Li Xian's palm, along with milky white broth.

Upon touching his palm, Li Xian felt a tingling sensation.

This showed that the item was extraordinary and potent.

After distributing the meat, Madam Wen waved her hand, "Distribute the remaining soup as usual."

With graceful steps, her figure floated out of sight in an instant.

"Li Xian, you contributed greatly this time. Drink three bowls of essence soup with the essence meat," Pang Long said frankly.

"Alright!"

Li Xian was straightforward, filling three bowls of soup. The aroma made him swallow his saliva unintentionally.

This was the original broth, boiled for two days and nights. The base was very thick, almost like glue.

The other guards received soup that had been diluted and reboiled with other herbs. Compared to the original broth, its effect was much weaker.

This is also why Pang Long had Li Xian drink it on the spot.

Li Xian held the large bowl and gulped it down in one go.

As the soup entered his stomach, it immediately turned into a gentle warm stream, rapidly spreading through his internal organs, providing an indescribable comfort.

[You drank a bowl of Snow Demon Monkey essence soup.]

[Skill 'Consumption' proficiency +29]

But immediately afterward, Li Xian's face changed. That gentle warm stream circulated through his blood and muscles like water washing through mountain crevices.

It carried away impurities and nourished the body.

But immediately afterward, it began to flow rapidly out of the body.

The eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, the body's nine orifices, seemed like nine drainage holes.

"Commander Pang this…" Li Xian looked puzzled.

"You felt it too. Ordinary clay embryos can't retain this energy." Pang Long laughed, "But there are benefits, and the opportunity is rare. It's good for you to experience it early."

Li Xian then drank the second bowl.

Just like before, the soup entered his stomach and turned into an invisible warm stream, spreading through his blood and muscles. Then it flowed out through the skin and nine orifices.

This energy was an intangible force.

It arrived in form, yet dissipated without a trace.

Though it couldn't be retained, as it flowed through the blood and flesh, it seemed to nourish the body. Li Xian felt full of vitality, his strength, bones, and tendons becoming more robust.

He finished the third bowl.

Though the energy dissipated, in his dantian, the "inner qi" surged out continuously.

Li Xian suddenly felt, "Inner qi circulation, it seems to slightly influence the movement of this energy?"

"Could it be that only when the qi circulates throughout the body will it barely retain this energy?"

Unfortunately, this thing was like a gust of wind. When it blew, the entire body felt refreshed, but before one could react, it dispersed.

"Essence food is the most precious."

"When I was your age, I didn't even know what [Essence Food] was."

"They say you're lucky, encountering a Snow Demon Monkey, barely escaping with your life."

"But you're also unlucky, being able to consume essence food at such a young age. In the neighboring Qingning County, many wealthy families have their descendants practicing martial arts. Although they have immense wealth, at your age, they might not have the opportunity to consume essence food to strengthen themselves."

Pang Long was full of emotion.

This essence food was only the size of a little finger, translucent and jade-like.

Once he swallowed it, Li Xian's body shuddered, his skin turning rosy, as his blood qi moved rapidly like a raging river.

Throughout his body, there was a cracking sound.

[First time consuming Snow Demon Monkey essence food]

[Skill consumption, proficiency +70]

[Skill: Consumption]

[Proficiency: 398/500 Beginner]

[Description: A small clay embryo, feeble and laughable, can consume but not retain, feeling helpless. As you consistently intake Heaven and Earth Treasures, you begin to glimpse the mystery of consumption, slightly enhancing absorption efficiency.]

Pang Long said:

"This energy is called the 'Essence of Heaven and Earth,' a necessary element for achieving rebirth."

"You can't retain the Essence of Heaven and Earth, but the medicinal properties in the meat are enough to transform your physique."

"For today, just rest. There's no need to practice martial arts or train fists. Let your bones adapt on their own."

...

The Essence of Heaven and Earth quickly dissipated, but the medicinal power contained in the meat continuously nourished the body.

Li Xian lay on the bed, the surging qi-blood spilling out. Perhaps due to his youth, he felt an unsettling surge of energy like a fiery unrest.

"I just took a small bite and it had this effect."

"I don't know how Commander Pang and Madam... deal with it."

This was Li Xian's most settled day.

The next morning, Li Xian washed with cold water by the well.

He washed away the sweat, feeling completely refreshed.

He was surprised to find that he seemed to have grown taller. Li Xian, previously malnourished, had appeared slightly smaller and shabby compared to other martial artists his age.

After becoming a nursing home guard, he gradually caught up in height, but after just over a month, the change was ultimately limited.

But by morning.

He was astonished to find that overnight, he had grown nearly an inch and his body had become much more robust.

"My goodness, such vigor."

Li Xian threw a punch towards the air, practicing a Wild Bull Fist. The power and force were at least 30% stronger than before.

[Wild bull roar, punch like a bull, proficiency +3]

The disparity wasn't in the level of his fist technique.

Li Xian didn't use inner qi either.

Rather, the improvement in his muscles and bones made storing power, punching, and retracting more seamless.

"Besides, my inner qi has also increased significantly."

"I wonder how far I am from achieving full qi circulation now?"

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