Yihetang Manor, in front of Panglong Courtyard.

Li Xian returned from patrol and came straight here, facing A-class Nursing Home Hua Hanying.

"Master Ying, hello!" Li Xian cupped his hands and said, although calling him "Master," there was no other staff's servile flattery.

Just like when others called him "Master Li," he never felt superior because of it.

"What are you doing here?"

Hua Hanying's attitude was quite poor.

"I'm looking for Commander Pang to inquire about the Leisure Martial Pavilion." Li Xian replied honestly, frowning slightly, feeling that Hua Hanying wasn't very friendly.

However, since Hua Hanying once treated him to some tiger meat, he initially had a good impression of him.

"Hmph!"

Hua Hanying flicked his sleeves, thinking, "Just a newcomer, deliberately mentioning this matter in front of me, trying to show off?"

"Hunting can please the Madam, but strength is what truly matters!"

Turning cold, he entered the courtyard ahead.

"This person is inexplicable, when did I offend him? It's better to be cautious of him in the future,"

Li Xian was puzzled but didn't care much.

Pang Long was in the courtyard, holding a large knife, practicing a set of "Eight Trigrams Saber Technique", a basic technique named after the Eight Trigrams, and quite complex.

His knife movements were fluid like flowing water, extremely smooth, as his wrist shook, the knife emitted a light humming sound.

He knew someone was looking for him.

But without distraction, he continued to wield the large knife, which was clearly heavy, yet floated like a feather with lightness and grace.

At this moment, a ray of sunlight shone through. Pang Long laughed loudly, "Good, good, good!" Suddenly motivated, he slashed several times towards the sunlight.

Hua Hanying shivered all over, stepping back a few steps in disbelief, "This is..."

Li Xian stroked his chin, greatly amazed.

Before his eyes was an unusual scene:

Under the sunlight, colorful rays of light slowly emerged on Pang Long's shoulders, though faint, they were indeed visible.

"Is it the knife light reflecting the sunlight, creating an unusual phenomenon?" Li Xian pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

Doesn't seem like it…

"Phew!"

A moment later, Pang Long swung the knife, which flew out straight and pierced into the snow, the blade entirely buried, leaving only the handle.

The rays on his shoulders did not dissipate.

Cloaked in a rainbow halo, it added an indescribable aura to him.

"Com...Commander Pang, look..." Hua Hanying exclaimed.

"What?" Pang Long was taken aback, glanced sideways, his face immediately filled with joy, "Cloaked in a rainbow halo! It's the rainbow halo! I've truly reached this stage!"

The over forty-year-old man was so excited he danced with joy.

Hua Hanying was shocked, but his expression gradually turned sullen, as if holding back a frustration. He suddenly paused, turned to look at Li Xian, and found Li Xian observing him too.

Hurriedly controlling his emotions, he smiled in flattery, "Congratulations to Commander Pang, for progressing again and manifesting the rainbow halo!"

"Hahahaha, indeed a great joy." Pang Long's rugged features seemed to open up completely.

Li Xian was secretly puzzled, "Does this Hua Hanying not respect Commander Pang?"

He, unlike the careless Pang Long, seized opportunities, being quite perceptive.

But he couldn't just conclude based on expressions, and walked over to ask:

"Commander Pang, what is the rainbow halo?"

Pang Long's body shook slightly, sweat leaving his body, he glanced at Hua Hanying and Li Xian, knowing they came for the Leisure Martial Pavilion.

"The so-called rainbow halo, um... is a sign."

"A sign?" Li Xian eagerly inquired.

"Indeed, it's one of the signs of entering the [Food Essence] realm." Pang Long put on a thin cloth robe and extended his right hand.

Moments later, a wisp of smoke emerged from his palm.

"This is one of the signs: Immortal Mechanism in the Palm. When a Martial Artist shows this sign, it proves he has a chance to grasp that elusive Immortal Mechanism."

"And the strange sight earlier is the second sign, called the rainbow halo. I just manifested this sign, still not very clear."

Pang Long explained.

He continued, "Then there's 'Chest Drumming Like Thunder', and 'Head Life Hair', when all four signs appear on one person, it means..."

At this point, his voice was raised, "This person has truly entered the [Food Essence] realm and begun the path of Rebirth! It's what many have longed for."

"I see." Li Xian was greatly amazed, secretly noting it down.

He was also happy for Pang Long, who was getting closer and closer to the Food Essence realm.

"I hear some people, during this stage, show some special changes. Not sure if it's true or not," Pang Long vaguely said.

"Special changes? What kind of changes?" Hua Hanying asked in surprise.

"Hard to say, it doesn't happen to everyone." Pang Long shook his head, "These changes are individualistic, hard to describe. But that's the beauty of the Jianghu, where talented and extraordinary people are beyond imagination."

"But for people like us, we're unlikely to see such figures in our lifetime."

"Commander Pang, if you enter the Food Essence realm, wouldn't you be among them?" Li Xian joked.

Pang Long said, "Just the start, still early."

Hua Hanying said, "I don't think it's early. From the last time seeing the Immortal Mechanism in the Palm, to today's rainbow halo, Commander Pang... you're actually not far from that level. Could it be the Madam is helping you..."

Pang Long shook his head, "The Madam told me."

"She won't assist in that aspect. If I can achieve it, it's my fortune; if not, it's my fate to miss that Immortal Mechanism. It's all up to me."

Hua Hanying let out a slight sigh of relief.

Li Xian narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing Hua Hanying's ill intentions, "Commander Pang, if this news gets out, you don't know how many staff will be jealous."

Intentionally reminding.

"Hahaha."

However, Pang Long, being straightforward, didn't catch it, only laughed heartily. Hua Hanying glanced at Li Xian, feeling an inexplicable apprehension towards him.

...

...

Yihetang Manor, Leisure Martial Pavilion.

Located at the center of a lake, it's a tower-shaped structure with three floors, each about two meters high.

Towering in the lake center, resembling a black Treasure Sword.

Pang Long, after consulting Qiuyue, took Li Xian and Hua Hanying to the perimeter of the Leisure Martial Pavilion.

Qiuyue said, "To reach the Leisure Martial Pavilion, you need to cross a White Jade Bridge. There are mechanisms on the bridge, don't blame me if I didn't warn you, every step you take must match mine."

"Otherwise, if the mechanism triggers, and you're shot to death, it's your own bad luck."

Most Martial Arts in the Leisure Martial Pavilion were created by Madam Wen in her spare time. And Madam Wen does not lack enemies outside. Just fearing enemies eagerly studying her, deducing her nature and moves from the Martial Arts she created.

Thus, even the Leisure Martial Pavilion, which she doesn't regard highly, was surrounded by mechanisms for protection.

To prevent Martial Arts leakage, being scrutinized by others.

After giving some instructions, Qiuyue stepped onto the White Jade Bridge, each step having a peculiar meaning. Seemingly containing some kind of logic.

Hua Hanying closely followed Qiuyue, with Li Xian trailing behind. Suddenly, Hua Hanying changed his steps, intentionally blocking Li Xian's view, preventing him from seeing Qiuyue's steps and leaving him unsure how to proceed.

Li Xian thought, "Indeed, here comes trouble."

Feeling more disdainful, this Hua Hanying had narrow-mindedness, yet was not fearful. Such circumstances cannot be fully accounted for, as he too must make his step.

It was of no use, and only exposed his own intentions.

Successfully crossing the White Jade Bridge, arriving at the Leisure Martial Pavilion in the lake center.

Pushing the door open…

An elderly man greeted them.

This elder had eyes but no ears, a mouth yet no tongue, elongated limbs, but the tendons of the hands were severed.

"Pavilion Slave, you escort them." Qiuyue felt it ominous, unwilling to look at the Pavilion Slave, hurriedly gesturing, then departed.

"What a ruthless method, Madam!" Li Xian mused to himself.

A tongue-less mouth to prevent communication. Eyes, but no ears, to prevent hearing. Tendons severed, implying no escape.

Then imprisoning the person in this pavilion at the lake's center.

The most venomous is the heart of a woman, Madam appearing dignified and elegant, yet her methods are ruthless beyond measure.

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