Starting from his vigorous old age, he began to conquer Liaozhai.

When Cao Xiong returned to his private barracks, he saw that the statistics compiled by the junior officer were already on the table.

Currently, the entire First Banner only has twelve people left, including Cao Xiong.

Only two junior officers remain: Yu Tong and Qiu Ming.

Cao Xiong rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

I simply lay down on the chair and closed my eyes to rest.

"Bang bang~"

"Come in!"

"Greetings, Commander-in-Chief!"

After Yu Tong and Qiu Ming entered, they didn't say a word. The two burly men acted shyly, like little girls.

"Haha, what's up? Just say it!"

Cao Xiong picked up the cup in front of him and took a sip of tea.

The two exchanged a glance, Qiu Ming winked at him, and Yu Tong sighed helplessly, stepped forward, and spoke in a low voice.

"Commander, we've had a lot of military households come to us these past few days asking about recruitment."

"In the past, it was always the younger brother who succeeded the elder brother, or the son who succeeded the father. But this time, Commander Wei directly ordered that soldiers be recruited through a martial arts competition. Many people are unsure of what to do."

"They all want to know if the imperial court is going to take back the land."

Hearing this, Cao Xiong already understood the situation; it was normal for these military households to be worried.

According to Wei Qiang's idea, this recruitment will be conducted in the form of a competition, with the best and worst performing and the fittest surviving.

Firstly, it can quickly form a fighting force; otherwise, if those hereditary military households without combat capabilities were filled, they would be more likely to die at the hands of demons and ghosts than others.

Secondly, this is probably what the higher-ups mean.

Although Cao Xiong came from a hereditary military household, he did not oppose this decision.

Now that demons and ghosts are rampant, what the guards need are capable and promising soldiers, not old, weak, and peasant soldiers who are good at farming.

However, this raises a question: what should be done with the land of hereditary military households?

The imperial court did not have a specific regulation. In the past, if an officer or soldier died and there was no suitable relative to fill the vacancy, the military silver would be levied instead.

Or the garrison might take over the land.

This matter still needs to be discussed with Wei Qiang; Cao Xiong had already made a note of it.

He looked up at Yu Tong.

"The recruitment is the decision of the higher-ups. Hereditary military households are already in the military, and most of them have practiced martial arts since childhood, so most of them can still get in."

"As for the military households who ultimately fail to enlist, we will have to wait for further notice regarding the handling of their land."

"It's not something I can decide."

Yu Tong knew in his heart that he probably wouldn't get any results today, but he still breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Cao Xiong's answer.

"Hehe, I'm just asking on their behalf."

Yu Tong scratched his head sheepishly.

"You did the right thing. There's no need to worry about it. We are all hereditary military households, and the land is the root of our survival for generations."

"So, are there any promising talents among these people?"

Upon hearing Cao Xiong's question, Yu Tong immediately became serious and said, "Commander, you know what, there really is one."

Cao Xiong asked casually, but judging from Yu Tong's expression, he actually gained an unexpected insight.

Yu Tong has always been cautious and discerning; he believes that anyone who is a promising talent must be extraordinary.

Tell me more.

"Commander, there's a guy named Li Cheng, who's twenty-seven years old and has already reached the mid-stage of the Bone Tempering Realm."

"Oh?"

For some unknown reason, there have been very few Bone Tempering Realm martial artists among the military households in recent years.

Logically speaking, hereditary military households, with their wealth, food, and martial arts techniques, and having practiced martial arts since childhood, should have fewer and fewer Bone Tempering Realm martial artists, but that is the reality.

"Bring him over tomorrow so I can take a look. If there are no problems, he can temporarily serve as a minor officer."

"Also, if anyone asks you again, tell them to prepare themselves. This recruitment has attracted a lot of people, especially martial arts school disciples and some martial artists from the Jianghu."

"Yes, ma'am."

Yu Tong kept Cao Xiong's words in mind.

Cao Xiong then arranged the next city gate duty schedule.

He now has only about ten people under him, so it must be much harder than before.

After Yu Tong and Qiu Ming left, Cao Xiong sorted out the details of the hereditary soldiers who had died in the ancient tomb.

Then he got up and stretched, "Finally, it's all done."

……

……

……

After finishing his official duties, Cao Xiong went to the courtyard behind the barracks.

He assumed the stance of the "Fierce Tiger Stance" Bone Forging Realm and began his cultivation.

After obtaining the title of "genius in swordsmanship," his cultivation talent saw a further improvement.

As long as he persists in cultivating step by step every day, he will be able to achieve minor success in his cultivation technique and enter the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm in less than a month.

The Qi cultivator that Nie Xiaoqian mentioned felt like a stone weighing on his heart.

Even if Cao Xiong cultivated day and night for two months, he would probably find it difficult to reach the late stage of the Bone Forging Realm, let alone break through to the Tendon Refining Realm.

He has already sent Wang Er to inquire about any reports of demons or ghosts appearing in Guobei County, and he should have news soon.

He needs to acquire new terms as soon as possible to further enhance his talent.

I aim to reach the Tendon Refining Realm within two months.

Otherwise, he would have no choice but to ask Wei Qiang to find a way to let him hide in the county town's garrison for a while.

It's not shameful to make a tactical retreat when being pursued by a Qi cultivator.

As the name suggests, a Qi cultivator is a practitioner who has successfully cultivated Qi.

The dog demons, corpse demons, and corpse monsters he killed before were all at the Qi Awakening Realm.

The Awakening Realm is the first stage of cultivating immortality.

The realm above the Awakening Spirit Realm is the Qi Refining Realm; this knowledge is no secret to ordinary cultivators.

The Qi Refining Realm corresponds to the three internal cultivation realms of a martial artist.

Cao Xiong possesses the deadly technique of drawing his sword. Once he reaches the Tendon Refining Realm, he should be able to fight against a cultivator in the early Qi Refining stage.

Cao Xiong had never encountered a cultivator at the Qi Refining Realm before. This comparison of combat strength was entirely based on his current performance as someone who had just entered the Bone Forging Realm and was able to withstand a Tendon Refining Martial Artist when he used his full-force sword-drawing technique.

At the very least, Wei Qiang definitely couldn't withstand the sword-drawing technique.

Cao Xiong cleared his mind of the jumbled thoughts churning around him and focused intently on practicing martial arts.

They practiced until evening before finally finishing.

[Tiger Stance - Bone Strengthening (Beginner) 15/100]

Cao Xiong glanced at the progress of the technique displayed on the panel, and realized that all his hard work had paid off.

After finishing his martial arts practice, Cao Xiong left the garrison and went to a noodle stall not far from it.

The noodle stall is small, run by only a mother and daughter.

"Boss lady, two bowls of noodles, large portions, please."

"Alright, Mr. Cao, please have a seat!"

The noodle stall owner smiled when she saw Cao Xiong.

The proprietress looked to be only in her thirties, with a beautiful face and a voluptuous figure. The soldiers in the garrison liked to call her the noodle stall beauty, but no one remembered her real name.

Unfortunately, the garrison is now empty, with only five small tables set up behind the noodle stall. Apart from Cao Xiong, there are no other customers.

"Hehe, Uncle Cao, I went to your barracks just now and you weren't there. I guessed you were here."

"Boss, two more bowls of noodles."

Cao Xiong had barely sat down when he heard Wang Er's voice.

Li Ping came with Wang Er, and the two sat opposite Cao Xiong.