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

"Finally, we've collected them all!"

When Cao Xiong saw that he could select the entry again on the panel, a weight was finally lifted from his heart.

Then, Cao Xiong looked at the cultivator from the variety show troupe who had turned into a dried corpse on the ground.

"I wonder if there are any treasures left behind."

During the battle, the talismans used by the cultivators were destroyed, and the ring-pommel sword was broken in two.

Cao Xiong looked at the ring-pommel sword and sighed with some heartache.

Then he walked to the monk's corpse, squatted down, and skillfully explored it.

They found nothing on the body, and finally only took out a small gray bag from the cultivator's arms.

Cao Xiong held it in his hand and squeezed it, but couldn't feel anything inside.

"Could this be the legendary storage bag?"

Cao Xiong tried to circulate his internal energy, but the bag remained motionless.

He simply grabbed the bag opening with both hands and pulled hard.

"Rip!"

The gray cloth bag was torn open, and two booklets and a yellow crystal fell to the ground.

"So poor?"

Cao Xiong picked up three items from the ground.

The yellow stone was small, only the size of a fingernail, and emitted a faint glow.

"This kind of stone does resemble the red stones in the karst caves of Chipingpo Valley, except that the color is different."

Cao Xiong finally returned to the Hundred Household Office with the yellow stone, the two booklets, the storage bag, and the ring-pommel sword broken in two.

……

Back in the barracks, Cao Xiong first placed the items he had obtained from the troupe of monks on the table.

There were two booklets, one of which was thick and contained the cultivator's notes on cultivation.

The first page was written a long time ago, and the handwriting is already somewhat blurred.

The above mainly records the process by which this cultivator unexpectedly obtained his opportunity, as well as a description of his spiritual root. The records of the troupe cultivator state that he possessed a mixed spiritual root of the five elements.

After unexpectedly obtaining a cultivation technique, he relied entirely on his own exploration to cultivate.

He spent most of his time traveling within the territory of the Ming Dynasty, seeking opportunities.

The second page contains fragments of the animal creation technique pasted on paper, along with an explanation written by the troupe's own cultivator. This evil technique was also accidentally obtained by him along with the cultivation method.

This evil practice transforms people into livestock, converting them into demon slaves to aid in cultivation and combat.

Unfortunately, this technique is too incomplete to completely extinguish a person's intelligence.

It certainly doesn't assist in cultivation.

"Instead of being a proper cultivator, he insists on being a troupe leader in the mortal world, wasting his time creating animals."

After reading the cultivator's records, Cao Xiong couldn't help but complain.

However, this also shows that cultivating immortality does indeed have stricter requirements for talent.

"A mixed spiritual root of the five elements must be the worst kind of innate talent among cultivators."

The contents of the notes were more like a hodgepodge, including cultivation insights, illustrations of elixirs, and so on.

Cao Xiong found it very helpful after reading just a few pages, as it greatly improved his understanding of cultivators.

Until he turned to a certain page, on which was drawn a spiritual plant.

It resembles an apple tree, with three leaves at the end of its branches, and a cherry-sized fruit growing on the tree.

The design depicts the characteristics of the sacred plant and its fruit on both sides.

Below the image is the name of this spiritual plant: "Water Vermilion Fruit".

It also came with a line of smaller print: "Cleanses the essence and marrow, suspected to replenish vital energy and prolong life, one of the main ingredients of Qi Refining Pills."

Cao Xiong quickly put down his notebook, walked to his bedside, and took out a wooden box from under the bed. Inside the box were some silver notes.

In the corner was a small porcelain bottle.

Cao Xiong took out a porcelain bottle and poured out the red fruit inside.

He had obtained this fruit from a cave in the valley of Chipingpo.

The monk's notes describe the Water Vermilion Fruit as red as blood and lustrous like a pearl.

The characteristics of this fruit are very similar to those described in the notes.

Cao Xiong picked up his notebook again and repeatedly checked the images of the spiritual plants in the notebook against his memory of the fruit trees in the valley cave.

"That's it, that's it."

Cao Xiong was overjoyed. However, after obtaining the Water Vermilion Fruit, he did not recognize it and dared not risk consuming it.

Unexpectedly, I received specific information about the Water Vermilion Fruit today.

Cao Xiong didn't rush to take the medicine. Instead, he flipped through a few more pages of his notes. The content thereafter would only broaden his horizons for him at this point.

Cao Xiong put down the cultivator's notes and picked up another thin booklet with a torn cover and three large characters written on it: "Golden Spirit Technique".

A glint of light flashed in Cao Xiong's eyes. "This should be the cultivation technique practiced by the performers in the variety show troupe."

"Unfortunately, the cultivator's notes do not record how to test spiritual roots. I don't know if I can cultivate this technique."

However, Cao Xiong still planned to give it a try. He had an attribute panel, so cultivating both immortal and martial arts was not out of the question.

The manual was very thin, only about ten pages long, and Cao Xiong quickly finished reading it.

However, he couldn't remember the details of the technique at all; his mind remained completely blank.

"Never mind, we'll look into it later."

Cao Xiong finally picked up the water jujube. Compared to when it was freshly picked, the red color on the surface of the fruit had faded considerably.

He's not a cultivator, and he doesn't know how to preserve it, so he might as well take it quickly and see the effect.

Thinking of this, Cao Xiong no longer hesitated, sat cross-legged on the bed, and put the water jujube into his mouth.

The fruit melts in your mouth, and its flavor is an indescribable fruity aroma, only a sweet taste.

Then, a warm current flowed from Cao Xiong's mouth into his body, merging into his limbs and bones, and the internal energy in his dantian circulated on its own.

A wisp of gray mist drifted out from above Cao Xiong's head.

Even without looking in a mirror, Cao Xiong felt that his face must be very red at that moment.

Next, Cao Xiong felt lightheaded, his pores opened up, and sweat poured out uncontrollably.

It had an indescribable stench, a smell very similar to when he first awakened the entry.

After an unknown amount of time, the changes from consuming the red cinnabar fruit finally ceased.

Cao Xiong opened his eyes and looked at the incense that had been lit before taking the Zhu Guo to keep track of time.

"About half an incense stick's time."

Cao Xiong couldn't stand the stench emanating from his body any longer, so he quickly ran to the backyard and took a cold shower.

Afterwards, Cao Xiong found a bronze mirror and discovered that he had much less gray hair and fewer wrinkles on his face.

He looks no different from someone in their forties.

Cao Xiong couldn't help but sigh with relief, thankful that he had brought back this Water Vermilion Fruit back then.

Today, by sheer coincidence, I obtained the practice notes on the Water Vermilion Fruit.

The workings of fate are truly wondrous beyond words.

Cao Xiong's own physical changes have confirmed that the Water Vermilion Fruit does indeed have the effect of replenishing vital energy and prolonging life.

"Next, let me see the effects of cleansing the essence and marrow."

Cao Xiong changed into a set of black trousers and a long robe, and began practicing the "Fierce Tiger Stance - Bone Forging Chapter" in the courtyard.

He practiced twice in a row, moving smoothly and effortlessly, which halved the practice time.

[Tiger Stance - Bone Strengthening (Beginner) 25/100]

"Haha, it certainly didn't disappoint me."

"My cultivation speed has increased again. I should be able to break through to the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm in less than twenty days."

But that's not enough. Zhu Quanzi will be out of seclusion in less than two months, and Cao Xiong needs to break through to the Tendon Refining Realm before then.

Cao Xiong returned to his room and opened the control panel.

"I want to select an entry!"