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

More than half a month later, Cao Xiong came to the vicinity of the ancient tomb again, and the place was no longer as lifeless as before.

The entrance to the ancient tomb had long been leveled by people sent by the county government.

Cao Xiong went to the riverbank where they had met last time and waited for Nie Xiaoqian to arrive.

He didn't know if getting more and more entangled with Nie Xiaoqian was a good thing; at this point, he could only take it one step at a time.

Cao Xiong is now unable to access spiritual practices.

Although Nie Xiaoqian is a ghost, her cultivation path can be considered the path of immortal cultivation.

He planned to learn some information about spiritual cultivation from Nie Xiaoqian during this meeting.

For example, spiritual roots...

As night fell, a thick fog rose around the Ten Thousand Mountains, bringing silence. The mountains seemed like giants with open mouths looking down, making people feel uneasy.

After an unknown amount of time, Cao Xiong suddenly smelled a familiar fragrance.

"Here it comes~"

Sure enough, the next moment, Cao Xiong heard the familiar laughter.

"My lord, you've arrived quite early. Are you still thinking of me?"

"Phew~"

A warm breath brushed against my ear, tickling my heart.

"Miss Xiaoqian is joking."

Having learned from his previous experience, Cao Xiong remained calm no matter how much Nie Xiaoqian tried to provoke him.

"A boring old man."

Nie Xiaoqian's figure appeared in front of Cao Xiong.

Today, Nie Xiaoqian is dressed in red, which makes her figure even more graceful.

Cao Xiong dared not look too long, lest he embarrass himself.

"You are heartless, sir. I have been thinking of you for more than half a month."

"Heh~"

"If Miss Xiaoqian weren't after my yang energy, these words would be even more touching."

Cao Xiong deliberately emphasized his accent in the last four words.

"Hehe, Lord Cao has misunderstood me."

"To be honest, Mr. Cao was also looking forward to this meeting."

Upon hearing this, Nie Xiaoqian's expression turned cold and aloof.

"Lord Cao wouldn't be interested in... with this young lady..."

At this point, Nie Xiaoqian covered her face with her sleeve.

Cao Xiong's face darkened. "I'm just curious about the path of spiritual cultivation and have a few questions I'd like to ask. Miss Xiaoqian is overthinking things."

"Hehe, I see."

Nie Xiaoqian smiled gently, "Lord Cao is so old, it's understandable that he's not as strong as he used to be. Just consider last time an accident."

Cao Xiong was unwilling to discuss this topic with Nie Xiaoqian any further. The "accident" she mentioned was just an instinctive reaction of his body.

"Ahem, Miss Xiaoqian, I'd like to know how to test one's cultivation aptitude."

Nie Xiaoqian was somewhat taken aback, and she looked at Cao Xiong with a strange expression.

"Lord Cao wouldn't be thinking of practicing Buddhism, would he?"

Nie Xiaoqian's reaction made Cao Xiong feel a little embarrassed. Was cultivating immortality such an incredible thing?

"Just want to know more."

"Oh~"

Nie Xiaoqian looked amused and deliberately dragged out her words.

"I don't know the specifics of how to test spiritual roots, after all, I'm just a ghost and haven't had much contact with cultivators."

"but……"

Cao Xiong waited intently for Nie Xiaoqian to continue, but after Nie Xiaoqian finished speaking, she stopped talking.

She stared at him with only her charming and lively eyes.

"and then?"

Cao Xiong couldn't wait to continue asking questions.

"Didn't I say I didn't know?"

Nie Xiaoqian looked innocent.

Cao Xiong sighed in disappointment.

"Miss Xiaoqian, do you recognize this kind of stone?"

Cao Xiong then took out a yellow crystal the size of a fingernail that he had obtained from the monk in the variety show troupe.

"This is an earth spirit stone, used by cultivators to aid in their cultivation."

Nie Xiaoqian only glanced at it before telling Cao Xiong the answer.

"Those crimson things are fire spirit stones?"

Cao Xiong's mind flashed again to the pieces of crimson crystal in the karst cave in Chipingpo Valley.

"yes."

Nie Xiaoqian answered casually without thinking much about it.

"That……"

Just as Cao Xiong was about to ask another question, Nie Xiaoqian suddenly floated in front of him.

Half of her body was pressed against Cao Xiong's chest.

"Lord Cao is so unromantic; the night is long."

As she spoke, Nie Xiaoqian gently gestured with her fingers across Cao Xiong's chest.

Despite taking precautions, Cao Xiong still couldn't help feeling hot and restless.

The cultivation technique that Nie Xiaoqian practices definitely has the effect of bewitching people.

Cao Xiong had also figured out some of the tricks of the trade regarding Nie Xiaoqian.

The more restrained he acted, the more she took advantage of him.

Thinking of this, Cao Xiong directly grabbed Nie Xiaoqian's mischievous hand and deliberately squeezed it, behaving somewhat frivolously.

Nie Xiaoqian froze for a moment, and two blushes appeared on her face.

"Lord Cao has turned bad."

Her voice was soft and sweet, as if she were both shy and delicate.

"Um?"

Cao Xiong was surprised. Something wasn't right.

He subtly released Nie Xiaoqian's hand.

"Miss Xiaoqian, let's begin."

"Lord Cao is indeed impatient."

This time, Nie Xiaoqian did not touch Cao Xiong's lips.

After absorbing the yang energy, Nie Xiaoqian showed a satisfied expression on her face.

Cao Xiong carefully sensed the changes in his body. After awakening the unique talent and extraordinary innate qualities, his body underwent quite noticeable changes.

This time, after having his yang energy absorbed, he did not feel any obvious weakness.

"Lord Cao, you've become even stronger."

Nie Xiaoqian was even more surprised. As she got closer, she could feel Cao Xiong's abundant blood and energy, and his masculine aura even made her feel a little uncomfortable.

"I have to thank Miss Xiaoqian for telling me about the crisis I was about to face, so I practiced my skills more diligently."

Cao Xiong was unwilling to explain further; the entry was the biggest secret about him.

"Then you'd better keep up the good work, sir."

"I hope you'll be even stronger when we meet again."

After saying this, Nie Xiaoqian tossed another secret manual to Cao Xiong and left.

Cao Xiong stuffed the manual directly into his pocket, a bitter smile on his face. Who was he? Was he going to sell it?

Guobei County Hundred Household Office.

In the courtyard behind the barracks, Cao Xiong's figure moved nimbly, his gait peculiar and subtly rhythmic.

He was using the light-foot skill "Leaf-Picking Step" that he had obtained from Nie Xiaoqian three days ago.

It signifies the ability to lightly tread on leaves and pluck flowers without leaving a trace.

It is a style of light-body kung fu characterized by its agility, speed, and unpredictability.

When mastered, one's movements become as swift and unpredictable as a fleeting shadow, allowing one to reach out and pluck a leaf without startling a bird.

He leaps and bounds like a ghost, moving forward and backward at will, and ordinary weapons can hardly touch his clothes.

"I really don't know where Nie Xiaoqian got so many martial arts skills."

It should be noted that martial arts have always been precious, especially lightness skills, which are rarely seen in the martial arts world.

Since Nie Xiaoqian could give him a book so easily, Cao Xiong had to admit that he was even more looking forward to their next meeting.

Now, his martial arts include the "Fierce Tiger Stance," his swordsmanship includes the "Eighteen Forms of Wind Slash" and the "Maha Sword Technique," and his lightness skill includes the "Leaf Picking Step."

With the skill panel, Cao Xiong can practice multiple martial arts at the same time, while most martial artists can only waste their entire lives on one or two martial arts.

"Thump thump thump~ thump thump~"

Before Cao Xiong finished practicing martial arts, he heard the sound of drums coming from the Drum Tower.

"They rushed out at the fifth watch; what has happened?"

Cao Xiong quickly changed into his armor, grabbed the Evil-Sniffing Longsword, and headed to the training ground.