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

"Give me a breakthrough!"

Cao Xiong gave a soft chuckle.

His internal energy surged like thunder, flowing through his meridians, and every bone in his body emitted a faint crackling sound.

In the late stage of the Bone Forging Realm, the barrier is like a membrane covering the outside of the dantian.

Cao Xiong's body involuntarily bent, his muscles taut like a fully drawn bow, his whole body steaming with sweat and wisps of white vapor rising from his body.

He focused his mind and breath, channeling his internal energy to cleanse his bones. His bones, already forged and refined countless times, were once again tempered, polished, and reshaped by this internal energy.

The stagnant air accumulated between the bones was expelled, turning into wisps of gray mist that drifted away through the pores, and the flesh and bones adhered seamlessly, becoming one.

Suddenly, a low, muffled thud exploded from within him, and the long-standing barrier between his realms shattered!

The air currents around him swept in all directions.

His powerful internal energy filled his limbs and bones, giving his bones a faint, luminous glow. His muscles and tendons became increasingly refined, and his every move exuded a weighty and imposing aura, as heavy as a mountain.

Cao Xiong slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and sharp, his aura steady and powerful, indicating that he had already firmly entered the late stage of the Bone Forging Realm.

He's just one step away from the Tendon Refining Realm!

Name: Cao Xiong

【Age】：60/85

[Cultivation Level]: Bone Forging Realm (Early Stage)

【Entry 1】Old but vigorous (purple): A person with accumulated experience and strong physique. When focusing on martial arts training, one's efforts yield twofold results.

[Entry 2] Swordsmanship Expert (Green): Proficient in all types of swords. Increases damage output by 10% when using swordsmanship. Improves talent by 20% when practicing swordsmanship.

[Entry 3] Exceptional Talent (Green): A natural-born martial arts prodigy with immense potential.

[Technique]: Fierce Tiger Stance - Bone Forging Chapter (Mastery) 0/300

Eighteen Forms of Wind Slash (Transcendent Realm) - Derivative Secret Technique: Sword Drawing Technique

Maha Knife Technique (Great Completion) 45/300

Leaf Picking Step (Small Achievement) 10/200

[Fragments]: 1.8~4

Cao Xiong opened the panel. During this time, although he focused on stance training, he did not neglect the progress of other martial arts.

Because he had already mastered the "Eighteen Forms of Wind Slash," he focused more on developing his lightness skill between the two martial arts techniques, "Maha Saber Technique" and "Leaf-Picking Step."

The "Leaf-Picking Step" has been mastered to a minor level, reaching a state where the body moves like a drifting catkin and the grass does not break when stepped on.

Even so, he had already mastered the "Maha Knife Technique," demonstrating his truly terrifying talent in knife skills.

These days, due to temporarily taking over the affairs of the centurion's office, the progress in the realm has been far below expectations.

At this time, there were only about twenty days left until the date that Nie Xiaoqian mentioned when Zhu Quanzi would leave the pass.

The next time Cao Xiong sees Nie Xiaoqian, he must confirm when Zhu Quanzi will emerge from seclusion.

After all, according to Nie Xiaoqian, Zhu Quanzi would definitely make a move against her.

If he cannot break through to the Tendon Refining Realm before Zhuquanzi leaves seclusion, then he will have no choice but to go to the county town. He will not return to Guobei County until he breaks through to the Tendon Refining Realm.

After making his decision, Cao Xiong went back to his room, took a shower, and then went to his desk.

On the table was a report on the results of this recruitment effort. I hadn't had a chance to look at it the past two days because we were in a critical phase of the breakthrough.

He flipped through the contents, which clearly listed the hometown, age, and performance of each officer and soldier recruited this time.

A total of eighty people were recruited, including two martial artists at the Skin Tempering Realm.

Overall, Cao Xiong was fairly satisfied with the results of this recruitment. Before the recruitment, apart from himself and Cao Man, there were a total of ninety people in the garrison, seventeen of whom were seriously injured during the bandit suppression and were not in the garrison at the time.

Of the remaining seventy-three people, seven were at the Skin Tempering Realm. With the addition of two more, there are now nine.

For this recruitment drive, Cao Xiong set high standards. He ordered his officers to accept all qualified candidates without exception.

Therefore, after recruiting eighty people, the actual number of people exceeded the establishment of three banners.

At the end of the recruitment notice, there was another list, which compiled a list of martial arts practitioners who had not enlisted but responded to the call to suppress bandits.

There were quite a few people, a total of eight, all of whom were martial artists at the Skin Tempering Realm.

"With the addition of these martial artists, the bandit suppression will definitely be much smoother."

Next, Cao Xiong summoned another martial artist at the Skin Tempering Realm who had joined the army this time, besides Sha Huizi.

His name was Qing Le, he was 28 years old, and he was a martial artist in the early stage of the Skin Tempering Realm. After a brief conversation, Cao Xiong also arranged for him to be a junior officer in the Third Banner.

After finalizing the training plan, Cao Xiong met with Cao Man again. Cao Man had gradually adapted to human society and began to have simple conversations with the officers and soldiers of the garrison.

All of this was thanks to the tutor he hired for Cao Man, who, despite knowing very few characters, had his communication skills improve rapidly.

On one occasion, he witnessed a fifty-year-old schoolteacher faint from anger caused by Cao Man.

If it weren't for Cao Xiong's imposing presence, the old gentleman would probably have run away long ago.

Cao Xiong comforted him and told him to do his best before he finally gave up.

……

Time flew by, and it was already mid-month, the day to meet Nie Xiaoqian again.

【Tiger Stance - Bone Forging Chapter (Mastery) 108/300】

After more than ten days of arduous practice, he successfully pushed his proficiency in the "Tiger Stance" to one-third.

"Da Cheng's Tiger Stance is indeed progressing more slowly."

Cao Xiong changed out of his civilian clothes and rode his horse straight to the ancient tomb.

"It's more than 100 miles round trip, which is really inconvenient. After this meeting, we must arrange a new meeting place."

When Cao Xiong arrived at the small river near the ancient tomb, it was still early.

He practiced the "Tiger Stance" stance by the river, and over time, it became a habit.

Whenever I have free time, I make the most of it to practice.

He sometimes lamented, "Heroes rise and fall with the times; once you enter the world of martial arts, time flies by."

Before he awakened his cheat ability, his life was peaceful and uneventful.

Now, their increased strength has only brought them more trouble.

After Cao Xiong stopped cultivating, the night was hazy, and the moonlight shone on the river, creating ripples.

He looked up and saw that the moon was full.

"Lord Cao seems to be in high spirits!"

The familiar voice rang in Cao Xiong's ears once again.

He had grown accustomed to Nie Xiaoqian's unpredictable behavior.

"Miss Xiaoqian arrived quite early today."

Cao Xiong looked at Nie Xiaoqian, who was still wearing a long red dress that accentuated her alluring and criminal figure.

However, compared to the previous two times, Nie Xiaoqian's face was paler tonight. She was not as lively as before and looked somewhat weak, which made people feel sorry for her.

Cao Xiong quickly turned his face away, no longer looking at her.

Nie Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Of course I can't wait to see you."

Cao Xiong admitted that he had been being sentimental, and the words that came out were still those of the enchanting woman.

"Miss Xiaoqian, you're always so impatient."

"Pfft~"

Nie Xiaoqian covered her mouth and laughed out loud, "It feels like Lord Cao has become more of a joker since I last saw him in a month."

Cao Xiong's expression turned serious. "Miss Xiaoqian, I wonder when Zhuquanzi will emerge from seclusion?"

Nie Xiaoqian pressed herself close to Cao Xiong, resting her head against his chest. "What's wrong? Are you scared?"

Cao Xiong instinctively wanted to step back, but before he could take a step, Nie Xiaoqian stopped him.

"Let me lean on you for a bit."