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

Now that it was confirmed that a large number of bandits had gathered in Xinshan, Cao Xiong recalled the dispatched troops and began to formulate a plan to target the bandit alliance.

According to intelligence provided by Qingfeng Village, Xinshan now has more than 800 bandits, almost twice the number of government troops.

The elite fighting force of the mountain bandit alliance has a more obvious advantage compared to the 100-household garrison of Guobei County. They have six Bone Forging Realm warriors and fifteen Skin Tempering Realm warriors.

On the other hand, the soldiers had one martial artist at the Tendon Refining Realm and two combatants at the Bone Forging Realm. In addition to Cao Man, Sha Huizi had also broken through to the early stage of the Bone Forging Realm.

How to use muskets and cannons became the key to victory.

Then, Cao Xiong took out a scroll, which was the treasure he obtained after killing the spirit in the painting in the deserted temple on his way to the county town.

Since acquiring this scroll, he has carried it with him at all times and has been trying to nurture it with his internal energy, but there has been no sign of it recovering.

After he breached Qingping Village, he discovered that the scroll could actually absorb the essence of corpses.

Some of the abilities have now been restored, such as pulling enemies into the scroll and trapping them.

The effectiveness remains to be seen.

"Why do I feel like all the treasures I've obtained are so peculiar? A longsword that sucks the flesh and blood of people, a scroll that feeds on corpses."

Cao Xiong was somewhat helpless. As a high-ranking officer of the imperial court, he took it upon himself to slay demons and monsters, but the weapons he used were becoming more and more malevolent.

The day after meeting Qin Dan, Cao Xiong led the officers, soldiers, and martial artists of the Guobei County Hundred Household Office to attack Xinshan.

With hundreds of men making a grand display, the Xinshan bandits, who had been closely monitoring the movements of the government troops, could not hide it from the fact that they were following the movements of the government troops.

Xinshan, main hall.

Xin Dahu sat in the main seat, his face gloomy, looking down at the chieftains of the various mountain strongholds below.

"The mountain lord under the command of the Tree Demon has been killed by the imperial court. Currently, the soldiers of the Hundred Household Office of Guobei County, led by Commander Cao Xiong, are on their way here."

"Gentlemen, do you have any thoughts?"

Upon hearing Xin Dahu's question, the lobby immediately became noisy.

"Chief Xin, do you know why the Mountain Lord failed? Wasn't the Mountain Lord a Qi Refining Realm Great Demon? Is Cao Xiong really that strong?"

The one who spoke was Yan Tian, ​​the chieftain of Ermu Mountain. He had dark skin, calloused hands, and wore ordinary coarse cloth clothes. If you didn't know him, you would think he was an old farmer.

"The specific details are unknown, but it is known that Shan Jun killed many government soldiers and later had a major battle with Cao Xiong."

Xin Dahu originally disregarded the imperial court's encirclement and suppression campaign.

Unexpectedly, even the Qi Refining Realm demon couldn't seriously injure Cao Xiong. Xin Dahu is only at the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm. Even with the support of a magic weapon that targets martial artists, he dares not be careless.

To be on the safe side, I can only take one more premium Blood Refining Pill.

"So what should we do?"

In Yan Tian's mind, the mountain lord was the most powerful monster he had ever encountered; he could kill him with a mere kick.

"What are you afraid of? I don't believe that Cao Xiong is stronger than a group of us. We have six Bone Forging Realm martial artists. If each of us takes a Power Explosion Pill, we'll take him down directly."

Qiu Fu stood up and looked around. After saying this, many people nodded in agreement.

Liu Mingzi waved his feather fan and listened quietly to the discussion.

Since deciding to join the imperial court, he had been keeping an eye on Qingping Village, and he received the news immediately after the mountain king's death.

"Don't panic, everyone. I will deal with Cao Xiong."

Xin Dahu spoke up to calm everyone down.

"However, I need to take another Blood Refining Pill."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone in the hall became extremely complicated.

The bandits, especially those who had taken the Blood Refining Pill, had a strange look in their eyes.

The Blood Refining Pill, which these people had gone through so much trouble to obtain, turned out to be more than one that Xin Dahu actually possessed.

Like the Blood Refining Pill, the Explosive Power Pill also originates from the Tree Demon.

However, Blood Refining Pills are even more precious, and most people don't know that in order to obtain one Blood Refining Pill, various mountain strongholds have captured countless refugees, and in the end, they even robbed villagers to offer as tribute to the tree demon in exchange for one.

A single ordinary Blood Refining Pill can allow a martial artist to break through a minor realm.

However, the Blood Refining Pill has a drawback: after taking it, the martial artist's body will wither and become bloodthirsty, requiring them to immediately drink a large amount of human blood in order to successfully break through to a higher realm.

After that, he had to consume human blood once a month.

The amount of fresh blood required doubles for each additional Blood Refining Pill consumed.

Despite the significant drawbacks, for these bandits who live on the edge of death, strength is the only true measure of power.

Xin Dahu has already used one Blood Refining Pill. If he takes another one to break through to the late stage of the Bone Forging Realm, he will need the blood of at least a hundred people to sustain him.

Seeing that everyone was silent, Xin Dahu looked displeased.

"Everyone, I don't need to elaborate on how dangerous it is to take the Blood Refining Pill, do I?"

"I'm taking this risk for everyone's sake, so surely you'll all lend me a hand?"

"Chief Xin, how do you want us to cooperate?"

The one who spoke was Kui Hai, the only mid-stage Bone Forging Realm martial artist in the hall besides Xin Dahu.

Kui Hai had also used the Blood Refining Pill. The pain was indeed unbearable. The more times he took the Blood Refining Pill, the greater his addiction to blood would become.

"How about ten people from each mountain stronghold?" Xin Dahu asked Kui Hai directly.

The other village chiefs all looked at Kuihai. Xin Dahu's idea was to distribute the burden equally among the various villages. Xinshan was alright, as there were slaves and women on the mountain, but the other village chiefs only brought their subordinates, and even those who brought their families were all their relatives.

Each mountain stronghold sends out ten people, and these people can only be selected from among their subordinates.

"I agree."

Kuihai hesitated for a long time, but finally compromised and decided to rely on Xin Dahu to deal with Cao Xiong.

Seeing this, the others had no objections, but they couldn't help but feel resentful.

"Haha, thank you all. I will break through tonight. Go and get ready."

Xin Dahu's face broke into a broad smile.

After returning to his room from the main hall, Liu Mingzi summoned Qin Dan and another commander, saying, "Tomorrow at dawn, the government will attack the city."

"Have you prepared everything I asked you to?"

"Brother, in such a short time, it's really impossible to gather too much Chuanchang San (a traditional Chinese medicine formula). We only have three portions."

As Qin Dan spoke, he took out a wrapped-up poison from his bosom.

Liu Mingzi took the Heartbreak Powder, "Although there are only three portions, it should be enough for those Skin Tempering Realm martial artists."

"Is the cook done?"

Liu Mingzi looked at another commander, Li Guai.

"Don't worry, brother, these three doses of the Heartbreak Powder will definitely be included in the food for the chieftains tonight."

Liu Mingzi nodded, "Remember, give two packets to the other mountain stronghold leaders, and use one packet separately in Xin Dahu's meals."

"Hiss~"

Li Guai shuddered. This "Heartbreak Powder" was colorless and odorless, and it was specifically designed to counter martial artists. One packet would be enough to give Xin Dahu a hard time.

Afterwards, Liu Mingzi told the two about Xin Dahu taking the Blood Refining Pill.

"That Xin Dahu deserves to die, he actually wants to use our brothers' lives to pay for it." Qin Dan's face was grim.

"Go and select ten people, choose from those who are unwilling to sincerely pledge allegiance to the court."

"Big brother, leave it to me."

Qin Dan patted his chest, clearly already having a goal in mind.