I relied on leveling up to achieve a comeback.

Chen Family Martial Arts School.

Xu Hao's arrival was marked by a solemn expression.

There was nothing wrong with the outer courtyard, but when Xu Hao got to the middle courtyard, he noticed that there were fewer martial arts disciples.

Only half the usual number of disciples.

When they saw Xu Hao arrive, their gazes darted away, and they seemed to have some inexplicable emotions.

Xu Hao nodded slightly, then left the central courtyard and headed to the backyard.

At this moment, there were only a few people in the backyard.

Among them were the eldest senior brother Liu Yong, the second senior brother Zhao Heshan, and the seventh senior brother Tang Dengshan.

"Xu Hao is here!" Chen Changhe greeted Xu Hao as he walked in from the backyard.

"Master, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Seventh Brother!" Xu Hao clasped his hands in greeting to each of them.

"Hmm, kid, you're quite strong!" Senior Brother Liu Yong said kindly.

"Not at all, Senior Brother is much stronger!" Xu Hao replied with a smile.

Senior Brother Liu Yong, who had been a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) for many years, was extremely strong and looked like a wall.

"Haha! I love hearing that!"

Second Senior Brother Zhao Heshan simply nodded slightly, since they all worked in the same government office and would see each other frequently.

"I was going to send someone to call you, but since you're here, I'll get straight to the point!" Chen Changhe interrupted their pleasantries and continued, "Some martial artists have arrived, planning to open a martial arts school in Qinghe County. They've set their sights on my Chen Family Martial Arts School and have even received support from many powerful figures in Qinghe County!"

"How are they planning to challenge us?" Senior Brother Liu Yong then asked.

"If it were a challenge against me, I wouldn't be afraid, but with the mediation of many forces, they chose a war of attrition, with each side sending four people until the final winner emerges!" Chen Changhe sighed.

This is clearly not a normal challenge; it's an attempt to completely suppress the Chen Family Martial Arts School.

If we select four people, considering the current situation of the Chen Family Martial Arts School, that would be three direct disciples plus one school master.

This gives the Chen Family Martial Arts School no chance to breathe.

"It seems they came prepared!" Senior Brother Liu Yong's face darkened as he asked, "Master, what is their cultivation level?"

"From what I understand, the other side has two fourth-stage martial artists!" Chen Changhe said directly.

There was no concealment whatsoever.

Because this is a battle, there's no point in hiding anything; it would only harm your own side.

"What?" Senior Brother Liu Yong was initially very confident, but his confidence waned considerably after he mentioned that there were two fourth-level martial artists.

Because he is an absolute powerhouse among those who have broken through three levels, but when facing those who have broken through four levels, he is willing but unable to do so.

"Does it have to be this way?" Zhao Heshan asked from the side.

This is clearly unreasonable.

It would be better to just hang up the white flag.

"All sides are suppressing us unless we leave Qinghe County!?" Chen Changhe said solemnly, "And they've offered a condition I can't refuse: a Strength Pill!!"

"What?" As soon as the words were spoken, everyone except Xu Hao was shocked.

After the four breakthroughs in body tempering, the next step is to transform qi and blood into strength.

This step is even more difficult than advancing from the third breakthrough to the fourth breakthrough.

Countless people may never achieve this in their entire lives.

For example, in the vast Qinghe County, there has not yet been a single expert at the Jinli Realm.

This Vitality Pill can increase the chance of a fourth-stage martial artist transforming their Qi and Blood into Vitality by 30%!

It's fair to say that this item is valuable but unavailable.

For any fourth-level warrior, this is an irresistible temptation.

It's no wonder that when Mingyang Martial Arts School proposed such a nasty challenge as a four-person gauntlet, Chen Changhe didn't completely reject it. Instead, he summoned several of his personal disciples to discuss it.

"Master, tell us what you want us to do?" Xu Hao asked directly.

He's definitely going to fight!

We can't let the red-named monsters get away.

Previously, we lacked the strength, but now that we have the strength and the prestige, we'll go for it.

"I only need you to do your best. If you are no match for them, just admit defeat and let me take over in the end!" Chen Changhe said.

In his view, he only needed to deal with two fourth-level warriors.

The others can be easily handled by the eldest brother Liu Yong and the second brother Zhao Heshan.

"Yes, we will definitely do our best!" Senior Brother Liu Yong and Second Senior Brother Zhao Heshan exchanged a glance and immediately expressed their stance.

Unless they are fighting to the death against a fourth-level martial artist, they will definitely not be weaker than anyone else among those at the third-level martial artist level.

As for Xu Hao?

They completely ignored it.

Even though Xu Hao had once easily defeated a third-stage martial artist from the Longevity Sect with his third-stage cultivation.

In their view, most of the three-stage warriors of the Longevity Sect were forcibly promoted by external forces and had little foundation or strength.

"Alright, then I agree!" Chen Changhe felt relieved upon hearing his two disciples' words, and then said to Xu Hao, "This is also a trial. You will fight for first place, and if you are defeated, you should concede!"

"Yes!" Xu Hao quickly agreed.

He was trying to figure out a way to persuade Chen Changhe to let him be the first to fight.

I never expected something like this to fall from the sky!

"You all rest in the backyard today. I'll go out and face the enemy first, then I'll come back to teach you your skills!" Chen Changhe said, turning to Chen Yinyin, who looked nervous not far away, and added, "Go and get the cultivation resources I've collected in my bedroom and distribute them to them!"

"Okay!" Chen Yinyin nodded and ran out.

"Master, what about me?" Seventh Senior Brother Tang Dengshan asked.

"I'll leave the task of maintaining order to you!" Chen Changhe said.

"yes!"

Chen Changhe gave a few more instructions and then jogged out of the Chen Family Martial Arts School.

In the backyard, Chen Yinyin returned, this time carrying an exquisite porcelain vase.

Chen Yinyin approached Xu Hao and the others, took out a porcelain bottle, and explained, "These are Qi and Blood Pills, which will help you refine your Qi and blood. Two pills each!"

"Hiss!" Senior Brother Liu Yong and Second Senior Brother Zhao Heshan exchanged a glance, both revealing a hint of surprise.

I never expected to get such a good thing by participating in the challenge.

You should know that even after being personal disciples for so long, they only received a Qi and Blood Pill in their third year as personal disciples.

They were immediately awestruck.

It is precisely because of the Qi and Blood Pill that they are virtually invincible in the Three Breakthrough Realms!

Now, I can actually get two Qi and Blood Pills.

"Junior brother, you've met a lucky time!" Second senior brother Zhao Heshan exclaimed.

"Yes, it took us three years to get the Qi and Blood Pill for the first time!" Senior Brother Liu Yong said with a sigh.

It really is all about luck!

Tang Dengshan, standing to the side, also looked on with envy.

Xu Hao smiled slightly, took the pill from Chen Yinyin's hand, and immediately checked the game panel.

[Qi and Blood Pill, refined with precious medicinal herbs, increases Strength and Stamina by 1 (effective only for the first three uses, and only before reaching the Strength Realm!)]

Xu Hao looked at the description of the Qi and Blood Pill and thought to himself, "No wonder."

This is a treasure that boosts strength and stamina.

For a normal person, once you've cultivated to the third or fourth breakthrough, it becomes very difficult to increase your strength and stamina further!

At this point, even a slight increase in strength and stamina will result in tremendous changes!