I relied on leveling up to achieve a comeback.

Xu Hao arrived at the backyard, where his second senior brother, Zhao Heshan, was already standing in the pavilion.

Upon seeing Xu Hao approach, Chen Changhe quickly greeted him, "Sit down!"

Xu Hao nodded, and after sitting down, he asked curiously, "Master, is there some good news?"

"Of course!" Chen Changhe nodded, took a deep breath, and said, "Since you're all here, I'll be frank: people from Shuangqing Prefecture have arrived!"

"Really?" Zhao Heshan was overjoyed to hear this.

He's been incredibly busy lately.

Even as a constable, he was unable to send his family out of Qinghe County.

It's really too dangerous outside, so even some merchant caravans have stopped operating.

If there is support now, that would be great.

Xu Hao remained silent, waiting quietly for Chen Changhe to continue.

"Those who have come this time are outer disciples of the Five Animals Sect. Don't underestimate them just because they are outer disciples; they are all genuine experts at the Strength Realm!" Chen Changhe explained, then added:

"Qinghe County will be hosting a banquet for them tonight to welcome them. I'll show you around then!"

Chen Changhe paused, then turned his gaze to Xu Hao and said earnestly, "Especially you, Xu Hao, your cultivation is progressing so quickly. You might be able to enter the Five Animals Sect in the future. Making friends with you now will be very beneficial to your future!"

"Yes!" Xu Hao nodded.

He will soon be able to reach the fourth level of Body Tempering, at which point he will need the techniques of the Strength Realm.

Moreover, it would be good for him to broaden his horizons and gain a clear understanding of the attributes of a master at the Strength Realm.

"Alright, get ready, we'll head there together!" After explaining the situation a bit more, Chen Changhe waved for Xu Hao and the others to leave.

After leaving the backyard with Zhao Heshan, Xu Hao chatted about some matters concerning the government office before returning to the central courtyard to begin cultivating the Four Breakthrough Technique.

Tiger Fist +19

[Body Tempering +13]

hum.

After a notification sound rang out, Xu Hao stopped cultivating and looked at his attributes.

[Body Tempering Fourth Breakthrough, 4988/5000]

Xu Hao saw that he was just one more complete hammering process away from reaching the fourth level of cultivation.

But he did not continue.

A warrior who has reached the third breakthrough level has attributes of around 20, while a warrior who has reached the fourth breakthrough level normally has attributes of around 30.

In other words, advancing from the third breakthrough to the fourth breakthrough will increase each attribute by approximately ten points.

For a normal person, they could break through directly.

But Xu Hao is not a normal person; his current attributes have all reached 62.

If he were to break through directly, each attribute would increase by ten, bringing his total attribute value to a terrifying seventy-two, far exceeding the limit of his current mental strength.

He was already burdened by mental strain after adding two points of strength earlier, but now that he's truly about to break through to the fourth level of Body Tempering, his strength, stamina, and agility will definitely overflow.

Xu Hao didn't know what the downsides of overflowing were. Perhaps the increased attributes would reach their limit and stop increasing, or perhaps the body's functions would be disrupted, damaging its foundation.

It is currently unknown.

To avoid such trouble, Xu Hao decided not to upgrade his skills for the time being.

Anyway, his current attributes are already sufficient. He just needs to wait for the villains of the Longevity Cult to come and give him experience points, and then he can improve them all at once to prevent future troubles.

Of course, although one cannot continue body tempering, other cultivation practices cannot be neglected.

Xu Hao began practicing Swift Step and Draw Sword Slash on the training ground.

Both can be done simultaneously.

Xu Hao spent the entire afternoon cultivating.

It wasn't until nearly evening that Xu Hao stopped cultivating at Tang Dengshan's urging, and then changed into a fairly decent robe.

"Let's go!" Chen Changhe arrived at the central courtyard, glanced at Xu Hao's clothes, nodded, and walked ahead.

Chen Yinyin, Tang Dengshan, and Zhao Heshan followed closely behind.

Senior Brother Liu Yong's injuries have improved, but he has not yet fully recovered, so he has been recuperating these days.

The group soon arrived at the largest restaurant in Qinghe County.

At this time, no one except the person hosting the banquet is allowed to enter or leave the room.

Chen Changhe also needed to show an invitation to be allowed to enter.

"Let's go!" Chen Changhe walked in front and entered the top-tier courtyard of Zuixianlou.

There are mountains and water here, and the place is decorated very elegantly.

After Xu Hao and his group entered, there were already quite a few people chatting.

They were all high-ranking members of their respective factions, clearly divided into different groups.

Xu Hao looked around but didn't recognize anyone.

"You all stay here for a while, I'm going to meet the guests!" Chen Changhe instructed, and then headed towards the gathering place of the leaders of various forces in Qinghe County.

"Wow, so much delicious food!" Chen Yinyin, just like a naive young girl, had her eyes light up when she saw the various foods laid out on the banquet table.

"Let's go eat!" Xu Hao said with a smile.

Chen Yinyin immediately ran over excitedly, eating a little of everything and searching for her favorites.

"You guys go ahead, I'll go gather some intelligence!" Zhao Heshan said, heading towards his own circle of rank.

The head constable of the yamen, with a third-stage cultivation level, was not as good as a fourth-stage martial artist like Chen Changhe, but he was still a figure in Qinghe County.

Xu Hao and Tang Dengshan accompanied Chen Yinyin and also ate at the banquet.

There were also some snobbish and arrogant people around them. They looked at Xu Hao and his group with unfriendly eyes, but no one made any sarcastic or mocking remarks.

Because everyone knows that those who can come here at this time are all capable people.

Even if you dislike someone, there's no need to make an enemy of them.

At most, they would simply avoid it.

And so, Xu Hao, Chen Yinyin, Tang Dengshan, and the others began the banquet.

First, the magistrate and other important figures from Qinghe County arrived. Then, after everyone gathered around, the magistrate introduced the important figures from the Five Animal Sect sent by Shuangqing Prefecture.

There were two people, one man and one woman.

The man was handsome and had an extraordinary air about him.

The woman was heroic and naturally beautiful.

The magistrate first righteously rebuked the Longevity Sect's recent actions, and then proceeded to praise the two outer disciples of the Five Animals Sect.

He spoke with great passion and fervor.

Below the banquet table, everyone looked on with more or less admiration.

Only Xu Hao.

He showed no expression, simply staring at the two of them and using the viewing function on the game panel.

Sun Lianshan, Strength Realm, Strength 49, Stamina 50, Agility 47, Spirit 17

Technique: Fierce Tiger Strength (Beginner), Characteristics: Strength +25, Speed ​​+23 during execution

[Power Realm Trait: Attack and Defense +20]

"Hiss!" Xu Hao gasped as he looked at the male disciple from the outer sect of the Five Animals Sect.

Strength, stamina, and agility all reached fifty, which isn't too exaggerated.

But that spirit surprised Xu Hao.

He only reached level fifteen or sixteen thanks to his time travel and the ancient Marrow Cleansing Pill, but this person's spirit level actually reached level seventeen.

How was it made?

If Xu Hao knew this, he would have an additional way to acquire attribute points.

Xu Hao took a deep breath, shifted his gaze from the male disciple Sun Lianshan to the female disciple, and then his pupils contracted...