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

[Entry 1: Master of Underhanded Tactics (White): Proficient in using limestone for sneak attacks. Increases damage dealt to enemies by 10% when using non-direct methods.]

[Entry 2: Learning by Analogy (White): Has decent aptitude for martial arts; grasps concepts quickly.]

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

Cao Xiong was somewhat stunned when he saw the first entry.

In his previous battles with the enemy, he had only used lime a few times and occasionally launched surprise attacks.

As for selecting keywords three times in a row, do you have to bring along a seasoned expert in underhanded tactics?

Cao Xiong skipped over the veteran of underhanded tactics and looked at the description of the second entry.

His goal this time was very clear: he needed to choose another attribute that could improve his innate talent.

"Learn by analogy!"

Cao Xiong murmured the name of the entry softly: "[Learning by analogy] can improve comprehension and has a very good effect on understanding cultivation techniques."

However, Cao Xiong had lived two lives and possessed strong spiritual power and good martial arts comprehension. His slow cultivation was not due to poor comprehension, but rather to poor physical constitution.

The phrase "draw inferences from one instance" is not a term needed at present; it can only serve as a finishing touch, not a lifeline.

Cao Xiong continued to look at the last entry. He hadn't seen the specific effect of the entry yet, but the green color next to it undoubtedly reassured him.

All I can say is that he was really lucky.

After briefly reading the introduction to "Exceptional Roots and Bones", Cao Xiong had already made up his mind.

[Exceptional physical constitution] perfectly matches his requirements, enhancing his martial arts talent and enabling him to achieve breakthroughs more quickly.

The effect is far superior to that of seasoned underhanded tricksters who can apply their knowledge to other situations.

Compared to his previous two choices of keywords, he now has a clearer understanding of what he needs.

Therefore, Cao Xiong did not hesitate at all this time.

"I choose someone with exceptional talent."

The terms "Master of Underhanded Tactics" and "Learn by Analogy" slowly dissipated, while the term "Exceptional Talent" transformed into a green light and merged into Cao Xiong's body.

The next moment, Cao Xiong heard a crackling sound from his spine, like firecrackers.

The excruciating pain of a torn muscle instantly overwhelmed Cao Xiong's thoughts.

As time went by, he could clearly feel his spine becoming thicker and his height increasing by two centimeters.

His already unusual height makes him even more outstanding.

Next, his shoulder blades made a cracking sound, the pain intensified, and his shoulders became even wider.

Then came the arm, where a single bone became a double bone.

Finally, his leg bones and even his feet became larger.

"Heh~"

Cao Xiong couldn't help but groan; this time, the process of the entry merging into his body was exceptionally painful.

His bones were as if they had been smashed and then pieced back together, his muscles torn and then mixed together and reassembled.

Just as Cao Xiong was losing consciousness from the pain, a surge of powerful internal energy welled up from his dantian, nourishing his body.

The pain gradually subsided.

When everything had calmed down, Cao Xiong felt that his body had become noticeably stronger.

I couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

"Anyone who sees my bones can tell that I have extraordinary potential."

He even worried that as the number of entries continued to grow, he might become a giant.

However, he didn't care. As long as he could become stronger and stand out a little, he could accept it.

"Boom!"

Cao Xiong clenched his fist and threw a punch at the air.

The sonic boom exploded in my ears.

He felt that he was now ridiculously strong, and if he encountered an enemy like the acrobats, he wouldn't even need to draw his sword; two punches would suffice.

It took Cao Xiong a while to calm himself down.

Tonight, not only did I awaken the attribute "Exceptional Root and Bones," but I also consumed the Water Vermilion Fruit to cleanse my essence and marrow, replenish my vital energy, and prolong my life—a truly remarkable achievement.

This also gave him more confidence to face future dangers.

Whether it's the bamboo spring mentioned by Nie Xiaoqian or the yaksha in Lanruo Temple.

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 (Beginner) 25/100

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

Maha Knife Technique (Minor Success) 15/200

[Fragments]: 0~4

Cao Xiong opened the panel and discovered that his lifespan limit had changed from eighty to eighty-five.

"A single Water Vermilion Fruit can extend one's life by five years. Unfortunately, the Water Vermilion Fruit is most effective the first time it is taken. Moreover, the Water Vermilion Fruit flowers once every five years and bears fruit once every five years."

It will be at least ten years before the spiritual plants in the Chipingpo Valley caves bear Water Vermilion Fruit again.

Cao Xiong cursed himself for being greedy, still not satisfied with just one Water Vermilion Fruit.

You should know that if he had presented this Water Vermilion Fruit directly to the emperor, he would have been promoted to at least a thousand-household commander.

Fortunately, he never got to see the emperor.

Cao Xiong's gaze finally fell on the fragment at the bottom of the panel.

He clearly remembered that before the awakening attribute, the number after the fragment was 3.4, which meant that he should have 0.4 fragments left.

But now, there are 0 fragments.

After a brief moment of thought, Cao Xiong figured out the key point.

After selecting the entry for the first time, he clearly noticed that the difficulty of accumulating fragments had increased significantly.

From now on, any extra fragments he accumulates and selects after choosing an entry will be reset to zero.

"They really don't give us any loopholes at all."

……

In the following period, Cao Xiong practiced martial arts while training new recruits.

Time flows like water.

Five days have passed since Cao Xiong's awakened attribute, "Exceptional Roots and Bones".

That morning, as usual, he practiced the "Fierce Tiger Stance - Bone Forging Chapter" in the courtyard behind the barracks.

Sensing something, Cao Xiong looked at the panel and saw that his cultivation technique had indeed reached the critical point for a breakthrough.

[Tiger Stance - Bone Strengthening (Beginner) 100/100]

"Give me a breakthrough!"

"Click~"

With a cracking sound, Cao Xiong's internal energy surged forth like a flood.

The bottleneck that had been hindering him in the middle stage of Bone Forging shattered like thin ice, and a surge of internal energy, several times more powerful than before, rushed down through his entire body.

A glint flashed in Cao Xiong's eyes, but then his expression returned to calm.

"I didn't expect to break through to the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm so quickly. At this rate of cultivation, as long as I put in a little more time..."

"It is entirely possible to break through to the Muscle Refining Realm within a month and a half."

After that, Cao Xiong resumed his monotonous life in the garrison.

His strength is increasing day by day, and he is getting closer and closer to the late stage of the Bone Forging Realm.

More than ten days later, in the middle of the month, was the day Nie Xiaoqian and Cao Xiong had agreed to meet.

Early in the morning, Cao Xiong rode his horse out of Guobei County and headed towards the ancient tomb.