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

Cao Xiong once again assumed the starting stance of the "Fierce Tiger Stance," his movements flowing smoothly. The internal energy accumulated in his dantian could no longer be suppressed, rushing out like a raging river, breaking through the last layer of flesh and bone barrier, and surging into his entire body.

A sudden ache ran down my spine, and then the ache spread to my limbs and bones, and my joints started to crack.

His entire skeleton became hard and solid, and his every move contained hidden bone strength.

Once the swelling, pain, and burning subsided, Cao Xiong slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.

An aura far more oppressive than that of the Skin Tempering Realm rose from Cao Xiong's body.

The Bone Forging Realm has been achieved.

At the age of twenty-eight, Cao Xiong trained arduously through the sweltering summer and freezing winter, eventually reaching the late stage of the Skin Tempering Realm. From then on, he wasted thirty-two years of his life.

Finally, today, the shackles of the Skin Tempering Realm have been broken.

Cao Xiong washed his body. The thick, grayish-black sweat on his body emitted a faint odor; this was the impurities expelled when breaking through to a higher realm.

After donning his iron lamellar armor, Cao Xiong took out his ancestral ten-times-refined iron willow-leaf knife.

This knife witnessed the rise and fall of the Cao family.

The ten-times-forged willow-leaf blade, sealed away for one or two hundred years, still gleams with a chilling light.

With a swift stroke, the wooden dummy used for martial arts practice in the courtyard was cut in half at the waist.

"A fine knife."

……

Hundred Household Office.

When Cao Xiong arrived at the barracks of the centurion's office, he saw Wang Er sitting on the bed, looking sullen and muttering curses.

"Stop pretending, you trash!"

"Cough cough."

Cao Xiong coughed softly, which startled Wang Er and sent a chill down his spine.

"Uncle Cao, you're terrifying! You're scaring people to death!"

"What's wrong?"

Upon hearing Cao Xiong's question, Wang Er spat on the ground, "Pah! I just passed by the training ground and everyone said that Fang Zheng, that scoundrel, has broken through to the Bone Forging Realm."

"Today's grand competition will be changed into a challenge match. If Fang Zheng successfully defends his title, he will directly become the captain."

Cao Xiong nodded knowingly, "Putting everything else aside, Fang Zheng is indeed a genius. A twenty-one-year-old at the Bone Forging Realm, that's something Guo Bei County hasn't seen in many years."

"Uncle Cao, you're still so calm. That scoundrel will definitely continue to target you."

"If all else fails, then hand that land over to the centurion's office."

When Wang Er got to this point, his voice became noticeably softer.

Cao Xiong smiled, sat cross-legged on the bed, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing. So what if Fang Zheng broke through to the Bone Forging Realm? Who hasn't?

"Waaaaah~"

As the bugle call sounded from the Drum Tower, Cao Xiong suddenly opened his eyes.

"Walk."

When Cao Xiong brought Wang Er to the training ground, nearly forty or fifty people had already gathered there.

Cao Xiong's appearance attracted the attention of many officers and soldiers, after all, it was common knowledge that Fang Zheng and Cao Xiong were at odds.

Fang Zheng's breakthrough to the Bone Forging Realm and becoming the Chief Flag Officer is a foregone conclusion.

Some people had gloating looks in their eyes; these were all officers and soldiers who had been recruited later.

Most of the junior officers had worried looks in their eyes. They were all hereditary military households and had a good relationship with each other from their ancestors to the present. Moreover, Cao Xiong had been serving for more than forty years and many of them had received guidance from him.

Not long after, all the squad leaders of the centurion's office had assembled. Centurion Wei Qiang arrived late, followed by squad leader Xue Ding.

After Wei Qiang was parachuted into Guobei County, he promoted Xue Ding and recruited a large number of officers and soldiers in order to suppress the hereditary faction.

Wei Qiang looked to be in his early forties and had the cultivation level of the Tendon Refining Realm. His gaze first swept over everyone on the training ground before finally landing on Fang Zheng.

With an admiring look in his eyes, he shifted his gaze and addressed everyone.

"Commander Jia has unfortunately passed away, and his son is too young and lacks sufficient strength."

"Fang Xiaoqi's breakthrough to the Bone Forging Realm is a great fortune for our Hundred Households."

"However, the rules of the imperial court cannot be broken. Today's martial arts competition will be changed to Fang Zheng defending the arena, and you will still have the opportunity to challenge him."

"Fang Xiaoqi, step onto the stage."

Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng first clasped his hands in greeting to Wei Qiang on the high platform, and then strode onto the arena.

"Please advise me, everyone."

The crowd was completely silent. Several junior officers were eager to try, but were unwilling to be the first to step forward.

The difference in strength between the Skin Tempering Realm and the Bone Forging Realm is vast, and Fang Zheng is young, ambitious, and a genius.

After waiting for a while, Cao Xiong saw that no one would accept the challenge and was about to go on stage.

But then he saw a junior officer step out of the ranks and stand on the arena before him.

"Lin Liang, please enlighten me!"

Fang Zheng on the other side simply nodded, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

Fang Zheng's disregard made Lin Liang a little embarrassed, but he quickly recovered and took the initiative to make a move.

"Black Tiger Steals the Heart"

Lin Liang's fingertips had a thick layer of calluses, which showed that he had put a lot of effort into his claw techniques when practicing the "Fierce Tiger Stance," and his skill was quite profound.

Fang Zheng remained motionless, letting Lin Liang's attacks land on him.

A muffled "hum" sound.

Forging bones and tempering the skin to their extremes, the combined strength of the bones makes one impervious to sharp blades.

Seeing that his attack was failing to harm the opponent, Lin Liang quickly tried to withdraw.

But Fang Zheng grabbed his wrist and snapped it.

"Overestimating one's abilities."

The sound of bones breaking echoed in the ring.

"Ah~ I admit it~"

Hearing Lin Liang's pleas for mercy, Fang Zheng remained unmoved and kicked Lin Liang off the stage.

"Pfft~"

Lin Liang, who had fallen off the stage, spat out a mouthful of blood and was quickly carried away by his men.

"Wow, that flag officer is really ruthless."

"Hmph, what do you know? Lin Liang challenged the authority of the Bone Forging Realm first, he deserved it."

The fight between Fang Zheng and Lin Liang sparked considerable discussion.

"Alright, shut up."

Commander Wei Qiang spoke up to quell the commotion on the training ground.

"Does anyone else want to challenge Fang Xiaoqi?"

The junior officers who had been eager to try lost their will to take on the challenge after seeing this situation.

As junior officers, most of them were not as good as Lin Liang.

"Sir, I'd like to try."

Seeing that no one dared to challenge him anymore, Cao Xiong stepped out of the crowd.

Cao Xiong's appearance left everyone somewhat bewildered, including Wei Qiang, who was stunned for a moment.

However, he eventually nodded and allowed Cao Xiong to play.

Cao Xiong jumped down from the ring and stood facing Fang Zheng.

Everyone held their breath, thinking that Cao Xiong would definitely not be able to withstand even one or two moves.

I'm just curious how Fang Zheng, the youngest bone-forging genius in the garrison, will finally defeat Cao Xiong.

"Cao Xiong, do you think you can challenge the Bone Forging Realm just because you killed a severely injured and dying dog demon?"

"No wonder you haven't been able to break through for decades; you know nothing about bone forging."

Fang Zheng shifted his stance and instantly appeared in front of Cao Xiong, his fists fierce and his shadows like a tide.

Cao Xiong calmly parried, his shoulders relaxed and his waist bent, his bones creaking. Each parry caused Fang Zheng's blood and qi to surge.

Fang Zheng grew increasingly alarmed as he fought, unconsciously using all his strength, yet he still couldn't harm Cao Xiong in the slightest.

"You've reached the Bone Forging Realm?"

Fang Zheng took two steps back, his usually calm face now filled with shock.

"Just lucky."

Cao Xiong responded to Fang Zheng's question with a calm expression.

The words spoken by the two people on the stage instantly caused a huge uproar on the training ground.

Breaking through to the Bone Forging Realm at the age of sixty is simply unheard of.

Having figured out Fang Zheng's strengths and weaknesses, Cao Xiong stopped defending and struck Fang Zheng's shoulder with a heavy blow.

With a muffled thud, Fang Zheng staggered backward.

"Die!"

Fang Zheng adjusted his posture and attacked again, putting all his strength into every move.

The two exchanged blows, neither giving an inch.

"Click~"

Cao Xiong seized the opportunity and broke Fang Zheng's right arm.

The fist transforms into a claw, aiming directly at the square dantian (lower abdomen).

Having lived two lives, Cao Xiong is neither a bad person nor a soft-hearted one.

Fang Zheng opposes him at every turn. Today, not only does Fang Zheng want to depose Cao Xiong, but Cao Xiong also wants to depose Fang Zheng.

The best way to ruin a genius is to make him a failure.

Unfortunately, it didn't work out.

"Stop it."

Centurion Wei Qiang interrupted in time, leaving Cao Xiong with no choice but to give up.