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

Cao Xiong carefully sensed the condition inside his body. His internal energy was nearly exhausted, and his internal organs, muscles, bones, and meridians were all damaged to varying degrees.

It will take at least half a month to fully recover.

"Phew~ But I've finally completed the plan to wipe out the bandits. Now I have time to focus on healing my injuries and practicing my skills."

He opened the panel to check the progress of several martial arts techniques.

Name: Cao Xiong

【Age】：60/85

[Cultivation Level]: Muscle Refining 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 Roots (Green): A natural martial arts prodigy with immense potential.

【Entry 4】Copper Skin and Iron Bones (Blue): Resistant to impacts, drops, and blows, impervious to knives and spears.

[Exercise Method]: Fierce Tiger Stance - Tendon Strengthening (Beginner) 45/100

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

Maha Knife Technique (Great Completion) 205/300

Leaf Picking Step (Small Achievement) 102/200

[Fragments]: 3.4~5

Looking back on the battle with the Yaksha, there are many things worth reflecting on.

He was no match for the Yaksha.

Currently, his biggest weakness seems to be his insufficient internal strength. If his internal strength were stronger, his sword-drawing technique would be more powerful, but this is due to his low cultivation level, and there's nothing that can be done about it.

If we disregard the realm and analyze this battle, there are two main areas where he needs to improve. The first is attack power, which he needs to increase given his insufficient realm.

Only by cultivating a more powerful martial art, the "Maha Saber Technique," which is stronger than the "Eighteen Forms of Wind Slash," can one truly master it. However, it has only been cultivated to the advanced stage so far.

If he could elevate the "Maha Knife Technique" to perfection or even to the highest level, he would be able to increase his combat power to a new level and have the opportunity to acquire a secret technique even more powerful than the Draw Sword Technique.

Secondly, he wasn't fast enough; he couldn't win a fight, nor could he escape, leaving him only able to take a beating.

The Leaf-Picking Step technique is not yet fully mastered; the speed of the partially completed Leaf-Picking Step is much slower than that of the Yaksha, who possesses the ability to fly.

Therefore, the focus should be on improving cultivation level, followed by the practice of "Leaf-Picking Step" and "Maha Knife Technique".

As for the fist techniques and claw techniques that come with the "Fierce Tiger Stance," put them all aside for now and focus only on the stance training.

After deciding on his next training path, he closed his eyes and slowly guided his internal energy to heal his injuries.

About two hours later, the gray wolf returned to the cave carrying the carcass of a striped tiger.

It was obvious that the gray wolf had hunted a tiger in order to satisfy Cao Xiong's need for animal hides.

Cao Xiong patted the gray wolf's head. "Thank you for your hard work!"

"Awoo~"

The gray wolf howled to the sky.

After two hours of treatment, Cao Xiong was able to walk normally again, since both the "Old but Still Vigorous" and "Iron Skin and Bones" attributes had the effect of restoring physical health.

Cao Xiong used his Evil-Sniffing Longsword to completely peel off the tiger skin. After simple processing, he made an apron, tied it around his waist, and covered his private parts.

Then they gathered some firewood and started a fire by rubbing sticks together.

No one knew how many days he had been unconscious, but his stomach was already growling with hunger.

But I didn't feel dehydrated, I wonder if I drank too much while I was unconscious.

This tiger must weigh around 400 pounds. It is strong and has succulent meat, making it an excellent food source.

Cao Xiong cut off the tiger's four limbs and roasted them over a fire.

"I'll let you taste my cooking today."

Cao Xiong said, glancing at the gray wolf lying beside him as he grilled the meat.

Before long, the aroma of meat filled the entire cave, and Cao Xiong subconsciously swallowed.

"It smells good, but it would be even better with a little salt and cumin."

Having lived in this world for sixty years, my memories of Earth have become quite hazy, but the thought of delicious barbecue still makes my mouth water.

The gray wolf stared wide-eyed at the tiger's leg resting on the fire.

Cao Xiong took the two tiger legs, kept one for himself, and threw the other to the gray wolf.

After eating two tiger legs and three pieces of meat, Cao Xiong's hunger finally subsided.

"Cool!"

The feeling of surviving a disaster and then enjoying a big meal is indescribable.

Next, Cao Xiong began to carefully observe the cave.

Deep inside the cave was a pile of wild animal bones, likely the prey of gray wolves.

There was a pile of grayish-white powder next to the bone, as well as a few reddish crystals.

"Grey Wolf reached the Spirit Awakening Realm so quickly, probably because of these crystals."

When he first came in, he was not familiar with spiritual energy.

He had only learned of the existence of spirit stones from Nie Xiaoqian.

Now he was certain that these crimson crystals were fire spirit stones.

However, after so much time had passed, there was still no progress in his cultivation of the "Golden Spirit Technique," and he had given up on the idea of ​​becoming a cultivator.

Therefore, these fire spirit stones were of little use to him.

It would be better to leave it for the gray wolf to use for training. If needed in the future, they can come here to mine it.

After that, Cao Xiong stayed in the valley of Chipingpo to recuperate from his injuries.

Three days later, his condition finally stabilized, and he immediately returned to Guobei County.

There was still a lot of work waiting for him to do at the centurion's office.

As soon as Cao Xiong returned to the centurion's office, he saw Wei Qiang, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

Wei Qiang is now able to move normally, but he is so thin that he looks more than ten years older.

"Commander Cao, please sit."

Upon seeing Cao Xiong, Wei Qiang smiled and made a teasing remark.

"President, please don't joke with me. This time, I almost didn't make it back."

Cao Xiong showed a helpless expression.

"If I hadn't been waiting for you, I would have gone to the county town long ago." Wei Qiang's tone was relaxed.

Cao Xiong understood immediately; it must be an order from the prefecture to transfer Wei Qiang to the Thousand-Household Garrison.

Wei Qiang took a document from his desk; it was Cao Xiong's appointment letter.

"Look, from now on, the Guobei County Hundred-Household Office is in your hands."

Cao Xiong took it but did not open it. Instead, he looked at Wei Qiang and said, "Lord Wei, rest assured, as long as I am here, Guo Bei County will not allow demons and ghosts to run rampant."

Wei Qiang's eyes held a complex expression. "You still need to be careful. Think things through before you act. Don't be like me, blindly arrogant, which ultimately led to damage to your dantian and the end of your martial arts career."

Before Cao Xiong could speak, Wei Qiang, perhaps sensing the topic was becoming somewhat heavy, continued with a touch of nonchalance.

"Alright, I'm not going to argue with you anymore. Now that you're back, you can handle the situation at the centurion's office yourself."

"I'm going to the Thousand Household Office tomorrow."

"You must drink with me tonight, until we're completely drunk."

Cao Xiong knew that Wei Qiang was an extremely proud and ambitious person.

Now, there is no possibility of further progress in martial arts, and he has been transferred from a position of real power. The bitterness in his heart is something he cannot tell outsiders.

"Okay, let's drink as much as we want tonight."