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

Cao Xiong had only walked a few dozen meters out of Lanruo Temple.

Then they saw a monster over ten feet long, with wings on its back, a blue face and fangs, spewing white smoke from its nostrils, and holding a steel fork, flying from a distance toward Lanruo Temple.

Cao Xiong quickly hid behind a tree.

As if sensing something, the Yaksha scanned the area where Cao Xiong was with its blood-red eyes, but did not linger.

Cao Xiong suddenly felt a chill run through him.

"This must be the Yaksha demon that Nie Xiaoqian mentioned. It is indeed terrifying."

The strongest warrior in his memory was only a martial artist at the Skin Tempering Realm, with the strength to lift a thousand pounds and uproot a willow tree, but he was far less imposing than this Yaksha.

After the Yaksha entered Lanruo Temple, Cao Xiong waited for two or three minutes before peeking out from behind the tree and hurrying home.

The Cao family were hereditary military households, living in Xiaohe Village, near the camp outside the city.

A cold wind brushed against his face, carrying the dampness of the mountain forest, but Cao Xiong felt no chill at all; instead, he felt a sense of exhilaration.

After the phrase "unwavering will" was incorporated into the body, the evil energy that had lingered within for many years was completely eliminated.

His body, which was originally so weak that he would be out of breath after taking just a few steps, was now full of unprecedented vitality.

His steps were steady, and he no longer looked sickly at all.

Following the mountain path from my memory, the village of Xiaohe, nestled among the mountains, gradually came into view.

The entire Xiahe Village is located at the foot of the mountain, with more than a hundred households. The houses are all low mud-brick houses, and most of the courtyard walls have collapsed. At a glance, it is full of a dilapidated and desolate scenes.

The morning mist swirled, and all was silent, save for the occasional bark of a dog.

The original owner's home was in the easternmost corner of Xiahe Village, a small courtyard surrounded by a fence with three mud-brick houses. Now, only Cao Xiong and his adopted sister Ruiyun live there.

Cao Xiong had also read Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio in his previous life.

He vaguely remembered a story in *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio* titled "Auspicious Clouds," wondering if the two were related. However, the *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio* he read in his previous life was, after all, a fictional novel, while the Ming Dynasty he now lived in was a real world.

As soon as Cao Xiong entered the courtyard, he heard a rustling sound coming from the room.

"Is that my younger brother?"

Her voice was gentle, with a uniquely feminine softness.

"Sister, it's me."

The door opened, and Ruiyun came out of the room.

Ruiyun looked to be in her mid-twenties. She was wearing a coarse cloth dress with several patches on it, her hair was simply tied up, and she had a beautiful face, but her eyes were full of fatigue and worry.

She was adopted by Cao's father when she was twelve years old and grew up with Cao Xiong. Although they were not related by blood, they were closer than siblings.

After leaving the house, Ruiyun didn't stop walking; she took small, quick steps and suddenly threw herself into Cao Xiong's arms.

"I told you not to go into the mountains, but you wouldn't listen." With the soft jade in his arms, Cao Xiong's body stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recovered.

Cao Xiong reached out and patted Ruiyun on the back. "I'm back safe and sound, but unfortunately, I didn't find any herbs."

"It's alright, I've already decided. I'll marry Master Zhang as his concubine, and all the money I receive will be given to you."

Cao Xiong was deeply moved. In his previous life, he was an orphan. Having lived two lives, this was the first time he had felt such intense love.

"Sister, I won't let you become Master Zhang's concubine. I've decided to join the army."

"What?"

Ruiyun looked up. "No, the world is in such a mess these days, it's too dangerous to be a soldier."

"I have lost my father..."

Cao Xiong took two steps back and patted his chest.

"This trip into the mountains wasn't without its rewards. I accidentally ate a red fruit that I didn't recognize, which not only dispelled the evil spirits in my body, but also made me stronger than the average person."

"After enlisting, you can get more resources to train in martial arts. In this world, only those who possess power can survive."

"Besides, Master Zhang is eyeing you covetously. Only by enlisting in the army can we have any room for maneuver."

Ruiyun then noticed the change in Cao Xiong; his sickly state was gone, replaced by a more imposing presence.

His speech also changed from his previous timidity, becoming full of confidence.

"I'll do whatever you say. This trip into the mountains was too tiring. Go inside and rest. I'll go cook for you."

"good!"

Joining the army was a decision Cao Xiong made after careful consideration.

Cao Xiong returned to his room and took out the manual of "Fierce Tiger Stance" from his bosom.

The cover is dark brown, with some damage to the outer layer. The three large characters "猛虎桩" (Fierce Tiger Stance) are powerful and vigorous, exuding a chilling aura.

He turned the pages gently; each page contained a clear diagram of a human figure in stance, and next to each diagram were detailed instructions and tips for standing in the stance, all in a simple and easy-to-understand manner.

Following the stance training is a set of boxing techniques, consisting of eight forms, known as "Fierce Tiger Fist".

This set of "Fierce Tiger Stance" is a basic martial arts training method that can strengthen muscles and bones and concentrate energy. It is far superior to the "Nine Styles of the Saber" martial arts, which is a standard military martial art left by his father.

After mastering the "Fierce Tiger Stance," one can break through to the third realm of external cultivation.

The three realms of external cultivation are the Skin Tempering Realm, Bone Forging Realm, and Tendon Refining Realm.

Only by reaching the Bone Forging Realm can one be qualified to go to Lanruo Temple again to help Nie Xiaoqian escape her suffering and obtain the opportunity she spoke of.

More importantly, he now lives in a chaotic world, a time of corruption and rampant demons. Without strength, everything is meaningless.

Cao Xiong took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and began to practice the stance exercises according to the diagram. The first movement was the Crouching Tiger Stance.

Sink your waist and assume a horse stance, with your feet shoulder-width apart. Shift your weight down, focus your energy in your dantian, slowly raise your hands, then lower them, and lean your upper body forward until your hands touch the ground.

This process requires adjusting your breathing according to the instructions.

At first, Cao Xiong's body was stiff and his movements were awkward, making it impossible for him to complete the first stance. However, with focused concentration, he gradually grasped the key points and details of the Crouching Tiger stance.

With a good start, he was able to concentrate on his practice without any distractions, and he mastered all the stances one by one.

Cao Xiong understood that this must be the effect of the "Steadfast Will" attribute, which improved his concentration and enhanced his ability to understand the techniques.

With repeated practice, a faint warmth gradually rose within Cao Xiong's body, flowing along his meridians and nourishing his muscles, bones, and limbs.

Cao Xiong was so engrossed in his cultivation that he was completely unaware of the passage of time.

"Phew~"

After an unknown amount of time, Cao Xiong broke free from his training state.

He didn't feel tired at all; on the contrary, he seemed quite energetic.

And the light screen in his eyes also changed.

Name: Cao Xiong

Age: 18

[Cultivation Level]: None

[Entry 1] Strong Will (White): Possessing righteousness, one is immune to all evil, and concentration +10%.

[Fragment]: 0→1

[Skill]: Fierce Tiger Stance (Beginner) 1/100

In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Tiger Stake showed a significant improvement.

At this rate, he will be able to master the basics of "Tiger Stance" in less than a month.

"Bang bang~"

"Little brother, dinner's ready."

"Okay, coming."

Ruiyun's gentle voice sounded from outside the door. Cao Xiong responded and then put the manual in a box under the bed, placing it together with the "Nine Styles of the Sword".

Then he left the room.

As soon as I entered the main room, before even getting close to the dining table, the aroma of the food wafted over me.

Cao Xiong's stomach rumbled loudly, much to his dismay. He hadn't rested well yesterday, and the exertion from practicing martial arts earlier had left him ravenously hungry.

He sat down at the table and began to wolf down his food without any regard for his image.

Two multigrain steamed buns and a plate of stir-fried wild vegetables—simple, but Ruiyun's cooking was excellent. Just as Cao Xiong finished eating one of the buns, a piercing shout rang out from outside the courtyard.

"Cao Xiong, get the hell out here!"