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

The next morning, Cao Xiong and Zhang He entered the inner city and met Guan Tai, the magistrate of Guobei County.

"Commander Cao, you've finally arrived."

During this period, the plague of corpses was rampant in Guobei County, and Guan Tai, the county magistrate, was so worried that he could neither eat nor sleep well.

When Guan Tai saw Cao Xiong coming to find him, he felt as if he had met a relative and poured out his grievances.

"The plague has terrified the people; if it's not resolved soon, my term as magistrate is over..."

"Magistrate, please calm down." Cao Xiong slowly sat down opposite Guan Tai.

"I've come today precisely for this matter."

Guan Tai's heart raced, and he couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that we've found a solution? Or have we found the source?"

"Both are true." Cao Xiong's words made Guan Tai involuntarily stand up from his chair and pace back and forth in the hall.

"Commander Cao, this is no laughing matter."

Cao Xiong chuckled and gave Zhang He, who was sitting below him, a look.

Zhang He nodded slightly, then took out the wrapped corpse plague powder from his bosom.

"Your Excellency, please take a look. This is the antidote to the corpse plague, called Corpse Plague Powder."

Guan Tai carefully took the medicine packet, brought it to his nose and took a sniff, "Cough cough~".

The strong herbal smell made Guan Tai frown involuntarily.

"How effective is this corpse plague powder?"

"Your Excellency, please rest assured, this Corpse Plague Powder has been tested many times. As long as the internal organs of the people infected with the Corpse Plague are not severely damaged or rotten, they can basically recover after using the Corpse Plague Powder."

Zhang He's voice was filled with confidence.

"Great, great!" Guan Tai couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The anxiety that had been gripping me for days has finally subsided.

"Commander Cao, what's the source of the plague?"

Guan Tai remembered what Cao Xiong had just said and couldn't help but confirm it.

"The source of the corpse plague was a cultivator, whom I have already eliminated. Next, I need the magistrate to collect the herbs needed to dispel the corpse plague and then produce them in large quantities to coordinate with the actions of the Hundred Households Office."

Cao Xiong didn't keep anyone in suspense and directly stated the purpose of his visit.

"Commander Cao, you really saved my life! Leave the herbal medicine to me," Zhang He said, patting his chest.

Zhang He timely took out the prescription for the Corpse Plague Powder and handed it to Guan Tai.

Guan Tai only glanced at it. He knew nothing about herbs, but Guo Bei County was close to the Ten Thousand Mountains and connected to trade routes, so it had no shortage of various herbs.

"Commander Cao, within two days at most, I will collect as many of the herbs recorded in this prescription as there are within Guobei County."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Magistrate. The Hundred Household Office is waiting for me to return and take charge, so I'll take my leave now."

As he spoke, Cao Xiong stood up.

"Cao Baihu, you can go about your business now. I'll order the collection of medicinal herbs. Once the plague is over, we'll have a good drink together."

Cao Xiong took Zhang He away from the county government office and returned to the Hundred Household Office.

From now on, Cao Xiong will not need to handle the issues related to the corpse plague personally; he can simply let his subordinates deal with them step by step.

Cao Xiong returned to the courtyard of the Hundred-Household Barracks, opened the panel, and checked the progress of his cultivation technique.

Name: Cao Xiong

【Age】：60/85

[Cultivation Level]: Tendon Refining Realm (Mid-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.

[Entry 5] Rock of the Mind (Green): Develops divine consciousness, possesses unwavering will, and is undisturbed by illusions. Reduces the probability of developing inner demons by 10% and increases mental defense by 15%.

[Entry 6] Martial Arts Correction (Green): Optimizes deficiencies in one's own martial arts, fills in the gaps in moves, and perfects the integration of martial arts with oneself. Martial arts training speed is increased by 20%, and damage is increased by 10% when martial arts are used.

[Technique]: Fierce Tiger Stance - Tendon Strengthening Chapter (Minor Success) 175/200

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

Maha Sword Technique (Transcendent Realm) – Derivative Secret Technique: Immovable King Slash

Leaf Picking Step (Dacheng) 115/300

[Fragments]: 1~7

[You have entries that can be merged. Would you like to view them?]

Cao Xiong stared at the newly displayed content on the panel, somewhat excited.

"Check."

The panel flickered, and the content changed again.

The attributes "Exceptional Root Talent (Green)" and "Martial Arts Correction (Green)" can be merged into the attribute "Martial Arts Genius (Blue). Do you wish to merge them?

Cao Xiong didn't hesitate for long. Although he couldn't see the specific content of the entry "Martial Arts Genius" yet, he could tell from the entry name and the blue level that this entry would definitely allow his cultivation talent to be raised to another level.

The moment he decided to merge, his body underwent a sudden and noticeable change.

The bones throughout the body become stronger and thicker, followed by the widening of the meridians, resulting in a more symmetrical figure.

All of this was clearly captured by Cao Xiong's divine sense.

[Entry - Martial Arts Genius (Blue): A martial arts prodigy, one in a century, possessing extraordinary comprehension of martial arts. Training speed increased by 30%, and the destructive power of martial arts techniques increased by 25%.]

Feeling the changes within himself, Cao Xiong suppressed the urge to let out a long roar, "Within three days, I will definitely be able to master the Tiger Stance - Tendon Refining Chapter."

Cao Xiong couldn't wait to experience the added talents brought by the new entry.

Cultivating in the courtyard brought Cao Xiong unprecedented clarity to his mind, and the increased speed of his cultivation made him completely absorbed in it.

For the next three days, Cao Xiong devoted all his time, except for sleeping and eating, to practicing martial arts.

[Tiger Stance - Tendon Strengthening (Minor Success) 200/200]

"Break through!" Cao Xiong's voice boomed, with a faint roar like a tiger's cry emanating from his chest.

His entire body was tense, like a fully drawn bow, with blood surging and internal energy constantly washing over his meridians.

The originally stiff and taut tendons stretched out under the tempering of internal energy and blood, and waves of tingling and soreness came from all over the body.

His veins felt as if they were being pulled at both ends, making a cracking sound.

His skin and flesh trembled slightly, and the veins contracted completely and disappeared under the skin. The sluggishness of his muscles when exerting force in the past was swept away. With a slight exertion, he could drive the flow of energy throughout his body.

"Boom!"

Cao Xiong's internal energy surged, and his chest emitted a booming sound like a heavy hammer striking.

"Is this the late stage of the Muscle Refining Realm?"

Cao Xiong did not use his internal energy; he simply threw a punch, sending a powerful gust of air flying several meters away.

He released his divine sense to observe the changes in his body, and the first thing he noticed was his own face, which seemed to have become much younger.

Anyone who sees Cao Xiong now would think he's around forty years old.