Chapter 55: Ambush!

In the square, the militiamen quickly gathered, totaling three hundred men, all of whom were strong and robust, but they were all at the ninth rank, and would not be of much use on the battlefield.

Under Xu Daoyan's leadership, they headed toward the back mountain. The last time, the Xiong people's troops had crossed the back mountain and invaded Liuli Village, so this area had to be guarded.

He looked at Feng Hua and said, "Uncle, I know the Wind Cavalry is also skilled at setting traps. These days, you will have to set up defenses on the back mountain. I will go and scout the area!"

Generally, troops like the Wind Cavalry, with their fast mobility and archery skills, are adept at reconnaissance and setting traps.

"Alright, be careful on your way," Feng Hua nodded.

Xu Daoyan rode away. There was a main road in Liuli Village that led directly to the border, but this road had to go around several mountains to reach the battlefield.

The Xiong people, who had long been raiding border villages, were very familiar with the terrain, so they would directly cross the mountains.

"Since that's the case, there's no need to set up defenses on the main road. However, there are other villages near Liuli Village, and we can't just defend one place. We should get a map!" Xu Daoyan surveyed the surrounding terrain and decided that setting up an ambush on the back mountain was the best choice. This time, if the Xiong people dare to invade again, they must not return!

Xu Daoyan arrived at Chen Yun's location, which was the former home of the Cai Village Chief. Now, it had been renovated into an official residence. If the villagers had any grievances, they could come here to appeal and seek justice, which was done fairly. In the past half year, it had received many positive reviews.

Xu Daoyan was quite impressed with Chen Yun. After some pleasantries, he asked for a map and then left.

Holding an old piece of sheepskin, he drew the surrounding villages, mountains, and main roads of Liuli Village.

Twenty miles west of Liuli Village was a village called Shanbian Village, built along the mountain. The villagers there lived even worse than those in Liuli Village, so they were not raided last year.

Fifteen miles southwest of Liuli Village was a village called Shentu Village, with fertile land and flat terrain, making it relatively prosperous. It was also raided last year and received aid from Shiyun Town. This year, the crops were doing well!

Thirty miles north of Liuli Village was a desolate mountain over five hundred feet high, which was no longer within the territory of the Jiuzhou Dynasty.

Xu Daoyan rode to the mountain, climbed it, and surveyed the battlefield. The view was flat, and from this vantage point, one could see for miles. However, not everyone had the same keen eyesight as he did.

He descended the mountain and returned to Liuli Village at noon.

"Oh? There is such terrain, then we can build a beacon tower. If we see enemy troops coming, we can organize the villagers to take shelter in advance and be fully prepared!" Feng Hua was pleased and immediately sent three warriors with Xu Daoyan to build the beacon tower on the mountain.

The main role of the Wind Cavalry was to serve as scouts, build beacon towers, set traps, and excel in archery, with close combat being their last resort.

From noon until late at night, the beacon tower was finally completed.

"Brother Daoyan, let's take turns guarding the beacon tower!" One of the Wind Cavalry warriors suggested.

"No need, I will guard it myself!" Xu Daoyan knew that his keen eyesight would allow him to spot the enemy early and notify everyone, giving the villagers more time to escape. This was crucial, as he did not have complete confidence in a decisive victory.

"That's not a good idea!" Another warrior objected.

"No more talk, my eyesight is excellent, and I am the best choice to guard this place. Let's go back," Xu Daoyan waved them off.

Back in Liuli Village, he let the soldiers rest and returned home.

"Mother!" Xu Daoyan entered the house, and Wu Shi was sitting by the table, which was full of food. She didn't know that her son no longer needed to eat these things.

Putting down his weapon, Xu Daoyan sat down and started eating voraciously.

"Eat slowly!" For others, seeing a soldier once in ten years was rare, but in less than a year, Wu Shi had seen her son twice, which she found very satisfying.

"Mother, I will be stationed at the beacon tower and won't come home." Xu Daoyan said while eating.

"I understand. The war is important. I can't let you come home every day and make a fool of yourself. Be careful on the battlefield!" Wu Shi understood that as a soldier, missing a battle could be a capital offense. She dared not let her personal desires harm her son.

After eating, Xu Daoyan chatted with Wu Shi. He only shared good news and did not mention the beatings or being surrounded by the Xiong people.

"That Master Shi really treats you well. If I get the chance, I will prepare a feast to thank him..." Wu Shi was moved. No matter what, as the young master of Shilong City, treating her son like a brother made her very happy.

"If I get the chance, I will invite him to our home." Xu Daoyan said, "Mother, it's late, let's rest."

"Alright!" Wu Shi went to bed.

Xu Daoyan sat in meditation, now that the enemy was approaching, he could not afford to be negligent. He continued to use high-quality gold spirit stones to refine his lungs and toughen his skin, hoping to reach the flawless state before the Xiong people arrived.

Wu Shi watched her son meditating and sighed, saying nothing more.

The night passed.

Before dawn, Xu Daoyan left home and rode to the back mountain.

Feng Hua had already led the Wind Cavalry and the militiamen to continue setting traps and fortifying the area.

"Daoyan, I heard you want to guard the beacon tower?" Feng Hua asked when he saw Xu Daoyan.

"Yes, my eyesight is excellent, and I can personally guard the beacon tower to spot the enemy early," Xu Daoyan said seriously.

"However, the Xiong people may not invade this year. They usually invade every few years. This year, they may not come. That's why we sometimes have no way to deal with them. They seem to know we will send troops to guard, and when they don't come, they almost always raid!" Feng Hua knew that Xu Daoyan was eager for revenge and feared he might be disappointed if the Xiong people didn't come.

Xu Daoyan was puzzled. Could there be a spy in Shilong City? But now, thinking about it was useless. He said solemnly, "Uncle Feng Hua, I understand your concern. Don't worry. Whether they come or not, I will be fully prepared. When the time comes, you will command the troops, and I will act as the situation demands. I will join you if necessary!"

"Alright, be careful!" Feng Hua felt very reassured by Xu Daoyan.

"Remember, fight a guerrilla war, don't engage in direct combat!" Xu Daoyan reminded.

"Understood."

With that, Xu Daoyan left, riding to the top of the mountain.

The area was desolate, and autumn had arrived, with a chill in the air. This place, once a battlefield, now exuded a solemn and deadly atmosphere.

Xu Daoyan sat in meditation, focusing his mind, and continued to use high-quality gold spirit stones to refine his lungs. Day and night, he practiced, and at night, he did not forget to release Qin Han, Bai Shi, and Zhang Chao to accumulate strength.

He remained motionless like a stone, only occasionally feeding the Jifeng horse and stretching his limbs, but soon returned to his meditation. Nearly twenty days passed.

His high-quality gold spirit stones were now depleted. When he looked inward at his lungs, they were as clear and bright as white jade.

Indeed, in these twenty days, he had refined his lungs to the flawless state, reaching the peak of the Ten Thousand Refinements Copper Body.

At this point, Xu Daoyan's lifespan had reached 9,000 years, placing him at the upper rank of the first tier, not far from the upper rank of the human realm.

The lower rank of the first tier: 6,210 to 6,910 years.

The middle rank of the first tier: 6,910 to 7,610 years.

The upper rank of the first tier: 7,610 to 9,999 years.

The so-called upper rank of the human realm is 10,000 years. In the distant past, when the world was just beginning, and the human race was developing, emperors were called "10,000 years." Many emperors wanted to reach the Immortal realm, seeking elixirs and cultivation, but few succeeded. However, some did break through, allowing the human race to develop further.

Xu Daoyan exhaled, splitting a nearby stone in half, showing the significant improvement from refining his lungs to the flawless state.

Now, he had refined the Ten Thousand Refinements Copper Body to its peak, with tough skin and shiny hair, subtly sharp, as the old beggar had said. If he truly refined his lungs to a certain level, he could even kill with a strand of hair.

"Jifeng, do you think the Xion