Chapter 56 has finally arrived!

Xu Daoyan and his swift horse watched quietly as all this unfolded. He was confident that Qin Han, Bai Shi, and Zhang Chao would surely overcome the lightning tribulation.

Su Wei had long observed them and given advice, suggesting they accumulate more strength before attempting to break through, which was not without reason.

Suddenly, a rumble of thunder echoed, and lightning surged.

Lightning is extremely harmful to ghosts, causing damage that doubles.

Zzzap! Three bolts of lightning, as thick as fists, struck the three of them. They could not avoid it and had to endure it!

Pain appeared on their faces, and they all activated their cultivation techniques. The brilliance of the sun, moon, and stars shone brightly. While resisting, they also refined the lightning within, integrating it into their bodies, which would grant them some resistance to lightning attacks in the future!

One after another, lightning bolts fell, and they all endured them. In less than half an incense stick's time, each of them had withstood nine lightning strikes.

Even at the Human Immortal realm, it would be difficult to withstand such an attack, showing how powerful their cultivation techniques were. Of course, this was also related to their long-term accumulation.

The lightning tribulation ended, the dark clouds dispersed, and the moon shone brightly!

At this moment, they had all entered the Ghost Immortal realm. Xu Daoyan took out three Immortal bodies: the Sunlight Immortal Body, the Moonlight Immortal Body, and the Starlight Immortal Body.

"From now on, you don't need to hide in the Ghost Binding Bag. You can live in broad daylight!" Xu Daoyan had never mentioned this before, so they were unaware.

"Thank you, Young Master!" Qin Han, Bai Shi, and Zhang Chao were extremely excited upon seeing the three Immortal bodies. Xu Daoyan had spent more money on them than on himself!

The three Ghost Immortals integrated the cultivation techniques taught by the old beggar into the Immortal bodies. They found that these bodies were highly compatible with their cultivation techniques. Despite the significant damage they suffered from the lightning tribulation, their souls gradually recovered and harmonized with their yin and yang, and their cultivation techniques continued to develop.

"Get familiar with your new bodies. In a few days, we might have to fight the Xiongnu. Don't hold me back!" Xu Daoyan smiled.

"Yes!" The three flew down the mountain, stretching their limbs. They had always felt light and insubstantial, but now, with their new bodies, they felt solid and substantial, which filled them with excitement.

Xu Daoyan said this, but the three knew he wanted them to release their excitement!

"Everything is ready. Let's see if the Xiongnu will come!" Xu Daoyan sat cross-legged on the mountain peak, looking up to the sky.

He had stopped cultivating his lungs, which had already reached the flawless realm. To achieve greater success, he needed a further breakthrough, which would be a vortex-like qi circulation.

The old beggar had once said that reaching the flawless realm was not difficult, but breaking through to the vortex-like qi circulation was much harder. It required a large amount of resources and Xu Daoyan's own insight.

There were only nine days left until the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Xu Daoyan took out high-quality water spirit stones and began to introduce them into his kidneys, transforming them into storage qi to refine his bones.

Previously, he had cultivated to the level of hundred-refined iron bones. Next, he aimed to reach the level of thousand-refined iron bones.

Xu Daoyan used the storage qi to refine his entire skeleton. Each refinement brought subtle changes to his bones!

Thus, another six days passed.

He consumed nearly forty pounds of high-quality water spirit stones, bringing his bone refinement to the level of thousand-refined iron bones.

"Indeed, cultivating the kidneys outside the winter season is very resource-intensive. If this continues, even with the remaining sixty pounds of high-quality water spirit stones, it would be difficult to reach the level of ten-thousand-refined iron bones..."

The kidneys control the bones. Now, Xu Daoyan's teeth were as hard and sharp as high-quality human weapons, and could be used to tear through enemies in critical moments.

His teeth were neatly aligned, and the condition of one's kidneys can be seen from their teeth!

Because of the refinement of his kidneys, his hearing had also improved.

Long-term cultivation made Xu Daoyan feel somewhat fatigued. Before the battle, he needed to rest and regain his energy.

After resting for half a day, he opened his eyes and stopped cultivating. He needed to focus on reconnaissance and, upon discovering the enemy, light the beacon to prepare the villagers for evacuation!

Pomegranate Village.

In recent days, under the leadership of a hundred Wind Cavalry soldiers, three hundred militiamen had set up numerous traps on the back mountain. If the enemy attacked, they would suffer heavy losses!

"Is Brother Daoyan safe? He hasn't returned for so many days!" They had just finished setting the traps and were now waiting for the enemy!

"Don't worry. His strength is greater than ours. With him guarding the beacon, if anything happens, he will definitely light the beacon in time!" Feng Hua waved his hand, indicating that everyone should not be concerned.

"Damn Xiongnu! If they dare to show up this time, we'll give them a taste of our power!" Many soldiers had experienced this before. Every time they arrived, the Xiongnu would run away, or they would guard for months without seeing anyone.

"Let's leave it to fate. If they don't show up, there's nothing we can do!" Feng Hua sighed.

Another day passed.

The sky was just beginning to turn light, it was not yet the hour of Mao.

Xu Daoyan did not relax even at night. The next day was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and last year's tragedy must not be repeated.

The crops in Pomegranate Village had been harvested, and every household had a bountiful harvest. Without having to pay grain taxes, the villagers could enjoy a good year.

He held the Thunderbolt, riding on the swift horse, looking into the distance. About 1,300 miles away, dust rose as a large group of people rushed toward Pomegranate Village. At their speed, they would arrive in less than a day!

The horses of the Xiongnu were of excellent breed, and their riding skills were superb, making them stronger than the Wind Cavalry!

Xu Daoyan had recently cultivated his kidneys, which belong to water, and water nourishes wood, thus his liver was also nourished, improving his eyesight. Although he could not see clearly, he knew the Xiongnu were coming.

A flame shot from his fingertips, striking the beacon, instantly producing a blood-red smoke, which was very noticeable!

On the back mountain, Feng Hua had people take turns watching the beacon.

"The Xiongnu are here!" Upon seeing the blood-red smoke, the militiamen were somewhat panicked.

Feng Hua assessed the situation and ordered, "Go back and wake everyone up. Help the villagers move to the shelter caves."

In Pomegranate Village, there was a hidden cave specifically for emergencies.

However, every time the Xiongnu came, they moved so quickly that the villagers could not escape in time and were killed!

The militiamen hurried down the mountain, dividing into groups to lead the villagers away. Knowing the Xiongnu were coming, they were very anxious and cooperative, taking food with them. Within two hours, they were all safely transferred to the shelter caves.

Wu Shi was among the crowd, looking toward the back mountain, praying, "Daoyan, you must be safe!"

Only then could the Wind Cavalry soldiers fight wholeheartedly without any concerns!

Xu Daoyan, with his keen eyesight, saw from thirty miles away that the Wind Cavalry soldiers on the back mountain had responded. He then shattered the beacon with a spear, cutting off the blood-red smoke.

He did not want the enemy to know he was prepared. He had a high vantage point and extraordinary cultivation, so it was normal for him to spot the enemy, but the enemy might not understand the situation!

However, he did not leave. He dismounted and hid the swift horse to one side, crouching behind a rock to observe the enemy's strength.

Knowing your enemy and yourself ensures victory in a hundred battles, and he knew this!

Four hours passed, and the sound of hooves like thunder approached. A large group of people was heading toward Pomegranate Village. Xu Daoyan, from his high vantage point, observed the enemy.

A young man in golden armor was surrounded by a large group of people. The Xiongnu warriors around him were tall and strong, with vigorous qi and blood, and their strength was at least at the third-rank human level!

"Indeed, it's him, the Xiongnu Young Master. I've been waiting for you!" Xu Daoyan used the Immortal Wood Appraisal to check the enemy's strength.

15,000 years old, he was at the peak of the lower-grade Human Immortal, the same level as Old Master Xue, while Xu Daoyan was only at the first-rank human level!

But it didn't matter. He was not alone; he had Qin Han, Bai Shi, and Zhang Chao.

They had died fighting the Xiongnu before, and now, fighting them again, they were filled with righteous indignation!

"Damn it, these bastards have finally come. I'll kill them all!" Qin Han was filled with killing intent.

"We must avenge our brothers from back then!" Bai Shi, holding a rusty iron spear, spoke in a low voice.

"This time, we'll show the Xiongnu our strength!" Zhang Chao was filled with battle spirit, his eyes full of anticipation.

Xu Daoyan estimated that the Xiongnu had brought a thousand troops, ten times his own forces!

Da da... da da...

Dust rose to the sky as a large