In this chaotic world of vying for power, I can become stronger by marrying a wife.

"These pills, soaked in the spiritual spring water, should be taken once a day to regulate your body." Su Ming paused, "You were very ill before, which weakened your constitution, so you need to slowly replenish it."

Li Yueru gripped the pills tightly, tears streaming down her face.

"My husband, I don't want to be a burden to you..."

"Don't talk nonsense." Su Ming raised his hand to wipe away her tears. "You're my wife, it's only natural for me to take care of you."

He paused, then softened his voice: "Yueru, wait for me to come back, and I'll teach you martial arts."

Li Yueru was stunned: "Practicing martial arts?"

"That's right." Su Ming said seriously, "This world is too chaotic, I can't protect you every moment. You need to have the ability to protect yourself, at least enough to hold out until I get there if you encounter danger."

Li Yueru nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with determination: "Yes! I will definitely practice hard!"

[Ding! Li Yueru's favorability +5, current favorability: 150!]

[Hidden storyline triggered: The Wife's Awakening - Li Yueru will begin martial arts training while the host is away, breaking through to the ninth rank within three months!]

Su Ming's eyes lit up.

Does this girl have a talent for martial arts?

He patted Li Yueru's head and smiled, "Be a good girl and wait for me at the camp. Lord Zhang will take care of you. Remember, always carry the Thousand-Mile Transmission Talisman with you. Crush it immediately if anything happens."

"Um."

Su Ming got up and walked out, but stopped abruptly at the door and glanced back at her.

"Yueru, wait for me to come back, and we'll get married."

Li Yueru froze, then her cheeks flushed bright red, and she whispered, "Husband, didn't we already..."

"That doesn't count," Su Ming interrupted her. "I'm going to give you a grand wedding, so everyone knows that you're my wife, Su Ming's wife."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and went out.

Li Yueru stood there blankly for a long time before she reacted, then covered her face and squatted down, her shoulders trembling.

She was smiling.

---

Outside the camp, Scarface and nine others had already assembled.

Everyone changed into light leather armor, with a sword hanging at their waist and a full quiver on their back.

"Boss!" Scarface grinned. "The brothers are all ready!"

Su Ming glanced at it and nodded in satisfaction.

These ten people, after being transformed by the spiritual spring water, have physical constitutions far surpassing those of ordinary soldiers. Although they haven't yet reached the rank of a high-level soldier, their explosive power and endurance are already formidable.

"Set off."

Eleven riders charged out of the camp and disappeared into the morning mist.

---

Heishankou is 300 li away from Jing'an City.

At a normal marching pace, it would take at least three days.

But Su Ming didn't have that time.

He took out a dozen small porcelain bottles from his storage space and gave one to each person.

"Drinking this will keep you awake and refreshed for three days."

Scarface took the porcelain bottle, tilted his head back, and drank it down.

The others also drank it.

Instantly, everyone's eyes turned red, and their breathing became heavy, like that of wild beasts.

"Damn, boss, what is this thing? I feel like I'm bursting with energy!" the tall, thin guy shouted excitedly.

"Enough talk, let's get going."

The eleven riders galloped off like arrows released from a bow, their speed terrifying.

The next day, in the evening.

It's still fifty miles to Heishankou.

Su Ming reined in the reins and squinted at the road ahead.

"stop."

Scarface and his men immediately stopped and looked around warily.

"Boss, what's wrong?"

"There's an ambush." ​​Su Ming jumped off his horse, squatted on the ground, and wiped his fingers in the mud.

"There are hoof prints here, very fresh, no more than half an hour ago."

He stood up, looked at the grove of trees in front of him, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"At least fifty people, hiding in the woods."

Scarface's expression changed: "People from the Northern Barbarians?"

"No," Su Ming shook his head, "The Northern Barbarian cavalry wouldn't use such a foolish method. This is..."

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"People from the imperial court."

Scarface was stunned: "Why would the imperial court ambush us?"

"Because someone doesn't want me to make it to Heishankou alive," Su Ming sneered. "Liu Cang is dead, but the people behind him are still alive."

He turned to Scarface and the others: "If you want to live, turn around and leave now, or I won't blame you."

The ten people exchanged glances and took a step forward in unison.

"Boss, what are you talking about? Do you think we're those kinds of people?" Scarface grinned. "So what if there are fifty men? Let's fucking kill them!"

Su Ming smiled.

"Okay, let's do it."

"Same as always, scatter it around the edge of the woods, then leave."

"Alright!"

Ten minutes later.

A sudden commotion arose in the woods.

"Oh no! We've fallen for their trap!"

"Cough cough cough... What the hell is this thing?!"

"My eyes! My eyes!"

Su Ming stood outside the woods and set up the Great Archer Bow.

"Boom boom boom boom boom—!"

The arrows rained down like a torrential downpour.

With every arrow, one person falls.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the woods fell silent.

Su Ming put away his bow and walked into the woods.

There were more than fifty corpses lying on the ground, all killed by a single arrow.

Scarface turned the corpses over and pulled a token from one of the men's arms.

"Boss, look at this."

Su Ming took the token and raised an eyebrow.

The token is engraved with the words "Ministry of War".

"As expected, it's one of Zhao Hong's men." Su Ming sneered, putting the token into his pocket. "Keep this; I'll give it to Wang An later."

Just then, the jade pendant in his arms suddenly became hot.

Su Ming took it out and saw a line of small, blood-red characters appear on the jade pendant:

"Countdown to the opening of the ruins: three days and twelve hours. Warning: The White Wolf King of the Northern Barbarians has arrived at Black Mountain Pass and is breaking the seal on the ruins."

Su Ming's face darkened.

"Let's go, speed up!"

---

Early morning of the third day.

The outer perimeter of Heishankou.

Su Ming and his group hid in a mountain valley, looking at the continuous camp in the distance.

The torches stretched out in a continuous line, indicating at least 30,000 people.

"Damn, how many people are there...?" The tall, thin guy swallowed hard.

"Don't be afraid." Su Ming patted him on the shoulder. "We're not here to fight, we're here to slack off."

He pointed to the largest tent in the center of the camp.

"See that? That's the White Wolf King's central command tent. The entrance to the ruins is nearby."

Scarface frowned: "Boss, how do we get in?"

"Wait." Su Ming narrowed his eyes. "Wait until they start making a mess of things themselves."

The voice just fell.

A sudden commotion erupted in the camp.

Immediately afterwards, a beam of blood-red light shot out from the central command tent and soared into the sky.

Amidst the blood-red light, a massive stone gate could be vaguely seen, slowly opening.

Su Ming's pupils contracted.

"The ruins have been opened."

[Ding! The Relics of the Previous Dynasty have been unlocked! Mission progress updated: Enter the core of the relics within 72 hours to obtain the Dragon Vein!]

[Warning: The White Wolf King has already entered the ruins. Host, you must speed up!]

Su Ming stood up, a glint of madness flashing in his eyes.

"Brothers, get ready to go."

Scarface froze: "Boss, are we really going to charge in?"

"What else?" Su Ming grinned. "We're already at the door; if we don't go in and take a look, would it be fair that I came all this way?"

He pulled out a dozen or so oil paper packets from his storage space and tossed them to Scarface.

"Same old rule, scatter and run."

"Alright!"

"Kid, you're pretty quick."

Su Ming narrowed his eyes: "You're Wang An's teacher?"

"That's right." The old man nodded. "My surname is Chen, and my given name is Xiu."

Su Ming's heart skipped a beat.

Chen Xiu?

Wasn't that the "God of Slaughter" who was feared on the border thirty years ago?

Is he the legendary ruthless man who, with just one sword, slayed a hundred thousand northern barbarian troops, deterring them from advancing south?

"What are you doing here, senior?"

"I'll be waiting for you," Chen Xiu said with a smile. "This dragon vein was prepared for you."

The White Wolf King roared, "Bullshit! This belongs to the Northern Barbarians!"

"You Northern Barbarians?" Chen Xiu sneered. "Three hundred years ago, this was still the territory of the Great Zhou. You Northern Barbarians are nothing more than cuckoos occupying a nest."

He paused, then looked at Su Ming: "Kid, the dragon vein is right in front of you, aren't you going to make a move?"

Su Ming was stunned for a moment, then he understood.

The old man was helping him.

Without saying a word, he rushed toward the blood-red bead.

The White Wolf King's expression changed drastically. He tried to stop Chen Xiu, but was forced back by a single palm strike.

"Your opponent is me."

Su Ming rushed to the bead and reached out to grasp it.

Instantly, a terrifying power surged into his body.

[Ding! Obtained the core of the previous dynasty's dragon vein!]

[System upgrade in progress...]

Upgrade complete! Unlocked ultimate features: Dao Soldier Training System, Space Farm Expansion, Divine Weapon Forging Platform!

[Congratulations, host, on breaking through to the seventh rank!]

Su Ming opened his eyes, a golden light flashing within them.

He turned to look at the White Wolf King, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"Now, it's time to settle accounts."