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

Su Ming's pupils contracted; this was an imagery attack that only a fifth-grade martial artist could condense!

Without a second thought, he pulled out the last Thunderclap Bomb from his pocket and threw it directly at the giant wolf.

boom!

The shockwave from the explosion shattered the giant wolf, and Su Ming took the opportunity to retreat several steps, panting heavily.

"That's interesting." Tuoba Hong licked his lips. "But you've probably run out of toys, haven't you?"

Su Ming didn't speak, but stared intently at him, his mind racing. A direct confrontation was definitely not an option; he needed to find a way to buy time, or...

His gaze swept across the surrounding terrain.

The chaotic stone forest is filled with huge stone pillars and cracks.

Have it.

"Wei Lang!" Su Ming suddenly shouted.

"Here!" Wei Lang's voice came from afar.

"Proceed according to plan!"

Wei Lang was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant, "Yes!"

"Playing tricks." Tuoba Hong frowned and charged at Su Ming again, this time even faster.

Instead of retreating, Su Ming advanced, slashing out with the Asura Blade while simultaneously stomping his foot.

Click!

The ground beneath his feet suddenly collapsed, revealing a dark, gaping crack.

Tuoba Hong reacted extremely quickly, twisting his body to avoid the trap. But just then, the surrounding stone pillars suddenly began to tilt.

"What?!" Tuoba Hong's expression changed drastically. The bases of these stone pillars had already been loosened by Su Ming's men using thunderbolts!

Rumble!

Dozens of huge stone pillars collapsed with a roar, crashing down on Tuoba Hong.

Tuoba Hong roared and slashed with his scimitar, shattering several stone pillars, but more stone pillars crashed down.

Dust billowed up, and Su Ming took the opportunity to retreat and rejoin Murong Yan and the others.

"My lord, are you alright?" Murong Yan helped him up.

"I won't die." Su Ming spat out a mouthful of blood. "Have the people been rescued?"

"They've all been rescued and are being evacuated back to the city."

"Okay, let's leave too."

Just then, a furious roar came from the smoke and dust.

"Su Ming! You're asking for it!"

A figure soared into the sky. Tuoba Hong was covered in blood, but his aura was even more ferocious.

"Damn it!" Su Ming cursed, "Run!"

The Shenji Battalion soldiers took off running, with Tuoba Hong in hot pursuit.

"My lord, he's catching up!" Wei Lang exclaimed in alarm.

"What's the panic!" Su Ming pulled a small bottle from his pocket, which contained black powder.

This is a makeshift landmine he created by mixing leftover gunpowder and iron filings; it explodes when stepped on.

He ran while burying the small bottles in the ground.

Tuoba Hong was moving too fast and didn't pay attention to his footing at all.

boom! boom! boom!

A series of explosions rang out, and Tuoba Hong was covered in dust and dirt, finally slowing down.

"Despicable!" he roared.

"All's fair in war." Su Ming said without turning his head, "If you're so capable, then don't chase me!"

Tuoba Hong was furious, but he wasn't stupid; he knew that continuing the pursuit might lead to more ambushes.

He stopped and watched Su Ming and the others disappear into the night, a sinister glint in his eyes.

"Su Ming, you just wait."

Having said that, he turned to look at the ruins of the chaotic stone forest, where the high priest's body still lay.

Tuoba Hong walked over and searched the corpse's body, finding a black token inside.

The token was engraved with a strange skull.

"It seems the Crown Prince isn't behaving himself either, given the cult's influence." Tuoba Hong sneered, put away the token, and turned to leave.

Under the moonlight, his shadow stretched long, like that of a wounded lone wolf.

……

Jing'an City, at the city gate.

When Su Ming returned with his men, it was almost dawn.

The soldiers on the city wall saw them and burst into cheers.

"General Su is back!"

"We won!"

Wu Yong also rushed over, his face full of fawning smiles. "General Su, you're finally back! I've already prepared the lists of grain and military supplies."

Su Ming took the roster and flipped through it casually. "Well done, but there's one more thing I need to trouble Lord Wu with."

"Speak! I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

"Thirty miles outside the city, there's a place called Black Wind Valley. What's the terrain like there?"

Wu Yong was taken aback. "Black Wind Valley? It's a dangerous place with cliffs on both sides and only a narrow path in the middle. It's the only way to attack Jing'an City."

"A good place."

Su Ming's eyes lit up, and he turned to Wei Lang, "Pass down the order: the entire army will rest for two hours, and then assemble."

"yes!"

Murong Yan walked over, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

"Speak your mind." Su Ming glanced at her.

"My lord, are you planning to set up an ambush in Black Wind Valley?" Murong Yan asked in a low voice.

"Smart." Su Ming nodded. "Although I gave Tuoba Hong a beating, he won't let it go. He will definitely bring a large army to attack the city."

"Instead of passively defending, let's take the initiative and give them a surprise in Black Wind Valley."

Murong Yan bit her lip. "But we only have five hundred men, while there are fifty thousand troops outside the city..."

"So what if there are 50,000 people? As long as the terrain is chosen well, 500 men can wipe out 50,000." Su Ming patted Murong Yan on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Murong Yan watched Su Ming's retreating figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

This man always manages to find a glimmer of hope in dire situations.

Perhaps, following him, we can truly create miracles.

……

Two hours later, the entire Shenji Battalion assembled.

Each person carried a heavy bundle containing makeshift landmines and gunpowder that Su Ming had hastily made overnight.

"Let's go, destination: Blackwind Valley!"

The group of five hundred people left Jing'an City silently and disappeared into the morning mist.

On the city wall, Li An, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, watched this scene with a furrowed brow.

"What exactly is Su Ming trying to do?"

He turned to his deputy and said, "Send someone to follow him and see what he's up to."

"Yes."

Meanwhile, at the Northern Barbarian camp.

Tuoba Hong sat in the commander's tent, his face terribly gloomy.

"Send the order: the entire army marches forth, target Jing'an City!"

"yes!"

One of the lieutenants hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, the High Priest is dead, and our supplies have been burned. If we launch a direct attack now, I'm afraid..."

"Shut up! We can steal the grain, and the high priest can die, but Su Ming must die!" Tuoba Hong slammed his fist on the table, stood up, and his eyes flashed with a crazed light.

"Pass on my order: whoever can take Su Ming's head will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold and granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households!"

The lieutenant's heart skipped a beat. "Yes, sir!"

Soon, the 50,000 barbarian troops began to assemble, a dark mass like a looming storm cloud.

Astride his warhorse, Tuoba Hong gazed at the distant Jing'an City, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

"Su Ming, this time, I'm going to make sure you die a horrible death."

With a wave of his hand, the army began to advance.

Target: Blackwind Valley.

Meanwhile, Su Ming had already led the Divine Machine Battalion to Black Wind Valley. He stood at the entrance of the valley, looking at the towering cliffs on both sides, a cold glint in his eyes.

"This is it. Start digging holes and laying mines. Remember, bury them densely and deep."

"Also, Wei Lang, you take a team up the cliff and prepare rolling stones and kerosene."

"Murong Yan, lead your men to set up an ambush at the valley entrance. Once the barbarian army enters, immediately block their retreat."

"yes!"

Everyone got busy.