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

Su Ming stood at the mouth of the valley, watching the smoke and dust gradually rising in the distance, a smile playing on his lips.

"Tuoba Hong, welcome to hell."

Just then, the system notification sounded.

[Ding! Main quest triggered: Battle of Blackwind Valley!]

Mission objective: Annihilate a Northern Barbarian army of 50,000 men with only 500 men!

[Mission Rewards: Mysterious Treasure Chest x3, Luck Value +5000, Special Reward: ???]

[Mission failed: Death.]

Su Ming looked at the system notification and took a deep breath.

"Fifty thousand people?"

"Then let's go."

In the distance, the faint sound of the barbarian army's war drums could already be heard.

Wei Lang and his men worked on the cliff for an hour, finally preparing all the rolling stones and kerosene.

He peered down and saw that the valley floor was densely covered with at least three hundred makeshift landmines, each one completely concealed by dry grass and loose soil.

"Sir, is it really going to work?" Wei Lang asked somewhat nervously.

Fifty thousand people! Even if we just stood there and let them kill us, we'd kill until our hands were sore.

"We'll find out soon enough whether it works or not." Su Ming squatted behind a boulder at the entrance of the valley, playing with a tinderbox in his hand.

His gaze was fixed on the distant official road, where dust was already rising everywhere.

The barbarian army has arrived.

Rumble!

The earth began to tremble, and the neighing of countless warhorses grew louder as they approached.

The dark, barbarian army surged in like a tidal wave, their banners obscuring the sun, exuding a murderous aura.

At the very front is Tuoba Hong.

He rode a pure white warhorse, his scimitar gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

"Su Ming! Get out here!" Tuoba Hong's voice boomed like thunder.

Su Ming didn't move, he just watched coldly.

Wait, let's wait a little longer.

The vanguard of the barbarian army has entered Black Wind Valley, with countless warhorses trampling the ground at the bottom of the valley.

One thousand people, two thousand people, three thousand people...

Su Ming counted silently in his mind.

When the fifth thousand barbarian soldiers entered the valley, he suddenly stood up.

"Murong Yan! Block the road!"

On both sides of the valley entrance, huge boulders that had been prepared beforehand suddenly rolled down, completely blocking the retreat route.

"Oh no! We've been ambushed!" someone in the barbarian army cried out in alarm.

Tuoba Hong's expression changed drastically. "All troops, prepare for battle!"

But it was too late.

Su Ming threw the tinder in his hand into the valley, where there was a pre-buried fuse.

sizzle-

The sparks spread rapidly along the fuse, instantly igniting the first landmine.

boom!

A deafening explosion rang out, and a barbarian soldier and his horse were blasted into the air.

Then, the second, the third, the fourth...

Boom boom boom boom!

The entire Black Wind Valley seemed to have turned into a living hell, with explosions rising and falling and flames shooting into the sky.

The warhorses neighed in terror, and the barbarian soldiers were blown to pieces, their screams echoing through the sky.

"What kind of sorcery is this?!"

"Retreat! Retreat!"

But the valley entrance was already blocked, and the barbarian army behind was still pouring in, so those in front couldn't retreat even if they wanted to.

"Su Ming! I'm going to kill you!"

With eyes blazing with fury, Tuoba Hong swung his sword, the blade energy transforming into a giant wolf that hurtled towards the boulder where Su Ming was.

Su Ming was prepared and quickly hid behind another boulder.

"Wei Lang! Rolling Stones!"

"Yes, sir!"

On the cliff, Wei Lang gave the order, and countless boulders rained down on the valley floor.

Rumble!

The barbarian army's formation was completely thrown into chaos, with soldiers and warhorses fleeing everywhere.

"Oil!" Su Ming ordered again.

Barrels of kerosene poured down the cliff, drenching the barbarian army, followed by a swarm of rockets.

The flames instantly ignited the entire valley floor, turning Black Wind Valley into a sea of ​​fire.

Tuoba Hong wildly swung his scimitar, cleaving through the surrounding flames, but his soldiers were not capable of doing so.

Hundreds and thousands of barbarian soldiers struggled in the sea of ​​fire, their shrill screams sending chills down one's spine.

"Withdraw! Withdraw quickly!" Tuoba Hong roared.

But the valley entrance was blocked, and the bottom of the valley was a sea of ​​fire, so there was no way to escape.

Just then, an arrow pierced the air and headed straight for Tuoba Hong's throat.

Tuoba Hong reacted extremely quickly, slashing his scimitar to deflect the arrow.

But then came the second, the third, the fourth...

Su Ming stood on the boulder, his Great Archer Bow at full strength, and shot arrow after arrow toward Tuoba Hong.

"Damn it!" Tuoba Hong gritted his teeth, but he was too busy to fight back.

"My lord! The barbarian army is starting to charge back!" Murong Yan's voice came from the valley entrance.

"Stop them!" Su Ming said coldly. "Don't let a single one escape!"

"yes!"

At the valley entrance, the soldiers of the Shenji Battalion raised their muskets and aimed them at the barbarian troops who wanted to rush out.

Bang bang bang!

A volley of fire instantly fell a large number of the barbarian soldiers at the forefront.

The people behind were frightened and dared not rush forward anymore.

Thus, the five thousand barbarian soldiers were trapped in Black Wind Valley, unable to advance or retreat.

The flames burned ever brighter, billowing smoke and turning the entire valley blood red.

Looking at the carnage around him, Tuoba Hong's eyes flashed with despair. He roared to the sky, "Su Ming! Even if I, Tuoba Hong, die, I will drag you down with me!"

He suddenly leaped up, his body hurtling towards the boulder where Su Ming was like a cannonball.

A full-force strike from a mid-stage fifth-rank cultivator is terrifyingly powerful.

Su Ming's pupils contracted, and he had no time to dodge.

At this critical moment—

A sword light descended from the sky, striking Tuoba Hong's curved blade with pinpoint accuracy.

clang!

A huge impact rang out, and Tuoba Hong was thrown backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

"It's you again!" Tuoba Hong looked up and saw that familiar figure.

"As I said before, this kid is under my protection. If you want to mess with him, you'll have to get past me first," Chen Xiu said calmly as he slowly sheathed his sword.

Tuoba Hong struggled to his feet, but he was already seriously injured and was no match for Chen Xiu.

"You're lucky today," Tuoba Hong said through gritted teeth, "but next time, you won't be so lucky."

After saying that, he suddenly bit his tongue and spat out a mouthful of blood.

His essence blood transformed into a crimson rune in the air, instantly enveloping him.

The next second, he vanished from the spot.

"Blood Escape?" Chen Xiu frowned. "The evil magic of the Demonic Sect. It seems he has a close relationship with that high priest."

Su Ming emerged from behind the boulder and looked in the direction where Tuoba Hong had disappeared.

"They ran away?"

"He escaped." Chen Xiu nodded. "But he was seriously injured and won't be back for a while."

Su Ming breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at the bottom of the valley.

The flames had gradually died down, and the valley floor was a mess, littered with charred corpses and severed limbs.

Five thousand barbarian soldiers were completely wiped out.

[Ding! 5000 Northern Barbarian Soldiers Killed!]

[Gained +2000 Luck Points!]

[Task Progress: 5000/50000]

Su Ming looked at the system notification and a smile appeared on his lips.

"We're still short 45,000."

He turned to look outside the valley, where 45,000 barbarian soldiers were waiting for him. "Murong Yan, clean up the battlefield and collect all usable weapons."

"Yes."

"Wei Lang, take some men to the city and bring all the gunpowder and iron shot over."

"yes!"

"Also..." Su Ming paused, "Go to the prefect's residence and summon Wu Yong to me."

Wei Lang was taken aback. "Sir, what do you want with him?"