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

Wei Lang swallowed hard. "Yes."

Just then, the system notification sounded.

[Ding! Detected that the host is about to face a large-scale battle. A limited-time shop is now open!]

The following items are available in the limited-time shop:

[1. Zhuge Repeating Crossbow Blueprint x1 (Can fire ten arrows in succession, range 300 paces) - Price: 500 Luck Points]

[2. Heavy Catapult Blueprint x1 (Capable of launching massive boulders weighing thousands of pounds) - Price: 800 Luck Points]

【3. Special Item: Thousand-Mile Transmission Talisman x10 (Can transmit messages within a thousand miles) - Price: 300 Luck Points】

[4. Special Item: Golden Cicada Shedding its Shell Talisman x1 (Can instantly teleport to a safe location in times of crisis) - Price: 1000 Luck Points]

Current Luck Value: 7500

Su Ming's eyes lit up as he looked at the store list.

The Zhuge Repeating Crossbow and the heavy catapult were both good things, but what attracted him most was the Golden Cicada Shedding its Shell Talisman.

"I must buy things that can save my life."

Without hesitation, he exchanged the Golden Cicada Shedding its Shell Talisman for the blueprints of the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow and the Heavy Catapult.

[Ding! Redemption successful!]

[Remaining Luck Value: 5400]

Su Ming handed the blueprints to Wei Lang, "Work through the night and finish it within three days."

"yes!"

Wei Lang took the blueprints, glanced at them, and was completely dumbfounded. "Sir, what... what kind of magical thing is this?"

"Stop talking nonsense and get to work."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Wei Lang ran off happily.

Su Ming turned to Murong Yan and said, "Go to the city and gather all the blacksmiths and carpenters. Tell them that after they finish this job, each of them will be rewarded with ten taels of silver."

"Yes." Murong Yan accepted the order and left.

After everyone left, Su Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down in his chair.

"Forty-five thousand people, that's a real problem."

He closed his eyes, and the terrain of Black Wind Valley appeared in his mind.

It was a long, narrow valley with cliffs on both sides, and only one official road running through it.

Although the terrain is treacherous, it has a fatal flaw—it cannot accommodate too many people.

"If the entire barbarian army enters the valley, it will be extremely crowded, and when the landmines explode, chaos will ensue."

"But the problem is, Tuoba Hong isn't stupid; will he fall for the trap?"

Su Ming opened his eyes, a smile playing on his lips. "No, he'll definitely fall for it."

"Because he has lost his mind."

Just then, Chen Xiu walked in from outside.

"Kid, I heard you're going to fight 45,000 people?"

"Mr. Chen, what brings you here?" Su Ming quickly stood up.

"If I hadn't come, you'd probably have lost your life in Black Wind Valley." Chen Xiu sat down in a chair. "So, what are your plans?"

"It's simple: lure the snake out of its hole, then trap and beat it."

Su Ming briefly explained his plan.

After listening, Chen Xiu remained silent for a moment, then said, "Your plan is not bad, but there is a problem."

"What's the problem?"

"Tuoba Hong is a mid-stage fifth-rank official. Even if you kill all his soldiers, he can still slaughter your entire camp by himself."

Chen Xiu stared at Su Ming. "What are you planning to do with him?"

Su Ming smiled and took out the Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell Talisman from his pocket.

"Yes, we have this."

Chen Xiu glanced at it, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"A life-saving talisman from the Demonic Cult? Where did you get it?"

"I found it."

"Stop talking nonsense," Chen Xiu said irritably. "This thing can only be used once. What happens after that?"

"After using it..."

Su Ming paused for a moment, then said, "It's up to you, Elder Chen."

Chen Xiu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, "You little rascal, you're really good at scheming."

"Okay, I'll cover for you then, but you have to promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"After this battle, you must leave Jing'an City." Chen Xiu's expression turned serious. "The Crown Prince has his eye on you. If you continue to stay here, something bad will happen to you sooner or later."

Su Ming was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I understand."

"Good that you understand." Chen Xiu stood up. "Prepare well. In three days, I will accompany you on your journey to the Yellow Springs."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Su Ming watched his retreating figure, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"Old Chen, who exactly are you?"

……

Three days later, at dawn.

Outside Black Wind Valley, 45,000 barbarian soldiers were ready to go.

Tuoba Hong sat astride his warhorse, his face pale, but his eyes burned with a mad flame.

He had taken the medicine given to him by the Crown Prince, and not only were his injuries healed, but his cultivation level had also broken through to the peak of the fifth rank.

"All troops, listen to my command!"

Tuoba Hong drew his scimitar and pointed it at Black Wind Valley.

"Today, we will raze Jing'an City to the ground and slaughter every single person of the Great Zhou!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The 45,000 barbarian soldiers roared in unison, their voices echoing through the valley.

The next second, the army surged into Blackwind Valley like a tidal wave.

At the mouth of the valley, Su Ming stood on a boulder, looking at the dark mass of barbarian troops in the distance, a smile playing on his lips.

"They're here."

He turned to look at the Shenji Battalion soldiers behind him.

"Brothers, in this battle today, we either live or we all die."

"But no matter what, we must let these barbarians know that the land of Great Zhou is not a place they can set foot on!"

"kill!"

Five hundred Shenji Battalion soldiers roared in unison.

Su Ming took a deep breath and raised the tinderbox in his hand.

"ignition."

The moment the fire pyrotechnic flare fell, dozens of flames simultaneously erupted on both sides of the Black Wind Valley.

Wei Lang, accompanied by fifty Shenji Battalion soldiers, lit the fuses that had been soaked in kerosene, holding torches.

The flames spread rapidly along the fuse and penetrated beneath the dry grass on the ground.

"boom!"

The first explosion rang out in the center of the barbarian army.

Before one of the barbarian soldiers could react, the ground beneath his feet suddenly cracked open, and the huge shockwave sent him flying. He was already lifeless when he landed.

Then came the second sound, the third sound...

The series of explosions, like hellfire, rose and fell within the barbarian army's ranks.

"ah--"

Screams, horse neighs, and explosions mingled together.

Tuoba Hong, mounted on his warhorse, was ashen-faced. He never expected that Su Ming had buried so much gunpowder in the valley.

"Hold the formation! Don't panic!" he roared.

But it was too late.

The barbarian army was already crowded in the narrow valley. When the explosion happened, the soldiers at the rear had no idea what was happening in front of them and just instinctively pushed forward.

The soldiers in front were scattered and fled in all directions by the explosion, and the entire column was instantly thrown into chaos.

"Release the arrows!"

Su Ming stood on the mountainside and calmly issued the order.

The Shenji Battalion soldiers were already prepared, their Zhuge Repeating Crossbows aimed at the densely packed barbarian troops in the valley.

"Whoosh whoosh-"

Ten crossbow bolts were fired simultaneously, each hitting its target with pinpoint accuracy.

Just as a barbarian squad leader was about to organize his soldiers to counterattack, he was pierced through the chest by three crossbow bolts and fell to the ground, unable to get up.

"Catapults, prepare!"

At Wei Lang's command, the heavy catapult behind him began to operate.

Huge stones were loaded onto catapults, and with a "crack," the stones whistled as they crashed into the valley.

"Boom—"

The massive boulder, weighing thousands of pounds, crashed to the ground, instantly turning more than a dozen barbarian soldiers into a bloody pulp.

Tuoba Hong watched helplessly as his soldiers fell in droves, his eyes growing increasingly bloodshot.

"Su Ming!" he roared, looking up at the sky, "Come out and fight me if you dare!"