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

Tuoba Hong drew his scimitar and charged towards the valley entrance, but just as he reached halfway, an arrow pierced the air and headed straight for his face.

Tuoba Hong dodged to the side, and the arrow grazed his cheek, leaving a bloody mark on his face.

He looked up and saw Su Ming holding the Great Archer Bow, aiming it at him.

"Your Highness Tuoba, I want your life."

Su Ming released the bowstring.

"Whoosh—"

The arrows shot out like meteors.

Tuoba Hong's pupils contracted, and he held his scimitar horizontally in front of his chest, deflecting the arrow with a clang.

But the next second, the second arrow arrived.

"Damn it!"

Tuoba Hong dared not take the attack head-on, and with a flash, he hid behind a boulder.

"boom!"

The arrow struck the boulder, blasting a large hole in it.

Tuoba Hong's expression changed. Was there gunpowder attached to the arrow?

"Everyone, listen to my command, charge out of the valley!" he roared.

The barbarian soldiers charged madly toward the valley entrance, but were met with an even denser rain of arrows and rolling stones.

In just a quarter of an hour, over a thousand corpses had fallen in the valley.

Looking at the tragic scene before him, Tuoba Hong finally realized that he had fallen into a trap.

"Retreat! All troops, retreat!"

"Su Ming! I want you dead!"

With a stomp of his foot, he shot towards the mountainside like a cannonball.

His peak fifth-grade cultivation erupted in full force, and crimson true energy surged around his body.

"They're here."

Su Ming's eyes sharpened. He put away the Great Archer Bow and drew the Shura Blade from his waist.

"Wei Lang, command is now in your hands. Continue the attack."

"Sir, you need—"

I'll go and meet him.

Su Ming leaped off the cliff and landed steadily in the valley.

When Tuoba Hong saw Su Ming, a glint of wild joy flashed in his eyes. "You've finally come out!"

Su Ming neither dodged nor evaded, holding the Asura Blade horizontally in front of his chest.

"clang--"

The blade energy struck the blade, and the immense force sent Su Ming back three steps.

"Early stage of the sixth rank?" Tuoba Hong sneered. "You think you can kill me?"

Su Ming flexed his wrists and said casually, "Why don't you try and see?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he stomped his foot and rushed towards Tuoba Hong like a ghost.

"Asura Slash - Karmic Fire!"

The black blade, wreathed in flames, hurtled straight toward Tuoba Hong's face.

Tuoba Hong's pupils contracted, and he swept his scimitar horizontally.

"clang!"

The two swords clashed, sparks flying everywhere.

Tuoba Hong felt a jolt in his hand, and he stumbled back two steps, staring at Su Ming in disbelief.

"How is that possible?"

How could a martial artist at the early stage of the sixth rank have such strong power?

Su Ming didn't give him time to think, and the Asura Blade slashed out again.

"Asura Slash - Blood Prison!"

Countless sword shadows rained down like a storm.

Tuoba Hong gritted his teeth and resisted, but each strike was as heavy as a thousand pounds, causing his blood and qi to surge.

"Damn it!"

He roared, and his blood energy surged.

"Bloodthirsty Fiend - Mad Demon!"

Blood-red true energy condensed into a huge demonic shadow behind him, wielding a giant axe, and fiercely cleaved towards Su Ming.

Su Ming's eyes sharpened.

He couldn't block that move.

"System, use the Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell Talisman!"

[Ding! The Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell Talisman has been used!]

The next second, Su Ming's figure disappeared from the spot.

"boom!"

The giant axe struck the ground, and the entire valley trembled three times.

Tuoba Hong was stunned.

What about people?

"Here." Su Ming's voice came from behind him.

Tuoba Hong turned around abruptly, only to find Su Ming already ten steps behind him.

"you--"

"Your Highness Tuoba, you have too many weaknesses." Su Ming raised the Great Archer Bow and aimed it at Tuoba Hong.

"Not good!" Tuoba Hong's expression changed drastically. He tried to dodge, but it was too late.

"Whoosh—"

The arrow shot out through the air.

Just then, a dark figure suddenly appeared in front of Tuoba Hong and struck out with a palm, shattering the arrow.

"Who?" Su Ming's eyes sharpened.

The dark figure slowly turned around, revealing a feminine face.

"Li Wenyuan?"

"General Su, it's been a long time," Li Wenyuan said with a smile.

Su Ming's eyes turned cold. "Weren't you kicked out of Jing'an City by me? Why are you back?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince sent me to fetch Prince Tuoba back," Li Wenyuan paused, "and incidentally, to kill you."

As soon as he finished speaking, he flashed and instantly appeared in front of Su Ming.

"Peak of the fifth rank?"

Su Ming's pupils contracted.

Li Wenyuan struck Su Ming in the chest with his palm.

"Hey kid, watch out!"

Chen Xiu's voice suddenly rang out, and a sword light descended from the sky, forcing Li Wenyuan back.

"Chen Xiu?" Li Wenyuan's expression changed. "What are you doing here?"

"Do I need to report to you where I am?" Chen Xiu sneered. "Li Wenyuan, you colluded with the Northern Barbarians and betrayed the court. Today, I will clean house for His Majesty!"

"You think you can be so presumptuous?" Li Wenyuan sneered. "You're just a mid-stage fifth-rank cultivator, yet you dare to be so insolent in front of me?"

"Why don't you try and see?"

Chen Xiu unleashed a sword strike, and the two instantly clashed.

Su Ming took the opportunity to look at Tuoba Hong, only to see that he had already been surrounded by Wei Lang and his men.

"Your Highness Tuoba, you have no way to escape today."

Tuoba Hong's face was ashen as he looked at the densely packed Shenji Camp soldiers around him, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes.

Just then, the demonic cult token in his arms suddenly became hot.

"This is……"

Tuoba Hong was stunned for a moment, then a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

"Su Ming, you think you've won?"

He suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly, "Let me tell you, this was all part of the Crown Prince's plan!"

"What?"

Su Ming's expression changed.

"The Crown Prince knew all along that you would plot against me, so he tricked me into falling into a trap to lure you out of the city!" Tuoba Hong laughed wildly. "Now, Jing'an City is under the control of the Crown Prince's men!"

"What did you say?"

Su Ming's face instantly turned ugly.

Just then, the system notification sounded.

[Ding! A surprise attack has been detected on Jing'an City!]

[Urgent Mission: Reinforce Jing'an City!]

[Mission Failed: Li Yueru is dead, and the entire Shenji Battalion is wiped out!]

Su Ming's pupils contracted.

"Wei Lang! Take your men back to the city immediately!"

"yes!"

Wei Lang dared not delay and immediately led the Shenji Battalion soldiers back.

Su Ming looked at Tuoba Hong, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"You deserve to die." He raised the Asura Blade and slashed down.

Tuoba Hong sneered, "Su Ming, I'll be waiting for you on the road to the underworld."

No sooner had he finished speaking than his chest suddenly exploded, splattering blood everywhere.

"Is this a self-destruction?" Su Ming's expression changed, and he retreated hastily.

"boom!"

Tuoba Hong's body exploded completely, and blood mist filled the entire valley. When the blood mist dissipated, Tuoba Hong had no remains.

Su Ming looked at the pool of blood on the ground with a gloomy expression, then turned to look at Chen Xiu and Li Wenyuan, who were still locked in fierce combat.

"Old Chen, I'm going back to the city first. I'll leave this to you."

"Go," Chen Xiu said, forcing Li Wenyuan back with a single sword strike. "Be careful of the Crown Prince's men."

"I will." Su Ming leaped into the air and disappeared into the valley.

Li Wenyuan looked in the direction Su Ming had left, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Your Highness, your plan has succeeded."

Jing'an City, the garrison of the Shenji Battalion.

Li Yueru was checking the accounts when she suddenly heard a commotion outside.