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

"An old friend?" Chen Xiu raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah." Su Ming stroked his chin. "For example, those 'celestial beings' who haven't had a chance to be blown up by me yet."

Just then, a richly decorated carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the two. The curtain was lifted, revealing a face that was exquisitely beautiful yet possessed a touch of heroic spirit.

Ninth Princess, Zhou Ruoxue.

She looked at Su Ming with a complex expression, a mixture of royal composure and girlish shyness and resentment.

"You're just leaving like that?" Zhou Ruoxue bit her lip. "You didn't even ask a single question about the marriage arranged by Father Emperor?"

Looking at his nominal fiancée, Su Ming was thinking: Will marrying a princess increase my luck points?

"Your Highness," Su Ming bowed slightly on horseback, his tone light yet gentle, "there's no rush for the marriage. Once I bring back the entire treasury of the Great Qian Dynasty, it will serve as your betrothal gift."

After saying that, before Zhou Ruoxue could react, Su Ming flicked his whip.

"drive!"

Like an arrow released from a bow, the black horse led three thousand members of the Divine Machine Battalion, galloping towards the Great Qian Dynasty in the south.

Amidst the wind and snow, only a boastful remark echoed through the capital.

"Wei Lang, polish the howitzer! Let's go to Daqian and win people over with virtue!"

On the official road, the three thousand Divine Machine Battalion, like a long black steel dragon, sped southward.

As Su Ming rode on his horse, his mind was frantically calculating the balance of his luck points.

"System, could you give me a discount on the T-34 tank blueprints?"

[System: This system never offers discounts, but installment payment options are available with an interest rate of 10% per day.]

"Are you robbing me?" Su Ming's lips twitched. "Forget it, let me empty the Great Qian Treasury first."

He opened the system store, his eyes scanning over the rows of flashing icons.

After unlocking the intermediate industrial module, the items that can be exchanged are significantly upgraded.

Steam engines, generators, breech-loading cannons, Maxim machine guns...

But what attracted Su Ming the most was the tank blueprint priced at 50,000 luck points.

"With this thing, I can grind all those third- or fourth-grade items into mincemeat." Su Ming licked his lips.

Just then, the scouts on horseback returned from the front.

"Report! My lord, we have spotted the Great Qian border troops, numbering about five thousand, twenty miles ahead. They are currently inspecting passing caravans."

Su Ming raised an eyebrow: "Questioning them? What right do they have?"

"I've inquired and learned that things have been unsettled on the border recently, and the Great Qian Dynasty has ordered a thorough investigation of suspicious individuals."

"Suspicious individuals?" Su Ming sneered. "I think they're trying to give us a hard time."

Chen Xiu rode forward and said in a deep voice, "Boy, we are now envoys, and in principle we should take the official road and post stations, where they wouldn't dare to stop us. But with your three thousand fully armed Divine Machine Battalion, they will definitely cause trouble."

"Looking for trouble?" A dangerous glint flashed in Su Ming's eyes. "That's perfect, I also want to try out the new toy."

He took out a black metal box from the system space, and when he opened it, twelve oddly shaped hand grenades were neatly stacked inside.

【Product: Flashbang Grenade (Modified Version)】

[Effect: The explosion produces a bright light and a loud bang, stunning all living beings within a 50-meter radius. It is effective against those with cultivation levels below the fifth rank.]

Price: 100 Luck Points/coin

"Wei Lang, give two to each captain." Su Ming handed over the box. "Tell them that if anyone dares to make a move later, throw these first."

"yes!"

The group continued forward and soon saw the checkpoint ahead.

The Daqian border army set up three checkpoints on the official road, each guarded by thousands of soldiers, as if facing a formidable enemy.

The leading general was dressed in silver armor, with a long sword at his waist, and his cultivation level was clearly at the mid-stage of the fifth rank.

When he saw Su Ming's team, a hint of apprehension flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by arrogance.

"Who goes there? State your name!"

Su Ming reined in his horse and said calmly, "Su Ming, the Prince of Zhenbei of the Great Zhou, is here on a mission to the Great Qian. Why don't you all make way immediately?"

"The Prince of Zhenbei?" The silver-armored general sneered. "I don't care what kind of prince you are. Once you're on the territory of Daqian, you have to abide by Daqian's rules!"

With a wave of his hand, the soldiers behind him raised their spears in unison, completely blocking the official road.

"Everyone dismount for inspection! Anyone found with contraband will be killed without exception!"

Su Ming didn't move, he just stared at the other person quietly, his eyes like he was looking at a dead man.

Are you sure?

"Enough with the nonsense!" The silver-armored general drew his long sword. "I'll give you three breaths. If you don't dismount, I'll assume you're an assassin and take you down!"

"three!"

"two!"

"one……"

Before he could finish speaking, Su Ming suddenly raised his hand.

"Let's do it."

Whoosh whoosh!

Twelve stun grenades flew out like meteors, landing precisely in the center of the three checkpoints.

The silver-armored general's expression changed drastically, and he subconsciously tried to protect himself with his true energy.

But the next second—

boom!!!

A blinding white light instantly engulfed everything, followed by a deafening roar.

Five thousand soldiers of the Great Qian Border Army fell to the ground in unison, bleeding from all seven orifices, before they could even utter a scream, completely losing their fighting ability.

The silver-armored general, who was at the mid-stage of the fifth rank, fared slightly better, but he was still trembling all over, his eyes glazed over, and he knelt on the ground like a fool.

Su Ming spurred his horse forward and looked down at him.

"I'll ask one more time, are you going to let me through or not?"

The silver-armored general's lips trembled; he wanted to speak but couldn't utter a sound, and could only nod frantically.

"Wouldn't it have been better to do this earlier?" Su Ming clicked his tongue. "Wei Lang, tie him up, take him with you, and send him to the Emperor of Daqian as a greeting gift."

"yes!"

The Shenji Battalion soldiers charged forward like wolves and tigers, binding the still convulsing Daqian soldiers tightly.

Chen Xiu stared at the "corpses" scattered on the ground, his lips twitching. "Kid, are you going to negotiate, or to ransack the place?"

"It's all the same." Su Ming shrugged. "We'll have to take action eventually anyway, so what difference does it make whether we do it sooner or later?"

He looked south, where a majestic city could be vaguely seen.

The capital of the Great Qian Dynasty, Tianjing City.

"System, scan the distribution of experts within Tianjing City."

[Ding! Scanning...]

[Detected 37 fourth-rank masters, 9 third-rank masters, 3 second-rank masters, and 1 first-rank master.]

[Warning! Unknown energy fluctuations detected, suspected to be beyond the first rank!]

Su Ming frowned.

Surpassing even the highest grade?

Isn't that the legendary immortal on land?

"Interesting." Su Ming licked his lips. "Looks like this trip was worthwhile."

Just then, the sky suddenly darkened.

A terrifying pressure descended from the sky, causing the surrounding air to hum.

Immediately afterwards, an aged voice rang in everyone's ears.

"How dare these juniors of the Great Zhou commit murder within the territory of my Great Qian?"

As soon as he finished speaking, an elderly man with white hair dressed in a Taoist robe appeared out of thin air in mid-air.

He stood with his hands behind his back, surrounded by a pale golden halo, his eyes seemingly able to see through everything in the world.

[Ding! Detected a peak second-grade cultivator: Grand Preceptor of the Great Qian Dynasty, Yun Zhongzi!]

[Combat Strength Assessment: The host is currently unable to withstand the attack; a strategic retreat is recommended.]

"Retreat?" Su Ming sneered. "I've never even known how to write those two words."