At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

The tent fell silent.

Su Mu slowly sat down cross-legged in the center of the tent, placed his hands on his knees, closed his eyes, and his breathing became steady and long.

His consciousness had sunk into that familiar, dark space.

A golden system panel unfolded before my eyes, its light warm and serene.

[Rewards: 5 years of reverse aging, 300 days of lifespan, max-level Golden Bell Shield, and one Dragon Battleship forging blueprint!]

Su Mu's gaze lingered on those few lines of text for a long time, and a smug smile appeared on his face.

He thought to himself, "It's been a long time since I've claimed the system reward."

"Receive five years of reverse aging."

As soon as he finished speaking, a warm current surged from deep within his chest, like spring water that had been kept dormant for a long time, slowly and continuously seeping into his limbs and bones.

This wasn't the first time Su Mu had experienced the feeling of his body functions becoming younger.

But each time he reverses his aging process, he has a different feeling.

After completing the fusion with the anti-aging process, Su Mu slowly loosened his clenched fist, looked down at his still withered and thin hands with prominent veins, said nothing, simply moved his wrists slightly, and then raised his gaze again.

The order was given:

"System, claim the max-level Golden Bell Shield."

Suddenly, a completely different memory flooded his mind.

The records about the Golden Bell Cover technique quickly entered his mind.

The Golden Bell Cover is the foremost of the 72 Shaolin Arts and the Four Great Divine Skills, a body-protecting technique created by Bodhidharma that combines internal and external cultivation.

This technique is based on internal energy, forming a protective shield of qi around the body to create a full-body defense. It can protect vital organs such as the throat and lower abdomen, and can even use the force of the qi to counterattack and cause damage.

Su Mu closed his eyes, letting those memories rehearse in his mind over and over again, sensing the flow of true qi within his body, and how to use true qi to guide it, and then form a golden bell protective aura around his body.

When he opened his eyes again, he felt that with each breath, he could merge with the true energy in his dantian, thus forming a protective golden bell shield around his body.

He didn't rush to continue, but sat quietly for a moment, feeling the newly integrated power slowly settle in his body, merging, adhering, and becoming one with the original true energy.

After completing the fusion of the max-level Golden Bell Shield, he clicked on the last option.

Dragon Warship Forging Blueprints.

The moment he received it, his consciousness seemed to be suddenly pulled into a vast space by something.

A drawing, like an unfolding scroll, slowly unfurled before his eyes. Dense lines, markings, dimensions, and annotations stretched from one end to the other, filling his entire field of vision.

Su Mu noticed that the so-called "Dragon Warship Forging Blueprints" was not just a blueprint, but a vivid picture book, just like a living model displayed in front of him.

Its contents include the overall structural diagram of the warship, the sails and power system, the defensive layout of the hull, the weapon system, and so on!

What delighted Su Mu most was that the blueprints also included instructions on how to manufacture gunpowder and bombs, detailing the proportions of black powder and how to apply it on the battlefield…

The last few pages also include a hull maintenance guide, emergency repair methods, and key points for handling the ship in different sea conditions...

Su Mu scanned the pages carefully from the first to the last, his attention focused, growing more and more excited with each page he read.

With such blueprints, how could we not build an indestructible warship?

After reviewing it in detail again, Su Mu exited the system with satisfaction and returned to the real world.

The light inside the tent was brighter than before; it was already noon.

Su Mu stood up, stretched his knees, and carefully put away the blueprints he had obtained.

He knew very well that now was not the time to build the Dragon Warship.

Craftsmen, materials, funds, imperial approval, and shipyards in the East China Sea—all are indispensable.

Now, we need to wait patiently.

However, he won't be idle.

The warships cannot be forged immediately, but the navy can begin training.

So he got up and walked out of the tent, heading towards the direction where the Shenshui Camp was stationed.

……

The camp of Shenshui Camp was located on a riverbank in the southeast corner of Ninghai City.

The terrain is low and flat, and not far away is a main river that leads directly out of the city.

The water was bluish-green and the current was gentle. Several captured Dongyi boats were moored on the shore. The boats had a shallow draft and were suitable for training and reconnaissance on inland waterways.

Several rows of simple tents were arranged along the riverbank. Although the canvas of the tents was old, it was tied sturdily and neatly. A few wet clothes were drying in the open space between the tents.

Outside the open space of the camp, the soldiers of the Shenshui Camp were training diligently.

They worked very hard!

"Brothers, why aren't you training? Why are you hiding in this tent looking so sullen?"

Ye Qingzhou was drenched in sweat. He placed his weapon outside the tent, then went inside and spoke to Chu Tianba and the other two, his voice filled with doubt.

Chu Tianba's voice followed, tinged with helplessness and anxiety:

"To be honest, we've been wondering if Elder Su thinks we're from a bandit background and is afraid we'll disobey orders and ruin the battle, which is why he's not sending us to make a name for ourselves?"

"Look at Brother Qin Hao, he became Elder Su's trusted general as soon as he arrived, leading troops around everywhere."

"You and Qin Hao are cousins, and you have a good relationship with Elder Su. Why don't you go and talk to Elder Su and ask him to transfer our Shenshui Battalion to the Vanguard Battalion?"

Ye Qingzhou was silent for a moment, then his face darkened.

"My three brothers, please don't blame Qingzhou for speaking rudely."

"If Elder Su didn't value us, would he have sent our Shenshui Battalion to ambush and capture the Eastern Barbarian Commander at the South Gate?"

"That's an incredible achievement."

"If Old Master Su looked down on us for being bandits, would he have entrusted such an important task to the brothers?"

"I think it's not that Elder Su doesn't value us, it's just that the time for our Shenshui Battalion to shine hasn't come yet."

"Brothers, let me make this clear from the start: if anyone tells me again that Old Su looks down on us, don't blame me for turning my back on you."

Before Ye Qingzhou could finish speaking, the tent curtain was lifted from the outside.

"Qingzhou is right."

"How could I, an old man, look down on my brothers for their bandit background? I myself came from a farming background."

As Su Mu spoke, he walked toward Chu Tianba and the others.

Upon seeing this, Chu Tianba hurriedly stood up, his chair slid backward, and he fell to the ground.

Wen Jiuyuan and Wei Honglie also stood up at the same time. The three of them looked at the hunched figure at the door. The sullen expression on their faces had not yet faded, but it was replaced by a complex emotion.

It felt like someone had pointed out the shame that had been weighing on my heart, or like a long-suppressed emotion being released!

"Old Su...you...why did you come?" Chu Tianba's voice was a little hoarse.

"I've come to discuss something important with you brothers," Su Mu said, walking to the center of the tent and glancing at the four men. "Qingzhou is right. It wasn't the time for the Divine Water Camp to shine before, but now the time has come."

He looked at Chu Tianba and instructed, "Tianba, hurry up and gather the brothers. From today onwards, I will let you use your strengths to help me train a team that can truly fight on the water."

Chu Tianba was extremely excited and clasped his hands tightly, saying, "This humble general... will go immediately!"

He turned and rushed out of the tent, his voice echoing along the riverbank: "Shenshui Camp! All assemble!"

Wen Jiuyuan and Wei Honglie stood in the tent, exchanged a glance, and then looked at Su Mu at the same time.

Overwhelmed with shame, Wen Jiuyuan cupped his hands and said, "Elder Su, we...we know we were wrong."

"We should not have any complaints or doubts about you, Mr. Su."

"Hahaha!" Su Mu laughed loudly. "It's only natural to have complaints. It's also my fault for being so focused on the battlefield that I neglected the situation of my brothers."

Wei Honglie quickly said, "Elder Su, you flatter us. We were just being petty and misunderstood you."

"Alas...we are ashamed."

Su Mu waved his hand: "No need to say more, let bygones be bygones."

"Your Shenshui Battalion will have a great opportunity to shine in the future."

Outside the tent, footsteps were converging from all directions, making a sizzling sound as they trod on the muddy riverbank.

"Let's go out and see the brothers."

"Let this old man see your water skills!"