Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

Liu Xingmo arranged resting places for all the contracted beasts and then began his own cultivation.

After drinking a cup of the Blood Maple Seed Elixir, I meditated to cultivate my Qi and digest the medicinal effects.

He got up and performed a set of "Xuanwu Hard and Soft Transformation" to nourish his muscles, bones, skin, and flesh with his blood and energy.

Finally, he began meditating and cast the Blood Magic Weakness spell.

After completing the entire procedure, although I was exhausted both mentally and physically, my blood and energy had become a bit more refined.

I've gotten used to this daily routine. The duration of my practice is just right; it allows me to improve rapidly with the help of elixirs while also freeing up most of the day for work or rest.

After finishing his training, Liu Xingmo, covered in sweat, jumped into the hot spring river for a refreshing swim and bath.

He returned home covered in sweat, and Sumali was busy at her worktable.

A large maple seed was sawed into several pieces, ready to be ground into a finer powder.

Liu Xingmo took over the work, picked up a piece of woody fruit shell, and quickly ground it with a gold file.

He said softly, "Mary, you've worked hard."

Sumali nodded: "Processing one maple seed a day is indeed very troublesome and requires a lot of time."

"Leave the physical labor and simple coordination to me; you just need to handle the final cleanup."

"Then keep an eye on it. Do these things this way, and I'll write you a list later."

Liu Xingmo watched his wife's dazzling movements and tried his best to memorize them.

I spent most of the day preparing the medicine and distilling and extracting it.

A large jar of unique maple seed potion has been prepared.

Sumali herself carried the medicine jar and knocked on her neighbor's door.

There is still much work to be done.

In particular, the commissions issued by steel mills aimed to improve steelmaking methods.

Liu Xingmo and Su Mali worked together to produce the steel furnace blueprints given to them by the curator and studied them carefully.

Technological advancements are not achieved overnight. Even having blueprints doesn't guarantee implementation. Many things are lacking: materials, fuel, and even skilled workers.

Liu Xingmo could only do his best to make the old-fashioned, rudimentary steelmaking furnace more advanced.

Heilongzhai has large livestock as a source of labor, which is a unique advantage and can serve as a breakthrough for the localization of foreign technologies.

This research has been ongoing for a long time, and fortunately, we have seen results in recent days. We have also made a miniature model and are carefully testing it.

As expected, a host of problems arose, requiring time to resolve.

On the desk, the oil lamp flickered gently.

A man and a woman, holding pencils and rulers, racked their brains over stacks of drawings.

Ventilation, coal introduction, slag removal... mixing of molten steel, removal of impurities, crucible temperature control...

There are countless things to consider, and any mistake could lead to a tragic accident where one is burned alive by molten iron.

That's the troublesome thing about technological development. The idea that a genius scientist can effortlessly achieve an unprecedented technological breakthrough with a wave of their hand is ultimately just a fantasy.

As time passed day by day, the snow outside the mountains slowly melted.

Liu Xingmo stayed in the mine, busy with various things. He would only get clean and set off on days when the newspaper office was open.

He took some time to verify the ownership of Fuhei and also received a special supplementary medicine for bird growth.

Fuhei quickly recovered its vitality. Unfortunately, this crow had missed its developmental period and could only continue to grow slowly with the help of a special medicine to accelerate its growth.

One day it will grow as majestic and strong as an eagle, with wings to soar through the sky.

When that time comes, Liu Xingmo will be able to ride this giant bird and freely traverse the sea of ​​clouds. He eagerly awaits that day.

Another matter has also been put on the agenda.

The manufacture of the flying guillotine.

This is a composite artifact, utilizing both the Spine Chain and the Blood Slaughterer artifacts. The blueprints and materials are all ready; casting can begin once the new blast furnace is completed.

……

On this day, firecrackers crackled and drums resounded throughout the vast mine pit.

At a well-ventilated mountain pass, massive steel machinery had been built. Countless people gathered there, awaiting the exciting moment.

The pangolin, covered in gold and silver, reflected the crimson flames.

He stepped forward in front of the crowd, grabbed a large pair of scissors, and went to the front of the machine to begin the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The red rope and the red flower snapped instantly.

The old man's words echoed throughout the area: "Let's get to work!"

The blacksmiths were in an uproar:

"Whoa!"

"Ignite! Ignite!"

"I want to be the first one up!"

Groups of beetles carried neatly shaped pieces of coal and threw them into the boiler; shirtless workers used long iron rods to make the flames in the furnace burn even brighter; and tall, strong marmots frantically pushed and pulled the leather bellows to pump large amounts of air into the furnace.

As the flames roared and the smell of coal filled the air, the atmosphere at the scene became tense.

Inside the crucible, large chunks of iron ore, coke, and lime react at high temperatures, eventually turning into a golden-red liquid and floating slag.

So far, there have been no accidents.

Everyone worked tirelessly, their hearts pounding with tension and fear. Their eyes reflected the blazing flames, their light dispelling all darkness and cold.

Finally, the manager of Silver Mountain, the giant pangolin, personally put on heat-resistant gloves, picked up the crucible, and poured the molten steel into the mold.

The bustling work site suddenly fell silent.

Countless eyes watched as the molten steel solidified and took on the predetermined shape.

Immediately, joy erupted:

"We did it! We really did it!"

"This furnace can produce so much steel in one go! It's equivalent to the work of dozens of people in the past!"

"We mountain rats are about to strike it rich!"

"Thanks to that person! The out-of-town weapon refiner she hired! I heard she married a skinny guy. Sigh! When will such good fortune ever come my way?"

"Being educated makes all the difference; I want my children to go to school and study hard."

……

Liu Xingmo and Su Mali stood quietly on the outer edge of the crowd, waiting for this moment.

They both breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at each other as the molten steel was poured out of the furnace.

"Mary, we did it!"

"Yes, Xingmo. We did it."

"Let me rest properly, I'm exhausted these past few days."

"Let's go see a movie then. I've heard that the newest film is really good."

"Okay! Let's go."

He neither sought credit nor joined in the fun.

Liu Xingmo took Su Mali's hand and led her away from the center of the crowd.

He found the waiting Bao Hei and climbed up the ladder onto the broad carapace.

The old turtle, with its head held high, carried its owners as they crawled steadily along the road.

We walked across the stone-paved street and over the suspension bridge made of hemp rope and planks, continuing outwards.

A bright light shone from the cave entrance; it wasn't a blinding silvery white, but a soft yellow and green.

Bao Hei was stunned for a moment, then quickened his pace and rushed out of the cave.

Bright sunlight streamed down, and faint green hues dotted the hillsides.

Spring is coming.