Starting from iron smelting

Under the guidance of Lu Xiuyuan, Liu Meng began the process of making black gunpowder. They built a simple experimental table in a relatively secluded place to prepare for the mixing and production of gunpowder.

First, they put the collected saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal in different containers for mixing. Saltpeter appears as white powder, sulfur appears as yellow solid, and charcoal is ordinary charcoal block.

"We measure the proportions first, and then mix the materials together." Lu Xiuyuan explained, he took out a precise scale and began to weigh the weight of each material.

Liu Meng carefully followed Lu Xiuyuan's instructions, observing and weighing the various materials to ensure that the proportions were accurate. According to the formula of one saltpeter, two sulfur and three charcoal, they put saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal in a large bowl in a certain proportion.

Then, they used hand tools to mix the materials evenly. Lu Xiuyuan demonstrated how to stir vigorously and evenly to ensure that each ingredient was fully mixed together to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the gunpowder.

"Okay, it's almost mixed." Lu Xiuyuan stopped the mixing tool in his hand and checked the mixed materials. "Now we can proceed to the next step."

They put the mixed gunpowder into a thick container and left a small hole at the mouth of the container. Then, they sealed the container and inserted a fuse through the small hole.

"Now, we just need to wait for the gunpowder to dry, and then we can conduct the test." Lu Xiuyuan said that they put the prepared gunpowder in a well-ventilated place and waited for the gunpowder to dry.

Although the whole production process is simple, Liu Meng felt the subtlety of it. He was very interested in the production process of gunpowder, and he knew that this skill would play an important role in his future adventures.

After making the black powder, Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng couldn't wait to test its effect. They chose a safe location, a deserted valley, to ensure that there was no human activity around to avoid accidents.

Lu Xiuyuan lit a small piece of black powder and threw it carefully at a rock. However, when the gunpowder touched the rock, it only made a slight "bang" sound and then went out.

"Strange, why is it so useless?" Liu Meng frowned.

Lu Xiuyuan was also confused. They rechecked the production process but found no problems.

"Maybe the gunpowder got damp." Lu Xiuyuan suddenly thought of the possibility.

Liu Meng nodded. "That's indeed possible. We didn't take into account the effect of moisture on gunpowder."

So they checked the gunpowder's storage conditions and found that it was indeed affected by moisture, which caused the gunpowder to lose some of its explosive properties, resulting in poor results.

"It looks like we have to make a new batch of gunpowder." Lu Xiuyuan sighed, "This time, be careful to keep the gunpowder dry."

After several failed experiments, Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng finally found a way to successfully make dry gunpowder and developed an effective preservation method.

First, they realized that gunpowder had to be kept dry during its manufacture and storage. They took the following steps:

1. Material selection: Make sure saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal are dry, and try to avoid using wet raw materials.

2. Mixing process: In the process of mixing black powder, they chose a dry environment and used dry tools for mixing to prevent the gunpowder from getting wet.

3. Storage method: After production, they store the gunpowder in a sealed container, ensuring that the container is dry and placing desiccant such as silica or desiccant bags around the container to absorb moisture.

4. Inspection before use: Before using the gunpowder every time, they will carefully check the condition of the gunpowder to ensure that it is not damp.

After these improvements, they conducted the experiment again, and the result was very successful. After ignition, the gunpowder exploded violently, producing a strong impact and flame, proving that the gunpowder had restored its proper explosive properties.

"It seems that we succeeded this time!" Lu Xiuyuan said happily.

"Yes, dry gunpowder is indeed effective." Liu Meng nodded with a smile.

Lu Xiuyuan took out the drawn grenade drawing and showed it to Liu Meng.

"This is a hand grenade," Lu Xiuyuan explained. "It is an explosive device that can be thrown from hand, usually used to attack or defend against the enemy. The production method of hand grenades is similar to gunpowder, but it should be noted that hand grenades require a detonator to control the timing of the explosion."

Liu Meng observed the grenade curiously and listened carefully to Lu Xiuyuan's introduction. He was very interested in this new weapon because the power of the grenade could play a vital role in combat.

"The grenade looks powerful," Liu said, "but is it complicated to make? Do we have enough materials and technology to make it?"

"Making grenades is indeed complicated, but it is not impossible." Lu Xiuyuan replied, "We have mastered the technology to make gunpowder. Next, we just need to add the detonator and the shell to make a grenade. Of course, we need to do some experiments to adjust the time and power of the explosion to ensure the effectiveness of the grenade."

Liu Meng nodded to show his understanding. "So what should we do next?" he asked.

"We can first design a simple detonation device, then make some test pieces and make experimental adjustments," Lu Xiuyuan suggested. "Once we determine the best solution, we can mass-produce grenades."

Liu Meng and Lu Xiuyuan started to make simple grenades. They first collected the necessary materials, including gunpowder, detonators, shells, etc. Then, they started to work in a safe place.

Lu Xiuyuan took out some prepared gunpowder and mixed saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal in the calculated proportions. These materials were the basic raw materials for making gunpowder, and they had already mastered the proportions and mixing methods in the previous experiments.

At the same time, Liu Meng began to make a detonator. They used some simple mechanical parts, including springs, triggers and fuses. With his rich manual skills, Liu Meng quickly completed a reliable detonator.

Next, they needed to make the shell of the grenade. Lu Xiuyuan found some metal products as the shell material. They cut the metal products into suitable shapes and welded them together using welding tools to make a solid shell.

After everything was ready, they began to fill the grenade shells with gunpowder. Lu Xiuyuan carefully controlled the amount of gunpowder to ensure that the explosive power of each grenade could achieve the desired effect.

Finally, they installed the detonator on the top of the grenade and tied it with a rope. Liu Meng checked the connection of the detonator and confirmed that everything was fine, and then they decided to conduct the first test.

Lu Xiuyuan took the grenade in his hand and threw it carefully to an open space in the distance. Liu Meng quickly pressed the detonator, and then they quickly hid in a safe place.

With a loud bang, the grenade exploded in the air, producing a dazzling flame and thick smoke. They were pleased to see that the grenade had a very ideal explosion effect, with a wide explosion range and strong power.

In the process of making grenades, Liu Meng and Lu Xiuyuan decided to improve the shell to increase the power and killing range of the grenade. They chose thin iron sheets as the new shell material, which is stronger and can withstand higher pressure and temperature. At the same time, they filled the inside of the grenade with a large number of small iron beads, which will become shrapnel when it explodes, increasing the lethality of the grenade.

Liu Meng and Lu Xiuyuan carefully designed the shape and structure of the new grenade to ensure its stability and reliability. They used welding technology to make thin iron sheets into a suitable shell shape and set up compartments inside to fix and distribute the iron beads to prevent instability during transportation and use.

When loading gunpowder and iron balls, they strictly controlled the proportion and filling amount of the materials to ensure that the explosion effect of the grenade could meet the expected requirements. They also optimized the detonator to ensure that it could reliably detonate the gunpowder and trigger the explosion when necessary.

After completing the production of the grenade, Liu Meng and Lu Xiuyuan conducted a series of experimental tests to verify the performance and power of the new grenade. After many explosion tests, they concluded that the new grenade has a wider explosion range and stronger lethality, and is a very effective combat weapon.

After the successful experiment, Liu Meng and Lu Xiuyuan were confident in the power and effect of the new grenade. They realized that this grenade could become a deadly weapon against late-stage Qi training monks, giving them amazing lethality.

Therefore, Liu Meng and Lu Xiuyuan decided to mass-produce hand grenades to prepare for various challenges and dangers in Beiya Cave. They used the craftsmanship and technology of making hand grenades to continuously improve production efficiency and ensure that they could quickly produce a sufficient number of hand grenades.

During the production process, they carefully selected materials and strictly controlled every link to ensure the best quality and performance of the grenades. They adopted the assembly line operation method, division of labor and cooperation to improve production efficiency, and constantly improved the production process to make the manufacture of grenades more accurate and reliable.

After a period of hard work, Liu Meng and Lu Xiuyuan produced a large number of grenades, which were not only powerful but also of stable quality, and could play the best role in combat. They stored these grenades properly as essential equipment for Beiya Cave exploration, ready to deal with any emergency at any time.

Liu Meng and Lu Xiuyuan were very satisfied with their results. They believed that these grenades would become their powerful assistants in the exploration of Beiya Cave.

In a month, Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng have been busy, constantly preparing for the upcoming challenges. They made a large number of grenades, produced enough black powder, and stockpiled various necessary equipment and supplies. Now, everything seems to be ready.

Lu Xiuyuan was filled with anticipation and anxiety about the upcoming challenge. Beiya Cave was a place full of unknowns and dangers, and he knew that the journey he was about to embark on would be full of difficulties and obstacles. But at the same time, he was also full of courage and determination to face the challenge, and he believed that he had enough strength and preparation to face everything.

Now that everything was ready, Lu Xiuyuan decided to start the final practice. He found a secluded place, closed his eyes and began to circulate the spiritual power in his body to practice his martial arts and skills.

During the practice, Lu Xiuyuan was fully focused, constantly adjusting his breathing, feeling the flow of spiritual power in his body, and constantly strengthening his body and will. He put his mind into the practice, constantly adjusting and improving his skills and combat techniques.

Time passed, hour after hour, and Lu Xiuyuan's practice never stopped until the sky gradually darkened. He slowly stopped, stood up, and felt the power and energy surging in his body.

Lu Xiuyuan realized that he was facing a difficult situation. Although he was equipped with weapons and protective gear, his ability to survive would be greatly affected without medicine. In this world, there was no place like a pharmacy that specialized in selling medicine, so he had to find another way to solve this problem.

He began to wonder if there were other ways to get medicine. He recalled the herbs he had found in some ancient ruins, which sometimes had healing and restorative properties. Perhaps he could try to find some herbs in the nearby forests or mountains to deal with unexpected situations.

In addition, he could also try to make some simple herbal potions, which were not as effective as medicines, but could also provide some help in a critical moment. He decided to use his previous knowledge of herbs to try to collect some plants suitable for making potions nearby and become as familiar with their characteristics and uses as possible.

In addition, he could also consider looking for some monks with whom he had a relationship to see if anyone was willing to exchange or sell medicine. Although such opportunities were rare, Lu Xiuyuan felt it was worth a try.

Lu Xiuyuan knew that not having enough medicines in a dangerous environment would be a major hazard, so he decided to make some basic medicines himself in case of emergency.

First, he reviewed some basic knowledge of medicine making. Although he was not a pharmacist, he had come into contact with some simple herbs and healing methods during his training. Lu Xiuyuan knew that what he needed was some medicine that could quickly heal wounds and restore physical strength.

He began to look for some common herbs and plants in the surrounding mountains and forests. After some searching, he collected some common herbs, such as Coptis chinensis, peach blossom, licorice, etc. These herbs are often used by practitioners to make basic medicines.

Lu Xiuyuan brought the herbs back to his residence and began the process of making medicine. With the help of some simple tools, such as a mortar and a medicine decoction furnace, he ground the herbs into powder, mixed and stirred them, added an appropriate amount of water, and then boiled and filtered them, and finally obtained some basic liquid medicine.