Chapter Thirty-Six: Black Powder

Li Xingyu stood up and requested to end the conversation. Master Lu was momentarily taken aback, as if reluctant to let the discussion conclude, but he realized they had already talked extensively and needed time to process what had been discussed. So, after a brief pause, he simply nodded, saying nothing further. “In that case, young friend Li, please rest for now. Thank you for sharing your insights with us. I hope you can stay a few more days. Someone, escort Master Li to his quarters.”

Master Wan understood the reasoning and did not object. Li Xingyu, too, said nothing more, merely offering a few words of farewell before following the disciple from the Wanfa Sect out of the hall.

Once Li Xingyu had left, Master Wan knew the others had much to discuss. He raised his hand to quiet them, then asked, “Brother Lu, what do you think of the techniques and theories Li Xingyu mentioned? How much do you believe is genuine?”

Master Lu pondered for a moment before answering, “I believe he truly possesses some technology more advanced than ours—or, at the very least, he knows of such techniques. Judging by his critiques and opinions on our existing methods, he clearly understands them deeply and has a broad perspective. I would say at least eighty percent of what he told us is true.”

Master Wan nodded at his reply and then asked another question. “What do you think is Li Xingyu’s true identity? Is his real purpose simply to exchange knowledge with us?”

After Master Wan spoke, the hall erupted with opinions and conjectures from the other brothers, except for Master Lu and the usually silent senior disciple. The discussion yielded many perspectives on Li Xingyu’s identity and intentions, most agreeing with his stated purpose, though some remained skeptical. Seeing no conclusion was forthcoming, Master Wan interrupted and said, “Senior Brother, I know you’re usually reserved, but your judgment of character has always been the most perceptive among us. Please share your thoughts.”

Master Wan held this senior brother in high regard.

“He’s likely a wanderer traveling across the realms,” replied Senior Brother Cheng Mo, renowned in the sect for his accurate discernment. “As for any background or affiliations, I cannot say. However, considering the benefits we’ve gained from our exchange, his claim that sharing knowledge advances technique and theory seems sincere. He probably does this often. If so, his stated purpose seems genuine. Whether he has other motives, we cannot know, but from our interaction, I sense no malice from him.”

After Cheng Mo spoke, the discussion quieted as everyone reflected on his words. Seeing their expressions converge, Master Wan said, “You’ve all heard Senior Brother’s assessment. If there are no objections, I propose we proceed accordingly.” He paused, and the others focused on him. “Since his general identity and purpose are essentially confirmed, and we see no hostile intent, we shall treat Li Xingyu as an honored guest. During his stay, our disciples must be strictly disciplined to avoid misunderstandings. If he wishes to exchange or discuss techniques, as long as it does not concern our core martial strength, we may negotiate.”

He continued, “This is Wanfa Mountain, fortified with countless mechanisms and traps laid over generations. I will also inform our elder uncles immediately. Even if he harbors some secret scheme, on this mountain, we have nothing to fear.”

After the sect master’s decision, the others recognized the crux of the matter and nodded in agreement. They briefly discussed other affairs and then departed to attend to their own business. Master Lu left most quickly, eager to research and experiment with the theories and methods Li Xingyu had mentioned.

Meanwhile, Li Xingyu was already settled in the quiet chamber arranged by the Wanfa Sect disciples. He recalled the points he made during the conversation and considered the sect members’ attitudes toward him and their interests. He concluded they were unlikely to act against him recklessly. With this assurance, he meditated for a while, then retrieved his MVP5 device to review the detailed formula for black powder.

He had originally thought of showing them some of the recorded images within the MVP5 directly, which might have made it easier to gain their trust. However, he realized the MVP5 was far too advanced for them; they would have difficulty understanding or accepting it. So, after leaving the Heavenly Grasslands, he resolved not to use the MVP5 openly in front of others.

Except for meals, he spent all his time in the room experimenting with black powder. By the afternoon of the second day, he achieved the desired result. After obtaining the finished product, he asked a Wanfa Sect disciple to notify the sect master, then tidied up and headed to the hall with the black powder. This powder possessed explosive power, somewhere between gunpowder and a more intense substance, capable of causing lethal blast damage.

Upon entering the hall, Li Xingyu found all the people from the previous day already seated. After greeting them, he placed the black powder on a table nearby. The others, curious, gathered around to examine it. Naturally, Master Lu was the first; after conducting his own experiments and analyzing Li Xingyu’s theories, he was even more convinced of their authenticity.

Everyone thought the powder resembled their own fire powder, used in smoke bombs, merely with some extra additives. “This is basically the same as our fire powder for smoke bombs, just with some additional ingredients. Does it really have the power you claim?”

“You’ll see for yourselves once I demonstrate,” Li Xingyu replied, and proceeded outdoors, followed by the others.

He came to a relatively open area and, suddenly channeling his energy, struck the ground with his fist. With only a faint thud, a fist-sized pit appeared in the granite surface. The others were impressed by his cultivation; while it was easy for any of them to punch a hole in the granite, to do so without a loud sound or flying debris, and to leave a pit precisely the size of a fist, required not only advanced skill but also exceptional, precise control of internal energy.

Li Xingyu placed the black powder into the pit, then laid a thin fuse leading five meters away, and pressed a stone bench weighing over three hundred pounds atop the pit. He had everyone retreat thirty meters, then ignited the fuse with his internal energy and quickly joined the group.

With a thunderous boom, the stone bench was blown aside and shattered into several pieces, while the granite ground bore a basin-sized crater. The force was nearly equivalent to a martial expert’s full-strength strike, leaving the crowd stunned.

Li Xingyu himself was surprised; he knew that black powder on Earth could not achieve such power, so the materials here must contain extra elements, akin to catalysts, that greatly amplified the explosive effect.

As the others recovered from their shock, they looked at Li Xingyu with awe and delight. Seeing their expressions, he knew his first step had succeeded, and perhaps he might gain unexpected rewards—after all, a sect with such a long legacy surely held some hidden treasures.

Second update for today; two more updates tonight, aiming to surpass one hundred thousand words. Please bookmark and recommend.

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