Gone, Gone

Ever since being summoned, whenever he was awake, he was definitely busy with the survival and development of this tribe, truly not wasting a single second.

When they couldn't even get enough to eat, this life was definitely too fulfilling for Zhou Xu.

[Hmm, feels about right, I can start trying to fire pottery.]

Looking at the small sun-dried clay bowls, Zhou Xu didn't have much experience judging them. He was going by instinct anyway. This kind of thing always required continuous trial and error to slowly succeed.

"Go fetch some firewood."

No need to say more, Zhou Xu was preparing to light the kiln.

"Butterfly, come help."

Hearing the call, Butterfly didn't say anything. She put down the stone axe she had just finished grinding and ran over.

After the experience of grinding the stone axe, Zhou Xu had already summed up some experience.

That is, when facing things that neither he nor Butterfly were very good at, he could completely trust Butterfly's skillful hands more. She might research it herself and do a better job than you.

Butterfly, who ran over, undoubtedly knew that their handicraft team's work was about to increase.

Although Butterfly didn't say anything, Zhou Xu knew in his heart that the handicraft team's workload was indeed a bit heavy. There were too many things in this tribe that needed them to do.

But there was no other way. Doing these things itself required a bit of Talent. Clumsy people found it difficult to do well.

For this reason, Zhou Xu could only alleviate their workload from other aspects.

For example, at the beginning, there were two people in the handicraft team specifically helping them tear bark and twist ropes.

Now, after Zhou Xu's adjustments, the number of people responsible for helping with miscellaneous tasks has increased to five.

Tasks like picking up stones and moving things were all handed over to these five miscellaneous personnel.

Including the five members of the handicraft team, nearly a third of their entire tribe was already here.

At this moment, Zhou Xu was introducing the kiln to Butterfly.

Referencing old kilns he had seen online when he was researching tea cups before, he had built it by imitation.

However, due to limited conditions, it wasn't built very well, and he was aware of that.

"Inside this kiln, there are roughly two areas. I've built a platform here. The bowls will be placed here, and this side is for the firewood to ignite."

As Zhou Xu spoke, he began placing the sun-dried clay bowls into the kiln.

Seeing this, Butterfly didn't need Zhou Xu to say more. Based on the experience accumulated from working these past two days, she naturally stepped forward to lend a hand.

Once the fire was lit, the kiln quickly heated up.

After adding enough firewood and making the fire burn vigorously, Zhou Xu picked up a stone that had been prepared long ago to block the kiln opening, and then smeared mud on the gaps to seal the kiln, ensuring the internal temperature remained stable.

Only at the very top of the kiln opening was a small gap left, allowing them to check the kiln fire and add more firewood if necessary.

"Have someone watch this kiln all day, and let it burn for three days first."

This duration was something he had already decided on.

According to the little knowledge he had accumulated from playing with tea cups before, modern firing was generally divided into electric firing and wood firing.

Electric firing, put simply, relied on equipment. Its advantages were stability and high efficiency, with a batch usually finished in a little over ten hours.

Wood firing was the so-called ancient method. Its output and efficiency were inferior to electric firing, so it often required more time and effort.

He had zero practical experience in this matter and was prepared for failure on his first attempt.

After arranging things here, Zhou Xu directly sat to the side, twisting bark ropes and tinkering with new things.

Needless to say, he was preparing to deal with that giant spider next.

To deal with such a dangerous big creature, as a human, under these limited conditions, what would Zhou Xu think of first?

That would naturally be ranged weapons!

While ensuring his own safety, he could take down that big creature with long-range attacks.

And when it came to ranged weapons, in this cold weapon era, what would come to mind first? That would naturally be a bow and arrow.

But any fool knew that he couldn't make one right now.

Even if he managed to make one, he couldn't guarantee the power and range of the arrows. What use would those flimsy arrows be?

On this premise, in this primitive society, besides a bow and arrow, what other ranged weapon would be simple to make and capable of exerting sufficient value?

The answer was obvious: a sling!

Coincidentally, the size of the rat skins they had saved from eating rats these past two days was just right.

Using these skins and threading them with bark ropes of suitable thickness, a sling was quickly created in Zhou Xu's hands.

In fact, to improve attack range and stability, it was best to grind the stones used.

But they didn't have the time for that now!

They would just make do with finding some stones of suitable size.

Carrying the stones and the newly made sling, Zhou Xu found a spacious area outside the tribe and began testing.

Utilizing the centrifugal force generated by high-speed rotation, after two attempts, he easily made the rat-skin pouch wrapped around the stone projectile spin at high speed.

He immediately aimed in one direction and swung his arm! The stone projectile then flew out in a long parabola.

It landed after flying about fifty to sixty meters, a result Zhou Xu was undoubtedly quite satisfied with.

This was his first time using it, and there were definitely many areas where he hadn't done well. After practicing a few more times, he should be able to do better.

However, considering the environment of the Black Forest, they didn't actually need such a long attack range.

Of course, he hadn't ruled out luring the giant spider out of the Black Forest and attacking in the open Desolate Land.

But was fighting in the open Desolate Land really a good thing for them?

While those black trees were obstacles when they launched ranged attacks, they could also serve as cover for them to hide behind when the giant spider attacked.

Just as he was pondering this, the gathering team led by Dashan returned.

"Dashan, you're back just in time. Come try this new weapon."

Because of what happened that morning, Dashan, who had been feeling down, immediately's eyes lit up when he heard about a new weapon. He ran to Zhou Xu's side in two quick steps.

Without any preamble, Zhou Xu directly explained how to use it to him.

The thing itself wasn't difficult. After listening, Dashan didn't even need to try it out before easily getting the hang of it.

Perhaps it was his Weapon Master Talent at play, but with a single swing, he immediately broke Zhou Xu's previous record.

Fortunately, no one had noticed his previous throwing distance, and Dashan, not knowing how well he had done, looked at Zhou Xu with a slightly nervous expression.

Facing this situation, Zhou Xu coughed twice and patted Dashan's shoulder appropriately.

"Considering it's your first time using it, it's pretty good. Take your team members and practice more when you have time. This weapon will definitely be useful later!"

"Chief, don't worry, I'll definitely lead everyone to practice well!"

"Good, keep up this momentum. I'm optimistic about you!"

[Gotta go, gotta go...]

The update is here, and thanks to the book friend 'The Ostrich Who Fears Heights' for the reward~