With their future direction clear, Tu Hu was no longer lost.
Every day, he immersed himself in a sea of knowledge, constantly absorbing what he learned.
He didn't reach beyond his grasp. Instead, he chose the most fundamental subjects—all the knowledge the Rongling Race needed at that time.
After gaining a basic understanding of the relevant material, Tu Hu began with his first lesson: smelting weapons.
The Rongling Race had long known how to make stone spears and bone blades, but what he brought them was the concept of metal.
As he taught this knowledge, Tu Hu was learning through practice as well.
Turning knowledge into practical results was a process that required exploration.
He began by learning to identify minerals. Then, in the Rongling Race's territory, he led the clan in building its first crude, heat-resistant clay furnace. A Lan and the others were baffled by Tu Hu's decision, but they chose to support him.
They all offered help in whatever ways they could.
A Lan was the first to act. Though she didn't understand what use there was in "burning stones," as Tu Hu called it, she trusted him.
She personally selected a group of warriors and, following Tu Hu's instructions, sent them to haul sticky river mud from the riverbed and mine fire-resistant stone that could withstand high temperatures. Whenever a young member of the Rongling Race grew listless over this baffling task, A Lan gave them a stern look to keep them focused.
A Fen also led her team on collection trips, searching everywhere for the kinds of stones Tu Hu had described.
Each time, they brought back as many samples as possible for Tu Hu to sort through.
A Lu, meanwhile, reorganized the daily work schedule and assigned people to build the furnace and gather