Next, Murong Huai wrote the gunpowder formula on another sheet of paper. The proportions of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal were 75%:10%:15%.
"Next, prepare the gunpowder and make the cannonballs."
Murong Huai put down his pen. Before he knew it, several hours had passed, and it was getting late. He lay down to rest.
The next day.
Murong Huai got up early and started mixing the gunpowder. He planned to focus on making the Red Barbarian Cannon over the next few days. A few days without cultivation wouldn't affect him much; his top priority now was to build the cannon.
He ground the three ingredients into granules, then mixed and shook them together in the right proportions. Murong Huai was very familiar with the process, and before long, he had prepared a batch of Black Powder.
"Holy Son, is this the Black Powder you mentioned?" Tu Zhen asked, puzzled by the powder that looked different from ordinary gunpowder.
"That's right. Black Powder is more powerful than ordinary gunpowder. Let's test it and see." As he spoke, Murong Huai picked up a batch of Black Powder and poured it into a mold. He attached a fuse and placed it beside the wall.
"Everyone, move farther away! Don't get too close!"
Murong Huai ordered the guards to retreat five or six meters, then lit the fuse with a fire starter.
The fuse slowly burned away, disappearing into the mold. Less than three seconds later, as Murong Huai watched expectantly—
With a deafening boom, the mold exploded, unleashing a tremendous shock wave that shot skyward.
"What was that?"
"It seems to have come from the rear courtyard!"
"Something's wrong! The young master is in danger!"
As the Black Powder exploded, the servants and maids in Murong Mansion summoned their Martial Souls and rushed toward the rear courtyard. There were dozens of servants and maids in the mansion, and every one of them was at least a Soul Elder.
The rear courtyard.
The courtyard was now a complete mess, wreckage scattered everywhere. The wall where the Black Powder had been placed had been blasted to pieces, and the air reeked of smoke.
Just before the explosion, Tu Zhen had already stepped in front of Murong Huai and raised a defensive barrier. Murong Huai was completely unharmed.
The other guards hadn't been so lucky. The blast had sent them flying, and they lay sprawled on the ground. Fortunately, they had retreated five or six meters beforehand; otherwise, their armor would have been blown to pieces.
Seeing the explosion's power, Murong Huai was astonished.
"Good grief, that was such a small amount of Black Powder, and it was this powerful? Could the environment in Douluo Continent be different? Maybe the Soul Power nourishing it makes the ingredients better quality?
"But at least it worked. Black Powder is a success. Its power is comparable to a Soul Ancestor's self-detonation, right? If I increase the amount, it should be even more powerful."
Even that little bit of Black Powder had been terrifying. If he used a full charge and paired it with the Red Barbarian Cannon, the power would be—tut, tut, tut...
"Ho-Holy Son... this..." Tu Zhen was also stunned by the Black Powder's power. He was about to say something when a graceful figure appeared in the rear courtyard, followed by the rest of Murong Mansion's people.
It was Wu Xianyun. She glanced at the wrecked courtyard, then turned to Murong Huai and asked anxiously,
"Huai'er, what happened? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine, Mother. I was just developing gunpowder." Murong Huai shook his head.
Wu Xianyun froze, then asked in confusion,
"Huh? Gunpowder? You mean this is gunpowder? It's that powerful?"
"Yeah. The kind used in fireworks is ordinary gunpowder. This is Black Powder; it's several times more powerful, even more than ten times as powerful." Murong Huai explained, then continued,
"If we build a cannon, we can use it to fire this Black Powder. It'll be an absolute weapon of war."
At Murong Huai's words, Wu Xianyun considered the matter for a moment and quickly realized the value of the Black Powder. She glanced at the people around them, then Soul Power surged around her. Her eight Spirit Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, and black—descended, and the Nine Profound Sword appeared in her hand. The pressure of a Soul Douluo burst forth.
The guards and servants present were immediately pressed to the ground. Wu Xianyun looked at them and said coldly,
"From this moment on, no one is to leave Murong Mansion until I return. Anyone who disobeys will be executed on the spot!"
"We will obey Hall Master Wu's orders."
"Yes, Madam."
Wu Xianyun withdrew her pressure, then turned to Murong Huai.
"Huai'er, come with me to the Pope Palace. Tu Zhen, keep an eye on everyone here. If anyone tries to leave, execute them on the spot!"
"Yes, Hall Master Wu."
With that, Wu Xianyun hurriedly took Murong Huai away. As a Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall, she had a sharp eye and could immediately see that the value the Black Powder would bring to Spirit Hall was immeasurable.
If everyone present hadn't been loyal to Spirit Hall and Murong Mansion, she would have killed them all without leaving a single one alive.
Pope Palace.
"What? Hall Master Wu, are you certain? You're saying the Black Powder's power is comparable to a Soul Ancestor's self-detonation?!"
Wu Xianyun brought Murong Huai to the Pope Palace and reported what had just happened to Qian Daoliu.
"That's right, Your Holiness. I saw it with my own eyes."
"And that wasn't even the largest amount," Murong Huai added. He looked at Qian Daoliu, who still seemed doubtful, then took out another batch of Black Powder and a fire starter. He said hesitantly,
"Uh, should we test it again? This batch is larger."
They exchanged glances, then nodded.
Boom!!!
The smell of smoke hung in the air. Qian Daoliu was astonished. The power wasn't particularly great, but if every Spirit Hall soldier were equipped with it, then...
At that thought, Qian Daoliu looked at Murong Huai.
"Huai'er, can this Black Powder be mass-produced?"
Murong Huai nodded. "Of course. The ingredients are inexpensive, so mass production won't be a problem. If we can build the Red Barbarian Cannon I designed, the two together could multiply its power several times. They could kill enemies from several thousand meters away."
"The Red Barbarian Cannon? What is that? You can kill enemies from a thousand meters away?" Qian Daoliu asked, puzzled.
"Mm... It's a device I designed to launch this Black Powder. It can be mounted on a warship."
At that, Qian Daoliu's eyes lit up. If this weapon could be mounted on warships, their chances of conquering Sea God Island would rise dramatically. He considered it for a moment, then asked,
"Huai'er, are you sure this Red Barbarian Cannon will be that powerful?"
Murong Huai nodded. "As long as it's built properly, absolutely. I've already finished the blueprints, but I haven't had a chance to get anyone to build it yet."
Qian Daoliu immediately said,
"Good. In that case, your teacher will assign you several master craftsmen and set aside a workshop for you, so you can build the Red Barbarian Cannon."
Originally, Qian Daoliu hadn't paid much attention to what Murong Huai had said earlier, assuming it was a joke. But now that he had seen the Black Powder's power, he had no choice but to take it seriously. If they could acquire this weapon of war, then what would it matter if they lost a few warships?
"Thank you, Teacher!" Murong Huai was delighted.
Qian Daoliu nodded, then remembered something and asked,
"By the way, who else knows about this?"
At that, Wu Xianyun replied,
"Your Holiness, there's no need to worry. The people who know are subordinates of my Martial Soul Sanctuary and servants from Murong Mansion. They can all be trusted."
Hearing Wu Xianyun's words, Qian Daoliu nodded. "Good. Mighty Lion, stay with Huai'er for the time being and make sure he's safe."
Mighty Lion Douluo, standing to one side, immediately cupped his hands.
"Yes, Your Holiness."
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