"You don't have a Fire Elemental Gift,"Lilia said, watching the Flamestone in Leo's hand with no change.
"Really?"Leo didn't give up. "Maybe your method was wrong?"
Lilia gave him an annoyed look. "Do you think Elemental Gift is common? It's not an exaggeration to say it's one in a million. Over the years, I've only met one person with an Elemental Gift."
Leo frowned but said nothing. He was sure it was Lilia's teaching method that was wrong.
He looked at the Flamestone in his hand, and another hint appeared.
[Flamestone, a magical stone that contains the Power of the Fire Element Law. After refining, it can grant the ability to control Fire Elemental Law and become a great mage.]
The hint never lied, but it didn't tell him how to refine it.
He followed Lilia's method, trying to refine and absorb it, but nothing happened.
"Hey Lilia, what if I just eat it? Would that help me absorb it?"Leo played with the Flamestone in his hand.
Lilia was stunned for a moment, looking at him with a strange expression. "If you're not afraid of dying, you can try."
"Then I'll pass."Leo looked at her reaction. That idea was obviously absurd.
"Give it to me."Lilia took the Flamestone and thought for a moment before putting it away.
"Oh well,"Leo sighed helplessly. He had thought he could become a mage, but it was all in vain.
He didn't dwell on it. He had other things to do.
Making earthenware, processing sulfur stones, and making black gunpowder.
The production of earthenware was simple. He found suitable clay on the island and instructed the barbarians to build a primitive kiln.
"Leo, what are you doing?"Lilia looked at him with a disgusted expression, seeing him covered in dirt.
He made a series of containers of different sizes from the clay.
"You'll find out soon,"Leo said mysteriously.
Playing with dirt was for kids. Lilia clearly had no intention of helping.
But Ava led a few of the more skilled barbarian women to make the pottery according to Leo's instructions.
Bowls, pots, jars, even clay pots.
Over the past few days, Ava had become familiar with Leo and Lilia. They could now have simple conversations.
He was surprised by her language learning ability.
These barbarians were definitely not stupid, they just had no chance to study.
"These things are useless,"Lilia said, looking at the containers Leo had made. "I've seen these things on human ships. They're fragile and break easily when dropped."
"These containers could be replaced with bamboo tubes—light, strong, and durable."
"Once I finish firing them, you'll understand the value of these items,"Leo said without explaining. He put the earthenware into the kiln and started firing.
Firing earthenware didn't require high temperatures. Wood was enough.
"Ava, help me out,"he stretched his stiff body and said, "have someone watch the kiln. The fire mustn't go out tonight, okay?"
"Okay,"Ava nodded obediently and asked two barbarian women to keep an eye on the kiln.
The sky had darkened. Leo washed the dirt off his body, ate a little food, and sat by the fire, teaching the barbarians some basic knowledge.
From setting traps to hunt, weaving nets to fish, to making simple weapons and tools.
"Today is enough. Tomorrow I'll teach you how to grow crops,"Leo said, looking around at the barbarians who were now listening attentively.
He had already discovered that the island had edible crops—rice and cassava. Of course, they were all wild, low-yield, and not refined, but they were extremely strong in disease resistance.
For the barbarians who had never tasted anything more than wild fruits and meat, it was absolutely a delicacy.
"Great One, you are truly a blessing from the heavens to our tribe,"the priest, who was also among the learners, bowed deeply, his voice full of emotion.
Over the past few days, Leo had learned to understand the barbarian language quite well.
He frowned, his tone sharp. "Priest, I still plan to leave. I'm teaching you knowledge, but don't try to betray me. When the next big ship arrives, I will definitely go."
"I will appoint you as the next priest and have you stay here,"the priest said, not wanting to let go.
Leo shook his head, about to speak, but was interrupted by Lilia.
"Old man, you'd better not play any tricks. If you start a fight, you won't be my match,"Lilia said, her tone clearly threatening.
If it weren't for the priest's interference, she would have already left.
"Of course not. You are our most honored guests. Rest well. If you need anything, just say the word,"the priest said with a fake smile as he left.
Whether he truly agreed or not, neither Leo nor Lilia could know.
"Ugh! Old fox!"Lilia muttered under her breath, then turned to Leo and took out a delicate pendant.
"Leo, this is for you,"she said.
"Flamestone?"He was a bit surprised. It was the same Flamestone, woven together with a special plant vine, and could be worn around the neck.
Lilia said coldly, "This can keep you warm and protect you from insects. It's also of some value to you."
"Thank you,"Leo said, putting it on.
"Ugh!"Lilia let out a cold snort, her face slightly red as she ran off.
"Again, she's angry?"Leo was confused, and went back to the hut to rest. It was the one the priest had just had the barbarians build for him.
The next day, the fired earthenware was a success. Among them was even a distillation device used for sulfuric acid.
Leo led four barbarians and Lilia back to the volcano.
He now truly understood the power of the Flame Sprites.
Besides Lilia, no barbarian warriors dared to approach them. Even the slightest contact with the fire would cause severe burns, and in some cases, even death.
"Get these cloths wet, cover your mouths and noses, and collect some of that dangerous lake water. Remember, don't touch it with your skin,"Leo told the four barbarians. He dared not enter the acid lake himself.
It was extremely hot, and the area was filled with toxic gas. He wasn't sure if the crude gas mask would work.
The four barbarians nodded seriously, covered their mouths and noses with wet cloths, and one of them carried two large clay jars as they entered the smoky volcano.
Leo and Lilia waited on the edge.
Soon, the four barbarians returned, bringing eight jars filled with sulfuric acid—enough for Leo to use.
"Let's go back,"Leo said, also collecting some more sulfur stones, and returned to the village.
Leo did not let the barbarians participate in the process of making gunpowder.
He knew the terrifying power of this substance. In his world, humans had invented it, and it had led to world wars, with countless casualties.
This world was already chaotic enough. If the barbarians gained knowledge of gunpowder, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Even these seemingly honest and simple barbarians, he didn't trust. They learned too quickly, and their martial spirit was strong. With such a deadly weapon, they would surely ignite wars, fight for land, and plunder resources.
"Leo, can't I watch?"Lilia stood at the door, frowning in dissatisfaction.
Leo explained, "It's not that I don't trust you. This is too dangerous. It could explode. I'm worried it might hurt you. Once I finish making it, I'll show it to you first."
"Is that so?"Lilia obviously didn't believe him, but she didn't insist further. She just stood by the hut's entrance, keeping the barbarians away.
Leo took out a specially made distillation device, poured in the sulfuric acid, added the saltpeter, and refined it into nitric acid.
Another two days of hard work followed.
Ava, following his instructions, burned charcoal and roasted the sulfur stones, making a large amount of sulfur.
Meanwhile, Leo had already refined concentrated sulfuric acid and nitric acid.
According to the proportions, he added sulfur and charcoal to make black gunpowder.
He only had theoretical knowledge and no practical experience, so he had to be extremely careful, testing it bit by bit.
"It should be successful!"He looked at the bucket of black powder, which looked very similar to the black gunpowder described in the book.
He tested it in a safe area outside, and it ignited instantly, bursting into flames and burning completely.
It was definitely black gunpowder.
Excited, he took a few bamboo tubes about two fingers wide, filled them with the powder, pressed it down tightly, and made the fuse from fibers.
The crude explosives were complete.
If he added some small stones or iron pieces, this would be a real hand grenade.
"Lilia, I want to show you something cool!"He proudly held the bamboo tube in his hand, dragging Lilia toward the seashore.
The power of this thing was too great. He didn't want to alarm the barbarians.