Ling Chen POV:

Master Zhuang was very confused when I told him what I was going to build. "So you want to create a weapon using the same thing that fireworks are made from I don't understand how that could be a weapon." Master Zhuang asked while giving me a confused look. "Well because the powder used in fireworks is extremely explosive when ignited I was thinking that if I could contain that explosion in a small space using a metal barrel it could create a very powerful projectile that could be used as a weapon," I explained to Master Zhuang. "Hmm, that's not a bad idea but I don't see how you could make something like that work." Master Zhuang said while stroking his chin in thought. "I was thinking that we could use our forging techniques to create a small metal barrel that could withstand the explosion without shattering and then use qi to create a seal around the opening of the barrel," I explained.

"I see, that might work but it's going to be very difficult to make a barrel that can withstand that kind of pressure." Master Zhuang said. "It would be difficult if we didn't have steel but a plain gun just using steel and gun powder is only the beginning I think we could make a gun using qi-infused steel as well as use spirit stones with a simple formation as the charge to create a more powerful weapon that could take on even high-level cultivators," I said. "Haha, boy you are something else always thinking of ways to make things more powerful." Master Zhuang said while laughing. "Well, if we're going to be making a new invention might as well make it the best it can be," I replied with a smile.

So we set to work on building the gun we started by forging a small metal barrel that could withstand high temperatures and pressures then we used qi to create a seal around the opening of the barrel. Once that was done we started working on the trigger mechanism and finally the stock. Because of my previous life, I knew how to make the gun way more effective than it should be for a prototype, and instead of it looking like a musket it looked much closer to a modern handgun I told Master Zhuang about how the bullet would be more effective if it was spinning and how we could use rifling to make the bullet spin. So we set to work on making the prototype gun as perfect as possible. I first refined the recipe for the gunpowder to make the charge more powerful than it is when used for fireworks.

After working on the prototype for a week the first gun was finally completed. "Ok boy you have the honors lets go to the back of the workshop and test its power." Master Zhuang said. He placed some generic armor on a mannequin behind the workshop. Although I knew the theory behind how a gun worked I never used it before in my previous life so I was very nervous as I pointed it at the mannequin. I took a deep breath and pulled the trigger.

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The recoil from the gun was much more powerful than I anticipated and I was knocked back a few steps from the force of it. When I regained my composure I walked over to the mannequin to see the damage that was done and I was shocked at what I saw. The bullet had completely penetrated the armor and had lodged itself in the wall behind the mannequin. "Haha, boy you did it this time." Master Zhuang said while laughing and clapping me on the back. "Well, it's not perfect yet but it's a good start," I said. "Yes, it is now all we need to do is find a way to increase the firing rate and we'll have an incredibly powerful weapon on our hands," Master Zhuang said. "I think I might have a way to do that but it's going to take some time to test," I replied as I knew that creating an effective magazine would be quite difficult.

Master Zhuang POV:

When Ling Chen first brought me the blueprints for the gun I wasn't very impressed with the concept because I felt that compared to the trustworthy bow and arrow this gun wouldn't be able to compete. But after he explained to me the concept and the basic idea behind it I was incredibly impressed with how well thought out the design was for this gun and how every little thing was thought about.

When we finally completed the prototype although I was very excited to test it I wasn't expecting much but when I heard that loud boom that seemed to shake the heavens that were made from an item without any use of qi I was completely shocked. When I saw the damage that was done to the mannequin I was even more shocked as it had completely penetrated the armor and had lodged itself in the wall.

I knew that this gun would be able to compete with the bow and arrow and it might even be able to replace it as the main weapon of choice. Ling Chen is truly a genius I've never seen anyone create something so powerful without any use of qi before, if he can find a way to increase the firing rate then this gun and start to use immortal materials in its construction it truly will be unstoppable. But even in its current state it will be able to give mortals power they have never been able to wield before and the cost of materials isn't even that high but the biggest problem will be how we should sell it. As Ling Chen has been discussing with me he wants to use the money we get from steel to start up our own factory to mass produce and sell all the new products we create.