System: Build My Own Territory-Chapter 539 - 216: Catapult (10,000)

He decided to explore the forest for a few more days. If he couldn’t find the minerals he needed, it would be time to return to town.

Early the next morning.

After breakfast, Lynn, still accompanied by Red and a dozen guards, continued hunting.

Just as he shot and killed a red deer with his bow and arrow.

A text reminder appeared in front of Lynn.

[Ore Vein Detector: 200 meters southwest, a small open-pit alkali mine.]

Seeing the words in front of him, Lynn’s eyebrows raised slightly.

Have they finally discovered the minerals they need?

After the guards finished dealing with the red deer, Lynn led Red and the others toward the location marked by the detector.

A distance of 200 meters, even in the forest, is only a few minutes’ journey.

Arriving at a terraced and sunken clearing.

A large block after another of rock entered Lynn’s view.

The surface of the rock was relatively smooth, but inside, it showed a clear crystalline structure!

Looking at these stones, Lynn’s mind stirred.

A text panel appeared.

[Alkali ore] consists of sodium carbonate, bicarbonate, and hydrated carbonate minerals, processed for use in chemical, metallurgy, textile, and other industries.

Alkali ore, whether used for the production of glazed glass at the territory’s glass workshop.

Or used as a flame retardant in metallurgy, for textile desizing, boiling, and even tanning leather.

And even to produce soda ash, make detergents, soap, etc., using natural alkali ore.

Requires a large amount of alkali ore!

When medical technology in the territory becomes more advanced, natural alkali ore can also be used as an auxiliary medicinal component!

Looking at the vast open-pit alkali deposit in front of him, Lynn felt a sense of satisfaction.

Though it took several days to discover such an alkali deposit.

The utility of alkali ore is tremendous.

Everything is worth it!

Lynn turned his gaze to the guards.

"Use the cross pickaxe to break these rocks, each person needs to carry 20 pounds of rock fragments on them!"

Receiving Lynn’s order, the guards responded in unison without hesitation: "Yes."

As the words fell, the guards began to busy themselves.

Even though they wore composite armor now.

Adding just 20 pounds, it’s no issue for them.

Watching the busy guards, Lynn was about to grab a cross pickaxe to join in the breaking of the alkali ore.

Another text panel appeared before him.

[Ore Vein Detector: 200 meters northwest, a small saltpeter cave.]

Upon clearly seeing the text prompt, a wave of joy swept over Lynn.

A small saltpeter cave?

For the past five or six days, he hadn’t discovered practical or easily extractable minerals.

He was prepared to give up, but then one prompt after another appeared?

It meant that if he’d held out one less day.

These minerals would have temporarily slipped through his fingers?

Fortunately, he persevered!

Leaving the guards to continue breaking the alkali ore, Lynn took Red and five guards toward the marked saltpeter cave.

Moving past a dozen towering ancient trees, Lynn and his team arrived near a hillside.

Lynn’s gaze quickly found the crevice in the hillside beneath a layer of moss and vines.

Without any hesitation, Lynn strode forward.

Red instantly understood Lynn’s plan. He took torches from the guards and lit them with tinder.

Following closely behind Lynn, they walked into the cave.

Upon entering the cave, a damp, cold sensation instantly enveloped Lynn and his team.

The cave’s temperature was at least a few degrees lower than the forest, with thin layers of vapor clinging to the rocky walls.

Under the light of the torches held by Red and the guards, Lynn took in the entirety of the crevice cave.

The cave wasn’t deep, only about a few dozen meters, narrow and moist.

Deep within the cave, there was nothing eerie or chilling.

Merely a simple cave.

On the cave walls and ceiling lay a layer of colorless crystals.

Mental command, the descriptive text panel appeared.

[Saltpeter]: Mainly composed of potassium nitrate, an excellent source of potash and nitrogen fertilizer, used in agriculture, industrial gunpowder and explosives production, and as preservatives in medicine and food.

Seeing the description, Lynn felt a wave of satisfaction.

The uses of saltpeter are abundant!

Most importantly.

Now having found saltpeter, they only need to find sulfur and mix it with charcoal in the right proportions.

They can then produce explosives!

The waterfall suppressing the territory’s hydraulic development and water transport can be resolved!

This was one of the key minerals Lynn wanted to find on this expedition.

Lynn looked at Red and said, "Collect the crystals on the walls, dig and gather them to take back to town."

Upon receiving Lynn’s instructions, Red quickly responded, arranging for the five guards behind him to begin collecting and digging.

Lynn also held an iron chisel in his hand, steadily collecting.

[Collection Experience +1]

[Collection Experience +1]

[Collection Experience +1]

...

Until several hours later, as the sky outside the cave gradually darkened.

Having collected several pounds, Lynn stopped his actions.

He paused the relentless gathering of the guards, guiding them back to the open-pit alkali deposit.

As the sky fully darkened.

Lynn and dozens of people returned to the previously built camp.