Jin Fu and Gui Xuanqing were not surprised at all.
After spending the past few days together, they had already figured out Liang Xin’an’s temperament.
This person’s greatest passion was machinery. Especially when faced with a mechanical challenge that was hard to solve, his excitement was akin to being on a drug, capable of keeping him awake for days on end.
But once the problem was solved, his interest would quickly wane, leaving him yawning endlessly, too lazy to even move.
At this moment, the two exchanged a glance, noticing each other’s disheveled and exhausted appearance, and couldn’t help but smile.
However, the two of them had no intention of sleeping.
"Let’s inform Senior Brother first!" Gui Xuanqing suggested.
"Right!" Jin Fu nodded in agreement.
Zhao Ya came quickly after he heard the news.
In fact, he had been keeping an eye on the progress of the trio’s work over the past few days and knew they were close to completion.
So as soon as he got the news, he rushed over immediately.
As soon as he entered, Zhao Ya’s eyes brightened.
In the room stood a brand-new machine. Compared to the previous ugly and clumsy contraption, this workbench was evidently much more aesthetically pleasing.
This was actually Liang Xin’an’s idea. In his words, if a machine could not be aesthetically pleasing, it most likely would not be functional either.
So the three of them had put a lot of effort into its appearance.
"Is it done?" Zhao Ya circled the machine a few times. Although he couldn’t understand it fully, the details revealed in the fine structures were still shocking.
The complex and precise gear construction peeking through the gaps, the smooth and appealing design lines.
All of it greatly impressed Zhao Ya, and even caused him to wonder.
Is this really something that the current technology of this world can create?
"What’s its power source?" Zhao Ya asked.
The previous workbench had two very obvious shafts, like millstones, that could be powered by hand.
But with this machine, Zhao Ya walked around several times and could not find a similar device.
"It’s still manual, but much more efficient than before."
Saying this, Jin Fu pulled a pedal out from under the machine. With a little force on it, the machine began to operate.
Zhao Ya suddenly understood, feeling a sense of déjà vu.
Isn’t this just like the treadle sewing machines he had seen in his past life!
"What about the efficiency?"
"Under normal conditions, it can produce fifty crossbow arrows in one hour!"
"That fast?"
"That’s with fine-tuning. If we lower the standards a bit, I can make seventy to eighty in an hour," Jin Fu said confidently.
Zhao Ya was reassured and turned to glance at Liang Xin’an, who was snoring loudly in the corner, then said.
"You’ve worked hard these days. The temple will reward you greatly, but for now, you two should go and rest."
Zhao Ya could see the exhaustion on their faces and didn’t waste any more words.
After the two had gone to rest, Zhao Ya didn’t leave but instead came to the corner, looking at the snoring Liang Xin’an, before saying.
"Thank you."
The next second, Liang Xin’an, who was snoring loudly, opened his eyes.
"No need to thank me. I’ve gained a lot from this production process as well."
He then sat up, looking at Zhao Ya.
"To be honest, I initially wanted to test your skills, but over the past few days, I suddenly changed my mind. Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Firstly, because I probably can’t defeat you, and secondly, because I think you’re a pretty good person," Liang Xin’an said frankly.
Zhao Ya laughed.
Speaking with engineers really cuts through the nonsense.
"The first reason seems logical, but why do you think I’m a good person?"
"Because of how Gui Xuanqing and Jin Fu regard you. Whenever they mention you, they always respectfully address you as Senior Brother. Such an attitude can’t be faked."
Liang Xin’an casually said, "So don’t worry, I’ll not only leave the crossbow arrow manufacturing method but also the mechanical crossbow repair techniques."
At this moment, Zhao Ya suddenly said, "Aren’t you planning to take Gui Xuanqing and Jin Fu with you?"
"Hmm?" Liang Xin’an was puzzled and looked at Zhao Ya with confusion.
"Why? Are you planning to let them go?"
Zhao Ya smiled, "I never said from the beginning that I wanted to keep them, did I?"
"But in that case, your crossbow arrow production..."
"The arrows needed by the Crossbow Team are in fixed quantities, and now with this machine, with just a little training, we can develop people capable of making crossbow arrows."
"As for the repair of the Mechanical Crossbows, it is the same. Send a few people to learn, even if they can’t reach the level of those two, they should be enough to handle some daily issues."
Hearing Zhao Ya’s words, Liang Xin’an looked intently at him and then suddenly asked.
"So what do you want?"
"It’s simple, I want to know the manufacturing principle of this item."
Zhao Ya said, taking out the firearm from his coat.
"Isn’t this just a firearm, what’s so..."
The words trailed off because as Liang Xin’an took the firearm, he immediately felt something was amiss.
Firstly, this firearm was far more intricate and noticeably heavier than usual.
If that were all, it would be no big deal.
Liang Xin’an had seen plenty of strange firearms in the Thunder and Fire Department, even more exquisite ones were not uncommon.
The key detail was that apart from the area where ammunition was loaded, the rest seemed to be a single seamless piece, as if carved from a single block of steel.
Being from the Mechanical Technology Department, Liang Xin’an understood how difficult this would be to achieve.
In fact, when making the Crossbow Arrow Workbench, he had spent considerable effort just to obtain precision-grade iron gears.
And that was for a single gear.
But now, holding this firearm, its intricate design, and complex lines, the difficulty of forming it as a single piece was indeed formidable.
The more he looked, the more serious Liang Xin’an’s expression became.
"Where did you get this?"
"Wuyang Sea!"
As Zhao Ya spoke these three words, he closely watched Liang Xin’an’s reaction.
As expected.
Upon hearing the words Wuyang Sea, Liang Xin’an visibly shuddered, his expression turning solemn.
"So it did come from there!"
"What, you know?" Zhao Ya immediately asked.
"Of course I know, and I even know that this was probably picked up by a beachcomber from the seaside, right?"
"Yes!"
Then Zhao Ya narrated the origins of the firearm.
After hearing it, Liang Xin’an sneered, "Ha, that Ye Xunhuan really struck it lucky, buying such a treasure for just a bit of money."
Then he said very seriously, "In the Mechanical Sect, there are actually a few items that have drifted from Wuyang Sea, each possessing extremely high technical standards, completely beyond the technology level of this world, almost like miracles."
"Moreover, their origins are extremely mysterious, so we collectively refer to such items as... Miracle Creations!"
"Miracle Creations..." Zhao Ya murmured softly.
Liang Xin’an continued, "So the ammunition drawn on the paper you showed me earlier belongs to this firearm?"
"Yes!"
"Don’t bother, even if you create usable ammunition, it will never match the original’s power," Liang Xin’an remarked.
Zhao Ya was taken aback.
"Why?"
"Why?" Liang Xin’an chuckled bitterly, "It’s not just you wondering. I, along with everyone in the Mechanical Sect, want to know."
"Especially those lunatics in the Thunder and Fire Department, if you could find a reason, they’d be willing to pay any price for it."
"But Miracle Creations are Miracle Creations because they defy logic."
"Even if your ammunition replicates the original perfectly, the power will just never be the same as the original."
"Otherwise, if firearms could all reach the power of a Miracle Creation, do you think anyone would bother tirelessly practicing martial arts?"