I am a Primitive Man-Chapter 583: Heaven and Earth are the furnace,

Creation is the work of myriad artisans,

Yin and Yang serve as the charcoal,

All things become the bronze.

"It’s melting!"

"This is tin ore!"

After the charcoal had burned for a while, the crushed tin ore at the bottom began to melt. Seeing this through a small opening on the furnace's side, Han Cheng shouted excitedly. The others, waiting anxiously nearby, also erupted in cheers.

Han Cheng observed for a bit longer and noticed that as the fire heated the bottom layer, it started to melt the tin ore and spread upward toward the charcoal. Seeing the molten tin ore beginning to flow out, he quickly sealed the lowest opening with charcoal and clay to prevent any leakage.

"Whoosh, whoosh~"

The person operating the air bellows was already the third one taking turns. Han Cheng peered down from the top of the furnace. When he saw that most of the ore had melted, he instructed someone to open a higher vent, allowing the molten slag to flow out while the heavier metal liquid stayed at the bottom of the furnace.

"Place the clay pot! Open the furnace!"

When Han Cheng gave the order, two individuals came forward with long wooden sticks. They positioned the thinner end of the stick at the furnace's bottom vent and forcefully pried it open. The stick was swiftly withdrawn, and molten metal flowed out, pouring into the clay pot.

Even though the tribe had witnessed copper smelting before, watching solid ore melt into liquid again left them in awe. After letting the metal cool, they broke the clay pot to reveal a metallic ingot shaped like a jar, tapering towards the bottom.

The shape of this ingot closely resembled the ancient Chinese character for "gold" (金). Perhaps the ancients were inspired by this shape when they created this character.

Looking at the coarse tin ingot, Han Cheng’s mind turned to making bronze. He directed most people to continue mining the newly discovered tin ore while he kept a few by his side. Seizing the moment before the charcoal in the furnace died out and the temperature dropped, he added more charcoal to the fire.

Han Cheng then carefully chipped off pieces from the tin ingot and placed them into the furnace to melt. He also added a rough copper hammerhead and let it melt with the tin. The ratio he aimed for was roughly two parts copper to one part tin.

He recalled reading about various copper-tin ratios in ancient history, called the "Six Equilibria of Metal." According to this, one tin mixed with five parts copper produced a bronze suitable for specific tools, while two parts mixed with four parts copper yielded bronze suited for other items.

Though Han Cheng couldn’t remember the exact copper-tin ratios needed for different bronze applications, it didn't concern him much. Even the notes he had carved onto clay tablets using phonetic symbols back then were vague. However, with copper and tin in hand and knowledge of the "Six Equilibria of Metal," the solution was simple: he would create bronzes with different ratios and slowly determine their best uses.

The bellows continued to blow, and smoke from the furnace gradually thinned, eventually turning into a faint, barely visible blue haze. As time passed and several people took turns operating the bellows, the coarse copper and tin inside finally melted and blended. Yet, Han Cheng did not immediately open the furnace, recalling the idiom "炉火纯青" (furnace fire pure blue), which describes reaching the ideal state in bronze smelting.

Although the two metals in the furnace had already melted, it was clear that they had not yet reached the state of the peak of perfection in smelting.

Han Cheng waited a bit longer. As the fire continued to burn steadily, the furnace flame finally turned pure blue. Without further hesitation, he picked up the long stick he had used earlier and jabbed it forcefully into the vent. The blue metal liquid flowed out, dripping into the clay pot below.

Ideally, he should have poured the molten bronze directly into a mold. This would allow the metal to solidify into a bronze tool that could be easily refined with minor adjustments. However, Han Cheng’s attempt at smelting bronze was spontaneous and mainly to test if his copper-tin mixture could successfully create bronze, so he hadn't prepared any molds. Thus, he could only let the molten bronze flow into the pot, missing a prime opportunity to cast a bronze artifact.

Once again, the clay pot was broken open, revealing a blue-green bronze ingot in front of the group. Han Cheng reached out to touch the bronze, and whether due to a psychological effect or not, he felt a weighty and solid sensation, making it hard for him to suppress the smile on his face.

After a moment, Han Cheng picked up another rough copper hammer from the side and struck it hard against the bronze ingot.

"Clang!"

The sound of metal striking metal rang out, and Han Cheng's hand holding the copper hammer bounced back. Examining the hammerhead closely, he noticed some small indentations on it. While the bronze ingot also showed some flattened areas, they were much less significant than the rough copper hammer marks.

Indeed, the bronze created with the addition of tin was much harder and more durable than the pure copper that had previously been smelted.

"Hahaha... The Bronze Age is coming!"

Han Cheng's smile grew wider until it became a hearty laugh. The few people standing beside him, including Third Senior Brother didn't quite understand what "Bronze Age" meant, but they could feel the Divine Child's genuine joy. They realized their tribe had gained another valuable resource. Inspired by Han Cheng's infectious laughter, they, too, began to laugh heartily.

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The slanting rays of the setting sun shone upon Copper Mountain, the smoking furnace at its base, and the bronze ingot placed next to it. It also illuminated the faces of the laughing people gathered around.

"Heaven and earth as the furnace, creation as the craftsman; yin and yang as the fuel, and all things as the copper."

As the Green Sparrow Tribe gained access to copper, its people, honed by years of challenging life, also transformed. They became distinct from other tribes of this era, setting themselves apart significantly.

Chang Tui held a wooden stick in one hand and tightly clutched the amulet hanging around his neck with the other, grinning ear to ear. Part of his joy was for the tribe's newfound valuable resource.

The other reason was even more personal: he had provided the tribe with information about the copper mine and also discovered the tin mine. Just moments ago, the revered Divine child had announced that his status as a slave was lifted, granting him citizenship in the Green Sparrow Tribe.

And not just any citizenship—he became a first-class citizen with a beautifully crafted clay identification tag!

This stroke of luck brought him immense happiness. He tightly held onto his amulet, unwilling to let go, believing that his extraordinary fortune among all the slaves was due to this charm...