57: Saltpeter ice making

Lu Fan used both hands and feet, returning to the surface in no time.

Seeing Lu Fan return, Dahei pounced excitedly, nearly knocking him over.

"Go away, go away, you silly dog. Don't knock me back down again," Lu Fan said with a laugh as he pushed Dahei away.

Dahei hopped around with his tongue hanging out.

Then, he pulled the rope to lift the saltpeter up.

He placed the basket full of saltpeter on the ground. Seeing so much saltpeter, the viewers in the livestream room all gasped in amazement.

"Great God Lu Fan really hit the jackpot this trip!"

"Now there's ice to eat, I'm so jealous!"

Lu Fan picked up some salt chunks to fill another basket and placed it on Big Horn's back.

Then, he turned to the frantic Dahei and said, "Come on, let's head back to the Shelter."

On the way back, Lu Fan felt exceptionally refreshed.

Not only had he successfully saved Dahei's silly life, but he had also discovered saltpeter. The day's events were truly a series of twists and turns filled with constant surprises.

Big Horn and Dahei also seemed to sense Lu Fan's joy. Big Horn walked with a light step, while Dahei ran happily ahead, occasionally looking back at Lu Fan.

Back at the Shelter, Lu Fan's tense nerves finally relaxed.

Looking at Big Horn beside him and the frolicking Dahei, he knew that today's thrills and gains would become valuable assets in his wilderness survival.

After a brief rest, Lu Fan set about processing his harvest.

First, he processed the collected salt stones to remove impurities.

The water in the large pot was boiling over a roaring fire. Lu Fan slowly poured the crushed salt stone powder into it.

Over time, the water slowly evaporated, and fine, white salt grains gradually precipitated at the bottom of the pot, shimmering with a crystalline glow in the sunlight.

"With this much salt, I won't have to worry for a long time!" Lu Fan exclaimed as he gently stirred the salt grains with a spoon.

Viewers left comments on the screen one after another, expressing their admiration for Lu Fan's exquisite skills.

"Great God Lu Fan is amazing! This salt looks no different from what you'd buy at a supermarket!"

"As expected, the true masters are among the common folk—no, in the wilderness!"

"Even though it's my second time seeing it, I'm still stunned by Great God Lu Fan's craftsmanship."

Once the salt was finished, Lu Fan immediately began the challenge of making ice with saltpeter.

He found two containers—an iron pot and a large pottery basin—and placed the iron pot securely inside the basin.

Then, he poured saltpeter and water into the gap between the iron pot and the pottery basin.

Something magical happened. The saltpeter dissolved rapidly, causing the water temperature to plummet. A thin layer of ice began to form on the surface of the water inside the iron pot.

Lu Fan touched it, and a wave of coldness traveled up from his fingertips.

The livestream room instantly erupted as viewers marveled repeatedly.

"Wow, this is practically magic!"

"Making ice is way too easy! It makes me want to try it myself!"

"Excuse me, where did you get the saltpeter?"

With the ice ready and it being mealtime, Lu Fan decided to treat himself to a good meal.

First, he meticulously prepared a serving of blueberry honey shaved ice.

The fresh blueberries picked from the trees were plump and round, like purple gemstones.

Lu Fan gently crushed the blueberries, and thick juice flowed out instantly, filling the air with a rich fruity aroma.

Dahei kept sniffing his nose, eager to try some from the side.

Lu Fan crushed the prepared ice into small pieces and put them in a bowl. Then he poured in sweet honey, covered it with the crushed blueberries, and finally stirred it all together with chopsticks.

The shaved ice shimmered with an enticing luster under the sunlight. The purple of the blueberries and the golden yellow of the honey blended together like a fine work of art.

Meanwhile, preparing the Spicy Rabbit Heads was another adventure for the palate.

The Wild Rabbits Dahei had caught earlier were carefully processed, and the heads became the stars of this dish.

Lu Fan had processed and hung the rabbit skins to dry. He already had three skins and planned to make them into clothes later.

Lu Fan put the rabbit heads in the pot to boil, then took them out and drained the water.

He took out the pickled chili sauce he had prepared before.

Lu Fan took a sniff; the spiciness was still there.

"This chili pepper really has a kick!" he said while continuing his work.

Next, he put the pickled chili sauce into the pot, added the right amount of salt and water, and simmered it into a rich, spicy broth.

The broth bubbled in the pot, the rising steam seemingly carrying an invisible "spicy power."

With his sensitive sense of smell, Dahei couldn't help but take a few steps back upon smelling the aroma.

Finally, he put the rabbit heads into the broth, letting them fully absorb the flavor.

During the stewing process, the spicy aroma filled the entire Shelter.

Both Dahei and Big Horn were drawn by the enticing scent, staring longingly at the pot.

Big Horn sniffed from time to time and even stuck out his tongue to lick his lips.

But Lu Fan knew Big Horn couldn't handle the spice. He laughed and said, "Big Horn, you can't handle this. I'll prepare some fresh, tender grass for you in a bit."

After a patient wait, the Spicy Rabbit Heads were finally ready.

The viewers in the livestream room were incredibly hungry, and the screen was filled with comments.

"That shaved ice looks so refreshing and delicious, and the Spicy Rabbit Heads are even better. I'm so jealous of Great God Lu Fan's skills!"

"The pairing of shaved ice and Spicy Rabbit Heads must taste amazing. It feels like a collision of two extremes."

"Shaved ice with rabbit heads—if Lu Fan doesn't get diarrhea, I'm a dog."

"To the person above, I think you're just suffering from sour grapes."

Lu Fan first scooped a spoonful of blueberry honey shaved ice into his mouth. The icy sensation instantly spread through his oral cavity.

"The sour-sweetness of the blueberries and the fragrant sweetness of the honey blend perfectly, as if locking the freshness and sweetness of summer into this one bite,"

"making one feel as if they are in a cool orchard, with a breeze bringing waves of fruity fragrance." Lu Fan began his socialite-style commentary again.

Then, he took a bite of a Spicy Rabbit Head. "The meat of the rabbit head is tender and juicy, and the spicy flavor blooms on the tip of the tongue instantly,"

"like a lively party where various spices intertwine, stimulating the taste buds."

The coolness of the shaved ice and the fieriness of the Spicy Rabbit Heads formed a sharp contrast—cold and hot, sweet and spicy.

"Two completely different flavors interweave and collide in the mouth, bringing an unprecedented and wonderful experience."

livestream room.

"Holy crap, it's back—the Lu-style commentary."

"This is so cringe. I miss the commercials."

"I have to say, Lu Fan is quite the drama king... the whole world is watching him perform. Truly excellent."

"I'll just use my 30-meter Broadsword... to peel an apple for you."

The wonderful taste made Lu Fan's eyes light up. He couldn't help but take another bite of shaved ice, then another bite of rabbit head, repeating the process as he lost himself in this unique feast of flavors.

Dahei watched longingly from the side, wagging his tail incessantly, drool practically dripping onto the ground.

Lu Fan laughed and broke off a small piece of rabbit meat, handing it to Dahei. "Here, you try some too."