After the old emperor left, An Jingzhi took the initiative to write a letter offering the method of alchemy.

After obtaining consent.

Zhao Wenyuan was sent into the palace to lead the eunuchs in refining elixirs. After observing them several times, An Jingzhi found that there was no problem with their operation and let them go completely.

Officials with connections at court had learned through eunuchs that His Majesty had been taking pills for over a month. He hadn't even eaten a single meal on weekdays!

Some officials wanted to attack An Jingzhi as a sorcerer, but he did not say that he was making an elixir of immortality, he only said that it could strengthen the body.

Unlike other Taoist priests, he did not tempt Your Majesty to indulge in Taoism. After taking his pills, Your Majesty's health became better and better, and he also took up the political affairs that he had put aside before.

Everything is moving in the right direction, so they choose to wait and see for the time being.

Master Lu, the most favored by the old emperor, and his disciples were all beheaded because of An Jingzhi's words. No one dared to be the first to offend An Jingzhi. Looking at the emperor's favor towards An Jingzhi, they felt that they might, probably, not be able to bring him down.

That's right, after An Jingzhi voluntarily handed over the method of refining the elixir, the old emperor became even more fond of An Jingzhi. He would ask him to come to the palace to discuss Taoism every few days. After An Jingzhi refused several times, he had no choice but to teach him some health-preserving methods and instill some theories of merit.

The old emperor was overjoyed and practiced Tai Chi every day according to An Jingzhi's instructions, focusing on health preservation.

The old emperor became increasingly dependent on the Bigu Pill, a drug that only An Jingzhi could find. He felt somewhat uneasy, but An Jingzhi's willingness to hand over the recipe reassured him, and the old emperor was delighted and naturally showed him more favor.

…

A year passes in a flash.

After the morning court session ended, some old ministers looked at His Majesty's energetic appearance and felt a little envious.

The old emperor had rewarded several important ministers with fasting pills, but after eating them, they all kept their mouths shut and dared not question An Jingzhi again.

Zhao Wenyuan is now helping His Majesty refine pills in the palace. Many people have used their connections to find Zhao Kaizheng and want him to help refine some fasting pills, but how could Zhao Wenyuan dare to refine fasting pills at will in the palace?

It is a serious crime to refine it without the permission of His Majesty. Zhao Kai knew this, so he could only laugh it off.

Although he had now become a third-rank Imperial Censor thanks to his son, there were still many people in the capital that the Zhao family couldn't afford to offend. If Zhao Zhengkai's teacher in the court asked him for something, he had to give it to him, right? And if his immediate superior asked him for something, he couldn't refuse, right?

When faced with these people who could not be refused, he could only give up the elixir that His Majesty had rewarded his son with.

Everyone who has taken it knows that this medicine needs to be taken for a long time to be effective. Taking only a few pills will have very weak effects, but it is better than nothing, so people don't despise it. After getting it, they happily leave the Zhao Mansion.

After retiring from court, the old emperor was somewhat smug. He said to Quan'an beside him, "Did you see the looks in those old ministers' eyes today? They used to say every day that I was obsessed with Taoism and a tyrant. But what about now? Aren't they also eagerly coveting my fasting pills?"

The old emperor used the excuse of rewarding his old ministers to let them know the effects of the Bigu Pill. Then he never rewarded them again, and the reward was just to make them shut up.

Now that I have experienced the benefits of the pills, it is not so easy to get them again!

…

The old emperor handled government affairs in the inner court. Ever since he listened to An Jingzhi's theory of merit, he began to work diligently on government affairs, thinking that even if he failed to cultivate Taoism, he would be able to be included in the immortal class after his death based on his merits.

The more prosperous the country he governs, the greater his merits will naturally be.

Suddenly, a young eunuch ran up to Quan'an and whispered something. Quan'an waved his hand, letting the young eunuch go, and then said to the old emperor: "Your Majesty, the Grand Master requests an audience."

The old emperor said, "Hurry up and announce it."

The old emperor looked at An Jingzhi, who walked in handsomely, wearing the imperial preceptor's uniform and a jade belt around his waist. He couldn't help but sigh, "My imperial preceptor is really handsome, as handsome as Pan An."

An Jingzhi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have come here today to present you with something. I discovered this while refining the elixir, and it may be helpful for Your Majesty to expand his territory."

Now An Jingzhi has gotten used to it and accepted his role as an alchemist, and uses this as an excuse to offer the recipe.

The day of Princess Ningyue's marriage was drawing near. He had to speed up.

He tricked the old emperor into believing that his merits would keep him healthy, and that the things he presented were all intended to quickly increase the Jing Dynasty's combat effectiveness in the short term, so that the country would not have to rely on marriage in exchange for a short period of peace.

It might not be clear in a few words, so An Jingzhi asked the emperor to move to a more spacious military camp in the capital.

…

In the military camp.

Upon hearing the news that the emperor was coming in person, several generals immediately put aside their military duties and came to accompany him.

An Jingzhi didn't trust others, so he lit the fuse himself and ran to a safe area. He was very lucky, and the fuse he pulled was very long.

At the other end was a paper package wrapped in oil paper placed between several huge rocks.

That's right, what he presented was the formula for gunpowder.

"Your Majesty, generals, there may be a violent explosion shortly. Everyone is best to cover their ears."

Several generals were skeptical, with one loudly saying, "What's the big deal? I, Old Chen, have been on the march and fighting for over a decade. What haven't I seen? How could I be frightened by a little paper bag?"

The generals felt a little disdainful when they saw An Jingzhi running over after lighting the fuse. If they hadn't considered that the other party was really capable, they might have made a few sarcastic remarks.

The old emperor was also a horse emperor in his early years, so naturally he didn't listen.

So only An Jingzhi and Quan An covered their ears.

The fuse was pulled a bit long, and after waiting for a full minute and a half, just when An Jingzhi was wondering if the fuse had gone out, a violent explosion suddenly occurred!

There was a loud "bang" and rocks flew everywhere!

Fortunately, they were standing far enough away and were not attacked by flying rocks.

Quan'an covered his ears so the vibration wasn't as strong, but he was still frightened.

The old emperor and several generals only felt a buzzing in their ears and their eyes were filled with horror.

Several people thought at the same time: if this horrific explosion was used on the battlefield, what a destructive force it would cause!

The old emperor stopped his trembling hands and immediately laughed out loud: "Great! I am so lucky to have the help of the imperial teacher! Dajing is so lucky! Hahaha!"

General Chen Kaishi, who had spoken earlier, murmured, "Damn it, it's really a ghost!" He tried hard to control his trembling arms in his sleeves.

General Xu Yanrui exclaimed in shock, "Your Majesty! What is this? If we use it on the battlefield, our army will be invincible, and the northern barbarians will have nothing to fear!"

The old emperor was in a good mood and said cheerfully, "You should ask my imperial teacher about this."

An Jingzhi said to Xu Yanrui, "General Xu, this is explosives. I discovered it by chance when I was refining the elixir."

Xu Yanrui asked An Jingzhi about explosives, including some issues about refining, preservation and improvement.

An Jing answered them one by one.