318, Alchemy and Explosives (Please Order All)

"Or rather..."

"The cinnabar in the main world is the lowest of the lowest. The high-quality and medium-quality cinnabar has long been extinct by the Taoists of the bait-taking sect. Just like me and Jin Xian, we mobilized a lot of manpower and material resources to do this, and searched the mountains to find such a little good cinnabar."

"Good cinnabar may be generated naturally again, but compared with human destruction, the speed of natural formation is definitely not as fast as the speed of collection..., the low-quality cinnabar is collected, and then used to make elixirs, and what is obtained is poison..."

Bai Gui pondered.

He felt that his guess was not necessarily correct, but it was reasonable.

From a chemical point of view, element molecules in different states can form different substances. For example, graphite and diamond are two completely different substances.

The high-quality and medium-quality cinnabar have more inspiration than the low-quality cinnabar, and the changes in properties are definitely different!

"Before refining the elixir, you must practice a ritual of abstinence and fasting. After I fast for three days, I will start to refine this elixir."

"A full 120 days..."

"Although you can eat and drink and do other things during the process of refining the elixir, the quality of the elixir will inevitably be reduced."

Hou Shaowei explained.

"Wenxuan, you are also a practitioner of the Purple Cloud Mysterious Principle. You will fast with me later and help me."

"During the process of refining the elixir, it will also be good for your practice."

He glanced at his eldest disciple Zhou Wenxuan again and ordered.

He has a little selfishness here.

Bai Gui and Princess Jinxian spent such a great price to collect so many precious cinnabars, and the energy and financial resources consumed are immeasurable. Although Zongsheng Temple is a royal Taoist temple, and perhaps has more financial resources than Jinxian Temple, this is the property of the entire Zongsheng Temple. As the head of the sect, he can use it, but if he uses so much financial resources for his own selfishness, it is impossible.

And a top-grade bright sand..., this is something that cannot be collected with ordinary financial resources, it depends on fate.

With his ability to refine pills, if this external pill is successful, it will definitely be a treasure pill!

The second disciple Bai Gui asked him, the master, to refine the pill. After the success, people who know the rules know that he will give him a lot of profits. Similarly, it is not easy to avoid Zhou Wenxuan in the matter of refining pills, and some external pills will be given to Zhou Wenxuan, the senior brother.

But... this is the reason. If it is really done, even if Bai Gui, the junior brother, has no complaints, Zhou Wenxuan will feel guilty!

Therefore, it is more reasonable for Hou Shaowei to let Zhou Wenxuan help him and accept pills in the future.

In addition, the magic power cultivated by the practice of Ziyun Miaozhi can also play a certain role in the process of refining pills.

"Yes! Master!"

Zhou Wenxuan nodded.

Although he had never seen his master making elixirs, there were many Taoist temples in Chang'an City, and some Taoists would occasionally make elixirs. He had also watched them making elixirs, with fairy children helping them.

Although Bai Gui had always been able to see the big picture from the small details, he obviously did not know Hou Shaowei's inner thoughts.

However, even if he knew this little thing, he would only smile and turn a blind eye.

Today, Hou Shaowei could do this to his senior brother, so maybe he would do the same to him in the future. Since he entrusted these cinnabars that he had collected with great difficulty to his master for refining, it was only natural for the master to collect some benefits from it... He couldn't be a stingy person who didn't give a penny.

He was not a member of the Yang Zhu School.

"Master, senior brother, I am also interested in making elixirs..."

"When you are making elixirs, I wonder if you can let me watch from the side. As for me... I will not interfere in the matters of making elixirs without authorization..."

Bai Gui thought for a while and asked.

When making elixirs, the most taboo is to be disturbed by outsiders. However, ordinary observation will not cause any bad effects. It's just that according to the rules, you have to ask for instructions first.

Even if it's the master refining the elixir.

"You can watch from the side. The teacher just explained the elixir classics and the method of taking the medicine to you, just to let you listen more and practice more."

Hou Shaowei nodded, of course.

Bai Gui is his disciple, and his character is also good. If even the disciple doesn't believe in him, then there is no point in being the master.

"Thank you, Master."

Bai Gui bowed his head in a Taoist manner.

He observed the alchemy, not only to learn the method of refining the external elixir, but also for another purpose.

That is to take this opportunity to refine explosives.

Industrialized society is to change nature. And if you want to change nature, explosives are indispensable.

Although the King of Medicine Sun Simiao invented black gunpowder, black gunpowder is OK for firecrackers, but if it is used in mining, road construction, etc., it will be stretched.

It should be reasonable for him, a Taoist priest, to inherit the unique skills of the ancient sages and make more powerful yellow gunpowder.

With yellow gunpowder, coupled with scientific military training, it would no longer be difficult to climb the snowy plateau and destroy the enemy of the Tang Dynasty, Tubo.

…

Time passed slowly.

It was the beginning of spring in the third year of Kaiyuan.

There was still some time before the alchemy furnace of Haotian Temple was opened.

Bai Gui, accompanied by two princesses, some servants, noble children, and dignitaries, left Chang'an together and went to the southern suburbs to enjoy the spring.

He rode to Youxian Temple.

"Master."

He walked into the Taoist temple and saluted Master Chen, the master of Youxian Temple.

Although Master Chen failed to become his master, he had taken care of him as much as his real disciple Changji during the years he lived in Youxian Temple, so he also treated him with respect.

"I meet the Marquis of Linyi."

Master Chen quickly avoided him and stepped aside.

Although Bai Gui followed the etiquette of a disciple, Master Chen did not dare to go beyond the etiquette. If Bai Gui was really his disciple, he could act like a master and no one would say anything, but he was not. If he accepted it generously, he might be criticized.

If it was a secular dignitary like this, he would be fine pretending to be a master.

However... Bai Gui was also a disciple of Hou Shaowei, the master of Zongsheng Temple in Youxian Temple. His status in Zongsheng Temple was not as good as his.

"I was taken care of by the master in the temple..."

"It's just that I'm busy on weekdays and it's difficult to take time to return to Youxian Temple to visit my old friends. Please forgive me."

Bai Gui persuaded Master Chen for a few words, and Master Chen accepted the gift with a smile on his face.

"Linyi Hou became famous at a young age and is busy with official duties. It's understandable."

Master Chen nodded and said with relief.

Although Bai Gui returned to Youxian Temple once or twice after becoming the top scholar, he visited less frequently afterwards. Although he guessed that it was due to official business, who knows if Bai Gui was tired of Youxian Temple...

The two talked for a while.

The two princesses following behind Bai Gui arrived late.

Master Chen greeted them one by one.

Entering the temple, he performed the ritual and prayed for blessings as usual.

"This young man is named Wang Wei, with the courtesy name Mojie. He came last year and has stayed in the temple for several months."

After praying for blessings, when he walked out of the Doumu Hall, Master Chen introduced the young man in white clothes following behind him, just as he had introduced Bai Gui before.

Hearing this, Bai Gui roughly understood.

Because he succeeded in one fell swoop by "getting close to" Princess Jinxian, he became the object of countless later generations' hard work and learning.

Therefore, Wang Wei, who came to Chang'an for a tour, stayed in Youxian Temple to study and wait for the imperial examination next year, and to try his luck.

Not only Wang Wei, many wealthy scholars who came to Chang'an lived in Taoist temples and Buddhist temples, because they could meet dignitaries in Taoist temples and Buddhist temples.

And in Youxian Temple, it was obvious that Wang Wei was not the only one who stayed there, but Wang Wei's talent and family background were among the best, so Master Chen took this opportunity to recommend Wang Wei first.

"This is Linyi Hou, Princess Jinxian, and Princess Yuzhen."

Master Chen introduced Wang Wei.

"Wei greets Linyi Hou, Princess Jinxian, and Princess Yuzhen."

Wang Wei's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly stepped forward and handed the poems he had recently obtained to Bai Gui, bowing deeply and saying: "This is Wei's humble work, please appreciate it, Linyi Hou..."

Although Linyi Hou was awarded the title of marquis for his military merits, Wang Wei knew that Linyi Hou's talent was definitely the best in the world.

If his poems could catch the eye of Linyi Hou, he would definitely become famous in Chang'an.

Linyi Hou is now also a hot figure in Chang'an City.