“Some things are just my thoughts. If you can gain some inspiration after reading them, that would be the best thing for me."

Ji Xiang provided Zhao Shizhen with some assistance within his capabilities. The remaining manufacturing work involved areas Ji Xiang didn't understand. Perhaps there were master artificers in the Li Shanhe (Hidden World) who specialized in crafting artifacts and could hand-forge cannons, but Ji Xiang didn't possess that skill.

In ancient times, artificers mostly created magical items like tokens and command flags. Those big shots in the Li Shanhe, now in the new era, keeping up with the times, could very well hand-craft magical cannons.

Moreover, using firearms as magical artifacts wasn't limited to the Ming Dynasty. The Japanese even revered saltpeter as a sacred object, calling it the dragon's dung, capable of exploding and unfailingly vanquishing demons.

Zhao Shizhen was currently examining and studying the new blueprints provided by Ji Xiang. Some ideas were beyond his expectations, even eye-opening. The same went for Duosima. Currently, they favored the flintlock gun.

However, the world's first flintlock gun was about to be born in the land of France. In this era, Matteo Ricci translated "France" as "Fo Lang Cha."

"You are so proficient in the art of firearms?"

Zhao Shizhen's expression changed. Hearing that Ji Xiang was leaving after completing the customized magical artifact, he was very excited and tried his best to persuade Ji Xiang to stay and contribute to the development of firearms!

He stated that Ji Xiang, at a young age, had unique insights into firearms. How could he just be a Daoist official? He should report to the imperial court and be transferred to the Five Armies Commander-in-chief or the Ministry of War. Now that he was leaving Shuntian, Zhao Shizhen greatly regretted it, sighing repeatedly.

"If you stay in the capital, to research the art of firearms! Shizhen... is willing! To become your student! I will do my best to serve you in this life!"

Zhao Shizhen dedicated everything to firearms. He was obsessed and fanatical about the art of firearms, working hard for the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, writing books, and improving the weapons of Western foreign countries. These words were all from the bottom of his heart!

Ji Xiang comforted him and handed him a small note with a string of names on it. Of course, this wasn't a blacklist for a purge.

"These people are truly useful for the development of firearms. You can give this to His Majesty and tell him that the development of firearms lies in human wisdom, not in the Four Books and Five Classics. To break the Yin spirit techniques of the Song Dynasty, the form and spirit changes of the Li Shanhe, and the ghost and god techniques of Japan, the development of firearms is of utmost importance. With a weapon in hand, once the power of the supreme Yang is unleashed, even ordinary people can break through all laws. This is indeed a divine weapon!"

"Moreover, the foundation of the Ming Dynasty lies in the people, the will of the people, the incense of the people. If the foundation of the Ming Dynasty is unstable, these things may disappear or be stolen by others. I believe His Majesty will know what to do."

Increasing the number of cultivators couldn't be achieved in a short time. The strength of the Biao Shanhe (Outer World) was just like that, giving up. It was absolutely impossible to fight the Li Shanhe head-on.

Here, there were only two Ascensions and a few Pure Yangs, while in the Li Shanhe, Ascensions were like clouds, and Pure Yangs were like rain. To fight against the Li Shanhe, one could only rely on the law-breaking power of firearms.

Ji Xiang made an agreement with Zhao Shizhen that he would come to pick them up next time he returned to Shuntian, as soon as a year later. If the Korean war situation changed, he would return.

If there were no changes, he would come back in six years.

"By the way, if there are some processes you can't do, you can seek the help of Zhang Tianshi..."

Old Zhang was just a tool, moved wherever needed. Having 120,000 Ascension experts as machinists, that scene was truly magnificent.

Zhao Shizhen remembered these words firmly and thanked Ji Xiang very much. He and Duosima escorted Ji Xiang and the little fox to the Jin Ferry Wharf in the eastern part of the city. Ji Xiang boarded the ship. It was getting late, but the Jin Ferry Wharf was still very busy.

"Lord! Lord!"

Suddenly, someone called out to Ji Xiang. Upon closer inspection, it was actually Matteo Ricci.

Although Matteo Ricci couldn't go to Zhao Shizhen's house, he came to the wharf and chartered a large ship for Ji Xiang. The boatman was the one he had taken from Yingtian to get here, very trustworthy and with excellent skills.

He didn't expect Ji Xiang to have finished his business so quickly.

After boarding the ship, Ji Xiang deeply felt his lack of ability to fly, which was due to insufficient realm.

Whoosh! The wind picked up between heaven and earth. It was getting late, and the cool breeze finally dared to appear at this time. The ship began to sail on the river. Ji Xiang bid farewell to the others:

"A gentleman understands the opportunity, and a wise man knows his destiny. The older one gets, the stronger one should be; how can one change one's mind in old age? The poorer one is, the firmer one should be; one must not abandon one's lofty aspirations!"

These were lines from the Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng. Everyone bowed and bid farewell to Ji Xiang.

Zhao Shizhen and Duosima strengthened their confidence and were determined to make those firearms with pliers. Matteo Ricci was even more determined to take over the haunted house of the East Peak Temple and build a church...

........

"Your Majesty, Senior Brother has already left Shuntian."

Old Zhang noticed Ji Xiang's departure and informed the Wanli Emperor.

At the same time, the people Ji Xiang had visited were also noticed by Old Zhang, and Old Zhang also knew what Ji Xiang had said. However, when the Wanli Emperor asked, Old Zhang smiled, keeping him in suspense.

"Your Majesty can summon them tomorrow, in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, there may be great gains."

"If you don't tell me, wouldn't it be too ridiculous if I was led by the nose by them?"

The Wanli Emperor was a little unhappy: "You can't even tell me the names on the small note that Ji Xiang gave me?"

Old Zhang said: "If I tell you, there will be no sense of anticipation. Many times, the initial reaction to something will give you the most special experience, and may even affect many future decisions."

"I can only tell you that Senior Brother wants you to open your eyes."

The Wanli Emperor fell silent, unable to figure it out. After a while, he could only say: "Alright, since it's something useful that Ji Xiang said, I must meet them. Perhaps the opportunity for the Ming Dynasty's transformation lies in this."

"He traveled through Fuli for a thousand years and must have seen more things than I have... By the way, Old Zhang, I also want to cultivate. Can you guide me?"

Old Zhang laughed: "People's energy is limited. Forgive me for speaking frankly, you don't have the wisdom and energy of the Jiajing Emperor. Although the Jiajing Emperor's aptitude was also very poor, your aptitude is even worse. The Jiajing Emperor could cultivate to the sixth realm, but you can probably only cultivate to the third realm..."

The Wanli Emperor almost spat blood, but Old Zhang said that the third realm was equivalent to a second-rate martial artist, which was not bad. At least the emperor would not be afraid of being assassinated by normal assassins.

Wanli: "The assassins who come to the Forbidden City are not normal! Tell me, where does the problem of insufficient aptitude lie? I am the dignified Son of Heaven, am I not even as good as a seal carver in the West Market!"

Old Zhang explained:

"Many times, aptitude is really fixed. If the predecessors have good aptitude, the chances of good aptitude appearing in later generations will be high. However, you and the Jiajing Emperor are not descendants of the Zhengde Emperor. Moreover, your birth was also related to unorthodox techniques, which may also be one of the reasons affecting your aptitude. The reason why your father, the Longqing Emperor, died early was probably also inseparable from the method of prolonging offspring, so..."

Old Zhang hesitated, but the Wanli Emperor told Old Zhang not to have any taboos, sighed, and told Old Zhang to continue.

"So the Zhengde Emperor's aptitude has been cut off. The Jiajing Emperor used unorthodox techniques to reshape his immortal bones, even so it took him decades. Moreover, after he reshaped his immortal bones, you were already born, his immortal bones and your aptitude no longer have blood or kinship relationship."

"If you want to reshape your aptitude, you must obtain an item."

"Before, when Senior Brother defeated Nurhaci, do you remember that Nurhaci's spine was broken, but he did not die, and was still full of vitality?"

"If it wasn't because of his extraordinary talent, then he obtained the 'Celestial Essence' that could transform him."

"Legend has it that this thing comes from the dew-collecting plate of the Golden Bronze Immortal of Emperor Wu of Han..."