Leaving the imperial city, two figures, one large and one small, emerged. The adult was decked out like a walking armory, while the child resembled a mobile display of magical artifacts. In short, they had wrapped themselves up like dumplings, armed from head to toe.

The muzzles of the firearms looked like dark abysses, and the command flags and talismans of the magical artifacts swayed gently. It was a sight to make gods and demons alike tremble.

"What new weapons are those? The Five Thunder Divine Mechanism; I recognize that one."

"And those are Meteor Cannons...."

The "Five Thunder Divine Mechanism" was a large, early model revolver.

The "Meteor Cannon" was a light-weight breech-loading cannon for individual use.

The "Lianzi Chong" was a hand cannon manufactured during the Jiajing era.

Amidst all manner of Daoist arts, behold, the firearm!

Amidst all manner of Daoist arts, behold, the cannon!

Amidst all manner of Daoist arts, behold, the hand grenade!

The Ming Dynasty manufactured a wide variety of firearms, from giant cannons to handguns, all readily available. Of course, most of these firearms were matchlock guns, not yet reaching the more advanced flintlock variety.

But that day was coming soon.

"According to the address Old Zhang gave me, I'll pay a visit to Zhao Shizhen."

In the late Ming Dynasty, there was a remarkable firearms expert named Zhao Shizhen. Together with a Turkish friend named Dusi Ma, he created a Chinese version of the flintlock gun and improved upon some Western firearms. If it hadn't been for the rise of the Jianzhou Jurchens and the natural and man-made disasters that depleted the Ming court's national strength, perhaps his firearms would have been greatly developed.

Later, a man named Bi Maokang would take over from Zhao Shizhen and create the flintlock rifle. Unfortunately, by his time, the Ming court was already at its last gasp. During the Chongzhen era, there was no time for him to make improvements, nor the ability to mass-produce this weapon.

After all, the Ming court had been using the three-eyed hand cannon on a large scale, not because it was particularly powerful, but because it was easy and cheap to produce, and it didn't hurt to throw it away after use.

Old Zhang had explained the origin of those firearms. Most of them were granted by the Wanli Emperor, because the power of firearms was still considerable. With the emergence of new enemies, the firearms, when blessed with the Beidou Dashen Zhou (Big Dipper Great Divine Mantra), could exert great deterrence.

Normally, civilians were not allowed to possess firearms, but Ji Xiang was an official, and one of the two great ascetics at that. As a member of the privileged class, there was nothing wrong with him carrying firearms. After all, considering the power of the spells cast by a flying expert, they were far more powerful than firearms.

The main purpose of using firearms was to break through some strange and evil sorcery, things that normal spells could not suppress. One shot would often have miraculous effects. After the Dongyue Temple incident, the Ming army's equipment was being massively enchanted with Old Zhang's help.

So the firearms in Ji Xiang's hands had also been enchanted by Old Zhang. These were truly flying-grade firearms.

And among the firearms, Old Zhang also mentioned a person, Zhao Shizhen. As a great firearms master of the late Ming Dynasty, Ji Xiang believed that he should visit Zhao Shizhen and provide him with some inspiration for the Gatling gun. Maybe he could actually make one with the crude machine tools in his home....

He felt ashamed, but considered this a small contribution to the Great Ming.

After Ji Xiang left, his appearance was so terrifying that not many people dared to approach him. Of course, some of the people of Shuntian recognized Ji Xiang. They wondered if he was going somewhere to subdue demons and eliminate evil with all those weapons.

"Now, Daoists are all into this.... He certainly looks more powerful than the traditional Daoists."

"Really, I saw firearms on Celestial Master Zhang's waist. Those things are really effective against those Yin spirits and ghosts!"

"I was at the Dongyue Temple back then, and I can testify to that."

On the ruined roads, the Ming soldiers on patrol greeted Ji Xiang, while whispers quietly rose.

Leaving the imperial city, Ji Xiang did not go through the southern main gate, nor did he go to the western city gate, but headed towards the eastern city.

Because if he wanted to return to Wudang, taking the waterway from the eastern city was the fastest route. It would only take fifteen days to reach Yingtian from Shuntian. When the Ming Xuanzong Emperor returned to Shuntian to ascend the throne, he traveled from Yingtian to Shuntian in fifteen days via the waterway.

From Yingtian, he would travel up the Yangtze River, then change to a waterway into the Han River, which would lead directly to Wudang.

Zhao Shizhen's residence was also located here. He was a minor official of the seventh rank, so he could not live in the imperial city area. He lived in the area where the inner and outer cities met, together with his friend. According to Old Zhang, he should be writing a book about firearms at this time, called *The Illustrated Compendium of Marvellous Devices*.

However, before he had gone far, Ji Xiang was stopped.

Matteo Ricci, adjusting his clothes, appeared before Ji Xiang. He had wanted to apply to enter the imperial city, but because of the Nurhaci affair, the Forbidden City and the imperial city were both closed, and no foreigners were allowed to enter or leave. The Minister of Rites from Yingtian, Old Wang, was also arranged to rest outside the imperial city.... In short, they had to be inspected before they could be released.

And because the Wanli Emperor had gone to see the Shang Consort, he didn't have time, so Matteo Ricci and the others had been living outside the imperial city.

Matteo Ricci now wanted to report the inauspicious Dongyue Temple to the authorities, and then ask the emperor to approve a note for him to build a church, but this matter had been rejected by the outer staff before it was even known to the Wanli Emperor.

"You're going to use Jesus Christ to fight the Immortal Officials of the Song Dynasty? What great divine power you have."

"I told them, 'What's the harm in trying?', and they scolded me like that."

Matteo Ricci saw Ji Xiang and wanted to build a relationship, after all, the other party was a reader of his translated version of *Euclid's Elements*. Since you've read my book, then we are friends.

In the Ming Dynasty, having more friends meant more paths to take, and Ji Xiang was the "religious leader" of this place. Matteo Ricci had already asked people to explain to him what the dark clothes he was wearing meant. He didn't know what rank, but it was very high.

After all, few Daoist officials were granted the right to wear dark clothes by the imperial court. Old Zhang was one of them, but he usually wore green clothes, and sometimes a small green hat.

Having a good relationship with the local religion was conducive to developing overseas business. Although polytheism and monotheism were in conflict, that was a matter between the gods, and had nothing to do with mortals like them. Just like God doesn't need to go to the toilet, but that doesn't mean priests don't.

Moreover, Matteo Ricci also had a pen name, called "Mountain Man of the Great Western Regions", with the courtesy name "Xitai".

And when Ji Xiang saw Matteo Ricci appear, he suddenly had an idea!

When it comes to the use of things like vows and prayers, isn't Christianity one of the big players in that area?

"Since we are friends, can you give me a copy of the *Bible*?"

Faced with Matteo Ricci's overly familiar attitude, Ji Xiang retaliated just as impolitely!

Since we are all friends, can I get your book for free?

However, the word *Bible* made Matteo Ricci stunned for a moment, but he quickly reacted and said, "The *Lord's Prayer*, it's not called the *Bible*, but your name is not bad, I'll change it later."

"But the scripture cannot be given away for free! Do you want to convert? You clearly don't want to convert, so I can't give it away for free!"

"But I can sell it to you cheaper."

Matteo Ricci said that the *Bible* was the only guide for Christians to enter heaven. If you believe in Christ, and are baptized into the church, then the priest can give you the *Bible* as a friend, wishing you blessings in this life and a good place in the future.

But you don't believe in Christ, so of course I can't give it to you. This is not a question of whether we are friends or not. Free for church members, just like eggs in the supermarket are five mao a jin, but you have to become a member. If you don't, you can only buy them at the original price.

Ji Xiang held out one finger: "One tenth of the original price?"

Matteo Ricci opened his mouth: "No, one copper coin will do."

This was a uniquely Western humor. Seeing Ji Xiang slightly stunned, Matteo Ricci's beard trembled, and he smiled: "The people of the Middle Kingdom are too serious and upright in their actions. The relationship between friends cannot be measured by money. Of course, I am also sincerely making friends with you."

"I have been in the Middle Kingdom for twelve years, and I have seen all kinds of people, those who love profit, those who love clothes, those who love power, and those who love beauty. When I first came, I made many friends. In normal times, it is difficult to tell the truth from the false among friends; in times of trouble, the feelings of friends will be revealed."

"These days, I have inquired a lot about you, and learned about your good deeds in the western city, saving thousands of people from fire and water, and fighting demons and eliminating evil without hesitation. I believe that you are the kind of person who can be deeply associated with!"

"The God I believe in also tells me the same way: to extend a helping hand to those in need in times of trouble!"