Explanation For Those Wondering: As in Europe, the constant search of Chinese alchemists was for an elixir of immortality. In Europe, such things were also, simultaneously, religiously questionable due to the beliefs of Christianity regarding the world and the afterlife. As such, powerful men rarely (openly) pursued immortality or like alchemical solutions, instead opting to invest massively in their displays of piety to guarantee a good afterlife. Instead, the search for immortality was generally the domain of eccentrics, academics, and mystics.

In China, however, the pursuit of immortality was less religiously taboo. While many Chinese philosophers condemned seeking immortality as immoral or against nature, there was not the clear 'duty' to live a simple life in exchange for a good afterlife provided by an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-benevolent deity. Therefore, when a Chinese alchemist came along claiming to finally have the concoction to provide ETERNAL LIFE, the reigning Emperor was not always averse to trying it! And many powerful men in court often would attempt the pursuit of the same! If you can live the good, powerful life you lead now forever, why not?

... oftentimes, these elixirs contained compounds we know to be poisonous, like mercury, arsenic, and lead.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_alchemical_elixir_poisoning

Make the Gods of underworld mad with this one simple trick.