Alchemy is an artful method to turn base metals into gold. For spiritual seekers, it is a way to attain the ultimate wisdom and may be achieve longevity. To me, the longevity they are seeking is not simply about prolonging physical existence, it's about finding eternal life. Alchemy is the spiritual seekers' way to gain as much energy as possible, a way to be connected with the divine source of universal energy both within themselves and externally to attain eternal life/nirvana.
In practice, this is much harder to achieve than it sounds. In ancient China, to practice alchemy, there was a strict requirement for being virtuous. The requirements for moral character were much higher than those for intelligence and knowledge. The truth of the universe is vast, deep and pure, it's impossible to tap into this truth with an impure, selfish mind. Alchemy is therefore not just about turning metal into gold, it's also a spiritual quest to nirvana.
The tradition of keeping one's particular strain of alchemy secret is a very long tradition. In India, it is the same way. The knowledge is passed down through the families, especially the knowledge that pertains to some commercially usable knowledge such as using metals as medicine. The families are reluctant to share their knowledge, even with virtuous people. This is understandable given people's tendency to exploit and because of the history with foreign outsiders. The focus on moral character is a great quality, which is sometimes lacking in other areas.
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