I started on a deserted island and encountered Ying Zheng, who insisted I was an immortal.

The salty sea breeze was still blowing, and the waves were still crashing against the beach in the distance, but all these sounds seemed to be isolated in another world.

The potato in Wang Ben's hand fell to the sand with a "thud," but he didn't even notice.

Meng Yi stared with his mouth agape, his expression as if he had witnessed some kind of miracle.

Ying Zheng's hand stopped in mid-air, remaining in the same position as when he was holding the potato.

Four or five thousand catties?

A yield of four to five thousand catties per mu?!

Did they mishear something?

Ying Zheng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and asked again, word by word, to confirm: "Sir, you mean that one mu of land can produce four thousand... jin of this product?"

In Daqin, a good irrigated field can yield two shi (a unit of dry measure) of millet per mu (a unit of land area), which is 240 jin (a unit of weight), and that is considered a bumper harvest.

Most dry fields yield only about one shi (a unit of dry measure) per mu (a unit of land area).

Four or five thousand catties—this was a number they dared not even dream of.

This is no longer food.

This is a miracle.

Seeing the three of them looking like they'd been struck by lightning, Zhang Ying grew a little impatient.

"Yes, four or five thousand catties, is there a problem?"

"This thing grows too fast and has a high yield; I can't possibly eat it all by myself."

"I cooked up the leftovers and the ones that had sprouted a bit after being left out for a while and fed them to the pigs."

Zhang Ying's words were like a heavy hammer blow, striking Wang Ben's heart hard.

"What a waste!"

Wang Ben roared, his fists clenched so tightly that the veins on his arms bulged.

"Damn, buddy, are you serious?"

Zhang Ying felt that these people were really mentally unstable, and he began to consider whether he should stay away from them to avoid being infected.

"Lord Tongwu, you mustn't be rude!"

Ying Zheng spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority.

Wang Ben shuddered and reluctantly took two steps back, but his heartbroken expression did not diminish in the slightest.

Ying Zheng ignored Wang Ben, took a few steps forward, and stood in front of Zhang Ying.

"Sir, you said you planted this plant, but... how much did you plant?"

Zhang Ying casually replied, "Not much, maybe a hundred mu."

One hundred... acres...

Ying Zheng's body swayed slightly.

Meng Yi supported him from the side.

Four thousand catties per mu, one hundred mu is four hundred thousand catties.

If this number is true...

Countless images flashed through Ying Zheng's mind in an instant.

The Qin cavalry was invincible, striking down the Xiongnu in the north and conquering the Baiyue in the south, but each time they were hampered by long supply lines.

With this, food supplies will no longer be a problem.

The elite soldiers of the Great Qin Dynasty, with their bellies full, can conquer any land they desire!

His purpose in setting sail was to seek the elixir of immortality.

But what he had before him, though it could not grant him immortality, was enough to ensure the eternal existence of his Great Qin Empire!

This is more practical than any magic pill!

At this moment, the last trace of doubt in Ying Zheng's heart vanished.

This is Penglai Island.

The seemingly ordinary young man before us is the legendary immortal.

And this potato is a divine gift bestowed upon the mortal world by the immortals!

He had previously thought that Zhang Ying was rude and vulgar, unlike a celestial being.

Looking back now, that's what true immortal demeanor looks like.

Looking at the three ancient figures in front of her, Zhang Ying felt a headache coming on.

He admitted that when he first arrived on this desolate island, when he was so hungry that his stomach was practically sticking to his back, he would treasure even a blade of grass, let alone potatoes.

He would never forget that craving for food, that fear of the unknown.

That's why he went on a crazy spree of clearing land, planting crops, and stockpiling.

The mountains of potatoes and rice piled up in the log cabin were less food and more a symbol of his sense of security in the face of loneliness and death.

But now, what he sees as merely a means of survival has become, in the eyes of these three, a divine object that can ensure the eternal existence of the Qin Dynasty.

Ying Zheng straightened his tattered robes and bowed solemnly to Zhang Ying.

"Since you possess such extraordinary abilities, you must be a celestial being from beyond the heavens."

"Is this the legendary Penglai Island?"

Meng Yi and Wang Ben behind him also bowed, their movements precise and their expressions solemn, making it seem like some kind of sacrificial ceremony to heaven.

Zhang Ying felt uncomfortable with the scene and quickly moved two steps to the side.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

"Hey you guys, you've gone too far."

"What immortals, what Penglai? Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, we're not allowed to have spirits, understand? We must believe in science!"

Zhang Ying pointed to her head: "I'm an atheist, a materialist fighter, understand?"

Ying Zheng and the other two looked at each other in bewilderment.

"An atheist?"

"materialism?"

"science?"

They couldn't understand any of the words, but they could sense the certainty in Zhang Ying's words.

That feeling was even more natural than when Qin Shi Huang said, "I am the First Emperor."

How dare a mortal deny the existence of ghosts and gods?

Unless, he himself is an existence that transcends ghosts and gods.

Ying Zheng became increasingly certain of his judgment.

Do immortals enjoy testing mortals like this?

Wang Ben didn't think that much; he was most concerned about something else.

He stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Zhang Ying, and spoke with much greater deference than before: "Immortal...sir, may I ask if you have seen my sword?"

"A sword?"

Zhang Ying thought for a moment, then slapped her thigh.

"Oh, you mean that piece of metal?"

"It's over there."

He pointed casually.

Wang Ben looked in the direction he pointed and saw an ancient longsword stuck in a pottery jar next to the fire.

The gemstones inlaid on the hilt gleamed faintly in the firelight, but the blade was covered in black grease, with a few pieces of uneaten bone still hanging on it.

A rich aroma of roasted meat fat wafted from the earthenware pot.

Wang Ben's body stiffened.

He walked over step by step, as if walking on a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire.

With trembling hands, he pulled the sword out of the oil jar.

This sword was bestowed upon him by the King. It accompanied him in his campaigns across the north and south, slaying countless enemies. It was the glory that Wang Ben cherished as his life.

But now, this peerless sword is being used... as a meat chopper and a bone picker.

And it was even soaked in oil tanks for "maintenance"?

"puff--"

Wang Ben couldn't catch his breath, felt a sweet taste in his throat, and then fell straight backward.

"Marquis Tongwu!"

Meng Yi reacted quickly and caught him.

Zhang Ying was also startled by this unexpected turn of events.

"Damn, is it really that serious? It's just a broken sword. Are you trying to scam me?"

He muttered, "I thought that thing was pretty sharp, much better at chopping bones than the stone knife I made, so I used it."

"Besides, soaking it in oil can prevent rust. I'm doing this for your own good, buddy."