The concept of a born saint begins with Strange Tales from Liaozhai.

Some may disbelieve, others may be horrified.

The emperor asked about matters concerning future generations.

God said:

"More than two thousand years later, everyone had enough to eat."

"Using metal and stone as chariots, they can travel a thousand miles a day."

“There was also an iron bird that carried people and flew up into the sky.”

When the courtiers heard this, they were all astonished.

They looked at each other, their faces pale, unable to understand what he meant.

Most carts at that time were made of wood and moved by animal power, covering no more than a few dozen miles a day.

The divine words could travel a thousand miles a day, and everyone thought it impossible.

The metal and stone transformed into birds that could fly, which was quite bizarre.

The emperor was also suspicious and did not fully believe him.

Just as the historian was frantically recording all of this...

After a while.

Ying Zheng wanted to ask something else, but unfortunately, no more sounds came from the misty mountain this time.

Clearly, Lord Wushan no longer wanted to respond.

Ying Zheng felt regret.

One day later.

The ceremonial procession for the eastern tour has set off again.

Banners fluttered like a forest, and carriages and horses moved like a dragon.

Surrounded by countless armored soldiers and attendants, Ying Zheng led his massive army slowly away from Wushan and returned to the capital, Xianyang.

However, his state of mind was different from when he arrived, now filled with an indescribable anticipation.

Ying Zheng's massive eastern tour entourage made its grand return journey to Xianyang.

Carriages and horses stretched as far as the eye could see, and banners obscured the sun.

An oppressive atmosphere had inexplicably settled over the group.

Inside the First Emperor's imperial carriage, the atmosphere was as somber as a frozen pool.

Ying Zheng sat upright, his face ashen, his brows furrowed with unyielding coldness and suspicion. He ordered in a deep voice, "Summon Xu Fu!"

Before long, Xu Fu cautiously approached the imperial carriage, bowed and entered. As soon as he raised his head, he met Ying Zheng's sharp, piercing gaze. His heart sank, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

"Your Majesty..." Xu Fu's eyes showed fear, and he trembled with apprehension.

Ying Zheng did not beat around the bush; his voice was cold, hard, and deep.

"You previously suggested that there are immortal mountains, immortals, and elixirs of immortality in the East Sea. However, I personally met the Divine Lord at Wushan, and he clearly stated that there are no immortal mountains, immortals, or elixirs of immortality in the world. What do you have to say about that?"

Xu Fu's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down. He hurriedly bowed and kowtowed, his voice trembling with panic.

"Your Majesty! I would never dare to deceive Your Majesty, I would never dare! That immortal mountain in the East Sea is hidden among the clouds and mist, it is not something that ordinary people can see, nor can it be found by ordinary power!"

"Even if the God of Wushan possesses supernatural powers that reach to the heavens, the world is vast and its secrets are boundless. Perhaps... perhaps even the God does not know the location of the immortal mountain. Every word I have spoken is true, without the slightest falsehood!"

Ying Zheng stared coldly at him, his eyes filled with undiminished suspicion.

He naturally didn't believe what Xu Fu said.

However, clinging to a sliver of hope, after some hesitation, he sighed and ultimately decided not to give up on this so-called sacred mountain.

Although the promise made by Lord Wushan was weighty, it was so incredible that he could hardly believe it.

Will the deity really appear when I am dying?

Will it really grant immortality?

Ying Zheng looked bewildered and hesitant.

What the deity said was too unbelievable and far beyond his expectations. He wouldn't even dare to do such a thing in his dreams, and he couldn't believe it.

Therefore, he dared not place all his hopes on the God, even if there was only a slight chance on the Immortal Mountain, he would still give it a try.

After a long silence, Ying Zheng slowly spoke, his voice carrying an unyielding authority, "I will give you one more chance."

Xu Fu hurriedly kowtowed: "Your Majesty, I thank you!"

"After you return, immediately prepare a fleet, select young boys and girls, and set sail to search for the whereabouts of the immortal mountain." Ying Zheng paused, his gaze suddenly turning sharp.

"I will appoint a trusted general to lead the army accompanying you. Your actions will be entirely under my control. If you dare to use this opportunity to desert, or secretly plot against me..."

A ruthless glint flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes, "I will make you wish you were dead!"

When facing the God of Wushan, he was very devout, but when faced with a sorcerer, he naturally wouldn't be in a good mood.

Xu Fu was so frightened that he trembled all over and kowtowed repeatedly, his voice shaking uncontrollably.

"Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty, I obey your decree. I would never dare to have any disloyal thoughts. I will certainly find the immortal mountain and the path to immortality for Your Majesty!"

Ying Zheng waved his hand impatiently, "Step back."

Xu Fu felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and he scrambled out of the imperial carriage.

……

Meanwhile, on Mount Wu.

Watching Ying Zheng's eastern tour entourage disappear into the distance, Su Chen remained calm and didn't seem to care much.

Then, he closed his eyes, comprehending the cycle of reincarnation while absorbing the essence of the sun and moon.

Next, all we need to do is wait for Ying Zheng to make his fifth eastern tour to Shaqiu, when he is about to die.

At that time, he will naturally fly to the sand dunes and appear, as promised, to grant Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng immortality.

Time passed slowly.

Chapter 125 Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng, on the verge of death

Time passed slowly.

Because the words of Lord Wushan were so unbelievable, even Ying Zheng found it hard to believe.

Will the deity really appear when I am dying?

Will it really grant immortality?

Despite his bewilderment and disbelief, Ying Zheng ultimately did not give up sending Xu Fu to the East Sea to search for the immortal mountains, immortals, and the elixir of immortality.

Upon returning to the capital, Xianyang, Ying Zheng immediately dispatched Xu Fu to take action.

Shipbuilding, recruitment, and resource preparation proceeded smoothly...

A large number of craftsmen were conscripted and worked day and night to finish the work. Good materials were used to make a living.

At the same time, young boys and girls began to be screened and recruited in various places, either by offering generous rewards or by forcibly conscripting them.

In a short period of time.

The momentum is already considerable.

In the blink of an eye.

The year is 219 BC, and Xu Fu leads a treacherous proclamation!

The banners and flags have gone far away.

It gradually disappeared between the sky and the sea.

During this period.

According to the words of the God of Wushan, the one who destroyed Qin was Hu.

Ying Zheng had already concluded in his heart that the so-called "Hu" were the northern Hu people, that is, the Xiongnu.

Therefore, he dispatched General Meng Tian to lead an army of 300,000 to attack the Xiongnu in the north.

The iron cavalry rolled on and on.

Go straight out of Shangjun.

For a while.

The war rages on in the North.

At the same time.

The Qin Dynasty began a large-scale construction of the Great Wall, connecting the existing walls from the Warring States period to defend against the Hu people.

Across the mountains and rivers, manpower surged like a tide, with countless laborers being conscripted and working day and night without rest.

213 BC.

When the order to burn books was issued, all books other than the historical records of Qin and the works of various schools of thought were burned, leaving only medical, divination, and agricultural books.

The whole country was shaken and scholars fell silent.

the following year.

212 BC.

The Qin Dynasty built the Straight Road, which ran directly from Xianyang to Jiuyuan, and also began construction of the Epang Palace, a massive project with heavy labor.

same year.

Among the alchemists and Confucian scholars, many were punished for speaking of superstition or offending the emperor. They were ultimately buried alive in Xianyang, their blood flowing in the fields. These two events are historically known as the burning of books and burying of scholars alive.

Amidst these momentous events, Ying Zheng's health was rapidly deteriorating without him even realizing it.

He was a hostage in Handan, Zhao State, from a young age, where he was often hungry and lived in constant fear, which made him physically weak.

With hundreds of pounds of bamboo slips to review every day, he gradually overtaxed his body.

After he began to worship the God of Wushan, his health began to deteriorate significantly.

In addition, he was involved in everything, big and small, and had very little sleep. He also ingested large amounts of pills containing mercury and lead, which caused him to experience dizziness, irritability, and mental confusion.

Ying Zheng often felt weak and physically exhausted, and his temper became violent and suspicious.

However, he still forced himself to keep going and refused to stop.

Until 210 BC.

This year.

With his body already severely damaged, Ying Zheng embarked on his fifth eastern tour, passing through the sand dunes.

The carriages and horses set off, with a grand procession.

Hu Hai, Zhao Gao, Li Si, Meng Yi, along with physicians, craftsmen, musicians, and others, accompanied him.

The imperial procession was as majestic as ever, stretching for dozens of miles, but unfortunately, the people inside the imperial carriage were no longer the same as before.

When Xu Fu arrived in Langya during his eastern tour, he returned and met with the First Emperor. Fearing punishment for not obtaining the elixir of immortality, Xu Fu lied and claimed that he was blocked by a giant shark and needed a skilled archer to accompany him.

Because his health was already very poor, clinging to the last glimmer of hope, even knowing that Xu Fu was likely deceiving him, Ying Zheng still provided people, food, and archers.

Thus, Xu Fu embarked on his second voyage, never to return.

Time passed slowly.

The eastern patrol gradually approached the vicinity of the sand dunes.

Scorching sun, exhaustion, a relapse of old ailments, and erysipelas took hold, and by the time they reached the sand dunes, Ying Zheng's condition had suddenly worsened.

The massive eastern inspection team stopped here, and the atmosphere quietly became solemn.

Banners fell silent, and carriages and horses were still.

The once noisy procession was now unusually subdued. Even the passing soldiers dared not speak loudly and walked very quietly, as if afraid of disturbing something.

It was 1-3 PM.

The weather was hot, the sun was scorching, and the blazing sun was high in the sky, baking the earth.