Wang Liang tentatively believed the old man’s judgment, walked into the laboratory, and asked, "So, what should we do now?"

The old man pointed to the bag in Wang Liang’s hand and said, "We need more samples now for observation. You can make these plants grow rapidly, so we don’t need as much time."

"That’s simple enough," Wang Liang nodded, looking at the bag in his hand, and said.

Soon, the people in the experiment planted these seeds in the soil one by one, and Wang Liang used his ability to make them grow rapidly. Within minutes, some purple shoots emerged from the soil.

Such a scene sparked discussions among those around, yet Wang Liang’s expression didn’t look good. The growth rate of these seeds was faster, changed even from yesterday.

The old man stared at the leaves on the ground, touching his white beard, and said, "This new type of potato seems to grow by absorbing some kind of energy from the air, so it’s hard to judge what exactly it is that’s growing."

Wang Liang pondered for a moment, then turned to the old man and said, "This thing is essentially still a potato. I just changed their growth method from absorbing sunlight to absorbing energy from the air."

The old man shook his head, disagreeing with Wang Liang’s statement, "The growth method has changed, so it’s already a new type of plant. We can only say it has characteristics of a potato."

In just a day, one after another, small trees grew inside the experimental shed, with some yellow fruits hanging on them.

Seeing this scene, the surrounding researchers and technical experts were dumbfounded; some even showed expressions as if they’d seen a ghost.

However, they had all experienced the apocalypse, so their tolerance was relatively high. Rapid plant growth was not considered a big deal.

Wang Liang stared blankly at these small trees, "Aren’t potatoes supposed to grow in the ground? Why are they hanging on a tree now?"

He couldn’t quite figure out what was going on. Even though it was a plant he had modified, he couldn’t recognize it in the end.

The old man touched the branches of these small trees and said, "It’s still a herbaceous plant, just too robust. If these fruits are edible, at least we won’t lack food in the future."

"With just your casting, we can obtain a large amount of food."

Wang Liang smiled awkwardly, "Controlling these plants is already my limit."

The old man saw that Wang Liang didn’t understand his meaning and patiently explained, "These new potatoes grow fast enough already. Even without your casting, if they are edible, we just need to plant them in large quantities."

Saying this, the old man reached out for a potato fruit, pulling it down.

Wang Liang hurriedly stopped him, saying, "Elder Qin, you can’t just eat this recklessly. If it kills someone, I’m not responsible."

The old man gave Wang Liang a sidelong glance and said, "I’m not a fool; why would I eat recklessly? I just want to smell it and observe it."

He placed the yellow fruit under his nose, smelled it, then touched it with his lips. He took out a small knife from his waist and sliced it open to observe the flesh inside.

Aside from its exterior being different, the flesh inside was quite similar to a potato.

"Looks like it can be eaten," the old man muttered to himself.

Wang Liang emphasized, "We still shouldn’t eat this recklessly. Maybe we should test it on a lab rat or something."

The old man nodded, feeling that Wang Liang made sense, and handed the potato to a person nearby, instructing, "Wang Yi, go fry this thing up, and we’ll have a taste."

He turned and said, "We are the lab rats. These days, lab rats are no longer suitable experimental subjects. We have to do it ourselves."

"In my experience, as long as it doesn’t kill you, it’s edible."

Wang Liang scratched his head, feeling it was unreliable, but he knew the old man was urgent for a reason.

After such a long time, food scarcity had begun to appear, and because of the accelerated oxidation, meat products rotted very quickly. Even if air-dried, they still spoil.

Many grain storage warehouses also showed signs of damage. Some worm-like creatures in the black mist would sneak in and eat the grain, and they ate a lot at once.

Frying potatoes with chili peppers and some fatty pork must be fragrant, and a steaming plate of fried potato and meat was placed on the table, with its fragrance wafting in the air.

Everyone couldn’t help drooling, but they just watched and dared not eat.

The old man took a deep breath and smiled, saying, "Do you guys smell this special aroma from the fresh potatoes? It’s quite appetizing."

He paused and then changed the subject, "Anyone want to give it a try?"

Everyone remained silent, merely watching the old man and the plate of potatoes.

Wang Liang, looking at the scene, hesitated for a moment and said, "Elder Qin, let me do it. After all, I am an Extraordinary, my physique is better, and this thing was created by me."

The old man shook his head repeatedly, "No, because you are an Extraordinary, you cannot. If it doesn’t kill you, it might still kill ordinary people, or they might have issues."

"Let it be me then, after all, I’m already at an old age, not regretful if I die."

Another young man in a gray coat and glasses, Wang Lihui, spoke up, "Director Qin, let it be me. This kind of thing is not your responsibility."

Before the old man could respond, he picked up chopsticks and put a slice of potato in his mouth, closing his eyes tightly, as if swallowing some poison.

After only a couple of chews, he opened his eyes in surprise, "The taste is really good, very delicious! It still tastes like potatoes, just with a difference."

Saying this, he took a few more bites. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Everyone widened their eyes, fixating on him. The room fell into silence, leaving only his chewing sound.

Wang Liang asked, "How is it?"

Wang Lihui nodded, "The taste is indeed good."

"I mean, did you feel anything else?" Wang Liang asked again.

Wang Lihui paused, thinking, "I feel light, and my mind is remarkably clear. Could it contain some stimulant ingredients?"

Before he could finish his words, he fell backward, caught by the old man, his face turning an ashen hue.

"I told you there was definitely a problem. The energy these plants absorb from the air has something to do with the Extraordinary, and ordinary people can’t handle it," Wang Liang realized suddenly, slapping the table.

The old man pointed to the people nearby, "Quick, take him to the medical room. He didn’t eat much, so it should not be a significant issue."

Subsequently, Wang Lihui was carried to the medical room by four or five people.

The doctor, a middle-aged man who was once a military doctor, looked at Wang Lihui’s condition in surprise and wondered, "His condition doesn’t resemble poisoning, but rather as if he’s overly nourished. What did he eat? Millennium ginseng?"

Wang Liang thought for a moment, "He probably just ate a potato."

"Potato?" The doctor was still confused, "Can eating potatoes cause this?"

Wang Liang gestured, "It’s a new type of potato developed by our department. This brother should be fine, right?"

The doctor thought for a moment, "He’ll be fine, just needs some rest. But don’t give him that stuff to eat anymore."