After a brief rest, the expedition team regrouped and prepared to continue forward.
More than ten minutes later, after passing through several open-air karst caves like the one they had just seen, they finally truly emerged from the somewhat oppressive passage.
Beyond the passage lay a small oasis growing along the mountainside. Mineral-rich streams flowing out from the caves had brought a trace of life to this barren desert.
This small oasis was like a miniature miracle in the desert. Though no towering trees covered it, it displayed a thriving ecosystem in another form.
The exposed surface rocks, lichens, and mosses gleamed faintly beneath the sunlight, revealing an unadorned yet resilient vitality.
Scattered among the rocks and moss were clumps of shrubs more than half a person's height. Though not tall, they always clustered together, crowding into narrow cracks.
In the loose alluvial soil near the stream, sedges grew in scattered patches. Their slender leaves swayed gently in the wind like waves in the desert, lending vivid motion to this tiny green space.
In a depression at the center of the oasis, a clear spring brimmed with life. It was the heart of this patch of green. Lush vegetation grew around it, while flowering shrubs gave off bursts of fresh fragrance.
The spring water flowed quietly between the rocks and shrubs, providing the surrounding plants with a constant source of nourishment.
Cradled by desert and stone, the oasis was like a dazzling emerald, radiating incomparable vitality.
"Look at this ecosystem. It really is astounding." Though it was not his first time seeing it, Professor Cadwell could not help but sigh. "An oasis like this is as quintessential as an emerald in this desert."
Professor Cadwell did not have his team stop to collect samples from the oasis. After only a