In the livestream, the frontline reporter finished his opening remarks, then gestured behind him as he continued:
"...As everyone can see, right behind me stands the team that will soon set off to explore this mysterious oasis.
It is composed of a professional research unit, escorted by the military. Our filming crew will follow alongside them."
"The first expeditionary team numbers fifty in total.
They are led by Director Zhou of the Academy of Sciences, Academician Li, an expert in structural geology from the Academy of Engineering, Professor Sun, a specialist in biochemistry and biophysics, as well as several other scholars.
Together, they will conduct this unprecedented on-site investigation…"
"Alright, departure is not far off. My colleagues and I will now change into protective suits. Without knowing what potential microbial threats might exist in this unknown ecosystem, we must be extremely cautious. Please, switch the feed."
With that, the livestream camera changed again.
This time, it wasn't the oasis but rather the bustling research base—like a vast machine in full motion.
As the camera rose, the frame transitioned smoothly from the busy base toward the distant forests and mountains, producing a highly immersive effect.
It was clear the team had extensive field-shooting experience; even the livestream carried a polished sense of production. For countless viewers around the world tuning in, the experience was striking.
"Cautious indeed," Lin Tuo muttered from his study, adjusting the comment overlay to half the screen. He sipped his tea as he observed.
The entire expedition was fully equipped.
The researchers and journalists wore white protective suits, while the escort troops donned dark green suits with heavy visors. In their hands gleamed cold weapons—guns that made the atmosphere tense just by being there.
The research contingent was mostly young scientists, with a handful of senior scholars leading them.
Lin Tuo knew well: unless something unusual occurred, their main objective today would be specimen collection. Samples to be brought back to base, where true analysis could be carried out. In the field, with no labs, only rough assessments were possible.
"Here we go!"
"They're moving out?"
"Finally! My legs are numb from waiting."
Minutes later, the comments surged as the feed shifted again.
An entire team of more than a hundred boarded armored transport vehicles, rolling out under the drone cameras, with helicopters circling overhead.
From the research base to the forested mountains there was still a stretch accessible by vehicle. But once they reached deeper terrain, they would need to proceed on foot.
Lin Tuo turned his head toward the Evolution Sand Table. At the edge of the oasis map, a cluster of tiny black dots could be seen moving swiftly toward the mountain range.
He exhaled gently, scattering a thick layer of cloud cover. The sky cleared, granting him a wider view.
Minutes passed.
The vehicles halted, and the expedition switched to marching.
The feed stayed stable—likely due to satellite relay lines. The gimbal kept the camera smooth.
"We've now left the vehicles behind and begun to enter the foothills on foot. According to the map drawn from aerial scans, we will follow this river upstream as we advance."
The journalist, Wang Xin, narrated as he walked.
The screen showed a clear river, scarcely fifteen meters wide—a minor tributary. On both sides loomed slopes clad in deep-green forest.
Progress was slow. Soldiers scouted ahead, weapons raised. The young researchers sampled plants, soil, rocks, and water as they moved, sealing everything into sterile bags.
Viewers marveled at the strange, lush vegetation.
"What kind of tree is that? Twisted like a spiral?"
"Look at the grass near the riverbank—the leaves are massive!"
"Hah, you've seen nothing. Where I'm from, the mountain weeds grow even bigger."
"Wait—I swear I just saw something run by!"
"Me too! Looked like a deer? No… not quite."
The chat exploded.
Then the reporter's voice hushed, almost instinctively.
"Oh… it seems we've encountered one of this land's native creatures. It resembles a deer, but it has only a single horn, a fanned tail, and a coat of mottled fur. It came to drink… but it's very wary. It's already slipped away."
The camera caught the so-called "one-horned deer," tense yet curious, watching from a distance.
The team made no move to attack.
Biological research might be invaluable, but this first expedition was taking no unnecessary risks.
As they pressed deeper, more strange creatures appeared—beasts of all shapes and sizes, eyeing the intruders warily.
But nothing threatened. For now, the forest was calm.
"At the oasis edge, there shouldn't be many apex predators. With their pace and formation, safety isn't really an issue," Lin Tuo thought, sipping his tea.
"What I'm curious about is—what conclusions will those scholars draw?"
Nearly two hours passed since the team entered the mountains.
The broadcast comments remained lively and relaxed, but within the expedition itself the tension was palpable.
Sweat soaked their suits. The heat gnawed at their nerves. And beneath that discomfort was the deeper unease—what if unseen microbes or toxins lurked here?
More daunting still was the land itself.
Or rather, the countless unknown lifeforms thriving upon it.
"I have a premonition," murmured Professor Sun, a senior biologist. His voice trembled inside the muffling suit. "What we uncover today may shake the entire scientific world."
All around him, young researchers collected sample after sample—plants, insects, animal traces—sealing them away for analysis.
Beside him, Li, the geologist, held up a strangely formed rock, grim-faced.
"More than shake biology. I suspect the geology here itself belongs to a different epoch."
Elderly Academician Zhou, panting, trudged over to listen. His expertise was in basic sciences; in such an environment, he could contribute little. Yet as one of the earliest scholars to study the "Grand Wall," his presence carried weight.
"Explain," Zhou urged.
Li rubbed the stone's cut surface, frowning.
"Preliminary soil scans show no obvious difference from normal Earth matter. But… considering the terrain and climate, I suspect that while the Tack Desert was under the Black Box, something we cannot yet fathom happened—some kind of accelerated ecological evolution.
Before, the Tack Desert's geological features were clear and well studied. I reviewed the data myself before setting out. Comparing it now—such drastic transformation could not happen in mere days.
Even under unknown forces, to shift from desert to verdant biome… it would take hundreds of millions of years."
The biologist Sun nodded gravely.
"I agree with Old Li. The vegetation and wildlife follow recognizable Earth evolutionary logic. The patterns are there."
"So you're saying this is Earth's own ecosystem—reshaped—not an alien transplant?" Zhou summarized.
Both men nodded silently.
They all knew: at the base camp, the same debate had already begun. Could the oasis be extraterrestrial?
It wasn't far-fetched. The Black Box had appeared from nowhere. Why not a foreign biome within it?
But the deeper they went, the less convincing that idea seemed. Everything—soil, stone, water—felt too familiar.
Yet the implications were staggering.
"Impossible… how could millions, even billions of years of evolution unfold in just over ten days?"
"Who knows? With forces that conjured the Grand Wall itself, nothing would surprise me," Li muttered bitterly.
"In any case, lab results will decide. Our eyes may deceive, but chemical analysis does not."
Zhou sighed, voice heavy with awe.
"Regardless, our findings will be written into human history. I even suspect… humanity's future may pivot because of this."
He paused, then spoke with uncharacteristic flourish:
"Gentlemen… to witness this is our great fortune."
Yes—whether it heralded disaster or opportunity, for the scientific world, this moment was a once-in-a-millennium gift.
Just then, a shout rang out from the frontlines:
"Over here! Quick—come look! A new discovery!!"
(End of Chapter)