Cheng Xiaofan was more than just shocked after hearing Yu Xuanji's words; he was utterly astounded!
What truly unsettled him was the identity of Yu Xuanji's master. Who was this person capable of knowing so much?
He eagerly pressed Yu Xuanji, "Yu Xuanji, what else did your master tell you?"
Yu Xuanji shook her head, her expression distant. "Mr. Cheng, I truly cannot recall anything more!"
Cheng Xiaofan was bewildered.
Could this master of Yu Xuanji be someone from the present era who had time-traveled to the Tang Dynasty?
But even someone from the present wouldn't know so much about his current desert expedition and the prehistoric oasis they were about to encounter.
If he were to speak of this, no one would believe him!
"Mr. Cheng, my master told me a great deal about Earth's prehistoric times, but I can't remember any of it!"
Yu Xuanji said with a hint of guilt, "I think my master also mentioned she was from the future, and a lot of what she said was completely beyond my understanding."
Cheng Xiaofan became even more unsettled.
Yu Xuanji's master was indeed from the future.
This was no ordinary future person.
Even he himself didn't know that his trip to Fuzhou would lead him to the Gobi Desert and involve a prehistoric oasis.
This alone showed that Yu Xuanji's master was no simple individual.
He could tell that Yu Xuanji was not making this up out of imagination.
Someone from her era simply couldn't conceive of such things.
Cheng Xiaofan couldn't help but smile. "Yu Xuanji, if you have time in the future, please tell me more about your master."
Yu Xuanji nodded repeatedly. "Alright, Mr. Cheng. Once my memory fully recovers, I will tell you everything about my master."
"Good, let's end our conversation here!" Cheng Xiaofan thought about refining the protective talismans and couldn't spare more time with Yu Xuanji.
Yu Xuanji quickly nodded. "Of course, Mr. Cheng. Please proceed!"
With that, she lowered her head to study the flame patterns inside and outside the alchemical furnace.
Cheng Xiaofan immediately sat cross-legged on the ground and, with his mind, brought out the ancient jade treasures stored in his spatial dimension, piling them beside him.
Then!
He closed his eyes and controlled the power of his spatial dimension with his will.
In an instant, a ball of energy gathered behind Cheng Xiaofan, forming a massive vortex that spun ceaselessly.
Clink, clink, clink...
The ancient jade treasures piled beside him were all drawn into the vortex.
The spinning vortex then erupted with dazzling, multicolored light.
Yu Xuanji, who had been observing the alchemical furnace, turned her gaze towards the giant, rotating vortex behind Cheng Xiaofan, her face filled with astonishment.
She had previously witnessed Cheng Xiaofan use his spatial powers to build a bamboo pavilion.
Now, she was witnessing him refine protective talismans using the same power.
"Mr. Cheng is truly a divine being!"
Yu Xuanji narrowed her beautiful eyes, murmuring in admiration, "To be by the side of such a divine being is truly my fortune from a past life!"
However, she then thought of her past actions and felt a surge of shame. Fortunately, she had encountered Cheng Xiaofan this time; otherwise, her four clones would have caused countless foolish acts out in the world.
Not long after!
Clink, clink, clink...
With a series of clear sounds, the ancient jade treasures that had been refined were, one by one, placed beside Cheng Xiaofan by the spinning vortex.
The originally white jade slices of various shapes had all turned golden yellow. The divine beasts carved onto each jade slice appeared ferocious, their eyes wide as if alive.
It seemed as if they could leap out of the jade slices with just a single command.
"Squeak!"
Just then, the little white rabbit Xueqiu hopped over, picked out a protective talisman, clutched it to its chest, and began to play with it.
Cheng Xiaofan saw that the talisman had a jade rabbit carved on it, no wonder Xueqiu had chosen it at a glance.
"Haha, Xueqiu, if you like this talisman, then it's yours!"
He gently patted Xueqiu's little head. "Have your beautiful mistress tie a red thread to it and wear it around your neck."
Last time, when Cheng Xiaofan bought clothes for Yu Xuanji, he had also bought some red threads for her, suggesting she could weave them into trinkets when she had free time.
Xueqiu, full of spirit, understood Cheng Xiaofan's words and hopped with joy, exceedingly happy.
"Yu Xuanji, get some rest early. I'm heading out!" Cheng Xiaofan said to Yu Xuanji.
Yu Xuanji knew that Cheng Xiaofan was facing extraordinary danger and naturally did not dare to waste his time. She nodded repeatedly and said, "Mr. Cheng, please take care. I will rest immediately!"
When he emerged from the spatial dimension, it was already past midnight.
Zhou Zhizheng and the special forces were sound asleep.
Cheng Xiaofan had set the time in the spiritually charged mist, ensuring they would wake precisely at three in the morning.
At this moment, the giant vortex spinning in the sky became increasingly prominent.
Although there was no moon or stars, and the sky was as dark as ink, the massive vortex appeared exceptionally clear.
Moreover!
From the rotating vortex, roars resembling those of wild beasts could be heard intermittently.
The sounds were not loud, but in the silence of the Gobi Desert, they were terrifying, creating a strong sense of oppressive pressure.
Cheng Xiaofan walked out of the cave and immediately spotted Reierde and several important figures, all gazing upwards with blank, stunned expressions at the giant vortex.
Their stiff and horrified faces suggested the sky might fall at any moment.
He couldn't help but chuckle. "Reierde, why aren't you old fellows sleeping? What are you doing standing there like wooden stakes?"
"Even if the sky were to fall, I'm big enough to hold it up. What are you afraid of?"
Reierde, upon hearing this, wasn't angry at all. He led the other important figures rushing towards Cheng Xiaofan.
Upon reaching Cheng Xiaofan, Reierde clasped his fists together and bowed respectfully, a smile plastered on his face. "Mr. Cheng, the sky may not fall, but it certainly looks like it's about to."
"Aren't you nervous at all under these circumstances?"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled faintly. "What's there to be nervous about? We'll deal with each threat as it comes. If zombie beasts appear, Da Xia and the others will fight them."
Seeing Cheng Xiaofan's confident demeanor, Reierde's heart felt like it was being tossed in a well with fifteen buckets, full of unease.
He asked with some doubt, "Mr. Cheng, do you have a brilliant plan to deal with the impending zombie beasts? Can you reveal a little of it to us hermetic black people?"
Cheng Xiaofan nodded and smiled. "You are correct. I indeed have a very good plan!"