Judging by the map, the entire border was not a straight line, and the Binxu Desert's encroachment inland varied in intensity, making the boundary twist and interlock like canine teeth. Within it, Ancient Loulan was an area that extended relatively deep into the desert, several thousand li wide, named after the ruins of a former human city.
Ancient Loulan had been an ancient desert kingdom, but as its water sources dried up, desertification worsened, and undead creatures ran rampant, it had ultimately vanished into the long river of history. Its people had gradually migrated inland, intermarrying and reproducing with other ethnic groups along the way. By now, there was no longer any talk of Loulan people; they had become subjects of Qin, Yue, and other countries.
The territory Shanmen Quanzhen was responsible for guarding was essentially the once-vast domain of the ancient Loulan kingdom, serving as a barrier for the people of the northwest.
The Loulan City he was heading toward actually had little connection to Ancient Loulan. It was simply the only depression with a water source in the region, barely able to provide the basic conditions for human survival. A certain number of inhabitants had gathered there, making their living from the desert. According to the books, there were only a few thousand of them, a population smaller than even a village in the prosperous southeast or Southwest.
The harsh living conditions had shaped entirely different customs and ways of life, with a unique charm of their own.
Having roughly determined his direction, Hou Niao descended. He wanted a closer look at the terrain below. Apparently, experienced locals could find their way accurately from the size and winding arrangement of the dunes. Such exotic customs offered another kind of experience.
Hou Niao liked experiencing different natural environments, so