The expressions of the crowd shifted subtly upon seeing what was before them.
Of course, Zhang Qilin remained as stoic as ever, showing no hint of shock or surprise.
Before them lay a massive sand pit, stretching for perhaps a dozen kilometers. Within this colossal crater, countless structures resembling rammed earth buildings had emerged.
These structures stood within the sand pit, appearing like small castles.
At the very center of these buildings, a grand structure akin to a royal palace materialized.
Zhang Tian took a deep breath. So this was what the ancient city looked like.
Judging by the city spanning over a dozen kilometers, it must have once been a prosperous and beautiful kingdom.
"That Prince of Gu Mo truly is a toad dreaming of swan meat," Fatty couldn't help but remark, his gaze fixed on the city.
The city belonging to the Prince of Gu Mo was probably not even a third of this size.
How could he possibly have the status to win the favor of the Loulan Princess?
"That ancient castle in the center should be where the Loulan Princess resides," Hu Bayi pointed towards the castle not far away.
Zhang Tian's eyes swept across the entire city.
The Loulan Princess's city was, to be frank, immense. He wondered just how magnificent the city of Queen Jing Jue would be.
"Mmm, but I don't think we should go there first," Zhang Tian nodded and then spoke.
"Boss, what do you mean?"
"We'll head to the blacksmith's first!" Zhang Tian stated directly, his gaze continuously scanning the city.
"Brother Zhang, are you looking for weapons?" Shirley Yang immediately seemed to grasp something. Earlier, An Liman had mentioned that the Loulan kingdom was skilled in iron casting. Now that Zhang Tian was heading to the blacksmith's first, it was clear he was looking for equipment.
"Mmm, but to be precise, I'm looking for armor. With armor, our combat effectiveness will increase significantly."
"Damn, then what are we waiting for? Let's enter the city!" Upon hearing this, Fatty became restless. With a wave of his hand, he swaggered, ready to descend.
"The malevolent energy here is very strong," Zhang Qilin said softly, standing beside Zhang Tian.
Zhang Tian also sensed it, but since they had reached the entrance, he wanted to see what lay within.
With Fatty leading the way, Zhang Tian and the others headed towards the city.
"Boss, do we still have any of that blood?" Hu Bayi asked from the side.
Zhang Tian glanced at Fatty's backpack. "None left. Even if we did, we can't drink it now." Zhang Tian knew Hu Bayi was referring to chicken blood, but along the way, all the dogs, chickens, and snakes had died. Moreover, the blood couldn't have been stored, and the scorching desert would have spoiled it long ago.
Hu Bayi nodded slightly and said no more.
Zhang Tian thought for a moment and then said, "Everyone, once we enter, don't get separated. We stick together." He reminded them.
"Don't worry, Boss, Fatty is very sharp!" Fatty gave a thumbs-up.
Zhang Tian's expression turned grim. This guy seemed unreliable no matter how he looked at him.
Afterward, Zhang Tian hung the Eight Trigram Mirror and other items around his neck. If anything went wrong, he would strike immediately.
Soon, they descended along the sand slope and reached the city gate.
"Loulan Kingdom."
"Boss, after so long, the city gate of this Loulan Kingdom is really well-preserved," Fatty pointed at the inscriptions on the gate.
Zhang Tian frowned slightly, sensing something peculiar.
"Boss, you noticed it too?" Hu Bayi asked, seeing Zhang Tian's frown.
"Mmm, it's too unusual. After thousands of years, for the city gate not to have collapsed, and to be so perfectly preserved."
"Could it be that what's inside is different from what we saw outside?" Zhang Tian mused, his gaze fixed on the city gate towering dozens of meters high, a sense of unease settling in his heart.
"Thump." Zhang Qilin gently placed a hand on Zhang Tian's shoulder. Zhang Tian instantly snapped back to awareness. He shook his head, his face now etched with a hint of shock.
"This city gate has a mesmerizing effect. Don't stare at it too long." With that, Zhang Tian recited a calming mantra, and his mind gradually cleared.
"Let's go, we're going in." Zhang Tian waved his hand, and the group proceeded towards the city gate. Fatty, especially, marched boldly ahead.
As they passed through the gate, the scene inside abruptly changed. The barren, sandy expanse of the city gate vanished. Zhang Tian and the others found themselves standing on a street bustling with a prosperous city. The street was filled with citizens, and faint, strange sounds began to emanate from the surroundings.
"Boss, why do I feel like the things in this city have come alive?" Fatty looked around, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
Zhang Tian silently recited the calming mantra, while the Eight Trigram Mirror conjured a small shield around the group. Shirley Yang even closed her eyes in pain due to the subtle sounds.
Soon, the faint sounds subsided. The group opened their eyes, and the scene before them made Zhang Tian and the others' hearts skip a beat. The city, which had been desolate, sandy, and with collapsed houses, had vanished. In its place appeared a completely different scene: a prosperous city, bustling with traffic. There were even merchants hawking their wares on the street, and passersby, making it all seem so real, so ordinary.
"An illusion." Seeing this, Zhang Tian took a deep breath. Such high-level illusions could usually only be set up by ghosts. It was clear that this entire city was filled with them.
"Holy crap, Boss, Fatty is scared. Boss, protect Fatty." Looking at the bustling street, Fatty hugged Zhang Tian's arm in a moment of panic.
"Get lost, you idiot, what are you afraid of!" Zhang Tian shot Fatty an exasperated look and then surveyed the surroundings. Since they were here, they had to adapt. Zhang Tian was curious to see what tricks they could pull.
Zhang Qilin remained remarkably calm, his icy gaze sweeping over the surroundings, his expression unchanged.
"So, the Cave of Ten Thousand Ghosts is here," Zhang Qilin stated plainly.
Zhang Tian was taken aback. He had heard Zhang Qilin mention the possibility of a Cave of Ten Thousand Ghosts before, but he hadn't paid it much mind. Now it seemed the Loulan Kingdom had undoubtedly become a ghost cave. But why? How did such a vast city become a pit of the dead? Did the Loulan Princess do something? What happened all those years ago? Zhang Tian's mind filled with questions.
"How marvelous, are these the spirits of the departed?" Shirley Yang looked at the scene before her with a mixture of curiosity and awe. Having lived overseas, she had only heard tales and was seeing this for the first time.
"Hey? Are you merchants visiting my Loulan Kingdom?"
"Heh heh, welcome, welcome."
Just as the group was contemplating, a voice suddenly came from behind them. It was a somewhat unfluent rendition of the Xia language. Zhang Tian and the others slowly turned around. Upon seeing the person who had arrived, Zhang Tian's brow furrowed slightly. The man before them was short and hunched over, with a long beard and a shifty grin on his face.
"May I ask who you are?"
"Oh, I'm the most famous guide in Loulan City. As long as you have needs, I can solve any problem for you." He extended one finger, grinning. "My price is cheap too, only one gold coin."
Zhang Tian smiled. "In that case, can you take us around the city?"
At Zhang Tian's words, the man's smile widened. "Well then, honored guests, follow me!" He said, walking ahead.
"Boss, this..."
"It's fine. I want to see what tricks this thing can pull." Zhang Tian waved his hand, and the group followed the middle-aged man.