Hou Niao sought out some familiar fellow disciples and obtained a map of the deep regions of Kneecap Desert; such maps had been available for a while, though they grew indistinct the deeper one went into the desert. In recent years, as human Cultivators continually ventured deeper, they also created a detailed map within thousands of miles, which was exactly what he needed.
There were also patterns in the activities of the undying creatures, trends in the climatic dust storms, and some mysterious events that had occurred here in recent years... All of these things were essential to the success or failure of his endeavor.
He could afford to disregard them strategically, but tactically, he had to take them seriously; this was the key to why he had managed to survive amidst countless dangers over the years.