"Clan Leader Kong Zhi, how do you activate that forbidden altar?"

"Mr. Zhang, are you planning to leave already?" Kong Zhi was taken aback; shouldn't such an important task require some preparation? So many sages and predecessors have never returned; one should be fully prepared before embarking on the journey.

"Yes, Brother Zhang, shouldn't we make some preparations?" Kong Lan said.

"That's true, you make a good point," Zhang Menglong nodded, "since it's an adventure, we should at least look the part."

Zhang Menglong suddenly sat down on the ground and started rummaging through his belongings.

"Hmm, pepper, chili sauce, cumin, mustard, barbecue sauce, all set."

"Green onion, ginger, garlic, salt, sugar, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce..."

"Barbecue grill, folding tent, DSLR camera, sleeping bag, all accounted for."

...

"Hmm, everything's ready on my end!"

Zhang Menglong took out pile after pile of things, most of which Kong Zhi and the others had neither seen nor heard of.

But without a doubt, these items seemed to have no connection whatsoever with safety measures for exploration, and seemed mostly related to eating.

A few black lines appeared on Kong Zhi's forehead, "Brother, when I said to prepare, I meant to prepare for safety. That cursed place can be deadly; so far, no one has ever returned. It's almost on the same level as the most dangerous forbidden zones on the Haotian Continent."

Why did you bring so many condiments? Are you going for a picnic or on an outing? Don't you feel any sense of crisis?

Kong Lan was also shocked at Zhang Menglong's items. Truly, Zhang Menglong never ceases to surprise with his audacious antics.

"Do you want to double-check?" Kong Zhi asked again.

"No need, everything's prepared. Just take us there directly."

"Alright, please follow me." Since Zhang Menglong insisted, Kong Zhi had nothing more to say. He gave a signal to the elders of the Qing Kong clan.

"Activating this formation requires the combined power of four Demon Saints. I will open the passage for you, but when you return, you'll have to figure it out yourself."

"Alright, just get me in; I'll sort out the return!"

...

Four Demon Saints, including Kong Zhi, stood at the four corners of the formation, channeling their power into the core. The dust-covered altar emitted a dim blue light.

The light gradually rose into the air, forming a blue vortex about a meter above the ground.

In an instant, a sensation of darkness, dampness, and foreboding emanated from the vortex. Kong Lan couldn't help but shiver; even though he hadn't seen that world, the feeling alone was unsettling.

"Mr. Zhang, you can enter now. We can't sustain it for long."

"Thank you all for your efforts," Zhang Menglong grabbed Kong Lan by the shoulder and dashed towards the blue abyss.

In an instant, the world spun around, and Kong Lan felt as if he was whirling on a massive spinning wheel, completely losing his sense of balance, then crashing hard onto the ground.

"Ouch!" Kong Lan stood up, holding his head, spitting out the damp soil that had stuck to his mouth. Looking around, they found themselves in a dark world.

There was no sunlight, and in the sky hung a sun that appeared green, making the whole world seem quiet, eerie, and terrifying.

They were in a forest, where the trees appeared an unnatural blue.

"Brother Zhang, this place is so bizarre." Kong Lan was filled with fear, not knowing where they were, but it was definitely not their original world.

"Indeed, it's quite strange. If we opened a themed escape room here, it would definitely rake in money," Zhang Menglong muttered to himself.

Earlier, Gou Dan had already told him that this was likely an undead world.

This was Zhang Menglong's first time in such a world. Normally, ghosts and such creatures easily invoke fear in people, but Zhang Menglong's Super God Academy had several teachers who were undead.

Not to mention, Nie Xiaoqian from the admissions office is a complete ghost.

As for countering undead creatures, he's already learned all of Yan Chixia's skills and fully mastered Lin Zhengying's ancestral techniques. Afraid of ghosts? Not a chance.

"Brother Zhang, where exactly is this place?" Kong Lan clutched Zhang Menglong's clothes, feeling a bit like a damsel in distress.

"An undead world," Zhang Menglong replied.

"An undead world? Are you saying there might be ghosts here?" Kong Lan shivered involuntarily; no matter the world, ghosts are mysterious and terrifying.

"Kong Lan, can you sense anything?" Zhang Menglong asked.

Kong Lan shook his head, "But my intuition tells me my father might still be alive."

"I hope your intuition is correct," Zhang Menglong chuckled. "If only we could capture a ghost to interrogate, since right now we're like headless flies, not knowing where to look for your father or how to leave this hellish place."

"Wait a minute!" Zhang Menglong's ears twitched suddenly, "There's a sound, hide."

He pulled Kong Lan into the nearby bushes.

A moment later, several figures appeared in view.

They were three martial artists carrying long swords, looking no different from ordinary humans. The only distinction was that Zhang Menglong could see a blue flame burning in their heads.

"Could these be undead creatures?" Creatures of all kinds populate the myriad worlds, and Zhang Menglong hesitated to make any assumptions.

However, the aura of these three people was noticeably different from that of the living; it was steeped in death.

"There's the scent of a living person!" Before Zhang Menglong could react, the three undead warriors detected the presence of living humans emanating from him and Kong Lan.

"Oh, a living human? It's been ages since I've encountered one!"

"Hahaha, I wonder which clueless soul has wandered into this world this time."

"Living beings are a great source of nourishment. If we devour their life energy, we might break through to a higher level."

The three undead warriors displayed greedy expressions, their eyes locking onto Zhang Menglong and Kong Lan's hiding spot. Their living presence was as noticeable as candles in the dark.

"Wow, got discovered immediately!" Zhang Menglong pressed Kong Lan down, "You stay hidden!"

He leaped into view, standing boldly before the three undead warriors.

"Greetings, specter brothers, could you enlighten me if there are any other living people in this world? Where should we head to leave this place?"

The three undead warriors laughed after hearing Zhang Menglong's question, "Once you become undead like us, you'll understand!" One of the undead warriors suddenly attacked Zhang Menglong.

"Attack, huh?" Zhang Menglong raised his hand and unleashed a Six-Pulse Divine Sword.

Yet the energy passed straight through the undead creature, as if hitting thin air.

"Hahaha, your living attacks have no effect on us," the undead warrior sneered. "We exist on a different plane; we can kill you, but we've already died once. You can't harm us!"

"They're something, alright," Zhang Menglong realized ordinary attacks wouldn't affect them.

"In that case," Zhang Menglong drew a Peach Wood Sword, "let's show you what being a professional means!"