After the laughter subsided, reality had to set in. The group had no means of transport and faced a half-day trek to reach the oasis bazaar. Yet, this was the better scenario; they were close to the river, and the ground held sparse desert-edge flora. Chatting and joking, the time didn't feel oppressive.

Zheng Zha intentionally walked alongside Xiao Honglü, quietly asking, "We are getting closer to the City of the Dead. What percentage of a chance do you give us for victory?" "What is your standard for victory? Dodging them? Wiping them out? Or quickly finishing this horror film's mission and finally interring the Undead Priest?" Xiao Honglü mused, pinching the hair near his temple as he spoke.

"The standard for victory... surviving. Letting most of us make it through alive."

Zheng Zha considered this, then nodded affirmatively.

Xiao Honglü continued to lightly twist his hair. After a moment of silence, he replied, "The odds are only ten percent. No, closer to seven percent. Completing the mission with no casualties is too difficult. Even without another team fighting us, a single Undead Priest with formidable magic is quite enough. At the very least, I cannot devise a way to safely inter it... So, we must stick to the movie plot—bury it piece by piece using the Golden Resurrection Sutra... As for the other team, to be honest, even I am prepared to be killed. Don't hold out much hope; at least half of our team will perish, at least..." (Will five people die, at least?) Harboring this doubt, or rather, this grim premonition, Zheng Zha and the others followed O'Connell's party toward the largest oasis marketplace before entering the desert. This oasis, fed by a rich underground water source, was practically a small town. Everything but a few specialized vendors was available, especially the essentials for desert travel: camels.

The group did not delay. After stocking up on fresh water and rations, they purchased thirteen camels and immediately pressed onward toward the City of the Dead. Even when weary or tired, they only managed a nap atop the beasts. Three days and three nights passed quickly, and they drew ever nearer to their destination.

O’Connell's trio fared somewhat better; having lived near Egypt, they possessed considerable knowledge on conserving energy in the desert. Zheng Zha's group, however, suffered greatly. Not only was this their first time riding camels, but everyone except Zhang Jie and Zero Point had never even set foot in a desert. After three days of riding and enduring the desert’s severe cold and scorching heat, even Zheng Zha, whose stamina far surpassed others, felt strained. This was magnified for the rest: Qi Tengyi, Gao Hongliang, Zhang Heng, and Qin Zhuiyu were so stiff from prolonged camel riding that their legs trembled upon dismounting. The four were nearly spent, and the whole party, covered in dust and grime, looked like refugees.

Dawn broke on another day. Just as Zheng Zha's team was beginning to grow numb and accustomed to the desert’s monotony, dozens of riders on horseback emerged from the distant dunes. The leader was Beni, the man who had been mocked days earlier on the far bank of the river—O'Connell's former comrade, another survivor of the City of the Dead.

"Hello there, my friend," Beni called out to O'Connell from a distance.

O'Connell offered no reply, leading his group closer until the two parties stood separated by mere meters of open sand.

An American man behind Beni asked curiously, "Why have we stopped? Didn't you say we were close to the City of the Dead? Let's hurry up if we're going; what are we waiting for here?" Beni replied calmly, "Patience, my friend, we are almost there..." Behind O'Connell, Evy also whispered in inquiry, "What are we doing here?" "Here... we wait for the destination to appear," O'Connell murmured back.

The American suddenly shouted from the distance, "O'Connell, remember the wager we made at the card table? Whoever enters the city first gets five hundred dollars... Care to race for it?" As he spoke, the sun began to slowly ascend from beneath the distant dunes. Golden morning light spilled across the land, and under its illumination, a collection of stone ruins gradually materialized upon the empty desert plain—this was Hamunaptra, the legendary City of the Dead! After days of arduous travel, the sight of their destination ignited a sudden excitement that rendered words inadequate. The only course of action left was to urge their mounts forward, galloping toward the looming ruins.

Zheng Zha's group, however, felt a turmoil of complex emotions. Their sole means of returning to the "Main God" space was by interring the Undead Priest Imhotep. But to inter him, they first had to let him resurrect according to the ensuing plot. Then, they would not only face the resurrected Imhotep but also the attack of the other reincarnation team. No—they must kill one member of that opposing team to prevent the majority of their own group from perishing. Such a state of mind was too complex for description.

Regardless of their inner turmoil, Zheng Zha's party followed the main contingent to the ruins of Hamunaptra, the City of the Dead. It was an ancient metropolis of imposing scale; the remaining stone walls and massive blocks attested to a former, brilliant past. Even after millennia, the site retained an echo of its former dignity.

Upon entering Hamunaptra, everyone bivouacked near the American team. Once the arrangements were settled, Evy immediately dragged O'Connell away, eager to search for the entrance to the underground passages. The American group dispersed to seek their own desired entry points. Observing this, Zheng Zha and his team conferred briefly. They decided against following the three explorers underground. Instead, following Zheng Zha's organizational plan, they began scouting the immediate surrounding terrain.

"The underground tomb is only about a hundred meters deep. O'Connell will not venture more than five kilometers below ground. This stretch of the plot can proceed without our interference, so we should prioritize mapping out the nearby geography first."

"Zero Point, you are responsible for surveying terrain suitable for long-range combat. Find the best sniping positions nearby. Zhang Jie, Qi Tengyi, and Xiao Honglü, the three of you will scout areas suitable for close-quarters fighting; record the details if possible... The rest of you will monitor the perimeter with me. If enemy activity is spotted, sound the warning shots immediately... Now then, everyone, let us fight to survive... at least, let us ensure the survival of the majority!"