IMMORTALITY STARTS WITH A GUN

"If you won't show yourself, then I'll proceed with my plan!"

Raising his right arm shrouded in darkness, Ji Dongyang's right hand moved swiftly. His target wasn't Liu Xing, but his own heart.

Liu Xing's eyes widened in disbelief. What was Ji Dongyang planning? Why would he try to kill his host? It looked like suicide, but why? Then, understanding struck his mind. Ji Dongyang now stood only meters away from the black skeleton and the tree with black leaves. His mind linked Ji Dongyang's actions to the skeleton and the tree, and the first thing that came to his mind was ritual and sacrifice. Although he didn't know Ji Dongyang's exact goal, he understood he had to stop Ji Dongyang from killing Mo Yan and completing whatever plan he had!

Liu Xing kicked off the ground with all his strength and moved like lightning. He swung his hand, forming a lightning blade aimed at Ji Dongyang's arm as it descended towards Mo Yan's heart. In the blink of an eye, he arrived in front of Ji Dongyang. His lightning blade slashed through Ji Dongyang's right arm as easily as a sharp blade cut tofu. The severed limb flew into the air, blood spraying—some landing on Liu Xing's invisible form, some on the grass, and some on the black skeleton.

"Do you want treasures?" Ji Dongyang asked with a smile.

Mo Yan's muscles suddenly began to shrink. Black veins receded, his red eyes turned black once more, and his large ears shrank back to normal size. Black smoke suddenly surged from his mouth and ears, then flowed into Mo Yan's still-falling arm. The arm became so black it seemed to absorb all light. Then, Mo Yan's arm emitted a blinding blue light. For a moment, Liu Xing thought the arm would explode and kill him, but when the blue light faded and he remained unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"See you on the other side," Ji Dongyang said, before Mo Yan's body collapsed. Liu Xing caught him and jumped back several paces. Holding Mo Yan, he tilted his head and observed a blue circle that had appeared after Mo Yan's arm exploded. This circle floated several meters in the air, and inside it, swirling currents converged at the center, creating a blue vortex. He had never seen anything like this before, but he recognized the entrance to a pocket dimension when he saw one.

He laid Mo Yan's body on the ground and tried to understand what had just happened. He hadn't grasped the whole picture, but it seemed Ji Dongyang's goal in possessing Mo Yan's body was to create this portal. But why? Liu Xing pinched his chin, his mind trying to make sense of what happened.

Just before Mo Yan's arm exploded, it had emitted a dazzling light that probably lit up Skull Hill. Cultivators from all over the forest would flock to this place like moths to a flame after seeing that light, and if they saw a portal to a pocket dimension, they would undoubtedly venture inside. Ji Dongyang had also mentioned that Mo Yan's body was trash and mentioned about treasures. These statements, combined with the fact that there's a portal to the pocket dimension, made Liu Xing deduce that Ji Dongyang was trying to hold an audition. Whoever received the treasures in this pocket dimension would be his next vessel.

Having reached this conclusion, someone leaped from a bush towards the portal. While still in mid-air, he clearly saw the face of the girl diving into the portal. She had electric blue eyes, long black hair, a beautiful face, and wore the robe of an outer disciple of the Purple Moon Sect. She entered the swirling blue portal without hesitation and vanished. Upon seeing her dive headfirst, he pursed his lips. Although he didn't like the girl, they were from the same sect. He had wanted to warn her about Ji Dongyang, but since she had already left, there was nothing he could do.

Liu Xing dispelled his invisibility and dismissed his gun. Mo Yan was now unconscious, blood gushing from his severed right arm. He tore some of Mo Yan's clothes and tied the wound as tightly as possible. The blood soaked the makeshift bandage. An ordinary person would die from such a wound without treatment, but as a cultivator, Mo Yan would likely survive even if the wound was neglected for a week.

"Now, what do I do?"

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Tilting his head, Liu Xing observed the swirling blue portal and considered his options. He needed to capture Ji Dongyang, but entering the portal was like entering a bear's den knowing a bear lurked inside.

But before he could decide, several people landed in the clearing. Liu Xing turned at them, and observed that they were dressed in dark and red cultivator robes, each with tanned skin and white hair. Three of them carried large gourds on their backs, one wielded a large fan, and the central figure had a sword on his hip. Sensing their qi, he realized each of them was at least at the sith level of the Lock Opening realm and he remembered meeting them in the city before he entered Dragon Skull Forest.

One of them stepped forward, his hair tied in a ponytail. "Greetings, we are from the Red Desert Sect. We have come to investigate the disturbance." The man, whom Liu Xing assumed was their leader, gestured towards the portal above. "I see you have found a pocket dimension, and since you are the one who found it, we request permission to enter."

With that, his hand hovered over the hilt of his sword, his eyes narrowed and the rest of his group tensed up, ready to spring into action at his command. It seemed they were going to enter regardless of whether he gave them permission or not.

Liu Xing weighed his options. He had heard of the Red Desert Sect, and they were loosely affiliated with the Purple Moon Sect. Fighting them would not strain the relationship between the two sects, but he saw no reason to obstruct their access to the portal.

"I am Liu Xing of the Purple Moon Sect. I must warn you this portal was created by a former Sun Collapsing cultivator. He possessed a bandit's body, and the reason he opened this pocket dimension is to lure cultivators inside so he can possess a better vessel."

The man glanced at his companions, pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Thank you for the warning, but we still intend to enter. There is no reward without risk."

Liu Xing pursed his lips. That was the way of cultivators—they would plunge headfirst into danger for a worthwhile reward.

"You may enter then," Liu Xing replied. "This portal is not mine to begin with. However, I must also inform you that a girl from my sect has already entered."

"We appreciate the warning. We will not harm her unless she impedes us." Meaning if Yan Yu stood in their way, they would not hesitate to kill her.

"Let's go," said the man as he jumped, and his companions followed.

Soon after, several other groups arrived. Those with lower cultivation mostly sought permission from Liu Xing before entering despite his warnings. Some scoffed and entered without acknowledging him, and some even insulted him, saying the Purple Moon sect was cowardly and unworthy of becoming a great sect if its members didn't aggressively seize opportunities. In total, dozens of cultivators were now inside the portal. He had no doubt Ji Dongyang was pleased. He now had many candidates to choose from.

Not long after, Pu He and Han Zhong arrived. They spotted the portal, then noticed Liu Xing and Mo Yan's unconscious bodies. Pu He checked Mo Yan's condition and sighed with relief while Han Zhong stared at the portal with eyes full of burning desire.

"A pocket dimension!" Han Zhong exclaimed. "This is incredible. They say every pocket dimension contains treasures. Pu He, tend to Mo Yan. I am going inside to find treasures for us!"

When Liu Xing warned him about Ji Dongyang, Han Zhong replied, "Thank you for the warning, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I will not pass it up."

With that, Han Zhong entered the portal eagerly, like a hungry dog eyeing meat.

"What about you, Pu He?" Liu Xing asked.

Pu He looked longingly at the blue portal but shook his head and sighed.

"As tempting as it is, I think I will pass this time. I am not strong enough, and knowing my luck, I would be fortunate to leave that pocket dimension with all my limbs intact. Perhaps I will regret my decision later, but for now, I just want to go home and start anew."

Having said that, Pu He hoisted Mo Yan onto his shoulder.

"What about you? Will you go?" Pu He pointed his chin toward the portal.

"I am not particularly interested in the treasures inside the portal. Anything I get from there might become a tool for Ji Dongyang to possess me."

Pu He nodded understandingly. "Very well then, I will go. Take care, senior Liu Xing. And thank you for sparing me and helping subdue Mo Yan. If I ever become a wealthy merchant, I will repay your kindness." With that, Pu He turned and vanished into the trees.

Soon, Liu Xing found himself alone in the clearing, contemplating his next move. His goal was to catch Ji Dongyang and gather information about that darkness. To do that, he needed to pursue Ji Dongyang. Given Ji Dongyang's last words, there was a good chance Ji Dongyang was already inside the pocket dimension. However, there was also the possibility that Ji Dongyang was still here. After all, he didn't necessarily need to enter the pocket dimension to possess someone.

Since Mo Yan had been possessed after picking up that black purse, it was possible that when someone emerged carrying treasure from this pocket dimension, Ji Dongyang would then possess them.