The explosion created a huge shockwave that made Liu Xing's ears ring. Mushrooms, trees, and boulders were blown away. A dust cloud formed around the turtle.

After the dust settled, Liu Xing noticed the turtle's lower jaw had been destroyed. Blood gushed from the wound, forming a small red waterfall. The turtle's red eyes snapped towards him and all the worms directed their heads in his direction. Each worm then materialized a blue flame before its mouth, then shot it at him.

Liu Xing instantly jumped from behind the rock and landed on a mushroom. The rock he hid behind was blown to smithereens, and a black mark appeared where the rock had been.

Seeing this, Liu Xing noted that the attack was strong. If all twenty fireballs hit him simultaneously, he would be scorched beyond recognition.

Liu Xing aimed his gun at the turtle's head again and realized the wound he inflicted was now bubbling, with worms emerging and solidifying into a jaw.

"So, this turtle can regenerate," he muttered.

Liu Xing aimed his gun and blew off its newly generated jaw. The worms shot at where he had been, and Liu Xing jumped and hid behind a giant tree.

While observing the turtle regenerating, Liu Xing felt like he had the upper hand. This turtle didn't know his location, so its attacks were reactionary. As long as Liu Xing dodged its attack, which is something not too hard, then sooner or later, he would win.

Liu Xing now aimed for the mushroom on its back. He channeled Exploding Fist and shot. The mushroom exploded. Bits and pieces flew everywhere.

After the explosion settled, the worms inside the mushroom were exposed. Revealing thousands of worms wriggled in the back of the turtle. Seeing these slimy and disgusting worms, Liu Xing stomach churns. If not for the turtle who regenerates using the worms, Liu Xing would think these worms are parasites.

Liu Xing shot and then jumped to a higher branch. When the bullet exploded, the turtle shot a blue laser toward his former hiding place. Seems like this turtle-worms hybrid was not very smart. In front of Liu Xing, it was merely a sitting duck.

Liu Xing continued to bombard the spirit beast, and after the next Exploding Fist Bullet, the turtle's head was finally blown off completely. Red blood gushed from its neck like a waterfall. The back of the turtle that hosted worms was now sunken, exposing its innards, bones, and digestive system.

Hiding inside a bush, Liu Xing waited for a moment. When there was no sign of regeneration, Liu Xing realized the turtle was dead.

"Hell yeah!"

Liu Xing couldn't hold back his smile.

He regarded his gun, and six green strips that were slightly glowing appeared on its side, indicating that the beast core was successfully absorbed. Seeing this, Liu Xing's confidence soared. After all, if he could kill that giant turtle who has higher cultivation than him, he surely could kill all kinds of spirit beasts.

"Time to cultivate!"

Finding a hole to hide in, Liu Xing sat cross-legged and started to absorb the energy. With this energy, Liu Xing wouldn't instantly break through, but his gain is still tremendous.

Liu Xing giggled. He couldn't wait to fully absorb energy from his gun, start hunting again, and break through to the sixth stage.

***

Far on the outskirts of Dragon Skull Forest, Pu He lamented his fate. He was actually a former member of the Illustrious Peaks Sect. This sect was a little sect affiliated with the Heavenly Thunder Sect.

Most nights, Pu He would lament his past decisions. If he hadn't been too greedy, schemed against an elder, and bedded his daughter, maybe he wouldn't have ended up as a loose cultivator without a future. He wouldn't have ended up helping Mo Yan and Han Zong rob people.

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Seeing his two friends lying on the ground, he sighed.

His vow to that Purple Moon Sect disciple was just a means to preserve his life, but as he ran, he actually considered it.

With his strength at the fourth stage Lock Opening realm, he had limited choices if he wanted to live righteously. The best options were to become a bodyguard, an employee in a small auction house, or to start a business. Whatever his choice, he wouldn't become a lord with power or wealth.

This idea of just settling in life was something old Pu He rejected. After all, he was the most talented cultivator from his village. He had ambitions to become an immortal, and yet, seeing his condition now, perhaps settling was the best choice. After all, he was now a robber. And he had never seen a rich robber who led a long and happy life.

"Maybe leading a righteous life is better. Maybe I can change my appearance, go to another country, and just start from scratch."

He still didn't know what he would do, but it felt like he was starting a new page in his life. Maybe almost dying at the hands of that Purple Moon Sect disciple was his fortuitous encounter.

"Alright, I, Pu He, will uphold my vow to you!" Hopefully, he will find happiness in this new chapter of life.

Glancing at his friends, he sighed. Mo Yan and Han Zong wouldn't like his decision, but Pu He believed they would understand his point and let him go.

Sitting below a tree, Pu He tried to cultivate while waiting for his friends to wake up.

After about an hour, Mo Yan and Han Zong finally awoke.

"What happened?" asked Mo Yan.

"We were beaten. Luckily, the person we tried to rob was kind. He let us go," Pu He said.

"Hmph, what a naive guy! If I were him, I would kill the robbers and take all their belongings!"

"Well, we're lucky that guy is not you," said Han Zong while caressing his head.

Mo Yan glared at Han Zong as though Han Zong had said something wrong. Indeed, if a weak cultivator tried to rob Mo Yan, he would kill them and loot their corpse.

"Mo Yan, Han Zong, I think I want to quit robbing people," Pu He finally said.

"What are you talking about? Do you plan to betray us? What happened to our vow to always be brothers who would help each other?" Mo Yan said, while Han Zong nodded.

Pu He then unloaded his feelings. He spoke about leaving his village with cheers and pride, how he regretted scheming against a elder and deceiving his daughter, how he felt despair about his circumstances, and how he didn't feel joy even when they successfully robbed people. He talked about waking up at night, drinking disgusting liquor, and wondering about the end goal of his life.

Mo Yan and Han Zong listened silently. Their eyes conveyed that they, too, had the same thoughts. After all, no one aspires to become a robber.

After half an hour of silence, Mo Yan finally nodded.

"You're right. You deserve to settle and be happy. I bless your will. I won't stop you. How about you, Han Zong?"

"Well, you're my friend, Pu He. What kind of friend would I be if I stopped you from trying to reach happiness?" Han Zong smiled.

Seeing his two friends accepting his decision, Pu He couldn't help but smile. They came from different backgrounds, but their friendship ran so deep that Pu He felt he had known them since early childhood.

"Although, can you delay your retirement? Just for one more robbery? After all, we still owe some money," Mo Yan said.

"Yeah, let's celebrate your retirement with a successful robbery!" Han Zong said.

Pu He thought for a moment. He had already vowed to lead a righteous life, but perhaps, if it was only once more, it would be okay.

"Alright, this is my last robbery. Whether it's successful or not, I will go."

"Alright, it's decided then. Let's rob!"

After their discussion, the trio moved toward another entrance to Dragon Skull Forest. They hid behind a large tree close to a rope bridge. This bridge connected two cliffs hanging hundreds of meters above the river below. While a fall from this height wouldn't kill a cultivator, the experience would be unpleasant.

They waited for hours, and when the sun started to set, a man wearing tattered rags walked across the bridge. His skin was so pale he looked like a walking corpse, and he was so skinny he almost looked like a skeleton. He walked limping and slowly, and Pu He could see that he was dragging a rotten right foot.

"There's a man crossing the bridge. Should we rob him?" asked Pu He.

Han Zong said, "That guy looks like a dying beggar, what would we get if we robbed him?"

"Should we let him cross then?" Pu He asked.

"No, he might look like a dying beggar, but he is still a cultivator. Maybe he cultivates a unique method that makes him look like that. There's a possibility he is hiding his wealth. Let's rob him." Mo Yan sadi.

Pu He and Han Zong nodded. They believed in Mo Yan. While he misjudged that Purple Moon Sect disciple, usually his hunch was correct.

The three of them tried to act casual, and when the man finally succeeded in crossing the bridge, they stood in his way.

Mo Yan, as usual, greeted him and tried to coerce a fee from this really skinny and pale man. Even Pu He looked hundreds of times better than him.

After Mo Yan finished talking, the man smirked.