"If you won't show yourself, then I'll proceed with my plan!" Ji Dongyang's words forced Liu Xing to act.

Raising his right arm shrouded in darkness, Ji Dongyang moved swiftly, aiming not at Liu Xing, but at Mo Yan's own heart.

Liu Xing suddenly realized Ji Dongyang's intention—it wasn't suicide, but an attempt to kill Mo Yan. But why?

It dawned on Liu Xing that Ji Dongyang was now standing several meters in front of the black skeleton and the tree with black leaves. His mind tried to make a connection between Ji Dongyang's action and the black skeleton and the tree, and the first thing that came to mind was ritual and sacrifice.

Although he didn't know Ji Dongyang's exact goal, he understood that he had to stop Ji Dongyang from killing Mo Yan and doing whatever he wanted to do.

Liu Xing sprang into action, kicking off the ground with all his strength and moving like lightning. His hand swung a lightning blade towards Ji Dongyang's descending arm towards Mo Yan's heart.

In the blink of an eye, Liu Xing arrived in front of Ji Dongyang, still invisible. His lightning blade slashed through Ji Dongyang's right arm like the sharpest blade cutting tofu.

The severed limb flew into the sky, 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.

Suddenly, Mo Yan's body began to regress. Muscles shrank, black veins normalized, red eyes turned black again, and his huge ears shrank.

Dark energy surged out of his mouth and ears, then flowed into Mo Yan's still falling arm. The arm was now so black that it seemed to absorb light.

Then, Mo Yan's arm emitted a blinding blue light. For a moment, Liu Xing thought that the arm would explode and he would die, but when the blue light faded and he remained alive, 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 several times.

While holding Mo Yan, Liu Xing tilted his head and observed a blue circle that appeared after Mo Yan's arm exploded.

This circle floats several meters in the air. Inside the circle, several swirling currents meet at the center, creating a swirling pattern that looks like it was created by the bluest water in the world.

Liu Xing has never seen anything like this before, but he knows the entrance to the pocket dimension when he sees one.

***

Liu Xing laid Mo Yan's body on the ground and tried to figure out what had just happened. He hadn't grasped the whole picture, but it seemed that Ji Dongyang's goal in possessing Mo Yan's body was to create this portal. But why?

Moments before Mo Yan's arm exploded, it emitted a blinding light that probably illuminated 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 in.

Ji Dongyang had also mentioned that Mo Yan's body was trash. Combined with his plan to lure cultivators into the pocket dimension, Liu Xing deduced that Ji Dongyang was trying to hold an audition. Whoever won the treasure in that pocket dimension would be possessed by him.

After reaching this conclusion, someone leaped from a bush towards the portal. While still in mid-air, Liu Xing could clearly see 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.

Seeing her dive head first, Liu Xing pursed his lips. Although Liu Xing didn't like the girl, they were from the same sect. He wanted to warn her about Ji Dongyang, but since she had already left, there was nothing he could do.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Liu Xing dispelled his invisibility and dissmissed his gun. Mo Yan was now unconscious, blood gushing from his severed right hand. Liu Xing 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?"

Tilting his head, Liu Xing observed the swirling blue portal, considering his options.

He needed to capture Ji Dongyang, but entering the portal was akin to entering a bear's den when one knew a bear lurked inside.

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

One of them took a step forward, his hair tied in a ponytail.

"Greetings, we are from the Red Desert Sect. We've come to investigate the disturbance." The man, whom Liu Xing assumed to be 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. The rest of his group tensed up, ready to spring into action at his command. It seemed like they were going to enter regardless of whether Liu Xing 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 Liu Xing saw no reason to obstruct their access to the portal.

"I am Liu Xing of the Purple Moon Sect. I must warn you that this portal was created by a former Sun Collapsing cultivator. He had possessed a bandit's body, and the reason he opens this pocket dimension is to lure cultivators inside so that 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's 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. Yan Yu is the same.

"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 won't harm her unless she impedes us."

Meaning if Yan Yu stood in their way, they wouldn't hesitate to kill her.

"Let's go," said the man as he entered the portal. His companions followed suit.

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 that 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. Liu Xing 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. Han Zhong stared at the portal with eyes full of burning desire.

"A pocket dimension!" Han Zhong exclaimed. "This is incredible. They say every portal dimension contains treasures. Pu He, tend to Mo Yan. I'm 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 won't 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'll pass this time. I'm not strong enough, and knowing my luck, I'd be fortunate to leave that pocket dimension with all my limbs intact. Perhaps I'll 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'm 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'll 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'll 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 his 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 then would possess them.