As evening descended on the Yu Alley residential community,

Lu Ran once again opened the door to his home after four days.

What greeted him was a curious little tabby cat.

"Meow?" The tabby cat tilted its little head as if confirming the identity of the newcomer.

Lu Ran, who ventured out each month for training, normally didn't return for at least 20 days; this time, his return was indeed early.

Of course, with the cat's limited intelligence, it didn't think too deeply about such things.

All it felt was that Lu Ran didn't carry an aura of malevolence, unlike the frightening presence he had after previous trips.

"Good evening," said Lu Ran, smiling wearily as he waved his hand.

As usual, he walked around the tabby cat and headed straight for the bathroom.

What he didn't expect was for the little tabby to follow him?

As Lu Ran showered under the spray, he looked through the slightly ajar bathroom door at the little creature peeking in curiously.

"You're quite spirited," noted Lu Ran, quite surprised.

Could it be that it knows I'm in a bad mood?

"Come." Lu Ran wiped his wet face and crouched down, beckoning to the little tabby.

"Meow~" Sure enough, the little tabby cat scuttled in.

But the moment its body touched water, it ran off "meowing" loudly.

That series of meows, hmm... it almost sounded like cursing, didn't it?

Lu Ran automatically responded with a "baa baa"!

The little tabby suddenly stopped its cursing, its heart filled only with pity and care, and swiftly ran back.

It wasn't afraid of the water anymore and willingly snuggled in Lu Ran's embrace, letting the shower pour over its head, determined to nuzzle and cuddle with its owner.

"I must be a real charmer..."

Muttering to himself, Lu Ran thoroughly washed himself, his blade, and the cat all over again.

The cat wasn't some pampered pet but a sovereign level stray!

Just think, on the fifteenth of July, it endured an entire night's downpour and was chased down the streets by an evil spirit!

And now it's still lively and hopping around~

Half an hour later, Lu Ran, holding a large bath towel, wiped the wet little cat as they both made their way to the shrine.

"Lord Immortal Goat," Lu Ran looked at the shrine, "This trip to the Demon Cave was truly perilous."

After a brief greeting, Lu Ran offered a bow and then went to the small bed and lay down directly.

Utterly exhausted in both mind and body, Lu Ran's eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

The movements of him wiping down the tabby slowed, and he quickly drifted into dreamland.

However, Lord Immortal Goat did not allow Lu Ran to have a peaceful sleep.

Just a few hours later, within the depths of his profound slumber, Lu Ran entered the God Demon Sculpture Garden.

Sniff~

The first thing that "awakened" Lu Ran was the thick Ghost Energy.

Lu Ran opened his eyes, his heart muttering as expected.

In front of him stood a tremendous Evil Sculpture of a Black Lantern.

This Four-sided Lantern was much larger and more exquisite than the ones he had seen in the Mist Realm.

As Lu Ran watched the sporadically disappearing and reappearing souls around the lantern, an idea suddenly struck him.

"Lord Immortal Goat, collecting so many souls in one go, that's okay, right?"

"You've indeed acted improperly, cultivating the Evil Sculpture of the Mist Realm to the River Realm in such a short time," replied a voice, deep and hoarse.

Lu Ran's heart tightened!

Yet, Lord Immortal Goat changed the subject, "However, this is a special case.

Creating an Evil Nest consumes a considerable amount of energy for the Evil Demon itself.

Binding souls during this phase should be permissible."

"Oh, I see," Lu Ran sighed with relief.

The Black Fire Sheep Head silently emerged, floating in the space above and behind Lu Ran:

"If you destroy the Evil Nest and absorb all the 'energy' it contains, then it would be a different story."

Lu Ran: "..."

Are you under some misunderstanding about my abilities?

The fact that I escaped death and came home to kneel before you with a cat in my arms is lucky enough.

Me, destroy the Evil Nest?

Even if that haunted mansion is bigger and more luxurious, it doesn't have Yan Zhi... er, it's not as comfortable as my own little bed!

The Black Fire Sheep Head spoke gravely, "Practice the Evil Techniques, possessing a Healing Technique will also improve your chances of survival."

"Yes!" Lu Ran nodded firmly.

The Black Fire Sheep Head continued, "Furthermore, about the Illusion Techniques of this clan, you can try integrating them into your Immortal Eyes."

"Oh?" Lu Ran's eyes lit up, "Is that possible?"

The Black Fire Sheep Head suddenly said, "You are human."

The out-of-the-blue remark left Lu Ran utterly puzzled!

"Yes, I'm human," he scratched his head, not too confidently adding, "I... I am human, right?"

The Black Fire Sheep Head: "..."

Are you asking me?

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Ran affirmed, "Lord Immortal Goat, your disciple is human!"

For a long while, the Black Fire Sheep Head began to speak slowly, "Humans have grown accustomed to using tools with their hands.

When you cast the first Evil Technique, you also conjured a ball of Black Fire in the palm of your hand."

Lu Ran nodded as if it was only natural.

The Black Fire Sheep Head continued, "That is habit as a member of the Human Clan."

Lu Ran had a thought, "Are you suggesting that the ball of Black Fire needn't necessarily ignite from my palms?"

The Black Fire Sheep Head replied, "You have learned the method of casting spells from the Black Lantern Statue.

Did any of the constraints tell you that you must ignite the fire with your hands?"

Lu Ran immediately said, "No!"

The Black Lantern Clan is very special, not in human/beast form, but purely inanimate objects.

The Evil Techniques of the Soul-splitting Demon Clan still involve concepts like head and feet.

You have to piece together horns on your head when casting Soul-splitting Demon Horn, and you need a forceful stomp when casting Soul-splitting Demon Hoof.

But the Black Lantern Clan?

Their Evil Techniques are all about summoning flames of different nature!

Naturally, Lu Ran doesn't need to be confined by "hands and feet."

"The disciple understands!" exclaimed Lu Ran, "I will comprehend the Evil Techniques right away."

The Black Fire Sheep Head gave no more responses and its figure quietly vanished.

Lu Ran turned around, faced the giant Four-sided Lantern, and slowly closed his eyes.

The first Evil Technique·Disaster Fire Cage allowed the Black Fire to explode, which Lu Ran had already mastered.

The second Evil Technique·Bath Fire Cage could summon warm and gentle Black Fire to heal the wounds of the target.

Just as the name implies!

This fire can indeed help the shattered and broken Black Lantern Clan to be reborn from the ashes!

The third Evil Technique·Smoke Fire Cage could release a massive amount of black smoke.

The fourth Evil Technique·Illusion Fire Cage could release a faint light, trapping the adversary in illusions.

The nature of the Illusion Realm could be freely woven by the caster.

This would consume a bit more spiritual power.

The caster can also let it run its course!

Allow the target to weave their own beautiful dreams, to drown in their deepest desires, to completely let go.

In this case, the caster only needs to continually provide the basis for the illusion for the target.

The downside of this technique, however, is quite apparent:

Firstly, to ensnare an enemy in the Illusions, at the very least, your spiritual strength has to be greater than or equal to the opponent's.

If you ask Lu Ran to cast it on Deng Yuxiang right now...

The Big Nightmare could shred Lu Ran himself, along with the Illusion Realm he created, into pieces!

Secondly, for the technique to take effect, the opponent must possess eyes!

And these four Evil Techniques, when carried out by Lu Ran's hands, have nothing to do with "lanterns"; they are purely flames.

Therefore, Lu Ran has renamed the techniques.

They're all called "Cage Fire"!

Simply add "Disaster, Bath, Smoke, Illusion" after it to differentiate them accordingly.

Lu Ran sat in front of the sculpture, intensely connected to the Evil Sculpture of the Black Lantern, deeply understanding everything.

Until late into the night...

"Hmm." On the small bed in the bedroom, Lu Ran let out a muddled hum.

He opened his eyes groggily, feeling nothing but a pounding headache.

Lu Ran sat up and glanced at the clock to see the hands pointing at 12:23.

Since the time for being emo had passed, there'd be no singing...

Lu Ran didn't know what had woken him; he slept from evening until midnight, but he felt more tired than ever.

"Meow~" Within the large bath towel in his arms, the little tabby kept making small noises.

The roused cat seemed a bit displeased.

"Sorry," Lu Ran bowed his head and kissed the fluffy little head of the tabby.

That kiss made him recall the time Jiang Ruyi kissed the tabby cat in the corridor.

Hmm...

He wondered how she was doing now.

That girl truly lacked compassion, not even sending a message after so many days.

Was she cultivating that diligently?

Busy!

Well, being busy is good...

Lu Ran, holding the little cat in his arms, had a thought, "Shall I show you something nice?"

"Meow?" A little cat paw peeked out from the bath towel, as if to touch Lu Ran's mouth.

"Whoo~"

Lu Ran lifted a hand, igniting a ball of Black Fire in his palm.

Indeed, Lu Ran was human, his ancestral genes embedded within him, affecting him, driving him to use tools.

"Meow!" The little tabby was fully jolted awake.

The sudden black flames had almost no illuminating effect.

But it wasn't pitch-black inside the room, and the dark flames could still be seen faintly.

Moreover, the energy surging from within Lu Ran's hands and the warmth of the Black Fire was palpable.

Evil Technique·Caged Fire (Bath)!

"Don't be afraid," Lu Ran said as he kept the flame burning in his palm and patted the tabby cat's head.

"Meow?"

The tabby cat cocked its head, uncertain if its head was on fire.

As Lu Ran discarded the bath towel and cradled the tabby cat with both hands...

A tabby cat burning with black flames appeared, eerie and extremely cool!

The flame wasn't hot, just warm enough for any creature bathed in it to feel a trace of warmth.

"Meow~"

The already sleep-deprived tabby instantly felt a bit tipsy.

Its body felt no wounds, but that didn't stop it from indulging greedily.

The little tabby felt a comforting warmth throughout its body, extremely comfortable.

Lu Ran watched the lazily luxuriating little fellow, preparing to stoke its fire further.

"You are indeed blessed, other little cats will never get to experience this in their lifetime..."

In the silent depth of the night, Lu Ran's voice also grew tender.

Black flames began to flicker gradually in his eyes.

Just as eerie, just as exceedingly cool!

Regarding how to conceal the black flames in his Immortal Eyes, Lu Ran hadn't yet grasped the trick.

But casting the Evil Technique·Caged Fire (Illusion) with his eyes, he had learned.

As for what beautiful dream to weave for the little tabby, Lu Ran already had an idea.

As the man and cat locked gazes, the tabby's eyes gradually became blank.

The figure of his master kept shifting before its eyes, the scenes flipping faster and faster...

Ultimately, the master transformed into a gentle and elegant young girl—Jiang Ruyi.

Her smiling eyes were warm, cradling it, her jade hands gently caressing it.

Jiang Ruyi slowly bowed her head, her lips pressing upon the tabby's head, she cooed softly:

"Sleep now, be good, sleep now..."

"Meow~" The little tabby nestled in the girl's embrace, even making a "purring" sound from its nose.

That left Lu Ran utterly stunned!

He looked down at the little tabby drowning in the sea of tenderness,

This...?

Where did this tractor come from?

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