The next day, at dawn.

Lu Ran cleaned up his home and then clad in a black raincoat, stepped out with both the Silent Night Blade and a wooden practice sword in hand.

Taking advantage of the city not yet being in lockdown, he was still free to wander around.

"Whoosh..."

Lu Ran stood in front of his building, gazing up at the overcast rainy sky.

"One layer of autumn rain brings one layer of coolness."

Muttering to himself, he walked alone into the curtain of rain.

When he arrived at the Wu Lie River banks residential area, he had a plastic bag in hand which contained breakfast he bought from a store.

He took a familiar path and headed for the old, abandoned rooftop, making straight for a corner of it.

"Dad."

From the plastic bag, Lu Ran took out a carton of milk and placed it atop the stone railing, "It's been a while since I've visited, but I found that little calico cat."

Then, with a chuckle, he added, "From now on, there's no need for you to eat canned fish."

After that, Lu Ran pulled out a can of luncheon meat from the bag.

Returning to offer memorial, Lu Ran had changed beyond recognition.

He had transformed from the clueless, lowly novice Believer he once was, to the owner of a God Demon Sculpture Garden.

He was even equipped with the Evil Techniques of the Evil Dog Clan and the Soul-splitting Demon Clan.

It carried a sense of "brazenly courting great calamity."

"Is this good or bad?" Lu Ran asked softly.

At 17, he hadn't seen much nor experienced much.

Such inquiries, however, were destined to go unanswered.

His father remained silent,

Only the cold rain slipped down his face.

"Who knows," Lu Ran answered his own question. "At least it gave me some hope, gave me confidence."

Lu Ran lifted his gaze a little, looking towards the raging waters of Wu Lie River in the distance.

The mighty river added a touch of forceful character to the rain-drenched alleyways of the little city.

In the chilly autumn rain, Lu Ran picked up the twin blades and began to step back cautiously, exploring on his own.

In the 20 days of training within the Demon Cave, Lu Ran had made significant progress in the art of dual swordsmanship.

"Swoosh!"

With his increased realm, Lu Ran's physical condition greatly improved, and as he swung his swords, the sound of slicing air became even more pronounced.

Fog continuously gathered towards him between heaven and earth.

The misty rain enveloped the Wu Lie River banks, fitting well with the young man shrouded in fog on the rooftop.

Lu Ran had initially wanted to show his recent growth to his father, not expecting the fluctuations of the Divine Power within him to grow increasingly intense.

Was it time for a breakthrough?

Lu Ran's face lit up with excitement as his double blades danced faster, slicing through layers of rain curtain.

Recently, he had been feeling like he was on the cusp of a breakthrough.

The Demon Cave was filled with abundant energy, a perfect place for cultivation, and Lu Ran hadn't slacked off during the 20-day journey in Jinmen's Demon Cave.

Moreover, during his trials, he often used the Divine Power Pearls to absorb and refine the bones of the God Demons, drawing energy from within the pearls to replenish himself.

Returning home last night, Lu Ran had stayed awake the entire night, cultivating in front of the shrine until dawn.

On this tenth day of September, Lu Ran's intensive cultivation finally paid off.

"Heh..."

With a long sigh, Lu Ran slowly stopped, letting his twin blades hang naturally at his side.

The Divine Power within his body flowed like a lively stream, circulating orderly and faster, expanding his body's meridians.

Shivering slightly, he stood by the railing of the rooftop, staring distantly at the waters of the Wu Lie River.

The physical and spiritual enjoyment caused Lu Ran's eyes to become slightly blurry.

"Ah~"

After half an hour or so, Lu Ran suddenly let out a content groan.

In this deserted place, he could be as loud as he wanted.

"Click~"

When his double blades hit the ground, droplets of water splashed.

Lu Ran stretched out his arms and let out a fierce yawn.

Exhilarating!

Tremendously exhilarating...

Now, am I ready to learn Divine Technique·Immortal Pupil?

With great excitement, Lu Ran reveled in the vigorous sensation of power after his advancement, as he recalled the method of casting the technique.

The Divine Technique was relatively simple to execute.

An Immortal Sheep Believer needed to concentrate their attention on their pupils and mobilize the Divine Power within their body to converge towards their eyes.

Then, by praying to their own deity, they could activate the corresponding Divine Technique.

"Hu~"

A surge of Divine Power rose up.

Lu Ran's round pupils changed into the horizontal pupils of an Immortal Sheep!

"Did it work?" Lu Ran wasn't certain.

Though his pupils had changed, his vision hadn't altered at all.

Lu Ran looked around, taking a few steps to the side, until he arrived at a puddle of water.

Bending down to look, his eyes had become "Dead Sheep Eyes," resembling two minus signs.

"Ah?"

Lu Ran's expression shifted slightly, startling himself!

He had seen images online of Immortal Sheep Believers casting their spells before.

Others would appear rigid and blank when invoking "Immortal Eyes."

But at this moment, looking at himself...

Lifeless, an air of approaching doom!

"Gulp." Lu Ran swallowed his saliva.

This wasn't him trying to polish his own image nor was it an illusion.

The reflection of the eyes in the water was something Lu Ran had seen before!

He had seen it more than once in the presence of Black Fire Sheep Head!

And even today, Lu Ran still found it unsettling to make eye contact with it.

Behind those sinister sheep's pupils,

It was as if there was a bone-chilling graveyard, a howling purgatory of the human world!

At this moment, Lu Ran saw this same trend in his own eyes!

"Ugh." Lu Ran covered his eyes with one hand.

Vigorously rubbing them, mixed with the cold rainwater.

This was too embarrassing!

To think I'd be the first one frightened by my own Divine Technique·Immortal Pupil?

"Lord Immortal Goat?" Lu Ran regained his composure, trying to communicate with the deity, "Why are these eyes different from those of other Immortal Sheep Believers?"

Lu Ran pondered, "They're also quite dissimilar to the eyes of the White Sheep Jade Carving, but instead..."

"What." Finally, a deep voice resonated in his mind.

Promptly, Lu Ran replied, "They resemble yours?"

The deity's typically imperious tone unexpectedly carried a faint trace of amusement, "Is that so?"

Lu Ran pursed his lips, "There's not a hint of dullness in these Immortal Eyes.

Rather, they're quite horrifying."

Lord Immortal Goat didn't reply again.

Lu Ran ventured, "Is there a special version of this technique, like the Divine Technique·Voice of Compassion?"

A word resonated, "Yes."

Lu Ran was overjoyed, "Please teach me, Lord Immortal Goat!"

"Have you thought it through?"

"I have thought it through!"

"No, you haven't," the transmitted voice grew huskier, "after mastering this technique, only more suffering awaits."

"Ah?" Lu Ran was puzzled, "Does using this Divine Technique require self-mutilation as a price?"

"No, it is suffering of the soul."

Lu Ran: "Um..."

The voice slowly transmitted, "You will be able to see the Dead Souls.

You will see their twisted faces and their anguished struggles.

You will witness the Dead Souls crying, raging, longing, mourning... until their souls disperse."

Lu Ran: !!!

Black Sheep Head: "Knowing this, do you still wish to learn?"

Lu Ran leaned forward, his hands resting on the stone railing, his gaze vacantly drifting.

The so-called "Dead Souls" couldn't be seen by humans.

Only certain devotees of deities and certain Evil Demons could make these Dead Souls take form before everyone's eyes.

For example, the Soul-splitting Demon Clan could utilize Evil Techniques to absorb Dead Souls.

People could glimpse the faces of Dead Souls within the clusters of black mist.

Black Sheep Head remained silent and did not urge Lu Ran to decide any sooner.

After a moment, Lu Ran spoke earnestly, "Yes, I wish to learn!"

"Still wish to learn?"

"Yes!" Lu Ran nodded vigorously, "Just because I don't see them doesn't mean the Dead Souls don't exist, does it?

If I didn't have this ability, then so be it.

But having the chance to learn such a Divine Technique and not doing so, would that not be self-deception?"

Black Sheep Head: "You have indeed grasped the essence."

Lu Ran inquired further, "But Lord Immortal Goat, what am I to do upon seeing these Dead Souls?"

Lu Ran's thoughts were lively.

Can I intentionally use Soul Binding and add them to the God Demon Sculpture Garden?

Or know where someone has just died in battle, where an Evil Demon has been slain?

So I can be the first to find the bodies?

Black Sheep Head: "Seeing Dead Souls is merely a secondary ability."

Lu Ran's interest was piqued, "Secondary?"

Black Sheep Head: "The Sculpture Garden lies within these eyes."

Lu Ran's mouth formed an O!

So that explained the impression of deathly stillness and the cold drafts coming from Black Fire Sheep Head's eyes.

Were these eyes a portal?

Behind this gateway, an assortment of statues, all nourished by Dead Souls.

Wasn't that akin to a graveyard, indeed a small purgatory!

"I... I had thought you created a Sculpture Garden inside my mind," Lu Ran barely managed to say.

"Indeed," Black Sheep Head responded with unexpected patience.

Perhaps it was pleased with Lu Ran's performance.

Black Sheep Head solemnly said, "Your spiritual world has become inseparable from these eyes.

However, given your current strength, spiritual intensity, I still need to take the lead, to support you.

You are not yet capable of taking these eyes and all they contain from my hands."

Lu Ran: "I see..."

Black Sheep Head: "A rudimentary understanding of this technique could help you bind souls.

One day, you will take all within these eyes."

"Don't always talk like that, Lord Immortal Goat," Lu Ran said helplessly.

The impending demise of Lord Immortal Goat had always been a knot in Lu Ran's heart, and yet, with his meager strength, he didn't know how to help.

Black Sheep Head fell silent.

As for Lu Ran's sense of powerlessness and his profound concern, it was well aware.

To have such a heart was enough.

What the deity contemplated, Lu Ran had no idea.

For the moment, all he could do was strive to grow stronger, as expected by the deity.

Hoping that one day, when he was powerful enough, the Immortal Sheep would tell him how to cope.

Other than that, he had no options.

The rooftop was engulfed in silence and only after a long while did Lu Ran ask:

"So, this is not a special version of Divine Technique·Immortal Pupil, but a new technique you created?"

Lu Ran had expected a reasonable explanation from Lord Immortal Goat.

However, there was no reply.

After a long wait, Lu Ran tried to ask, "What is this technique called?"

"Pupil of the Dead World."

...

Today, let's do two chapters; let me take a breather. Sitting a full day, these past few days I've updated a lot, my fingers are numb from typing.

Will continue with more updates tomorrow.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.