The moment Lu Ran activated the Divine Technique·Pupil of the Netherworld, his heart was filled with trepidation.

He opened a pair of sinister, horizontal pupils, cautiously glancing at every location.

His father had passed away long ago, there could be no lingering dead souls.

Fortunately, wherever Lu Ran's gaze reached, there were no dead souls in sight.

Rain Alley City on the tenth day of the lunar month was still safe.

But by the fifteenth, that would be uncertain.

Transmission quietly fell: "Having seen a lot, one gets used to it."

Lu Ran remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

He did not wish to become numb.

If this was inevitable, Lu Ran hoped that day would come later rather than sooner.

"I'm leaving, Dad, I'll come to see you next time."

After standing in place for a long time, Lu Ran picked up his weapon, grabbed some food, and turned to descend from the rooftop.

Worth mentioning is, him who had advanced to Stream Realm·Third Rank, could now equip two more Evil Techniques.

Evil Dog Evil Skill·Evil Shadow would allow Lu Ran to summon a shadowy figure to lure and disturb enemies.

Soul-splitting Demon Evil Technique·Soul Prison would let Lu Ran summon two black fog orbs, serving as a prison for dead souls.

Without a doubt,

These were two unsightly Evil Techniques!

"Heh." Lu Ran shook his head helplessly.

Da Xia had robust protective measures for Believer trainees.

Regardless of whichever Demon Cave Lu Ran went to train, there would always be soldiers following.

Even when he participated in the night of the fifteenth·City Defense task, there would surely be teammates by his side, protected by a Moon Gazer as the team leader.

Ultimately, the word was strength.

Once Lu Ran grew strong enough, he would have to spend money to enter the Demon Cave, spend money to hire soldiers as bodyguards.

At that time, if he didn't spend this money, he could naturally get rid of this "surveillance."

If Lu Ran was strong enough, he could explore the depths of the Demon Cave alone.

Thus maximizing his strength, recklessly casting thousands of Evil Techniques.

Therefore... strength was the solution to everything.

Lu Ran let out a deep sigh.

Maybe one day in the future, he could also witness what that higher plane of the "God Demon Battlefield" truly looks like.

...

After returning home, Lu Ran took a hot shower, then sat on his small bed and closed his eyes to rest.

In just a few minutes, he acquired two Evil Techniques suitable for Stream Realm·Third Rank from Evil Dog Evil Sculpture and Soul-splitting Demon Evil Sculpture.

"Soul Prison, Soul Prison..."

Lu Ran murmured to himself, palm flipping.

"Whoo~"

With a surge of energy, wisps of black fog continuously gathered in his palm.

"Goodness me!"

Lu Ran couldn't help but be secretly amazed.

He could feel that inside the black fog orb was pitch blackness, like a world from another dimension.

Souls imprisoned here would likely experience extreme suffering, extreme breakdown.

It should be known that only when Lu Ran reached River Realm·First Rank could he equip the Soul-splitting Demon Clan's Evil Technique·Soul Fire.

By then, sinister flames would cruelly torment and burn the souls within.

But even without "Soul Fire," just the prison alone was enough to torture!

For this was not an ordinary jail, but a complete "dark room"!

Dark, isolated, without a glimmer of light!

"Meow?" The tabby cat emerged from somewhere, its eyes bright and curious, observing the black fog orb.

"Here." Lu Ran passed it down with one hand.

The black fog orb drifted to the floor, rolling about.

"Meow." The tabby approached the orb, sniffing and looking, before finally batting the black fog orb with its paw.

Like playing with a ball of yarn?

Unfortunately, its paw passed through the black fog orb without moving it.

Lu Ran flicked his fingertip.

The black fog orb took flight again.

The tabby cat became excitedly airborne, leaping towards the black fog orb...

Master and pet played in the bedroom for quite a while, with Lu Ran's mood a bit complex.

The scene was indeed heartwarming.

But upon deeper thought, the black fog orb played with by the tabby cat was an extremely cruel prison for imprisoning souls!

If one day, one of Lu Ran's enemies should have the good fortune of being imprisoned...

Their spirit would be tortured by intense suffering within the black fog orb.

While the tabby continued to play outside, innocent and carefree...

The thought was somewhat chilling.

"Pfft~"

Lu Ran dispelled the Evil Technique·Soul Prison, and the black fog orb dissipated.

"Meow?" The tabby looked up at its master, tilting its fuzzy little head.

"I'll show you something else nice." Lu Ran chuckled and reached toward the computer desk.

Indeed, Evil Techniques should not be shown in public.

But they could still be shown to cats!

"Whoo~"

Another burst of energy surged, and instantly, a figure appeared in front of the desk.

Black hair, black eyes, a white short-sleeve shirt, black shorts...

The figure was dressed just as Lu Ran was at home.

And this ghostly figure was also Lu Ran!

"Meow?"

The tabby was immediately confused, its little head having trouble processing.

Two identical people had suddenly appeared in the room, an indeed bizarre scene.

Evil Technique·Evil Shadow!

Lu Ran stepped forward, closely examining "himself."

It was just a shadow, like an image given by a 3D projector; Lu Ran could not control its movements.

This shadow was quite realistic, just standing there silently, likely capable of deceiving most people!

Unfortunately, it could not be touched.

Lu Ran extended his hand to pat the shoulder of "Evil Shadow Lu Ran," and as expected, his hand passed through empty air.

"It's a giveaway on touch, huh."

Lu Ran mumbled to himself, watching the Evil Shadow before him fade away.

With a "swoosh," the tabby leaped onto the computer desk and then onto Lu Ran's shoulder.

Its little paws patted and patted at Lu Ran's shoulder.

As if trying to scatter Lu Ran?

"You little rascal, plotting to overthrow your master?" Lu Ran laughed and embraced the tabby, fiercely nuzzling against it.

"Thump thump thump~"

Just as the tabby was enduring its hardship, the room door was suddenly knocked.

Lu Ran was momentarily stunned. A visitor?

That was rare.

Over the past few years, Lu Ran had scarcely received any guests.

Only during the days after Worship God did some department leaders from the city come to extend their warmth, and after that, the house returned to its calm.

"Thump thump thump~"

The knocking persisted.

Lu Ran, cradling the tabby, curiously approached the door, then sniffed in the air.

Jiang Ruyi?

Lu Ran recognized the familiar scent of her hair before he reached the door.

If the hair of the Big Nightmare often carried the scent of camellias...

Then Jiang Ruyi's hair carried a faint jasmine fragrance.

Go figure, those girls are really loyal to their brands, rarely changing their shampoo.

"Click~"

Lu Ran opened the door, pretending to be uninformed and pleasantly surprised: "Yo ho? What brings you here?"

The tall, slender figure standing outside was indeed enough to make Lu Ran's eyes sparkle.

Jiang Ruyi was wearing a light-colored long coat, her long hair flowing over her shoulders.

With the cold of autumn, she wore a dark red knitted scarf around her neck, covering her thin lips just so.

Having used to seeing her in school uniforms or training outfits, Lu Ran now looked at Jiang Ruyi...

Her innocence untarnished, yet more beautiful and charming.

Such a girl, thrown into any school, would she not be the students' "crush"?

"Yup." Jiang Ruyi glanced at Lu Ran once, then lowered her eyes to look at the tabby in his arms.

She smiled warmly and extended her fair finger, tapping the tabby's nose: "Hello?"

Lu Ran: "..."

Am I invisible standing here?

"Meow~" The tabby struggled, trying to escape its master's clutches.

Jiang Ruyi put away her umbrella and handed it to Lu Ran.

Lu Ran took the umbrella, and the girl took the tabby into her arms.

Suddenly, the cat became much calmer, its little head lifted, curiously looking at the girl.

Jiang Ruyi played with the tabby with one hand, finally deigning to look at Lu Ran: "You're going to let me stand outside forever?"

"Ah!" Lu Ran snapped back to reality, immediately stepping back, "Come in, come in... Wait!"

Lu Ran paused midstep, looking at Jiang Ruyi: "You didn't come here specifically to scold me, did you?"

Previously, inside the Soul-splitting Demon Cave, Lu Ran indeed said something like "there are too many people here, we'll talk at home."

Jiang Ruyi smiled and walked in with the cat.

She clapped her heels together, slipped off one shoe, her toe hanging in midair, swaying gently.

Too bad she was wearing white socks... hmm.

Jiang Ruyi stroked the tabby, gesturing that her hands were full: "I'm holding it."

"You did come for a home visit?" Lu Ran immediately picked up slippers and tossed them to the floor.

"Am I your homeroom teacher?" Jiang Ruyi glanced at Lu Ran, changed into the slippers, "Where's Lord Immortal Goat?"

"In my room." Lu Ran turned to lead the way.

Jiang Ruyi looked around the house's decor until she arrived at the small bedroom door, handing the tabby back to Lu Ran.

The girl stepped inside, stood before the Divine Shrine Divine Sculpture, brought her hands together, and bowed deeply:

"Divine Entity, pardon my disturbance."

She was more reverent than Lu Ran, a bona fide Immortal Sheep Believer!

Because Jiang Ruyi was a Jade Talisman Believer, she refrained from worshiping too much.

After greeting, she stepped back to the side and looked around Lu Ran's small bedroom.

Lu Ran opened his mouth: "You come here... uh, have you eaten?"

Jiang Ruyi softly said, "Quite tidy."

Lu Ran helplessly: "We've been classmates for two years, teamed up for three months.

Do I look like a dirty person to you?"

"Yeah." Jiang Ruyi's mouth curled into a smile, her eyes on Lu Ran, "Always covered in blood, aren't you?"

Lu Ran: "..."

What was expected, finally came!

Jiang Ruyi raised an eyebrow slightly: "Am I wrong?"

But Lu Ran felt, today's Jiang Ruyi was a bit different.

Usually, she was gentle and quiet, gracefully poised.

But in front of him, she would always blush shyly.

Yet today...

Was she treating me as just one of the masses?

Say it isn't so!

While pondering, Jiang Ruyi took the cat from Lu Ran's arms again and left the bedroom.

Lu Ran watched the girl, unsure of what had happened.

"Where's the cat food?"

"Kitchen, over there, top row, first cabinet." Lu Ran grew more curious.

Jiang Ruyi, without a word, took the cat food to a corner of the living room, feeding the machine.

Then, she added water for the tabby, and along the way, cleaned up the feeding corner.

Lu Ran indeed rarely entertained guests, not even thinking to offer Jiang Ruyi a cup of tea or hot water.

Or perhaps it was that today's Jiang Ruyi was too unconventional.

Lu Ran's attention was on her, forgetting all about hospitality.

Soon, the girl had tidied everything up, and the tabby began to devour its food.

"You're just going to watch me?" Jiang Ruyi crouched beside the tabby, gently pinching its ears.

"Nice." Lu Ran blurted out.

"Hm?" Jiang Ruyi turned her head towards Lu Ran.

Lu Ran chuckled, "Like the lady of the house~"

Jiang Ruyi's face flushed red, murmuring softly, "Nonsense talk."

It all returned,

Everything returned!

Lu Ran couldn't help but sigh inwardly, that's the Ruyi I know!

Jiang Ruyi, while stroking the tabby, suddenly said, "I'm leaving."

"Leaving?" Lu Ran was very puzzled, "You just came to feed the cat, then you're going home?"

Jiang Ruyi lowered her head, softly saying, "I mean, I'm going out of town."

"Ah? ???"

...

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Three chapters today: 12.18.22.

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