A cat with a story, the final lesson

Myriad Spirits Continent, Chenlong Kingdom, Lin Hua City.

Puquan Beast-Taming Experimental High School, Year One, Class Nine.

Blazing sunlight streamed into the classroom, lighting up half the blackboard.

Even more intense than the sunlight were the gazes of every student in the room.

At that moment, all their eyes were fixed on the [Shadow Witch Cat] on the teacher's platform.

He had a ghostly figure, glossy fur, amber eyes, and an eye-catching purple wizard's hat that shimmered with flowing light.

The purple gems on his brow and chest sparkled brilliantly, and his body glowed with a dazzling purple radiance that outshone even the sunlight through the windows.

Sitting at the back of the classroom, Lin Yuan's eyes gleamed with interest too.

Unlike everyone else, who could only see the pet beast's appearance, he could see much more.

[Shadow Witch Cat]

[Attribute]: Dark

[Quality]: Upper extraordinary

[Sex]: Male

[Level]: Extraordinary level 7

[Traits]: [Dark Claw], [Shadow]

[Personality]: Fickle in love, fond of lively company

[Status]: Bored, missing Xiaohua, Xiaoli, Xiaoqing, and Xiaoying next door

[Evolution paths] (gray)

Lin Yuan's brow twitched involuntarily.

Mr. Chen's pet beast...

Well, this was a cat with a story.

"Today is my last lesson with you as Year One, Class Nine. Once tomorrow's awakening assembly is over, you'll be moving on to your second year," Chen Xuanbai said. "You've been pestering me to show you my pet beasts, so today I'll grant your wish and pick one for you to see."

"But a lesson is still a lesson, so I'll still be asking questions. Who can tell me the [Shadow Witch Cat]'s traits, his quality, and what form he evolved from?"

For most first-year students, that question was a little beyond the syllabus.

After all, the [Shadow Witch Cat] was no low-quality beast, while first-year students were generally still learning to identify and understand ordinary-quality pet beasts.

Only one person raised his hand: the class monitor, Huang Zixuan.

"Zixuan, tell us."

Huang Zixuan stood and adjusted his glasses.

"The Shadow Witch Cat has two traits. The first is [Dark Claw], which gives him powerful claw attacks and allows him to coat them in corrosive dark energy, reducing his opponent's mobility."

"The second is [Shadow], which greatly enhances his mobility in darkness and allows him to briefly merge with it, striking unseen."

"Shadow Witch Cats are generally of middle extraordinary quality, with upper extraordinary specimens being rare. Judging by the quality of his fur, yours should be upper extraordinary, sir."

"Also, the Shadow Witch Cat evolves from the ordinary-quality [Little Black Cat]."

"Very good. You answered all three questions well, and you have a sharp eye." Chen Xuanbai nodded slightly.

"That's our class monitor for you. His family runs the biggest store in Lin Hua City, but he's not some spoiled rich kid at all. He studies so hard." Whispers began circulating through the classroom.

"He's bound to awaken a good talent at tomorrow's awakening ceremony!"

Chen Xuanbai continued, "Now, another question for you. Aside from evolving into a [Shadow Witch Cat], the [Little Black Cat] has another evolution path here in the Chenlong Kingdom. Do you know what it is?"

Huang Zixuan froze for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't know, sir..."

"You've already done very well." Still smiling, Chen Xuanbai turned toward the back of the classroom. "Lin Yuan, why don't you answer this one?"

Every student turned to look at him.

If Huang Zixuan was Class Nine's model student, someone they could still reach if they stretched out a hand, then Lin Yuan belonged in the "untouchable" category.

He could answer all sorts of difficult questions that stumped the other students. Over time, many teachers had grown accustomed to calling on him, even though he rarely volunteered.

Lin Yuan rose slowly, glanced at the [Shadow Witch Cat] a few more times, then met Chen Xuanbai's eyes.

"Sir, the [Little Black Cat] has another, rarer evolution path, though its requirements are also harder to fulfill. The first recorded instance occurred in Haid Island City, at the southernmost tip of the Chenlong Kingdom."

"A Little Black Cat that had loved basking in the sun ever since it was young underwent a mutation and evolved into a [Sunshadow Spirit Cat]. Its attribute also changed from dark to light, and its quality was middle commander, a full tier above extraordinary."

Lin Yuan barely had to think before the answer rolled off his tongue.

He had gained the ability to see pet beasts' information panels two years ago.

But the evolution paths section was always gray, with no information displayed.

That was why he always took the initiative to collect and study information like this, hoping to work out the reason.

"Excellent!" Chen Xuanbai applauded. "Environment-induced mutation evolution isn't covered until the third year. You must work very hard outside class, Lin Yuan."

At that moment...

The other students joined Chen Xuanbai in applauding.

Whispers rose again.

"Lin Yuan really is a god! Did you know that ever since his parents passed away two years ago, he's also been running the Yuanming Pet Food Shop they left him after school? We all get the same twenty-four hours a day, so why does it feel like his twenty-four hours are forty-eight?"

"But I heard he has one of those really rare housekeeping beasts, the kind that can do all sorts of chores and help run a shop. Maybe that saves him a lot of effort?"

"You're not looking far enough. A housekeeping beast can only help with chores. It's not some legendary divine beast that can pour knowledge into your head. Lin Yuan's vast knowledge can only be the fruit of his own hard work!"

The applause gradually died down.

"Lin Yuan, I have another interesting question. See if you can answer it."

"What are the usual personality traits of pet beasts belonging to the [Shadow Witch Cat] species, and what particular preferences do they have?"

As soon as he asked, someone below couldn't resist whispering:

"Here it comes again! It's that part where Mr. Chen asks a question when he's actually trying to get answers or inspiration from the great Lin!"

Lin Yuan glanced again at the utterly bored [Shadow Witch Cat] and smiled. "Sir, most [Shadow Witch Cats] prefer peace and solitude. They enjoy moonlight and being alone.

"But every species has its unusual individuals."

"I've read in some literature that certain [Shadow Witch Cats] are extremely fond of lively surroundings. They may develop better in a bustling environment."

"What's more, these [Shadow Witch Cats] have particularly strong mating urges, so their special needs require constant attention. Otherwise, an incorrect approach to raising them could squander their prime growth period."

"Sir, yours was willing to be summoned in front of so many people and hasn't shown any resistance. That suggests he rather enjoys all this attention. Perhaps he's one of those rarer individuals?"

Lin Yuan spoke casually, but everyone in the classroom listened intently. Not one of them thought he was talking nonsense.

Chen Xuanbai suddenly recalled all sorts of incidents involving his [Shadow Witch Cat] and realized that Lin Yuan's explanation seemed to fit perfectly.

What literature? Why hadn't I, a teacher, read it, when a first-year student had?

When he considered how earnestly Lin Yuan had announced to the class that his black cat might have a strong sex drive, he felt this general knowledge lesson was covering rather too much.

He promptly recalled his pet beast.

"Ahem. I've shown you what you wanted to see. Now, let's go over some basic knowledge."

"Also, I'll be teaching general knowledge for the second-year Kindling Class."

"I hope that after tomorrow's awakening ceremony, some of you will still be my students."

His gaze swept over Huang Zixuan first, then lingered on Lin Yuan for a full three or four seconds before he began the lesson.

The final general knowledge lesson for Year One, Class Nine came to an end.

No one had much time for sentiment. They needed to prepare themselves fully for tomorrow's awakening ceremony.

Now, only Lin Yuan and Chen Xuanbai remained in the empty classroom.

"Lin Yuan, based on your performance and grades over the past year, several other teachers and I have secured a special exception for you."

"Normally, admission to the Kindling Class requires an awakened talent of at least A rank, and even then, it has to be among the better A-rank talents."

"But you'll be allowed in as long as your talent reaches B rank tomorrow."

"Of course, judging by everything you've shown us this past year, I believe awakening an A-rank talent shouldn't be difficult for you. There's even a good chance you'll awaken an S-rank talent."

"Thank you, sir!" Lin Yuan's thanks were heartfelt, and his eyes lit up.

On the Myriad Spirits Continent, beast tamers' talents were divided into five ranks, from D to S.

Of course, Lin Yuan had heard that talents above S rank existed too, but they were exceedingly rare.

He had always wondered whether his ability to see pet beasts' information panels was connected to a beast tamer's talent.

If it didn't count as a talent, and his actual talent wasn't particularly good, then his life as a beast tamer would be anything but smooth sailing.

"Here, take this [Spirit-Nourishing Fruit]. Eat it before bed tonight. It calms the mind and may help with tomorrow's awakening ceremony." Chen Xuanbai took it out. "Don't turn it down. Your answer about the Shadow Witch Cat today was a huge help to me."

"Besides, I really do hope you'll make it into the Kindling Class. I'd like to teach a student like you for another two years."

Lin Yuan didn't refuse.

He accepted the [Spirit-Nourishing Fruit].

This was a pattern he and Chen Xuanbai had settled into over the past year. Lin Yuan occasionally offered help or inspiration, and Chen Xuanbai would give him a "little gift."

This fruit, however, was the most valuable thank-you gift he had given him all year, with a market price of around a thousand Alliance Coins.

Given Lin Yuan's finances, he would never have bought one specifically for the awakening ceremony.

The awakening ceremony was a matter of great importance, and everything about it was still unknown. He wasn't going to refuse an extra helping hand out of misplaced pride.

"Mr. Chen, I hope you'll be teaching me for another two years too," Lin Yuan said sincerely.

Lin Yuan left the classroom.

Only Chen Xuanbai remained.

Well, I'll leave work early today and pick out a few more female cats at the pet market to take home. Then I'll see whether Little Shadow still runs off everywhere tonight. That should confirm whether Lin Yuan was right.

He switched off the fan and locked the classroom door.

In the empty classroom of Year One, Class Nine, only two words remained on the blackboard, written in heavy strokes—

"Awakening ceremony."