High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2756 - 977: Beyond Synchronization, Not Yet Advanced Divided Mind

The first class on Tuesday morning is Divination.According to Xiao Xiao’s suggestion, Zheng Qing should consult Professor Yi before the class about the abnormality of the Black Gemstone Cat. But upon entering the classroom and seeing Jiang Yu sitting in the front row, Zheng Qing changed his plan.

Because he remembered something more important.

Last night, he was supposed to meet the White Jade Cat at the Cat Fruit Tree, but was intercepted by the Yellow Flowered Cat, who stood up the White Jade Cat. This matter requires an explanation to the Witch.

And it must be given before she truly gets angry.

Consulting Professor Yi can completely wait until after class, but the explanation to the Witch needs to happen the first moment she sees him today, or the first moment he sees her.

It’s a matter of attitude.

So, as soon as Zheng Qing entered the classroom and saw Jiang Yu, he immediately realized the issue. Despite Li Meng’s classmate’s disdain and the teasing looks from other witches in the front row, he unhesitatingly approached the witch’s desk with a smiling face.

However, before Zheng Qing could speak, Jiang Yu noticed the Black Gemstone Cat licking its paw on the boy’s shoulder and slightly frowned.

"What’s on its head?"

The feather pen in the witch’s hand reached out to the forehead of the Black Gemstone Cat, rubbing against it, but didn’t rub off the green spot, surprising her greatly. Seemingly sensing the fluctuation in the mind of its main body, the White Jade Cat, which was curled up and dozing on the textbook like a ball, lazily lifted its head and glanced in the direction of the Black Gemstone Cat.

The Black Gemstone Cat, carefully shrinking back due to the feather pen, noticed the gaze of the White Jade Cat, immediately straightened its body, and coughed: "—Don’t make a fuss, it’s just a leaf!"

Jiang Yu’s hand, raised in mid-air, slightly paused, looking at Zheng Qing with astonishment.

The boy smiled bitterly, nodded apologetically to his sides, formed a Hand Jue, erected a small Sound Insulation Barrier, then took down the Black Gemstone Cat from his shoulder and placed it on the witch’s desk.

"Last night, I met Mr. Zheng..."

Zheng Qing carefully explained to Jiang Yu the origin of the leaf on the Black Gemstone Cat’s forehead, without avoiding the existence of Mr. Zheng, for she had long visited Mr. Zheng. However, he also glossed over the real reason Mr. Zheng sought him, stating that it was a temporary meeting: "—Perhaps Mr. Zheng felt Old Huang and I were too noisy, so he used the leaf to settle us, but I found out it hadn’t disappeared when I woke up..."

Listening to the boy’s simple statement, the Witch slightly lowered her head and carefully examined the leaf on the Black Gemstone Cat’s forehead.

"Is this a Katsura tree leaf?" She asked uncertainly.

"Yes, from the Huanglian tree."

Nodding, Zheng Qing immediately added the most important thing, "...because of this matter yesterday, I couldn’t make it to the Cat Fruit Tree..."

"It’s alright, I guessed you had a temporary matter when you didn’t show up... Mr. Zheng finding you is more important."

The Witch generously waved her hand, then looked at the Black Gemstone Cat eagerly catering to the White Jade Cat, with a somewhat odd expression: "—What’s its deal now? Is it in a ’clear’ state when you’re awake? Are you sure it’s still your cat?"

As a student of the Art of Body Transformation, she was evidently more aware of the current anomaly of the Black Gemstone Cat than others.

"I don’t know either..." Zheng Qing sighed.

"Is there any doubt about that?" The Black Gemstone Cat heard the Witch’s question, twitched its ears, raised its head, and protested with dissatisfaction.

The White Jade Cat slightly opened its eyes and slapped it over with a paw.

Frightening Zheng Qing, the sigh turned into saliva swallowed back into his stomach.

"No rudeness!"

Jiang Yu stretched out her finger, pressed the White Jade Cat that had just been a bit aggressive, warning, while extending another finger, comforting and patting the Black Gemstone Cat that had just crawled up, somewhat bewildered: "—Sorry, she didn’t mean it."

The White Jade Cat haughtily cast it a glance.

"Uh, no...no problem." The Black Gemstone Cat forced a smile: "This is how we cats greet each other; you humans wouldn’t understand."

Zheng Qing silently rolled his eyes.

At this point, he was already seventy to eighty percent confident that this stupid cat was indeed his replica.

Jiang Yu also seemed to have the same judgment.

"Having self-identity judgment, subjective consciousness, and the ability to handle awkwardness...it’s entirely a true replica,"

Her tone carried a hint of amazement, her gaze roving between the Black Gemstone Cat and Zheng Qing: "I think it’s even beyond the ’synchronization’ stage, achieving the state only possible at the ’high-level separation’ stage—"

Based on proficiency and level of mastery, the learning of the Art of Body Transformation is divided into three stages: ’Primary Deformation’, ’Intermediate Synchronization’, and ’Advanced Separation’. Theoretically, the Black Gemstone Cat and the White Jade Cat are currently at the first stage, ’Primary Deformation’, capable of maintaining a real and tangible replica outside of the main body but with many limiting conditions, such as short maintenance time, close activity distance, and the main body and replica cannot stay awake at the same time, among others.

...

"—Your replica hasn’t reached the ’High-level Separation’, but it has indeed surpassed the typical ’Synchronization’ stage."

Professor Yi examined the Black Gemstone Cat in front of him with great interest, offering a different answer from Jiang Yu: "According to general principles, when the main body and replica can both stay clear and independent at the same time, it’s considered ’synchronized’. This cat takes it a step further, it can speak! A capability many transformed animals don’t possess."

Saying the last sentence, he looked at Zheng Qing with meaning.

The boy uneasily glanced left and right.

It’s after the Divination class, and most students have left the classroom, with only three or so engaged in casual conversation, none paying attention to the activities on the podium.

He quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"What about this leaf? Does it affect it?" Unable to resist, he rubbed the Katsuya leaf on the Black Gemstone Cat’s forehead again with his fingertip, trying to get it off.

But the leaf seemed to grow on the forehead of the black cat.

Professor Yi pondered seriously, pinched his fingers, and ultimately shook his head: "Hard to say, I suggest you consult Old Yao—"

...

"—Legends aren’t all-powerful either."

Professor Yao, holding the Black Gemstone Cat curled up in his palm like a ball, gazed at it as if looking at a rare treasure, but his conclusion was somewhat disappointing to the boy: "I can only confirm this cat’s still yours; your Art of Body Transformation has progressed far beyond my expectations. As for this leaf...just like I still can’t understand the magical principle of Zhu Si’s resurrection, this world holds many magics that defy reason and rely solely on fate. You have a deep connection with this leaf."

"What’s its use then?" Zheng Qing couldn’t help but frown.

"Naturally, when the time is right." The professor smiled slightly, giving him a diviner-like answer.