"Let me see what's so special about the third refinement!"
Within the black furnace space, White Cat focused his spiritual senses on the second-refined sword elixir enveloped by the furnace flames.
The black furnace's flames flickered like water, the sword elixir floating within.
Gradually, the sword elixir was completely submerged by the flames, leaving only the undulating flames in the furnace.
Du ke silently watched, anticipating what surprise the third refinement would bring.
Just then, a knock sounded on Du ke's door, jolting his consciousness back to reality.
"What is it?"
Du ke glanced at the door, spiritual ripples radiating outward to transmit his voice.
"Master Cat, it's me."
Outside came Yue Yun's voice. Hearing it was him, Du ke couldn't help but think of Sun Xiang.
"Come in."
"Alas," Yue Yun entered, his tear-stained face now washed clean, but his complexion remained haggard, eyes betraying lingering sorrow.
"Master Cat..."
Before Yue Yun could speak, Du ke transmitted first: "I know what you want to say."
"Your master left something for me to pass on to you, but before I do, I need to explain clearly."
"Ah, Master Cat, please speak. I'll listen."
Yue Yun stood with his hands by his sides, head bowed in reverence.
"Let's close the door first, and there's no need to be so formal. We're old acquaintances."
Du ke picked up his smoking pipe, taking a couple of puffs.
"Mm." Yue Yun obediently closed the door, but his reverent demeanor remained unchanged.
"I told you not to be so formal."
"Master Cat, you did my master a great kindness by not only escorting him on his final journey but also painstakingly returning him to me, sparing him the misery of dying in a strange land."
Tears welled up in Yue Yun's eyes as he spoke. He gripped his sleeves to wipe them away, then took a deep breath to steady himself.
"You've shown immense kindness to me and my master. I cannot be disrespectful before you."
"To do so would shame me in the presence of my late master."
"Aiya!" Du ke sighed, deciding not to press further. After pondering for a moment, he spoke again.
"Let me first tell you what your master left with me."
"Please speak, Master Cat. I'm listening."
"Your master left two things: the core teachings of your Ganzhi Beast Control Sect that were missing, and another matter I cannot disclose, as it would do you no good to know."
"I see."
"Let's start with the core teachings your master left for you. He previously claimed your sect's teachings were lost, but now it seems he was just protecting you both."
"Those teachings record another significant matter, and he said that to shield you two."
"The teachings contain the Twelve True Words of Earthly Branches: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai.
Each True Word is divided into external refinement and internal cultivation, forming a complete transmission that allows beasts to cultivate to the True Qi realm. If a beast possesses the destined opportunity, even the Innate realm is not impossible."
"But the Innate realm..." Du ke shook his head. "You understand what I mean without me elaborating."
"Yes, I understand," Yue Yun nodded slightly. "In the Innate realm, beasts would gain intelligence and become spirits or demons. Nurturing demons is a capital offense punishable by extermination."
"Your master instructed me in his letter to pass on only three of the Twelve True Words to you."
Du ke retrieved the letter Sun Xiang had left him and placed it on the table.
"See for yourself if you don't believe me."
"No need, I trust Master Cat would never deceive me."
Yue Yun looked up earnestly. "Though not human, you are nobler than any person, a true great hero."
"Well, though you're complimenting me, I can't help but feel something's not quite right."
Du ke clicked his tongue, pondering for a moment as he puffed on his pipe.
"Never mind, let's discuss the core teachings your master left."
"Of the Twelve True Words, your master allowed me to give you three, while he took the remaining nine."
"Master Cat, if my late master instructed you to give me three, he must have had his reasons. I have no objections."
"You say that, but I cannot comply."
"Here's what we'll do—you may choose any three True Words, and I'll keep the remaining nine. If in the future you take on a disciple you deem worthy of entrusting everything, come to me for the other nine True Words."
"Master Cat, I will heed your words!"
Yue Yun naturally wouldn't object to Du ke's decision.
"So, think about which three transmissions you want."
"Master Cat, I choose the Yin, Shen, and Xu True Word transmissions."
Yue Yun stated his choices without hesitation, causing Du ke to raise an eyebrow. "You're not going to consider it further?"
"Master Cat, I've already thought it through!"
"I want the Yin True Word to honor your immense kindness, and because my late master also cultivated the Yin True Word. Though I haven't raised any beasts yet, my first one should logically be of the Yin category."
"The Shen True Word is because back in the Beast Nursery, I was tasked with feeding the gibbons and monkeys, so I'm already familiar with them and can handle them easily."
"As for the Xu True Word, I was thinking of perhaps emulating you and Thirteen, combining cats and dogs for a unique dynamic."
"I see, that's how you've reasoned it out." Du ke nodded slightly. This little dimwit had been quite clever—apart from the Shen True Word, his other two choices facilitated developing his sect.
"Among the three True Words, I plan to focus on the Yin transmission, using the other two as supplements," Yue Yun added.
Du ke's ears twitched upon hearing this.
"If that's what you intend, perhaps you could establish your mountain sect near my hometown."
Du ke recalled Mao City. The Yin True Word targeted felines like tigers, leopards, lions, and cats. While Mao City had much else to offer, cats were undoubtedly abundant there.
Moreover, if this dimwit went to Mao City, he might forge a unique path.
Not to mention, having disciples cultivate alongside their household cats—once that condition was announced, the entire Mao City would be in an uproar.
Mao City had a tradition of harmonious human-feline coexistence, making it ideal for the Yin True Word transmission.
Add to that, this dimwit was foolish but talented. Sending him to Mao City would greatly benefit the city as well.
"Mao City?" Yue Yun scratched his head. "I've never heard of it."
"Mao City of Lingzhou, the ancestral home of all cats, the birthplace of spirit felines—it's also my hometown."
Du ke smiled as he explained. Yue Yun's eyes widened. "Your hometown, Master Cat?"
"Yes, a place with simple folk, where humans and cats coexist, neighbors looking out for one another."
"If you go there, you could revive your sect's teachings within a decade or so."
"There's such a wonderful place?!"
Yue Yun's eyes shone with excitement. Du ke chuckled, "Of course, it is my hometown after all."
"In that case, I'll establish my sect in Mao City. That way, when you return to your hometown, Master Cat, I can still serve you there."
Yue Yun grinned broadly. Du ke shook his head. "You little dimwit."
"Hehehe..."
"I noticed you seem quite fond of Qiu Shui. Shall I put in a good word for you, help set you two up?"
Upon Du ke's teasing remark, Yue Yun's face instantly flushed red as he waved his hands frantically. "Master Cat, Qiu Shui and I are like siblings! It's not what you think!"
"Really?"
Du ke raised his eyebrows slightly, gazing intently at the plump little Yue Yun.
Under Du ke's gaze, Yue Yun scratched the back of his head and chuckled foolishly with his head lowered.
"It's settled then."
"I'll let the girl know later."
"But then who will attend to the young lady?"
Yue Yun widened his eyes, and Du ke rolled his eyes, "How can you establish a school without proof?"
"Haven't you been following us this whole time?"
"But now that you mention it, I just remembered something."
Du ke suddenly thought of the young lady he had rescued from the Rat King's wedding banquet and stuffed into the beast pouch.
He had originally planned to rescue her and then make arrangements for her, whether she wanted to return home or had other ideas.
However, the arrival of the black eagles summoning them to the demonic market had disrupted his plan, and the subsequent chain of events had caused him to neglect the young lady.
"Hurry up and call Thirteen over here, quick!"
Thinking of this, Du ke urgently sent out a telepathic message.
"Alright, I'm going!"
Yue Yun didn't delay either, hastily leaving the room to fetch Thirteen.
In the blink of an eye, Thirteen rushed over from the next room, straight to Du ke's side, looking at him with utmost seriousness.
"Master Cat, what are your orders?"
"The beast pouch!"
Du ke asked Thirteen for the beast pouch, and Thirteen blinked before making a retching motion, regurgitating the beast pouch stored in his belly.
After the beast pouch fell to the ground, Du ke immediately grabbed it, fiddled with it for a moment, and released a kitten from within.
"Hmm, put it aside for now!"
Du ke placed the kitten aside, then told Yue Yun, "Close the door."
"Yeah," Yue Yun closed the door and watched as Du ke performed a magic trick, taking out one kitten after another from the beast pouch.
"Geez, Master Cat has become a magician!"
"Don't say too much, hurry up and check the condition of these kittens."
After Du ke released all the cats, including the young lady in the bright red wedding dress, he gave Yue Yun an order.
"Got it, I'll check on them right away."
Yue Yun examined each of the sleeping cats one by one. After checking them all, Du ke asked him to examine the young lady's condition as well.
Yue Yun checked her for a moment, then looked up at Du ke and said, "Master Cat, these cats are unharmed, they're just in a state of feigned death, similar to the Breath of the Tortoise skill that my master told me about."
"In this state, they can survive for several days without food or water."
"However, without any cultivation, once they emerge from this state, they'll need to recuperate for some time."
"If that's the case, I'll leave these cats to you."
Du ke straightforwardly handed the cats over to Yue Yun, who widened his eyes in surprise, "Huh?"
"Keep them as your future subordinates. Besides, with so many cats, people in Mao City will be more welcoming towards you."
"Really?"
"Of course, trust me."
Du ke showed Yue Yun a smile, "Would your Master Cat ever deceive you?"