Chapter 3

### Chapter 3: The Cat's Fetal Breathing

Meow...

As night fell, a quiet yet lively scene unfolded in a secluded corner of the park. A large group of fluffy, pinkish kittens gathered around, vying for the cat food in Jiang Li's hands.

Among the cats was a large "Flower-Faced Tyrant," a big, bold cat that strutted around, bullying the smaller kittens and snatching away their food.

Slap!

Jiang Li slapped the "Flower-Faced Tyrant" and sternly warned, "Flower-Faced Tyrant, if you bully the little ones again, you won't get any food."

The "Flower-Faced Tyrant" dared not cause trouble and sulked off to the side.

The bullied kittens immediately ran over to Jiang Li, rolling and playing at his feet, overjoyed.

Jiang Li squatted down, petting their little heads and checking for any scratches. These kittens had lost their mother to a stray dog last month, and without her, they would struggle to survive. Jiang Li had to take extra care of them.

At seventeen, Jiang Li had been feeding these stray cats for two years. The number had grown from a few to over thirty, forming a large cat community.

Only when he was with these stray cats did he feel a deep sense of peace, far from the tense and oppressive atmosphere of school. High school was a time of youthful vigor and passionate struggle, but for those with no hope, it was better to stay away to avoid disappointment.

"Little guys, eat quickly, or that big black cat will come over," Jiang Li urged.

Recently, something strange had been happening. A large, agile black cat had appeared among the strays. It would show up last, sweeping away all the cat food in a whirlwind. Sometimes, it even snatched food from his hands, showing no fear of humans.

Jiang Li had tried to track the black cat several times to find out its origins, but it always disappeared into the sewers, leaving no trace.

While feeding the cats, Jiang Li kept an eye on the surrounding shrubs, waiting for the black cat to appear.

"Jiang Li, feeding the cats again?" A clear voice called out. A girl ran over from the tree-lined path, dressed in white, tall and slender, her long hair fluttering in the night breeze, exuding youth.

"Luo Han, with such a tight study schedule, how do you have time to come to the park for a walk?" Jiang Li nodded.

The girl, Zhou Luo Han, came to the park every evening for a walk. She was the student council president, a prominent figure with a prestigious family background. Many boys wanted to get close to her, but she paid them no mind.

She and Jiang Li were in different classes but were both in the senior year.

The class president, Zhang Yue, had pursued Luo Han many times without success, so he forbade Jiang Li from getting close to her, threatening to beat him up if he did.

"Taking a walk is a way to relax the mind," Luo Han said, walking over and helping Jiang Li feed the cats. She gently petted the kittens.

The two fed the cats in silence, a natural默契 forming between them.

Jiang Li had been feeding the stray cats in the park for half a year, and Luo Han, who liked the kittens, had started helping him.

For the past six months, every evening, the sight of the young man and woman feeding the cats had become a familiar scene in the park.

"Jiang Li, what are your plans after high school?" Luo Han suddenly asked.

"I don't have any plans. My vitality is only 0.7, so I have no hope of getting into Starry Sky University," Jiang Li answered, petting a kitten without looking up.

"You must have some difficulties. Maybe I can help you," Luo Han looked at Jiang Li, her eyes filled with determination.

"Help me?" Jiang Li was surprised, then shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness, but I'll live my own life."

After refusing Luo Han's help, the two fell silent, feeling a bit awkward.

Luo Han was silent for a moment, then stood up. "Starting tomorrow, I'll be in special training and won't have time to feed the cats. I hope you can take good care of them."

"No problem, these little guys have become part of my life," Jiang Li said, petting a kitten.

Luo Han sighed softly and turned to leave.

This was a fleeting encounter, light and untraceable.

"I know you want to help me, but our connection is just about feeding the stray cats. Your family is prestigious, and I can't match up to you," Jiang Li thought bitterly as he watched Luo Han leave. A toad and a swan were destined never to be together.

Roar!

Another leopard-like roar and commotion interrupted Jiang Li's thoughts.

A large black cat leaped out from the park's shrubs, its fur shiny and sleek, like a small black tiger, rushing out with a small whirlwind.

Thud! Thud! Thud! The strongest of the stray cats, the "Flower-Faced Tyrant," was knocked flying.

The black cat rushed to the front, quickly devouring the cat food, then grabbed a kitten and fled.

"The black cat is here!"

Jiang Li followed closely, not minding if the black cat ate the food, but he couldn't let it take the kitten. "This time, I'll find out your origins."

The black cat darted out of the park like a whirlwind.

Jiang Li followed, his vitality at 0.7, but he could still run fast.

Some people in school with high vitality could run a hundred meters in five seconds, a speed that was truly fast. If he encountered them, he would be knocked down instantly.

His younger brother, Jiang Tao, could run a hundred meters in six seconds.

The black cat was very fast, and Jiang Li chased it to the river, but couldn't catch up. This was a magical cat, ten times stronger than an average cat.

Suddenly, the black cat darted into the city's sewers.

Jiang Li refused to give up and followed it in.

The sewers were vast, like an independent underground palace and kingdom. A hundred years ago, a heavy rain could flood the city, but that was a thing of the past.

Now, no matter how heavy the rain, the city would not flood.

The sewers were dark and damp, tall and wide, with many passages, like a maze. There was no decay or gas, a result of advanced human civilization.

The sewers could even be used as air-raid shelters in emergencies to avoid aerial bombings.

The black cat kept darting through the maze, trying to evade pursuit. Jiang Li persisted, not wanting to enter the dirty sewers normally, but today he was determined to find out the black cat's secret and prevent it from harming the kitten.

Chasing and fleeing, they gradually went deeper into the sewers, where few people ventured.

Finally, the black cat stopped in a corner. Its eyes glowed green in the darkness, and it put down the kitten, which let out a cry, relieving Jiang Li.

Click!

Jiang Li took out his chip phone, which emitted a bright white light, illuminating the area.

"What is that? A corpse?"

The light revealed a mummy sitting behind the black cat.

The mummy was tall and imposing, not emitting a terrifying aura but rather a majestic presence, like a towering peak standing alone, seeing through the changes of the world and the fleeting nature of life.

The mummy held a milky white stone in its hands, with some patterns on it, but nothing supernatural.

"Who is this person?" Jiang Li was cautious, not daring to act rashly.

Sewers!

Black cat!

Mummy!

Milky white stone!

These four things formed a bizarre scene, making Jiang Li feel like he was in a dream.

The black cat's eyes glowed green, and after a moment of staring at Jiang Li, it turned around and suddenly pounced toward the milky white stone.

Something strange happened.

Slap!

Before its paw touched the stone, its body seemed to be paralyzed and fell to the ground.

Purr, purr... The black cat was not in danger but was fast asleep.

The milky white stone seemed to have a mysterious power, putting the black cat to sleep without touching it.

Jiang Li thought, "What is this? The black cat is hypnotized, but it doesn't seem dangerous."

He observed carefully and noticed that the black cat's vital signs were very relaxed during sleep, almost imperceptible, and it eventually stopped breathing. However, its fur continued to move slightly, as if the cells were breathing, indicating a state of false death.

"This is... fetal breathing! How can a cat achieve this?"

He was shocked beyond measure.

There was no mistake; this was the state of "fetal breathing," a state of false death where cells breathe, a form of innate breathing. It was very mysterious, strengthening cells and unlocking potential.

This was a legendary state, and a cat had achieved it?

The black cat was very strong, with incredible speed and agility, likely due to entering the "fetal breathing" state. Its endocrine system had changed, and its cells were highly reinforced, all thanks to the "milky white stone."

"Wow, this milky white stone can make a cat enter the fetal breathing state!" Jiang Li's heart raced. This was unbelievable.

Step, step, step... He cautiously approached the mummy's hand, reaching for the milky white stone, wondering if he would be hypnotized.

Sure enough, before he got close, his eyelids felt heavy, and an overwhelming drowsiness overcame him. His vision blurred.

He was extremely sleepy.

He felt like a person who hadn't slept for three days and nights, seeing a bed and wanting to lie down, regardless of anything else.

"No! I can't sleep, I need to get the milky white stone first." Jiang Li bit his tongue to stay awake, his body moving forward, his fingers touching the stone.

Boom!

The moment his hand touched the milky white stone, a strong wave of sleepiness overwhelmed him, and he collapsed, entering a deep, unconscious sleep.

He had never slept so soundly.

"Great dreams span thousands of years, what year is it now?"

In his sleep, he seemed to be dreaming, hearing a voice sighing faintly.

...............................................................................................

{The protagonist's extraordinary encounter has begun. Everyone, clap, cheer, vote, and collect. However, this encounter comes with great responsibility. The next chapter will reveal more. Today, there are three updates, and the next chapter will be released tomorrow at 8 AM. I am working hard to change my writing style, and it's been a challenging process. I plan to write slowly, but there will be occasional bursts. I hope for your support.}

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