Beast Taming: My System is Bugged

Gu Ming recalled Ah Ji’s unique traits while connecting with it, syncing their perception of Shadow Energy’s essence and recalling those hazy prophetic fragments from the future.

He no longer treated the diagrams on the Jade Scroll as an infallible law, but rather as a "reference map."

His Divine Sense seemed to transform into a faint glimmer of light, beginning to wander and explore the abstract "Shadow Network" within Ah Ji’s body.

He guided Ah Ji’s own Shadow Energy, careful not to forcefully break through the node that felt "blocked."

Instead, he tried to sense if a more natural, smoother path for the energy’s flow existed.

Ah Ji seemed to sense its master’s intentions as well.

It relaxed its body, carefully attuning to the subtle changes in the energy within.

Time trickled by, second by second.

Time always passed quickly when studying in the university library.

Especially for Skill Manuals at the High-star Level threshold, once one entered an Enlightenment State, the learning time was measured in days.

At times like this, Gu Ming would take fresh Spiritual Food from his Beast Taming Space to replenish his Pet Beast’s energy, and it would continue learning after eating.

Gu Ming first guided Ah Ji through the Cultivation of the first version, then made minor adjustments based on his own understanding and some of the pointers from the third version.

He soon discovered that when the energy bypassed the node emphasized in the first version, taking another seemingly insignificant, tiny channel to connect directly to the next major node,

the entire energy cycle actually became smoother and more stable, and the consumption of Spiritual Power was also noticeably reduced.

’Just as I thought...’ Gu Ming had a moment of clarity.

The first and third versions might have provided a widely tested "universal path."

But it wasn’t the only one, nor was it necessarily the "optimal path" for Ah Ji.

Different Pet Beasts, due to their bloodline, Talent, and even individual variations, possess subtle differences in their internal energy networks.

Future versions of the Skills had already made great strides in their adaptability.

They weren’t based on a rigid cultivation route, but possessed Adaptive Traits suited for the new era of Cultivation Techniques.

Forcibly applying a fixed template would naturally lead to success, but the Cultivation path would only be that of the first version.

The true essence of the updated Skill version lay in the guiding principles recorded in the third version’s Jade Scroll.

These principles might be useful for a particular Pet Beast, or they might not.

The specific method of Cultivation depended on the Beastmaster’s personal judgment.

This was where a Beastmaster’s initiative came in. If an idiot tried to learn the new-era Skills, they might even regress the more they cultivated.

Having understood this point, Gu Ming’s teaching method became much clearer.

He didn’t just rigidly cram the optimized path from the future version into Ah Ji. Instead, he adopted a method of guidance and inspiration.

Through their Soul Contract, he transmitted a mental command to Ah Ji to "perceive itself":

"Ah Ji, don’t just focus on the path in the manual."

"Calm your mind and recall the Visualization Image for Shadow Cloak.

"Feel the Power of Shadow flowing inside you, as naturally as you feel your own blood flowing..."

"That’s it. Find the ’path’ that feels the most comfortable and smoothest for you..."

Ah Ji only seemed to half-understand, but it trusted Gu Ming.

It closed its eyes, focusing more intently on looking inward and recalling the Visualization Image.

The Visualization Image from the Jade Scroll began to appear in its mind—a hazy silhouette formed from pure shadow.

It was like an empty cloak, yet its interior seemed to hold countless overlapping, illusory figures, each draped in a similar garment.

Their faces were indistinct, and they stood in silence, together embodying the true meaning of "Concealment" and "coverage."

It cautiously guided its Shadow Energy. At first, the flow was somewhat stiff and sluggish.

But soon, its innate Dark Affinity began to take effect.

It instinctively avoided the path marked in the Jade Scroll’s diagram—one that had felt "awkward" for its energy to flow through—and instead chose a circulatory route that better suited its own energetic properties.

Gradually, an extremely faint, almost transparent layer of shadow, like a thin morning mist, began to emanate from the roots of Ah Ji’s fur, slowly enveloping its entire body.

This layer of shadow wasn’t dense, yet it was exceptionally stable, creating a strange resonance and interaction with the shadows cast by the library’s bookshelves.

This caused Ah Ji’s tiny figure to flicker in and out of view amidst the shifting light and shadow, its presence greatly diminished.

This was the prototype of the Shadow Cloak!

And it was a more efficient and harmonious version, built upon Ah Ji’s own unique traits!

Gu Ming didn’t stop there.

After the Shadow Cloak was initially stabilized, he guided Ah Ji to try Shadow Mimicry.

He no longer required Ah Ji to rigidly mimic a specific object, but instead encouraged it to feel and "play" with the shadows.

"Ah Ji, try this. Make the shadow at the tip of your tail sway gently, as if it’s being blown by a light breeze..."

"Very good, just like that."

"Now, visualize more deeply. Try to make the outline of your shadow’s edge slowly conform to the shape of the nearby bookshelf’s shadow..."

Ah Ji found this novel and fun.

It began to control the shadows on its body, making all sorts of subtle changes:

Sometimes, it would quietly elongate its own shadow.

At other times, it would blur and fade its edges.

And at others, it would try to imitate the neat, square shadow cast by a book on the floor.

Meanwhile, the far more complex and bizarre Visualization Image for Shadow Mimicry from the Jade Scroll also surfaced in its mind.

The image was indescribable, filled with dynamic horror and creativity—

the shadow seemed to have a life of its own, capable of twisting and deforming. At times it would shift into a hideous demonic face; at others, it would solidify into a mighty warrior clad in dark armor, displaying endless possibilities for Mimicry.

Ah Ji could vaguely sense that if it mastered this skill, its shadow might be able to temporarily break free from the constraints of its physical form and transform into a more imposing or peculiar shape.

"Stay grounded." Gu Ming had been perceiving Ah Ji’s mental state.

Sensing it was getting in too deep, he gave a timely reminder.

Ah Ji was instantly jolted back to its senses, no longer indulging in those cool images and their false sense of power.

It held its master’s encouragement to heart and maintained its sense of self.

It would first understand itself, then draw upon the transformations.

This period of Cultivation took it many more days.

Gu Ming found a study room in the library and took it to a reading nook in the corner. It appeared to be cultivating with its eyes closed, but it was actually training in a dream.

After undergoing six weeks of tempering in the dream, Ah Ji’s progress in learning Shadow Mimicry was beginning to show.

At the same time, it also noticed that Shadow Mimicry seemed to be on a higher and more profound level than Shadow Cloak.

’If I master this, maybe... I’ll be one step closer to the Possession Technique of the Ghost Kitten I admire, or even Teacher Tang’s Profound Celestial Beast Ghost Soul’s Ghost Armor Possession Skill?’

This thought made the fire of anticipation in Ah Ji’s heart burn even brighter.

Although it had taken six weeks in the dream just to reach the Entry Level with Shadow Mimicry—even longer than it took for Shadow Cloak—Ah Ji’s control over shadows had been steadily and subtly improving.

Watching Ah Ji’s focused and happy expression, Gu Ming broke into a gratified smile.

He understood that the gains from this trip to the library went far beyond Ah Ji learning two Three-star Skills.

More importantly, Gu Ming himself had also gained something.

He had gained a whole new understanding of the "Adaptive Traits" of the future Cultivation Realm.

Compared to the various clever little paths in the Jade Scroll, the guiding principles researched by the great masters were the technical points that truly left him in awe.

’How did they even figure that out?’

’I feel like the innovators of these two Skills held back and didn’t include some of the best parts.’

He gently scratched Ah Ji’s chin and said softly, "Ah Ji."

"Remember this feeling.

"If my feeling is right, you can master both of these Skills at the same time."

Ah Ji narrowed its eyes in comfort, a deep purr rumbling in its throat.

The shadows on its body rippled gently, as if in response to its master’s praise.

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