Beast Taming: My System is Bugged

The first day of the competition was over.

Night had fallen. The clamor within the university gradually subsided as most people returned to their rooms to practice their Cultivation.

However, the lights were still burning bright in the study of Elder Huo’s detached villa.

Gu Ming pushed the door open and stepped inside. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of Spirit Grass incense and the scent of old scrolls.

"You’re here?"

Elder Huo sat behind a large sandalwood desk, toying with a recording Crystal Stone in his hand.

It was repeatedly playing a recording of Cyan Treasure using Rootless Wood from earlier in the day.

The elation from before had vanished from his face, replaced by the characteristic focus and caution of a researcher.

"Teacher Huo." Gu Ming bowed respectfully.

Elder Huo set the Crystal Stone down. His gaze sharpened as he looked at Gu Ming, getting straight to the point.

"Kid, let’s not waste words."

"This ’Rootless Wood’ of yours is no ordinary Grass Seed."

"The ’assimilation’ and ’absorption’ traits it displays have already touched upon the very essence of Power. I have never seen such immense potential in my life."

Gu Ming’s heart stirred, and he waited for what was to come.

Elder Huo’s tone shifted, growing solemn. "However, fortune and misfortune are two sides of the same coin."

"This technique is domineering, and its ’rootless’ nature is a double-edged sword."

"When I watched Cyan Treasure use it, it was able to plunder all things to nourish the seed."

"But its own life source was also fluctuating violently."

"I imagine controlling this seed consumes a great deal of Life Force, doesn’t it?" With a single sentence, Elder Huo had pinpointed the very reason Cyan Treasure’s Skill Level had plateaued.

Elder Huo stood up, walked over to Gu Ming, and said in a low voice,

"After this battle, you are no longer just a rising academic star in others’ eyes. You are now a hot commodity with both combat strength and academic value."

"For your upcoming opponents, using you as a stepping stone is the best way to make a name for themselves."

"Many powerful and influential families will study you, look for your weaknesses, and then arrange to have someone face you in a future match."

"Whether to suppress you or to build their own fame upon yours, they will certainly not be caught off guard like Mu Lan was."

"They will use every trick in the book to find the weakness of Rootless Wood."

Weaknesses...

Gu Ming wondered what weaknesses Rootless Wood could possibly have.

Ever since the Seed of Rootless Wood Grass was manifested by the system, it had been invincible. At most, the ancient Dragon Pattern Tripod, combined with Cyan Treasure’s own consciousness, could slightly suppress it.

But even that "suppression" was related to the nature of Rootless Wood itself. It had no source, which also meant it had no controlling self-awareness.

As long as Cyan Treasure forcefully maintained its sense of self, it could continue to control the Grass Seed.

Beyond that, he couldn’t think of any other drawbacks for the time being.

Elder Huo’s gaze wasn’t focused on the immediate wins and losses. It was fixed on something much more distant. His tone was calm, yet carried immense weight as he said,

"I’ve said all this, but what it boils down to is this: I want you to understand that you don’t have to force a win in every situation."

"Sometimes, knowing when to accept a loss is also a form of wisdom."

Gu Ming was stunned by his words.

He had originally thought his teacher was encouraging him to withstand the pressure and not be crushed by the outside world’s scrutiny and expectations.

He never expected Elder Huo to offer such a seemingly defeatist piece of advice.

"Wanting to win forever? That’s easier said than done."

Elder Huo shook his head lightly, his fingers tapping a rhythm on the desk as he analyzed the situation.

"I’m well aware that your unique Pet Beast Breathing Technique gives you an unparalleled advantage in battles of attrition."

"But right now, your accumulated Combat Skills are neither broad enough nor deep enough."

"If you reveal all your trump cards this month just to maintain a winning streak, you’ll be studied thoroughly."

"And if you don’t have enough time to research and master new killing moves... then the road ahead will likely be filled with one defeat after another, with no chance to recover."

Gu Ming nodded thoughtfully.

Elder Huo’s words had truly hit the nail on the head.

Countless people on the outside wanted to use him as a stepping stone for their own meteoric rise.

But Elder Huo advised him to do the opposite: "Don’t be burdened by empty fame. Settle down, solidify the foundations for your three Pet Beasts, and dig deep into the potential of every single one of their Combat Skills—especially the application of Combined Techniques."

Elder Huo paused, his tone growing even more serious. "That is the true meaning of this three-month-long university league."

"The core purpose of hosting the league is to train troops, to temper them, to allow Beastmasters and their Pet Beasts to transform through real combat—not to let young people fill their heads with nothing but the pursuit of hollow glory."

"Therefore," Elder Huo concluded, "in the coming days, strategically giving up a match or two—losing appropriately—will cause no harm. In fact, it could be greatly beneficial."

Gu Ming pondered for a moment before admitting frankly,

"Teacher, to be honest... I’ve pretty much used up all my current trump cards today."

"Isn’t that perfect?"

A glint flashed in Elder Huo’s eyes. Far from being disappointed, his expression showed that this was exactly as it should be.

"This is the perfect opportunity to shed your baggage and focus on your Cultivation!"

"We need to adjust our previous training plan immediately. Oh, and you should also go consult with Teacher Tang Tianyi from the Cultivation Method Company more often."

"Didn’t he do a great job planning out Ah Ji’s growth path for you?"

"You must make good use of high-quality guidance and resources."

Gu Ming nodded solemnly, his mind opening up to the new possibilities.

Indeed, while Rootless Wood was powerful, it was better suited as a decisive, finishing blow.

His conventional combat system, on the other hand, had enormous room for expansion.

For example, could Cyan Treasure’s Mastery of Wood Escape be fused with other Attributes?

Perhaps it could follow a bizarre path of fusing with and purifying the "Heterodox Holy Dragon Poison"?

Or, as he had previously considered, could he use the Dragon Pattern Tripod to gain further control over Dragon Race Combat Techniques? Or maybe have Cyan Treasure undergo a morphological Evolution, or even practice stronger Dragon Race Combat Techniques?

There was Ah Kun learning follow-up moves to its Wave-Swallowing Technique, and Ah Ji combining its Shadow and Spiritual Awakening Techniques... The combined growth paths of his three Pet Beasts could give rise to countless ingenious tactics.

As long as he practiced these Combined Techniques to perfection, he could naturally keep his opponents guessing, rather than relying on a single trick every time.

With that said, Elder Huo’s expression turned serious. With a faint flash of light at his fingertips, he retrieved two Jade Bottles from his Beast Taming Space and presented them to Gu Ming.

"Inside, there are three drops of ’Soul-Stabilizing Purple Marrow.’ It can effectively help Cyan Treasure stabilize its life source and mitigate the potential dangers of its Power fluctuating violently."

"There is also a bottle of ’Ten Thousand Miles Undersea Deep Stone Milk.’ This substance contains a trace of the tranquility from the deep ocean waves, which might help Ah Kun better comprehend the advanced mysteries of the Wave-Swallowing Technique."

"As for resources, you need not worry. The university and I will certainly give you our full support."

"Your path has only just begun. You must be cautious with every step and proceed steadily."

Gu Ming accepted the Jade Bottles with both hands, feeling their substantial weight. A warmth spread through his heart, and he knew that behind this great expectation lay an equally great responsibility.

He straightened his back and nodded firmly. "I understand, Teacher! I will not fail to live up to your expectations!"

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