Beast Taming: My System is Bugged

According to the timeline provided by the system, the Demon War that would sweep the globe was set to erupt in the year 520 of the Human Era.

The Spring Festival had passed, and the calendar now read 519.

At most, there were less than ten months until that prophesied point in time.

Gu Ming knew that ’global outbreak’ and ’the start of the war’ were two different stages.

Any large-scale conflict was bound to start with localized friction and infiltration, gradually escalating until it spiraled out of control.

Based on the information he had, the Cloud Country was undoubtedly at the eye of the storm.

High-ranking officials had designated it as "the foremost front line of the Demon War."

Several nations were currently scrambling to keep the flames of war beyond its borders, desperate to prevent the conflict from reaching their own soil.

However, as Gu Ming connected a few seemingly isolated incidents, a chill crept up his spine.

First, the high-level intelligence from Elder Huo pointed directly to the Cloud Country.

Second, during last year’s midterm exam, a Five-star Demon Tree had appeared at the Kyoto Dragon Gate exam site—a clear sign of invasion.

Furthermore, the system’s data repeatedly mentioned that the war would be triggered by the "demonization of southern environmental organizations," with Grass Element Pet Beasts being the primary victims.

This and the front line in the Cloud Country were clearly two separate threads.

A terrifying conclusion began to take shape.

The Demon War had, in fact, already been quietly ignited within the Great Zhou Empire.

Its scale just hadn’t expanded yet.

Or rather, the relevant information was being strictly controlled, kept out of mainstream news. The general public, naturally, remained unaware.

With this realization, Gu Ming immediately took action.

He went online and began an intensive search for recent activities of environmental organizations in the country’s southern regions, particularly those centered on Grass Element Pet Beasts.

Soon, a hair-raising discovery came to light.

Right in his own city, a Grass Element Pet Beast protection organization called "Friends of Nature" was in the middle of a flurry of activity.

Even more striking was a highly tempting "perk" the organization had launched during the Spring Festival.

They were offering a free Pet Beast cub with Three-star Potential to any Beastmaster who cultivated the Cyan Pine Unmoving Technique.

This coincided with the end of the year, a critical time when many third-year high school students were coming of age and searching for their first contracted Pet Beast.

The event was undeniably attractive.

Gu Ming’s fingers flew across the light screen as he rapidly expanded his search.

The results made his heart pound.

This wasn’t an isolated event.

The Friends of Nature organization and its affiliates had established similar promotional networks in cities large and small across the southern provinces.

The sheer number of events and their vast coverage formed an invisible net that was slowly tightening.

’I have to do something.’

The thought grew incredibly strong in Gu Ming’s mind.

But the next practical problem immediately arose.

’How can I get the higher-ups to take this seriously?’

A report from an ordinary person would most likely vanish without a trace.

Unless.

’Unless I can trigger a massive tidal wave of public opinion.’

Just then, Gu Ming realized how special his own status was.

He was no longer just an ordinary student from a small town.

He was a public figure, adorned with the titles of genius freshman at Wenquxing University, author of a paper in a top journal, and star player in the national league.

His voice naturally carried the potential to be amplified and heard.

’Use my fame and influence to expose this potential crisis?’

The idea was incredibly tempting, but it also came with enormous risks.

Public opinion was a double-edged sword. It could awaken the public’s vigilance, but it could also invite unforeseen backlash and suppression.

’Should I put myself in the eye of the storm, or play it safe and protect myself?’

Gu Ming barely hesitated.

After a few seconds of contemplation, the hesitation in his eyes was replaced by resolve.

The courage and sense of responsibility ingrained in him surged, making it impossible to ignore a threat so close at hand.

’The truth must be exposed.’

He made up his mind.

Of course, empty words wouldn’t be enough to convince anyone.

He needed concrete evidence before making any videos or public statements.

The next morning, Gu Ming took Cyan Treasure, Ah Kun, and Ah Ji to the community shop.

For one, he had promised Ruan Jing he would continue working at the shop.

Moreover, this small, bustling shop in the community center was caught up in the supply and demand of the Friends of Nature organization’s recent Pet Beast giveaway, giving Gu Ming a perfect opportunity to make contact.

...

As he stepped into the familiar community shop, the calls and scents of various Pet Beasts rushed to greet him.

On rows of Pet Beast shelves, cubs of all shapes and sizes chirped and chattered.

The air was a thick mixture of feathers, fur, scales, and the scent of raw energy from various Attributes—so potent it was almost choking.

Following at Gu Ming’s side, Cyan Treasure seemed to furrow its nonexistent brow.

It took a natural, deep breath, and the Quasi-Path Level Breathing Technique within its body began to operate silently.

Without any visible flash of light, the murky air in the shop seemed to be drawn in by an invisible power.

It formed an imperceptible Qi Vortex, which was drawn completely into its body.

Through an exquisitely refined Circulation of Heaven and Earth, the air was instantly converted into the purest Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

When Gu Ming took his next breath, he found the air in the shop had become fresh, natural, and invigorating.

This casual display of profound power left the few customers who were selecting Pet Beasts staring in amazement.

It also made the eyes of the young manager, who had been busy behind the counter, light up.

An enthusiastic smile instantly bloomed on his face as he hurried over to greet them.

"You must be God Gu, right? I’ve heard so much about you!"

Manager Ruan Taibai enthusiastically extended his hand, his tone filled with undisguised reverence.

"I didn’t expect you to come over today.

"You really don’t have to mind my sister’s arrangements. Your time is so precious; having you in my little shop is a huge waste of your talents."

Gu Ming shook his hand, sensing the abundant Spiritual Power of a Three-star Beastmaster.

He was even faintly touching the threshold of the Four-star level.

His condition was quite similar to Ruan Jing’s back when she worked here.

Being addressed so deferentially by a Beastmaster who was several years his senior and possessed considerable Cultivation made Gu Ming a little uncomfortable.

He said sincerely, "Manager Ruan, you’re being too polite. Just call me Gu Ming."

"I can practice my Cultivation anywhere. Working in a shop is a form of tempering one’s heart in the mortal world. For me, it’s also a learning experience."

"Oh, I couldn’t possibly..."

Ruan Taibai scratched his head, looking a little bashful.

He had taken over the shop mostly due to family arrangements.

His own ambitions lay elsewhere; he was preoccupied with his academic papers and his own Cultivation breakthroughs.

He had little interest in caring for these Basic Type Pet Beasts.

Gu Ming saw all this but didn’t point it out.

At the same time, as he observed the flow of the other man’s Qi Mechanism, a thought struck Gu Ming.

He asked, almost without thinking,

"Manager Ruan, have you recently been struggling with the Spiritual Power bottleneck for breaking through to Four-star Beastmaster?"

"Are you perhaps looking for a suitable Spiritual Condensation Technique?"

Hearing this, Ruan Taibai’s eyes went wide.

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