Beast Taming: My System is Bugged-Chapter 76 - 75: Product of the War Era

Swept up in the currents of the age, no one but Gu Ming could foresee how explosive the future of Mana Evolution would become.

Countless thoughts flashed through Gu Ming’s mind. ’The whole point of publishing a paper is to earn extra points.’

’If it can’t get me extra points on the college entrance exam, there’s not much point. I might as well wait until Cyan Treasure evolves before making a decision.’

Having scrapped the paper on the Evolution Method, the only Cultivation Technique Gu Ming had left that could earn him extra points was the modified future version of «Cyan Pine».

This Cultivation Technique was extremely powerful. Not only did it share the same Adaptive Traits as a Breathing Technique, but it also introduced the innovation of carving an Array within the brain.

Based on that alone, Gu Ming felt this Cultivation Technique would warrant publication in a Four-star Journal at the very least.

’Since it was adopted by schools all over the country, it has to be worth much more than that.’

’Maybe it could even catch the discerning eye of a Five-star Journal editor?’

As this thought crossed his mind, Gu Ming asked casually,

"Teacher, if a Beastmaster could carve an Array in their mind using Spiritual Power, what Star Level journal do you think a discovery like that could get published in?"

Teacher Zhang had just finished examining Cyan Treasure and was injecting it with a bit of Cold Qi to repair its Inner Core.

Hearing Gu Ming’s outlandish idea, he shook his head. "That’s impossible."

"But what if it is possible?"

Gu Ming persisted, his curiosity piqued.

The «Cyan Pine» that Gu Ming was cultivating had not yet been introduced to the world. He could feel the Hall of the Great Dao between heaven and earth waiting for him to name the Cultivation Technique, to brand it with his name.

He didn’t know who the original creator of this modified technique was, or whose thunder he would be stealing.

But regardless, that was a New Technique that wouldn’t be introduced for another twenty or thirty years.

’I can’t just keep the Cultivation Technique to myself without naming it forever, right?’

Besides, what was meant to happen in the future wasn’t guaranteed to occur.

Gu Ming decided he would name it and claim a spot in the Hall of the Great Dao.

He would give his teacher a heads-up to prevent him from being overly shocked later on.

After all, once a Cultivation Technique was named, it would trigger its induction into the Hall of the Great Dao. A commotion of that magnitude was impossible to hide; the entire school would know.

"If it were possible to carve an Array... let me think. There are many kinds of Arrays in this world—some accelerate spiritual recovery, others absorb Spiritual Qi. If you could carve one, maybe the human body could even breathe Spiritual Qi..."

At this thought, Teacher Zhang shook his head.

’If humans could breathe Spiritual Qi and cultivate Mana, the entire college entrance exam would be turned on its head. It would become an entrance exam for Cultivators.’

’Obviously, that’s impossible.’

’It’s best not to indulge in such unrealistic fantasies.’

"It would be a Five or Six-star journal at a minimum, I suppose, if what you’re describing were to actually appear."

Teacher Zhang said this offhandedly, not truly considering just how explosive such a discovery would be.

Gu Ming, however, swallowed hard. ’A Six-star Journal?’

’That kind of journal is a manifestation composed entirely of Taoist Text. Reading it is like achieving Enlightenment—a completely different experience.’

"How many college entrance exam points can a Six-star Journal get you?"

"Hah, it’s not a question of extra points at that point. It’s a matter of you taking your pick of any of the top ten universities in the country. But don’t even think about it," Teacher Zhang said, shaking his head. "The editors of a Six-star Journal would never look at it."

To be selected by the editors of a Six-star Journal, a work would need to be a Cultivation Technique or Skill with extremely High-star Level potential.

If the author of the paper had a low Star Level and the work itself was aimed at Low-star Beastmasters and Low-star Pet Beasts, it would need to be innovative to a rule-breaking degree just to be accepted.

Otherwise, they generally only reviewed the work of Four to Six-star Beastmasters, not something from a high school student.

Gu Ming considered Teacher Zhang’s words and realized the «Cyan Pine» Cultivation Technique was far more groundbreaking than he had imagined.

However, «Cyan Pine» wasn’t quite as world-changing as Teacher Zhang was imagining.

’It definitely can’t enable human Cultivation Immortality. The future still belongs to the Beastmasters.’

Because just as Gu Ming and Teacher Zhang were discussing the Brain Array, the system was updating its bullet comments, filling in the gaps in Gu Ming’s knowledge.

You ask Teacher Zhang whether the fifth edition of the «Cyan Pine» Cultivation Technique has any hidden dangers. After all, carving an Array inside the brain is simply too incredible, and you don’t know how people of this era will perceive it.

Teacher Zhang, aware that you have been out of touch for a long time, patiently explains that risks do exist. The previous four versions of the Cultivation Technique led to countless victims suffering from cultivation deviation.

All who attempted to use the Brain Array to walk the path of Cultivation Immortality failed and transformed into Demon Fiends.

The current fifth edition of the «Cyan Pine» Cultivation Technique has abandoned any "inhuman" cultivation ideologies. It is human-centric, using the Cyan Pine as a model to cultivate the Sea of Spiritual Consciousness by borrowing its power. This is known as the "borrowed momentum" approach.

Gu Ming read the bullet comments from the system, lost in thought.

’So, people who used Spiritual Techniques to pursue Cultivation Immortality all turned into Demon Fiends.’

’The fifth edition lacks any "inhuman" cultivation ideology. Conversely, that means the current «Cyan Pine Unmoving Technique» must have a major flaw.’

’The current «Cyan Pine Unmoving Technique» requires a Beastmaster to imagine themselves becoming a Cyan Pine, steadfast against the wind and rain.’ 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

’From a conceptual standpoint, it has a latent "inhuman" flaw.’

A chill went down Gu Ming’s spine as he realized that most students across the entire country were practicing the «Cyan Pine Unmoving Technique».

’Is a disaster waiting to happen?’

"Teacher, how long has the «Cyan Pine Unmoving Technique» been promoted?" Gu Ming asked.

"About thirty years or so. It’s been revised several times; the original version was different from the one we have now."

Teacher Zhang told Gu Ming about the historical versions of the Spiritual Technique. The very first version of the «Cyan Pine Unmoving Technique» simply used the Cyan Pine as a model, encouraging practitioners to learn from its spirit to train themselves.

Later versions, however, advocated for Beastmasters to embody the Cyan Pine, or even to become the Cyan Pine, to achieve greater cultivation efficiency.

Hearing this, Gu Ming had a premonition. This Cultivation Technique had definitely caused a disaster in the future.

’After all, why would a Spiritual Technique that was promoted nationwide suddenly change its name? There must have been some drastic change to warrant it.’

And sure enough, as Gu Ming continued his conversation, the system updated its logs with new entries, each more shocking than the last.

Teacher Zhang reminisces with you about events from over twenty years ago. In the year 520, a large number of demonized Beastmasters emerged from environmental organizations in the south. Half-tree and half-human, they controlled Grass Element Pet Beasts to launch attacks on human cities.

They hated humanity, believing that humans had destroyed the beauty of the natural world. They sought to completely eradicate humankind and restore the world to its original state.

It was a devastating war against a Demon Fiend invasion. The Great Zhou Dynasty paid a terrible price to finally eliminate this faction of Beastmasters who had transformed into Demon Fiends.

The war, in turn, spurred a new revolution in human Cultivation Techniques. The Spiritual Technique involving the Brain Array distinguished itself during the conflict, rapidly becoming the rising star in the field of fast-track cultivation, possessing immense potential.

The first version of the «Cyan Pine» Cultivation Technique was born during that period. As Teacher Zhang speaks of that era, his face shows a hint of excitement, but it quickly darkens as he remembers his deceased daughter. If only she had still been alive back then...

Reading this, Gu Ming was now certain that the «Cyan Pine» Cultivation Technique was the product of a massive overhaul. If he were to name this technique now, it might trigger a change in the timeline.

’Should I name it?’

’Maybe after I name it, the system’s timeline will change. After all, its timeline is set in the year 550, by which point «Cyan Pine» has already been created, named, and inducted into the Hall of the Great Dao.’

’But in reality, it’s only the year 518. It’s far too early for «Cyan Pine» to appear.’