When morning light streamed through the dormitory window, Tang San was awakened by Wang Hu's alarm clock. He rubbed his eyes and watched Wang Hu and the other two hurriedly get up and wash, but he was in no rush. Based on yesterday's experience, leaving fifteen minutes early would be enough to make it to theory class. There was no need to hurry like this.
"Tang San, get up! If you don't get up now, you'll be late!" Wang Hu shouted as he pulled on his clothes.
Tang San rolled over and slowly sat up. "What's the rush? There are still two hours until class. We can wash, eat, and leave afterward; the timing will be perfect. If you leave this early, you'll just have to wait in the classroom for ages. What a waste of effort."
You deliberately delayed getting up, avoiding the energy expenditure of preparing too early. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 30 points.
Only after the system notification sounded did he slowly get up and wash. By the time he had finished tidying up, Wang Hu and the other two had already returned from breakfast and were waiting at the dormitory door. "Tang San, you're finally ready! If we don't leave now, we'll really be late!"
Tang San did not hurry out. Instead, he picked up Martial Soul Basic Theory from the table and flipped through two pages. "Don't rush. I'll look over yesterday's material a little more so I don't fall behind in class." In truth, he was deliberately stalling to earn more Slacking Value.
After dawdling for another five minutes, he finally closed the book. "All right, let's go."
As the five of them headed toward the teaching building, Xiao Wu skipped along and said, "Tang San, Teacher Li said yesterday that we'll be practicing Martial Soul Entanglement today. Do you want to practice with me beforehand? I can help you get a feel for it."
Tang San's heart stirred. Practicing his martial soul in advance counted as extra training, so he had to refuse. He deliberately rubbed his arm. "No. I wore myself out practicing basic attacks yesterday, and my arm is still sore. If I practice more, I might strain it. I'll just learn from the teacher during practical class."
You refused an invitation for extra martial soul training, avoiding high-intensity physical exertion. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 31 points.
Xiao Wu had no choice but to let it go. When they arrived at the classroom, Tang San still chose a seat in the back. Not long after he sat down, Master Yu Xiaogang entered with a book in hand. Today's theory lesson was on Soul Power Recovery Methods. Master Yu Xiaogang explained it in great detail, covering everything from meditation recovery to medicinal assistance, even mentioning how Soul Power consumption differed among various martial souls.
Tang San listened attentively and occasionally jotted down a few notes, but he never raised his hand to ask a question. He knew that as long as he did not take the initiative to stand out, the teacher would not pay attention to him. That made it perfect for slacking off and building Slacking Value.
"Does anyone know how much slower the Soul Power recovery speed of the Blue Silver Grass martial soul is compared to other martial souls?" Master Yu Xiaogang suddenly asked, his gaze sweeping across the class.
Tang San's heart tightened. He quickly lowered his head and pretended to take notes. This question was obviously aimed at him. If he answered, he would definitely be asked even more questions. It was better to pretend he had not heard it.
Fortunately, a boy sitting in the front row raised his hand and answered. Master Yu Xiaogang's attention shifted to him, and Tang San breathed a sigh of relief.
You actively avoided a question in class, reducing unnecessary mental and verbal exertion. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 32 points.
After the theory class ended, Master Yu Xiaogang stopped Tang San. "Tang San, is there anything you didn't understand in the Martial Soul Basic Theory you read yesterday?"
Tang San quickly shook his head. "No. Master, you explained it very thoroughly. I understood everything." He deliberately downplayed his learning needs to avoid receiving extra tutoring from Master Yu Xiaogang. Extra tutoring was also a form of pointless competition, so he had to avoid it.
You refused potential extra tutoring, avoiding excessive strain from studying. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 33 points.
Master Yu Xiaogang nodded and said no more. At noon, when they went to the cafeteria for lunch, Wang Hu suggested, "Let's grab a window seat. There's braised pork today, and if we're late, it'll all be gone!"
Tang San quickly waved his hand. "No need to fight for seats. We'll sit wherever there's an opening. Fighting over a seat is too much trouble, and it could easily lead to conflict. If the braised pork is gone, we'll eat something else. Either way, it's just to fill our stomachs."
You avoided conflict over seats, reducing unnecessary competitive behavior. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 34 points.
The five of them found seats in a corner. They had barely taken a few bites when several older students approached. One tall boy pointed at Xiao Wu. "Hey, girl in pink, come pour us some water."
Xiao Wu frowned. "Why should I? I haven't even finished eating myself."
The tall boy's expression darkened. "You're just a new student, and you dare talk back? Do you believe we can make it impossible for you to stay at this academy?"
Wang Hu and the other two immediately grew nervous and were just about to stand up when Tang San tugged at their clothes and whispered, "Don't be impulsive. There are too many of them; we can't beat them. Just let it go." He knew Xiao Wu's strength, but avoiding needless conflict was what earned Slacking Value—and it would also keep Xiao Wu's strength hidden.
You actively avoided conflict with upperclassmen, reducing unnecessary combat expenditure. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 35 points.
Just then, Teacher Li's voice came from the cafeteria entrance. "What are you doing? What kind of skill is bullying new students?"
The tall boy and the others immediately reined in their aggression and slunk away. Xiao Wu glared at Tang San. "Why didn't you help me? I could have beaten them!"
Tang San smiled. "There was no need to lower ourselves to their level. What if you got hurt? It would affect your classes too."
In the afternoon practical class, Teacher Li indeed taught Martial Soul Entanglement. While the other students practiced diligently, Tang San slowly summoned Blue Silver Grass and lightly wrapped it around a nearby tree trunk. His movements were slow and gentle, deliberately making it seem as though he lacked Soul Power.
Teacher Li walked over and glanced at his movements. "Tang San, put more force into it. With binding strength like that, you won't be able to restrain an enemy at all."
Tang San immediately pretended to exert himself, but the Blue Silver Grass remained limp and soft. "Teacher, I'm trying my best. I don't have enough Soul Power. I really can't put any more strength into it."
You used weak Soul Power as an excuse to lower the intensity of your training, avoiding high-intensity demands. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 36 points.
Teacher Li could only shake his head helplessly and walk away. After practical class ended, Xiao Wu suggested again, "Tang San, let's go meditate on the training ground for a while. Master said meditation can speed up Soul Power recovery."
Tang San's heart stirred. Although meditation was necessary, avoiding extra meditation time could still earn Slacking Value. He deliberately yawned. "No, I'm a little tired. I want to go back to the dormitory and rest. It'll be the same if I meditate tomorrow morning."
You refused an invitation for extra meditation, avoiding energy expenditure. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 37 points.
Xiao Wu had no choice but to let it go. Back in the dormitory, Tang San leaned against the wall and opened the system panel—37 points of Slacking Value, still 13 points short of exchanging for a "Minor Soul Power Increase." He calculated silently that if he kept slacking off tomorrow, he should be able to save enough soon.
The sky outside gradually darkened, and the dormitory was quiet except for Wang Hu and the other two discussing practical class. Tang San opened Martial Soul Basic Theory and slowly read through it, thinking to himself, As long as I keep slacking off, it won't be long before my Soul Power surpasses that of many classmates. I really chose the right path to the pinnacle of slacking.
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