Morning Practice to Slack and Accumulate Slacking Value, Dodging Questions in Class to Maintain Pace

The sky hadn't fully brightened when faint sounds stirred in the dormitory. Tang San groggily opened his eyes to see Wang Hu quietly getting dressed. Li Qing and Zhao Yu also woke up one after another.

"What are you guys doing?" Tang San rubbed his eyes, his voice raspy from just waking up.

Wang Hu lowered his voice, "We're going to the training grounds for morning practice. Teacher Li said morning practice can speed up Soul Power recovery, and we need to seize the time to get stronger."

Tang San rolled over and burrowed deeper into his blankets, "Is it really necessary to push so hard? Sleeping in a bit longer in the morning will refresh us, and we'll be able to focus in class. Besides, Soul Power recovery won't suffer that much from skipping this one morning practice."

[Actively refusing morning practice, avoiding excessive early-morning exertion, Slacking Value +1, current total 38 points]

As soon as the system notification ended, Wang Hu and the other two didn't try to persuade him further and quietly left the dormitory. Tang San closed his eyes but didn't fall back asleep – he was calculating how to accumulate the remaining Slacking Value for the day so he could exchange it for a Soul Power boost.

About half an hour later, as the sky outside gradually brightened, Tang San slowly got out of bed. After washing up, he didn't head to the cafeteria. Instead, he took out the leftover steamed buns from yesterday from his cloth bag and sat by the dormitory entrance, eating them slowly – "Reducing time spent queuing at the cafeteria" also meant more rest.

Just as he finished his buns, Xiao Wu bounced back, sweat beading on her forehead. "Tang San, why didn't you go to morning practice? I was looking for you just now, wanting to practice Martial Soul Entanglement with you!"

Tang San clapped the bun crumbs off his hands. "I'm just eating something to fill my stomach. Morning practice is too tiring, and I'm weak. I can't handle the strain. We can practice Martial Soul Entanglement with the teacher during practical class; there's no need to exert extra effort."

[Refusing additional Martial Soul practice after skipping morning practice, avoiding physical exertion, Slacking Value +1, current total 39 points]

Xiao Wu pouted but didn't say anything more, turning to wash up. After they both got ready, they walked towards the teaching building together. On the way, Xiao Wu suddenly remembered something. "Oh right, Tang San, after theory class today, Master said he wants to tutor a few students individually. Do you want to go? I heard you can learn a lot of practical Soul Power application techniques."

Tang San's heart skipped a beat. "Individual tutoring" was considered extra learning and definitely something he had to refuse. He deliberately slowed his pace. "No, thank you. I've already learned enough theory. Individual tutoring is too mentally taxing, and if I can't keep up, it might affect my subsequent studies. It's safer to learn with the main class and take it slow."

[Refusing an invitation for extra tutoring, avoiding excessive learning-related exertion, Slacking Value +1, current total 40 points]

Upon arriving at the classroom, Tang San still chose a seat in the back row. Not long after, Yu Xiaogang walked in with a book. Today's theory class was about "The Compatibility of Soul Rings and Martial Souls," covering everything from Soul Ring years to Soul Skill characteristics in great detail.

Tang San listened attentively, occasionally jotting down notes on paper, but he didn't raise his hand once. As class was about to end, Yu Xiaogang suddenly looked towards the back row. "Tang San, tell me, for the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, what is the optimal year limit for its first Soul Ring?"

Tang San's heart tightened. He quickly lowered his head, pretending to search for the answer in his book. Xiao Wu, beside him, nudged his arm and whispered, "It's around 423 years!"

Tang San didn't answer immediately. Only when Yu Xiaogang's gaze shifted to other students did he slowly look up. "Master, I couldn't find the point just now and I'm not entirely sure of the answer. Perhaps another student could answer?"

[Actively avoiding classroom response, reducing mental and expressive exertion, Slacking Value +1, current total 41 points]

Yu Xiaogang paused, then said nothing more, letting a student in the front row answer the question. After the dismissal bell rang, Yu Xiaogang walked over to Tang San. "Did you not study 'Martial Soul Basic Theory' properly? It clearly states the compatible Soul Ring year limit for Blue Silver Grass."

Tang San quickly put on a guilty expression. "Master, I did study it, but I can't remember it clearly. I'll review it thoroughly when I get back." He deliberately downplayed his learning effectiveness to avoid drawing too much attention from Yu Xiaogang.

[Using "can't remember clearly" as a reason to reduce further questioning, avoiding additional learning-related pressure, Slacking Value +1, current total 42 points]

Yu Xiaogang nodded. "Alright, I'll ask you again next class. Make sure you remember it well." He then turned and left the classroom.

At noon, when heading to the cafeteria for lunch, Tang San saw the tall boy from yesterday standing by the entrance with a few others, staring at Tang San and Xiao Wu with unfriendly eyes. Wang Hu and the other two immediately tensed up. "Tang San, Xiao Wu, let's take a detour. Let's avoid conflict with them."

Tang San didn't move – taking a detour would delay their mealtime. It was better to "pass by discreetly" and avoid provoking conflict. He pulled Xiao Wu along, keeping his head down as they walked into the cafeteria, deliberately avoiding eye contact with the tall boy and his group.

The tall boy moved to block them but was pulled back by a companion. "Don't be rash. Teacher Li is inside." The group reluctantly gave up, glaring fiercely at them.

[Actively and discreetly avoiding conflict, reducing unnecessary social friction, Slacking Value +1, current total 43 points]

As they entered the cafeteria, Xiao Wu whispered, "Why weren't you scared of them just now? You told us not to be rash yesterday."

Tang San chuckled. "They were just trying to scare us. With the teacher there, they wouldn't dare to make a real move. There was no need to take a detour and waste time."

In the afternoon practical class, Teacher Li taught everyone "Basic Defense" using their Martial Souls. While the other students were diligently using their Martial Souls to block the wooden chips thrown by the teacher, Tang San slowly summoned his Blue Silver Grass and held it gently in front of him. The moment the wooden chip touched the Blue Silver Grass, it bent it over, rendering it completely useless for defense.

Teacher Li walked over, frowning. "Tang San, put some effort into it. This kind of defense won't stop any attacks."

Tang San quickly pretended to exert himself, but the Blue Silver Grass remained limp. "Teacher, my Soul Power is too weak, I really can't hold it up. If I try any harder, my Soul Power will be depleted."

[Using weak Soul Power as an excuse to reduce training intensity, avoiding high-intensity exertion, Slacking Value +1, current total 44 points]

Teacher Li sighed and told him to "do what he could." After the practical class ended, Xiao Wu suggested, "Tang San, let's go to the library and borrow a book on Soul Master cultivation. I heard there are many practical techniques inside."

Tang San shook his head. "No, I'm a bit tired today and want to go back to the dormitory to rest. Borrowing books is too much trouble. I'll go another time when I have the energy."

[Refusing an invitation to borrow books for study, avoiding extra time and energy expenditure, Slacking Value +1, current total 45 points]

Back in the dormitory, Tang San leaned against the wall and opened his system panel – 45 Slacking Value. He was still 5 points short of exchanging for "trace soul power increase" (which required 50 points). He mused inwardly that if he accumulated another 5 points tomorrow, he could exchange for the Soul Power boost.

The sky outside gradually darkened, and the dormitory was quiet. Tang San opened 'Martial Soul Basic Theory' and slowly flipped through the pages, thinking to himself: As long as I persist in slacking, it won't be long before I can improve my strength without expending any effort. This peak slacking path is becoming smoother and smoother.