Extra Class to Slack and Accumulate Value, Master's Guidance for a Clever Response

The morning mist hadn't yet dispersed when the bugle for morning practice sounded. Tang San rolled over in his warm bed, listening to Wang Hu and the other two hastily dressing. He didn't even lift his eyelids. Master had forced us to train until dark yesterday, so today I can use that as an excuse to "rest." Even just lying in bed a little longer will earn me some Slacking Value.

"Tang San, hurry up! Teacher Zhang is checking our Martial Soul Entanglement proficiency today. If you're late, you'll definitely be punished!" Zhao Yu shouted, his voice laced with urgency as he tied his belt.

Tang San rubbed his eyes and slowly sat up. "What's the rush? The bugle sounds three times before assembly. This is only the first time. I'll wash up first. You guys go ahead and grab a spot, so you don't have to fight for space later." He deliberately stalled. After the other three left, he reluctantly made his bed. While washing up, he even used twice the usual amount of water. By the time he walked towards the practice field, the bugle was already at the end of its second call.

[Proactively delayed departure, avoiding early high-intensity training preparation, Slacking Value + 1, current total 42 points]

On the practice field, Teacher Zhang was taking attendance with a roster. Seeing Tang San run over, his expression darkened. "Tang San, you're late again! Get in line quickly. Today we're practicing 'Martial Soul Entanglement Speed-Up.' Everyone has to entangle the stake within ten breaths. If you don't entangle it tightly, you'll be fined five laps!"

Tang San quickly took his place at the end of the line. Watching his classmates quickly entangle their stakes, he calculated—Entangling it tightly within ten breaths isn't difficult, but "entangling too tightly" consumes Soul Power. It's better to just meet the standard. That way, I won't be punished and I'll conserve energy. When it was his turn, he summoned his Blue Silver Grass. He deliberately slowed down for the first seven breaths, only applying a little more force in the last three. The grass blades barely tightened around the stake, just barely making the ten-breath mark.

"Tang San, your speed is too slow! If you're this slow next time, even if you entangle it tightly, you'll still be punished!" Teacher Zhang frowned but didn't say anything more. After all, he did entangle it tightly. There's no reason to punish him.

"Understood, Teacher. I'll try to be faster next time." Tang San replied verbally, but he didn't take it to heart. Next time, I can still use the excuse that my Soul Power is weak and I can't speed up.

[Reduced training intensity using "just meeting the standard" as an excuse, avoiding excessive consumption, Slacking Value + 1, current total 43 points]

After morning practice, Xiao Wu handed him a bottle of water. "Tang San, you almost ran out of time just now. Why didn't you entangle it faster?"

"Entangling faster consumes Soul Power. We have extra classes this morning, so I need to conserve my energy." Tang San unscrewed the water bottle and drank slowly. "Let's go to the cafeteria for lunch. There should be meat buns today."

As they walked towards the cafeteria, they saw Master Yu Xiaogang standing at the entrance, holding the cloth bag from yesterday. "Tang San, after your extra class this morning, come to my office. I'll teach you how to use Blue Silver Grass to sense your surroundings. It will be beneficial for your future cultivation."

Tang San's heart skipped a beat. Sensing the environment sounds like it will be mentally taxing. But this time, Master Yu Xiaogang didn't give him a chance to refuse. He turned and left after speaking. Tang San could only sigh helplessly. Looks like I can't avoid it today.

The extra class this morning was "Precise Soul Power Control Practice." Students had to use their Soul Power to levitate pebbles, keeping them suspended an inch above their palms for fifteen minutes without shaking. Wang Hu's pebble was steady, while Tang San's occasionally wobbled. He deliberately made it look "unstable" but just managed to keep it from falling.

"Tang San, can you stabilize it a bit? If the pebble is shaking like this, how can you practice precise control?" Teacher Li, who was in charge of the training, walked over, his tone laced with impatience.

"Teacher, my Soul Power is too weak. When I try to control it, I always feel a bit powerless, so I can only try my best to keep it steady." Tang San quickly said, adjusting his Soul Power slightly. The pebble's wobble lessened. "See? It's much better now. If I practice a bit longer, it should stabilize."

Teacher Li didn't say anything more and turned to guide the others. Tang San breathed a sigh of relief and continued to "deliberately wobble the pebble." As long as it doesn't fall, it's not considered failing, and it saves Soul Power.

[Reduced control precision using "weak Soul Power" as an excuse, avoiding excessive consumption, Slacking Value + 1, current total 44 points]

After the extra class, Tang San had no choice but to go to Master Yu Xiaogang's office. Inside, Master Yu Xiaogang had already prepared a basin of clear water with a few leaves beside it. "Today, I'll teach you 'Blue Silver Grass Sensing.' Put your Blue Silver Grass in the water, activate it with your Soul Power, and sense the position of the leaves in the water without using your eyes. Tell me the number of leaves and their arrangement."

Tang San followed the instructions, placing his Blue Silver Grass in the water. He deliberately used only thirty percent of his Soul Power. The Blue Silver Grass swayed gently in the water, and he could only vaguely sense a few leaves. He intentionally got two directions wrong and missed one leaf.

"Incorrect. Sense it again." Master Yu Xiaogang frowned. "You're using too little Soul Power. Use another thirty percent and sense carefully."

There was no alternative. Tang San had to use another thirty percent of his Soul Power. This time, he finally sensed clearly, but he deliberately slowed down his response speed and paused several times, pretending to have "just figured it out."

"That's better." Master Yu Xiaogang nodded. "Remember this feeling. Practice for fifteen minutes every day, and you'll be proficient in half a month. We'll stop here for today. Don't be late for training this afternoon."

[Forced to increase sensing intensity, no Slacking Value gained, but reduced excessive performance by "slowing down response," no penalty incurred]

Leaving the office, Tang San hurried towards the cafeteria. He hadn't eaten much in the morning and was already starving. As soon as he reached the cafeteria, he saw Wang Hu and the other two waiting for him. "Tang San, where were you just now? We thought you were being punished by a teacher."

"No, Master asked me to review the basics." Tang San picked up a meat bun and ate slowly. "We have training this afternoon, so eat quickly and don't be late."

The extra class this afternoon was "Martial Soul Basic Attack Sparring." Students were paired up to spar using their basic attacks. They couldn't use Soul Power to injure others, only compete in attack speed and accuracy. Wang Hu wanted to be paired with Tang San, but Tang San shook his head. "My attack speed is slow. I'd hold you back if we were paired together. Find Li Qing. I'll be with Zhao Yu."

Zhao Yu's Martial Soul was a brush, and his attack speed was inherently slow. Being paired with him would allow for a "slow-paced spar." During their spar, Tang San deliberately slowed down his attack speed. Each time he swung his Blue Silver Grass, he retracted it halfway. His accuracy was also intentionally off, always narrowly missing Zhao Yu's brush without actually hitting him.

"Tang San, can you be more serious? You miss every time." Zhao Yu sounded a bit helpless. "If this continues, both of us will get told off by the teacher."

"I'm just afraid of hurting you. After all, it's sparring, no need to be too serious." Tang San said with a smile, his Blue Silver Grass still swinging at a slow pace. As long as I don't get criticized by the teacher, being slow is fine. It's better than wasting Soul Power.

[Reduced sparring intensity using "fear of injury" as an excuse, avoiding excessive consumption, Slacking Value + 1, current total 45 points]

After training, Xiao Wu ran over. "Tang San, training ended early today. Shall we go for a walk on the field to relax?"

Tang San's heart stirred. A walk is relaxing, but "reducing extra activities" earns Slacking Value. He deliberately rubbed his leg. "No, I trained all day today, and my legs are a bit sore. I want to go back to the dorm to rest. If you want to go for a walk, find Wang Hu and the others. I'm sure they'd be happy to go with you."

[Refused additional walking invitation, avoiding unnecessary energy expenditure, Slacking Value + 1, current total 46 points]

Xiao Wu had no choice but to give up and turned to find Wang Hu and the other two. Tang San returned to the dorm alone and opened his system panel. 46 Slacking Value. I'm still 4 points short of the next exchange for a Soul Power boost. He leaned against the wall, calculating. Tomorrow, I'll earn 1 point during morning practice, 2 points during the morning extra class, and 1 point during the afternoon training. That will be enough for 50 points.

The sky outside gradually darkened, and the dorm was quiet. Tang San took out "Martial Soul Basic Theory" and slowly flipped through it. Before long, he yawned. Although Master forced me to practice sensing today, I still managed to accumulate a good amount of Slacking Value overall. As long as I work a little harder tomorrow, I can exchange for a Soul Power boost.

He closed the book and lay down on his bed, a slight smile on his lips. No matter how many extra classes the academy adds or how much Master urges me, my "peak slacking path" will continue steadily. After all, a slow pace and less consumption are the keys to accumulating value and growing stronger.