Anticipating Training to Skillfully Slack, Extra Classes to Accumulate Value and Stabilize Pace

The morning mist hadn't fully dispersed when Tang San was woken by footsteps outside the dorm. Teacher Zhang had said they'd start morning practice half an hour early today to make up for yesterday's failed perception and evasion training. He rolled over, watching Wang Hu and the other two get dressed in the dark. He deliberately kept his eyes closed for a while longer, only sitting up slowly after Zhao Yu handed him his clothes.

"Tang San, hurry up and get dressed! Teacher Zhang said today's training is 'dynamic prediction evasion,' using moving wooden targets. If we're late, there won't be any spots left!" Wang Hu's voice was kept very low, and he fumbled with his belt buckle.

Tang San slowly fastened his buttons, deliberately misbuttoning the collar. "What's the rush? We're supposed to gather half an hour early, there's still about the time it takes an incense stick to burn. I'll wash up first. You guys go ahead and grab a spot close to the wooden targets, so you can see the trajectory clearly." After the other three tiptoed out, he neatly tidied his clothes and went to wash up with his towel. He even took extra time to wash his boots, and by the time he walked towards the training grounds, many people were already adjusting the wooden targets.

[Proactively delayed morning practice preparation, avoiding early high-intensity training consumption, Slacking Value +1, current total 9 points]

On the training grounds, Teacher Zhang was holding a wooden target attached to a rope, the other end tied to a stake. With a pull and release, the target would swing back and forth. "Today we're practicing dynamic prediction. Stare at the swinging target, use your Martial Soul to sense its trajectory, and dodge when it approaches. Everyone needs to dodge ten targets to pass!" Teacher Zhang announced, signaling for the students to take turns.

Tang San stood at the end of the line, watching the students in front of him quickly dodge the swinging targets. He pondered, Dynamic prediction consumes Soul Power. I need to find a new excuse to reduce the consumption. When it was his turn, he summoned his Blue Silver Grass, deliberately slowing the perception frequency of the grass blades by half a beat. Only when the target swung in front of him did he "just manage" to sidestep it. Occasionally, he'd let the target graze his sleeve, making it look like he couldn't keep up with its rhythm.

"Tang San, why are you so slow to react? The target's trajectory is almost fixed, and you still can't predict it accurately?" Teacher Zhang walked over, still pulling the rope to swing the target.

"Teacher, dynamic prediction is much harder than static. I need to slowly adapt to the target's rhythm. If I rush, it's easy to misjudge the direction and get hit by the target." Tang San pretended to observe intently, waiting for the target to swing for a third round before dodging again. "See, I've just adapted to half a circle. I need to practice a bit longer to keep up."

[Reduced prediction speed under the guise of "adapting to a new skill," avoiding excessive consumption, Slacking Value +1, current total 10 points]

Teacher Zhang didn't say much more, only telling him to "practice five more sets." Tang San practiced slowly, dodging only two targets in each set, just enough to be "making progress but not passing." This way, he avoided criticism and extra punishment.

After morning practice, Xiao Wu handed him a bottle of water. "Tang San, you could clearly keep up with the target's rhythm just now. Why did you deliberately slow down your reaction? Teacher Zhang could tell you were slacking off."

"New techniques need to be practiced slowly. Rushing leads to mistakes. It's better to be steady," Tang San said, unscrewing the water bottle and taking a slow sip. "Let's go to the cafeteria for lunch. They made sweet bean buns today. If we go late, they'll be gone."

As they walked towards the cafeteria, they ran into Yu Xiaogang, who was holding a wooden box containing several wooden pieces with grooves. "Tang San, come to my office after training this afternoon. I'll teach you 'multi-target prediction.' You'll learn to sense the trajectories of multiple moving targets at once, which will be useful in actual combat."

Tang San was about to make an excuse, but Yu Xiaogang spoke first, "Don't tell me your Soul Power is weak. I've prepared low-Soul Power consumption practice methods. As long as you do as I say, you won't get tired."

With no other option, Tang San nodded. "Understood, Master."

The morning's extra class was "Basic Simulated Combat Training." Students paired up and engaged in low-intensity combat using their Martial Souls, without using Soul Skills, focusing only on prediction and evasion. Wang Hu wanted to team up with Tang San, but Tang San shook his head. "I just finished dynamic prediction training, and my Soul Power hasn't recovered yet. If I team up with you, I'll just drag you down. You should find Li Qing. I'll pair up with Zhao Yu."

Zhao Yu's Martial Soul was a brush, with a small attack range, making him suitable for "low-intensity combat." During their sparring, Tang San deliberately reduced the prediction range of his Blue Silver Grass to within three feet. When Zhao Yu's brush swung over, he "just managed" to entangle the brush handle with his Blue Silver Grass. He neither let the brush touch him nor pulled hard, thus avoiding excessive Soul Power consumption.

"Tang San, can you put a little more effort into it? You always wrap it so gently. I can break free with just a pull," Zhao Yu said with some helplessness, trying to free his brush from the Blue Silver Grass.

"Combat emphasizes holding back. It wouldn't be good if I hurt you by using too much force," Tang San said with a smile, loosening his grip on the Blue Silver Grass slightly. "We're just doing simulated training, no need to be too serious. As long as you can predict the attack, that's enough."

[Reduced combat intensity under the guise of "holding back to protect classmates," avoiding excessive consumption, Slacking Value +1, current total 11 points]

After the extra class, Tang San walked towards the cafeteria. As soon as he reached the entrance, he saw Wang Hu and the other two waiting for him. "Tang San, you were holding back too much during the combat just now. Zhao Yu's brush almost touched you before you entangled it."

"Combat requires skill, not brute force," Tang San said, picking up a sweet bean bun and eating it slowly. "I have Master's guidance this afternoon, so I need to conserve my Soul Power. You guys eat quickly, don't be late."

In the afternoon, the extra class was "Multi-Target Perception Practice." Teacher Zhang placed five swinging wooden targets on the field, asking students to simultaneously sense the trajectories of all five and dodge the approaching ones. While other students could sense three or more targets at once, Tang San deliberately focused only on two, "just managing" to hastily dodge the other three when they approached, claiming he "didn't sense them."

"Tang San, why are you only focusing on two targets? Did you not sense the other three?" Teacher Zhang walked over, his whistle still unblown.

"Teacher, multi-target perception is too mentally taxing. I'll practice with two first, and once I'm proficient, I'll increase the number. It's more stable to proceed step by step," Tang San quickly explained, his eyes fixed on one of the targets. "See, I've just memorized the trajectories of these two. Adding another one would be confusing."

Teacher Zhang thought about it and found his reasoning sound. He nodded. "Alright, you practice with two for now, and tomorrow you'll increase it to three."

[Reduced the number of perceived targets under the guise of "steady advancement," avoiding excessive consumption, Slacking Value +1, current total 12 points]

After the extra class, Tang San walked directly to Yu Xiaogang's office. Inside, Yu Xiaogang had already arranged the wooden pieces from the box in a row, each with a different swinging frequency. "Today we're practicing multi-target prediction. Stare at these three pieces and use your Blue Silver Grass to simultaneously sense their trajectories. You don't need to dodge; just tell me the direction each piece will swing next."

Tang San followed the instructions, summoning his Blue Silver Grass and deliberately splitting it into three strands, each corresponding to one wooden piece, and deliberately slowing down the perception frequency. Each time he answered, he paused, occasionally stating the wrong direction, pretending to have "just sorted out the trajectories."

"Why are you still getting it wrong? Are you not concentrating?" Yu Xiaogang frowned and slowed down the swinging frequency of the wooden pieces.

"The frequencies of the three pieces are different. I need to distinguish them slowly. If I rush, I'll get confused," Tang San quickly explained. After the pieces swung for three rounds, he answered again. "See, I've just distinguished their frequencies. I'll be able to say it correctly next time."

Yu Xiaogang didn't say anything further, only telling him to "practice ten more sets." Tang San practiced slowly, getting only two correct in each set, just enough to be "making progress but not proficient." He wasn't asked to practice extra.

By the time he left the office, it was already dark. Xiao Wu was waiting for him at the door. "Tang San, why did you finish so early today? I thought Master would keep you here until dark."

"Master slowed down the training difficulty, so it wasn't as tiring," Tang San said, stretching. "Let's go to the cafeteria for dinner. I'm starving."

As they walked towards the cafeteria, Tang San mused, Today I gained 4 Slacking Value points and learned new prediction techniques. Although Master was watching me train, I didn't expend too much Soul Power. It's a solid win. As long as he continued to find new excuses to reduce consumption, his "peak slacking path" would surely progress faster.

The cafeteria lights were on. Tang San looked at the food in front of him and ate slowly. He knew that as long as he stuck to his new excuses like "steady advancement" and "adapting to new techniques," no matter how many extra classes the academy offered or how Master guided him, his "peak slacking path" would remain stable, and he would steadily grow stronger.