Nuoding Graduation to Shrek Academy, Conflict at Rose Hotel

The graduation assessment at Nuoding Academy had just ended. Tang San, clutching the letter of recommendation to Shrek Academy from Master Yu Xiaogang, left the school gates with Xiao Wu, their luggage on their backs. Wang Hu and the other two waved goodbye at the entrance. The rations Li Qing had given them were still warm, but Tang San didn't linger—as per Master's instructions, they needed to hurry to Shrek to avoid the Martial Soul Hall's patrols. However, he had to manage his own pace on the journey and not waste Soul Power needlessly.

"Tang San, should we just take the main road? I heard it takes three towns to get to Shrek. Wouldn't the smaller paths be shorter?" Xiao Wu hopped along beside him, still holding her Nuoding Academy graduation badge.

Tang San shook his head and deliberately slowed his pace. "The main road is safer. The smaller paths are easy to get lost on. If we delay, it'll be trouble if we miss Shrek's entrance test. Let's walk slowly, rest when we're tired, and don't rush. Conserving Soul Power is more important." He calculated in his mind that a slow pace would not only reduce consumption but also allow him to observe their surroundings and avoid unnecessary trouble.

[Reasoning: "Avoiding getting lost and conserving Soul Power" for choosing a slow travel pace, Slacking Value +1, current total 41 points]

The two walked for most of the day, reaching the first town, Suo Tuo City, as the sun began to set. Following a passerby's directions, they found an inn that looked clean, but were told all rooms were full. "Should we look for another place?" Xiao Wu was a little anxious and pulled Tang San towards the street.

As they turned the corner, they saw the "Rose Hotel" sign lit by red lanterns. Tang San's heart stirred—the Rose Hotel was involved in a conflict in the original story, so he had to be careful and not provoke trouble. He deliberately pulled Xiao Wu to slow down, and only pushed the door open after they got closer. His eyes quickly scanned the lobby—in the corner, a few Soul Masters in black clothes were staring at the entrance, their Martial Souls showing signs of being summoned.

"Are you two here to stay or eat?" the waiter approached, his tone laced with caution.

"We're here to stay. We need two adjacent rooms." Tang San deliberately lowered his voice to avoid attracting the attention of the men in black. But as soon as he received the room keys, he was stopped by a burly man with a face full of scars. "Kid, this hotel is Black Wind Gang territory. You want to stay? Pay protection fees. Ten Gold Soul Coins per person!"

Xiao Wu immediately clenched her fists, the phantom image of her rabbit Martial Soul faintly appearing. Tang San, however, pulled her back, deliberately feigning timidity. "We're just students passing through. We don't have that much Gold Soul Coin. Can you make an exception?" He knew this was the Black Wind Gang from the original story. They weren't very strong, but there was no need to waste Soul Power fighting. He decided to placate them first.

[Reasoning: "Avoiding unnecessary conflict" by feigning weakness, evading active combat consumption, Slacking Value +1, current total 42 points]

The burly man was relentless and reached out to grab Tang San's collar. "No Gold Soul Coins and you dare stay at the Rose Hotel? Get out!"

Just then, a middle-aged man in a blue robe walked over. He gently blocked the burly man's hand with his folding fan. "Black Wind Gang, causing trouble on my territory, Flender? You've got some nerve."

Tang San's heart leaped—Dean Flender! He quickly pulled Xiao Wu back, deliberately acting "scared" to avoid getting involved in the conflict. Flender quickly drove off the Black Wind Gang members and turned to look at Tang San, his gaze falling on the recommendation letter in his hand. "Are you two recommended to Shrek by Yu Xiaogang?"

"Yes, we just graduated from Nuoding Academy and are on our way to register at Shrek." Tang San quickly handed over the letter, deliberately making his tone sound respectful and not revealing any of his strength.

Flender took the letter and looked at it for a moment, then nodded. "Follow me. I've already booked rooms for you. We'll leave for Shrek first thing tomorrow morning." He led the two upstairs and opened the doors to two adjacent rooms. "Rest well tonight, and don't cause any more trouble. Suo Tuo City isn't peaceful."

After Flender left, Xiao Wu finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Was that uncle just now the Dean of Shrek? He's so amazing!"

"Mhm, if we follow him tomorrow, we'll reach Shrek." Tang San leaned against the door and opened the system panel—42 Slacking Value points. He was still 8 points away from the next Soul Power increase. He deliberately didn't meditate immediately, but first organized his luggage and leisurely made his bed. "I'm tired from traveling today. I'll rest for a bit before meditating. Otherwise, my Soul Power will recover slowly."

[Reasoning: "Prioritizing physical recovery" by delaying meditation, avoiding excessive consumption, Slacking Value +1, current total 43 points]

Early the next morning, Flender set off with Tang San and Xiao Wu. Along the way, Flender briefly explained Shrek's admission requirements. "Shrek only accepts monsters, not trash. The entrance test is very strict, so you need to be prepared."

Tang San deliberately feigned nervousness. "Dean, our Soul Power isn't very high. Can we pass the test?"

"Whether you pass depends on your abilities." Flender didn't say anything else and quickened his pace.

After two hours of walking, they finally saw a forest. Deep within the woods, a dilapidated wooden house was faintly visible, with a wooden sign reading "Shrek Academy" hanging at the entrance. Xiao Wu ran over excitedly, but Tang San followed slowly behind, deliberately adjusting his Soul Power to release only thirty percent—he needed to conserve it for the test later, which would consume Soul Power.

As they reached the entrance of the wooden house, an old man wearing a straw hat greeted them. It was Zhao Wuji. "Flender, are these the students you brought back?" He scanned Tang San and Xiao Wu with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Let's test them first," Flender waved his hand and pointed to a crystal ball nearby. "First item, Soul Power test!"

Tang San placed his hand on it and deliberately injected only thirty percent of his Soul Power. The crystal ball emitted a faint blue light, just meeting the standard for level 12. Xiao Wu also stepped forward to test, her Soul Power at level 13, slightly higher than Tang San's. Zhao Wuji frowned. "Your Soul Power is a bit low. Let's move on to the second test, Martial Soul Control!"

He pointed to a wooden stake not far away. "Use your Martial Soul to accurately entangle the marked points on the wooden stake. Entangling five within three incense sticks counts as passing."

Tang San summoned his Blue Silver Grass, deliberately lowering his control precision. Each entanglement "barely" missed the marked point. It was only when the three incense sticks were almost finished that he managed to entangle three. "Your control precision, did you not practice well at Nuoding Academy?" Zhao Wuji sounded a bit displeased.

"Teacher, I was too tired from traveling on the road, and my Soul Power hasn't recovered yet. My control isn't very stable," Tang San quickly made an excuse to avoid further questioning.

[Reasoning: "Unrecovered Soul Power from travel" as an excuse for low control precision, evading excessive consumption, Slacking Value +1, current total 44 points]

Zhao Wuji didn't say anything further and let Xiao Wu test. Xiao Wu's rabbit Martial Soul was agile, and she quickly entangled five marked points. The last test was a combat assessment, with Zhao Wuji himself as the opponent. As soon as he released his Soul Ring, Xiao Wu wanted to charge forward, but Tang San held her back. "Dean, our Soul Power is low. Can we ask Teacher Zhao to reduce the intensity? Otherwise, we'll run out of Soul Power after a few hits and won't be able to show our true abilities."

Flender nodded. "Zhao Wuji, don't bully the children. Use thirty percent Soul Power."

When the combat began, Tang San only used his Blue Silver Grass to gently entangle Zhao Wuji's limbs, not attacking proactively. Xiao Wu, on the other hand, dodged using her speed. The two cooperated to delay the time, and finally passed the test by "lasting for a quarter of an hour without being defeated."

"Barely passed. Classes start tomorrow." Zhao Wuji retracted his Soul Ring and turned to walk into the wooden house.

Tang San breathed a sigh of relief, and he and Xiao Wu followed Flender to their dormitory. On the way, Xiao Wu excitedly said, "Tang San, we're finally in Shrek!"

"Mhm, we'll be attending classes here from now on." Tang San said with a smile, but in his mind, he was calculating—he had gained 4 Slacking Value points today, bringing him closer to the next Soul Power increase. His days at Nuoding Academy were over; Shrek's "peak slacking path" had just begun.