Awakening at the Ancestral Hall, Hiding His Strength; Dealing with the Deacon to Save Up Slacking Value

At the first crow of the rooster, Tang San woke up. He had not been woken by the noise; with today's martial soul awakening on his mind, he had subconsciously awakened. He felt the little cloth pouch beside his pillow—the one Aunt Wang had given him yesterday. Inside was only half a leftover sweet potato from breakfast, counted as "provisions."

Turning over, Tang San did not rush to get up. Instead, he closed his eyes and waited for the system prompt. Sure enough, before long, the familiar mechanical voice rang out in his mind: Proactively extending rest time and avoiding the consumption of getting up too early. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 7.

Just three more points, and I can exchange them for a Soul Power Increase. Tang San calculated before slowly sitting up. When getting dressed, he deliberately chose his oldest coarse-cloth outfit, making himself look more "ordinary" so he would not stand out too much in the ancestral hall later.

When he stepped out of his room, Tang Hao was already gone from the courtyard. The blacksmith shop door stood half-open, and the furnace had yet to be lit. A bowl of warmed porridge sat on the table, with a note held down beside it. Tang Hao had written it in charcoal ash: "Don't force yourself during the awakening. Come back early when you're done."

Tang San picked up the porridge and drank it. It tasted bland and had no sugar, but he drank every drop carefully—Tang Hao's concern was rare, and he could not waste it. After finishing, he folded the note and put it into his cloth pouch. Just as he reached the courtyard gate, he saw Old Jack leading several village children over. At the front was Huzi, who had invited him to play yesterday.

"Little San, we've finally been waiting for you!" Old Jack waved with a smile. "Deacon Su Yuntao has already arrived at the ancestral hall. Let's hurry over and not keep him waiting."

Tang San nodded and followed Old Jack toward the ancestral hall. Along the way, Huzi sidled up and asked quietly, "Little San, what kind of martial soul do you think we'll awaken? I hope it's a hammer, so I can forge iron like your dad!"

Tang San deliberately slowed down and fell a little behind. "I don't know. Anything would be fine. My body's weak anyway; even if I awaken a martial soul, I might not be able to become a soul master." His words were half true and half false. They fit his "slacking" persona while laying the groundwork for the impression that he was weak.

Proactively lowering expectations for himself and avoiding the competitive mindset of "wanting to become stronger." Slacking Value +1. Current total: 8.

The system prompt had barely ended when they arrived at the ancestral hall. It was the grandest building in the village. A man in a white robe stood at the entrance, the emblem of Spirit Hall embroidered on his chest. He held a black box in his hand. This should be Su Yuntao.

"Is everyone here?" Su Yuntao swept his gaze over the children, his tone carrying a trace of impatience. "Get inside. Don't waste time; I still have another village to visit."

Old Jack quickly smiled apologetically. "Sorry to trouble you, Deacon. The children are all well-behaved. Please go ahead and test them."

The children followed Su Yuntao into the ancestral hall. Six black stones had already been arranged inside in a circle. Su Yuntao placed the box in the center and said to them, "When I call your name, step into the stone circle one at a time and put your hand on the box. Don't be nervous. Just follow my instructions."

Huzi was called first. He ran excitedly into the circle and placed his hand on the box. Su Yuntao muttered an incantation, and the box suddenly glowed white. The phantom image of a small Wooden Hammer slowly appeared in Huzi's hand.

"Martial soul: Wooden Hammer." Su Yuntao glanced at it, then took out a blue crystal ball and handed it over. "Come, test your soul power."

Huzi placed his hand on the crystal ball, but it did not light up. Su Yuntao curled his lip. "No soul power. Useless martial soul. Next."

Huzi walked out with his head hanging low, his eyes a little red. Tang San watched him but did not go over to comfort him—approaching him now might draw Su Yuntao's attention. Better to "mind his own business" less and save up some Slacking Value.

Avoiding unnecessary emotional comfort and reducing extra social consumption. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 9.

The next few children awakened either hoes or sickles, all useless martial souls with no soul power. Su Yuntao's expression worsened and worsened until he called, "Tang San."

Tang San drew a deep breath and slowly walked into the stone circle. He deliberately moved slowly and even stumbled once, pretending his legs had gone weak from "nerves." Su Yuntao frowned. "Stand steady. Put your hand on the box."

Tang San did as instructed. The moment his fingers touched the box, he felt a warm current flow from his fingertips into his body. He knew this was the power of martial soul awakening. Based on his memories of the original story, he deliberately suppressed the soul power within him, especially the Clear Sky Hammer, firmly holding it down so it would not emerge.

Very soon, the phantom image of Blue Silver Grass appeared in his hand. It was thin and soft, much dimmer than the other children's martial souls. Su Yuntao gave it a cursory look, his tone perfunctory. "Martial soul: Blue Silver Grass. One type of useless martial soul. Test your soul power."

The blue crystal ball was passed over. Tang San's heart stirred. This was crucial—he could neither reveal his Level 10 soul power after the minor increase nor let the crystal ball remain completely dark, or it would be too abnormal. He lightly rested his fingertips on the crystal ball and released only a wisp of weak soul power.

The crystal ball lit up only a little, barely brighter than a firefly. Su Yuntao did not even inspect it closely before waving his hand. "Weak soul power. It barely counts as having soul power, but with this little, you don't even qualify as a Soul Warrior. It's no different from not awakening at all. Next—"

Before he could finish, the crystal ball suddenly flashed again, slightly brighter than before. Su Yuntao froze, then looked at Tang San again. "You didn't use your full strength just now, did you? Try again."

Tang San's heart skipped a beat. He quickly put on a flustered expression, removed his hand, then placed it back. This time, he released even less soul power than before. "Deacon, I... I did my best. My body's weak. I don't have any strength."

Avoiding excessive display of soul power and refusing the deacon's request for a "second test." Slacking Value +1. Current total: 10.

The system prompt came at just the right time. Su Yuntao stared at Tang San for several seconds. Seeing his pale face—though it was only an act—and then looking at the Blue Silver Grass martial soul, he finally shook his head. "Fine. Get out."

Tang San let out a breath of relief and slowly walked out of the stone circle. He had barely stepped aside when he heard Su Yuntao say to Old Jack, "This village is no good. Only one barely has soul power, and it's Blue Silver Grass. It's useless. I'm leaving first; the next village is waiting."

Old Jack tried to keep him, but Su Yuntao had already packed up the box and left without looking back. The children gradually dispersed as well. Huzi came over and patted Tang San's shoulder. "Little San, it's okay. At least you have soul power. You're better off than me."

Tang San smiled but said nothing. His mind was filled with the system panel—10 points of Slacking Value, just enough to exchange for a "Minor Soul Power Increase." He deliberately lagged behind, waiting until Old Jack and the other children had gone far away before finding an empty corner by a wall and opening the system panel.

Consume 10 points of Slacking Value to exchange for "Minor Soul Power Increase"?

"Exchange." Tang San silently said in his heart.

In an instant, a warm current even stronger than the last one surged through his entire body. The soul power in his dantian noticeably became more abundant. The system prompt sounded again: Exchange successful. Current Soul Power Level: Level 11 (Minor Increase). Remaining Slacking Value: 0.

"Level 11?" Tang San was overjoyed. This increase was even greater than he had expected. He touched his wrist. Although the Blue Silver Grass martial soul did not appear again, he could feel that it had become more resilient than before.

Just as he was about to head home, footsteps suddenly sounded behind him. Tang San turned around and saw Tang Hao. He did not know when his father had arrived. He stood beneath a tree not far away, holding a wine gourd and looking at him with a complicated expression.

"Dad, why are you here?" Tang San hurried over.

Tang Hao did not answer. He merely shook the wine gourd. "Finished awakening? Go home. I stewed some sweet potato soup."

Tang San nodded and followed Tang Hao home. Along the way, Tang Hao suddenly spoke. "When Su Yuntao tested your soul power just now, you didn't use your full strength, did you?"

Tang San's heart tightened. Just as he was about to explain, Tang Hao waved his hand. "You don't need to hide it from me. If you don't want to say it, then don't. But remember, it's fine to hide your strength, but don't gamble with your own safety."

Tang San froze, then warmth rose in his heart. Looking at Tang Hao's back, he quietly said, "Dad, I understand."

When they returned home, the furnace in the blacksmith shop had already been lit, and the scent of sweet potatoes drifted from the pot. Tang San sat at the table and watched Tang Hao ladle sweet potato soup into bowls. Suddenly, he felt that even slacking off did not seem so bad with a father like this by his side.

As he drank the sweet potato soup, he began planning for the days ahead—his martial soul awakening was over, and next would be waiting for Old Jack to arrange his admission to Nuoding Academy. Before then, he needed to quickly save up more Slacking Value and try to raise his soul power again before going to the academy.

Outside the window, the sun slowly climbed higher, shining on the little stool in the courtyard as though waiting for its owner to sit down again and continue down this path of "slacking off to become stronger."