Multi-Target Coordination Faces Difficulties, Ingenious Response to Item Disadvantage

The moment the early morning whistle blew, Tang San was woken by the grinding of gears in the training grounds. Rubbing his eyes, he walked to the window and saw Zhao Wuji adjusting a multi-target testing device. The device had twenty movable metal targets scattered across it, each with a sensor crystal embedded in its bullseye. Beside it were several boxes of Soul Tool Auxiliary Devices. "This morning's training is 'Multi-Target Soul Skill Coordination.' While the metal targets are moving, use two Soul Skills to simultaneously hit five different bullseyes. Tang San, you're up first. The metal targets will move thirty percent faster than usual, and you can only use the most basic Soul Tool Auxiliary Device!"

Tang San slowly folded his training clothes and deliberately adjusted the tightness of his Soul Guiding Bracer three times. Multi-target coordination consumed the most Soul Power. He planned to use the excuse of "adjusting the bracer to fit the auxiliary device" to stall and conserve more energy. By the time he reached the device, Dai Mubai had already finished his test. His White Tiger Claw, paired with an intermediate Soul Tool Auxiliary Device, had successfully hit all five targets in coordination. "What's with the dawdling? The device warm-up is almost over!" Zhao Wuji tossed a rusty Basic Auxiliary Device into Tang San's hand. The crystal on the auxiliary device only emitted a faint glow.

[Using "adjusting bracer to fit basic auxiliary device" as an excuse to delay the test, avoiding excessive early high-intensity coordination consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total 81 points]

Tang San summoned his Blue Silver Grass, deliberately slowing down the rhythm of the multi-target coordination. The metal targets moved thirty percent faster than usual. As soon as he used "Blue Silver Bind" to entangle the first target, the second target had already moved out of range. His first coordination attempt only hit one bullseye. "Tang San! Can't even keep up with the moving targets? Is the basic auxiliary device just for show?" Zhao Wuji's whip cracked against the device's support, causing the metal targets to shake.

"Teacher, the basic auxiliary device's sensing accuracy is thirty percent lower. When the metal targets move faster, it takes more time to lock onto the bullseye. Also, when 'Entangle' and 'Thorn' are used simultaneously, the grass blades are easily torn by the moving targets. I can only slowly find the gap between locking and releasing," Tang San explained. He made his Blue Silver Grass follow the moving metal targets. After half an hour, he finally found a gap and simultaneously hit two bullseyes. "See, I just found the gap. If I rush even a little, I'll miss. I need to go even slower."

[Using "poor accuracy of basic auxiliary device + risk of Martial Soul tearing" as an excuse to reduce coordination efficiency, slow down the pace, and avoid excessive consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total 82 points]

An hour passed, and Tang San had only completed three successful coordinations, falling short of the required five by forty percent. "Add another hour of practice. If you still don't reach five, you're not eating today!" Zhao Wuji stood by the device with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the basic auxiliary device in Tang San's hand. Tang San, however, felt relieved. The extra practice would allow him to accumulate more Slacking Value, and the excuse of "auxiliary device adaptation" could be used continuously.

The morning training was "Team Resource Scramble." Zhao Wuji threw a pile of Soul Skill supply boxes onto the open ground. "Fifteen minutes limit. Whoever grabs them keeps them. Tang San, you enter last, and you can only grab the most dilapidated supply boxes!"

As soon as the supply boxes landed, Dai Mubai charged forward and grabbed three brand-new boxes. Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Flame swept away those around him, and he also snatched two. Tang San waited until everyone else had rushed in before slowly walking to a corner and hooking a dilapidated box with his Blue Silver Grass. The box contained only half a bottle of low-grade Soul Power Recovery Potion, half of what everyone else had. "Tang San! You only grabbed this much? Don't you want to compete?" Zhao Wuji walked over and kicked a supply box at his feet, flipping it over.

"Teacher, the lock on the dilapidated box is rusted. If the Blue Silver Grass hooks too hard, the box might break, so I have to slowly pry the lock. Otherwise, if the recovery potion spills, it'll be more troublesome," Tang San said, deliberately making his Blue Silver Grass slowly pry the lock. It took half an hour to open the box. "See, it almost broke as soon as I opened it. I have to open it slowly to preserve the supplies."

[Using "avoiding damage to the dilapidated box" as an excuse to reduce competition intensity and avoid resource competition consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total 83 points]

During the lunch break, Xiao Wu shared half of her supplies with Tang San. "Teacher Zhao is going too far, deliberately making you grab dilapidated boxes." Tang San accepted the supplies but only took a sip of the recovery potion before putting it away. He intended to save it for the afternoon's consumption. Drinking too much now would easily cause his Soul Power to fluctuate.

The afternoon training was "Extreme Environment Soul Power Refinement." Zhao Wuji led everyone to a clearing covered in ice spikes. "Refine your Soul Power beside the ice spikes. Each person must complete three full refinements within an hour. Tang San, you need to train in the most densely packed area of ice spikes, and your refinement speed must be thirty percent slower than everyone else's!"

The cold from the ice spike area penetrated to the bone. Dai Mubai, training near the edge, started shivering after only two attempts. Tang San walked into the dense area and deliberately slowed down his Soul Power refinement speed, each circulation half a beat slower than the normal rhythm. "The cold in the ice spike area is severe. If I refine too quickly, my meridians might get cold. I need to go slower to allow my Soul Power and the cold to adapt. Otherwise, it will leave hidden dangers." This saved Soul Power and met the additional environmental requirements.

"Tang San! Why is your refinement so slow? Can't handle the intense cold?" Zhao Wuji's voice came from outside the ice spike area. He was holding a thick jacket.

"Teacher, the cold in the densely packed ice spike area is thirty percent more intense than at the edges. If I refine too quickly, my meridians will cramp. I need to go slower to allow my Soul Power to protect my meridians. Otherwise, I'll have to stop halfway through," Tang San said, deliberately slowing down his Soul Power circulation even further. "See, I've just protected my meridians. If I go any faster, I'll get cramps, so I can only go at this speed."

[Using "preventing meridian cramps due to the cold in the ice spike area" as an excuse to slow down refinement speed and avoid extreme environment consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total 84 points]

As the evening training concluded, Tang San had just completed his three refinements, taking half an hour longer than the others. "Extra practice tonight on multi-target coordination. Practice for another hour with the basic auxiliary device. If you still don't reach five, the device speed will be increased tomorrow!" Zhao Wuji's voice echoed in the twilight.

Everyone groaned, but Tang San quietly opened his system panel. 84 points of Slacking Value. He was still 16 points away from the next Soul Power increase. He slowly walked back to his dormitory, calculating in his mind: the extra practice tonight would be a perfect opportunity to use the excuse of "poor accuracy of the basic auxiliary device" to deliberately slow down. Teacher Zhao's challenges were all good opportunities to accumulate points.

As night fell, Tang San stood by the multi-target testing device and began his extra practice, deliberately setting the coordination rhythm to seventy percent of the normal state. "The basic auxiliary device's accuracy is even worse at night. Slow coordination can reduce misses. Going too fast actually wastes Soul Power." This fit his slacking pace and allowed him to accumulate points. He thought to himself: as long as he found the right excuse, even if Teacher Zhao was ruthless, he could continue on the "peak slacking path."