The dawn whistle had barely faded when Tang San was awakened by the clatter of gears from the training ground. Rubbing his eyes, he walked to the window and saw Zhao Wuji adjusting a multi-target testing device—twenty movable metal targets were scattered across it, each bullseye embedded with a sensing crystal, while several boxes of soul tool auxiliary items were piled nearby. "This morning's training is Multi-Target Soul Skill Coordination. While the metal targets are moving, use two soul skills simultaneously to hit five different bullseyes. Tang San, you're up first. Your targets will move thirty percent faster than everyone else's, and you can only use the most Basic Auxiliary Device!"
Tang San leisurely folded his training uniform, deliberately adjusting the tightness of his Soul Guiding Bracer three extra times while fastening it—multi-target coordination consumed the most Soul Power, and using "adjusting the bracer to fit the auxiliary device" as an excuse to stall would let him conserve a little more energy. By the time he reached the device, Dai Mubai had already completed his test. White Tiger Claw combined with an intermediate soul tool auxiliary device had hit all five coordinated strikes. "Why are you dawdling? The device's preheating is almost over!" Zhao Wuji tossed a rusty Basic Auxiliary Device into Tang San's hands. The crystal on it gave off only a faint glow.
Using "adjusting the bracer to fit the Basic Auxiliary Device" as an excuse to delay the test, avoiding premature high-intensity coordination expenditure. Slacking Value +1, current total: 81.
Tang San summoned Blue Silver Grass and deliberately kept the rhythm of his multi-target coordination half a beat slow. The metal targets moved thirty percent faster; he had barely used Blue Silver Bind to snare the first target when the second had already moved out of range. His first coordinated strike hit only one bullseye. "Tang San! You can't even keep up with moving targets? Is that Basic Auxiliary Device just for decoration?" Zhao Wuji's whip lashed against the device's support frame, making the metal targets shake.
"Teacher, the Basic Auxiliary Device's sensing accuracy is thirty percent worse. With the targets moving faster, it takes more time to lock onto the bullseyes. And when Bind and Thorn Strike are synchronized, the grass blades can easily be torn apart by the moving targets. I can only slowly look for the opening between locking on and releasing." As Tang San spoke, he let Blue Silver Grass slowly follow the metal targets. Only after half an hour did he catch an opening and strike two bullseyes simultaneously. "See? I only just found the opening. If I rush even slightly, I'll miss the targets. I need to go even slower."
Using "poor Basic Auxiliary Device accuracy + preventing the martial soul from being torn apart" as reasons to reduce coordination efficiency and slow the pace, avoiding excessive expenditure. Slacking Value +1, current total: 82.
An hour passed, and Tang San completed only three qualifying coordinated strikes, forty percent short of the required five. "Train for another hour. If you still can't reach four, forget about eating today!" Zhao Wuji stood beside the device with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the Basic Auxiliary Device in Tang San's hand. Yet Tang San inwardly breathed a sigh of relief—extra training was just right for earning more Slacking Value, and he could keep using the excuse of "auxiliary device compatibility."
The morning training was a Team Resource Scramble. Zhao Wuji tossed a pile of soul skill supply crates onto the open ground. "You have fifteen minutes. Whatever you grab is yours. Tang San, you enter last, and you can only take the most battered supply crates!"
The moment the supply crates landed, Dai Mubai rushed out and grabbed three brand-new ones; Ma Hongjun swept aside the people around him with Phoenix Flame and seized two as well. Tang San waited until everyone had rushed in before leisurely walking to the corner and using Blue Silver Grass to hook over a battered crate—it contained only half a bottle of low-grade Soul Power Recovery Potion, half as much as the others had received. "Tang San! That's all you grabbed? Don't you want to compete?" Zhao Wuji walked over and kicked the supply crate at his feet, flipping it over.
"Teacher, the lock on this battered crate has rusted shut. If Blue Silver Grass pulls too hard, it could tear the crate apart. I can only pry the lock open slowly, or it'll be even more troublesome if the potion spills." As Tang San spoke, he deliberately had Blue Silver Grass pry the lock open at a crawl. It took half an hour to open the crate. "See? It nearly broke as soon as it opened. Only opening it slowly can preserve the supplies."
Using "avoiding damage to the battered crate" as a reason to reduce the intensity of the scramble, avoiding the expenditure of resource competition. Slacking Value +1, current total: 83.
During the noon break, Xiao Wu gave half her supplies to Tang San. "Teacher Zhao went too far. He deliberately made you take the battered crate." Tang San accepted the supplies but drank only a sip of the recovery potion before putting it away—he needed to save it for the afternoon's expenditure. Drinking too much now would instead easily cause Soul Power Fluctuation.
The afternoon training was "Soul Power Sorting in an Extreme Environment." Zhao Wuji led everyone to an open area covered in ice spikes. "Sort your Soul Power beside the ice spikes. Each person must complete three full cycles within an hour. Tang San, you'll train in the densest area of ice spikes, and your sorting speed must be thirty percent slower than everyone else's!"
The chill from the ice spike area seeped straight into the bone marrow. Dai Mubai began shivering after only two cycles at the edge of the area. Tang San entered the dense region and deliberately slowed his Soul Power sorting speed, making each circulation half a beat slower than normal—"The ice spike area is too cold. If I sort it too quickly, the cold will seep into my meridians. Starting slowly lets my Soul Power adapt to the cold, or it could leave hidden problems." This both saved Soul Power and met the additional environmental requirement.
"Tang San! Why are you sorting it so slowly? Can't handle the cold?" Zhao Wuji's voice came from outside the ice spike area, and he held a thick coat in his hand.
"Teacher, the cold in the dense ice spike area is thirty percent harsher than at the edge. If I sort too quickly, my meridians will cramp. I have to start slowly so my Soul Power can protect them, or I'll have to stop halfway through." As Tang San spoke, he deliberately slowed the flow of his Soul Power further. "See? I just managed to protect my meridians. Any faster and they'll cramp. I can only maintain this speed."
Using "preventing meridian cramps from the cold in the ice spike area" as a reason to slow the sorting speed, avoiding expenditure in an extreme environment. Slacking Value +1, current total: 84.
When the evening training ended, Tang San had completed exactly three sorting cycles, taking half an hour longer than everyone else. "Tonight, you'll do extra multi-target coordination training. Use the Basic Auxiliary Device for another hour. If you still can't reach four, the device speed will be raised again tomorrow!" Zhao Wuji's voice echoed through the dusk.
Everyone groaned miserably, but Tang San quietly opened the system panel—84 Slacking Value, still 16 points short of his next Soul Power Increase. He slowly walked back to the dormitory, calculating inwardly: tonight's extra training was the perfect chance to deliberately slow down using "poor Basic Auxiliary Device accuracy." Teacher Zhao's attempts to make things difficult were all excellent opportunities to accumulate points.
As night fell, Tang San arrived beside the multi-target testing device and began his extra training, deliberately lowering his coordination rhythm to seventy percent of normal—"The Basic Auxiliary Device is even less accurate at night. Slow coordination reduces missed targets, while going too fast only wastes Soul Power." It suited his slacking pace while also earning him points. He thought to himself, As long as I find the right excuse, no matter how ruthless Teacher Zhao is, the path to the peak of slacking can keep going.
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