Morning light had barely filtered through the inn window when Tang San was woken by Xiao Wu knocking on his door. "Tang San, get up! Dean Flender said we're fighting two two-person spirit combats today. We need to get to the Soul đấu Arena early and claim a good lounge!"
Tang San slowly sat up, deliberately adjusting the tightness of his spirit combat bracers three extra times while getting dressed—two consecutive spirit combats would drain Soul Power, and using "adjusting the bracers to prevent Soul Power leakage" as an excuse to stall would let him conserve a little more energy. By the time he left with his Spirit Combat bag on his back, Dai Mubai was already downstairs checking their equipment. Flender held new information on their opponents. "The Three-Five Combination's first opponents are the Gale Combination, two level-nineteen Agility Attack Types with Wind Wolf and Flying Swallow martial souls. The second match is against the Heavy Armor Combination, level-twenty-one Defense Types with Steel Armor and Thick Shield martial souls."
Delaying assembly on the grounds of "adjusting spirit combat bracers to prevent leakage," avoiding the excessive consumption of early high-intensity spirit combat. Slacking Value +1, current total: 94 points
Once they arrived at the Soul đấu Arena, the Three-Five Combination's first spirit combat began quickly. The Wind Wolf Soul Master immediately charged forward with the speed of the wind, while the Flying Swallow Soul Master circled around the side, intending to ambush Xiao Wu. Tang San did not rush to release his Blue Silver Grass. Instead, he deliberately slowed his reaction, waiting until Wind Wolf was only three meters away before making his move. "Agility Attack Types are fast. Controlling the field too early makes it easy for them to dodge. If I bind him once he gets close, the success rate is higher and it saves Soul Power." As he spoke, he used Blue Silver Grass to bind Wind Wolf's front legs, perfectly disrupting his charging rhythm. Xiao Wu seized the chance to strike Flying Swallow's wings with Waist Bow.
"Tang San! Why didn't you control the field in advance? Xiao Wu almost got ambushed just now!" Flender shouted from the stands, his telescope still trained on the Spirit Combat Stage.
"Dean, Wind Wolf's wind speed interferes with Blue Silver Grass's trajectory. Controlling the field too early makes it easy to miss. Once he gets close, the wind weakens, and then the control is stable. Besides, Xiao Wu is fast enough to dodge an ambush, so there's no need to waste Soul Power setting up defenses in advance." As Tang San spoke, he deliberately released one of Wind Wolf's legs, making his opponent think he had an opportunity to counterattack. When Wind Wolf charged again, Tang San instantly bound his other leg. "See? Drawing the enemy deeper in like this saves far more Soul Power than controlling the field from the start."
Delaying field control on the grounds that "wind speed from Agility Attack Types causes misses," avoiding excessive consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total: 95 points
After winning the first spirit combat, Tang San did not rush to prepare for the second. Instead, he pulled Xiao Wu into the lounge to drink recovery potion. "The Heavy Armor Combination has strong defenses. We need to restore our Soul Power first, or we won't be able to bind through their defenses." He deliberately slowed his recovery, drinking only half a bottle and saving the rest to drink midway through the second match. "Spirit combats against Defense Types take time. Recovering midway is more effective than recovering all at once, and it also prevents Soul Power Fluctuation." By the time the announcement called them, their Soul Power had recovered to exactly eighty percent.
The second spirit combat began. The Steel Armor Soul Master immediately charged over using Steel Armor Protection, while the Thick Shield Soul Master raised his shield in front. Tang San deliberately had his Blue Silver Grass avoid Steel Armor's front and instead wrap around the edge of Thick Shield. "Steel Armor's frontal defense is too strong. Binding it directly would be useless. Thick Shield's edges are weaker; binding the edge can shift the shield's angle and leave Xiao Wu an opening to attack." While adjusting the binding position, he had Xiao Wu circle behind Steel Armor and strike his joints with Waist Bow.
"Tang San! Why aren't you binding Steel Armor? What use is it just binding the shield?" the referee reminded him from the side, thinking he had chosen the wrong target.
"Steel Armor's frontal Soul Power density is too high. Blue Silver Grass would be easily shattered by the backlash if it bound him. Binding Thick Shield shifts the shield, allowing Xiao Wu to attack Steel Armor's weak points. Otherwise, if we just force a binding, we'd run out of Soul Power before we could win." As he spoke, Tang San deliberately had Blue Silver Grass circle the edge of Thick Shield twice, shifting the shield by half a foot. Xiao Wu took the opportunity to kick Steel Armor's knee. "See? This is how we get a chance to attack. Forcing a binding would only waste strength."
Adjusting the binding target on the grounds that "the frontal Soul Power of Defense Types is high and prevents martial souls from being shattered," avoiding excessive consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total: 96 points
After winning both spirit combats, the Three-Five Combination rose to mid Bronze rank. Flender led everyone back to the inn, but several people dressed in black stopped them on the way. The leader stared at Dai Mubai. "You're from Shrek Academy? Our Imperial Dou Team will fight you in a team spirit combat tomorrow. Don't lose too badly!"
Tang San immediately had Blue Silver Grass lie ready along the ground, but he did not release it. We don't know their strength yet. It's safer not to reveal our trump cards until they attack. He deliberately put on a frightened expression and pulled Xiao Wu back. "We're only here to train. We don't want to fight you." After the group left, Flender frowned. "The Imperial Dou Team is a strong team in Suotuo City. We'll need to prepare carefully for tomorrow's team spirit combat."
Back at the inn, the seven people began planning their team tactics. Tang San deliberately gave himself fewer field-control duties, taking responsibility only for binding the opponents in the front line. "We've only just formed the team and haven't built up coordination yet. If I try to control too much, mistakes will be easy. I'll handle the front line first, then expand my control range once we're coordinated." As he spoke, he marked his position on the tactical diagram, avoiding the rear-line attack area. Team spirit combat is about cooperation. Not competing for credit reduces mistakes and saves Soul Power.
Reducing field-control duties on the grounds of "preventing errors during team coordination," avoiding excessive consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total: 97 points
At dusk, once the tactics had been finalized, Tang San did not immediately meditate. Instead, he first took a lap around the inn. The Imperial Dou Team might send someone to scout us. Observing the surroundings more carefully could help us spot a spy in advance. As he walked, he had Blue Silver Grass memorize the layout of the nearby buildings. If something went wrong in tomorrow's spirit combat, they would have an escape route.
Back in his room, Tang San opened the system panel—97 points of Slacking Value, still 3 points short of the next Soul Power Increase. He sat by the window and meditated, deliberately slowing the circulation of his Soul Power to seventy percent. Tomorrow's team spirit combat will consume a lot of Soul Power. Slow Meditation will make it more solid; going too fast could cause problems during the match. He silently thought, The Imperial Dou Team's team spirit combat is the perfect chance to earn more Slacking Value. As long as I find the right excuse of "building team coordination," the road to the peak of slacking can continue.
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