Heading to the Main Campus for Assessment, New Training Begins to Set the Pace

As dawn broke, the carriage outside the inn was already prepared. When Tang San walked out of his room with his packed Spirit Combat bag, Xiao Wu was helping Oscar count his sausage inventory, while Dai Mubai checked the soul tool protective gear. "Hurry up, everyone! It's a half-day's mountain trek to Shrek Academy Main Campus, and being late won't end well!" Flender stood by the carriage, his whip lightly tapping the shaft.

Tang San deliberately slowed his pace, pausing for an extra two seconds as he tucked the low-level soul power recovery soul tool he'd bought last night into his pocket. Mountain paths might have Soul Beasts. Using "checking emergency equipment" as an excuse to delay would ensure the gear was handy and give him a bit more rest. By the time he sat in the carriage, he noticed several bundles of rope and healing medicine inside. "Dean, are these for dealing with unexpected situations on the mountain road?"

"Clever of you! The mountain road has falling rocks; the ropes are for emergencies," Flender said as the carriage slowly started moving. Tang San leaned by the window, letting his Blue Silver Grass quietly slip through the gap and extend along the ground. The mountain road is bumpy. Blue Silver Grass can scout ahead to avoid potholes. Slow scouting is more precise than fast scouting and saves Soul Power. Observing the feedback from the grass blades, he told Xiao Wu, "When we encounter steep slopes later, stick close to me and don't fall behind."

[Adjusting preparation pace under the guise of "checking emergency equipment + slow scouting to avoid bumps" to circumvent sudden consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total 107 points]

By noon, the carriage finally arrived outside the gates of Shrek Academy Main Campus. Unlike the simplicity of Nuoding Academy, the main campus gate was constructed from massive bluestone, inscribed with the imposing characters for "Shrek." Two guards in black uniforms, with soul tools at their waists, stood at the entrance. "Who goes there? Show your admission credentials!" The guards stopped the carriage, their gazes sweeping over the silver Spirit Combat badges on the seven students' chests.

Flender handed over a letter. After reading it, the guard frowned. "According to the main campus rules, new students must first pass the 'Aptitude Test.' You can only enter if you qualify! Follow me!" The testing area was an open space behind the gate. In the center sat a soul power cataloging instrument emitting a golden glow. Beside it stood an elder with a goatee, Teacher Li, who was in charge of the test.

"Everyone, place your hands on the cataloging instrument. Your Soul Power fluctuations must meet the standard to pass. Tang San, you first!" Teacher Li pointed at the instrument, his tone somewhat stern. Tang San stepped forward, deliberately slowing his hand as he raised it. His fingers stopped just as they touched the surface of the instrument. This is my first time using the main campus's cataloging instrument. I need to adapt to its Soul Power sensing frequency first. Rushing can easily lead to errors, making it inaccurate and troublesome. After about fifteen minutes, he slowly injected his Soul Power, and the light on the instrument gradually rose to the edge of the "qualified" line.

"Why is it just barely qualified? Didn't you defeat the Imperial Dou Team?" Teacher Li frowned, his recording pen pausing over the paper.

"Teacher, the cataloging instrument's sensing frequency is different from what I usually use. I only just adapted to it and reached the qualified line. If I adjusted further, it might exceed the limit, which wouldn't meet the 'precise control' requirement." Tang San withdrew his hand and pointed at the fluctuation curve on the instrument. "See, the fluctuations are very stable, with no errors. Isn't that the key to the test?" Teacher Li said no more and marked a check on the record book.

[Controlling test output under the guise of "adapting to the cataloging instrument's sensing frequency to prevent errors" to circumvent excessive consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total 108 points]

After entering the main campus, Flender took the seven students to the dormitory area and left in a hurry, instructing them before he departed, "Attend the main campus's 'group basic training' this afternoon. Don't embarrass me!" The dormitories were one room per person. Tang San was sharing with Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar. As soon as they finished unpacking, they heard the assembly whistle from the training grounds.

The training grounds were already filled with main campus students. Leading them was a tall, middle-aged man – Teacher Zhao, who was in charge of the training (he shared a name with the Teacher Zhao from Nuoding Academy but was much stronger). "Today, we're practicing 'soul power precise projection.' Each person will use their Martial Soul to inject Soul Power into the target's core. Injecting exactly eighty percent is considered qualified. Tang San, you're in the last group!" Teacher Zhao's voice was loud, and he started the timer.

The students ahead quickly completed the test one by one, their crystals lighting up with dazzling brilliance. When it was Tang San's turn, he summoned his Blue Silver Grass and deliberately slowed the injection speed of his Soul Power. The main campus's target core crystal is smaller than Nuoding Academy's. Injecting quickly will easily spill Soul Power. Slow injection allows for precise control of the amount. Just reaching eighty percent. When the crystal lit up to seventy percent, he immediately stopped injecting. "Teacher, my injection amount is exactly ten percent short. I need to work on my precision."

"Ten percent short is unqualified! Practice three more times!" Teacher Zhao frowned and handed the timer to Tang San. Tang San practiced slowly, each time letting the crystal light up between seventy-five and seventy-eight percent, never reaching eighty percent. "You see, the target core is too small. I have to adjust the angle every time I inject. Practicing slowly is the only way to find the precise point. Practicing quickly will just lead to mistakes."

[Controlling the injection pace under the guise of "adapting to the small target core for precision + slow practice to find the angle" to circumvent excessive consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total 109 points]

As evening training concluded, Tang San walked out of the training grounds and saw Xiao Wu running over with two bottles of warm water. "Tang San, you could have precisely injected eighty percent, so why did you deliberately practice at just over seventy? Teacher Zhao was almost glaring at you."

"The training pace at the main campus is different from before. Practicing slowly is the only way to adapt. Otherwise, tomorrow's extra training will be even more troublesome." Tang San took the warm water and drank it slowly, his gaze sweeping over the distant Spirit Beast Forest. The trials at the main campus will definitely be harder than Spirit Combat. I need to save up enough Soul Power in advance.

Back in the dormitory, Oscar handed him a Recovery Sausage. "Tomorrow, we're reportedly practicing 'team coordinated defense.' We need to save up Soul Power." Tang San took the sausage but didn't eat it immediately. Instead, he placed it on his bedside table. "I'll save it to eat before training tomorrow. If I eat it now, my Soul Power might overflow during meditation tonight, which would be a waste." He sat on the edge of the bed and began to meditate, deliberately slowing his Soul Power circulation to seventy percent of its normal state. Practicing precise projection during the day consumed a lot of energy. Slow meditation will relax my meridians. Meditating too quickly could leave hidden dangers.

[Adjusting recovery pace under the guise of "reserving emergency sausage + slow meditation to protect meridians" to circumvent excessive consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total 110 points]

Late into the night, the breathing in the dormitory gradually evened out. Tang San opened his eyes and looked at the night sky of the main campus outside the window, thinking to himself: Although the main campus's assessments and training are difficult, as long as I find the right reasons – "adapting to test standards" and "synchronizing training rhythm" – the "peak slacking path" can continue. Perhaps I can even learn stronger techniques at the main campus.