Spirit Beast Forest Trial Begins, Combat Response Shows Synergy

The sky hadn't even brightened yet, and two carriages were already parked outside the main gate of Shrek Academy. Flender stood by the carriages, checking the supplies. The list in his hand was densely packed with healing medicine, rations, and soul tools. As Tang San walked out of the dormitory with a backpack full of sausages, Xiao Wu was helping Ning Rongrong check the soul power reserves of her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. "Hurry up, everyone! The fog in the Spirit Beast Forest dissipates quickly in the morning. If we're late, we'll miss the best training time!" Just as Flender finished speaking, Dai Mubai ran over, carrying two bundles of rope with beast catching nets hanging from them.

Tang San deliberately slowed his pace, adjusting the soul power recovery soul tool at his waist to "low-power mode." Training in the forest lasted a long time, and the high-power mode of soul tools could easily run out of power early. By using the excuse of "adjusting the device mode," he could delay, ensuring it would be available for emergencies and allowing him to adapt to the cool morning forest temperature. When he finally got into the carriage, he noticed several soul lamps inside. "Dean, are these for dealing with the fog at night in the forest?"

"You're observant! The forest fogs up at night, and soul lamps can prevent us from getting lost," Flender said as the carriage slowly drove towards the Spirit Beast Forest. Tang San leaned by the carriage window, letting his Blue Silver Grass quietly extend through the gap, sticking to the ground and slowly spreading out. The forest paths have many forks. Slow exploration with Blue Silver Grass can help remember the route, while fast exploration can easily miss junctions. It can also sense nearby Soul Beast auras in advance. While observing the feedback from the grass blades, he told Xiao Wu, "When we enter the forest later, don't randomly touch the plants by the roadside. Some of them are poisonous."

[Using "adjusting soul tool mode + slow route exploration to prevent getting lost" as an excuse to adjust the preparation pace and avoid unexpected consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total 119 points.]

At the morning hour of Chen, the carriage finally arrived at the entrance of the Spirit Beast Forest. A warning sign stood at the entrance, stating, "Contains Soul Beasts of hundred-year or older, enter with caution." Several animal bones were scattered around. Flender divided the seven people into two groups: "Tang San, you take Xiao Wu, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong down the left path to find Soul Beasts suitable for control and support systems. Dai Mubai, you take Zhu Zhuqing and Ma Hongjun down the right path to find assault system Soul Beasts. We'll meet at the stream in the center of the forest at noon!"

Not long after they started down the left path, the Blue Silver Grass suddenly vibrated faintly—a Soul Beast was approaching. Tang San immediately told everyone to stop and deliberately slowed their pace. The Blue Silver Grass quietly circled behind the bushes ahead and discovered a 200-year-old poisonous spider, which was lying on a leaf and staring at Ning Rongrong. "Xiao Wu, circle around from the left and use 'Waist Bow' to kick its abdomen. Oscar, get the detoxifying sausage ready. Ning Rongrong, wait for Xiao Wu to make her move before giving her an agility boost!" Tang San deliberately had the Blue Silver Grass entangle the poisonous spider's legs, only wrapping halfway. The poisonous spider's legs have poison glands. Wrapping too tightly will cause venom to splash. Half a wrap can restrict its movement and leave room for Xiao Wu to attack. Xiao Wu seized the opportunity, jumped over, and kicked the poisonous spider's abdomen. The spider instantly fell to the ground, and Oscar immediately handed over the detoxifying sausage.

"Tang San, why didn't you wrap it up completely? What if it counterattacks?" Ning Rongrong put away her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, her voice laced with lingering fear.

"If I wrapped it completely, venom would splash. Besides, its weakness is in its abdomen. Restricting its movement is more effective than killing it outright, and it saves soul power for the next Soul Beast," Tang San said, letting the Blue Silver Grass retract. "See? No one is injured, and we still have enough soul power to deal with other Soul Beasts."

[Using "preventing venom splash + leaving room for attack" as an excuse to adjust the control intensity and avoid excessive consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total 120 points.]

Continuing deeper into the forest, they finally reached the stream at noon. Dai Mubai's group was already waiting there, and Ma Hongjun's clothes were still dusted with animal fur. "We encountered a 300-year-old flame wolf and used quite a bit of soul power to take it down!" Dai Mubai wiped his sweat. Just as he was about to take out some rations, he suddenly heard a splashing sound from upstream—a 400-year-old Azure Water Snake was swimming towards them. The scales on its body shimmered with a deadly blue light.

Tang San immediately had the two groups merge into a "double triangle formation," with the left flank defending against the snake's head and the right flank against its tail. "The Azure Water Snake's venom can spray five meters. Let the Blue Silver Grass entangle its vital seven inches first to restrict its venom spray!" He deliberately had the Blue Silver Grass entangle it with multiple strands, wrapping only once around each. The snake's body is slippery. Multiple strands are more stable than a single strand. Wrapping once prevents the grass blades from being strained when the snake body struggles to break free. Ning Rongrong gave Dai Mubai an agility boost, and Dai Mubai's White Tiger Claw fiercely struck the Azure Water Snake's vital seven inches. The snake instantly stopped moving, and Ma Hongjun quickly used his Phoenix Flame to burn away the venom on its body.

"Tang San, why didn't you wrap it more? The snake's body almost broke free just now!" Dai Mubai retracted his White Tiger Martial Soul, his voice filled with confusion.

"Wrapping more would be affected by the slippery fluid on the snake's body, making it easier to loosen. Multiple strands wrapped once are more stable and save soul power," Tang San said, letting Oscar hand out Recovery Sausages to everyone. "See? We still have 40% soul power left, enough to get out of the forest."

[Using "preventing slippery fluid from the snake's body + stable control with multi-strand wrapping" as an excuse to adjust the control method and avoid excessive consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total 121 points.]

By evening, the seven finally emerged from the Spirit Beast Forest, where Flender was already waiting at the entrance. "Today's training was good, with no casualties. We'll go again next week, targeting 500-year Soul Beasts!" Flender said with a smile, patting Tang San on the shoulder as the carriage slowly drove back to the main campus.

Back in the dormitory, Tang San sat on his bed meditating, deliberately keeping his soul power circulation speed at 70% of its normal state. I've used a lot of soul power in the forest today. Slow meditation will relax my meridians. Going too fast could cause problems during next week's training. He touched the soul tool in his bosom and secretly thought: Although training in the Spirit Beast Forest is dangerous, as long as he finds the right excuses—"preventing venom splash" and "stable control of slippery Soul Beasts"—he can continue on the "peak slacking path," and the combat experience of the seven will become increasingly rich.

[Using "slow meditation to protect meridians + reserving soul power for next week" as an excuse to adjust the recovery rhythm and avoid excessive consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total 122 points.]