Grandpa Lin Qingmo saw that Lin Ciyan had already mastered the basic meditation method and its circulation. After reminding him to "build a solid foundation" and "never rush ahead," he left with satisfaction, giving Lin Ciyan space to consolidate his progress on his own.
The moment the door closed, Lin Ciyan dropped all pretenses and eagerly summoned the screen in his mind.
[Slacker Shop (Beginner)]
[Current Slacking Value: 8874]
[Tip: If it comes from the system, it's guaranteed to be top-quality! (The System reserves the right of final interpretation.)]
"Eight thousand eight hundred and seventy-four!" Lin Ciyan's eyes lit up at this impressive "nest egg."
"I can finally empty my shopping cart... I mean, make some strategic purchases!"
The first thing he set his sights on was the item he'd been dreaming of for ages—
["Winning by Lying Down" Aura (Team Exclusive)] - 3000 points
Ability: Passive skill. When you're part of a team and your subjective inclination is to "slack off," slightly increases your teammates' luck, explosive power, and chance of sudden insight. The more you lie down, the fiercer your teammates get!
Note: I'm not slacking off. I'm providing mystical support to the team! The true core often looks the most like a freeloader.
"Buy!" Lin Ciyan confirmed the purchase without hesitation.
[Purchase successful! Current Slacking Value: 5874!]
A subtle, indescribable sensation enveloped him at once, as if his presence had begun to resonate more harmoniously with his surroundings.
He felt that his "aura" seemed to have become... more peaceful and infectious?
"Not bad, not bad. If Bei Bei, Zhang Lexuan, and the others cultivate beside me from now on, won't they get twice the results with half the effort?"
"Heh heh, this is what a team's core is supposed to look like—carry everyone with your aura!" Lin Ciyan thought smugly.
Turning his attention back to the shop, he began searching for a higher-level meditation method.
Before long, an item exuding a lazy yet mysterious aura caught his attention.
[Great Dream Freedom Scripture] - Price: 4300 Slacking Value
Description: An introductory cultivation method from a certain higher-dimensional holy land of slacking.
There's no need to deliberately sit in meditation while cultivating. It circulates on its own in relaxed states such as sleeping, lying still, or daydreaming, absorbing the energy of heaven and earth.
Its efficiency is comparable to that of a high-level meditation method.
Long-term cultivation can subtly widen the meridians, refine Soul Power, and slightly improve one's constitution.
It comes with a weak domain effect that causes friendly units within a certain range of the host to slowly increase their Soul Power when they feel inclined to slack off and lie flat.
The increase is half as effective as their own cultivation, and they'll find it easier to enter a "calm mind" state while cultivating.
Note: What? Cultivating hard? That's what ordinary people do! True powerhouses grow stronger even in their sleep! The bane of workaholics, the blessing of the lazy!
"Holy crap! This cultivation method... was it made just for me?!" Lin Ciyan's heart raced as he read.
Not only could he cultivate while lying down, he could also help his teammates and improve his talent! This effect was downright overpowered!
At first glance, the ability to increase allies' Soul Power seemed a little underwhelming, but it was actually incredibly outrageous.
That was because this cultivation method circulated automatically in a relaxed state.
If he relaxed for a whole day, that meant cultivating for an entire day—and the people around him would benefit, too.
After all, no one could cultivate nonstop under normal circumstances, but the Great Dream Freedom Scripture could.
Lin Ciyan suddenly remembered another cultivation method he'd seen earlier, so he searched for it.
Great Dream Spirit Travel (cultivation in dreams, double efficiency). It let the user cultivate in their dreams, and doubling cultivation efficiency was pretty good.
But Great Dream Spirit Travel combined with the Winning by Lying Down Aura—
That was like stacking a blue buff and a red buff. The combined effect wouldn't just be one plus one equals two.
The Great Dream Freedom Scripture was still better.
The Great Dream Freedom Scripture's price of 4300 points made his heart ache.
But thinking of its long-term value, Lin Ciyan gritted his teeth. "I'm buying it! Investing in myself is the best way to slack off!"
[Purchase successful! Current Slacking Value: 1574!]
The moment payment went through, a flood of profound information poured into Lin Ciyan's mind.
It was the complete method for cultivating the Great Dream Freedom Scripture.
Its central principle was "the mind rests, but the intent remains; the body relaxes, and energy gathers of its own accord."
It sought an extreme state of relaxation that would draw the energy of heaven and earth to the cultivator of its own accord.
"Let's see how it works!" Lin Ciyan eagerly followed the instructions in the scripture.
Instead of assuming the standard five-points-to-the-sky pose, he simply fell backward.
He lay on the floor in a starfish shape, relaxing every muscle and emptying his mind.
He kept only the faintest wisp of intention to guide his Soul Power as it slowly circulated along the Great Dream Freedom Scripture's unique path.
Something marvelous happened!
The circulation of his Soul Power became incredibly smooth, requiring almost no effort of concentration.
The energy of heaven and earth seemed to be drawn to him by some kind of attraction.
It flowed gently and continuously into his body, passed through his meridians, and transformed before merging into his dantian and limbs.
He could even feel his meridians being nourished by this gentle energy.
They were becoming broader and tougher at an incredibly slow but steady pace.
"Comfortable! This feels so good!" Lin Ciyan almost let out a moan.
"This is how cultivation is supposed to be! Sitting upright and suffering through it like I used to was pure torture!"
He could already picture himself in the future, bringing Bei Bei, Zhang Lexuan, and the others to the shore of Sea God Lake and lining up a row of lounge chairs.
They'd bask in the sun, fish, and chat as their cultivation shot upward. What a beautiful scene.
The Great Dream Freedom Scripture was practically a divine tool made for his "Great Way of Slacking"!
[Ding! Successfully cultivated the Great Dream Freedom Scripture and experienced the ultimate comfortable way to cultivate. Slacking Value +50!]
Amid his delight, Lin Ciyan also understood that, as the possessor of an Ultimate Light Martial Soul—
Once he reached level thirty, he would face a bottleneck that greatly reduced his Soul Power cultivation speed.
This was the inevitable price of the tremendous power of an Ultimate Martial Soul.
His Soul Power would be constantly compressed and refined by his Ultimate Attribute, causing his level to rise slowly.
But for that very reason, at the same level, Soul Masters with Ultimate Martial Souls had far purer Soul Power and much greater combat strength than ordinary people.
Usually, it wasn't until after level seventy—
That their cultivation speed would gradually return to normal, or even become faster, and they would face no more bottlenecks until they became Titled Douluo.
"With the Great Dream Freedom Scripture, maybe I can ease the pain of crawling along at a snail's pace?" Lin Ciyan mused to himself.
"Besides, this scripture can improve my talent and widen my meridians. That's practically an indirect increase to my Soul Power capacity and cultivation efficiency. Brilliant!"
Looking at the remaining 1624 Slacking Value after the extra fifty points had been added, Lin Ciyan continued browsing the shop, following his principle of "never leaving money overnight." Suddenly, an item priced at exactly 1000 points caught his interest.
[Causality-Defying Item: "Definitely Next Time" Talisman (Single-Use)] - Price: 1000 Slacking Value
Description: A single-use consumable. Once activated, it can unconditionally and reasonably postpone any trouble, challenge, or appointment you don't want to deal with (such as a sparring match, meeting, or errand) until "next time."
After using it, everyone nearby will feel, "What he said makes a lot of sense. We really should do it next time."
Note: The ultimate dream of a habitual flake! As long as I say "definitely next time" fast enough, trouble will never catch up with me!
Warning: Please be a responsible flake (occasionally).
"Ha ha ha! This is great! This is great!" The item's note made Lin Ciyan burst out laughing.
"A causality-defying weapon for ditching people! It's the ultimate tool for avoiding pointless competition and protecting my leisure time!"
Just imagine: if someone gave him trouble in the future, he could activate the talisman—
Say, "Definitely next time," and the other person would think it was perfectly reasonable... What a beautiful sight!
It was single-use, but if he saved it for the right moment, it could spare him countless headaches.
"Buying it! I'll call it insurance!" Lin Ciyan waved his hand grandly.
[Purchase successful! Current Slacking Value: 624!]
With his shopping done, Lin Ciyan looked at his nearly depleted Slacking Value and the three treasures he'd acquired, feeling thoroughly satisfied.
He shifted into a more comfortable position and continued circulating the Great Dream Freedom Scripture, enjoying the sensation of Soul Power flowing lazily through his body and his meridians subtly widening.
"I've got the Winning by Lying Down Aura, a divine technique for slacking, and even a talisman for ditching people... My Great Way of Slacking is looking brighter and brighter!"
Carrying his beautiful hopes for the future, he let the Great Dream Freedom Scripture continue circulating on its own.
His mind gradually settled, and he entered a deep state of rest, halfway between sleeping and waking.
His cultivation steadily improved without him even noticing.
The Slacking Value seemed to be waving to him from far away.