The shimmering waves of Sea God Lake reflected the radiance of the Golden Ancient Tree, year after year.
The lakeside pairing of Lin Ciyan "lying down" and Mu En "sitting" had also become a permanent fixture on Sea God Island.
Unnoticed, several years slipped by.
The little bean who once had to stand on tiptoe just to reach the edge of Mu En's wheelchair had now grown into a five-year-old child.
His features were delicate, and years of sunbathing had given his skin a healthy wheat-brown glow.
Only the lazy yet clear light in his eyes seemed out of place for his age.
Over the past few years, Lin Ciyan had taken the art of "slacking" to its utmost limits, coming up with one outrageous stunt after another.
The most classic one happened when Qian Duoduo, vice dean of the Soul Guidance Department, was demonstrating a newly developed Soul Cannon. Its power was astonishing, and its roar was deafening.
While everyone covered their ears and marveled, Lin Ciyan leisurely pulled out two cotton balls and stuffed them into his ears.
Then, right before everyone's eyes, Lin Ciyan pulled out... a copy of Douluo Continent Early Childhood Enlightenment Reader and began reading with great interest.
[Ding! Calmly reading at the test site of an eighth-grade Soul Cannon, Slacking Value +77!]
Another time, a respected elder renowned for his strictness was berating several Inner Court disciples who had been slacking off, spittle flying everywhere.
Lin Ciyan happened to pass by. Instead of taking a detour, he brought over a little stool and sat beside them, munching on sunflower seeds as he offered his critique. "Teacher, your rhythm when scolding them is a little off. You should start with praise, then move on to criticism, gradually building up..."
[Ding! Watching the show and pontificating at a disciplinary hearing, Slacking Value +66!]
The most outrageous incident happened during an impromptu Sea God Pavilion Meeting. As the elders argued until their faces turned red...
He suddenly pushed open the door and poked his little head inside, holding a fresh fish. "Grandpas, would you like to order takeout? Fresh fish from Sea God Lake is on special today. The second one is half price!"
[Ding! Interrupting the Sea God Pavilion Meeting to promote grilled fish, Slacking Value +99!]
These stories had long since spread across Sea God Island, making him the "little slacking genius" whom the elders both loved and loathed.
Even his grandfather, Lin Qingmo, often sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Just who did this kid take after..."
And Mu En, the Limit Douluo who stood at the pinnacle of the continent, had become Lin Ciyan's most steadfast "kindred spirit."
Over the past few years, Mu En had discovered that whenever he spent time with the little fellow, ripples gradually stirred in his heart, which had lain quiet for many years.
Even Yan Shaozhe had been surprised to find that the knot between Mu En's brows seemed to have eased considerably. Every now and then, he could even hear Mu En laughing heartily.
The setting sun once again cast its golden light across Sea God Lake.
Lin Ciyan lay spread-eagled on a specially made recliner, wearing an eye mask he had fashioned from leaves.
Beside him sat a little fan modified with Soul Tool Technology, whirring as it blew a breeze.
"Grandpa Mu, do you think the fish in Sea God Lake are divided into top students and poor students, too?"
"I've noticed that some fish are especially clever. No matter how I try to catch them, they never take the bait, while others bite as soon as they see it."
Mu En was fishing. At his words, he couldn't help but chuckle. "What goes through that little head of yours all day?"
"I was thinking," Lin Ciyan said lazily, rolling over.
"Those clever fish must be exhausted from scheming about this and that all day. The silly ones have it better—eat, sleep, sleep, eat. What a happy life."
[Ding! Explaining life philosophy with the theory of the salted fish, Slacking Value +25!]
Mu En shook his head with a fond smile and looked at him warmly. "Ciyan, just like that, you're already five."
Lin Ciyan sprang upright, knowing the important part was coming.
He nodded obediently. "That's right, Grandpa Mu. In another year, I'll be able to awaken my Martial Soul!" In his heart, though, he was frantically calling for the system.
"System! The countdown's started! Is my newbie gift pack ready?"
[Current Slacking Value: 891 points. 109 more points required to unlock the Slacker Shop. Please keep up the good work, host.]
Mu En smiled. "Your grandfather and I believe you're very likely to inherit his 'Light Dragon' Martial Soul. It's a top-tier dragon-type Martial Soul, with limitless potential."
Light Dragon? Lin Ciyan quickly ran through the information he knew.
Though it wasn't Ultimate Light, it was still one of the best among Beast Martial Souls.
Being a proper young dragon clan master seemed to fit his life plan of "slacking with caution" rather well.
His eyes lit up. "Really, Grandpa Mu? Then will I be able to lie around openly whenever I want? Dragons hibernate, after all!"
[Ding! Equating the dignity of the dragon clan with lying around, Slacking Value +30!]
Mu En laughed so hard at his words that it took him a while to calm down. "You little rascal... Oh, right. I have a great-grandson named Bei Bei, who's five this year, too.
"He's been receiving the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's traditional training with his family all these years. He should be coming to live on Sea God Island next month. I'll introduce you two then."
Bei Bei! He was finally going to meet a character from the original story!
Lin Ciyan agreed obediently on the surface, but in his heart, he had already started making plans.
Bei Bei was a good person, loyal and true. He'd make a fine friend.
But...
Tang Ya, who stayed by Bei Bei's side, immediately came to mind, along with that godforsaken Tang Sect.
"The Tang Sect..." Lin Ciyan sneered inwardly. "Ten thousand years, and all it has left are Hidden Weapons and a few crippled cultivation techniques. What else is there?
"The sect's been wiped out until only one last survivor remains, and that lofty Tang God King hasn't even come down to take a look."
"Teacher Tang Ya is pitiful, too, saddled with such a mess." He sympathized with Tang Ya's circumstances, but as for helping her—or even restoring the Tang Sect?
"Sorry, I'm not the slightest bit interested." Lin Ciyan's heart remained unmoved.
Whoever wanted to take on something with such a dismal return and such a high chance of causing a whole mess could go right ahead.
The life creed of me, Lin Ciyan, is: respect other people's fate, let go of the urge to help, and avoid wearing yourself down."
Getting mixed up with a God King like Tang San, the sort who'd say, "You have already incurred the wrath of heaven"? He might anger him somehow and end up in trouble.
All he wanted was to slack in peace, save up a million points, and go home to watch match replays. He had no interest in taking on some high-risk, extreme challenge.
At that thought, he tilted his face toward the sky at a forty-five-degree angle. A world-weary look appeared on his little face, far too mature for his age, and he let out a quiet sigh. "Ah, life..."
Seeing him act like a little old man, Mu En couldn't help laughing. "You're so young. Where do you get all these thoughts?"
Lin Ciyan immediately seized the opening and edged closer to Mu En, his little face creasing into a flattering smile. "Grandpa Mu, could I talk something over with you?"
"You see, I keep you company by the lake and fish with you every day, rain or shine, and this recliner leaves my back sore..."
Lin Ciyan paused deliberately and blinked his big, hopeful eyes.
He pointed toward the towering Golden Tree in the distance. "I heard that sacred tree is amazing! Doesn't it sometimes naturally drop little branches?"
"Could you... give me a small piece? It doesn't have to be thick, just a short segment! I want to see if I can ask one of the uncles from the Soul Guidance Department to make me a more comfortable hammock."
"Then I can lie down even more comfortably... I mean, focus even more intently on contemplating the world with you!"
Old-timer, this time I'm striking real gold!
At his words, a gleam flashed in Mu En's eyes. This time, he was genuinely surprised.
This little fellow was ambitious—and had a remarkably sharp eye!
Even a small branch naturally shed by the Golden Ancient Tree contained an unimaginable source of light and life energy, far beyond what its leaves could compare with.
For Soul Masters with an affinity for light, its value was beyond measure.
He stared at Lin Ciyan, his gaze seeming to pierce through the child's small body.
Over these past few years, bathed in the Golden Tree's radiance, and with the little fellow's seemingly extraordinary affinity for light elements...
Mu En could clearly sense the aura of light contained within Lin Ciyan.
It was not only pure, but growing more and more powerful, even carrying a faint hint of divinity.
"Light Dragon?" Mu En thought, shaking his head inwardly. "Qingmo's Light Dragon is powerful, but it could hardly produce such pure light energy.
"This child's Martial Soul must be even more powerful than the Light Dragon's. It may well have mutated toward... Ultimate Light!"
The thought struck Mu En with a jolt. Then came a joy he could barely contain.
Ultimate Light? How many years had it been since Shrek Academy had produced such a top-tier genius? If it was true...
He pondered for a long while. Looking at Lin Ciyan's eager yet slightly sheepish little face, he finally nodded slowly, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity. "You certainly know what to ask for... Very well. Since it seems fate has brought it to you, I'll give you a piece."
He reached toward the Golden Ancient Tree again and made a grasping motion in the air. This time, the ripples in space were much more pronounced.
A branch about as thick as a baby's arm and a foot long, its whole body like forged gold crystal, naturally shed yet still glimmering with a gentle radiance, slowly floated down into Lin Ciyan's hands.
The branch felt warm and heavy in his hands. Its powerful yet gentle energy made every pore on his body open up.
[Ding! Successfully obtained a core branch shed by the Golden Ancient Tree from a Limit Douluo, Slacking Value +99!]
"Wow! Thank you, Grandpa Mu! You're the best grandpa in the world!" Lin Ciyan was overjoyed.
Lin Ciyan hugged the golden branch tightly, feeling that his plan for a "Slacker Artifact" was already halfway complete!
"Use it carefully. Don't waste this opportunity," Mu En said meaningfully.
"I know!" Lin Ciyan ran off happily, clutching his precious branch.
"Slow down!" Mu En watched the skipping figure. The smile on his face gradually faded, giving way to a profound sense of relief and anticipation.
Only after Lin Ciyan had run far away did Mu En slowly turn his gaze back.
Mu En looked out over the shimmering Sea God Lake and murmured to himself, "Nourished by the Golden Tree, the light energy in this child's body is already so abundant and pure."
"The solidity of his Martial Soul far surpasses his ancestor's... It seems he hasn't inherited a simple Light Dragon Martial Soul."
His gaze grew immeasurably profound, as if he could see into the distant future.
"If the quality of his Martial Soul is truly exceptional, and his talent surpasses Bei Bei's..."
"Powerful beings with ultimate attributes have appeared several times throughout Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year history, and each of them led Shrek Academy to create an era of glory."
"If this child's Martial Soul is a dragon-type Ultimate Martial Soul, its quality will far surpass even my Radiant Sacred Dragon, perhaps rivaling the one from ten thousand years ago..."
"Then, when the continent is swept by storms in the future, Shrek Academy will finally have a pillar capable of stepping forward to hold up the sky and support the seas."
A fierce resolve welled up in Mu En's heart.
"I must pay even closer attention to this. If this child's talent is truly as I sense, then when the time comes, Shrek will devote every resource to raising him, no matter the cost!
"This may be a blessing for the academy—and even for the entire continent."
The setting sun draped the old man in a golden edge and lit the glow of hope rekindled in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Lin Ciyan ran home hugging the branch from the Golden Tree, completely immersed in the joy of unlocking the system and upgrading his gear.
[Current Slacking Value: 1020! The Slacker Shop has opened!]
"I've struck it rich! I can finally see what good stuff is in there!" He eagerly opened the shop icon, which glowed with an enticing light.