Five Years of Slacking, the Slacker Shop is Open

The rippling light of Sea God Lake reflected the radiance of the Golden Ancient Tree year after year.

The "one lying, one sitting" combination of Lin Ciyan and Mu En by the lakeside had become a permanent fixture of the scenery on Sea God Island.

Quietly, several years slipped away.

The little bean who once had to stand on tiptoe just to reach the edge of the wheelchair had now grown into a five-year-old child.

His features were delicate, and his skin had taken on a healthy, sun-kissed Komugi tone from years of sunbathing.

Only the lazy and clear light in his eyes seemed entirely out of place for his age.

Over these years, Lin Ciyan had pushed the art of "slacking off" to its absolute limit, with all sorts of outrageous antics emerging one after another.

The most classic instance occurred when Qian Duoduo, Vice Dean of the Soul Guidance Department, was demonstrating a newly developed soul guidance cannon. The power was astonishing, and the roar was deafening.

While everyone else was covering their ears in awe, Lin Ciyan slowly pulled out two cotton balls and plugged his ears.

Then, in full view of everyone, Lin Ciyan pulled out... a copy of the Douluo Continent Early Childhood Enlightenment Reader and began reading it with great relish.

[Ding! Calmly reading a book at the test-fire site of an eighth-level soul guidance cannon, Slacker Points +77!]

Another time, an elder known for his strictness was reprimanding several lazy inner court disciples, spittle flying everywhere.

Lin Ciyan happened to pass by. Instead of taking a detour, he brought over a small stool, sat down, and started cracking melon seeds while offering commentary: "Teacher, your rhythm for scolding is a bit off. You should start with praise, then follow with criticism—it needs to be progressive..."

[Ding! Acting as a spectator and offering unsolicited advice at a disciplinary scene, Slacker Points +66!]

Even more absurd was the time of an impromptu Sea God Pavilion meeting, when the elders were arguing until their faces were red.

He suddenly pushed the door open and poked his little head in, holding a fresh fish: "Grandpas, would you like to order takeout? The fresh fish from Sea God Lake is on sale today—buy one, get the second half off!"

[Ding! Interrupting a Sea God Pavilion meeting to sell grilled fish, Slacker Points +99!]

These deeds had long since spread across Sea God Island, making him the "little genius of slacking" whom the elders both loved and hated.

Even his grandfather, Lin Qingmo, would often rub his forehead and sigh: "This kid, who on earth does he take after..."

Yet Mu En, the Limit Douluo standing at the pinnacle of the continent, had become Lin Ciyan's most steadfast "confidant."

Over these years, Mu En found that when he spent time with this little fellow, the state of mind that had been stagnant for many years began to ripple.

Even Yan Shaozhe was surprised to find that the gloom between Mu En's brows seemed to have dissipated significantly, and occasionally, he could even hear his hearty laughter.

The sunset once again bathed Sea God Lake in golden brilliance.

Lin Ciyan was lying sprawled out on a custom-made lounge chair, wearing an eye mask he had fashioned from leaves.

Beside him sat a small fan modified with soul guidance technology, buzzing as it blew a breeze.

"Grandpa Mu, do you think the fish in Sea God Lake are divided into top students and slackers too?"

"I see some fish that are incredibly cunning—no matter how you fish, they won't take the bait, while others are just silly enough to bite anything."

Mu En was fishing and couldn't help but chuckle at the remark: "You child, what are you thinking about all day?"

"I'm thinking," Lin Ciyan rolled over and said lazily.

"Those cunning fish must live very tiring lives, calculating this and that every day. On the contrary, those silly fish just eat and sleep—how happy they must be."

[Ding! Interpreting life philosophy through the 'salted fish' theory, Slacker Points +25!]

Mu En shook his head with a smile, his gaze landing on him gently: "Ciyan, in the blink of an eye, you're already five."

Lin Ciyan sat up with a start, knowing the main point was coming.

He nodded obediently: "That's right, Grandpa Mu! In another year, I'll be able to awaken my martial soul!" Internally, however, he was frantically calling the system.

"System! Start the countdown! Is my beginner's gift pack ready?"

[Current Slacker Points: 891. 109 points remaining to unlock the Slacker Shop. Please keep up the good work, Host.]

Mu En smiled: "According to your grandfather and me, there is a high probability you will inherit your grandfather's 'Light Dragon' martial soul. It is a top-tier dragon-type martial soul with infinite potential."

Light Dragon? Lin Ciyan quickly scanned the information in his mind.

Although it wasn't the Ultimate Light, it was still a top-tier existence among beast martial souls.

Being a dignified young master of the dragon clan seemed to fit his life plan of "steady slacking" quite well.

His eyes lit up: "Really, Grandpa Mu! Does that mean I can lie flat in the open from now on? After all, dragons have to hibernate!"

[Ding! Equating dragon dignity with lying flat, Slacker Points +30!]

Mu En was amused to the point of laughing out loud, taking a long while to stop: "You... oh, by the way, I have a great-grandson named Bei Bei, who is also five this year."

"He has been receiving inheritance education from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family all these years, and 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 work!

Lin Ciyan agreed obediently on the surface, but his mind was already beginning to calculate.

Bei Bei was a good person, loyal and righteous—a friend worth having.

But...

The image of Tang Ya, who was always by Bei Bei's side, and that god-awful Tang Sect immediately surfaced in his mind.

"Tang Sect..." Lin Ciyan sneered inwardly, "Ten thousand years later, besides some hidden weapons and a few castrated cultivation techniques, what else is left?"

"The sect has been wiped out until only a single seedling remains, yet that high and mighty God King Tang San has never once descended to take a look."

"Teacher Tang Ya is truly pitiful, burdened with such a mess." He felt sympathy for Tang Ya's plight, but as for helping her or even reviving the Tang Sect?

"Sorry, I have absolutely zero interest." Lin Ciyan felt not a ripple in his heart.

This kind of task had an incredibly low return on investment and was prone to inviting endless trouble; let whoever wants to do it, do it.

Lin Ciyan's life motto was: respect the fate of others, let go of the savior complex, and avoid self-inflicted internal friction.

Get involved with a God King like Tang San, who spouts things like "You have already invited your own death"? Who knows, I might offend him over some trivial matter.

He only wanted to slack off in peace and save up a million points to go home and watch match replays; he had no desire to play any high-stakes, extreme challenges.

Thinking of this, he tilted his head forty-five degrees to look at the sky, his small face showing a world-weariness inconsistent with his age, and he sighed faintly: "Life, oh life..."

Seeing this little adult act, Mu En couldn't help but chuckle: "You're so young, where do all these sentiments come from?"

Lin Ciyan immediately climbed up the pole, leaning toward Mu En with a fawning smile on his small face: "Grandpa Mu, can I discuss something with you?"

"Look, I accompany you fishing by this lake every day, exposed to the wind and sun, and this lounge chair makes my waist ache..."

Lin Ciyan paused deliberately, blinking his large, longing eyes.

He pointed toward the towering Golden Ancient Tree in the distance: "I heard that divine tree is amazing! Doesn't it occasionally shed some small branches naturally?"

"Do you think you could... give me a small piece? It doesn't need to be thick, just a short segment! I want to see if I can ask the uncles in the Soul Guidance Department to help me make a more comfortable hammock."

"That way, I can lie down more securely... er, I mean, I can focus more intently on helping you perceive the heavens and earth!"

Old man, this time I'm really hitting the jackpot—real gold!

Upon hearing this, a flash of light flickered in Mu En's eyes; this time, he was genuinely surprised.

This little guy had quite the appetite, and his eye for value was vicious!

The branches of the Golden Ancient Tree, even a small segment that had fallen naturally, contained unimaginable origin energy of light and life, far beyond what the leaves could offer.

Its value, to a light-attribute soul master, was truly priceless.

He stared at Lin Ciyan, his gaze seemingly piercing through that small body.

Over the past few years, under the constant bathing in the radiance of the Golden Ancient Tree, and given that this little guy himself seemed exceptionally compatible with light elements.

Mu En could clearly sense the aura of light contained within Lin Ciyan.

It was not only pure but growing increasingly vast, even faintly carrying a hint of divinity.

Light Dragon? Mu En shook his head inwardly. While Qing Mo's Light Dragon is strong, I fear it couldn't nurture such a pure aura of light.

This child's martial soul is likely even more powerful than a Light Dragon; it is highly probable that it has... mutated in the direction of the Ultimate Light!

Once this thought emerged, even Mu En felt a jolt of shock, followed by an irrepressible surge of ecstasy.

Ultimate Light? How many years had it been since Shrek Academy had seen such a top-tier genius? If it were true...

He pondered for a long time, looking at Lin Ciyan's expectant yet slightly guilty little face, and finally nodded slowly, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible solemnity: "You certainly know how to pick... Very well, since it is fated, I shall grant you a segment."

He reached out toward the Golden Ancient Tree again, and this time, the ripples in the space were much more pronounced.

A branch, about the thickness of an infant's arm and a foot long, cast as if from golden crystal, naturally shed yet still flowing with warm luster, drifted slowly into Lin Ciyan's hands.

The branch felt warm and heavy in his grip, and the vast, gentle energy made every pore on his body relax.

[Ding! Successfully obtained a core branch fallen from the Golden Ancient Tree from a Limit Douluo. Slacker Points +99!]

"Wow! Thank you, Grandpa Mu! You really are the best grandpa in the world!" Lin Ciyan was overjoyed.

Lin Ciyan hugged the golden branch tightly, feeling that his "slacking artifact" plan was already more than halfway to success!

"Use it carefully; do not waste this opportunity," Mu En cautioned meaningfully.

"I know!" Lin Ciyan hugged his precious branch and ran off happily.

"Run slowly!" Mu En watched the skipping figure, the smile on his face gradually fading into a deep sense of gratification and expectation.

After Lin Ciyan had run far away, Mu En slowly withdrew his gaze.

Mu En looked at the shimmering Sea God Lake and muttered to himself: "Under the nourishment of the Golden Ancient Tree, the light attribute within this child is already so full and pure."

"The density of his martial soul far exceeds that of his ancestors... It seems what he inherited is by no means a simple Light Dragon martial soul."

His eyes became incredibly profound, as if seeing into the distant future.

"If the quality of his martial soul is sufficiently astonishing, his talent will surpass Bei Bei."

"In the ten-thousand-year history of Shrek Academy, there have been a few powerful beings with extreme attributes, and every one of them led Shrek Academy to create an era of brilliance."

"If this child's martial soul is an Ultimate martial soul of the dragon type, its quality would far exceed my own Radiant Sacred Dragon, perhaps even rivaling that person from ten thousand years ago..."

"Then, when the winds and clouds rise across the continent in the future, my Shrek Academy will truly have a pillar capable of standing tall and holding up the heavens."

A strong sense of determination rose in Mu En's heart.

"This matter requires closer attention. If this child's talent is truly as I perceive, then regardless of the resources required, Shrek will spare no effort to cultivate him!"

"This may be a blessing for the academy, and perhaps even the entire continent."

The afterglow of the setting sun gilded the old man, illuminating the rekindled light in his eyes—a light called hope.

Meanwhile, Lin Ciyan, who had run home clutching the Golden Ancient Tree branch, was completely immersed in the joy of being about to unlock the system and upgrade his equipment.

[Current Slacker Points: 1020! The Slacker Shop has been opened!]

"I'm rich, I'm rich! Finally, I can see what kind of good stuff is inside!" He couldn't wait to click on the shop icon, which was emitting an alluring glow, with his mind.