Next, Lin Ciyan and the other two were led to Dorm Seven.
As soon as they stepped inside, they felt the "warmth" of the work-study students' dormitory.
A student named Wang Sheng was shouting for the newcomers to show their strength and compete for the position of dormitory boss.
Following his principle of "keeping a low profile" (though it hadn't done him much good), Tang San easily defeated Wang Sheng and demonstrated the Tang Sect Secret Arts.
Just as everyone thought Tang San would be the new boss, Lin Ciyan stretched lazily and ambled over to the center of the room.
"Since whoever wins becomes the boss, how about we trade a few moves, Tang San?" A relaxed smile played across his face, as though he were inviting the other boy to have tea.
Tang San's eyes narrowed, and he nodded.
He could tell, too, that this boy named Lin Ciyan was no ordinary person.
The duel began!
Tang San moved with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, his figure elusive, while the Mysterious Jade Hand concealed its force as he struck for Lin Ciyan's vital points.
Yet Lin Ciyan's movements seemed slow and casual, but at the critical instant, he always managed to dodge each attack with the slightest motion.
His footwork had no name, yet seemed to follow some natural rhythm, effortless and graceful.
The more they fought, the more astonished Tang San became. No matter how he changed his moves, his opponent seemed to know what was coming in advance. He was so composed, as though everything were within his grasp.
Tang San even used Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to try to draw his opponent in, only to find him as steady as a rock, completely unmoved.
"Your techniques are average, and... you're too tense." Lin Ciyan even had time to offer a critique. Then his figure blurred, and everyone's vision seemed to swim.
He had appeared at Tang San's side, his finger lightly touching the back of Tang San's neck.
"You lose."
Tang San froze in place, his face filled with disbelief.
His proudest Tang Sect Secret Arts had been broken so easily?
"How... how did you cultivate?" Tang San couldn't help asking.
Lin Ciyan patted dust that wasn't there from his clothes and spoke with the helplessness of a humblebrag: "I didn't really cultivate on purpose. I just sunbathed and slept, and before I knew it, I'd gotten this good."
"When it comes to cultivation, just relax. Don't push yourself so hard."
"Who spends all their time cultivating in a little grove? Only an idiot would do that, hahaha..."
"Sunbathe... and sleep..." The children in Dorm Seven were dumbfounded. Was that even something a person would say?
Just then, a clear voice rang out at the door: "Who's the boss around here?"
A pretty little girl stood in the doorway, with a scorpion braid, a rosy little face, and big, watery eyes. It was Xiao Wu.
Lin Ciyan glanced at her, inwardly unmoved. "Me. What is it, Little Rabbit? Want to challenge me, too?"
Xiao Wu was taken aback when he called her "Little Rabbit," then puffed up angrily. "You dare call me Little Rabbit?! Yeah! I'm going to be the boss! Take this!" She charged at him as she spoke.
The result was never in doubt.
Even with Xiao Wu's flexible body and swift attacks, Lin Ciyan's responses seemed lazy but were precise beyond compare. She couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.
A gentle force pushed her back, and she landed on her bottom.
"You..." Xiao Wu was shocked and furious, but had nothing to say.
Lin Ciyan looked around at the stunned crowd, who hurriedly asked him for the secret to his cultivation.
Clearing his throat, Lin Ciyan began his performance—his sermon:
"Classmates, do you think cultivation is hard? Tiring? Do you push yourselves to the limit every day, only to get mediocre results?"
"Sometimes, you've got to look for the reason within yourselves. After all these years, has your desire to slack off grown? Have you ever tried cultivating in a relaxed way?"
Everyone nodded without thinking.
"Exactly! That's because you're using the wrong method!" Lin Ciyan wore an expression that said, "I'm only saying this for your own good."
"Cultivation is about balancing relaxation and exertion, and following the natural way! Take me, for example: if I can lie down, I never stand; if I can sleep, I never meditate. And my Soul Power still grows pretty fast, doesn't it?"
"This is called the 'Slacking Cultivation Method'! The core is simple—stay relaxed and keep your spirits up! Reject pointless competition; start with me!"
"Sometimes, the harder you try, the more likely you are to hit a bottleneck. Why not empty your mind, feel the energy of heaven and earth, and let your Soul Power grow naturally..."
Blending a little of the Great Dream Freedom Scripture with some modern feel-good advice, he launched into a ceaseless sermon about his "Way of Slacking."
As he spoke, everyone in Dorm Seven went from skepticism to thoughtful consideration, then to eyes shining with excitement...
Meanwhile, a series of system notifications that only Lin Ciyan could hear rang cheerfully in his mind:
[Ding! The host spread the slacking philosophy to Wang Sheng, earning his agreement] [Ding! The host spread the slacking philosophy to Li Si, making him yearn for it] ... [Ding! The host spread the slacking philosophy to Xiao Wu, leaving her deeply shaken] [Ding! The host spread the slacking philosophy to Tang San, causing a slight crack in his Dao heart] [Ding! The host established an initial atmosphere of "slacker cultivation" in Dorm Seven and received a regional influence reward]
Listening to the endless notifications and watching his Slacking Value shoot up, Lin Ciyan's smile grew broader and broader, as though he could already see the Soul Hyperion waving to him.
This sermon had worked wonders!
Inside Dorm Seven, when everyone learned that Lin Ciyan, Tang San, and Xiao Wu all had Innate Full Soul Power, cries of astonishment rose one after another.
The way Wang Sheng and the others looked at them changed completely, filled with envy and awe.
Innate Full Soul Power—that was a legendary talent!
Just then, a teacher pushed open the door and handed Tang San a brand-new set of bedding. "Tang San, Grandmaster asked me to give this to you."
Xiao Wu looked at the thick bedding in Tang San's hands, then at her own bare bed. A hint of embarrassment flickered across her little face.
Lin Ciyan had nothing, either. He thought, As expected, no apprenticeship, no special treatment.
But whatever. Become Yu Xiaogang's disciple? I'd rather spend more time sunbathing. When it comes to swindling people, could the Slacker System's successor really lose?
Before Xiao Wu could ask Tang San for help, Lin Ciyan took the initiative and called out, "Little Rabbit, come on. Let's go buy bedding together."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and she immediately bounced after him.
Fortunately, he still had some Gold Soul Coins in his system inventory, enough to cover the expense.
In the shop, Xiao Wu saw how casually Lin Ciyan paid, and little stars immediately appeared in her big eyes. The words "Please keep me" were written all over her face.
Lin Ciyan simply ignored her. This Little Rabbit was quite the schemer.
By the time they returned to the dorm with the bedding, it was already evening. Everyone headed to the cafeteria together.
As soon as they entered, several arrogant upper-year students blocked their way and picked a fight.
Yu Xiaogang appeared at just the right moment, scolded the students, then invited Lin Ciyan and Tang San: "Ciyan, Tang San, care to join me for a meal?"
The other work-study students nearby looked at them in surprise.
Lin Ciyan merely chuckled and said to the people beside him, "There's nothing to be surprised about. He's just a 'theoretical master.'"
At those words, Tang San's fists clenched instinctively.
Lin Ciyan caught the movement and didn't care. He thought, Little weakling, unhappy? You think you're the Tang God King already?
In the end, both of them politely declined Yu Xiaogang's invitation.
Yu Xiaogang didn't press them. He only told them to meet him at the cafeteria entrance after their meal.
After eating, Lin Ciyan knew the "famous scene" was about to happen, so he waited for Yu Xiaogang outside the cafeteria with Tang San.
The three of them went to the dormitory on the top floor. The night breeze was cool.