The Secret Manual of Giving Up Goes Viral Across the Continent! Tang Hao Appears!

Inside the dormitory, Yu Xiaogang began by explaining to Tang San how to choose his future spirit rings.

Predictably, he started recommending spirit beasts like the Datura Snake to enhance the toughness and toxicity of the Blue Silver Grass.

Yu Xiaogang's gaze fell upon Tang San.

He told Tang San, "A martial soul is the root of a spirit master's power; its form and characteristics determine the path of one's cultivation."

"Your Blue Silver Grass belongs to the plant-type martial soul category. It may appear ordinary, but it possesses immense plasticity."

He raised his hand and pointed to the book he had written himself: "Choosing a spirit ring requires considering the compatibility between the martial soul's characteristics and the spirit skill."

"Plant-type martial souls are suitable for absorbing venomous snake spirit beasts to attach a spirit ring with toxic binding properties."

"For example, attaching a spirit ring produced by killing a Datura Snake."

Hearing this, Lin Ciyan could no longer hold back and interrupted with a scoff: "Master, if we follow your logic, attaching a snake spirit ring to Blue Silver Grass..."

"Wouldn't it be better to find a powerful plant-type spirit beast to maximize its inherent vitality and toughness?"

"Follow a pure control-type path. Forcibly attaching an animal spirit ring makes it neither fish nor fowl; isn't that putting the cart before the horse?"

Yu Xiaogang frowned, about to retort.

Lin Ciyan didn't give him the chance and continued to speak eloquently: "In my view, the core of martial soul cultivation lies in 'compatibility' and 'purity'."

"Only by finding the spirit ring most compatible with the essence of the martial soul can one maximize their potential, rather than blindly chasing so-called 'powerful attributes'."

"It's like being a person; you only perform at your best when you find a state where you feel comfortable. Blindly grinding and forcing change will only yield half the result with double the effort."

"I don't have any grand ambitions. I just think that lying in the sun and sleeping while my spirit power grows on its own is comfortable, isn't it? Sometimes, the harder you work at cultivation, the more miserable you become."

His words, though seemingly casual, contained profound truths, especially when combined with his own example of "slacking off" while being far stronger than his peers, making them incredibly impactful.

Yu Xiaogang was struck as if by lightning, standing frozen on the spot, muttering to himself: "Compatibility... purity... the harder you work, the more miserable you become?"

The theoretical system he took such pride in was being challenged like never before.

He looked sharply at Lin Ciyan, a more fervent light erupting in his eyes: "A genius! This is a true genius! Not only is his talent outstanding, but he also has his own unique insights into theory."

"Although I don't quite agree, Ciyan, your comprehension far exceeds that of ordinary people!"

"As long as you are willing to take me as your master, we can surely create a set of martial soul theories that will shock the continent!"

He even felt that compared to Lin Ciyan, Tang San's Twin Martial Souls (though not yet explicitly stated) seemed less astonishing.

Lin Ciyan merely yawned, noncommittal.

The two returned to Dorm Seven under Yu Xiaogang's complex and indescribable gaze.

The following days of dormitory life were calm and uneventful.

Lin Ciyan noticed that every morning, Tang San would sneak out to practice the Purple Demon Eye.

He evaluated it internally: "Something like the Purple Demon Eye can only be described as better than nothing."

During this time, he also "inadvertently" inserted himself into the interactions between Tang San and Xiao Wu.

The look of adoration in Xiao Wu's eyes grew more intense, while Tang San's expression became visibly gloomy.

"Tsk, getting anxious already?" Lin Ciyan didn't care about Tang San's hostility; with Tang San's current strength, he posed no threat.

The only thing he needed to be wary of was Tang Hao lurking in the shadows.

"I just hope that muddle-headed man doesn't think I'm eyeing his son's future hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and slap me to death; that would be a truly unjust death."

On the fourth day, Tang San disappeared, presumably to hunt for his first spirit ring with Yu Xiaogang.

On the fifth day, Tang San returned to Dorm Seven in high spirits, his spirit power having reached level eleven after obtaining his first spirit ring.

Full of confidence, Tang San challenged Lin Ciyan directly.

"Lin Ciyan, let's fight again!"

"Sure." Lin Ciyan accepted the challenge lazily.

This time, Tang San immediately used his first spirit skill—Binding.

Countless thick vines of Blue Silver Grass surged from the ground, instantly wrapping Lin Ciyan like a rice dumpling.

"I've won!" Just as a flash of joy crossed Tang San's eyes, he saw that Lin Ciyan, who was wrapped in the Blue Silver Grass, was glowing.

These vines of Blue Silver Grass suddenly erupted with a brilliant, holy golden radiance!

"First spirit skill, Dawn Break Fist!"

The divine light, like a sharp sword, easily tore through the restraints of the Blue Silver Grass.

The light carried the power of purification and penetration.

It not only instantly disintegrated the binding, but the shockwave also sent Tang San stumbling backward until he landed on his backside, his face filled with shock and disbelief.

"Ho... how is this possible?!" His Blue Silver Grass was so vulnerable in front of Lin Ciyan's Holy Radiance Qilin!

"I have a divine martial soul; why would I fear the snake venom of your neither-fish-nor-fowl plant martial soul?"

"Snake venom on a plant martial soul—just saying it out loud makes me want to laugh myself to death, hahaha..."

The crowd in Dorm Seven erupted into enthusiastic cheers. Xiao Wu looked at Lin Ciyan's figure with complex eyes, a hint of something more than just admiration appearing within them.

Lin Ciyan felt it too.

Tang San's "feelings" for him were growing deeper by the day, though he had no idea if he had made it onto his list of those who had brought about their own destruction.

Time flew by, and in the following days, more senior students came to Dorm Seven to stir up trouble.

Lin Ciyan couldn't be bothered to lift a finger, so Xiao Wu volunteered, making short work of the intruders and bringing them to heel in no time.

With only a few days left in the challenge, Lin Ciyan pondered how to maximize his Slacking Points.

I must expand my influence! A flash of inspiration struck him, and he decided to write a book!

He spent a day or two writing furiously.

He penned a small booklet titled Ultimate Slacking Cultivation Secret Manual.

In the book, he wrapped his philosophy of "relaxed cultivation," "following the way of nature," and "refusing to participate in the rat race" in layers of profound-sounding nonsense.

He interspersed it with plenty of chicken soup for the soul that sounded reasonable but was actually complete hogwash (though it felt great to read).

He took out a large sum of Gold Soul Coin and hired almost every scribe in Nuoding City, frantically copying and reproducing over a thousand copies.

Then, he hired people to distribute these booklets to soul masters and commoners throughout the city, and even had merchant caravans carry them to other towns and nations to spread the word.

In an instant, the philosophy of "slacking cultivation" spread from Nuoding City like a virus.

Although many scoffed at it, quite a few people who were struggling with cultivation or tired of the endless competition treated it like a precious treasure.

Lin Ciyan's system notification sounds became a constant background melody, and his Slacking Points soared rapidly.

He thought happily that even if this challenge ended, if he had the chance to return in the future, this sustained influence would surely bring in a massive income.

Just as the challenge was about to end and the time to return to the main world arrived, on the very last day, Lin Ciyan was lying leisurely on the roof of Dorm Seven, soaking up the sun and planning how to "hoodwink" Light Maiden Xiyao once he got back.

Suddenly, an indescribable, terrifying pressure descended without warning!

The surrounding air seemed to solidify, and the sunlight appeared to dim.

A tall, middle-aged man with disheveled clothes, a scruffy beard, and eyes like a primordial beast appeared silently on the roof ridge opposite him, like a ghost.

Just by standing there, he seemed to be the center of this entire world.

The invisible pressure made Lin Ciyan's breathing hitch, and the Holy Radiance Qilin martial soul within his body issued an unprecedented, violent warning!

Tang Hao!

He had come after all!