The half-month holiday flew by in the blink of an eye.
With Xiyao cuddling up to him and helping,
and his slacker mindset of "not bothering to cultivate deliberately, but instead becoming more attuned to nature,"
Lin Ciyan's rapidly surging Soul Power unexpectedly stabilized.
That day, following Mu En's instructions, he returned to the familiar secret chamber beneath the Sea God Pavilion.
There was no oppressive Soul Power or brutal physical training waiting for him.
Mu En simply handed him an ordinary-looking Meditation Cushion and a thin booklet.
"Soul Power cultivation is all about knowing when to push and when to ease off. Your Soul Power Level is sufficient for now. From here on, focus on your mental power."
Mu En's voice was as calm as ever.
"This Calming Crystal Meditation Cushion will help you quiet your mind and double your results with half the effort."
"The booklet records a Visualization Meditation Method I happened upon in my youth. It emphasizes emptying your mind and nurturing your spirit in the void."
"You have extraordinary talent. Perhaps this method will suit you better."
Lin Ciyan took the cushion and booklet, his eyes lighting up.
Empty his mind? Nurture himself in the void?
That sounded like it perfectly suited his Way of Slacking! It was much better than those miserable, grueling training methods!
"Thank you, Teacher!" Lin Ciyan said sincerely.
Back in his room, he eagerly began studying the booklet.
The core of the so-called "Visualization Meditation Method" was to have the cultivator completely relax and cast aside distracting thoughts. They could even...
fall asleep?
The only requirement was to "visualize" one's own Spiritual Origin while in a state that was neither quite asleep nor quite awake, with one's consciousness hazy, letting it grow naturally like a tender seedling.
"This isn't cultivation. This is legal sleeping!" Lin Ciyan rejoiced inwardly, feeling like he'd finally found his people.
He immediately sat down on the cool, comfortable crystal Meditation Cushion.
Following the method's instructions, he adjusted his breathing and relaxed every muscle. He began thinking, "Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?... Forget it, I won't think about it. It's too much trouble..."
Just as his consciousness grew hazy and he was about to enter that wondrous state, the system's notification rang at just the right moment:
[ DING! Detected host engaging in high-difficulty "slacker-style" mental emptying, in accordance with the core tenets of slacking. Slacking Value +15! ]
[ DING! Host has successfully entered the "neither asleep nor awake" slacker state. Mental power slightly activated. Slacking Value +18! ]
[ Slacking Value: 5472 points ]
Lin Ciyan felt even more at ease. Even the system had confirmed it. This really was the right path!
However, the ideal was beautiful, while reality was a little bony.
Completely emptying his mind wasn't easy for a transmigrator with an active imagination.
All kinds of thoughts kept popping up without warning—the feeling of Xiyao cuddling up to him, the new items in the Slacker Shop, Tang Hao's terrifying killing intent, even what to eat that evening...
Whenever that happened, the Calming Crystal Meditation Cushion beneath him would release a cool, soothing aura.
Like a gentle stream, it calmed his restless thoughts and guided him back to that state of "nothingness."
Xiyao, nestled beside him and in a semi-dormant state herself, seemed to sense the fluctuations in his mental power.
She would unconsciously emit a gentler glow, wrapping his consciousness like warm ocean waves and bringing him a mysterious sense of peace.
After a few days, Lin Ciyan realized that even though he spent most of his time "sleeping,"
his mind really did feel increasingly refreshed, and his senses had grown a little sharper.
More importantly, his Slacking Value was steadily increasing thanks to this "Sleep Cultivation Method"!
That day, he had just finished another round of "visualization"—which was really just half-sleeping and half-waking while lying down for half the day.
Out of habit, he opened the Slacker Shop and found that its inventory had just refreshed!
His gaze swept across the dazzling array of goods, and a newly listed item caught his attention:
[Item: Slacker Health Brain-Wave Headset] (Head-mounted)
[Price: 3000 Slacking Value]
[Description: A comfortable head-mounted device designed to fit the human body. When worn, it passively and gradually nourishes the host's mental power and increases the speed of mental recovery. When the host is in deep sleep, meditating, or "slacking with great intensity," the growth of mental power is increased by an additional 50%. Get stronger in secret while lying flat, and leave those who stay up all night cultivating in the dust!]
[Slogan: Sometimes, wisdom comes from lying down!]
"What a great item!" Lin Ciyan took one look and knew he wanted it.
It grew his mental power passively and could stack with his "Sleep Cultivation Method." It was practically made just for him!
He checked his Slacking Value: 5532 points. Without hesitation, he chose to buy it.
[ DING! Spent 3000 Slacking Value to successfully purchase "Slacker Health Brain-Wave Headset." Remaining Slacking Value: 2532 points. ]
A simple, pale-gold head-mounted device made of skin-friendly material appeared in his hands.
He immediately put it on and adjusted the fit.
Sure enough, a clearer, cooler sensation spread from his head.
It was as if countless gentle little hands were massaging his mind.
The slight fatigue he'd felt after visualizing vanished in an instant, leaving his thoughts clearer and more lucid.
"Ci Yan, that thing on your head... is so peculiar."
The novelty of the device caught Xiyao's attention. She curiously extended a finger of light and gently touched the [Brain Wave Pad].
"Mm, it's a little gadget to help with cultivation." Lin Ciyan enjoyed the comfort the Brain Wave Pad provided as he lazily explained.
"It'll make my 'Sleep Cultivation' more effective."
"You can cultivate... while sleeping?" Xiyao tilted her head, her golden eyes filled with disbelief.
In her understanding, cultivation required concentrating one's mind and guiding one's Soul Power.
"Of course. This is an advanced technique." Lin Ciyan said with a straight face, making things up.
"It's called 'Cultivation in Sleep,' the essence of the Way of Slacking. Look, just like this..."
As he spoke, he adjusted his position and prepared to begin another round of "cultivation."
Xiyao seemed to understand, but when she saw that Lin Ciyan really did seem more relaxed and his breathing calmer after putting on the device,
she quieted down and, as usual, nestled gently against him.
She gave off her own glow, subtly complementing the effects of the [Brain Wave Pad].
With the [Calming Crystal Meditation Cushion], the [Slacker Health Brain-Wave Headset], and the Light Maiden Xiyao's combined assistance,
Lin Ciyan's "Slacker-Style Mental Cultivation Method" progressed at a stunning pace.
His mental power grew quietly but surely, like a tender shoot nourished by spring rain.
Although his Soul Power Level rose slowly, he could feel his control and perception improving.
His precision when using Soul Skills had also improved noticeably.
While Lin Ciyan was immersed in his "effortless victory" cultivation,
on the other side of Sea God Island, his childhood friend Bei Bei
had finally reached level twenty after building up his strength for a while.
Ever since Lin Ciyan's absurd cultivation speed had spurred him on,
Bei Bei had abandoned his usual easygoing ways and trained like a man possessed.
Even Zhang Lexuan, who often came to visit, would see him drenched in sweat as he cultivated.
"I have to catch up to Lin Ciyan! Once I get my Second Soul Ring, I'll beat him at least once!"
Bei Bei clenched his fist, his eyes burning with an unyielding fire.
A while later...
With the careful arrangements of his family and the academy,
he set off for the Soul Beast Forest, full of ambition, with his sights set on a powerful thousand-year Second Soul Ring!
He would prove with his strength that a hard-working genius was no match for a "cheater" who relied on lucky encounters!
Meanwhile, Lin Ciyan was lying on his Meditation Cushion, wearing the Brain Wave Pad, with the Light Maiden nestled beside him. He knew nothing about it, and... he couldn't have cared less.
Go on, work yourselves to the bone. Go ahead and roll until you break through the heavens. I'll just lie flat and cultivate.
He rolled over and found an even more comfortable position.
As his mental power slowly grew and his Slacking Value ticked upward, he continued down his "Path to Godhood via Slacking."