Bei Bei: Crap, I've become an experience baby!

Inside the Sea God Pavilion, a gentle aura of life flowed through the air.

Bei Bei slowly drifted back to consciousness.

A faint sense of dizziness, a lingering effect from the Light Shock, still pulsed at the back of his head.

He rubbed his head instinctively, his eyes dazed for a moment before memories came flooding back like a tide.

Lin Ciyan... he's gotten stronger again.

Bei Bei muttered under his breath, his tone devoid of resentment, replaced instead by a hint of numb admiration.

Was that Lin Ciyan's first soul skill? Why does it feel different from last time...

Mu En sat in his wheelchair, watching his great-great-grandson with a benevolent gaze, and asked softly, "Awake? How do you feel?"

"Mystic Ancestor," Bei Bei looked up, his eyes regaining their resolve.

"I'm fine! I was just careless this time; I didn't expect his domain could be used that way. Next time, next time I will definitely..."

"Next time, definitely?" Mu En cracked a rare joke, a knowing smile playing on his face.

"Bei Bei, have you noticed your cultivation speed over the past two years?"

"It's been significantly faster than what I had originally projected for you, hasn't it?"

Bei Bei froze, carefully reflecting on the matter.

It was true; ever since he started "slacking off" frequently with Lin Ciyan.

Although he felt he had been training even harder, his soul power growth seemed exceptionally smooth.

Difficult bottlenecks that had once stumped him now seemed to clear up with ease.

"It seems... that is the case." Bei Bei admitted honestly.

"That child, Lin Ciyan, possesses a peculiar aura." Mu En's gaze was profound, as if he could see through the very essence of things.

"His 'Relaxation Cultivation Method' may seem absurd and unrestrained."

"But perhaps it aligns with some hidden truth of the heavens and earth."

"By his side, you have been invisibly influenced in a positive way."

"Your mind has become purer, and your comprehension seems to have improved as well."

Mu En paused, adding meaningfully, "Therefore, you should continue to grow closer to Lin Ciyan in the future."

"Following him might yield better results than you burying yourself in solitary, grueling training."

Bei Bei didn't fully grasp the logic, but he had always trusted the Mystic Ancestor's words.

The boy nodded vigorously: "I understand, Mystic Ancestor!"

[Ding! Witnessed a Limit Douluo personally verify the effects of the "Winning-by-Lying-Down Aura" and provide "word-of-mouth promotion" for the host. Slacking Value +120!]

On the other side, our protagonist Lin Ciyan.

Had long since cast the minor episode of the sparring match to the back of his mind.

He was currently in an extremely comfortable posture.

Engaged in a special mental training session designed specifically for him by Mu En, known as "Great Dream Traveling the Heavens."

This training method could be said to have pushed his philosophy of "slacking off" to its absolute limit.

The training took place right on his Golden Tree Hammock.

He wore the Slacker Health Brain-Wave Headset, with Xiyao by his side, who was automatically radiating a halo of tranquility.

With the assistance of the Calming Crystal Meditation Cushion, he entered a state of semi-sleep and semi-wakefulness.

The "Great Dream Traveling the Heavens" designed by Mu En emphasized "wandering the void of the spirit, tempering the mind within a dream."

Specifically.

It involved using the hammock, crafted from the core branches of the Golden Tree, to resonate with the main body of the Sea God Pavilion's Golden Tree.

This guided Lin Ciyan's mental power into a "dreamscape" composed of pure light elements and spiritual energy.

In this "dream," there were no ferocious dragons, nor was there any terrifying pressure.

There were only endless, shifting vistas.

One second, he might be bathing in the dawn of creation.

Feeling the warmth of the origin of light, tempering his spirit with its vast inclusiveness and resilience.

The next second, he might find himself in a magnificent nebula composed of mental storms.

He had to steer his spiritual vessel in the most effortless and ingenious way possible.

Weaving through the gaps in the storm, he honed his mental control and acuity.

The training scenarios depended primarily on the trainee's thoughts and experiences.

And Lin Ciyan's experiences from two lifetimes provided him with a rich and challenging "cultivation."

The entire process felt just like playing an immersive VR spiritual travel game.

It was all about "getting stronger while enjoying yourself."

"This training... is just too awesome!" Lin Ciyan couldn't help but marvel inwardly after returning from a "dream" one time.

"It's leagues better than those kill-or-be-killed, bitter and deep-seated training methods!"

"This is what you call teaching according to one's aptitude!"

[Ding! Successfully completed a round of efficient and comfortable spiritual power cultivation in "Great Dream Traveling the Heavens," perfectly practicing the high-level Way of Slacking. Slacking Value +60!]

With this magical cultivation method that allowed one to "train spiritual power while lying down."

Coupled with the subtle influence of the [Winning-by-Lying-Down Aura] and the [Great Dream Freedom Scripture].

Two years passed in the blink of an eye...

When Lin Ciyan was ten years old.

His soul power had steadily reached level 30, though he had yet to obtain his third soul ring.

What was even more surprising was Bei Bei.

With a stable and high speed of "one level every three months."

He had touched the threshold of level 30 almost at the same time as Lin Ciyan!

Even Mu En felt a hint of surprise at this result.

After a detailed examination, Mu En reached a conclusion.

Lin Ciyan's physical constitution and spiritual power.

Due to "Great Dream Traveling the Heavens" and long-term "slacker-style foundation building."

Had already reached an unfathomable realm.

His third soul ring could absorb one between twenty thousand and thirty thousand years!

This age was enough to leave many Soul Emperor-level powerhouses dumbfounded.

As for Bei Bei, under Mu En's dedicated cultivation and his own efforts.

Plus the long-term cultivation within the range of the [Winning-by-Lying-Down Aura], his martial soul seemed to have been subtly purified.

His physical fitness and spiritual power also far exceeded those of his peers.

His test results showed that he could barely attempt to absorb a soul ring that had just reached the ten-thousand-year level!

"If not for Ciyan's invisible influence, it would be absolutely impossible for Bei Bei to reach this level on his own."

Mu En sighed privately to Lin Qingmo.

"By staying by Ciyan's side, Bei Bei's potential seems to have been further stimulated."

"This child himself is a massive stroke of fortune."

Of course, comparing the two, Lin Ciyan was still the more monstrous one.

Inside the Sea God Pavilion, Lin Ciyan leaned lazily against a custom-made soft cushion.

Listening to Mu En and Lin Qingmo discuss the choice for his third soul ring.

"Teacher, Grandfather, didn't we favor the Golden Hawksbill Turtle before?"

Lin Ciyan yawned, "Let's go with that one. It's sturdy and durable, and the symbolism is good too."

"'Golden Turtle Son-in-law'... bah, I mean 'Golden Turtle Longevity.' It sounds auspicious, perfect for a steady type like me who pursues living to a hundred."

Mu En shook his head with a laugh: "You certainly have a vivid imagination. The defensive power of the Golden Hawksbill Turtle is beyond doubt."

"But most of its soul skills lean toward pure defense, and its offensive capability might be slightly lacking."

"Your second soul skill is already a domain; does your third soul skill need to supplement a stronger single-target attack?"

"Attack?" Lin Ciyan blinked, wearing an expression that said, Why are you overthinking this?

"Teacher, do you see me as the type who needs to charge into the front lines personally?"

"The Dawn Break Fist is enough for finishing blows."

"I think that only by staying alive can you output damage; standing tall is the true path."

"Just think, in the future, I'll be wearing the super shield of the Golden Hawksbill Turtle."

"With my Holy Radiance Sky Curtain active, the enemy won't be able to hurt me."

"I can heal myself within the domain, and every now and then, hit them with a 'Radiant Impact' or 'Dawn Break Fist'... doesn't that sound invincible?"

The more he spoke, the more he felt it made sense: "This is called 'combining offense and defense, or rather, finding offense within defense.'"

"The main point is to make the opponent despair!"

"Besides, what if the Golden Hawksbill Turtle's soul ring gives me some kind of damage reflection effect? Wouldn't that save me even more effort?"

"The harder they hit me, the faster they finish themselves off. I can just go AFK—ah, no, I mean, cultivate right where I stand."

[Ding! In front of a Limit Douluo and a Titled Douluo, you successfully linked the decision of "choosing a defensive soul ring" with the "ultimate slacking philosophy." The logic is self-consistent and convincing. Slacking Value +130!]

Lin Qingmo's mouth twitched uncontrollably as he listened, yet upon closer reflection, it actually made a fair amount of sense.

His grandson's combat style had always been about exchanging the least amount of effort for the greatest results, pursuing ultimate comfort above all else.

Mu En pondered for a moment, a flash of brilliance crossing his eyes, before he slowly nodded. "There is logic in your words."

"Ultimate defense is, in itself, a powerful form of control."

"Waiting at ease for the exhausted enemy, using defense as an offense—that is indeed your style."

"Very well, then it shall be as you wish. Your third soul ring target is... the ten-thousand-year Golden Hawksbill Turtle!"

With the decision finalized, Lin Ciyan was thoroughly satisfied.

He could already envision the beautiful future where he would roam the Douluo Continent, carefree and lying flat, protected by his "golden turtle shell."

Beside him, Bei Bei, upon learning the gap between his soul ring age and Lin's, simply clenched his fists in silence, his gaze growing even more resolute.

"Brother Lin, just you wait. Even if your cheat... er, your talent is stronger than mine, I will never let you leave me too far behind!"

He did not know that his determined fighting spirit, along with his fated destiny to continue serving as a beneficiary of the "Winning-by-Lying-Down Aura," had already been mapped out by a certain slacker into his own "relaxed and pleasant" cultivation blueprint.

[Ding! Important partner "Bei Bei" has resolved to strive hard; he will continue to provide energy feedback to the "Winning-by-Lying-Down Aura" in the future. The potential Slacking Value yield is vast. Reward: Slacking Value +100!]

[Slacking Value: 3627 points] (Obtained through long-term "cultivation" + meeting acquisition conditions)

Listening to the system's notification, the smile on Lin Ciyan's face grew increasingly serene.

This is what you call: the teammate works hard to grind, while I lie down in the middle.

A win-win, which is winning twice!