The next seven days were set aside for the new students to register.
Classes had not officially started yet, and Lin Ciyan was more than happy to take it easy.
Of course, his "leisure" did not mean doing nothing. It meant perfectly combining "Relaxation Cultivation" with "Influence Harvesting."
With new students arriving, the campus was crowded, full of curious eyes and inquisitive minds. It was the perfect time to spread the word about his "Relaxation Cultivation Method"!
He made full use of those seven days, putting on multiple "slacking shows" in front of the steady stream of new students.
On the first day, amid the throngs on the campus's main road, he found a bench in a sunny spot, brazenly activated [Invisible Mode], and stretched out in comfort while activating [Slacking Cultivation Accelerator].
To the new students passing by, he was a classmate who was ridiculously handsome but behaved in an extremely bizarre way.
In broad daylight, under the bright sun, he could actually fall asleep by the roadside, where people were constantly passing by... in seconds?!
His breathing was long and even, his expression serene, and a gentle halo seemed to flow faintly around him.
He was in stark contrast to the new students rushing about with their luggage.
"Is... he all right?"
"Sleeping by the side of the road? Is this some new kind of meditation?"
"I recognize him! I think he came from Sea God Island. His name's Lin Ciyan! I heard that sleeping is how he cultivates!"
"Seriously? You can level up just by lying down? Then what's the point of me exhausting myself training my body every day?"
Whispers and shocked glances trickled together like a steady stream, gathering into an invisible tide that the system quietly caught.
[ Ding! Detected collective shock and recognition. "Slacking Influence" +430! Current influence: 16230. Slacking Cultivation Accelerator effect: +27%.]
The corner of Lin Ciyan's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly in his "sleep."
Good. A great start.
Just routine. No need to make a fuss.
Over the next few days, he did the same thing again.
Sometimes, on the edge of a busy plaza, he would wear the [Brain Wave Pad] and lean against a pillar with his eyes closed "in meditation," while light elements spontaneously gathered around him, forming a gentle vortex visible to the naked eye.
Sometimes, on a bench outside the library, he would spread open a thick Soul Beast Illustrated Handbook and cover his face with it. He appeared to be sleeping soundly, but his breathing followed a certain rhythm, and his Soul Power fluctuations were calm and profound.
Sometimes, he would even do it while waiting in line at the cafeteria.
He could lean against the wall and enter that "half-asleep, half-awake" state of cultivation, in sharp contrast with the anxious new students waiting around him.
Sometimes, he would doze by the fountain in front of the teaching building...
The location changed each time, but the principle stayed the same—to take "slacking" all the way.
And every "demonstration" drew a new wave of attention and discussion.
Looking at the system notifications, Lin Ciyan was pleased as he inspected the rapidly increasing cultivation-speed boost within himself.
This bout of "slacking" had been astonishingly efficient!
[ Ding! During the new-student registration period, you repeatedly practiced "contrasting" Relaxation Cultivation in public, continuing to provoke shock and self-doubt among the new-student body and effectively consolidating the influence of "Slacking Philosophy."] [Slacking Influence +11200! Current total influence: 27430 points! Cultivation speed increased: 33%!] [ Ding! Total Slacking Value gained during this period: +3200!] [Current Slacking Value: 10520 points]
And every time a "performance" ended, he would amble back.
He always happened to pass the new-student registration desk on the way.
Sometimes Han Ruoruo was away, and only Zhang Lexuan was there, taking a brief rest between busy spells.
"Sister Lexuan, still hard at work?" Lin Ciyan would stroll over quite naturally and lean against the registration desk.
"Ci Yan? You sure have it easy." Zhang Lexuan looked up. When she saw it was him, a faint smile appeared on her gentle face, as lovely as a lily blooming in the morning.
She raised a hand and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her movement graceful.
"I call it balancing work and rest for sustainable growth." Lin Ciyan grinned and offered her a fresh fruit he had just bought on the way, still beaded with water.
"Try it. Get some vitamin C."
Zhang Lexuan paused slightly. Looking at the caring smile on the handsome, sunny face of the young man, she felt a sudden warmth in her heart. She accepted the fruit and said softly, "Thank you."
"No need to thank me, Sister Lexuan. You've worked hard." Lin Ciyan looked at her with clear eyes, though there was a hint of admiration that was difficult to notice.
The woman before him stood tall and graceful, with a gentle, tranquil bearing and stunning looks.
The demands of her busy work only added a heart-stirring resilience to her charm.
She looked at the young man before her, at his lazy yet inexplicably captivating air, and couldn't help finding him amusing—and impressive.
In the past few days, rumors of Lin Ciyan's various "bizarre" cultivation methods had already reached her ears.
If anyone else behaved like that, she might have thought he was slacking off, that he was being absurd.
But with Lin Ciyan, combined with his outrageous speed of advancement, it only made him seem... mysterious and interesting.
"I heard you were 'cultivating' by the roadside again?" Zhang Lexuan asked with a smile, a hint of teasing in her voice.
"What can I say?" Lin Ciyan spread his hands, wearing a self-satisfied expression that seemed to say, "It's not like I want this."
"The path of cultivation is about knowing when to tense up and when to relax. Too much strain only lowers the level."
"What I'm doing is... resonating with heaven and earth, finding inspiration in relaxation."
His crooked reasoning, paired with his utterly matter-of-fact expression, made Zhang Lexuan laugh softly.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell on her graceful figure and waterfall of long hair, bathing her in a gentle halo.
She tilted her head slightly as she looked at Lin Ciyan. Her eyes were as clear as water, filled with curiosity and a hint of admiration that was hard to notice.
Sometimes, Han Ruoruo went to help in another area, leaving only the two of them at the registration desk.
The atmosphere would grow a little more peaceful.
They would chat about little things: rumors from the Outer Court, amusing stories from Sea God Island.
Lin Ciyan would occasionally tell her some harmlessly embarrassing stories from his cultivation, making Zhang Lexuan cover her mouth as she laughed.
During these easygoing interactions, Lin Ciyan's gaze would sometimes linger on Zhang Lexuan for a little longer than he meant it to.
Zhang Lexuan was not entirely unaware.
She looked at the young man before her, who was a few years younger than she was.
He had extraordinary talent and a powerful background, yet none of the arrogance or impatience common to other geniuses.
Instead, he had a clear-eyed understanding of the world and... a lazy streak?
But beneath that laziness lay unfathomable strength and a unique wisdom in cultivation.
She sometimes wondered what the person who might walk by her side in the future would be like.
Perhaps... he should be like this: seemingly nonchalant, yet with mountains and valleys in his heart.
Someone who could hold on to tranquility amid the turmoil, and hear thunder where no sound could be heard.
The thought came to her as a surprise. Her ears warmed slightly, and she quickly lowered her eyes, concealing the fleeting ripples in her heart.
Suddenly, Zhang Lexuan noticed that the young man in front of her was looking at her too.
His gaze made her feel a little embarrassed. She lowered her eyes, and a faint blush appeared on the tips of her ears.
She thought to herself, Ci Yan... He's so extraordinarily talented, yet he never gets arrogant.
He's also perceptive and interesting, and treats people warmly... If, in the future...
She did not dare think any further. Her cheeks felt a little hot, and she hastily collected herself.
After a few such encounters, the two of them seemed to develop an unspoken understanding.
In the evenings, after Zhang Lexuan finished work, Lin Ciyan would "just happen" to appear and invite her to dinner.
They no longer went to the noisy main cafeteria, choosing instead some of the small restaurants on campus with quiet, elegant surroundings.
Afterward, they would stroll side by side through the campus beneath the glow of the setting sun.
Or they would sit in a quiet corner of a restaurant, sharing stories about their day.
Lin Ciyan would tell her amusing things from his cultivation.
He would sometimes mix in his unique takes on cultivation, making Zhang Lexuan cover her mouth as she laughed.
Zhang Lexuan would tell him interesting stories about the academy or share insights from her own cultivation, her voice gentle and her gaze resting warmly on Lin Ciyan.
The atmosphere was warm and harmonious, and a hazy, beautiful feeling quietly took root between them.
Neither of them said it aloud, but they both understood and enjoyed each other's company.
During the strolls after those dinners, they also ran into Bei Bei and Tang Ya several times.
Sometimes they would see Bei Bei frantically trying to comfort Tang Ya, who seemed upset again over some detail of "rebuilding the Tang Sect."
Sometimes they would see the two walking side by side, Bei Bei's face beaming with contentment.
Tang Ya, meanwhile, would keep her head lowered. Now and then, she would look up at Bei Bei with an expression that was difficult to read.
"Ah, Bei Bei, Bei Bei. How's your 'charity romance' going? Are you enjoying it?"
Every time Lin Ciyan saw them, he couldn't help shaking his head inwardly. "This isn't dating. You've clearly found a 'project partner' who needs a full twenty-four hours of emotional support."
Seeing that Bei Bei had clearly been neglecting his cultivation over the past few days, with hardly any improvement in his aura, Lin Ciyan sighed all the more.
Bro, have you been using all that leveling-up energy to level up... your affection meter?
At first, when Bei Bei saw Lin Ciyan with Zhang Lexuan, he was a little surprised.
Then he put on a suggestive expression that said, "I get it, I get it," and even secretly gave Lin Ciyan a thumbs-up.
He seemed completely unaware that his cultivation had stagnated these past few days.
On the contrary, seeing Lin Ciyan "neglect his proper duties" by "wandering around" every day, he even felt a little smug and reassured.
Bei Bei: Looks like Brother Lin's been captivated by Sister Lexuan too! We're all in the same boat, so neither of us can judge the other!
How could he know that Lin Ciyan's "slacking" had harvested so much influence that his cultivation speed had already soared to 33%!
On top of that, the secret method for cultivating an Ultimate Martial Soul increased his speed by another ten percent.
His cultivation speed had already risen by nearly half!
One day of him lying around was equivalent to several days of Bei Bei's hard cultivation!
He looked at the way Bei Bei's gaze practically clung to Tang Ya, and at his clearly neglected cultivation and somewhat unsteady aura, and silently shook his head.
Brother, you think you're on the top floor, but I'm already lying down on the surface of the moon.
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
Early that morning, Sea God Plaza was packed with people. At last, the enormous class assignment list was posted.
Lin Ciyan pushed open his dormitory door and headed toward the academy plaza at an unhurried pace, facing the rising sun.
The morning light fell on him.
His short hair, streaked with platinum and gold, shone brilliantly, gleaming like gold.
He stood tall and straight. Though he was still young, years of cultivation and the nourishment of his top-tier Martial Soul had already given him the beginnings of an elegant, handsome bearing.
Shrek Academy's uniform was predominantly white, with a tailored cut and fine materials.
Only the collar and cuffs were embroidered with faint golden Shrek insignias, simple yet dignified.
It fit him exceptionally well, making his skin look like jade and his bearing seem otherworldly.
His clear eyes were as lazy as ever as he surveyed the noisy crowd ahead, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Among the many new students, he stood out like a crane among chickens.
His brand-new Outer Court uniform seemed to gleam with golden light.
It made his already striking looks and bearing even more eye-catching.
Along the way, quite a few new students heading to the plaza to check their class assignments found their eyes drawn to him.
Lin Ciyan didn't notice—or rather, he didn't care.
What he was thinking about was: I'll leave my class assignment to fate.
As long as it doesn't interfere with my sleeping and slacking, any class will be paradise.