Time flowed quietly, like the shimmering waves of Sea God Lake.
More than half a year had passed since Lin Ciyan and Bei Bei became "slacker buddies."
During that time, the atmosphere on Sea God Island had undergone a complete transformation.
Lin Ciyan had truly taken the Relaxation Cultivation Method to new heights, while Bei Bei, once a taciturn boy, had become his most devoted follower.
The teachers of the Inner Court often saw scenes like this: Lin Ciyan would bring Bei Bei along, and they would either lie by the lake and fish, nap in hammocks beneath the trees, or spread a blanket on the grass for what they called "sunlight Soul Power charging."
"Lin Ciyan! Bei Bei! You're slacking off again!" an elderly instructor with a stern disposition couldn't help scolding them.
Lin Ciyan slowly sat up from his recliner, wearing an inscrutable expression that said, "You wouldn't understand." "Teacher, you're mistaken. Just look at the immense power of heaven and earth!"
"We're drawing close to nature with our bodies and minds, engaging in 'Immersive Soul Power Resonance.'"
"Forcing yourself to cultivate is a lesser path. Letting Soul Power come to you of its own accord, like we do, is the highest way!"
[ Ding! Successfully argued circles around a Titled Douluo, leaving him deep in thought. Slacking Value +88! ]
Bei Bei nodded earnestly beside him. He didn't really understand what "Immersive Soul Power Resonance" meant, but Brother Lin must be right!
Over the past two months, following Lin Ciyan had not only made him much more outgoing, but he also felt that his Soul Power was a little more lively than when he used to train alone.
Scenes like this played out again and again.
Lin Ciyan always managed to dress up all kinds of slacking off as lofty methods of cultivation with his "Slacking Philosophy."
The thing was, sometimes even the elderly instructors felt that although the boy's arguments were crooked, there was actually a little sense to them if you thought it over.
Especially when they saw that Bei Bei was more cheerful than before and his aura had grown more harmonious, they decided to turn a blind eye.
Lin Ciyan had hardly been idle over the past two months, either.
To his delight, he discovered an item in the Slacker Shop called [Hot Topic: Regional Limited].
It cost 500 points. Its effect was to make one of the host's recent actions or statements a hot topic within a small area, greatly increasing the Slacking Value earned as a result.
"What a great item!" Lin Ciyan promptly bought and used it.
Lin Ciyan brought Bei Bei to Elder Zhuang, who managed the medicinal garden, claiming that they were there to "feel the flow of life energy and nourish their Martial Souls."
As it turned out, Lin Ciyan spread out a blanket beside a rare medicinal plant and took a nap, claiming he was practicing "Deep Life Resonance." Bei Bei followed his example, sitting beside him to "meditate."
Elder Zhuang had been so angry he wanted to chase them away, but then he noticed, to his surprise, that the medicinal plant seemed to be... growing more vigorously near Lin Ciyan.
He stroked his beard and fell into deep thought. Perhaps he should have his students try this method of cultivating medicinal plants?
[With the effect of "Hot Topic," publicly napped beside an Immortal Herb, causing a life-system elder to question everything he knew. Slacking Value +150!]
They also went to visit Qian Duoduo, vice dean of the Soul Guidance Department. When he saw Lin Ciyan's Soul Tool recliner, which could quickly catch fish and adjust its angle, he studied it for a long while before finally managing to say, "Th-this seems to embody some kind of cutting-edge concept involving dynamic balance and Soul Power sensing?"
Qian Duoduo was greatly inspired. He returned to the Soul Guidance Department and immediately held a meeting to study this kind of Soul Tool. Of course, even after a long time studying it, they made no progress.
[With the effect of "Hot Topic," displayed a "worthless" Soul Tool before the vice dean of the Soul Guidance Department. Slacking Value +133!]
Vice Dean Xian Lin'er, whose temper was fiery, saw the two of them sunbathing in the mimicry cultivation zone and was furious at their lack of ambition.
Lin Ciyan said, "We're performing 'Light Energy Particle Absorption' to replenish the source of our Soul Power," leaving her frozen in place as she began to consider new possibilities for light-attribute Soul Masters.
Even Xuan Zi was stirred. Holding a chicken drumstick, he watched the two of them using the "Wuwei Fishing Method" by Sea God Lake and muttered, "Could drinking and eating meat... also be a form of cultivation?"
[With the effect of "Hot Topic," distorted the light-attribute cultivation system, leaving Xian Lin'er in a knowledge blind spot. Slacking Value +130!] [With the effect of "Hot Topic," explained the way of "culinary cultivation" before Taotie Douluo. Slacking Value +160!] [Current Slacking Value: 2188!]
The results were immediate. His and Bei Bei's Relaxation Cultivation Method had indeed become a hot topic around the Inner Court.
A flood of doubts, curiosity, and even a touch of misguided approval brought Lin Ciyan rich rewards.
Whether people supported it, opposed it, or were simply there to watch the commotion, they all contributed plenty of Slacking Value.
"Almost there, almost there! I'm less than a thousand points away from buying that [Winning-by-Lying-Down Aura]!" Lin Ciyan's eyes burned as he looked at the aura listed for 3,000 points in the shop.
"When I get it, we'll bring Bei Bei and Sister Lexuan and form a 'Lie Flat and Win' team. Now that's the life!"
Since Bei Bei lived on Sea God Island, Zhang Lexuan had also started coming to the Inner Court noticeably more often.
At first, she had only come to visit Bei Bei, but gradually her gaze began lingering more on Lin Ciyan, the boy who was always smiling and could wrap Bei Bei around his little finger.
His smile was clean and infectious, as though it could dispel every shadow.
She looked at the boy anew.
His soft, light-brown hair still had a faint golden sheen under the sunlight, and his healthy, wheat-colored skin made him look full of life.
But when his amber-gold eyes were half-lidded with laziness, they seemed to hold a careless kind of wisdom.
When he earnestly talked someone around, the golden glimmer in his eyes gave him an unfathomable air.
He was several years younger than her, yet he carried a calmness beyond his age—and... a hint of mystery?
His seemingly ridiculous antics had, upon closer examination, made Bei Bei's Soul Power foundation more solid and his outlook broader. That was no simple result of "playing around."
"Sister Lexuan, try this 'Mind-Calming Hundred Flower Dew.' It's made with forty-nine kinds of flower dew and refined with the morning light over Sea God Lake. It works wonders for calming restless Soul Power!" Lin Ciyan handed her an exquisite cup filled with a dreamlike liquid.
Zhang Lexuan took it doubtfully. The refined floral fragrance soothed her senses, and she took a small sip.
A gentle coolness spread through her limbs. Even the slight fatigue and sluggishness in her Soul Power from days of cultivation seemed to fade away.
She looked at Lin Ciyan in shock. Could this guy really not be fooling around?
[ Ding! Shocked Zhang Lexuan, a future Inner Court prodigy, with a "homemade drink." Slacking Value +65! ]
"Sister Lexuan, why not try this 'Omni-Directional Soul Power Massage Recliner,' too? It works wonders for relieving cultivation fatigue!" Lin Ciyan warmly invited her over.
Zhang Lexuan tried it with some hesitation. The Soul Power fluctuations were just right, and the comfort was exquisite.
Lying on the massage chair instantly eased the tension in her mind, wearied by cultivation, and she even felt her Soul Power circulate a little more smoothly. She stared at Lin Ciyan in shock.
[ Ding! Successfully shocked Zhang Lexuan, a future Inner Court prodigy. Slacking Value +90! ]
After several such encounters, Zhang Lexuan was completely won over.
Perhaps this Junior Brother Lin's relaxed state of mind really was a profound realm of cultivation beyond their understanding.
His transcendence and his ability to find wonders in the ordinary filled her with admiration, and even... a trace of curiosity.
Mu En often watched the three youngsters "playing around" from a distance.
Bei Bei's smile was bright and genuine, and Zhang Lexuan was more relaxed than usual, sometimes even pressing her lips together to hide a laugh at one of Lin Ciyan's crooked arguments.
Lin Ciyan was undoubtedly the heart of their little group, influencing those around him in his own unique way.
The harmonious scene brought back memories of something that had happened years ago in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Back then, following a lead from the Inspection Group, he had found the Evil Soul Master who had killed Bei Bei's parents—a Soul Douluo known as "Blood Butcher."
When he found the fiend, Blood Butcher had just slaughtered a peaceful village. Desperate cries mingled with the bloodlust soaring into the sky.
The Evil Soul Master had not the slightest chance to resist Mu En.
The gap between a Limit Douluo and a Soul Douluo was like the moon compared to a firefly.
Mu En hadn't even used his Martial Soul. With a casual point of his finger, the rampaging Evil Soul Master had turned to ash beneath the power of his ultimate light-attribute Soul Power.
As he cleared the ruins, Mu En rescued an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl who was curled up in a corner, trembling all over but with a defiant look in her eyes—Zhang Lexuan.
She was the village's sole survivor.
Her great enemy was dead, but her home was gone.
Zhang Lexuan knelt before Mu En, tears mingling with dust. Her voice was choked but firm. "Senior, I can never repay your great kindness. I wish to follow you for the rest of my life. Whatever you ask of me, I will do to repay you!"
Looking at the girl, whose eyes reminded him somewhat of Bei Bei's when he had lost his parents, Mu En's heart filled with sympathy.
Mu En helped her up and spoke gently. "Child, avenging them was my responsibility, not a burden for you to carry."
"Your life belongs to you. You should live it for yourself. If you have nowhere to go, would you be willing to come with me? Perhaps you could find a new home there."
"Home..." The word touched the softest place in Zhang Lexuan's heart. She nodded firmly, burying her gratitude deep within her.
Mu En took her back to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, where he had her keep Bei Bei company, as he was just as lonely at the time.
Later, thanks to her extraordinary talent, Zhang Lexuan naturally entered Shrek Academy to study.
He hoped that a girl with similar experiences could bring Bei Bei some comfort, while also giving herself a fresh start.
The tide of memories receded, and Mu En's gaze returned to the three young people getting along so well before him.
He watched the lazy figure by the lake, gesticulating as he explained some kind of "brand-new Soul Power circulation theory" to Zhang Lexuan and Bei Bei, and felt an irrepressible curiosity.
The corners of his mouth lifted on their own, revealing a trace of relief.
It seemed his decision back then had been the right one.
Although Lin Ciyan was a little unpredictable in his ways, he was like a ray of resilient sunlight, shining into the once-gloomy worlds of Bei Bei and Zhang Lexuan.
Then he seemed to remember something important, and a solemn look appeared in his eyes.
"By my reckoning, it'll be less than a month until Ciyan and Bei Bei's Martial Soul Awakening..."
He was curious to see what kind of Martial Soul this boy, who always brought "surprises," would awaken. And just how far would Bei Bei's Radiant Sacred Dragon bloodline awaken?
On Sea God Island, the breeze continued to blow. It brushed over the lake, setting ripples of golden light dancing, as if it, too, were quietly looking forward to the extraordinary awakening that was less than a month away.