The basketball coach tried over ten different formations and was finally able to fill almost all of the positions with suitable players. However, the only problem was the power forward position, there were none that was suitable for that role. As the coach decided to glance through all the players again, his eyes fell upon Xu Liao.
Xu Liao had a height of 183cm, and weighing around 80kg. Comparing to adult players, he might seem like he was lacking, but in junior high school, he was considered to be somewhat burly.
The coach folded his arms and sank deep into thought: “Xu Liao has the right size as a power forward. Although he couldn’t even qualify for the subst.i.tute bench, this boy is very hardworking during practice. Honestly, I have never seen his skills yet, but since he is a third year student, surely he must have some standards… No harm in giving it a shot.”
“Xu Liao, you’re up!”
Suddenly being called out by the coach, Xu Liao was stunned for a moment. But he did not dally as he took off his jacket and walked onto the basketball court. The entire spectator stand shook as the crowd roared with laughter. They all knew that Xu Liao was not even a subst.i.tute and was only known as the handyman of the team. In everyone’s mind, Xu Liao was only good in cleaning and tidying the sports hall, absolutely no one thought that Xu Liao could play basketball.
The coach felt humiliated by the crowd as if their laughter was directed at him, but how could he eat back his words and send Xu Liao back after just ordering him to get on the court? He reprimanded the crowd with a stern expression: “What are you guys laughing at? All of you leave school every day to Chase skirts. Can you tell me which one of you stays back after our training to build up your own physique or polish your basketball skills and techniques? Xu Liao did it every single day, and never did he once go easy on himself.”
Hou Tao, the only veteran point guard left in the team couldn’t hold his laughter in any longer and shouted. “Coach! Everyone knows that Xu Liao trains his body because he wants to get a girl! He was desperate for Qu Lei that’s why he trained so hard!”
The only main point guard Hou Tao couldn’t hold it anymore and started laughing and shouted: “Coach! Everyone knows that Xu Liao trains his body because he wants to get a girl! He was so desperate for Qu Lei that’s why he trained!”
In order to court Qu Lei, Xu Liao trained his physique every day since and joined the basketball team to slim down. Actually all of these was already known by the coach and other teachers, but out of anger, he did not think about what he was saying. “Since you people think that Xu Liao can’t make it to the team, then you should be on the defending team against him in a three versus three match. And if Xu Liao manages to score, I will make you run the whole sports hall for a hundred rounds!”
Hou Tao stood up lazily and waved his hand in a nonchalant manner. “Coach, I wouldn’t dare to say this if I was against other players, but if its Xu Liao, then I will make him unable to even jump.”
Xu Liao’s expression on his face didn’t change as he maintained the smile on his face. He was feeling very unsettled in his heart, being looked down upon by so many people just didn’t feel good. His relationship with Hou Tao was actually not bad, since Xu Liao’s had a kind disposition.
Xu Liao mused silently to himself as he kept his usual smile on his face. “If it was a few days ago, I wouldn’t dare compete. But now that I have cultivated in the Nine Mysterious Strengthening Skill and opened both of my meridians, I refuse to believe that Hou Tan can guard me!”
The whistle went off and the three versus three match officially started. Xu Liao ran to various empty spots but no one pa.s.sed the ball to him. He was unsatisfied as his hard work for running into positions was wasted. As a result, the match was essentially two versus three and Hou Tao’s team led the score by ten points within three minutes. With two 3-pointer shots and two lay-ups, Xu Liao’s team got wrecked.
The coach sighed as he shook his head; he lifted up his hand, intending to end this match soon. He admitted that he was too desperate by pinning his hopes on a player that couldn’t even make it as a subst.i.tute. It felt ridiculous.
Hou Tao dribbled the ball towards Xu Liao with a smug look on his face. He wanted to prove to the coach that Xu Liao doesn’t have what it takes to be a basketball player.
Hou Tao closed the gap and did an explosive crossover right past Xu Liao. He confidently followed up with a lay-up. However, just when he was about to lay-up, he realized that the basketball was no longer in his hand! His mouth gaped as he stood looking at his empty right hand.
The very next second, Hou Tao heard the crowd in the sports hall cheering wildly.
Hou Tao turned his head towards Xu Liao slowly and saw him standing under the basketball rim which was vibrating non-stop, and the basketball bouncing on the court.
Everyone except Hou Tao witnessed the unimaginable scene. The moment when Hou Tao tried to break through Xu Liao’s defense with a crossover dribble, a shadow of an afterimage swiped the ball off Hou Tao’s hand. A few moments later, there was a huge leap from the free throw line, followed by a gust of wind as Xu Liao slammed the ball into the rim. He held on for a moment before slowly sliding his fingertips off the rim, producing a dull vibrating sound that resounded throughout the hall. The action of him slowly landing onto the court, with the rim still vibrating made everyone feel intimidated by how much power and skill he had.
Xu Liao was equally stunned himself. Even though he had been training his physique for the past three years, he fully understood his capabilities. Had it been a few days back, he would at most only be able to touch the bottom of the backboard, not to even mention a possibility of dunking.
“Just a mere day of cultivation and I can make my physical qualities reach such a standard. This Nine Mysterious Strengthening Skill is amazing!”
Xu Liao didn’t celebrate just because he scored two points, but instead, he simply stood still in a daze.
However, how could the coach know what Xu Liao was thinking?
The coach couldn’t contain his happiness and jumped around with joy. Totally not the actions of what a near forty years-old man would do.
This slam dunk from the free throw line was absurd, even Gao Yuan, one of the original main four players could at most do a hook near the basketball rim. Even though it looked like a dunk, but it was actually just a normal shot near the rim.
“Not only mentioning about the explosive nature of his jump, but his ball-stealing technique, dribbling and flash-like sprinting speed, he is like a monster! Why in the world did I command this talent to do cleaning ch.o.r.es? I’m so glad I got him to tryout, if not I would really miss out on this gem. His amazing physical qualities and technical skills in junior high school level, h.e.l.l, he would even be able to play the center position without a hitch.”
The coach interrupted the match because he was simply too elated. He immediately placed Xu Liao into the main team and appointed him as the center position. Thus, the official training has started.
Even though Hou Tao did not witness the scene first hand, but he knew what exactly happened. After the four main senior players left the team, Hou Tao was the only main player left. He was one of the main stars of the team, how could he be convinced to have lost to a guy that was a lowly handyman?
Hou Tao was bitter, and in the next few matches he challenged Xu Liao to a one-on-one whenever he had a chance. Naturally, Hou Tao’s basketball skills are above Xu Liao, but when it came to physical qualities, how could he compare to Xu Liao who had devoured the Emperor’s Stream Serum and cultivated the Nine Mysterious Strengthening Skill? As long it was a one versus one situation, Hou Tao could never break though his defence. However, as for defending Xu Liao’s offensive …
Even if Hou Tao put his entire life onto it, he just wasn’t able to. Just a slight collision with Xu Liao and he would wobble, and his defence will break. Just brute force itself could defeat him.