Chapter 66: Substitute Player

Zhang Pu felt a flicker of surprise in his heart and cast his gaze over the court—then he shook his head at once!

Truly, even someone like him, who was never particularly skilled at basketball, could see at a glance how dire the situation was for his class’s team. Especially their lineup centered around Wei Kai, Huang Xiangquan, and Wang Xing—were those three even playing basketball at all?

At last, their attempt to show off had backfired spectacularly! That idiot Wei Kai nearly passed the ball straight to their opponents; as for Wang Xing, he had suddenly turned into a lumbering oaf, letting the other team slip right by him for an easy shot, and to make matters worse, the opponent’s throw had swished through the net. And Huang Xiangquan? He usually seemed sharp enough, but when it counted, he fell apart! Was that even playing basketball? It was nothing more than acting as sparring partners for the other team—worse, it was as if they’d accepted the role of mere extras.

With their three core players in such a state, the rest of the class team—well, “a motley crew” would be too kind a description for them. They still dreamed of making it out of the group stage, but at this rate, they’d be lucky to avoid coming in dead last among the seniors.

Gradually, Zhang Pu could even read disappointment on the faces of Lin Xuehong, Du Aizhu, and the rest of the class’s group of admirers.

“How did it come to this? How did things end up like this? Are we really going to…”

At that very moment, Lin Xuehong’s voice, mournful as a funeral wail, only made Zhang Pu feel an ironic amusement.

“Zhang Pu, I think our class is about to lose…” When did Zheng Xiaoming appear at his side? Hearing his voice and glancing at him, Zhang Pu was a little taken aback: Zheng Xiaoming looked genuinely pained, even his eyes were tinged with red.

Amazed by Zheng Xiaoming’s investment in the outcome, Zhang Pu couldn’t help but introspect: Had he truly become so absorbed in his own cultivation that he’d lost all sense of collective honor?

That his own class was on the verge of losing left him utterly unmoved?

Luckily, no one was probing his inner thoughts at that moment—otherwise, Zhang Pu might have felt a pang of shame!

After that came a break, and the “warriors” all left the court to rest. Zhang Pu knew that if his class failed to win this final match, they would be completely eliminated.

For this last game, substitutions were allowed; anyone feeling too exhausted or mentally shaken could ask to be replaced. There were substitutes in the class—practically every boy counted as a backup, and even some girls played basketball in their free time.

This time, perhaps because morale had finally collapsed, three of the players representing the class admitted they couldn’t go on.

As class president, Lin Xuehong looked even more stricken! She and Du Aizhu pleaded and cajoled until two substitutes finally agreed to step up, but for the last spot, no one wanted to volunteer. Each person tried to push the responsibility onto someone else, as if everyone had already accepted defeat and saw going out there as nothing but an embarrassment.

Zhang Pu noticed that Zheng Xiaoming looked eager to try, yet couldn’t quite summon the courage to step forward. It seemed Zhang Pu had never known Zheng Xiaoming could even play basketball.

“No one else?” Lin Xuehong, who was in charge of the team selection, looked as though she might burst into tears. She’d started out so hopeful, only to see those hopes dashed. Now, they couldn’t even scrape together a full team for the final game! Though she wore a brave face as class president, inwardly she’d already given up. Anyone willing to go on court now would just be fulfilling a formality.

“I’ll do it!” Suddenly, a voice—not loud, but instantly commanding the attention of the entire class—broke the silence.

Everyone turned to see who had spoken. When they saw it was Zhang Pu, many were dubious. Some who didn’t know him at all looked downright dismissive: they’d never seen Zhang Pu play basketball before!

If it weren’t for the desperate situation, even Lin Xuehong and Du Aizhu would have thought Zhang Pu was joking. Zheng Xiaoming, too, was stunned: just as he’d been about to volunteer, Zhang Pu had spoken first!

Zheng Xiaoming guessed that Zhang Pu had probably noticed his intention, maybe even read his mind. Now, Zhang Pu was finally “going to war” as he’d wished, but—could he truly apply his fighting skills to basketball and pull off a miracle?

Zheng Xiaoming hoped so, but couldn’t fully believe it.

Though Lin Xuehong felt Zhang Pu was making light of things, she had no choice but to agree, clinging to a sliver of hope for a lost cause. After all, defeat seemed inevitable—what difference did it make?

And so, Zhang Pu took the court! He paid no mind to those who looked down on him; he only thought to himself: let them be as shocked as they wish in a moment.

It was true he wasn’t particularly skilled at basketball, but now, having reached the Foundation Establishment stage in cultivation, he was more than capable of using minor mystical arts to turn this disastrous game around. Spells he was currently relearning—Heavenly Eye, Wind Manipulation, Concealment—could all be adapted for basketball. Though he hadn’t fully regained his former mastery, his current abilities were more than enough to perform well beyond normal standards.

Indeed, as he stepped onto the court, some spectators thought he looked dazed, sent up just to kill time—some even harbored more poisonous thoughts.

But no one knew: the moment Zhang Pu entered the game, he secretly activated his Heavenly Eye spell, instantly gaining insight into the opposing team’s every move.

Suddenly, in a flash, Zhang Pu used the Wind Manipulation technique to dart up to an opponent clutching the ball. When it came to snatching things, with his strength, he could have toppled the entire opposing team single-handedly!

The player holding the ball only realized what had happened after it was gone; even afterward, he still thought it must have been a ghost who’d stolen it.

Zhang Pu had no time to savor the look of utter shock on his opponent’s face. In a heartbeat, he was already at the basket!

Scoring was child’s play for Zhang Pu at his current level. The defenders around him might as well have been made of air.

“It’s in!” Someone shouted, and the next moment, Lin Xuehong and the rest of the class cheerleaders exploded with joy.