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Chapter 20: Flying Pigs in the Sky (New book, please collect monthly tickets and recommend tickets!)

Some people and some things, even after ten thousand years, when you recall them, you will still feel sad.

Charles Barkley, the great loser and tragic hero of the NBA.

Although in some years after retirement, Barkley thought he had long forgotten the pain in his heart, the hatred that made him sick to his stomach.
But the fact is, no matter how many years pass, whenever someone brings up his career, Barkley will clutch his thighs tightly, trapped in a pain that only he can understand and a regret that seems to have no end.

“I sleep well at night thinking about what I’ve accomplished in basketball.”

Shortly after retiring, Barkley commented on his career.

To the outside world, after retiring, Barkley has been trying to package himself as a hero who is not judged by success or failure.

But in competitive sports, if success or failure is not the only criterion for judging a hero, then how could Barkley have said with such heroism, "Replace me after I die"?
The desire to win is always the key to driving a professional athlete forward.

In the studio of TNT TV, when the topic of "President Duke" happened to come up in the Christmas Special, Barkley said categorically: "This kid looks like me."

Hearing this, the old partner Smith quickly asked, "Why do you think so?"

Next, Barkley talked humorously about the many similarities between Qin Yue and himself.

For example, Qin Yue’s arms were as strong as his own.

For example, Qin Yue's strong back and waist, like his own, look full of security.

For example, Qin Yue has the same athletic ability as himself, which allows him to fly and hide with a large body weight.

"But his butt doesn't look as fat as yours was back then," Smith complained.

Barkley countered: "He's just still developing. He has the potential to do so."

"But I heard that he has been losing weight recently and trying to keep his weight within a more reasonable range," Smith reminded.

Barkley disagreed: "When I was a professional player, I lost weight every year."

Then, Barkley talked about Qin Yue's technical characteristics.

"As a 4, he can dribble and penetrate, and he can also use contact to open up the situation for the team at the basket.

His shooting range reaches beyond the three-point line. Those taller than him can't keep up with him, and those shorter than him are not as strong as him.

Although his skills still need to be polished, I can already see some of my past in him.”

After pondering for a while, Smith said, "Charles, why don't you talk about his defense? Is it because he looks more talented on defense than you were back then?"

Seeing this, after shrugging, spreading his hands and shaking his head in one go, Barkley said: "The disciple is better than the master, and I never envy young people like some people do.

I like this kid, and if he can really surpass me in the future, I will only congratulate him."

In fact, compared with the above-mentioned advantages, Barkley appreciates Qin Yue’s never-give-up spirit more.

Barkley, who has lost weight more than once in his career, knows very well that without a never-give-up spirit, Qin Yue would never have been able to lose dozens of kilograms of fat in a few months as written in his file.

Because the pain that must be endured when losing weight can only be understood by those who have experienced it.

People will never admire another person for no reason.

In college basketball, there are many players whose draft stock is better than Qin Yue's.

But compared to other geniuses, it was Qin Yue's story that resonated with Barkley.

In the future, Barkley, who will revisit his weight loss journey due to a long period of lack of body management after retirement, once said on "The Conan Show": "The secret to losing weight is to spit out all the delicious food."

Yes, even after retiring for many years, Charles Barkley is still a man who never gives up.

In the studio, perhaps at some point Smith realized that Barkley was not joking with him. After putting away his usual laughter, he suddenly said seriously: "Charles, do you really think this kid can take over your job in the future?"

In response, Barkley said very frankly: "I don't know."

But after a pause, Barkley immediately added: "But I just think he's like me, whether it's the way he plays or his body shape.

He’s basically Charles Barkley II.”

……

In December, when Qin Yue, who had been intensively practicing ball handling for nearly a month, officially welcomed his Christmas holiday, he was just 12 days away from LeBron James’ birthday (Note ①).
Qin Yue, who had planned to celebrate his 20th birthday and Christmas together, suddenly got a start on Christmas Day. Because he had developed the habit of not watching TV in his previous life, at this moment, Qin Yue didn't know that in TNT TV's "Christmas Special", he had become the world's recognized successor to Barkley.

Yes.

At that moment just now, the reason why Qin Yue shuddered was not because he learned about Barkley's evaluation of him through TV.

But because
"The legendary quest [The Dream That Remains Unextinguished] has been triggered. The host can freely choose whether to accept the quest.

[The dream that has not yet died]: Looking back, Charles Barkley still finds it hard to let go of his career.

But fortunately, your appearance made him see another possibility in you.

If the host chooses to accept this task, he must present himself as "Charles Barkley's successor" in subsequent public occasions.

Note that after accepting this mission, the activation condition of the [Mountain Peak] system will automatically change to the host successfully controlling his weight below 125 kg.

At the same time, when activating the [Mountain Top] system, the host will still receive the original rewards, that is, the original 12 attribute bonuses will not change due to changes in activation conditions.

【那仍未熄灭的梦】任务完成条件：宿主需在大学期间将力量、敏捷、弹跳、运球、篮下终结、背身技术、中投、三分、视野、传球属性分别提升至85、70、75、70、80、75、75、70、65、65。

Mission completion reward: [Flying Pig] badge.

[Flying Pig in the Air]: This badge can give the host a knee bearing capacity far beyond that of ordinary people, and to a certain extent reduce the loss of related physical attributes caused by weight to the host.

In addition, after completing this task, the system will automatically unlock the [Charles Barkley's Gift] series of tasks for the host.

Through this series of tasks, the host can receive generous rewards and upgrade the potential level of some badges to the Hall of Fame. "

In the dormitory, Qin Yue, who was about to cut the birthday cake, quickly put down the knife in his hand, and after calming down, he began to think seriously about the task that suddenly popped up in his mind.

Although Qin Yue didn't know at the moment why his appearance made Barkley see another possibility.

But after carefully looking at the mission content and the conditions for completing the mission, Qin Yue had to admit.
He was indeed moved.

Because the [Flying Pig] badge awarded for this mission was extremely abnormal in Qin Yue's eyes.

As we all know, for NBA players, when choosing whether to gain weight, what often makes them most entangled is whether their knees can bear a larger level of weight and whether gaining weight will affect their other attributes.

In the NBA, some people benefit from gaining weight, but some people suffer from it.

In short, besides the advantages of weight gain, you can never avoid its disadvantages.

But at this moment, if Qin Yue chooses to accept this task, he will have the capital to fly and hide in the ground with a heavier weight in the future.

Moreover, this system does not say that you must gain weight to enjoy the bonus brought by this badge.

So, in a sense, after obtaining this badge, you can gain stronger knee resistance and avoid many unnecessary injuries.

"Isn't it just about claiming to be Barkley's successor? What's so difficult about that?

Besides, why do I need to be so slim to play basketball? I’m not going to be a star or a model.”

After examining himself in the mirror, taking a good look at his handsome face that matched his current muscular body perfectly, Qin Yue, knowing very well how much benefit this badge would bring to him, roughly formulated an idea in his mind.

In addition, Qin Yue also noticed a piece of content in this latest task.

That is, the badges given by the [Mountain Top] system have potential levels.

To put it simply, for some badges, if you do not have the corresponding potential, then after upgrading them to a certain level, you will not be able to continue upgrading.

In Qin Yue's opinion, this is fair and reasonable.

But that day, Qin Yue scratched his head but couldn't figure out why he suddenly triggered this task.

And he didn't know how much of an impact this "Christmas Special" on TNT would have on his future path to fame after Barkley openly endorsed him.
……

Note ①: The book sets Qin Yue’s birthday as December 12, which is exactly 21 days away from James’ birthday. This is written in the character card below the introduction.

PS: I’m begging for collection, monthly tickets, and recommendation tickets for my new book!

(End of this chapter)