Billiards: Starting with the Overlord's Shot, Dominating the World

"Zhengyang," Zhou Zhenhua said excitedly, rubbing his hands together. "The provincial team's head coach, Wang Dehai, just called me personally."

"Oh?" Fan Zhengyang raised an eyebrow, already having guessed what was going on.

"That idiot surnamed Liu has already been dealt with by Coach Wang and relegated to the logistics department," Zhou Zhenhua said gloatingly at first, then his tone shifted, his face beaming with undisguised excitement, "The important thing is, President Wang watched the video of you and Liu Bin playing basketball and he praised you highly!"

"He asked me to tell you that you've already been selected for the provincial team!"

When Zhou Zhenhua said the words "pre-arranged," he emphasized them, hoping to see a look of ecstatic joy on Fan Zhengyang's face.

After all, this is the provincial team! The second tier of the national table tennis talent pyramid! A dream that countless city team members can only dream of achieving in their entire lives!

Moreover, it was the head coach who personally made the decision, bypassing all selection procedures—a "pre-arranged" decision!

This honor is nothing short of a meteoric rise!

However, Fan Zhengyang's reaction once again surprised him.

The boy simply gave a calm "Oh," his face expressionless, as if he had heard not "You've been pre-selected for the provincial team," but rather "Add a chicken leg to the cafeteria today."

That's it... that's all?

Zhou Zhenhua was stunned. He couldn't help but ask, "You... why aren't you excited at all?"

"I'm so excited!" Fan Zhengyang blinked and said innocently, "I've been having fireworks in my head for three minutes straight, didn't you hear me?"

Zhou Zhenhua: "..."

I don't believe you for a second! You've got better mental fortitude than I do!

Zhou Zhenhua shook his head helplessly. He knew that he couldn't use common sense to judge the monster in front of him.

He cleared his throat and continued, "Ahem, Coach Wang's idea is that you can report to the provincial team next week. However, to maintain order and to avoid breaking the rules, you'll nominally be on the second team for now. But you'll train and compete with the first team. After a few months, we'll find an opportunity to officially promote you to the first team as a starter through an internal challenge match."

This was the most compliant arrangement Wang Dehai could make, and the one that best reflected his love for talent.

After all, directly promoting a city team member to the provincial first team as a key player is unprecedented in the history of the provincial team. Even Xia Shuisheng ten years ago, he played in the second team for half a year before breaking into the first team through a brutal direct qualification competition.

In Zhou Zhenhua's view, this arrangement was simply perfect.

This not only gave Fan Zhengyang immense face and substantial benefits, but also silenced public opinion, allowing him to make a smooth transition.

He thought that Fan Zhengyang would finally agree this time.

However, after listening, Fan Zheng-yang slowly shook his head.

"Coach, I don't want to use connections."

"What?" Zhou Zhenhua thought he had misheard.

"I said, I don't want to go to the provincial team like this." Fan Zhengyang's eyes became unusually serious and firm. "I am very grateful for Coach Wang's high regard. But I don't want to walk through that door as someone with connections or a privileged class."

He stood up, walked to the holographic projection, and looked at the map of Lan Province displayed on it.

"I heard you mention that the provincial youth championships, held every four years, are in a month, right?"

"Yes...yes." Zhou Zhenhua was a little confused by his train of thought.

"Is there a direct promotion spot to the provincial team for the singles champion of this tournament?" Fan Zhengyang asked again.

"Theoretically... yes. But no one has been able to get this spot for many years. Because the provincial team sends its top players from the second team to participate in order to train new talents, the city team members have no chance at all," Zhou Zhenhua explained.

"That's perfect."

Fan Zhengyang turned around, staring intently at Zhou Zhenhua, his face radiating an air of domineering confidence and arrogance!

"Coach, please reply to Head Coach Wang."

"I appreciate his kindness."

"But I, Fan Zhengyang, will fight my way in with my own abilities, honorably and legitimately!"

"A month from now, I'll be reporting to the provincial team with the singles championship trophy from the provincial youth championship!"

"I want everyone to know that I didn't get a job through any insider connections or by using any back channels."

"I was able to stand there because—"

"I am the strongest!"

His words were resounding and powerful!

That pride and confidence that came from the bottom of his heart was like a raging fire, almost setting the entire VIP training room ablaze!

Zhou Zhenhua stared blankly at the boy in front of him, feeling as if the blood in his body was boiling at that moment!

This is a true genius!

This is the true heart of a king!

Disdain for any shortcuts, unafraid of any challenge!

Only trust the racket in your hand, only trust the path beneath your feet!

He seemed to see Xia Shuisheng, the same stubborn and proud girl from ten years ago. Back then, she was just like that, giving up a guaranteed admission opportunity and fighting her way to the top through countless battles!

The Fan Zhengyang before her was even more arrogant and domineering than she had been back then!

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhou Zhenhua excitedly said "good" three times in a row. He stepped forward and patted Fan Zhengyang's shoulder hard. There was even a hint of tears glistening in his tiger eyes.

"As expected of the person I, Zhou Zhenhua, have my eye on! He's got guts! He has backbone!"

"Don't worry! I'll call Coach Wang back right now! I'll tell him that the eagles of Blue Ocean City will fly on their own! They don't need anyone's protection!"

"For the next month, I'll personally guide you! I'll teach you everything I know! I, Zhou Zhenhua, will help you soar to new heights, even if it costs me my old bones!"

Looking at the old coach in front of him, who was as excited as a child, Fan Zhengyang was also deeply moved.

He bowed solemnly to Zhou Zhenhua.

"Thank you, Coach!"

"No need to thank me! You're the pride of my life!"

Zhou Zhenhua laughed, punched him lightly, and then excitedly ran to call Wang Dehai to "share the good news."

Fan Zhengyang watched his excited back and a relaxed smile appeared on his face.

He knew that his decision might seem foolish or childish to many people.

Instead of taking the smooth, broad road, they insist on crossing the most difficult single-plank bridge.

But only he himself knew that this was the path he, as a transmigrator and a chosen one with the Soul of the National Sport System, had to uphold.

He inherited another world: the indomitable and ever-striving spirit of table tennis, forged with blood and sweat by generations of Chinese table tennis players!

The path he must take must be an indisputable and honorable one to become a king!

He wanted everyone in the world to remember his name.

It's not because he has any background or special privileges.

It's because his racket can defeat everything!