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

"Zhengyang, things are different here in the provincial team compared to the city. Nobody will pamper you like a child anymore. You need to train hard and not slack off, understand?"

"You need to get along well with your teammates and not be petty. I know you're a strong-willed guy, but sometimes you have to be patient."

"If you encounter any difficulties in life, such as being short of money or being bullied, call me immediately. Don't bear it all alone..."

As Zhou Zhenhua spoke, his eyes reddened. The soldiers he had personally trained were now finally about to fly to a wider sky, and he felt a mix of emotions.

Looking at his mentor's wrinkled face and white hair at the temples, Fan Zhengyang felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

He knew that without Zhou Zhenhua, he might still be in some neighborhood, competing with old men for the title of "King of Football".

"Coach, don't worry," Fan Zhengyang said solemnly, "I won't let you down. I promise you, the next time you see me on TV, I'll be wearing a team uniform with the blue flag on it!"

"Good! Good! Good!" Zhou Zhenhua said three times, patting him hard on the shoulder. "With you saying that, I'm relieved! Go, go and start your own era!"

After saying that, he turned around, no longer looking at Fan Zhengyang, and strode towards the outside of the base, his back view resolute yet carrying a hint of loneliness.

Fan Zhengyang stood there, watching his mentor's car disappear into the distance behind the sycamore trees, remaining motionless for a long time.

He took a deep breath, then turned around abruptly to look at the brightly lit training hall.

The intense, drum-like sound of balls being struck echoed through the hall once again.

There, new challenges, new rivals, and a brand new journey toward the top of the world await him.

His gaze became incredibly resolute.

"From this day forward, I, Fan Zhengyang,"

"You're a provincial team member now!"

After completing the induction procedures and receiving brand-new training clothes and dormitory keys, Fan Zhengyang officially began his provincial team career.

Coach Wei Gang led him back to that bustling training hall.

At this moment, the team members had just finished a round of high-intensity multi-ball training and were relaxing and drinking water in small groups.

The room was filled with the steaming heat of sweat, mixed with the distinctive smell of rubber and wooden flooring. This smell made Fan Zhengyang feel incredibly warm and excited.

"Come here, everyone!" Wei Gang's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable penetrating power.

The team members immediately stopped talking and quickly surrounded him, their movements perfectly synchronized, clearly a product of years of strict discipline.

"Let me introduce you, Fan Zhengyang, your new teammate." Wei Gang's introduction was concise, and then he turned to Fan Zhengyang to begin introducing the provincial team's "power pyramid."

His hand first pointed to a young man standing in the very center of the crowd.

The young man appeared to be around twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with a well-proportioned figure, a calm face, and eyes as still as a deep well, as if nothing could faze him. He possessed a gravitas beyond his years, and simply standing there quietly, he naturally became the center of attention for everyone.

"Chen Feng, the captain of Team One, is our provincial team's number one main player." Wei Gang's tone carried a hint of barely perceptible admiration. "He has comprehensive skills, a stable mentality, and a love of reading: a vast collection of books and an ultimate experience. He's the 'pillar of strength' for our provincial team. The phrase you young people often use, 'super stable,' perfectly describes him."

Chen Feng gave Fan Zhengyang a polite smile and extended his hand: "Welcome to the team, Fan Zhengyang. I watched your final match; it was a great game."

His voice was gentle, and his attitude was impeccable, but Fan Zhengyang could read a hint of scrutiny in his deep eyes, a calm scrutiny of the "challenger" from the "throne".

"Hello, Brother Feng. Please guide me in the future." Fan Zhengyang smiled and shook hands with him, neither humble nor arrogant.

Then, Wei Gang pointed to a slightly thin player next to Chen Feng who was holding a racket in his left hand.

This man was probably in his early twenties, with a baby face and two shallow dimples when he smiled, making him seem harmless. But his eyes were unusually sharp, like those of a cunning fox, always flashing with a calculating glint.

"Li Yan, our second-best player," Wei Gang introduced. "He plays a left-handed, fast-attack style, with tricky and unpredictable shots. He's our team's 'genius.' When playing against him, you have to be constantly on your guard, or you won't even know how you died. If he went to play esports, he'd definitely be a 'top-tier sixth man.'"

Li Yan grinned and winked at Fan Zhengyang, even giving him a "V" sign: "Hey, junior brother! I'll protect you from now on! If anyone bullies you, just say my name, and I... I'll help you scold them!"

His tone was lively, but Fan Zhengyang keenly sensed that behind this apparent enthusiasm lay a strong curiosity and a fighting spirit. It was like a cat seeing a particularly interesting new toy it had never seen before.

Finally, Wei Gang's gaze fell on a rebellious young man.

He was Gao Peng, the third-ranked player on the provincial team. At this moment, he was standing with his arms crossed, glancing sideways at Fan Zhengyang, a playful smirk playing on his lips.

"Gao Peng, our third main player, is our team's 'heavy artillery'." Wei Gang's tone was calm and unremarkable. "His characteristic can be summed up in one word—reckless. His forehand smash power is unmatched in the province. All he thinks about is attacking, and he believes in 'great power can create miracles.' If you're going to go toe-to-toe with him, remember to buy insurance beforehand."

Wei Gang's seemingly introductory but actually sarcastic remarks drew a burst of suppressed laughter from the surrounding team members.

Gao Peng wasn't angry. Instead, he puffed out his explosive muscles and raised his chin at Fan Zhengyang: "Kid, remember what I said. If you want to stay on the team, show me your true skills. Don't think that just because you won the National Youth Championship, you can 'walk around like a madman' here."

His hostility was the most direct and undisguised of the three.

Fan Zhengyang smiled but didn't reply.

He knew that any verbal rebuttal would be futile.

The only way to silence a tiger that believes in strength is to use even greater strength to completely defeat it.

Chen Feng, Li Yan, Gao Peng.

These three individuals are currently the "three mountains" of the Lanzhou Provincial Men's Team, and are the goals that all provincial team members need to look up to and catch up with.

They represent the province's top fighting force and also constitute the core power structure within the team.

After the introductions, Wei Gang waved his hand: "Alright, everyone disperse and continue training! Fan Zhengyang, your locker is at the very back; go and familiarize yourself with the environment."

"Yes!" The team members responded in unison and quickly dispersed, and the sound of the ball hitting the ball echoed through the training hall once again.