Eternal Ages Sect.

Li Qingyang, who was exploring the mountain terrain, suddenly stopped because the ‘Steady’ character hidden invisibly on the back of his hand gradually emerged, flashing brilliant dazzling light.

“What’s going on?”

“Whoosh!”

Suddenly, a strange memory flooded into his consciousness, causing him to fall into brief daze. Only after fully accepting it all did he blurt out in disbelief: “Holy crap!”

In the cafeteria.

Yao Mengying said in surprise: “Liu Senior Sister, why do you have a character on your hand!”

Liu Wanshi at the stove didn’t react, because while cooking, similarly a memory forcibly inputted, and the manifested stove character grew increasingly brilliant and radiant.

Shortly after, she returned to normal. One hand gripping the pan handle, one hand grasping the spatula, she began the most focused stir-frying of the food!

Yao Mengying’s big eyes gradually widened, because Liu Senior Sister’s entire body permeated with strange aura—that feeling was like she’d suddenly become a different person!

“Snap!”

The dish finished cooking and was placed on the table.

Liu Wanshi untied her apron while smiling: “Junior Sister, taste how the flavor is.”

“Oh.”

Yao Mengying picked up chopsticks, lifted a mouthful of vegetables into her mouth. After chewing and swallowing slowly, the expression on her face gradually became exaggerated as she exclaimed: “Liu Senior Sister, this dish tastes even better than before!”

Yi Hei and Er Hei came over, each eating some, calling out in unison: “Delicious tens of thousands of times better!”

Although the words had flattering meaning, in truth the dish Liu Wanshi made this time indeed had enormous changes in both color and flavor, bringing an even stronger soul impact.

Formation Hall.

Shangguan Xinyao was earnestly explaining to fellow disciples the production principles of a formation.

Zhen Dejun standing outside had his expression gradually become dazed.

This girl had been somewhat distracted on the lecture platform just now, but when she analyzed the formation again, it was simply like she’d become a different person—simply like a top formation grandmaster possessed her.

“Elder Zhen, did this disciple speak correctly?”

“…Uh… correct!”

Zhen Dejun’s old face reddened, because during the other party’s explanation process, much of the understanding was what he himself didn’t comprehend.

After receiving confirmation, Shangguan Xinyao smiled, then lowered her head to look at the still-unhidden ‘Wisdom’ character, thinking: “Because of you, my comprehension ability greatly increased.”

…

Time returned to Jun Changxiao bringing Hua Meigui and Black and White Asuras to search for the Profound Stone mineral vein on the road. He idly began considering which new sect function upgrade to choose.

Currently, the sect functions upgraded were Elixir Pavilion, Forging Pavilion, Talisman Pavilion, and Spirit Beast Pavilion. If following the sequence, the next one should be Spirit Essence Pavilion.

Spirit Essence Pavilion’s function was adding various properties to weapons. But because they’d just arrived in the Upper Realm and temporarily had no equipment suitable for disciples, Gou Sheng didn’t plan to prioritize upgrading it.

“Technique Pavilion?”

Jun Changxiao did have the thought to upgrade it, but remembering that upon first arriving in the Upper Realm he’d already been rewarded two, and had obtained another at Spiritual Hidden Mountain—all not yet distributed—he locked his gaze on Lingyan Pavilion.

The first two functions benefited the entire sect. This one benefited core disciples. Previously when Li Qingyang and others entered one after another, improvements in strength, aptitude and other aspects were also particularly obvious.

“Might as well choose this one.”

Jun Changxiao had made his decision in his heart and immediately upgraded Lingyan Pavilion to the enhanced version.

Thus, the truth was revealed. Whether Ye Xingchen and Xiao Zuiji in Demon King Cavern, or Li Qingyang, Liu Wanshi and others in the sect—all suddenly seemed to have cheats activated under the sect master’s remote operation!

“Oh my.”

“Su Xiaomo and Li Fei have actually also reached the requirements!”

After upgrading Lingyan Pavilion, Jun Changxiao discovered that two disciples’ merit points had maxed out, so he matched them in one after another.

The system complained: “You clearly just forgot to let disciples enter!”

“Did I boast about it?”

“…”

…

“Pass the ball, pass the ball!”

On Eternal Ages Sect’s martial arts field, Su Xiaomo and Li Fei sprinted swiftly, the Happy Soccer Ball frequently passing back and forth under their feet. Their coordination level drew uniform applause from watching disciples.

Sun Mucheng as always stood before the goal, face wearing a breezy smile.

Since getting used to Eternal Ages Sect culture, during cultivation breaks he often guest-played as goalkeeper. His current record was zero goals conceded.

Goal God.

The nickname everyone gave him.

As long as Sun Mucheng stood before the goal, he’d absolutely make top forwards despair.

“Swoosh! Swoosh!”

Su Xiaomo used gorgeous footwork to successively shake past backfield defensive players, then scooped the ball up for a volley shot.

“Come on, come on!”

Sun Mucheng had already judged the incoming position and was about to attack when he discovered the ball suddenly took a strange arc in mid-air.

“Step step step!”

Li Fei following up ran forward with heavy steps. His entire person leaped into the air. On screen, ‘Little Li Flying Foot’ appeared in four large characters as he used a standard bicycle kick to send the ball toward the goal!

“Whoosh!”

Enhanced by Captain Tsubasa special effects, the Happy Soccer Ball seemed to transform into a roaring fierce tiger!

“Snap!”

However, just as it was about to drill through the dead angle, it was directly caught by Sun Mucheng’s hands that seemed like giant pincers, and he smiled: “Nearly fooled by you two senior brothers.”

“Holy crap!”

Su Xiaomo knelt on the ground holding his head, despair emerging on his face.

To break through Sun Mucheng’s defended gate, he and Li Fei had researched tactics for several days. The result… still failure!

This damn wasn’t a goalkeeper—this damn was a wall that completely blocked the entire goal!

“Sigh.”

The descending Li Fei hung his head dejectedly.

That deep sense of defeat spread wildly in both their hearts, their emotions also becoming increasingly low.

“Mm?”

Suddenly, the head-hanging Li Fei discovered strange patterns emerging on the back of his right hand, gradually outlining a ‘Force’ character, so he hastily exclaimed in surprise: “Su Senior Brother…”

The voice abruptly stopped.

Because Su Xiaomo standing nearby similarly had a ‘Shadow’ character imprinted on the back of his hand.

“Whoosh whoosh!”

In an instant, strange memories flooded into both their consciousness. Their entire bodies were enveloped by magnificent advanced aura, easily stepping from Eighth-Grade Martial Saint into Peak Martial Saint!

“Su Senior Brother and Li Senior Brother actually broke through!”

“Playing soccer can also raise realm!”

Surrounding disciples widened their eyes.

“Whoosh!”

Just then, the aura waves gathered around Su Xiaomo and Li Fei seemed blown away by a gust of wind. After brief daze, the two returned to normal, then looked at each other, simultaneously showing smiles.

“Battle song, start!”

“Snap!”

The outer disciple named Jing Zhixiao pressed the switch on the modified speaker. The Slam Dunk theme song immediately rang out on the martial arts field. Under the super-fired atmosphere, the camera gave Su Xiaomo and Li Fei close-ups, then captured the entire court in an overhead shot.

“Mm?”

Sun Mucheng’s gaze gradually grew serious.

These two senior brothers—they gave him a feeling like they’d suddenly become different people!

“Junior Brother.”

Su Xiaomo shook his head, clenched his fists, and smiled: “Today let’s have some good fun with this little junior brother.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Li Fei bounced on his feet, face full of smiles.

“Swoosh!”

Suddenly, Su Xiaomo stepped forward. The seemingly simple movement transformed into afterimages the instant he stepped out, rapidly arriving at the ball stopped in the distance. With fancy footwork, he charged toward the goal.

“Damn!”

Looking at afterimages permeating space wherever he passed, disciples all widened their eyes to the fullest.

Sun Mucheng stared dumbfounded. When a gust of wind blew from the side, only then did he stiffly turn his head to see Su Xiaomo already stopped inside the goal, foot on the Happy Soccer Ball.

So fast!

I actually didn’t see how he got there!

“Goal! Goal scored!”

From outside the martial arts field came disciples’ excited cheers.

However, this was just the beginning. Because as the match continued, Su Xiaomo with godlike footwork seemed to achieve unity between man and ball, wantonly shuttling across the court, shaking Li Shangtian and others until they stood in place in despair.

Too fast!

So fast they couldn’t even see the ball!

“Swoosh! Swoosh!”

The ball stopped inside the goal following Su Xiaomo time and again. Sun Mucheng always maintained his bent defensive posture, the expression on his face also gradually collapsing!

2-0!

3-0!

4-0!

The score continuously widened!

After consecutively scoring ten goals, Su Xiaomo no longer monopolized the show. He passed the ball high toward Li Fei who’d successfully broken offside. Li Fei leaped into the air. The Little Li Flying Foot subtitle appeared on screen again, then with a ‘boom’ he kicked the ball toward the goal.

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”

The small Happy Soccer Ball carried terrifying force, trailing flowing light, seeming to transform into an ancient giant dragon unsealed from hell.

“Damn!”

Seeing this scene, disciples all opened their mouths wide.

“Ah!”

Sun Mucheng roared, both hands gathering defensive power, reaching to grab the rapidly spinning Happy Ball. Under energy eruption, he seemed to transform into an immovable mountain!

[National Football Team Exits Stream]

“Boom——”

Just then, an explosive sound suddenly came from the goal area. Energy mixed with dust could be described as blotting out the sky.

“…”

Disciples standing outside the martial arts field had spectacular expressions.

This wasn’t playing soccer—this was fighting!

“Whoosh whoosh!”

Rolling dust gradually dispersed. Everything on the field became clearly visible. The goalkeeper had disappeared, the goal had also disappeared.

Where’s the person? Where’s the person?

Everyone hastily searched and discovered at the location of the gate entrance, Sun Mucheng half-kneeling on the ground, arms tightly hugging the still rapidly spinning Happy Soccer Ball, face gradually becoming ferocious.

The goal was right beside him—the person was inside!

In other words, although he’d successfully caught the Happy Soccer Ball, the powerful force still shook him back over ten zhang, shaking him together with the retreating goal!

“Too strong…”

Sun Mucheng’s gaze flashed with worship: “Senior brothers are too strong!”

“Beep!”

Whistle sounded. Score 11-0.

The Slam Dunk theme song still played throughout. Su Xiaomo and Li Fei brushed past each other and raised right hands to high-five. The Shadow and Force characters grew even more brilliant and radiant, faces brimming with smiles, seeming to pay tribute to the departed youth of the post-80s generation.

—