Deprive Them of Their Talent

Li Zhen attempted to communicate with the thing in his head, but there was no response, just eerie silence.

Was it in hibernation? Or did it simply not exist at all?

Bruce shook his head. Then, Coach Jamie called him over to discuss the situation with the University of Southern California.

As is well known, Stanford is considered a lower-ranking team in the Pac-10, while USC is a powerhouse. Especially in the last two years, they acquired a super player, Nick Young, who some even consider the best player in their team's history.

Nick Young joined USC last year and quickly became the team's star player. This season, he's taken it a step further, becoming the Trojan's top scorer and rebounder. He's undoubtedly a lock for the Pacific Division's First Team. Now, USC fans are already expecting him to surpass Harold Miner, the team's all-time leading scorer, in a single season.

"He's a lock for this year's lottery pick. If he enters the draft, the latter half of the NBA teams will go crazy for him," Jamie Lin explained.

"You can think of him as the NCAA's Kobe."

Wow!

Hearing this evaluation, Li Zhen couldn't help but exclaim. This season, Kobe Bryant, without O'Neal, has unleashed the greatest scoring spree in NBA history. Since the start of the season, he's scored 40+ points 25 times, 50+ points 5 times, and just last month, he scored the second-highest single-game points in history in Toronto: 81. Prior to this, he scored 62 points in Dallas in just three quarters.

All media and fans are thrilled and inspired by this crazy and great scoring slaughter. It should be noted that his average points per game this January reached an astonishing 43.4, and he had at least three consecutive four-game stretches with over 40 points.

Oh my God!

Even Michael Jordan never had such a performance, and Jamie Lin calling Nick Young the NCAA's Kobe... what a headache-inducing little monster.

Seeing Li Zhen looking crestfallen, Jamie Lin quickly offered some reassuring words: "However, he also carries on Kobe's shortcomings, and maybe even dislikes passing even more than Kobe does. He tends to get hot-headed easily, which is why USC is only ranked fourth in the Pacific Division."

Hearing this, Li Zhen breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"The day after tomorrow, your opponent is Gabe Pruitt. Pruitt stands at 6'4", has excellent jumping ability, and is strong in confrontations. He often pulls off alley-oops. He's a guard who relies on his physical abilities and has some driving, mid-range, and three-point shooting abilities. However, he tends to get hot-headed and has a quick temper."

"For you, this isn't good news. The two of you have a significant difference in physical abilities, so I hope you can try to minimize physical confrontations with him during the game, to avoid possible injuries."

Jamie Lin said with great concern.

Li Zhen nodded seriously. With his speed now significantly improved - it's like a leap forward - Li Zhen even feels like he could compete with NBA speedsters like Allen Iverson, TJ Ford, and Tony Parker.

Phew!

After the team practice, the other players left the gym one after another, rushing back to prepare for exams. These academically challenged guys were in a hurry to cram. (T/N: C'mon, man. They're trying their best.)

Li Zhen had no problem with this. With an IQ that got him into Harvard at less than 17 years old, exams were hardly worth mentioning for him.

So, he chose to stay in the training gym.

At first, he worked on his ability to integrate with the ball, and while his ball-handling skills had dropped slightly with his increased speed, if it were his previous skills, Chris Pat wouldn't have just fallen once in their showdown. When Li Zhen played in the Ivy League, the most famous streetball team in the U.S., the Harlem Globetrotters, even extended an invitation to him, hoping he'd join their nationwide tour in a big caravan.

After that, he began his shooting practice.

His shooting remained as inconsistent as ever, even in uncontested situations. It would be accurate for a stretch, then miss the next.

The team's physical trainer had once told him it was due to inadequate muscle stability. He assured him that as he increased his strength, his shooting would gradually become more consistent.

After an hour of training, he was drenched in sweat.

But after resting for half an hour, he was panting heavily as he rushed to the gym. He began lifting weights... though with his physical fitness and muscles, he had to start with the lowest intensity. The physical trainer even teased him: "You don't look like an athlete at all. Even an ordinary person is stronger than you!"

Such comments didn't dampen his confidence. He had tried many methods, like increasing his food intake and changing his diet structure. They were effective, but the results were only slight.

At times, his mother, the authoritative professor of life sciences, Dr. Wang Junzhu, would voice her harsh opinion: "I'm truly ashamed. Born in a scientific environment, don't you understand that this is determined by genetics? I'm so slender, your father is so frail, do you really think you can train to be as bulky as Schwarzenegger? I truly detest this foolish spirit of trying to move mountains. You should know that there are no miracles in America. Even if there were, they wouldn't be able to move two mountains overnight for you! Turn back while you can, return to the embrace of life sciences. Even if you become a physics professor like your father, it's better than wasting your talent!"

What Dr. Wang Junzhu didn't know was that her son also inherited her stubbornness and determination to never give up.

Li Zhen had heard similar comments on the basketball court too many times. Many said that with being Chinese, he was only fit to be a cheerleader and not qualified to stand on the basketball court. But he persisted, and he would continue to do so.

Phew!

After completing the twelfth set of barbell exercises, Li Zhen finally had nothing left. He collapsed on the floor, panting heavily, with sweat pouring out of every pore on his body...

Ding dong!

The voice echoed in his head once again.

"Wow! I didn't expect you to sweat so much so quickly. God will remember every drop of sweat you shed. Congratulations, you've gained ten points of energy and awakened me. However, in the future, it will be increasingly difficult to achieve this."

"Next, I will strip the fallen players of their talent and replenish the energy slots activated by you!"

The voice in his head said earnestly.

Li Zhen was a bit bewildered.

He didn't understand what it meant?

By now, the guy who claimed to be a source of positive energy had already started talking to himself fiercely: "I hate players who squander their talent at will, those guys who smoke, drink, engage in promiscuity, do drugs, gamble... they're just living a life of debauchery. These players should have their talents taken away and become idle plumbers or beggars... They don't deserve to have that wealth, fame, fine wines, luxury cars, cigars, and damn prostitutes..."

Listening to this fierce voice, which even had a touch of autotuned electronic music, swirling in his head.

Li Zhen felt a little panicked. He didn't know what had happened to this guy, and he didn't dare to ask.

After a long time, he couldn't help but ask, "But isn't it wrong to strip others of their talent? You shouldn't judge them so harshly just because they made a mistake." (T/N: Huzzzah! A CN MC that isn't a psychopathic maniac?!!)

"Of course, they won't be completely struck down. As long as they work hard and practice diligently, they can regain it." The source of positive energy spoke righteously. "But do you think those fallen ones will work hard? Rather than letting them squander their talent, it's better to accelerate their loss. Who knows, it might even make them wake up. This is simply energy conservation. If they lack discipline and don't cherish the talent they have, it will slowly fade away until it's gone. I'm just accelerating this natural process, and it's not a permanent deprivation. It's just a warning. Do you think I'm a thief?" (T/N: Of course, it has to be the system to become to psychopathic maniac.)

Uh...

Suddenly, Li Zhen thought of "Reign Man" Shawn Kemp. His talent was so explosive. Yet, because he lacked self-discipline and indulged in alcohol and women, he ended up neglecting his career. His talent was wasted for nothing, and it was indeed heartbreaking.

So, for a moment, Li Zhen found himself speechless.