The strongest soul chicken soup, seven. Zero system strikes!

Two days had passed since Lower Merion High School won the Pennsylvania High School Basketball League.

After the team's return to Philadelphia, the basketball players were honored by teachers and students throughout the school.

Su Feng and Kobe, in particular, had become legendary heroes—especially in the eyes of the girls.

In the imaginations of students who weren't girls, Su Feng and Kobe looked something like this:

"Look! The man who comes in a swirl of colorful clouds from beyond the border—that's Su Feng, the pride of Pennsylvania!"

"Behold! The one on the white horse, dazzling among men and unmatched in basketball skill—that's the legendary Kobe Bryant!"

"Are they the Gemini of Philadelphia? Sis is in love!"

"Awei, come out and accept your fate! I'm totally blown away!"

In short, Su Feng felt he needed to pay more attention to his safety lately.

Otherwise… he was becoming dangerously popular.

Well...

To be clear, Su Feng's sexual orientation was perfectly normal.

It's just that… in his previous life, hadn't he seen it all?

Forget the dozens of T-shirt souvenirs he downloaded from that weird Japanese fandom site—even his so-called "ex-girlfriends" could form their own independent club.

And this time, with fireworks exploding nightly, Su Feng wasn't some Yunlong master who could change outfits on the fly.

So in this life, after fully dedicating himself to basketball, Su Feng realized he had abandoned romance for enlightenment.

Basketball is my girlfriend!

Basketball is my true love!

The court holds its own golden palace… and its own beautiful muse.

"Su, can you hurry up? NBC's airing highlights of Michael tonight, plus one of his games. We still need to train—time's tight!"

After a day of basking in fame, Kobe—gearing up for his evening workout—called back to Su Feng.

Su Feng nodded, wiped the corner of his mouth, and replied, "My cheat code… oh no, Kobe—I'm coming!"

...

Just as Su Feng was happily playing alongside Kobe…

New York. Madison Square Garden.

As the centerpiece of nationwide live broadcasts, Knicks vs. Bulls games during this era never lacked drama.

With his trademark slicked-back hair, Knicks coach Pat Riley—dubbed the "Al Pacino" of the court—glanced at Jordan before tip-off and asked, with a smirk, "Michael, can you still drop 50 tonight?"

Jordan, tying his shoelaces, looked up.

Even the usually composed Riley couldn't help twitching at the corner of his mouth.

Wait...

Did you just capitalize that?

Then—the game began.

Michael Jordan, wearing the No. 45 jersey, quickly conquered basketball's holy ground with his elite skills.

Facing his old rival John Starks, Jordan wasn't quite at his peak yet. Still, he used his own method to send a clear message to the world:

"Uncle is still uncle."

In the first quarter, after several buckets in a row, commentator Marv Albert exclaimed, "He's playing aggressively—he's aiming for 50, maybe even 60 points tonight!"

Albert's words turned out to be prophetic.

Jordan went 9-for-11 from the field in Q1, scoring 20 of the Bulls' 31 points.

By halftime, he had racked up 35.

Sitting courtside, Knicks legend Earl Monroe reflected during a halftime interview: "It's like he never left."

In the second half, Jordan added another 20.

By game's end, the "Old Rogue" had gone 21-for-37, including 3-of-4 from three and 10-of-11 from the free throw line—his first 50+ night since coming back.

55 points.

On the Knicks side, Patrick Ewing dropped a respectable 36, but it felt like a powerless roar atop the Empire State Building.

Final score: Bulls 113, Knicks 111.

And on this night, Jordan silenced his doubters.

Meanwhile, back in Philadelphia, after watching the "war" with Kobe, Su Feng sat stunned in front of the TV.

Su Feng wasn't gullible—but reason...

Through generations of basketball gods, bound by HC rules that restricted scoring for perimeter players, only one man defied the odds.

Jordan wasn't perfect—he missed over 9,000 shots in his career.

He had his fair share of cold games. He liked to gamble. He was a notorious trash talker...

In his second comeback, he shattered the "glass ambitions" of countless rising stars.

Still, whenever one looks back on this era, they must admit: Jordan was great.

And yet, even for this mighty "old rogue," trouble may be brewing in Philadelphia—where a Mamba snake and an Iron Man are already watching.

"I really want to join the NBA!" Bryant said excitedly.

Su Feng agreed.

This time, truly agreed.

Because Su Feng knew—Jordan would retire after his second Bulls dynasty. When he came back a second time, it wouldn't be the same.

As a die-hard fan, Su Feng wanted to face Jordan himself.

Because after all...

We played Jordan.

…

After Jordan stepped into Madison Square Garden like a god, the 1994–95 NBA season reached a thrilling climax.

During that time, Su Feng and Kobe stayed disciplined at school—and their daily routine included waking up at 4 a.m. to greet the Philadelphia sunrise.

Bang! Choke!

One special moment came on April 4—Su Feng's 17th birthday—when he received a gift from Kobe:

A pair of collectible Jordan basketball shoes.

"How do you like them?" Kobe asked. You could tell—even he had spent a good chunk of pocket money to get those shoes.

Su Feng nodded, oddly touched.

"I'm glad you like them," Kobe grinned, "because now I'll have no psychological burden when I destroy you on the court."

Su Feng: "..."

Okay then—give me my emotional moment back!

In addition to Kobe's gift, Su Feng celebrated with the Bryant family, blowing out candles together.

And what does Joe Bryant think of Su Feng now?

Especially considering the steak that kid knows how to cook...

Actually, when Kobe was little, every time Joe called his son's name, it reminded him of the unforgettable steak he and his wife had eaten together.

Kobe... delicious!

…

In the blink of an eye, mid-April arrived.

The NBA playoffs of the 1994–95 season were underway…

In the East, the Chicago Bulls had a relatively smooth first round. Despite dropping one game to the Hornets, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a 3–1 series win.

Their next opponent? The young and explosive Orlando Magic, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway.

In the West, while several teams looked like title contenders, the defending champion Houston Rockets were pushed to the brink by the Utah Jazz before finally clinching the series in Game 5.

(Yes… back in the '90s, the NBA's first round was still a best-of-five format.)

Down 1–2 in the series, the Rockets began what would become their legendary playoff run. With Karl Malone and John Stockton pressing hard, it took Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon and Clyde "The Glide" Drexler—who had joined mid-season—to rally and eliminate the Jazz.

Still, after that exhausting battle, most people wrote Houston off.

They were tired, banged up, and running on fumes.

Few believed they could go further. Only head coach Rudy Tomjanovich and a handful of Rockets veterans still held the faith…

Meanwhile, in the East, disaster struck Chicago.

Despite Michael Jordan averaging over 30 points per game, his rusty form and the strength of Orlando's youth proved decisive. The Magic won the series in six games.

In Game 1, Jordan committed eight turnovers—including a costly steal by Magic guard Nick Anderson in the final seconds. Afterward, Anderson famously said: "The No. 45 Jordan isn't as good as No. 23."

A jab Jordan didn't take lightly.

He returned in Game 2 wearing his iconic No. 23 jersey. The league fined the Bulls for the unauthorized mid-season number change—technically, 23 had already been retired.

Even so, the magic was missing. The Bulls fell to the Magic, 2–4.

Public opinion turned swiftly. When you're on top, even your flaws seem charming. But when you stumble—no matter how brilliant—critics pounce.

And the pouncing began.

Back in the West, a dramatic saga was unfolding.

In the Western Semifinals, the Rockets—assumed to be finished—were pushed to the brink by the Phoenix Suns. After losing Game 4 (114–110), Charles Barkley popped open the champagne. Even Houston's local media declared them done.

Phoenix reporters mocked Rudy T: "Rockets, Rockets … when were you first, when were you?"

But Rudy Tomjanovich, unfazed, responded with one line that lit the spark:

"Never underestimate the heart of a champion."

Su Feng, watching from Philadelphia, knew how the plot would unfold—but even he felt chills.

Fuel was loaded.

Soulful motivation like that was no joke—especially in the '90s, a time ripe for poetic intensity.

Rudy T wasn't about flair. His motivational style wasn't fluffy—it was lethal.

Because…

This eruption was months in the making.

Since the start of the season, the Rockets had been mocked. With Jordan back, many said Houston was just a placeholder. Even Drexler's arrival hadn't elevated the team overnight.

Through the regular season, Rudy T recognized fatigue. He understood his veteran squad couldn't compete at full throttle across 82 games.

So they stayed quiet.

Low-key. Patient. Waiting.

When desperation hit, Rudy turned up the heat.

And those words—"Never underestimate the heart of a champion"—ignited his squad.

The comeback began.

Houston won the next three games against Phoenix and surged into the Western Conference Finals.

There, Hakeem Olajuwon faced his old rival: David Robinson, one of the league's four elite centers.

The Dream, averaging 35.3 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 4.2 blocks per game, crushed Robinson—who posted 23.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game.

Rockets win. Spurs out.

At this point, Olajuwon had conquered three of the four major centers.

Only one remained:

The youngest—Shaquille O'Neal of the Orlando Magic.

Looking back at the 1995 Finals, Orlando did have chances. Two games were decided by less than four points, and even in the other two, the Magic had comeback opportunities in the fourth quarter.

But once Rudy T delivered his iconic line… destiny was sealed.

Orlando's youth and fire couldn't match the battle-hardened heart of the Rockets.

…

Time flew by, and as the NBA playoffs grew more intense, Su Feng and Kobe continued to improve rapidly over those past two months.

"Oh, Su, are you rooting for the Magic in the Finals this time?"

Although he'd been scarred by Hardaway before, Kobe couldn't help but feel a warm fuzzy feeling remembering that pudgy, adorable—well, not exactly pudgy—friend of his. So this time, he backed the Magic.

Su Feng realized Kobe was cursed with poisonous luck.

Last year he supported the Knicks, and this year the Magic.

And if Su Feng recalled correctly, Kobe would go international with his jinx powers in the future.

As everyone knows, growing up in Italy made Kobe a bit different from other Americans: his favorite sport was basketball, but football came in second.

In Su Feng's previous life, Kobe once said that if he hadn't become a basketball player, he would've chosen to play football—and his favorite team was AC Milan, which would later be showered with praise by Super Laco and Liverpool in the 21st century.

Not to mention, Kobe and Ronaldinho were close friends.

So one day...

Ronaldinho invited Kobe to Camp Nou to watch a match.

What happened? Barcelona, dominant across Europe until then, somehow started their slow collapse.

Sure, Ronaldinho's wild personal life played a part.

But the real trigger?

In the game Kobe attended—if Su Feng remembered correctly—it happened to be the match where Barcelona lost their shot at the title.

In the 2006–07 season, Real Madrid and Barcelona ended tied in points. But thanks to the head-to-head rule, Real Madrid had the edge. For Barcelona to win the league, they needed Real to lose their final match and win their own.

And at first, everything went as Barça fans had hoped. Real conceded a goal in their match, and Barcelona scored at home...

Then the cameras gave a close-up of Kobe in the VIP box at Camp Nou—and everything changed.

Back in Madrid's match, the team suddenly flipped the switch. Reyes and Beckham broke the deadlock and led Real to a dramatic 3–1 comeback victory.

So even if Barcelona kept scoring, it wouldn't matter.

Cough... Kobe, was that you? Your luck is toxic!

Honestly, Su Feng was never a believer in metaphysical nonsense.

But after learning about Huang Xudong and Zidane through social media, Su Feng began to wonder if some things couldn't be explained by science.

"Nope. I'm supporting the Rockets," Su Feng told Kobe.

"Why? Don't you like Shaq?" Kobe challenged him.

Su Feng almost replied instantly, "Who doesn't like riding Shaq's coattails?"

But then he nodded and said, "I just really like what Coach Rudy said—'Never underestimate the heart of a champion.'"

"Alright then, looks like you and I will be going head-to-head in the prediction department," Kobe said, locking eyes with Su Feng.

Prediction department?

Honestly, Su Feng wasn't bragging, but betting on the opposite side of Kobe almost guaranteed beachside real estate.

"We've still got a few days till the Finals. We can't afford to slack off!" Kobe urged on the court.

Su Feng nodded firmly.

Laziness? Impossible.

Slacking off? Never in this life.

The Iron grind is rewarding and glorious. And Su Feng absolutely loved the Iron grind.

Bang! Choke!

…

Su Feng never expected to underestimate the intensity of his own training—and the "bonus experience" that came with practicing alongside Kobe Bryant.

Because as Su Feng improved... so did Kobe!

Training with the prince of solo plays, Su Feng found himself thriving while constantly being pounded into the hardwood.

And so...

You may not believe it.

Even before graduating, before summer break had begun, Su Feng's iron system had already upgraded to its final version before entering the NBA.

Version 7.0!

The legendary power of seven—apparently, even his system couldn't resist!

Host: Su Feng

Nationality: Chinese

Age: 17

Height: 192.5 cm [Projected: 198 cm]

Weight: 79.5 kg

Current Ability (NBA First-Round Prospect Level):

• Close Shot: 45 [68]

• Mid-Range Shot: 74 [80]

• Three-Point Shot: 76 [80]

• Post Shot: 70 [75]

• Off-Ball Shooting: 60 [70]

Passing: 24 [48]

• Vision: 23 [51]

• Ball Control: 51 [57]

• Dribbling: 50 [58] Lateral Movement: 79 [89]

• On-Ball Defense: 78 [92]

• Steals: 57 [82]

• Blocks: 40 [65] Vertical: 64 [75]

• Strength: 37 [46]

• Defensive Rebounds: 30 [40]

• Speed: 74 [75]

Shooting Form Equipped: A-Rank "Stephen Curry College Shooting Package"

Signature Move Equipped: "Kobe's Fadeaway Roll" (Golden Epic, current level: NBA Second-Round Prospect)

Signature Move Unavailable: "Sam Gold" (original version)

Equipped Badge: Yang Yan

Gotta admit—Kobe was cracked! He truly kept Su Feng on his toes.

After this upgrade, Su Feng even used the remaining iron points to max out his potential.

Although...

Looking at his defense and dribbling stats, Su Feng felt a bit downhearted.

A defensive genius with weak handles?

"It looks like I'll need to find a breakthrough later down the line…" Su Feng mused.

The new 7.0 system also allowed him to view more advanced abilities and stat details. That made Su Feng believe that if he completes the mission 'Road to Genius', he'll unlock deeper insights into his stats through the [Genius Wizard] system.

After all, he thought, the way this iron system defined attributes was pretty realistic.

For example, when viewing his strength stat, Su Feng noticed some intriguing details.

Apparently, his strength potential is influenced by real-life factors—like body weight, muscle mass, and body fat percentage.

Moreover, if he gains too much weight in the future and becomes a tank-style player, other attributes like speed will drop in proportion to the gain in strength.

In short, all attribute values are interconnected.

Besides boosting potential via system upgrades, Su Feng might still find ways to break through the ceiling on his own.

Of course, that's assuming the system doesn't put up any firewalls to stop him.

Take the 7.0 version, for example...

"Under Version 7.0, the host cannot further increase potential (even via quest completion). The system must be upgraded again after completing the main quest—entering the NBA—in order to unlock the next stage of potential."

Looks like the system wasn't designed for guys who want to chill in college for four years, maxing out their stats before jumping into the NBA.

"So... this system—Kobe doesn't have one too, does he?"

Su Feng couldn't help but wonder, especially after seeing the impatient look in Kobe's eyes—the look of someone itching to jump straight into the big leagues.