Chapter Summaries

After Imperial Capital New City was relegated, Lin Zijun accepted his responsibility to help the team return to the Table Tennis Super League, while Wang Chao celebrated Spade Q’s victory and drank himself unconscious. Luo Jiu woke Wang Chao at one in the morning to watch Sun Tianlong’s Oman Open final, where China’s star-studded team had suffered an unprecedented rout.

• Lin Zijun regretted choosing Imperial Capital New City but agreed to help the relegated team fight its way back into the Table Tennis Super League.
• Spade Q celebrated until dawn, and Wang Chao drank with the guests who had supported or competed against him.
• Wang Chao passed out after drinking and woke when Luo Jiu turned on the lights and dragged him out of bed.
• Luo Jiu told Wang Chao that Sun Tianlong’s Oman Open match had drawn the attention of China’s coaching staff.
• Wang Chao read that China had sent ten players, including Sun Tianlong, Xiao Fei, Yan Ping'an, and Fang Xiaobo, but the team had suffered an unprecedented rout.

At the Oman Open, Chinese table tennis suffered a succession of defeats that exposed its lack of depth, though Sun Tianlong reached the final by beating England’s Pike. The chapter ended with Brazilian Hook Calderano stunningly crushing Xiao Fei 4:0 in the other semifinal.

• The last Chinese qualifier lost to Sissifield Patrick, and Fang Xiaobo and Yan Ping'an were eliminated in the next rounds by Zhu Shixian and Ochomirov.
• Chinese table tennis’s remaining medal hopes narrowed to Sun Tianlong and Xiao Fei, highlighting the shortage of elite players ready to succeed the team’s leading stars.
• Pike took the opening game against Sun Tianlong, then adapted after Sun equalized and briefly moved ahead, revealing his emergence as a super-elite player.
• Sun Tianlong adjusted his tactics, defeated Pike, and advanced to the final.
• Hook Calderano swept Xiao Fei 4:0 in a major semifinal upset.

Hook stunned the table tennis world by defeating Xiao Fei with the best and most stable performance of his career, setting up a final against Sun Tianlong. As the final began, Wang Chao and Luo Jiu watched anxiously, aware that Hook could threaten Sun Tianlong’s remaining championship plans and Chinese table tennis’s dominance.

• Hook defeated Xiao Fei in the Oman Open semifinal with miracle shots and an astonishing run of net-cord and edge balls, then promised to explain his luck if he beat Imperial Dragon in the final.
• Wang Chao asked Luo Jiu who would win, and Luo Jiu admitted that Hook’s semifinal form made Sun Tianlong’s victory uncertain.
• Luo Jiu explained that Sun Tianlong had only one year left in his career and needed the remaining championships after agreeing to share next year’s events with Luo Jiu.
• Wang Chao and Luo Jiu recognized that Hook’s continued rise could derail Sun Tianlong’s plans and threaten Chinese table tennis’s dominance, so they watched to identify his weaknesses.
• Hook won the coin toss and chose to serve as the final against Sun Tianlong began.

Hook’s opening rallies against Sun Tianlong revealed his monstrous strength, extreme speed, and micro-control, while Sun relied on tactics and placement to stay ahead. Sun led 2:1, but Hook’s steady, aggressive play left Wang Chao and Luo Jiu worried that Chinese players could no longer overpower him.

• Hook opened with a high-toss serve, then used a heavy loop, extreme speed, and a spectacular fishing return to turn Sun Tianlong’s attack back on him.
• Wang Chao and Luo Jiu identified Hook’s monstrous strength, extreme speed, and micro-control as three major talents, and Sun won the opening point when Hook failed a difficult flick.
• Hook served to Sun’s forehand, but Sun unexpectedly unleashed a decisive forehand power drive to take a 2:0 lead.
• Hook crouched low, flicked Sun’s short serve successfully, and forced a fast rally before close-table play let him score with an Overlord Twist, making it 2:1.
• Luo Jiu admitted that he could not match Hook’s shot quality and speed, while Wang Chao realized the global threat to Chinese table tennis was greater than he had thought.

Wang Chao reflected on Sun Tianlong’s hard-fought victory over Hook and visited the national team before heading home for the winter. As he prepared to leave, he met the eccentric cleaner Jia Sanjiang, who called him destined and urged him to win the Grand Slam.

• Sun Tianlong defeated Hook 11:2 in the deciding game after a grueling seven-game final, worsening an old injury and leaving Luo Jiu and Wang Chao concerned about China Table Tennis’s future.
• Wang Chao visited the national team base, where Zhu Ding tested his unconventional Happy Ping Pong against Luo Jiu and was soundly beaten.
• He Jingping invited Wang Chao to spend New Year in the capital, but Wang Chao declined because he planned to spend the winter gradually changing Wang Mei’s outlook.
• Luo Jiu and Zhu Ding showed Wang Chao around the base and explained that its retired champions often worked there without pay.
• As Wang Chao left, he met the cleaner Jia Sanjiang, who called him destined, urged him to win the Grand Slam, and revealed that he believed he had transmigrated into the wrong body.

Wang Chao returned home to reconnect with Wang Mei and spent November enjoying a quiet break while helping her show off his success to their neighbors. In December, the ITTF announced the Year-End Finals lineup after limiting each association to four players, and Wang Chao explained the selected competitors and Mizutori Hato’s withdrawal to Wang Mei.

• Wang Chao returned to Jiangcheng City, saw that Wang Mei had bought a large television to watch his matches, and called her home from work.
• Wang Mei told Wang Chao that she had opened a convenience store, and Wang Chao showed her that he still had his million-yuan bonus and owned an apartment in the capital.
• Wang Chao spent November relaxing and helped Wang Mei boast about his achievements to their neighbors.
• The ITTF limited each association to four Year-End Finals players, forcing Chinese table tennis to choose four from seven qualified players.
• The ITTF announced the sixteen-player lineup, which included Sun Tianlong, Luo Jiu, Lin Li, and Bai Feng for China, while Xiao Fei was left out.
• Wang Chao explained the players’ histories to Wang Mei and told her that Mizutori Hato withdrew to avoid facing Sun Tianlong and other Chinese players.

Wang Chao watched the year-end finals draw and matches with Wang Mei, explaining the players and matchups as the tournament narrowed to four quarterfinals. Sun Tianlong, Pike, Bai Feng, and Luo Jiu advanced, while Lin Li was eliminated by Pike, leaving the remaining quarterfinal matchups set.

• Wang Chao explained the year-end finals draw to Wang Mei, which placed Sun Tianlong and Bayer in the same quarter and paired Bai Feng with Li Zhengzhi in the first round.
• The first round produced no upsets: Sun Tianlong, Lin Li, Pike, Bai Feng, Luo Jiu, Hook, and Lin Zijun won, while Bayer defeated Zhang Benkuang.
• The quarterfinal pairings were set as Sun Tianlong versus Bayer, Lin Li versus Pike, Bai Feng versus Luo Jiu, and Hook versus Lin Zijun.
• Sun Tianlong beat Bayer for his twenty-seventh consecutive win, and Bayer earned the crowd's respect by returning a point after an incorrect call against Sun Tianlong.
• Pike defeated Lin Li 4:0, and Wang Chao judged that Lin Li had failed to adapt to Pike's style in time.

The year-end finals ended with Luo Jiu defeating Sun Tianlong 4:1 in a cautious, high-level final. After studying the match intently, Wang Chao told Wang Mei that he had found a way to deal with both top players.

• Luo Jiu crushed Bai Feng 4:0, while Hook’s string of errors let Lin Zijun win 4:1 and reach the semifinals.
• Sun Tianlong defeated Pike 4:0, and Luo Jiu beat Lin Zijun 4:0 to set up the final between Sun Tianlong and Luo Jiu.
• Pike defeated Lin Zijun 4:2 in the bronze-medal match before Luo Jiu and Sun Tianlong began their anticipated final.
• Luo Jiu won the final 4:1, though both players described the contest as close and said their rivalry was only beginning.
• Wang Chao told Wang Mei that he had watched the final to find a way to deal with Luo Jiu and Sun Tianlong, and said he had found one.

Wang Chao spent his final quiet winter reconnecting with his mother and old classmates before He Jingping came to Jiangcheng City to begin special training with him. The chapter ended with the two starting their training at the deserted Jiangcheng City Team base on the seventh day of the lunar new year.

• Wang Chao attended a New Year class reunion, where he found little common ground with his former classmates and left without joining them for karaoke.
• Wang Chao reflected on the sacrifices required to pursue table tennis and spent the holiday resting with Wang Mei instead of practicing.
• Wang Chao and Wang Mei spent the Spring Festival together, while Wang Mei declined to reconnect with her parents and his friends never managed to visit.
• Wang Chao considered returning early to training, but Fan Xiaoxian and He Jingping told him the base was empty and the season had not begun.
• He Jingping traveled through wind and snow to Jiangcheng City and brought Wang Chao to the team base to start special physical training.
• Wang Chao and He Jingping began training at the Jiangcheng City Team base on the seventh day of the lunar new year.

He Jingping told Wang Chao that his tactical, opponent-focused play hid a lack of strength that kept him from using He Jingping’s attacking system properly. Wang Chao began an intensive strength-building regimen, and the chapter ended when Wu Li arrived at the training base.

• He Jingping explained that Wang Chao had relied on elaborate tactics instead of asserting a complete attacking system, and revealed that the system required a minimum level of strength Wang Chao had not yet reached.
• He Jingping said Wang Chao could surpass Sun Tianlong if he built his strength and mastered the system, prompting Wang Chao to begin special training.
• He Jingping oversaw Wang Chao’s heavy beef-based diet, medicinal meals, running, weight training, multiball practice, and recovery massages.
• After barely more than ten days, Wang Chao had grown sturdier and felt his strength and attacks improving, though he still wondered if he could overpower Lin Zijun.
• At the end of January, Wu Li arrived at the training base.

Wang Chao discovered that Wu Li was struggling financially and invited him to join Spade Q, where he could improve against stronger opponents. After three days of intense practice, Wu Li’s resilience drove rapid progress, and Wang Chao explained that his unbreakable will made every training ball effective.

• Wang Chao noticed Wu Li had lost his usual composure during a practice match and learned that Wu Li needed a well-paid professional team position.
• Wu Li asked Wang Chao to help him find a team, and Wang Chao offered him a place on Spade Q.
• He Jingping explained that Wu Li had stagnated because his training partners were too weak and urged him to join Spade Q.
• Wang Chao told Wu Li he had authority over Spade Q’s recruitment and reassured him that Boss Fan would sign him.
• Wu Li trained against Wang Chao for three days, improving from being unable to block his attacks to requiring several shots to defeat.
• He Jingping questioned Wu Li’s rapid progress, and Wang Chao attributed it to Wu Li’s firm will and ability to make every practice ball count.

Wang Chao observed the National Second Team selection tournament and watched Fan Xiaodong defeat Liang Kunpeng after adapting his tactics and steadying his mentality. Fan Xiaodong emerged as a formidable future rival, while Liang Kunpeng was secretly guaranteed a place on the team despite his early elimination.

• Wang Chao and He Jingping left the training base, and Wang Chao traveled with He Jingping to the Imperial Capital for the national team selection.
• He Jingping explained that 127 players were competing for fourteen Second Team places, seven direct-entry spots and seven promotion-relegation matches.
• Wang Chao reviewed the participant list and found familiar names including Liang Kunpeng, Gao Mingyuan, Hu Buming, Ma Angxing, and Fan Xiaodong; Wu Li was not among Northern Hubei's recommendations.
• Wang Chao watched Fan Xiaodong face Liang Kunpeng, who took an early lead before Fan changed tactics and won the match 4:2.
• Fan Xiaodong recovered his composure after Liang tied the score and attacked decisively to win the final two games.
• Wang Chao concluded Fan Xiaodong would become a formidable rival, while the coaches secretly kept Liang Kunpeng among their guaranteed selections despite his first-day elimination.

Wang Chao watched Gao Mingyuan and Ma Angxing compete, then realized the gifted Zeng Guanghao had deliberately lost after deciding he did not want to join the national team. He confronted Zeng Guanghao after the match and explained why playing without pressure had brought out his best performance.

• Wang Chao watched Gao Mingyuan defeat his opponent 4:0 and identified weaknesses in Gao Mingyuan’s forehand attack.
• Wang Chao saw Zeng Guanghao overwhelm Ma Angxing early and recognized the fifteen-year-old’s fearless talent.
• Ma Angxing rallied from a 0:3 deficit to win the match 4:3 after Zeng Guanghao’s play faltered.
• Wang Chao noticed that Zeng Guanghao seemed relieved by his loss and twice refused a national team coach’s offer.
• Wang Chao stopped Zeng Guanghao and said he believed the boy had deliberately thrown the match so he could leave.
• Zeng Guanghao said he was not very good, and Wang Chao explained that playing for fun had freed him from the pressure that usually held him back.

Wang Chao learned that Zeng Guanghao wanted to quit table tennis and pursue professional esports, then watched the grueling national team selection conclude. The coaching staff arranged the promotion-relegation matchups behind a supposedly random draw, pairing Gao Mingyuan with Lu Feiyang and leaving Gao in despair.

• Zeng Guanghao told Wang Chao that he disliked table tennis, had reached professional-level gaming skill, and planned to try out for an esports team despite his mother's opposition.
• Wang Chao wished Zeng Guanghao success, while Zeng promised to watch Wang's matches and hoped he would win a Grand Slam.
• Fan Xiaodong completed the round robin first and placed first overall, while Gao Mingyuan ranked third, Hu Buming sixth, and Ma Angxing ninth.
• Cai Guodong announced seven players for promotion-relegation matches based on the assessment rankings and introduced seven National Second Team players, including Lu Feiyang.
• The players drew their opponents, but Wang Chao realized the matchups had been arranged in advance; Gao Mingyuan was paired with Lu Feiyang and appeared devastated.

After Lu Feiyang defeated Gao Mingyuan in the final promotion and relegation match, the coaches began shaping the results into a lesson and a new training plan. Gao Mingyuan then challenged Wang Chao, putting the spotlight on the player who had so far avoided the assessment matches.

• Fan Xiaodong defeated his opponent 4:0 and entered the National Second Team.
• Hu Buming lost 2:4 to Sun Zhongwen and left the court frustrated.
• Lu Feiyang defeated Gao Mingyuan 11:6 in the deciding game after both players struggled under pressure.
• Qin Huachang criticized Gao Mingyuan’s technique and mentality, while another coach offered to train him and help him improve.
• Gao Mingyuan asked to play Wang Chao, hoping to test the top-ranked member of the new generation Six Little Dragons.

Wang Chao overwhelmed Gao Mingyuan in their opening match by attacking with greater power and an unusually relaxed style. As he took a 6:0 lead, Wang Chao reflected on He Jingping’s advice and resolved to face strong opponents head-on to cultivate a king’s spirit.

• Gao Mingyuan asked Wang Chao to let him serve first, then opened with a short backspin ball.
• Wang Chao attacked Gao Mingyuan’s serve immediately and won a fast opening rally to lead 1:0.
• Wang Chao unleashed a powerful forehand loop against Gao Mingyuan’s long serve, extending his lead to 2:0.
• Gao Mingyuan panicked as Wang Chao punished his twists and long serves, racing ahead to 6:0.
• Wang Chao recalled He Jingping’s advice and resolved to stop relying on cautious calculations and confront strong opponents directly.

Wang Chao demonstrated his dominance by exposing Gao Mingyuan’s forehand weakness and defeating Liang Kunpeng with both controlled play and fierce forehand exchanges. After Wang Chao won their third game 11:6, Lu Feiyang volunteered to challenge him.

• Gao Mingyuan lost the first game 11:1, and a national team coach gave him guidance before the second game.
• Wang Chao repeatedly targeted Gao Mingyuan’s forehand, prompting Cai Guodong to stop their second game at 4:0.
• Liang Kunpeng challenged Wang Chao, but Wang Chao controlled the first two games and won them 11:1 and 11:2.
• Wang Chao honored Liang Kunpeng’s request to target his forehand and won their third game 11:6 with relentless forehand attacks.
• Cai Guodong ended the match, and Lu Feiyang raised his hand to ask for a chance to challenge Wang Chao.

Wang Chao faced Lu Feiyang’s challenge and showed how his winter training had let him attack without retreating from the table. He took a 2:0 lead, leaving Lu Feiyang frustrated and the match ongoing.

• Lu Feiyang challenged Wang Chao, and Zhu Zeshi agreed that they should play another match.
• Wang Chao won the serve and returned Lu Feiyang’s opening attack with an effortless close-table counterloop.
• Wang Chao and Lu Feiyang traded rapid loops until Wang Chao broke through on the eleventh stroke to take the first point.
• Wang Chao continued serving casually and gave Lu Feiyang chances to attack while staying close to the table.
• Lu Feiyang unleashed a powerful loop, but Wang Chao blocked it forward and won the point when the ball grazed the edge.

Wang Chao dominated Lu Feiyang in their match, then watched the national team’s main players select practice partners. When the coaches’ plan left Hu Buming unchosen, Wang Chao selected him, and Cai Guodong accepted despite the implications for the team’s stance on the Six Little Dragons.

• Wang Chao beat Lu Feiyang 11–2 in both games, and Lu Feiyang conceded defeat before the coaches stopped Fan Xiaodong from challenging Wang Chao.
• Cai Guodong reviewed the matches and explained that the national team’s main players would select practice partners from the eliminated players.
• Lin Li chose Liang Kunpeng, Bai Feng chose Gao Mingyuan, and Xiao Fei chose Ma Angxing; Luo Jiu declined to select anyone because Zhu Ding was already his practice partner.
• The coaches’ selections left Hu Buming overlooked, and Cai Guodong prepared to reduce the number of recruits after Sun Tianlong and Luo Jiu withdrew.
• Qin Huachang suggested that Wang Chao choose an additional player, and Wang Chao selected Hu Buming.
• Cai Guodong accepted Wang Chao’s choice after Qin Huachang reminded him to trust Wang Chao’s judgment.

After the selection meeting, Wang Chao stayed behind to represent He Jingping at the coaches’ annual meeting, where they began dividing the year’s tournament spots. The coaches disputed who should enter the Hong Kong Open, and Qin Huachang pointed the decision toward Wang Chao by arguing that Luo Jiu was the only player ready to win.

• Wang Chao and the coaches cleared up their misunderstanding about Hu Buming, who then told Zhou Tingfang he and Wang Chao had become true friends.
• Cai Guodong outlined the year’s competitions and began the coaches’ meeting on allocating tournament spots.
• He Jingping claimed to have a sore throat and left Wang Chao to attend in his place, despite the other coaches’ objections.
• The coaches began discussing the Hong Kong Open, and Qin Huachang refused to register Sun Tianlong because his old injury had flared up.
• Qin Huachang argued that Luo Jiu should enter the Hong Kong Open, prompting the coaches to look to Wang Chao.