Stalled Time

"Ah!" But the instant he sprang up, he let out a helpless cry.

The basketball flew higher and higher. By the time Zhang Jian had just reached the peak of his jump, the ball had yet to reach its highest point.

This led to one result.

Zhang Jian hung helplessly in midair, waving his right hand as he watched the basketball rise higher and higher.

"Idiot!"

Li Ke muttered, then shot upward. With one sweep of his huge hand, he seized the basketball despite jumping later. The ball was gripped fiercely in his hand with a loud bang. The next moment, without even looking, Li Ke threw it out.

"Zhan!" Li Ke shouted.

At the same time Li Ke called out, Zhu Zhan had already taken the lead, breaking into a run toward his own basket.

The basketball spun rapidly through the air toward Class 5's attacking basket. When it neared the three-point line, Zhu Zhan leaped into the air.

Smack! He caught the ball with both hands and immediately drove toward the basket.

"Quick, get back on defense!" Zhang Jian roared as he chased from behind. Zhang Shun, the closest to Zhu Zhan, was still about four meters away, while Zhu Zhan had already charged to the basket in three long strides for a layup.

Zhu Zhan suddenly jumped, lightly flicking the ball with his right hand.

He hung in the air, his eyes brimming with confidence as he stared fixedly at the hoop.

The basketball left Zhu Zhan's hand, spinning slowly as it traced a graceful arc through the air before dropping into the basket.

"2 to 0!"

PE teacher Zhang Jun stood at midcourt. Watching the seamless coordination between Zhu Zhan and Li Ke, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened. "Now this is getting interesting!"

Zhu Zhan dribbled the basketball, slowly advancing into the frontcourt.

Li Ke strolled forward at an unhurried pace, a faint smile always on his lips. He looked as though he was thoroughly enjoying the game.

The score on the court was now 12 to 2!

Class 5 had twelve points, while Class 6 had two.

After glancing at the scoreboard, Zhu Zhan could not help looking at Zhang Jian again.

Class 6's two points had been scored by Zhang Jian.

Zhang Jian had scored entirely by charging in on sheer momentum and forcing his way through.

Because of their different positions, Zhang Jian did not stand in front of Li Ke on defense. Instead, he stayed under the basket.

This created a mismatch. Thanks to his height, whenever Zhang Jian jumped for a rebound, no one could take it from him.

Even Li Ke could not out-rebound him.

Yet Li Ke had scored ten points by himself! Only five minutes had passed in the first quarter. If Li Ke went all out in the remaining five minutes, he could easily rack up another twenty points.

Zhu Zhan glanced at Class 6's chaotic defensive formation and curled his lip.

He looked at Wang Shun, number four, who was watching him from roughly two meters away.

He suddenly burst forward while dribbling. Immediately, Wang Shun, number four, pressed close, trying to stop him.

Zhu Zhan feinted to the right, slipping straight past him as he dribbled inside the three-point line.

Class 6's defense immediately fell into disarray. Their defense had no real pattern, somewhere between man-to-man and zone coverage. Seeing Zhu Zhan drive in with the ball, Chen Xin, number five, and Sun Xiaofeng, number seven, immediately closed in to double-team him, trying to stop Zhu Zhan.

Class 6's number seven, Sun Xiaofeng, had originally been guarding Li Ke.

Wang Shun, number four, chased Zhu Zhan from behind, while Chen Xin, number five, and Sun Xiaofeng, number seven, spread out to his left and right in a fan-shaped formation, surrounding Zhu Zhan.

A flash of light flickered in Zhu Zhan's eyes. He suddenly made a between-the-legs crossover, seeming as though he was about to drive left.

Chen Xin and Sun Xiaofeng lunged at him in an instant, while Wang Shun behind Zhu Zhan had already reached out, ready to steal the ball.

Suddenly, Zhu Zhan jumped straight up.

He tossed the basketball up with his right hand, snapping his fingers hard against it the instant it left his hand.

Whoosh, whoosh! The basketball tore through the air toward the hoop.

Under the basket, Zhang Jian watched Zhu Zhan's movement in confusion, then looked up at the ball.

He's still a step beyond the three-point line. Is he really shooting from there? Zhang Jian wondered.

Just as Zhang Jian was puzzled.

Whoosh!

With a soft sound, a figure suddenly charged inside and soared high into the air. His waist and abdomen stretched, his long arm reaching out to catch the basketball.

Zhang Jian looked up.

"Li Ke! Bastard!" Zhang Jian cursed. He instantly understood who Zhu Zhan's pass had been meant for.

Without hesitation, Zhang Jian immediately jumped, preparing to block Li Ke.

Whoosh!

Zhang Jian flew into the air. Although he had jumped after Li Ke, his incredible leaping ability carried him even higher. His raised hands extended a full palm above Li Ke's.

This guy! Li Ke was shocked.

In Li Ke's mind, he had always been a genius.

And he truly was a genius.

But this genius did not rely on talent alone to play basketball.

Every night after returning home, he practiced basketball for two hours!

Rain or shine.

For two hours every day, he watched videos of NBA superstar Kobe, studied his moves, and then practiced them.

He believed that among people his age, no one should have been able to match his basketball skills.

But Zhang Jian before him, that vertical leap...

A bead of cold sweat slowly formed on Li Ke's forehead.

Still, all you can do is jump high. Hmph!

Li Ke encouraged himself in his heart.

Around the three-point line, nearly everyone watched Li Ke and Zhang Jian in the air.

Zhu Zhan stood outside the three-point line, his eyes filled with both anticipation and worry.

He knew that in terms of basketball skill, Li Ke could absolutely crush Zhang Jian.

But that did not include jumping ability! Zhang Jian's vertical leap was absurdly monstrous.

Neither of them hung in the air for very long, but in their eyes, it seemed as though they had frozen in midair.

PE teacher Zhang Jun stood on the sideline, cold sweat on his forehead as well. Though he had a whistle between his lips, he could not help muttering, "Th-this..."

His eyes were wide as he watched Li Ke and Zhang Jian in the air, his shock beyond measure.

After all, once they had leaped into the air, both of their heads had nearly reached the rim.

That height alone rivaled many professional basketball players.

And if any professional basketball player had been there to witness Zhang Jian's explosive instant leap, he would surely have marveled at Zhang Jian's talent.

A fierce glint flashed through Li Ke's eyes as he shouted, "You're still ten years too early!"

As soon as he said that, he exerted strength through his waist and abdomen, and his body suddenly arched backward in midair.

His body bent like the back of a flipping shrimp, like a fully drawn bow, brimming with explosive power!

Meanwhile, Zhang Jian's huge hands lunged forward, trying to slap the basketball away.

Facing each other in midair, both of them had flames burning in their eyes.

I have to dunk it!

I have to block him!

The flames in their eyes blazed as they moved at the same time.

Bang!

A thunderous impact rang out.

Zhang Jian's huge hand slammed fiercely into the basketball clutched tightly in Li Ke's hands as Li Ke smashed it toward the rim.

Time seemed to stall for an instant.

"Urgh—"

They both grunted as they fell from the air.

The basketball slipped free from both their hands and slowly descended.

Thud, thud! Two heavy bodies hit the ground.