Chapter 413: Heaven's Chosen Son: I Can't Lose Anymore

Today's Dream Team is like a top student with a severe subject bias; out of five subjects, they score above 90 in the other four, but their paint‑area strength is extremely weak.

Fan Xi and Guo Ailun repeatedly slash into the paint; they inflict some damage on the Dream Team's interior, and after Ding Yan Yu arrives, this aggressiveness becomes even more evident.

However, it still didn't push the game's momentum upward.

Because the Dream Team suddenly quickened the pace in the latter half of the third quarter, James and Paul were forced into a corner; they knew that even if Fan Xi had some special tricks, they had to act this way, since they had no interior players left.

When the Dream Team pushed the speed to the limit, their talent advantage became apparent.

Meanwhile, the Zhongguo team's stamina plummeted under such rapid attack‑defense tempo.

Fan Xi took primary control of the ball and deliberately slowed the pace, but Han Dejun was so exhausted his leg cramped and he was hurried off the court.

The third quarter ended.

The two sides were tied 83–83.

The Dream Team's comeback in the latter half of the third quarter was ferocious; they once trailed by ten points, but when those super‑stars went all‑out, their sheer talent forced Zhongguo's lead back.

Fan Xi gave his all; each of his drives penetrated deep into the paint, driving Zhongguo's offense. Even someone who knows nothing about basketball can see that Fan Xi is shouldering the team.

Without Fan Xi, that horde of snarling NBA superstars would swallow Zhongguo's players without hesitation.

The guy called Kevin Durant, about as tall as Yi Jianlian, dribbles with fluidity, makes huge drives, and most deadly, his shots feel guaranteed to go in.

And the one called James, built like a bull; when he charges, even a massive guy like Han Dejun can't stop him, and Xiao Ding looks like a child in front of him, seemingly only half as thick. Moreover, his speed is astonishing, he jumps high, brimming with inexhaustible power.

The player named Paul is also very smart; he can always pass the ball exactly where he wants, and his mid‑range jumpers are dead‑on.

Then there's Anthony, the chubby kid who is not only agile but also proficient in every kind of offense.

They're practically monsters; even the seemingly unremarkable Le Fu can sprint to the three‑point line and shoot.

The latter half of this quarter left many domestic viewers silent; they had to admit one fact: the U. S. team truly is stronger than the Zhongguo team. Although Zhongguo has Fan Xi as a trump card, it's still not enough.

The CCTV commentator said we still need to wait for the next generation of players to develop; under Fan Xi's leadership, we can better contend with the Dream Team.

This seems to be the only answer.

Wait.

"Jie Ke, I have to admit your captaincy is indeed stronger than mine. But I won't lose to you again in this game."

When the third quarter ended, James suddenly walked over and said to Fan Xi very seriously, "I can't afford to lose either."

This is the most sincere thing James has ever said to Fan Xi.

It comes from his heart, so he is especially resolute and solemn.

Fan Xi stared at James and saw the unparalleled determination in James's eyes.

Fan Xi and James have faced each other for years; he knows how astonishing James's talent is and how much this man loves basketball… You could say he uses basketball as a springboard for many things, you could also say he always makes 'rational' choices at crucial moments. Yet it cannot be denied that he hones his body every year and refines his technique annually.

Fan Xi sometimes respects him immensely.

He even thinks that without his existence, James could truly become Heaven's Chosen Son.

But.

The thought lasts only a moment.

Since Fan Xi exists, there can be only one Heaven's Chosen Son.

Fan Xi met James's gaze with even greater resolve and said, "I will win the gold medal. In any duel with you, I will claim victory."

"This time, I don't believe you have any more tricks left. You've already pushed your teammates to the limit," James went all‑in.

"No. I believe there's still fuel left in our tank."

Fan Xi flashed a confident smile.

Then he patted James's shoulder and walked toward the Zhongguo team's bench.

James raised an eyebrow; at that moment he was candid and his confidence soaring.

Their conversation was filmed by the media from start to finish, and fans worldwide were curious about what they were discussing.

There was no audio equipment on site.

"They look unusually friendly, something never seen before. Could it be that Jie Ke Fan surrendered to LeBron, and LeBron expressed admiration for Jie Ke Fan?" the ESPN commentator said, clearly biased.

The nearby analyst Reggie Miller muttered, "I've never seen a Finals MVP surrender to a subordinate he's twice self‑eliminated…"

Reggie Miller thought he spoke softly, but forgot the current audio gear is high‑quality, and his words were broadcast to every TV set in American households.

This left American viewers bewildered for a while.

At that moment, James on the American broadcast walked to the bench, clapped vigorously, as if urging something.

"Guys, the moment to defend glory is imminent; we are like an all‑powerful aircraft carrier—whenever we dock at any port, flowers and halos await us."

James used powerful words to inspire his teammates.

And his teammates also solidified that confidence.

Their performance in the latter half of the third quarter made them feel a crushing, relentless force; aside from Fan Xi, every other Zhongguo player's individual skill was far too low—a feeling like college students playing elementary kids… Though the Zhongguo team is generally tall, the talent gap is huge.

Meanwhile, on Zhongguo television, Fan Xi silently walked to the bench.

His teammates looked up, giving him a 'sorry' glance, as if feeling guilty for having short‑changed Fan Xi.

"I think we can win."

Fan Xi said.

"I need your help."

When Fan Xi finished speaking, the bench underwent a dramatic shift; all the players rose in unison, surrounding Fan Xi.

They didn't howl like the American players; instead they stared at Fan Xi with steadfast gazes.

From that gaze, Fan Xi discerned the unyielding spirit of the generous, heroic men of Yan and Zhao.

"I need four players who can still run and hit the basket, and we'll go five minutes head‑to‑head with them. Then…" Fan Xi's gaze shifted to Yao Ming: "We'll go back into the paint and take them out."

Undoubtedly, this is a tough mission.

It's like asking soldiers with rifles to block an enemy tank brigade on an open plain.

But Fan Xi thought it over, the Zhongguo team wants to achieve the theoretical victory, and they can only use this method now.

Seven teammates raised their hands.

Fan Xi in the middle selected Xi Re Lijiang, Zhu Fangyu, Zhou Peng, Wang Zhiji.

When Fan Xi recited these four names, Mai Ke Bu Lang quickly shook his head: "NO, this way we'll lose all the rebounds."

He thought this lineup was absurd.

The Zhongguo team only has theoretical advantage in two positions: point guard and the paint.

However, Fan Xi's lineup has only Wang Zhiji as an interior player, and he is not good at protecting the rim, even his enthusiasm for rebounds is seriously insufficient.

Moreover, the defensive capability of this lineup will face a severe challenge.

Bilupusi said without exaggeration: "This lineup will be destroyed effortlessly."

Fan Xi persisted, saying: "We have no other plan."

This is a burn‑the‑boats, fight‑to‑the‑death move.

Beep!

The whistle sounded.

Fan Xi led four teammates onto the court; their stamina was still decent, but ahead they would face the most brutal encounter of their careers.

Their opponents were the Dream Team representing the pinnacle of world basketball, the most powerful small forward James in basketball history, the highest‑scoring player Du Lantu in history, the quintessential American point guard Chris Paul, the quintessential American power forward Ka Me Long An Dong Ni, and the best white American center Kaiwen Lefu.

This can't even be described as a stone‑against‑an‑egg situation.

The CCTV commentator's voice was tinged with sorrow as he said: "Perhaps these are the only five players we can still run on the court now."

Xi Re passed the basketball to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi dribbled forward rapidly.

He moved with unprecedented resolve, charging straight from the top of the arc; Chris Paul could not stop Fan Xi, but Du Lantu at the free‑throw line was already ready.

Fan Xi seized the momentum to slash into the paint; Du Lantu chased, and Fan Xi quickly passed the ball out to Zhu Fangyu.

Zhu Fangyu received the ball and assumed a shooting stance; Le Bu Lang Zhang Si immediately rose like a great roc spreading its wings, his physique turning a three‑meter gap into his defensive coverage.

But Zhu Fangyu did not shoot; instead he quickly tossed the ball to his left, Xi Re followed, grabbed it, drove inside, Kaiwen Lefu rotated to help, and he passed to the corner.

Wang Zhiji caught the ball and shot.

Fan Xi forced his way under the basket to block Du Lantu; their heights formed a stark contrast, while the skinny Zhou Peng on the other side was actively battling Ka Me Long An Dong Ni.

Swish.

However, Wang Zhiji's three‑pointer halted the paint battle.

The Zhongguo team retook a three‑point lead.

Turning back, the Dream Team's speed was also very high.

The Zhongguo team adopted a man‑to‑man defensive stance.

To the Dream Team, that was just crushing the weak.

Chris Paul, after crossing half‑court, handed the ball to Du Lantu, who drove to the three‑point line and, facing Xi Re's defense, pulled up for a clean jumper… Xi Re's desperate block looked almost comical, their height gap was too large.

Swish!

Du Lantu effortlessly sank the three‑pointer.

He had already reached 29 points tonight; he could become the highest‑scoring player in Olympic final history.

The two sides were tied again.

Looking at the difficulty of scoring for both teams, the huge talent gap is evident.

The ESPN commentator, leisurely and condescending on TV, said: "Zhongguo team's players can later brag to their children that they played the Dream Team into the fourth quarter of the Olympic final. But for the Dream Team's players, they'll probably be ashamed to mention that they won the gold by beating the Zhongguo team."

While he boasted arrogantly about the game, Fan Xi launched a thunder‑like attack, rushing deep into the frontcourt, with James pursuing him from behind.

Fan Xi jumped in the paint; James then took off, fully prepared to block Fan Xi outright—something his entire career lacked: a clear‑cut lesson to Fan Xi.

He thought this was the best chance; James had calculated all of Fan Xi's moves.

However, he didn't expect that after Fan Xi completed an elegant alley‑oop in the air, his ball was passed back to the top of the three‑point arc.

Zhou Peng seized an opportunity there, slipping past Ka Me Long An Dong Ni's defense behind Zhu Fangyu's screen.

He isn't purely a shooter domestically.

But this time, he was extremely decisive.

He quickly released the ball.

As he shot, Fan Xi and James were battling under the hoop for position… but his entire body was covered by James.

Swish!

The three‑pointer went in.

Zhou Peng's three‑pointer made the Chinese fans in the arena jump up.

Two consecutive threes, like sunlight breaking through layers of dark clouds.

"This isn't like you; you never passed before," Le Bu Lang Zhang Si said to Fan Xi. "You're scared."

"Do you think you can block me?" Fan Xi asked James.

"Then why did you pass? After the alley‑oop you were unavoidable," James said dismissively.

Fan Xi smiled.

He sprinted back to half‑court, meeting Chris Paul's drive.

Paul still handed the ball to James, then spaced himself away from Fan Xi's defense.

James one‑on‑oneed Zhu Fangyu, pushed him up, then stepped back for a jump shot… Swish.

It went in.

The second half resumed; Fan Xi assisted Xi Re, whose jump shot was contested by Du Lantu and missed.

This young guy let out a frustrated shout.

Then he desperately ran toward Durant, half a head shorter than him.

But he was fierce and determined to make up for the mistake.

Apparently to suppress or tease the frustrated kid, Paul deliberately passed the ball to Durant. The other players scattered, wearing eager-to-watch expressions.

They all believed this was the best chance to crush the Chinese team's morale.

After all, Durant, the youngest scoring king in history, shouldn't need two moves to shake off this frustrated Chinese kid.

They were supremely confident in Durant.

Durant felt the same way.

To him, Xi Re's defense looked full of holes.

He probed forward with the ball, and the restless Xi Re instantly retreated.

At that moment, Durant had a shooting chance.

But he didn't take the shot; instead he decided to have some fun with the guy.

He quickly dribbled, stepped left with a big stride, and got past half of Xi Re's body; Xi Re hurried after him, pursuing relentlessly.