Chapter 521: Above Jordan Lies the Peak

This is an era of globalized live streaming, as the eyes of basketball fans worldwide focus on Fan Xi's inevitable slaughter game, public opinion has surged to unprecedented heights.

News channels have also begun frantically following this story, and the world has begun to go mad.

If Wilt Chamberlain's record night only had a single handheld photo of 100 points circulating, Kobe Bryant's 81-point night can be found in scoring highlights on the internet.

So tonight, any fan with a television or internet can personally witness the birth of a miracle.

Fans are frantically spreading the word among themselves, and basketball's superstars and former superstars are also sitting in front of their televisions to watch this originally ordinary regular-season game. Everyone wants to know how high Fan Xi can raise his score tonight.

Prokhorov also received a phone call; at that moment he was driving to his mansion in Manhattan.

His assistant told him over the phone: "Jieke Fan is on a killing spree, he's gone up against us and all our players, he's going to break the active scoring record, and now the world's attention is focused on him……"

The assistant's voice sounded somewhat flustered.

"I understand."

Prokhorov nodded; he not only learned this through his assistant's voice, but he also saw it himself—he saw traffic on the road become congested, he saw the crowds of fans gathering outside the brightly lit Madison Square Garden, their booming shouts outside the arena, and the arena's outer screen broadcasting the game live.

The heat outside the arena is no less than inside.

Seeing this scene, Prokhorov felt an indescribable jealousy.

He thought, is this the foundation of the New York Knicks?

Why have they been terrible for so many years yet still have so many fans, just because they're located in a prosperous area, just because they were founded earlier?

How could that loser James Dolan make the team thrive?

We must not let Jieke Fan restore the Knicks' glory.

I must stop them.

I must make the trade happen!!

Prokhorov gritted his teeth, silently swearing in his heart. Then, as if possessed, he pulled the car over to the roadside, got out, came to the periphery of Madison Square Garden's plaza, and looked up at the action on the court.

…

Fan Xi's words left the Nets with no retreat; faced with no alternative, they chose to confront him head-on.

Returning to the court, Paul Pierce formally stepped up to Fan Xi, while at the same time Jason Kidd made a difficult decision, he took Deron Williams off the court and put JR Smith on, strengthening the offense, while Carmelo Anthony became the point forward.

This was a helpless move.

But he had no choice but to do so.

Paul Pierce stared at Fan Xi with blazing eyes; to him, he had already staked his career pride. "I cannot let you take the active scoring record over my head; if you dare score over my head, I will surely drag you down from the air violently."

Pierce warned Fan Xi with his sharp words.

But Fan Xi merely smiled dismissively. "Do you think you can intimidate me?"

Fan Xi has never been easily frightened. Pierce's approach inherits the Boston Celtics system; they are not only fierce in action, but even more so in words.

If one's will is not firm, they will truly be scared into hesitation by them.

But Fan Xi straightforwardly stepped forward, then leapt quickly while moving, releasing the basketball during the jump.

Swish!

It hit the net.

70 points.

Paul Pierce could not stop it at all; he didn't even have time to make a foul motion, because he was still immersed in the defensive myth of retreating backward.

Fan Xi's one-stage jump shot is so elusive.

Although his release speed is not as fast as Curry's, his release rhythm may not be as good as Curry's, and his shooting percentage is not as top-notch as Curry's.

But in terms of a sudden release while moving, Curry is far inferior to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi's breakthrough ability is too strong, and his physical quality is also superior to Curry's.

"You can't guard me. You don't even have a chance to foul."

Fan Xi calmly stated this cruel fact to Paul Pierce; amid the deafening cheers at Madison Square Garden, Fan Xi's sarcasm was especially piercing.

After changing sides, Carmelo Anthony created a foul on Joe Johnson through isolation, making both free throws.

Then Fan Xi dribbled past half-court; JR Smith and Paul Pierce almost simultaneously came to double-team him, applying great pressure, hoping to force Fan Xi to pass, not wanting his score to keep piling up.

In fact, it's not just them.

There are also the Nets' fans, and those superstars.

After winning the championship last season, Fan Xi is already the league's number one; if he breaks the active scoring record, then in the scoring dimension he will transcend this era, enter the long river of history, and directly converse with those historic superstars.

This will substantially elevate Fan Xi's status, even though this is just a regular-season game.

Know that long ago, Fan Xi's scoring was even called a flaw in his personal technique.

Fan Xi made a pass.

He quickly passed it to Joe Johnson, then swiftly darted out of the double-team by Paul Pierce and JR Smith, while Joe Johnson quickly passed the ball back.

Fan Xi grabbed the ball; Paul Pierce had already rushed up ready to foul, but in this situation Fan Xi directly jumped, throwing the ball… in a horseback archery stance.

Swish!

The ball hit the net.

Paul Pierce was a step late.

72 points, the cheers at Madison Square Garden rose to the clouds.

The MVP cheers spread from the inner court to the outer court, then back to the inner court, the whole prosperous area of Manhattan fell into a frenzy of celebration.

Fan Xi truly influenced the mood of the Upper East Side with his strongest strength.

In fact, not only New York, but also Los Angeles, and China across the ocean.

Everyone clearly knows that Fan Xi is about to obtain a crucial record in his career.

He will truly surpass Kobe, even though he is already the league's number one.

He is only nine points away from Kobe's scoring record.

There are still eight minutes left in the game; that's enough.

Fan Xi only needs three three‑pointers to make history.

In this situation, Paul Pierce let out a roar as he headed back to the half‑court.

It is a defiant shout.

Kobe saw Pierce's anguish on the TV screen and suddenly felt a bit of regret, a kind of empathetic melancholy.

Old.

We are all old.

Fan Xi still remembers Paul Pierce's swagger and arrogance when they faced each other in 2008; back then Pierce was unstoppable, full of passion. But now he still can't stop Fan Xi's momentum, and Fan Xi has repeatedly scored against him.

This will spur Pierce to become even more ferocious.

But Kobe doesn't think he can stop Fan Xi's scoring.

Kobe also wondered: If I were on the court, could I stop Jie Ke?

The answer is, the effect would be minimal.

He began to guess what Fan Xi's final score would be tonight.

Eighty‑five to eighty‑eight points.

That's Kobe's estimate.

Scoring over ninety points is too hard.

In fact, in modern basketball, reaching eighty points is already a miracle; it demands extremely high stamina, touch, and skill.

Frankly, Wilt Chamberlain's 100‑point game, though the league record, wasn't as difficult as Kobe's 81 points. Back then Chamberlain faced very light defense, especially little resistance; his position in the paint was extremely easy. He answered basketball with scoring—just having a hand was enough.

Swish!

Paul Pierce faced Prince one‑on‑one with his back to the basket, using his practiced fade‑away jump shot to score.

Turning back, JR Smith led the defense on Fan Xi for the whole game; he remained aggressive, still riddled with mistakes.

The fans outside the arena were mocking JR Smith. "Whenever this guy stands in front of Jie Ke, I feel confident. If he hadn't defended Jie Ke in the first half, Jie Ke would have struggled to find such good touch."

"He's a hundred percent defensive leak, thank goodness he's not on our team now."

Their conversation was intense.

If JR Smith were standing here, he'd be furious and might even strike at them.

However, Prokhorov was standing behind them, and he clearly heard the discussion.

Instantly, he became angry.

Especially when Fan Xi suddenly accelerated, made a cut to get past JR Smith, and, two meters from the rim, took a straightforward jump shot that went in… Swish!

The entire Madison Garden arena erupted.

"Did you see? Jie Ke scored seventy‑five points. Thanks to JR Smith, he's Jie Ke's lucky star. He always helps Jie Ke hit perfectly; his defense in Denver was terrible, yet he can pretend to be a good defender."

A fan analyzed seriously: "So we should thank the stupid Russian for trading him away. Although Carmelo's departure hurts us, JR Smith has relieved our burden."

These words made Prokhorov extremely angry; he was furious.

He swore to throw this burden back to the Knicks.

Damn it, no wonder we can't stop that damned Jieke Fan.

A uniform wave of MVP cheers rang through the arena.

JR Smith completed an off‑ball cut and dunk on the screen.

But Prokhorov couldn't feel any joy.

Because the outcome was already decided, what now torments the Brooklyn Nets is Fan Xi's scoring issue.

"We must stop this shot."

Paul Pierce shouted loudly while retreating on defense.

He personally chased Fan Xi; he intends to lock down Fan Xi's offensive lane.

But when Fan Xi drove to the three‑point line, he immediately passed the ball to Stade Mayer.

Stade Mayer, with the ball, faced Brazche one‑on‑one.

Pierce was taken aback. What was happening? Not playing? Taking a breather?

At that moment, Stade Mayer suddenly accelerated into the paint, drawing a double‑team from Tyson Chandler, then feigned a shot and tossed the ball high.

Then Fan Xi rushed forward, breaking through Paul Pierce, drove to the rim, leapt, grabbed the ball with one hand and slammed it toward the hoop. Pierce lunged from behind to block, slapping Fan Xi's shoulder, trying to pull him down, but Fan Xi's arm was too long… Boom!

The ball smashed into the rim.

Boom!

The whistle blew.

Fan Xi earned another free‑throw opportunity.

Two‑plus‑one.

The crowd's roar was like a mountain‑calling tsunami, like a hurricane passing through.

When Fan Xi stepped to the free‑throw line, his personal total was seventy‑seven points.

"Your foul can't stop me."

Fan Xi gave Paul Pierce a gentle smile.

Then he aimed at the rim and released the ball—Swish!

Fan Xi's seventy‑eighth point.

"This damned scoring consistency. This damned scoring explosiveness," Le Bu Lang Zhang Si muttered in front of the TV. "Since the foul, he hasn't missed a single shot. He's literally a madman."

James clenched his fists, muttering.

Even though Wade, sitting beside him, emphasized that it was because the Nets' defense was terrible, giving Fan Xi too many opportunities, James said: If it were us, we couldn't do it either.

Wade said nothing further.

This is indeed hard to achieve. Or rather, it is an impossible task.

In front of the TV, Kaiwen Du Lante also called Fan Xi a madman, saying it was too crazy. In the past few minutes, Fan Xi displayed his scoring variety and randomness; he can perform a Stop-and-Go Jump Shot, a strong three‑point shot, shoot without the ball, and slash into the paint for a dunk.

Perhaps some will criticize his scoring methods for lacking the richness and subtlety of Carmelo Anthony, Kobe, and Jordan.

But why be rich? Why be that delicate?

"I may never break this scoring record in my lifetime," Kaiwen Du Lante told his friend dejectedly.

His friend asked oddly, "Why? Aren't you the youngest scoring champion in history? Everyone says you can take as many scoring titles as you want."

"Yes." Kaiwen Du Lante did not feign humility; he said, "I can indeed score 35 or even 40 points in any game. However, breaking 50 points is hard, 60 points harder, and 70 points is my limit. Scoring 80 is almost impossible because I lack that super endurance and stubborn will."

Du Lante felt somewhat dejected.

The scariest thing about Fan Xi is not his scoring skill but his willpower, determination, and execution. He says that once he decides to eliminate an opponent, he will do so relentlessly; even ten divisions led by God cannot block his goal.

So, looking at Bao Luo Pi Er Si, he actually felt a bit of sympathy.

Kobe stretched lazily on the TV and sighed, "Youth is wonderful."

Fan Xi was only three points away from his record; he knew it was now a certainty.

Moreover, he began to think Fan Xi could reach 90 points.

Because the arena was already boiling, fans worldwide were awaiting this moment.

Bang!

Carmelo Anthony's jump shot missed, and Fan Xi drove to the basket and grabbed the rebound.

Bao Luo Pi Er Si continued his tenacious full‑court pressure.

In a sense, he is a warrior.

The entire Nets team knew that defending Fan Xi at this moment would be a "forever infamous" task; even he himself had hesitated and retreated before. Yet at this point, he took on the responsibility without hesitation.

He is braver than anyone.

Fan Xi admired his tenacity, yet also moved even faster.

Pi Er Si gave his all in the chase; he did not want Fan Xi to have any chance to shoot, especially not to make a three‑pointer.

He knew that if Fan Xi made that three, the Nets would be completely destroyed, and then Jieke Fan would ravage them, turning the arena into a historic celebration party for Fan Xi.

Pi Er Si did everything possible to prevent that.

But when he had just crossed half‑court, Si Ta De Mai Er ran over, set a screen, and Fan Xi slipped past a sliver of defense with a change of direction.

He quickly circled around Si Ta De Mai Er to chase, hoping Bu La Qie could block.

But Bu La Qie was like a marionette, passed by Fan Xi, who drove to the top of the three‑point arc.

Tai Sen Qian De Luo stepped forward, Pi Er Si lunged to chase, but Kaiwen Du Lante blocked him again.

At that moment, Fan Xi performed a Stop-and-Go, feigning a shot.

Tai Sen Qian De Luo couldn't help but rush forward to block, a reflex for a defender.

But the instant he spread his arms to defend, Fan Xi surged up, slipped under his ribs, and forcefully launched the ball; Tai Sen Qian De Luo was at a loss, trying to dodge but unable to.

Swish!

The head referee blew the whistle, an indisputable call.

The arena boiled over.

Three‑point attempt!

But soon, the heat intensified.

Because Fan Xi's shot hit the front rim and then fell straight into the hoop!

3+1!

Fan Xi's personal tally had reached 81 points, and he still had free throws.

He had reached the pinnacle of active play.

MVP! MVP! MVP!

Inside and outside Madison Garden Arena, jubilant shouts of MVP rose as one, their force breaking through the clouds, and the whole of New York celebrated the new emperor's coronation.

Pu Luo Huo Luo Fu felt his heart skip a beat the instant Fan Xi's ball entered the hoop; he felt suffocated, gulping two breaths of icy Atlantic wind to recover.

He turned away, his steps unsteady, and fled the scene.

Coach La Li Bu Lang called a timeout to preserve this historic moment.

Fan Xi's teammates walked over, embraced him, and high‑fived him.

They were like ministers on Fan Xi's coronation path, offering devout blessings.

Fan Xi waved his hand around, knowing what the excited New York fans had been waiting for tonight; he also waved at the surrounding cameras, declaring with kingly bearing to the world: in the NBA, whatever I Fan Xi set my eyes on will be mine.

Kobe in front of the TV felt Fan Xi's overt dominance.

But he no longer had the ability to stop it.

He knew he could no longer score eighty or ninety points; he was past his peak. His goal had shifted from a championship to leading his team into the playoffs.

Le Bu Lang Zhang Si turned off the TV.

To him, once Fan Xi reached 81 points, everything became meaningless; the only question left was how many more points Fan Xi could score.

"Ninety‑one points, perhaps; I have a feeling that's how it will go," Le Bu Lang Zhang Si said to De Huai En Wade.

Wade shrugged, saying he didn't know what the outcome would be.

Across the ocean, the commentator shouted in the most excited voice, "This is the greatest miracle in this year's sports history, Fan Xi, still Fan Xi; he shattered Kobe's record and is about to set a new one. He is unstoppable, refusing the Nets' surrender; he is like a ruthless king ruling the NBA. He is greater than Jordan; offending Fan Xi is more dangerous than offending Jordan. The Nets prove this with their actions."

"Fan Xi is not only the Fan Xi of the Chinese people, but also the Fan Xi of the whole world. He tells us that Jordan is far from the peak; above Jordan stands a towering mountain from the East, called Fan Xi!!"

…