Playing games and playing in the professional league are two entirely different concepts. Many people who are good at games are not suited for esports. Top-tier mechanics game streamers and pub stompers who hold many national server badges might not necessarily meet the requirements of an esports player. This talent test alone could gatekeep 99.9% of people.

The esports arena was inherently cruel. Sometimes, even a 0.05-second gap in reaction time could lead to the total collapse of a team fight.

Major clubs had extremely strict requirements for esports players. These tests were a mandatory hurdle for anyone wanting to become a pro, serving as the stepping stone into the esports industry.

When Ye Shaoyang took the test at the GD team base in his past life, he also scored perfect marks across the board. He remembered the GD coach telling him back then: “Reaction speed, dynamic vision, coordination, and stability—these are the fundamental conditions for becoming an esports player, much like the basic hardware configuration of a computer. With sufficiently excellent hardware, you still need equally outstanding software to match—and that is game sense.”

Indeed, having only the hardware was not enough. Many players with exceptionally high talent test scores never reached godhood later on because their understanding of the game, judgment of the situation, and analysis of the battlefield did not reach the same level of excellence.

No matter how good a computer’s hardware is, if it’s loaded with junk software, it still won’t run smoothly.

Hardware and software have always complemented each other. With sufficiently good innate conditions, one still needs to deepen their understanding of the game. Macro vision, judgment, execution—these are cultivated after the fact.

Therefore, upon receiving a perfect score, Ye Shaoyang wasn’t overly excited. There were many players whose reaction and hand speeds met the criteria, but in an actual match, should they force this team fight? How should they manage the minion waves? That all depended on the player’s on-the-spot decision-making abilities. As an outsider, he still needed to understand this game more profoundly.

Ye Shaoyang stood up, took the results sheet from Chi Shuo, looked at it, and said politely, “Thank you, Coach.”

Coach Xu stared at Chi Shuo in shock, asking silently with his lips: He called you Coach?

Chi Shuo coughed lightly, ignoring Coach Xu’s widened eyes, and looked at Ye Shaoyang. “Your test results are outstanding. Players with a 5S rating in the talent test are extremely rare; there are no more than ten in the China region.”

“Is that so?” Ye Shaoyang asked seriously. “What is the rating requirement to play professionally?”

Coach Xu snapped back to reality and eagerly chimed in from the side, “You can go pro if you achieve at least an A-rank in all five tests. For dynamic vision, passing level 11 is considered a pass; you completed the most difficult level 13. For the final hover test, the standard is usually a 3-millimeter diameter hole, but I directly reduced it to 2.5 millimeters for you.”

Ye Shaoyang understood. “It seems my test results are pretty good.”

Coach Xu’s eyes lit up as he actively asked, “Have you signed with a team yet? How about coming to our youth training base for a period of trial training? I’ll mentor you personally!”

Ye Shaoyang politely declined, “I am not considering going to a youth camp for the time being.”

Coach Xu scratched his messy bird’s nest of hair and turned to look at Chi Shuo. He noticed that Chi Shuo’s gaze had been fixed on this young man the entire time, his eyes full of appreciation, his expression much gentler than usual.

Filled with confusion, Coach Xu leaned into Chi Shuo’s ear and whispered, “Is this someone you’ve taken a liking to? Are you going to sign him to Tianhuan?”

Chi Shuo didn’t answer the coach’s question. Instead, he said, “It’s almost dinner time. Let’s grab a meal together.”

Ye Shaoyang thought about it and took the initiative to say, “Thank you both, Coaches, for taking so much time for me. I should be the one treating.” He wasn’t familiar with Star City, so he simply walked out to find Qin Rui, who was obediently waiting in his seat, and asked softly, “Xiao Rui, is there a decent restaurant nearby?”

Qin Rui pulled out his phone, searched for a moment, and located a restaurant. “Brother, this is a chain restaurant, the food should be pretty good. I’ve been to their main branch before; the dishes are exquisite and the prices are quite reasonable.”

Ye Shaoyang took a look and said, “Then let’s go there.”

While Ye Shaoyang was outside chatting with Xiao Rui, Coach Xu quickly pulled Chi Shuo aside and asked in a low voice, “What’s the situation? This guy is already 21 years old. Logically speaking, 21 is too late to start esports, but his test results are incredibly good. Where did you find him? You want to sign him to Tianhuan, do Coach Lin and the others know about this? Dragging someone to me privately for a test—what exactly are you thinking?”

Faced with this rapid-fire string of questions, Chi Shuo frowned slightly. “Which one should I answer first?”

Coach Xu coughed. “The most crucial one. What exactly are you thinking?”

Chi Shuo was silent for a moment before replying softly, “I just want to change Tianhuan’s current predicament.” He turned his head toward the door, just in time to catch Ye Shaoyang’s profile as he chatted with his younger brother.

Chi Shuo withdrew his gaze, his voice resolute. “This person is the best partner I have in mind.”

Coach Xu’s eyes widened, looking at Chi Shuo in disbelief. “Have you played matches with him?”

Chi Shuo: “No, we just duo-queued for a few games.”

Coach Xu: “Then how can you be sure he’s your best partner? Don’t tell me it’s just based on a feeling!”

It was indeed based on a feeling.

Some feelings were indescribable. It was just a few games of duo-queue, but that strange synergy and telepathic understanding was something Chi Shuo had rarely experienced before.

The two of them possessed identical understandings of the game. Without even speaking, they could understand what the other was thinking.

More importantly, Xiao Bai was like a sharp blade thrust into the professional league from the outside world. He feared nothing. He was willing to try, to break boundaries, to innovate.

Who cares how powerful Jingzhe’s Poison Comp was, or how troublesome Zhou Jiawen’s [Flame Goddess] was? Xiao Bai would straightforwardly say: Find a way to kill them; no matter how strong the composition is, there’s a way to crack it.

This aligned perfectly with Chi Shuo’s philosophy. Instead of banning those overpowered comps, seek breakthroughs and innovations to find targeted counter-strategies.

—Become stronger when facing the strong. Wasn’t this exactly what esports should be about?

Initially, he was worried that Xiao Bai was just good at the game, and if he couldn’t pass the talent tests, he still wouldn’t be able to become a pro. But today, the 5S test results completely set Chi Shuo’s mind at ease. He would definitely give it his all to secure this treasure before its dazzling brilliance could be revealed to the world.

Ye Shaoyang walked into the testing room, just in time to meet Chi Shuo’s gaze. The other’s eyes were very gentle. Ye Shaoyang smiled slightly at Chi Shuo and said, “Coach, my brother has already booked the restaurant. It’s only 500 meters from here, we can just walk over. My treat.”

Chi Shuo nodded. “Alright, then I won’t be polite.” He looked at Coach Xu: “Coming with us?”

Coach Xu’s gossip soul had ignited long ago. He immediately followed. “Someone’s treating to a meal, of course I’m going to freeload. I’m sick of eating at the base cafeteria, haha.”

The group of four walked out the main gate of the youth training base. The youth trainees eating in the cafeteria were full of confusion, discussing privately: “Old Xu left?”

“Who are those people looking for him today?”

“Wearing hats and masks, fully armed like celebrities—they definitely aren’t simple.”

The gossip souls of the youth trainees were also burning.

Ye Shaoyang followed Qin Rui’s mobile navigation across a pedestrian overpass and arrived at a restaurant with a nice ambiance. Qin Rui had just called to book a private room. The four of them arrived at the VIP room on the second floor. Ye Shaoyang didn’t know how to order dishes either, so he simply handed the menu to his younger brother. “Xiao Rui, you order.”

Qin Rui asked politely, “Do you two coaches have any dietary restrictions?”

Chi Shuo said, “I don’t eat sweets.”

Coach Xu laughed. “I don’t have any restrictions, anything goes.”

Qin Rui lowered his head and began ordering. Coach Xu looked at Chi Shuo, then at Ye Shaoyang, unable to hold back his criticism. “How long are you two going to keep those masks on? Are you going to eat through your masks too?”

Hearing this, Chi Shuo took the initiative to take off his hat and mask. Ye Shaoyang conveniently took his off as well.

The two locked eyes, and Ye Shaoyang realized that this “coach” was even more handsome than he had imagined. At first, he could only see his eyes and eyebrows; those pitch-black pupils left a deep impression. Now seeing his whole face, the man’s nose and lips were perfectly proportioned, as if meticulously sculpted. It was just that his overly god-like appearance made him look a bit cold and unapproachable.

Coach Xu looked at Ye Shaoyang, asking curiously, “What’s your name? How come you’ve never taken a test even at 21? With your talent, if you had come to the youth base at seventeen or eighteen, you’d be a god by now!”

Ye Shaoyang smiled and said, “You can call me Xiao Bai. I never took a talent test before because I’d never touched online games. I recently downloaded Gods’ War, played for a bit, and thought it was pretty fun.”

Coach Xu stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Oh, so that’s how it is.” Had never touched them before? What a pity. If this talent had been discovered earlier, the current Xiao Bai might already be a world-class player.

Qin Rui finished ordering and handed the iPad to Ye Shaoyang for a look. “Brother, do you think these are okay?”

Ye Shaoyang nodded. “Mm, tell them to serve the dishes as quickly as possible. Everyone must be hungry.”

While waiting for the food, Chi Shuo looked into Ye Shaoyang’s eyes and said earnestly, “Xiao Bai, I am inviting you with the utmost sincerity to join our Tianhuan team.”

Tianhuan? Ye Shaoyang knew this team; they were considered a powerhouse club in China. Among the 8 teams on the playoffs list this year, Tianhuan was one of them. They had barely qualified as the fourth place in their regular season group and were currently in the lower bracket.

Of course, a single season’s performance couldn’t fully evaluate a team’s strength.

Ye Shaoyang smiled and said, “Thank you, Coach, but as I told you before, I might not necessarily join your team. I need to carefully consider it after I go back.”

Coach Xu stared at him in shock.

Holy shit! Chi Shuo’s invitation was rejected?!

In the esports circle, this was absolutely explosive news! Tianhuan, a Chinese powerhouse club, an established strong team with over a decade of history, a dream destination for countless rookies. An average rookie receiving an invitation from the Tianhuan club would be overwhelmed with joy; what was the deal with this Xiao Bai?

Coach Xu asked curiously, “Xiao Bai, do you look down on the Tianhuan team?”

Ye Shaoyang said frankly, “No, I just don’t understand Tianhuan well enough yet. Since I plan to become a pro player, no matter which club I sign with, I will be working for that club. I can’t make a decision hastily. What do you say, Coach?”

He looked at Chi Shuo, who was silent for a moment before nodding calmly. “Correct. I also guessed you wouldn’t agree immediately. It’s fine, take your time to consider. Information about Tianhuan is available online, you should look into it properly when you get back. Our team’s performance this year isn’t great, but our foundation isn’t weak.”

Coach Xu coughed and said, “Tianhuan is the champion of the first, third, and sixth seasons of the Gods’ War professional league, and once took second place in the S6 World Championship.” He glanced at Chi Shuo and said with a smile, “The current captain, Chi Shuo, is one of the most outstanding students I have ever taught, a rare genius player.”

Ye Shaoyang wasn’t bluffed by him. Instead, he said calmly, “No matter how glorious past achievements are, they don’t represent current strength, right?”

Coach Xu choked, and just as he was about to retort, he heard Chi Shuo say calmly, “Yes. There’s no point in mentioning past glory. When signing with a team, you also have to look at its future. Your way of thinking is not wrong.”

A trace of heaviness flashed in Chi Shuo’s eyes as he lowered his voice. “Tianhuan’s marksman and support have already submitted their retirement applications and will leave after this season is over. The starting marksman for next season has no major tournament experience; he’s an 18-year-old rookie, but his talent is very high—his test scores were 1 A and 4 S. The new support hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

“Next season, Tianhuan will undergo massive roster changes, and our performance is an unknown variable. I can’t guarantee what trophy we’ll take next season, but we have always been striving to return to the champion’s seat.”

“I can only promise that if you are willing to join Tianhuan, I will fight for the best possible treatment for you.”

Ye Shaoyang looked at him in some surprise.

Usually, when coaches recruit players, they spout a bunch of nonsense about “how great our team is” to fool rookies into signing, sometimes even exaggerating and bragging that “we will definitely win the championship next season.”

Naive rookies are easily fooled by team managers. It was just like going to a company interview where HR promises a bunch of benefits, only to find out upon joining that they were all empty, exaggerated lies.

A coach like the one before him—who directly exposed his team’s scars and told the other party the actual situation—was truly rare. And precisely because of this, Ye Shaoyang felt his utmost sincerity.

He genuinely wanted to invite him to join. That was why he frankly laid out Tianhuan’s current predicament, allowing Ye Shaoyang to objectively analyze and consider everything before making a decision so he wouldn’t regret it later.

After all, which team he signed with would impact the rest of his career; he had to be cautious.

Ye Shaoyang was actually a little moved. Having seen too much deception and scheming, this was the first time he had encountered someone so honest and forthright.

Meeting Chi Shuo’s gentle gaze, Ye Shaoyang said earnestly, “Thank you for your recognition, but I also have two conditions. First, I will only play the mid-laner role; second, I want to be a starter next season, not sit on the bench. If you can satisfy these two conditions, I will seriously consider whether to join Tianhuan.”

Coach Xu: “…………”

He had seen plenty of arrogant rookies spouting nonsense. But this was the most arrogant one of all!

Beside him, Coach Xu’s eyes were practically popping out of his head, but Chi Shuo didn’t seem surprised by Xiao Bai’s conditions. He smiled slightly and said in a gentle voice, “Alright. After I go back, I will discuss it with them, and then I’ll give you an answer.”

The conversation stopped here, just as the waiter knocked and opened the private room door with their food.

Ye Shaoyang changed the subject, “Let’s eat first.”

—He would only play the mid-laner role, and he had to be a starter on the main roster. He was already 21 years old; he couldn’t afford to waste his time doing trial training for half a year and sitting on the bench for a year like an ordinary rookie.

This demand indeed sounded excessively arrogant; after all, he was still a rookie. But to Ye Shaoyang, it was a bottom line he had to insist upon.

The team was choosing him, but he was also choosing a suitable team.

He hoped to find a squad willing to accept his demands.

To find a true patron who genuinely understood him.