Carrington Training Base, Player Dormitory.
Ling lay sprawled on his bed like a starfish, his eyes blankly fixed on the snow-white ceiling.
After a long while, his pupils refocused as he concentrated and opened the system.
[Congratulations on completing the main quest: Scoring 10 goals in the Premier League!]
[Quest reward: Golden Module Treasure Chest!]
According to the system's quest tiers, scoring 15 and 20 goals would earn two more golden treasure chests.
After that, rewards could only be obtained by competing for the Golden Boot award.
Currently, he had scored 10 goals in 12 league matches.
By season's end, he could probably reach around 30 goals.
But it couldn't be calculated so simply.
Once clubs started analyzing his technical characteristics mid-season and implementing targeted tactics, maintaining the same efficiency would likely become difficult.
Ling shook his head.
As long as he could ensure his growth rate remained fast enough, others wouldn't be able to figure him out.
He looked at the magnificent treasure chest floating in mid-air, his heart filled with anticipation.
Ideally, the module he drew would enhance his immediate combat power, giving him greater confidence to handle the upcoming brutal schedule—though he couldn't become too reliant on it either.
[Module selection complete...]
[Congratulations on obtaining: Inzaghi's "King of Anti-Offside" Module!]
[Note: This module is comprehension-enhancement type.]
With a crisp unlocking sound, the treasure chest shattered into countless points of light.
Ling felt his vision go black momentarily.
When he regained his senses, he found himself seemingly possessing Inzaghi's body, watching and learning his anti-offside techniques from a first-person perspective.
This thing really depends on talent.
For example, Morata studied it for half his life without ever figuring out how to use the anti-offside, instead frequently achieving offside hat tricks.
Sir Alex Ferguson: "Inzaghi must have been born offside!"
Cruyff: "As for Inzaghi, he basically can't play football at all—he just always manages to run to the right position."
While both comments contained plenty of joking intent, they still reflected Inzaghi's anti-offside ability.
However, appearing in the right place at the right time wasn't something you could achieve just waiting for the ball to come to your feet.
You had to expand your movement range to make defenders mentally relax, only then could you seize those fleeting opportunities.
Ling suddenly recalled something what Milan defender Nesta once said.
"In this world, there are two players I least want to defend against. One is Ronaldo, because he's too fast, too strong, and too skilled. The other is Inzaghi, because you have to watch him every single second. If you lose focus for even a moment, he'll shake you off and complete the shot."
And it seemed he had collected both...
Ling continued focusing intently on the scenes before him.
The cunning positioning like a spiritual fox and ghostly movement like a specter—like an assassin hidden in shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike with lethal precision.
A pure opportunist!
This module's effect appears similar to Bergkamp's "First Touch" module, where the system transforms that innate talent into knowledge and then implants it directly into one's mind.
It is then enhanced through training and personal comprehension.
...
Late at night.
The results of the 12th round of Premier League matches were all announced, with the Big Six clubs each showcasing their strengths.
Arsenal defeated Tottenham 2-0, with Mustafi and Sánchez each scoring a goal, successfully defending their fourth-place position.
Manchester City 2-0 Leicester City, the Blue Moon Army's consistency remains as reliable as ever—they don't lose against strong teams and score heavily against weaker ones, continuing their march toward the Premier League title.
However, the media coverage has been dominated by the Chelsea vs. Manchester United match.
"The New Manchester United No. 7 Takes on Three Defenders and Scores the Equalizer!"
"Chinese Player Ling Shines on the Pitch!"
"What's the Hidden Meaning Behind the 'Madman' Mourinho's Three Fingers?"
Fans have been passionately discussing it as well.
After all, it was a dramatic comeback—Chelsea, leading by one goal, ended up conceding two to Manchester United.
But what drew even more attention was the attitude of Chelsea fans.
[Chelsea can't even learn from others? Look at how other top clubs treat their legends!]
[With all due respect, Chelsea isn't even a top club!]
[Exactly, they lack spirit and heritage. If it weren't for their willingness to splash cash, dreaming of today's achievements would be just that—a dream.]
[This season, Manchester United seems to have rediscovered their old form. Look at the players' morale—completely unaffected after conceding.]
[By the way, the new Manchester United No. 7 performed really well. His dribbling and explosive runs are something rare in today's football.]
[And his footwork is so refined—he can control the ball even at high speeds.]
[Sigh, I'm so envious of Manchester United. I wonder when Arsenal will produce a talented youngster like that.]
[Even if one emerges, they'll just be sold off. Better not get our hopes up.]
[...]
The No. 7 jersey at Manchester United, a number steeped in English football history, naturally draws attention from fans of all clubs.
However, most of them are waiting to see it fail, as the "curse" hasn't been broken since Ronaldo's departure.
If Ling's performance dips even slightly, he'll likely face intense media scrutiny.
....
Meanwhile, in Bin City, China, at the Guofeng Shimao residential complex.
"Auntie, Uncle, look—just 500 meters south of our community is the subway station,"
The sales agent pointed at the model, her words flowing tirelessly.
"And to the east, there's a sports stadium nearing completion. Auntie, isn't your son an athlete? It'll be perfect for his daily training—no need to travel all the way to Xiping District."
Yan Lanxia smiled and said, "Let us discuss it a bit, dear."
She then pulled her husband aside to talk in hushed tones.
"The room lighting, building density... I think it's quite good."
"I agree, and there's even a storage room—perfect for our son's trophies."
They quickly reached a consensus and decided to purchase a ready-to-move-in apartment in full.
Since Ling joined the first team, their family's finances had improved significantly, allowing them to save a substantial amount each month.
Of course, the bulk of it came from their son's salary and endorsements.
The agent stared blankly at the contract in her hand.
Guofeng Shimao properties weren't cheap—they ranked among the top ten in Bin City.
Yet this middle-aged couple, dressed so plainly, had just paid in full...
She pouted slightly in frustration, as such transactions didn't boost her sales performance much.
Half an hour later.
Yan Lanxia and Ling Changzheng stopped near the Wanda Plaza not far from the community, standing quietly and gazing up at the outdoor advertising screen.
The young man above, bathed in sunlight and handsome, wore the Manchester United No. 7 jersey with a brilliant smile spread across his face.
A hint of youthful innocence lingered between his brows, radiating vibrant energy.
"Ling, does our son look a bit paler?" Yan Lanxia spoke with some uncertainty.
"It seems like they apply powder before filming commercials, and they also use lighting."
Ling Changzheng laughed heartily, pride swelling in his chest.
Ever since their son's performances had improved, even those colleagues who used to make sarcastic remarks had changed their attitudes.
Now, every time they saw him, they would offer a few words of praise.
Ling Changzheng suddenly suggested, "How about we go to England to see our son during New Year's?"
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