The Baseball Protocol
Li Tianyi's commitment to the Imperial Star University Baseball team for the Spring Season introduced a new level of efficient chaos control into the team structure. He didn't participate in warm-ups, citing the "inefficiency of practicing motions already perfected." He simply arrived moments before the starting lineup announcement, flawlessly dressed in a customized uniform.
His entire entourage was present for the opener against the rival Black Tiger University—a team known for its aggressive, unpredictable playstyle.
Long Wei (Bodyguard) stood near the dugout, ensuring no physical chaos spilled onto Li Tianyi.
Su Qingyao (Assistant) managed the logistics, ensuring the dugout had filtered water and perfectly chilled towels, elevating the team's comfort to Dynasty standards.
Zhao Lei (New Follower/Liaison) managed the social chaos, deflecting reporters and ensuring the Imperial Star players maintained a respectable distance from their transcendent teammate.
"Chairman Li," Zhao Lei whispered nervously before the game. "Black Tiger's star batter, Captain Zhou, is known for his psychological warfare. He thrives on chaos."
Li Tianyi adjusted his custom, pristine glove. "Psychological warfare is merely emotional inefficiency, Lord Zhao. It is easily neutralized by absolute performance."
The Pitching Masterclass: Precision Over Power
Li Tianyi had elected to start as the pitcher. When he stepped onto the mound, the crowd—a mix of incredulous students and curious media—roared.
He did not rely on raw velocity, which was tiring and messy. He relied on flawless, effortless precision.
The first batter for Black Tiger was Captain Zhou. Zhou swaggered into the box, visibly trying to intimidate the heir.
Li Tianyi initiated his "pitching protocol." He didn't use a windup; he used a simple, elegant motion that seemed to require zero exertion.
Pitch 1 (The Theoretical Curve): A slow, effortless curveball. It didn't just curve; it traveled exactly three millimeters below Zhou's swing path, hitting the absolute corner of the strike zone. Strike.
Pitch 2 (The Elegant Fastball): A fastball thrown with minimal muscle effort, relying on perfect rotational physics. It hit the exact opposite corner of the strike zone. Strike.
Pitch 3 (The Precision Changeup): Li Tianyi varied his grip by less than a millimeter, causing the ball to drop at the last possible moment, deceiving the batter's eye.
Zhou swung aggressively, completely missing the perfect changeup. Strike three.
The crowd was silent. It wasn't dominating power; it was dominating execution. Li Tianyi had utilized three different pitch types, each delivered with scientific, effortless perfection, achieving three strikes in seven seconds.
The Batting Efficiency: Home Run on Demand
Li Tianyi moved to the plate in the bottom of the first inning. He found the opposition pitcher's technique to be a crude, high-effort mess.
He leaned into the batter's box, holding the bat with a casual grip. The pitcher, intimidated, threw a nervous fastball.
Li Tianyi did not swing with muscle. He used the athletic discipline he unconsciously possessed to execute a single, flawless kinetic transfer at the exact millisecond the ball crossed his optimal hitting plane.
Crack!
The sound was sharp and clean. The ball launched into the air—not high, but on a laser-straight line that seemed to defy gravity and air resistance. It sailed effortlessly over the center field fence, landing precisely where no fielder could have possibly moved.
Home Run.
Li Tianyi dropped the bat, which was instantly caught by a vigilant Long Wei. He trotted around the bases with a casual, almost bored pace, his face entirely devoid of celebration.
"The pitcher's release angle was inconsistent by an average of 1.4 degrees," Li Tianyi explained to Zhao Lei in the dugout, adjusting his cap. "A slight shift in my center of gravity negated his primary weakness. It required minimal output."
The Final Score: Absolute Comfort
Li Tianyi continued his performance with the same effortless dominance for the full seven innings he played:
He struck out 15 batters, often using only three pitches per player.
He hit two more home runs, both clean, effortless shots.
As shortstop in the field, he executed a triple play that required three flawless, rapid-fire throws, fielding the ball as if it were drawn to his glove by magnetics.
Imperial Star won the opening game with a commanding score of 12-0. Li Tianyi was directly responsible for nine of those runs, all achieved with the bare minimum of physical exertion.
After the final out, Li Tianyi didn't celebrate with the team. He simply collected his custom gear, exchanged a brief nod with Long Wei, and walked toward his waiting sedan.
"The opposition's chaos was successfully absorbed," Li Tianyi summarized to Su Qingyao. "The performance was required. Now, I require quiet. Ensure the media coverage focuses on the elegance of the execution, not the brute score. I do not endorse messy power."