Darling, are you starting that 'mental training' again?" Esther sat on the sofa, holding a cup of hot tea, her eyes filled with concern.
Lu Chuan nodded and walked over to gently stroke her hair. "This period is too precious for me. The outside world has stopped, which just gives me a chance to catch up."
"How long will it take?"
"About two hours, but I need absolute quiet." Lu Chuan kissed her forehead lightly. "You can watch a movie or deal with work matters."
Esther smiled and waved her hand. "Go, I'll wait for you here."
Lu Chuan walked into the bedroom, closed the door, and took a deep breath. He silently chanted: "System, activate the training space."
The world before his eyes instantly transformed. He once again "stood" in the center of Vallecas Stadium. There were no cheers, no boos, not even the wind seemed to move. The sky above was a pure blue, like a system desktop background.
The system's mechanical voice sounded in his mind: "Host, welcome to the training space. Time flow rate is 1:5. Please select a training mode."
Lu Chuan opened the system panel to check his current status. The balance of 1140 LP made his heart race. These points were his stepping stones to a higher level.
"First, the physical limit challenge."
The green pitch instantly changed, and a track appeared around it. Lu Chuan set the most stringent parameters: 90 minutes of continuous high-intensity sprint running, simulating the most extreme physical exertion in a match.
On his first attempt, his legs felt like lead at 70 minutes. But in this virtual space, fatigue was just data; persisting would allow him to break through his limits.
Second time, 75 minutes.
Third time, 80 minutes.
On the tenth attempt, he finally completed the full 90-minute challenge. Sweat drenched his jersey, but his heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment. On the system panel, his physical attribute quietly increased by 2 points.
Next was technical training. Lu Chuan pulled up data analysis from all his past matches. Dense charts and numbers unfolded before his eyes; the success rate of every touch and every pass or shot was precisely recorded.
The system calmly analyzed: "Host's success rate for holding the ball with his back to goal under high-pressure defense is only 68%, which is below the standard for top strikers. His left-footed shot accuracy is 71%, indicating a clear weakness."
Lu Chuan gritted his teeth. He stared at those red percentages, a knot forming in his stomach. Well, this was the gap, and this was where he needed to put in the hard work.
"Start targeted training."
Virtual opponents appeared behind him, pressing him closely again and again. Lu Chuan repeatedly practiced holding the ball with his back to goal, turning, and shielding the ball. Every mistake caused the system to reset the scene, making him start over.
One hundred times, a thousand times, ten thousand times.
In the monotonous repetition, his movements became increasingly fluid, and his muscle memory grew deeper. The defensive pressure that once troubled him could now be handled with ease.
Left-footed shooting training was even harder. Lu Chuan repeatedly shot from various angles and distances. Push shots inside the box, powerful shots outside the box, and snap shots after a sudden stop—each scenario had to achieve over 90% accuracy to pass.
Time flew by in the training space. While only two hours had passed in the outside world, he had already spent a full ten hours here.
"It's time to invest in the future."
In the shop interface, skill cards were densely spread out: Iron Body, Precise Through Pass Master... Each name hit his pain points, making his breathing quicken. Iron Body could enhance physical confrontation, Direction Change Acceleration Master could improve breakthrough ability, and Volley Shot Master was the ultimate weapon in the penalty area.
After repeated deliberation, he chose Direction Change Acceleration Master. 800 LP instantly disappeared, and a warm current surged through his body.
"Skill acquisition successful. Direction Change Acceleration Master (Beginner Level) activated."
Lu Chuan immediately felt the change. His first step was more explosive, and his body coordination during direction changes greatly improved. While running at high speed, he could perform more incredible movements.
"Let's try the tactical customization function."
Virtual projections of the entire Rayo Vallecano team appeared on the field. Lu Chuan could control any player and understand Paco's tactical system from different angles.
He first played as Trejo, experiencing the vision and responsibility of a midfield organizer. Those passes that seemed simple in normal play actually required considering so many factors: teammates' runs, opponents' pressure, and the size of the space.
Then he played as Álvaro García, experiencing the speed and skill of a winger. Breakthroughs on the left flank not only required individual ability but also seamless coordination with central support.
Finally, returning to his own position, Lu Chuan found that the entire tactical system became three-dimensional in his eyes. The role of each position and the significance of each passing route were crystal clear.
"Pull up match footage of potential opponents."
Cádiz, Zaragoza, Almería—these rival contenders for promotion appeared one by one. Lu Chuan carefully analyzed their defensive characteristics and simulated confrontations with them in his mind.
Juan Cala, Cádiz's center-back, was fierce in defense but a bit slow to turn, so Lu Chuan could exploit his speed advantage. Zaragoza's full-backs liked to push forward to assist the attack, leaving space behind them.
Every detail was recorded, preparing him for future matches.
Time continued to pass in the training space. Lu Chuan felt himself growing stronger, not just physically, but also mentally. He began to possess the game vision and decisiveness that a top striker should have.
On the system panel, his football IQ and decision-making attributes slowly but steadily increased. From 78 to 81, then to 84. The increase in football IQ from 81 to 84 might seem like just a number change, but his understanding of the game on the field became much clearer.
"Conduct a practical test."
Lu Chuan summoned Real Madrid's defense as opponents. Top center-backs like Ramos and Varane were the best standard for testing his strength.
In the first confrontation, he was easily defended by Ramos. The Spanish captain's experience and physical presence gave him no chance.
But after several hours of training, the situation changed. Lu Chuan used his newly acquired Direction Change Acceleration Master technique, suddenly accelerating at the edge of the box. He feinted to the right with his right foot, rapidly shifted his body weight, and then pulled the ball to the left with his left foot.
Ramos was completely fooled by the move, lost his balance, and fell onto the grass. Lu Chuan easily broke into the box and calmly slotted the ball past Casillas to score.
"Beautiful!"
Lu Chuan excitedly pumped his fists. Being able to defeat Ramos in the virtual space meant his strength had reached a new level.
"Exit training space."
The scene before his eyes instantly vanished, and Lu Chuan returned to his bedroom in Madrid. His phone showed that exactly two hours had passed, but he felt like he had undergone a full day of cultivation.
His body showed no signs of fatigue; instead, it was filled with an unprecedented sense of power. Every muscle spoke of transformation, every nerve conveyed confidence.
Lu Chuan walked out of the bedroom and found Esther preparing dinner in the kitchen. She turned to look at him, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"You look... different."
"What do you mean?"
Esther scrutinized him. "Your eyes are sharper, and your demeanor is more confident. What exactly did you do in there?"
Lu Chuan smiled and walked over to hug her from behind. "Some meditation and breathing exercises. This training method helps one focus more and also improves body coordination."
Although the explanation was vague, Esther chose to believe him. She turned and kissed his cheek lightly. "Anyway, I'm glad to see your fighting spirit reignited."
During dinner, Lu Chuan's phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed Carlos.
"Lu, that online education platform you invested in..." Carlos's voice was excited, "It's going to be huge!"
"What do you mean?"
"AulaVirtual's user base has increased tenfold due to the pandemic lockdown! They just completed their Series A funding, and their valuation has quintupled! Your 150,000 euros are now worth 750,000 on paper!"
Lu Chuan put down his fork, a hint of triumph flashing in his eyes. The advantage of rebirth was fully demonstrated at this moment. This was just the beginning; bigger opportunities lay ahead.
"Don't rush to sell yet." Lu Chuan's voice was calm. "Tell them I choose to co-invest. Also, help me look for new investment targets."
"Are you sure? The economic situation is so bad right now..."
"Be greedy when others are fearful." Lu Chuan interrupted him. "Carlos, I need you to help me build a professional investment advisory team. Our capital will grow larger and larger in the future."
After hanging up the phone, Esther looked at him curiously. "Do you really believe in this kind of investment?"
"I believe in the future." Lu Chuan held her hand. "And I hope we can create this future together."
A sparkle shone in Esther's eyes. This man always managed to surprise her, whether on the football field or in life.
Late at night, Lu Chuan entered the training space again. This time, he wanted to challenge even more difficult opponents. Virtual images of football superstars like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar appeared before him.
Confronting world-class players made him more clearly aware of his strengths and weaknesses. But every failure was an opportunity for growth.
The outside night was quiet, but Lu Chuan was sweating profusely in another world. He knew that when this suspended world restarted, he would return with a brand new attitude.
The day of the restart would be the day of sweeping victory.