166: The Dawn of an Emperor! Kobe's Shock

His teammates looked at him with skepticism, only to find that Lin Feng's pupils seemed to flicker with a light as if he were looking down upon all living beings.

That gaze made them choose to submit involuntarily.

The entire locker room fell deathly silent.

Everyone was bewildered by Lin Feng's nonsensical yet absolutely confident statement.

What did he mean by running to the positions he told them?

This was basketball, not a video game; how could programs be pre-set?

Nick Young was the first who couldn't hold it in.

He leaned over, nudged Lin Feng gently with his elbow, and lowered his voice.

"Boss, are... are you okay?"

"Did yesterday's loss knock some sense out of you?"

His words voiced the doubt in everyone's hearts.

In a 0-3 desperate situation, everyone was already prepared to be swept and head home for the off-season.

Why did Lin Feng look like he was heading to a championship trophy ceremony instead of being frustrated?

This level of confidence was truly eerie.

Lin Feng didn't explain.

He didn't need to.

He simply turned his head and gave Nick Young a calm look.

In that instant.

Nick Young felt as if he had been struck by invisible lightning!

He saw a ring of faint golden light flash deep within Lin Feng's pupils!

That was not a gaze a human should have!

It was an absolute majesty, like a god looking down upon ants!

The rest of Nick Young's words were instantly stuck in his throat; he couldn't utter another syllable.

Subconsciously, he took half a step back, a fine layer of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Lin Feng ignored him.

His gaze slowly swept across everyone in the locker room.

Steve Nash.

Pau Gasol.

Dwight Howard.

Every person his gaze touched felt an inexplicable sense of awe rise in their hearts.

They felt that the Lin Feng before them was completely different from yesterday or any time before.

If the previous Lin Feng was a peerless weapon sharpened to the extreme, capable of tearing through any defense.

Then the current him...

...was the emperor, holding all the weapons, seated upon the throne, controlling the life and death of everyone on the battlefield!

D'Antoni opened his mouth, originally wanting to say something.

For example, reminding Lin Feng not to act recklessly and to play according to the tactics.

But the moment his gaze met Lin Feng's calm and deep eyes.

All his words were swallowed back down.

He had an extremely absurd illusion.

It was as if if he dared to say the word "no," he would be completely crushed by the terrifying power contained in those eyes the next second!

In the end.

Not a single person in the locker room raised any further objections.

A strange yet incredibly harmonious silence enveloped everyone.

Only one person.

The man sitting in the furthest corner, wearing a sharp suit.

Kobe Bryant.

He didn't feel shocked or confused like the others.

Instead, an unprecedented, intensely burning light erupted in his eyes!

He understood!

Only he understood!

The transformative change occurring in Lin Feng!

That aura of ruling the world!

That absolute confidence of having everything in his grasp!

That didn't belong to a player!

It certainly didn't belong to a scorer!

That was the aura of a king, one who could truly establish a dynasty!

Kobe's fist quietly tightened where no one noticed.

His heart began to beat violently and uncontrollably!

He knew.

Tonight's game.

Perhaps, it would overturn everyone's perceptions!

...Player entrance tunnel.

The Thunder players all had relaxed and casual smiles on their faces.

Westbrook was even joking with Durant, discussing which nightclub in Los Angeles they should go to celebrate after winning this game.

In their view.

This game was merely a farewell performance to go through the motions.

The only thing they needed to consider was how they would complete the final sweep of these Los Angeles Lakers.

On the other side.

The Los Angeles Lakers players were all solemn and silent.

The atmosphere inside the Staples Center also felt somewhat tragic.

The fans were still cheering for the home team.

But in those cheers, there was less confidence and more of the sorrow of a farewell.

Everyone knew this was likely the last time this season they would see this group of players in purple and gold at home.

The game was about to begin.

The players from both sides walked onto the court.

At the commentary desk.

Barkley couldn't help but shake his head as he looked at the grief-stricken expressions of the Los Angeles Lakers players.

"Charles, it looks like the Lakers have completely given up."

"You can't see any fighting spirit on their faces."

Kenny Smith also sighed.

"There's no other way. Down 0-3, in the history of the NBA, no team has ever completed a comeback."

"Moreover, they're facing a red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder."

"Tonight, we are likely to witness the end of an era."

Just when everyone thought the game would head toward its predetermined conclusion in a dull and tragic atmosphere.

"Tweet—!"

The referee's whistle blew!

The game officially began!

Howard won the jump ball, earning the first possession for the Lakers!

Nash dribbled the ball slowly across half-court.

Then, as per usual, he handed the ball to Lin Feng, who was standing at the top of the arc.

Westbrook immediately stuck to him.

A slight, contemptuous smile played on his face.

In his eyes, the opponent before him, who had been beaten to the point of collapse, no longer posed any threat.

However.

Just as he was preparing to press up and give Lin Feng some physical contact.

Lin Feng moved.

[Eye of the Heavenly Emperor · ZONE]!

Activated!

In that instant!

The entire world before Lin Feng's eyes completely changed!

The clamorous noise of the Staples Center, the flashing lights, the figures of tens of thousands of spectators... everything disappeared at this moment.

What replaced it.

...was a massive 3D chessboard composed of countless data lines and trajectory lines emitting a faint golden light!

Every player on the court.

Their heart rates.

Every minute contraction of their muscles.

All possible directions of movement for the next 0.1 seconds!

Everything turned into the purest stream of data, presented with absolute clarity in Lin Feng's mind!

He saw it.

He saw the heart beneath Westbrook's contemptuous smile, slightly agitated due to an eagerness to perform.

He saw the center of gravity in Westbrook's left foot shift by a tiny 0.03 seconds.

He even saw the complete future image of Westbrook reaching out his right hand to attempt a steal 0.5 seconds later!

Simultaneously.

He also saw, on the other side of the court.

After Gasol finished an off-ball screen for Nick Young, the fleeting, optimal path to cut to the basket!

He also saw.

In the corner.

After Nash shook off Sefolosha's harassment, an absolute open spot would appear for 1.2 seconds!

Everyone's future.

All possible scripts.

At this moment, they were all as clear as the lines on his palm, laid out before him!

The corner of Lin Feng's mouth slowly curled into a god-like arc of absolute control.

He didn't choose to play isolation.

He didn't even make a single redundant fake move.

He just used his peripheral vision to cast an extremely subtle glance at Gasol, who was cutting toward the paint.

[Emperors Edict]!

It was that one look!

Gasol, who was running, suddenly felt a jolt go through his entire body!

His mind went blank for an instant!

A clear command of absolute will that didn't belong to him was suddenly and without warning branded into his mind!

"Change direction! Run to the right corner!"

Gasol didn't have time to think!

His body reacted even faster than his brain!

His legs, as if pulled by an invisible string, subconsciously abandoned his original cutting path, made a sharp turn, and sprinted frantically toward the right corner!

At the same time!

Lin Feng moved!

The basketball in his hands, as if possessed of a life of its own, was passed toward an empty spot!

"What?!"

"A passing error?!"

Barkley, at the commentary desk, cried out in surprise!

The fans in the arena also let out cries of disbelief!

To everyone, Lin Feng's pass was simply outrageous to the extreme!

However!

The next second!

A scene that made everyone's eyes nearly pop out of their heads occurred!

Gasol's figure appeared like a ghost, perfectly timed, at the landing point of that flying basketball!

He didn't even need to adjust!

Catch, gather, jump, shoot!

The entire sequence was smooth and seamless!

The basketball traced a perfect arc through the air!

"Swish!"

Clean through the net!

The entire Staples Center instantly fell into a deathly silence!