Bryant glanced at Su Feng, who was stunned by his own question, and decided not to interrupt him for now.
After all, this issue, from Kobe's perspective, really does require some thought…
Unfortunately, Su Feng's mind wasn't working at the moment.
Otherwise, if Su Feng knew what Kobe was thinking, he would definitely say, "What are you even thinking about?
Look at the sky!
Stay calm!
Be rational!
Don't be impulsive!"
As a young blacksmith armed with "steel ambition" and increasingly refined basketball skills, the ever-"stable" Su Feng chose to analyze things logically.
First, judging from the two missions released by the system, the key difference was whether or not he skipped college.
Then, one path was labeled "normal difficulty," the other "nightmare."
"Task 1 is [Stability is Wisdom].
Indeed, from every angle—especially based on my original plan—
Going to college to build my reputation and hone my skills is clearly the safest path into the NBA."
After checking the rewards from [Stability is Wisdom] and the 58 system templates included upon completing that mission, Su Feng quickly did the math.
From the literal system description, it seemed like Su Feng's current setup was version 6.0.
So, 7.0 would represent an upgrade—likely a first-round NBA pick level.
In other words, either path he chose, the system would upgrade when he reached the NBA.
And among all 58 templates in [Stability is Wisdom], the best one was [Debut at Peak].
"If I received that template, I'd begin my NBA career as a superstar…
In 2K terms, I'd start with an overall rating above 90…"
"But if I'm unlucky and get something like [Unusual], that means my potential is locked.
And based on the notes from the system, these 58 templates have fixed potential—no further growth from special events or 'opportunities'."
It's worth noting that Su Feng's current strength had a lot to do with the "opportunities" Kobe brought him.
"That said, except for [Unusual], these templates are actually pretty solid."
Let's be honest: If Su Feng used to be a benchwarmer, then, aside from [Mediocre], most of these 58 templates were anything but disappointing—each could turn him into a true basketball star.
"And even [Mediocre] isn't the end of the world. With shooting packages, special moves, and badges, I can make up for low potential."
At that moment, Su Feng felt an urge to find a mirror.
I mean, come on—handsome guy like him? With a 1-in-58 shot? No way he'd be that unlucky… right?
"The golden epic reward pack also looks insanely good…"
Drool incoming.
Stay low-key.
Stay calm.
I'm an emotionless basketball machine!
"Task 2: [The Genius Route]…
Jump straight to the draft after high school graduation. No first-round requirement.
In other words, even if you're picked dead last, it still counts."
Unlike [Stability is Wisdom], completing [The Genius Route] didn't come with a bunch of upgrade fluff.
It simply locks in one template: [Sky Wizard].
And the most intriguing part?
The system gave zero details about what [Sky Wizard] actually entailed.
"Still, while I can't say if [Sky Wizard] is a trap or a jackpot, that golden legendary reward pack is straight-up irresistible…"
"And there's this thing called 'Lifetime Injury and Illness Immunity.'"
Just as the name suggests: if Su Feng completes [The Genius Route], he becomes a real-life Iron Man on the court.
He could even yell at Stern: "Bro, don't change the HC rules. Keep them as is!"
Who cares if the hit rate drops?
Every elite scorer had cold shooting nights.
And who says high-volume shooting = iron?
"Wait, based on how balanced the system has been, why are the rewards from Task 1 and Task 2 so uneven?"
"Oh—I get it!"
"It's because of Kobe!"
Yeah, from what it looks like—even if [Sky Wizard] is totally unpredictable—just the injury immunity alone makes this option hard to turn down.
Because this is the ultimate dream of every athlete.
Imagine a healthy Yao Ming. What would his career have been like?
Or picture a healthy Derrick Rose or Brandon Roy…
Wait, why are they all part of the "Luo family tree"…?
Okay, jokes aside, Su Feng obviously knows that's not what their names mean in Chinese, but seriously—that injury immunity… that's the kind of offer no one refuses.
Su Feng's biggest concern had always been that even with the system, if he got injured playing in this era's NBA, it could still derail his career.
After all, even though he had the system and a solid grasp of how basketball development worked in this period, who could guarantee complete immunity from injuries or illness?
So at first, he felt the reward disparity between Task 1 and Task 2 was way too large—because of that injury immunity.
But then, realization hit him.
Why was Task 1 labeled as "normal difficulty," and Task 2 as a "nightmare"?
The answer was obvious—if he had never met Kobe, where would he be now?
Still playing 1-on-1 in the Nefalia reserve squad… right?
Basically, the system didn't even want Su Feng to pick Task 2. It deemed his chances of completing it so low it was meant to discourage the choice altogether.
But… could the system possibly have predicted Su Feng would meet Kobe?
Let's face it—Kobe was Su Feng's real-life, human-shaped, universe-breaking cheat code.
Thanks to Kobe, Task 2: [The Way of Genius] instantly dropped from nightmare-tier to just "hard mode."
And that's why Task 2's rewards were so generous.
Because if Su Feng took that leap…
He'd be diving straight into the 1996 draft.
The legendary class of '96—stacked with prodigies!
Terrifying!
"If I choose this route, I've really got to talk Kobe into diving into the trenches with me."
Thankfully, I'm still a third-year high schooler—I'll have my senior year to pad my stats.
But still, once I declare, I have to aim for the second round.
High schoolers are always a gamble. My nationality is both an edge—and a hurdle.
But if I can flash some real talent, post strong numbers, and Stern's thirst for the Chinese market plays a part…
Then I've got a shot at being drafted in the second round. That's what I call riding chaos to stability!
Perfect!
Su Feng felt like his logic was airtight.
"So now I finally get why Task 1's reward system is structured like that."
At first, the 58 systems felt like a scam.
But then his brain lit up.
In 1995, the NBA had only 29 teams.
Which means… 29 picks per round, totaling 58.
So—58 systems to match 58 draft spots!
"If I spend a year in college…"
"Then I'll enter…"
"The 1997 Draft!"
"And the No. 1 pick that year was—Tim Duncan!"
"That's it! [Debut at Peak] must be the Duncan system!"
So, is it randomized?
Just like the real draft—even a top pick can flop, and a second-rounder can rise.
So when Su Feng finishes [Stability is Wisdom], the reward system acts like a simulated NBA draft.
Now the question: is there any way to manipulate the "draft odds" in your favor?
Turns out, yes!
For example, in the [No Weapon Born Equal] system, the chance to roll it increases with more years in college.
And in [Debut at Peak], winning the NCAA title as a freshman and earning MOP honors boosts the chance of drawing it by 30%.
There were other modifiers too, like in [Sleeping Magician], [Big-Hearted Leader], and [Basketball Acrobat].
As we know, players who stay too long in college often drop in the draft—the NBA starts assuming they've plateaued.
In the post-1995 league, first-rounders started landing major contracts straight away.
So back then, some players stayed in school to improve and lock in solid rookie deals.
But later, the league shifted to favor grooming younger rookies—which is why juniors and seniors began losing draft shine.
In the end, it's the rules that change perceptions—and forge new norms.
Pulling one of the 58 systems? It was a kind of test.
If Su Feng could perform well and complete tasks aligned with his ideal system, then once he reached the NBA, his odds of drawing that version would improve.
But that wasn't a guarantee.
Because, just like in the NBA—there are always fallen prodigies. Until it happens, no one can predict your fate.
Even LeBron James—dominant as he is—couldn't avoid not one, not two, not even three or four…
But six total Finals losses.
So, Su Feng saw these missions for what they were: life lessons. In this world, nothing is certain.
Of course, Task 2 [The Way of Genius] was also a major test.
Graduating high school and entering the 1996 draft? Nightmare level. If he hadn't met Kobe, would he even dream of trying?
And this mysterious [Sky Wizard] system—no explanation, just a cool name.
Could he be sure it wasn't a trap?
Honestly—anyone who even has a shot at the NBA has already won the genetic lottery.
Su Feng was not Duncan. Not Kobe. Not T-Mac, Carter, or Iverson.
Those guys had natural talent on a whole other level.
They were born brilliant.
Of course, hard work played a role.
But Su Feng's origin story? He started as a total nobody.
Even the "worst" of the 58 systems, like [Mediocre], would be a massive upgrade from his current v6.0 setup.
Plus, with enough lucky draws and "opportunities," he could still pick up skills like advanced shooting forms, signature moves, and rare badges.
"I don't know who designed this thing—it's insane.
Feels like I just figured out the meaning of life," Su Feng mused.
He remembered countless webnovels from his previous life, where the protagonist was calm and methodical to the extreme.
But… would someone like that ever become a Jordan?
Jordan was a gambler—maybe even a maniac. But could it be that this relentless desire to win is what made him the GOAT?
Kobe was paranoid by nature. But would he still be Kobe without that intensity toward himself?
JR Smith had zero chill. But if he wasn't wild, would he still be… JR?
Okay, maybe that last one went off the rails.
"It all makes sense now," Su Feng thought. "But I still prefer to keep my fate in my own hands."
Task 1: Tame the waves.
Task 2: Surf them for control.
Taking a deep breath, Su Feng exited the system interface.
At that moment, he noticed Kobe's eyes were fixed on him.
After composing himself, Su Feng slowly said:
"Kobe, I've made up my mind…"