Despite the buzz and excitement in the outside world, Ye Chen had no time to pay attention to it.
His sole focus was on training, training, and more training!
He became the first to arrive and the last to leave the training ground every day. All of this was observed by Klopp, who even cautioned Ye Chen not to overdo it and risk harming his body.
Yet, Ye Chen remained steadfast in his approach.
Many players believed Ye Chen was merely putting on a show to attract attention and gain an edge over his teammates.
But Ye Chen paid no heed to the criticism or accusations.
Time would provide them with the answer.
On October 6, in front of 90,000 spectators at the Bird's Nest, the national team of China played a friendly match against the UAE, defeating them 2-1.
After the game, fans heaped praise on the players' performance and lauded Camacho's coaching.
They were eagerly looking forward to the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Iraq, scheduled for October 11. This match was a crucial one; if the national team lost, their chances of qualifying would only remain theoretical.
Ye Chen, however, paid no attention to any of this.
His rigorous training regimen had left him completely exhausted, to the point that he even ignored Klopp's advice. Consequently, he was left out of the lineup for a friendly match against Heerenveen.
Though the team managed a 2-1 win, the absence of key players, including Ye Chen, highlighted their struggles to score.
But none of this mattered to Ye Chen.
His focus was solely on the 10 free attribute points awaiting him.
New Discoveries in the System
Ye Chen also noticed a remarkable improvement in his recovery ability. Beyond that, he uncovered something intriguingâmatch points.
The system awarded 10 points for each victory and 5 points per goal. However, points from friendly matches didn't count. As of now, Ye Chen had accumulated 50 points.
These points could be used to purchase potions from the system's store.
The potions included Speed Potion, Burst Potion, Stamina Potion, and Recovery Potion. Though basic, each potion cost 100 points per bottle and delivered instant results.
For example, consuming a Stamina Potion during overtime in a match would restore 30% of your stamina instantly.
Imagine the advantageâwhile others could barely move, you'd be unstoppable.
The system hadn't previously mentioned these potions, likely because Ye Chen didn't have enough points to buy anything.
The system also featured a Reputation System, though Ye Chen couldn't figure out its practical use.
What he did know was that his number of hardcore fans had surpassed 300,000, largely thanks to his status as the sole Chinese player in a major European league.
Relentless Training
Time flew by as Ye Chen pushed himself to the limit under the system's guidance, to the point where he could barely function in daily life.
The only respite came during his nightly 30-minute calls with Lina. On several occasions, he even fell asleep mid-conversation.
Lina, meanwhile, was arranging her transfer to a new school. Her family supported her decision, with Leo even transferring her funds to help her "pursue love."
Such openness was a stark contrast between Eastern and Western cultures.
National Team Woes
On October 11, the match against Iraq kicked off at 8:15 PM at the Bird's Nest, packed with over 90,000 passionate fans.
Despite their unwavering support, the Chinese team lost 0-1 to Iraq. The image of Zhao Xuri pounding the ground in frustration after the final whistle brought tears to many eyes.
Younis's first-half goal decided the game, highlighting the national team's lack of a reliable striker.
Even though Gao Lin created opportunities from the wings, his finishing left much to be desired.
Fans immediately turned their attention to Ye Chen, calling for his return to the national team.
However, Camacho had no authority to make such a decisionâit was up to the Chinese Football Association.
When asked about this by Li Xinran, Ye Chen finally learned that China's chances of advancing were now only theoretical.
He sighed but didn't respond to her questions. The national team was a vortex, and Ye Chen knew he wasn't ready to wade into those troubled waters just yet.
A New Level of Determination
As the days passed, Ye Chen's self-imposed "masochistic" training left his teammates in awe. He never slacked off, and the real reason behind his intensity was known only to him.
Initially, Ye Chen was driven by the system's threat of losing 10 attribute points. However, he later discovered that his other attributes had subtly improved during this time.
Though the gains were modestâjust one or two pointsâit was enough to fill him with joy.
Every great achievement begins with small steps, and Ye Chen was not expecting overnight success.
Encouraged by these results, he committed even more to his training.
Klopp noticed all of this and began considering giving the boy more opportunities.
There was a saying in Chineseâ"Heaven rewards diligence."
The hardest-working player on the field earned respect, and Klopp couldn't ignore Ye Chen's dedication.
The Reward
On the night of October 13, Ye Chen returned home after a grueling 20-kilometer run, collapsing onto a chair, drenched in sweat.
Suddenly, the system's familiar voice rang out:
"Ding! Congratulations, host, for completing devil training!"
"Ding! Training rating: Excellent. Bonus rewards granted!"
"Ding! Congratulations, host, for earning 15 free attribute points!"
The sound of the reward made Ye Chen's heart tremble with excitement.
15 attribute points!
And they could be distributed freely!
As Ye Chen opened his personal stats panel, he hesitatedâwhat should he allocate them to?