Chapter Eighty-Seven: Forever Leaping

A vertical leap of 80 centimeters refers to the height reached after a running jump. Previously, Geng Haoshi's best result was 69 centimeters, and that was without the effect of 9527's "Powerful Energy Accumulation." For most people, a vertical leap ranges from 30 to 60 centimeters; those who have undergone long-term vertical jump training can exceed 80 centimeters.

At first, Geng Haoshi thought it was impossible to reach an 80-centimeter leap within a month. But after hearing 9527 recount the story of NBA legend Spud Webb, Geng Haoshi obediently returned to his training.

Note: Spud Webb, nicknamed "Potato," stood only 1.69 meters tall. In the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest, he astonishingly seized the title of "Slam Dunk King" from "The Human Highlight Film" Dominique Wilkins, whose dunks were as spectacular as cinematic masterpieces. Spud Webb had already dunked during his high school days when he was only 1.60 meters tall. His highest running jump reached 1.33 meters, and his running reach was 3.57 meters.

Vertical leap is a comprehensive reflection of overall strength, running speed, reaction time, coordination, flexibility, and agility. Therefore, 9527 designed a training regimen to improve Geng Haoshi's vertical leap, which included: 1. Flexibility training; 2. Weighted squats; 3. Power cleans; 4. Shuttle runs; 5. Weighted runs; 6. Bunny hops; 7. Toe jumps; 8. Deep squat jumps; 9. High reach jumps.

Of course, so many training modules were necessary because with Geng Haoshi's current leaping ability, reaching 80 centimeters by March 10th was only possible through intense, relentless training.

Facing the morning sun, Geng Haoshi began his leap-strengthening workouts.

First came flexibility training, which required daily stretching of tendons, ligaments, and muscles throughout the body to increase joint range of motion, along with various complex calisthenics to enhance coordination. The movements had to be precise, graceful, powerful, yet relaxed.

Lacking the professional weighted equipment found in the school gym, after flexibility training Geng Haoshi fetched an empty water jar from the house, lifting it overhead with both hands to perform weighted squats.

Next was the power clean. Without barbells or dumbbells, Geng Haoshi used two solid bricks, one in each hand, to perform the exercise.

Yu Manman had instructed the team to bring their lead bags home for convenient training. After finishing the power cleans, Geng Haoshi strapped eight lead bags to his limbs, then set about shuttle runs, weighted runs, and bunny hops.

If it had been the old Geng Haoshi, this training set would have sent him straight to the afterlife.

The last three exercises were all jump training: toe jumps, deep squat jumps, and high reach jumps.

Toe jumps were essentially jump rope drills. At least he had a jump rope at home. The speed had to be quick, and each jump initiated from the toes. After half an hour of continuous jumping, it felt as if his toes might snap.

Sitting on the floor, Geng Haoshi massaged his aching toes and rested for a minute.

"The revolution has yet to succeed; comrades must continue to strive," he muttered as he stood and moved on to the next jumping drill.

The following exercise was deep squat jumps: squat deeply with knees bent, lowering the body so the hips fell below the joints, then explosively jumping upward. Upon landing, immediately descend into another squat, and repeat the process.

Another half hour passed, and Geng Haoshi's legs began to tremble.

He took another minute's rest, shook out his legs, and began the final leap-strengthening challenge: high reach jumps.

Geng Haoshi approached the free-throw line, sprinted toward the hoop, and leaped with all his might—smack! His left palm struck the backboard solidly.

"Damn!" Geng Haoshi clutched his fist; his left palm tingled and throbbed as if an electric current had just shot through it.

9527 sighed, "Master, did you try to touch the rim again and overdo your sprint?"

This was not the first time. The fact that, without 9527's "Powerful Energy Accumulation," he couldn't dunk on his own always gnawed at Geng Haoshi. So, he'd set a smaller goal: just touch the rim. Yet, standing only 170 centimeters tall, Geng Haoshi needed at least an 80-centimeter vertical to do that.

Reaching an 80-centimeter vertical was, coincidentally, the final task of the intermediate stage. So, during high reach jump training, Geng Haoshi kept his eyes fixed on the rim, accelerating, and leaping with all his strength, striving to touch it.

"I don't believe this!" Geng Haoshi rubbed his hands together and continued his attempts, each time chasing that elusive moment when his hand would finally grasp the rim.

Smack!

Smack!

Smack!

Again and again, sprinting and leaping, each time his palm landed solidly on the backboard.

Staring at his swollen, nearly purple hand, Geng Haoshi howled at the sky, "Heavens! My hand is almost crippled—can't I touch the rim just once?"

"By the way, Master," 9527 suddenly recalled, "Why do you always sprint straight at the rim? If you approach from the side for your high reach jumps, you could avoid slamming your hand into the backboard."

Geng Haoshi stood stunned for several seconds. "Oh, right." It was as if he’d been awakened from a dream. For the last ten days, he’d been so focused on touching the rim that he’d ended up with swollen hands every day.

Geng Haoshi 2.0 laughed heartily, "Honestly, how could you be so dense? It took you this long to realize, and only after 9527 pointed it out. Hilarious!"

Geng Haoshi snapped, "Shut up!"

"Well, your skills may be lacking, but your temper certainly isn't," Geng Haoshi 2.0 continued in a mocking tone. "Shall I take over? Touching the rim is nothing—I can dunk every time!"

At those words, Geng Haoshi instantly lost his temper.

It was true. This other self, awakened by "Powerful Energy Accumulation," possessed astonishing leaping ability and could dunk effortlessly every time. What frustrated Geng Haoshi most was that, with the same body, the other "me" could dunk with ease, while he, the original, couldn't even touch the rim.

"Ah—" he exhaled deeply. There was no point in brooding. Geng Haoshi took a breath, moved to the side of the rim, sprinted toward it, and hurled himself into the air with all his might...