Volume One: Our Own League 136: It is truly a great pity.

Xu Dongsheng felt a pang of concern as he watched the young boy. The child’s physical condition was truly abysmal. Glancing down at the documents in his hand, he noted that the boy had ranked at the very bottom of yesterday’s physical assessment—and even among that group, he was considered exceptionally weak.

Xu shook his head repeatedly, convinced that the boy wouldn't last long. It was a genuine shame. The boy possessed an incredible command of the ball, but his body was simply too frail. Someone like him could never make the school team; even if he did, he would never see any playing time. Xu found it deeply regrettable. Still, he chose not to interrupt, wanting to see just how far the boy could push his limits.

The boy remained lost in his own world, juggling the ball with meticulous care. Those watching couldn't help but gasp, their eyes wide with shock and admiration. To them, he was nothing short of a prodigy. He had already cleared over a hundred juggles and was still going—it was incredible. For those who could barely manage four or five, he was a god among men. They were filled with nothing but awe.

Xu Dongsheng was impressed, yet he remained conflicted. The boy continued to juggle, but gradually, his body began to fail him. He started to sway, his forehead was slick with sweat, his lifting frequency slowed significantly, and the height of his kicks dropped noticeably. He was clearly nearing his breaking point.

Yet, he did not give up. He gritted his teeth and pushed on. It seemed that as long as there was a shred of strength left in his body, he would not quit. Every subsequent touch became a struggle, each one teetering on the edge of failure, yet he held on, keeping the ball in the air.

Watching this, Xu He felt a stir of emotion. He saw a kindred spirit in the boy and grew deeply interested. The child’s indomitable, never-say-die spirit moved him, and he gave the boy a thumbs-up. Xu He took a closer look. The boy was extremely thin, a classic "bag of bones" frame. He looked like the type who could be blown away by a gust of wind, yet his character was iron-willed. He sported a buzz cut, but somehow still maintained a soft, boyish charm. To Xu He, a buzz cut usually signaled a tough guy, but this boy still seemed delicate. However, Xu He knew better—the boy’s heart was anything but weak.

He was a walking contradiction. Xu Dongsheng, equally moved by the boy’s persistence, mentally marked his name down for further consideration.

*Thud.*

The boy finally collapsed onto the turf, gasping for air. Even as he fell, he hadn't given up voluntarily. From a distance, Xu He gave him another thumbs-up; the boy had performed admirably and earned his professional recognition.

Xu Dongsheng immediately signaled the medical staff to assist the boy, offering him some rest and glucose. While he admired the boy’s spirit, his poor physical condition remained a major hurdle—he wouldn't be able to handle the physical contact inherent in football. It left Xu in a dilemma.

"Ding Yi, take a good rest, and then prepare for the second assessment. Can you handle that?" Xu asked.

Though he was some distance away, Xu He caught the name. *So, his name is Ding Yi,* he thought.

Ding Yi nodded with great effort. "No problem."

Xu Dongsheng stared intensely at him. "Don't push yourself too hard. If your body truly can't take it, then withdraw. There’s no point in wrecking your health."

"Teacher, I'm fine. I can do it," Ding Yi replied with a firm gaze.

Seeing the longing and determination in the boy’s eyes, Xu sighed. "Alright then, rest for a while, and we'll proceed later."

Though Xu Dongsheng had spent years in youth development, he rarely encountered children like Ding Yi. Due to the era’s unique circumstances, most children of this age were only children raised in comfortable environments, sheltered and pampered. It was rare to find a child with the grit Ding Yi possessed. In the realm of Chinese football, many families were well-off, leading to even more coddling. That made Ding Yi all the more special.

Xu admired him, but the regret remained: his physical foundation was just too poor.

The assessment continued, and Xu Dongsheng turned his attention to the other candidates, though he kept glancing back at Ding Yi. He couldn't help but be concerned. Ding Yi was the best prospect he had seen so far. The rest of the group was disheartening—most could only juggle seven or eight times, with a rare few managing twenty or thirty. If this was the standard for the first-year students, Xu saw no future for Jingguancheng No. 17 High School. He even began to wonder if Coach Yangtong Mingxiong had made a mistake in coming here.

However, when it came time for the dribbling and slalom test, Ding Yi provided an unexpected surprise. His fundamentals were incredibly solid. Xu Dongsheng discovered that the boy’s ball control was exceptional, superior even to those who had undergone professional training. His body and the ball moved in perfect harmony. As he navigated the high-speed slalom, every turn was fluid, with no hesitation. The distance between him and the ball was always perfect; even with a defender nearby, he would always be the first to reach it.

Xu Dongsheng felt a spark of joy, but the better Ding Yi performed, the deeper his disappointment grew. With such poor physical fitness, he would never be able to survive the physical duels on a real pitch. It was a waste of talent.

Xu He watched intently as well. In the entire first group, only Ding Yi caught his eye. Seeing the dribbling performance, Xu He was stunned. He hadn't expected such profound ball control and coordination. He saw a glimpse of Yang Hao in the boy—their control was strikingly similar—but he felt that, in terms of pure coordination, Ding Yi might actually be even better.

The thought shocked him so much that his expression changed. Was he losing his mind? Was this boy really better than Yang Hao? If so, it was a tragedy. He could see as clearly as anyone that the boy’s body couldn't support a real match. He wondered why the staff hadn't eliminated him yesterday, though he was glad they hadn't, as it allowed him to witness such talent.

Xu He turned to Li Jie beside him. "What a pity about this Ding Yi." If only he were stronger, he could be the next Yang Hao, or perhaps even greater.

After the dribbling, they moved on to sudden stops, changes of direction, and shots. Once again, Ding Yi excelled. By the time they reached the third group, more solid players began to emerge, much to Xu Dongsheng’s relief. These students had participated in the first-year football league, and their fundamentals were better. Players like Xu Liuxian showed real promise, broadening the scope of his recruitment.

As the third group’s assessment neared its end, it was finally time for Xu He’s group. He stood up to warm up, drawing the eyes of everyone present. They were all eager to see just how good these top-tier players from the league were, and how vast the gap was between them and the rest.