The players' celebrations ended, but the fans' excitement was far from over.
This time, it wasn't just a simple record broken; it was a record that had belonged to Messi, a record widely believed to be unbreakable.
Unprecedented, it could now be revised, as the record had been shattered.
Thinking back, if one were to trace his journey, from arriving in the Premier League to the present, Cao Ba Ming had been like a comet hitting the ground. Along the way, he had not only triggered one explosion after another in the football world but had also broken countless records.
Any one of these records would have been set by a top football superstar. After all, without exceptional ability, how could one set records in football?
With only five minutes left in the match, editors of various tabloids, news outlets, and magazines were already busy.
The match result was no longer important; it was evident that Manchester City and Arsenal were on entirely different levels.
Talk of form was pure nonsense; everyone's eyes were sharp, and they saw clearly.
What the editors valued was not the final score of this match, but the record Cao Ba Ming had broken, as this was the true highlight and the element most captivating to fans.
The added time finally ended. With the final whistle, all the players seemed to awaken from a dream; the match had felt like a dream for all of them.
The weather outside wasn't hot; some fans on the field even felt a chill, yet sweat trickled down the players' foreheads and faces.
Regardless of whether they had won or lost, both sides were utterly exhausted, having expended their last ounce of energy.
Looking at the 6:1 score on the display screen, Cao Ba Ming's lips curved slightly upwards. At least, from this perspective, the score had surpassed any score from his simulated matches.
This was the true goal; as long as the result was better than what was simulated in the time bubble, it at least proved that those simulations weren't in vain.
Even at this moment, all eyes remained fixed on Cao Ba Ming. He was the brightest star of the day, and Manchester City was merely a backdrop to this historic and crucial encounter.
As the match ended, the sky gradually darkened, turning a hazy gray, a gray that seemed to hold deeper meanings waiting to be explored.
The moonlight began to take precedence, stadium lights flickered on, and the match was over.
The cheers of the fans echoed in Cao Ba Ming's ears. Looking at the scene before him,
He had only one thing on his mind, the most important thing, or perhaps the only important thing: to quickly check the two rewards issued by the system. If he remembered correctly, there were some selection functions included.
He had never encountered such functions before, which piqued his curiosity. He couldn't wait another minute; enduring until now was already a feat.
Cao Ba Ming's eyes glinted as he quickened his pace.
In the undeclared war between Cao Ba Ming and Max, the victor was clearly decided.
Max, behind his screen, could only shake his head helplessly. He had no solution to the current situation. On one hand, Cao Ba Ming was constantly setting new records, while on the other, his team, Manchester United, was in dire straits.
If the crisis wasn't resolved, Manchester United would truly be finished, and he had no desire to go down with the team.
Max had already started considering his escape route.
After much thought, there seemed to be only two outcomes: either Cristiano Ronaldo would leave voluntarily, or he himself would. Either way, this victory seemed less important in the face of his own future.
On the screen, Max clenched his jaw, a deep sense of powerlessness eroding his heart.
He sat at his computer, a tall floor-to-ceiling window to his left. Looking down from the tenth-floor window, he saw cars and pedestrians bustling on the street below, rushing to their own destinations.
But where was his destination?
The sky had completely darkened. Within these mere ten minutes, the sky had displayed various colors. The afterglow of the sunset had faded, replaced by the yellow streetlights.
They complemented the blue-purple of the sky, painting the city's nightscape. A quiet and peaceful atmosphere prevailed, where noise and calm seemed not to be at odds.
...
Back in the locker room, Cao Ba Ming went straight to his usual spot without a word.
He remembered the embarrassment he felt the last time he entered the simulation system after obtaining the "firecracker" function, collapsing on the floor after getting water.
Thinking about it, Cao Ba Ming couldn't help but laugh. Fortunately, his teammates had returned late, still receiving a scolding from the head coach outside.
"System! I want to choose my rewards now!"
"Received. Host currently has two rewards to choose from. Preparing the first reward now. Reward content includes..."
"First, a football skill upgrade gift package, including attribute points, talent skill breakthroughs, enhancement potions, etc."
"Second, a system skill upgrade gift package, comprehensively expanding the time perception domain function, diversifying simulation functions, enhancing simulation reality..."
"Third, a personal charm comprehensive upgrade gift package, including prestige, football charm value, on-field action attractiveness, artistic cultivation..."
Listening to this, Cao Ba Ming took a deep breath.
Personal charm could be upgraded!?
If the system hadn't said so, he would have thought he had reached his peak. After all, no matter where he went now, he attracted the attention of everyone around him.
If he met any female fans, whether they were his fans or from the opposing team, a single close encounter would guarantee their defection.