Chapter 80: State Restored

“Ha! I’m in great form today!” Mo Shu glanced at the car that had set off first, overtaking it with astonishing ease once again.

“Of course. Overtaking a few cars at over 500 kilometers an hour is a walk in the park for you now.” Wang Yining, seated in the co-driver’s seat, sounded completely unmoved by the novelty.

“No, no, you wouldn’t understand unless you’re the one driving. It’s a different experience. Usually, I have to give everything I’ve got to reach this speed, but today it feels almost effortless,” Mo Shu replied.

It seemed that his unexpected encounter with “Crown Supreme” in the hotel room last night had indeed brought some improvement to Mo Shu’s system. But what exactly had been enhanced? Mo Shu couldn’t say—after all, the system list showed nothing new.

Compared to before, his driving today felt exceptionally smooth and controlled. He could even chat with Wang Yining mid-race without the slightest distraction.

“By the way, did you level up recently?” What surprised Mo Shu even more was that, despite now being the lead sweeper car, the tires’ grip on the gravel track seemed barely diminished.

The car’s stability was astonishing. Drifting through corners was a breeze, and even landing from jumps—a maneuver Mo Shu had always approached with caution—suddenly felt far less jarring.

He knew the system’s features inside out after so much time spent tuning it. Every system had its strengths and weaknesses; it was impossible for his own to suddenly become so all-encompassing overnight.

He began to suspect that perhaps Wang Yining’s “Tank Aura” had also leveled up. Otherwise, this combination of speed and stability made no sense.

Wang Yining thought for a moment, clearly checking her own system list in her mind, then shook her head seriously.

Since she’d been serving as co-driver for a while, her experience points had increased much more slowly. She was actually worried that by the end of the ERC season, her system’s level would fall far behind Mo Shu’s. She was nothing if not competitive.

“That’s strange. If you didn’t level up and I haven’t acquired any new skills, why does it feel like I’ve suddenly grown so much stronger?” Mo Shu asked in confusion.

“Let’s look into it after the race. The first section is about to end. Get ready to greet the fans at the finish line,” Wang Yining said, checking the GPS—it was less than a kilometer to the end.

At the finish of the ERC’s first stage, crowds had gathered once again. The recent rumors and scandals swirling around the ERC had only heightened attention on the race here in Switzerland.

SS11 was riddled with hills, so the course was packed with undulating terrain. The finish of the first stage was set atop a small hill—both to accommodate more spectators and to give the drivers a stage for spectacular, airborne finishes.

Mo Shu deftly downshifted, revving higher as he climbed, never hesitating to floor the accelerator on the uphill.

The spectators at the finish could already hear the growl of the engine in the distance—a clear sign the first driver was about to arrive. The crowd waved their flags, cheering their teams and waiting for the moment of excitement.

The sound grew closer; many who had been sitting stood up in anticipation.

But there was still nothing to see. The hill’s elevation blocked the view, and those near the top were already craning their necks.

“I see the car!” an excited fan shouted.

Sure enough, Mo Shu’s car was hurtling toward the summit at breathtaking speed.

“Wait, isn’t that Mo Shu, who started fifth? How is he the first to arrive?” Many spectators who had missed the Swiss opening race asked in surprise.

“Heh, you’re out of the loop. This guy’s a force of nature,” an old hand explained, adopting the air of a veteran.

“Force of nature or not, he’s still a thief,” another fan sneered, dismissive after catching only some rumors online.

“Please, you’re way behind the times. Mo Shu already cleared his name. Get with it.” A group of female fans in the front row, displeased at anyone disparaging their idol, spoke up in his defense.

As the crowd’s debate grew heated, a sudden roar of the engine cut through—stones and dust sprayed into the air from the spinning tires, moving so fast the eye could barely follow. Any faster and it would feel as if time itself were reversing.

Bathed in gentle rays of sunlight streaming from the east, Mo Shu’s car soared a good four or five meters into the air.

Through the window, Mo Shu greeted the finish-line spectators with his trademark enigmatic smile and a casually raised thumb.

It was as if the car moved in slow motion, tracing a graceful arc through the air, displaying its raw power and mechanical beauty for all to see.

“Whoa!”

“Mo God, you’re incredible!”

“The Four Supreme Gods—unmatched!”

The crowd was utterly captivated; Mo Shu had conquered them all. The deafening cheers and shouts almost drowned out the roar of the engine even for Mo Shu and Wang Yining after their perfect landing.

Slow down! Stop!

Mo Shu, with a series of stylish movements, unbuckled his harness, pushed open the door, and leapt out of the car.

A swarm of reporters with cameras and microphones immediately surrounded him.

“Mo Shu, can you tell us how it feels to redeem yourself after your previous defeat?” The ERC’s official race correspondent had the first question.

At that, Mo Shu’s lips curled into a handsome smile. His short gray-white hair fluttered in the breeze, making him even more striking.

“Defeat? I never lost!” Mo Shu replied playfully. “It was just a tactical choice—not wanting to always start at the front.”

“Oh? Are you saying you deliberately slowed down to get a later starting position?”

“That’s right, you’re quick to catch on! Sometimes you need to make tactical sacrifices to win a race.” Mo Shu pointed approvingly at the reporter, then declared loudly, “Victory! The championship! These are no longer in doubt—they all belong to our Divine Legion Racing Team!”

A true descent of a god! Such bold words!

The atmosphere among the fans was electric.

“Yeah! Champion!”

“Champion! Champion!”

“Champion Mo Shu! Champion Divine Legion Racing Team!”

Cheers erupted again. Mo Shu quickly waved and nodded to the fans gathered beyond the press circle, inwardly marveling to himself.

See? They chant my name first, the team second. Nothing beats personal charisma!

Meanwhile, Wang Yining sat quietly in the car, glancing at Mo Shu’s back with a cold expression.

Narcissist!