Pokémon: I picked up a reborn Eevee at the start of the game.

Xia Chen breathed a sigh of relief, like a mother hen.

Well, anyway, at least we ate.

…………

After the meal, Ma Xiu did not go to her studio or training ground, but instead took Xia Chen for a stroll in the courtyard of the dojo, as if she wanted to pay her last respects to the ancient tree that had existed for more than a thousand years.

Ma Xiu looked up at the towering tree that was destined to die, and suddenly sighed, "You don't know what this tree means to Fragrant City and its residents."

Xia Chen knew that this was when Ma Xiu was most eager to confide, so he did not interrupt her, but listened silently.

"The City of Aroma exists because of this tree. No matter how the outside world changes, whether it is ruled by a king or governed by an alliance, it doesn't matter to the City of Aroma. What they have always believed in, and what they have always relied on, is this tree."

"People are born, marry, and are buried under the witness of this tree. Before doing any major event in their lives, they pray here for blessings, but now..."

Xia Chen wanted to say something comforting, but with his straight-male mindset, what he would say would probably be something inappropriate like, "How about we put some leaves back on and pretend nothing happened?" After thinking about it, he decided to keep quiet.

Ma Xiu continued, "I'm alright, just like you, merely a passerby in this city. It's just that I've stayed here for a longer time. But those old people who have long been accustomed to the divine tree's annual cycle of rebirth may never be able to let go of it, right?"

Xia Chen finally found an opportunity to speak, "The changing of the guard is inevitable. Perhaps in ten years, the young people of Xiangxun City will gradually get used to this withered sacred tree?"

Ma Xiu nodded. "Perhaps, but compared to that, I'm more worried about something else. Without the Divine Tree, the City of Fragrance might decline."

……

"You can also feel it. Starting this morning, the wondrous aura that permeated the city for a thousand years has disappeared. The city's main industry is tourism. It has a permanent population of just over three million, but the annual influx of visitors is nearly ten million. And starting today, perhaps this prosperity will never exist again."

Xia Chen remained silent. He understood what Ma Xiu meant. No matter how magnificent the sacred tree was, or how significant it was to the local residents, it was just a tourist attraction that could only be viewed from afar.

What truly attracts tourists is the city's unique and wonderful atmosphere, which is the soul of Aroma City.

Ma Xiu suddenly smiled, "But this is good too. I'll have a lot more free time in the future, and I can do many things that I want to do."

Even so, Xia Chen could still hear the loneliness in Ma Xiu's tone.

The decline of the city inevitably leads to the decline of the dojo. As the owner of the aromatherapy dojo, Ma Xiu must be feeling very sad right now.

Xia Chen suddenly thought of Mari, who was far away in the Galar region. She had also decided to debut as an idol to save the declining Spike Town. No, she wanted to become a champion.

The goal is to become a new calling card for Jianding Town, or, in layman's terms, to attract more visitors.

Thinking of this, Xia Chen suddenly had a flash of inspiration, "Since the previous business card has disappeared, why not create a new one for Aroma City?"

Ma Xiu paused for a moment, then realized, "You mean the Grand Contest?"

Xia Chen affirmed, "That's right, this is the best opportunity. The demise of the Divine Tree will definitely attract the attention of the Carlos Alliance. The Alliance's higher-ups will not sit idly by and watch a city decline. If our idea for a new calling card is reasonable, it will most likely be adopted by the Alliance's higher-ups. The recent phenomenal performance is the best calling card!"

Ma Xiu's eyes shone with excitement as she nodded repeatedly, looking at Xia Chen expectantly, "So what should we do now?"

Ma Xiu didn't realize that she had unknowingly made this boy, who was several years younger than her, her pillar of support.

…………

Xia Chen replied immediately: "Hold the first Grand Contest! Make sure the Alliance cooperates in the publicity, and it's best to attract the attention of the whole world. It should be large-scale, high-standard, and attractive. If possible, it's best to come up with some gimmicks, such as adding a certain percentage of the city's fiscal revenue from last year to the contest prize pool, or bringing Lijia, Xiaoxia, and Mikoli over."

Ma Xiu's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Yes, with them as judges, it's both authoritative and attractive!"

Xia Chen smiled slightly, "Let's broaden our perspective. What I mean is, let's bring them over to participate in the competition."

"Participate in the competition?" Ma Xiu was taken aback by Xia Chen's suggestion. She subconsciously questioned, "But if they come to participate, who is qualified to be a judge?"

Xia Chen smiled without saying a word, simply watching Ma Xiu silently.

She understood Xia Chen's meaning and asked somewhat uncertainly, "You mean me?"

As dojo owners in their respective regions, Ma Xiu did not feel qualified to judge their matches.

Xia Chen smiled confidently, "See? We've got the publicity now."

Nobody knows marketing better than me!

Seeing Ma Xiu's expression, Xia Chen hesitated for a moment before saying, "If you're not willing, then let them play an exhibition match and then act as referees. The effect will be about the same."

This plan put much less pressure on Ma Xiu, who breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, "Shall I contact the Alliance now?"

Xia Chen glanced silently at the sacred tree above his head, "At least... let's wait until the sacred tree's seven-day mourning period is over."

Xia Chen was a little worried that the public might have some objections to the aromatherapy, as the funeral arrangements weren't even finished and the wedding was already in progress.

Chapter 131 Elf Bullying in an Abandoned Hotel

Xia Chen discovered that Yi Bu was particularly fond of the little toy she had picked up, to the point that they were practically inseparable.

I take it out to play with whenever I have a spare moment, whether I'm eating, sleeping, training, or just having some free time.

It made him feel a little jealous of that broken toy, even though he was the trainer.

However, he was busy planning the first Grand Prix with Ma Xiu these past few days, so he didn't interfere much.

After all, although Eevee liked it, it didn't show any signs of obsession, so that thing probably wasn't one of those evil contraptions from fantasy works that could control the user's mind.

Strictly speaking, the Corner of Xerneas doesn't actually have any strange or unusual effects, but its function is far more exaggerated than Xia Chen imagined.

These past few days, Ibrahimovic has been exploring everything around Xerneas Horn, as if he were digging for treasure.

Eevee first discovered its most important function: it is an almost inexhaustible "power bank" specifically for Fairy-type characters.

As for why Eevee judged its energy to be nearly limitless, it's because when she secretly absorbed energy, the stingy antlers didn't react at all.

While it might not be entirely accurate to say it's endless, at least before I reach the Heavenly King level, the energy I can absorb from it is just a drop in the ocean.

This is similar to the effect of a fairy gem containing abundant energy, both of which can enhance the energy within one's body.

However, as part of the legendary spirits, the purity of the fairy-type energy contained in Xerneas Horn is something that fairy gems cannot match.

Even top-tier fairy gems worth hundreds of thousands of dollars wouldn't work.

…………

This discovery caused Eevee to interrupt her evolutionary process, which she had originally sensed would have been completed within a week.

But now, she has decided to use the purest fairy energy in the Horn of Xerneas to thoroughly "wash" her body inside and out.

The method is simple: keep using Fairy-type moves to empty your body of energy, then absorb energy from Xerneas Horn to replenish it.

This cycle repeats continuously, constantly increasing the purity of energy within the body, while also using energy to temper the body.

The purpose of doing this is simply to fully utilize his potential during his Ibrahimovic phase, so that he can have more room for growth in the future.

In the final period of his previous life, Eevee found that his progress was becoming increasingly slow after entering the Elite Four level.

At that time, she realized that with her original qualifications, the highest she could achieve was only the champion level.

Clearly, there are differences between champions, and Ibrahimovic doesn't want to be the one at the bottom of the pack.

Moreover, having been given a second chance at life, her goals and ambitions go far beyond that.

Now that a natural talent development tool is right in front of me, how could I possibly miss it?

The only regret is that I'm too close to the point of evolution.

Enduring evolution is an extremely painful process, especially for those who are stronger. However, there is one item that can help you: the Everstone.

This thing isn't expensive, I can find a reason to ask Xia Chen to get one for me later.

In addition to improving its own attributes, the antlers can also enhance Ralts' fairy attributes.

But there's no rush. We can find an opportunity to coax that naive girl later.

------

January 20th.

Xia Chen left Fragrant City before the seven-day mourning period for the Divine Tree was over, and continued his travels in Carlos.

He imparted all his ideas about the Grand Contest to Ma Xiu without reservation, so there was little point in keeping them in Aroma City.

Although Ma Xiu was reluctant to part with him, she did not try to persuade him to stay.

She understood that although Xia Chen seemed lazy, his goals were clearer than anyone else's, and no one could keep him in one place forever.

They also had many things to do. Besides their jobs at the dojo and in costume design, they were now preparing for the first Grand Contest. Neither of them had much time to waste on romance.

Besides, Xia Chen is only sixteen years old, and I feel a little guilty about starting to do embroidery now.

Shouldn't we wait until at least the seventeenth?

Anyway, she wasn't that much older than him. According to the Donghuang proverb, "A woman three years older than her husband is like holding a gold brick," he could hold almost three gold bricks.

As for competition, without boasting, in terms of appearance, she is beautiful and charming; in terms of personality, she is gentle and generous; and in terms of assets, she is approachable with hundreds of millions.

In terms of status, she's a gym leader, a world-renowned fashion designer, and perhaps in the future, she'll also be the mother of grand fashion contests.

Besides growing up with Xia Chen, what does that little girl have to compete with me?

Besides, there's a saying in her hometown that even a green plum can't withstand a gift from heaven.

Moreover, this unexpected arrival is also a crucial partner for Xia Chen in creating the future of the Grand Contest. The two of them might even be written into history books together in future generations.

With all the advantages of timing, location, and people, Miss Maxiu was not in a hurry at all.

Right now, the priority is to make this crucial inaugural glamour pageant a success.

This can be considered the fruit of my and Xia Chen's love.

Thinking of this, Ma Xiu felt even more motivated.

…………

Xia Chen originally wanted to catch a Flying-type Pokémon that could carry people before setting off, but according to Ma Xiu, there were no suitable Pokémon around Xiangxun City, so he could only ride his bicycle and set off again.

Fortunately, we haven't entered any particularly rugged mountain roads yet, and the bicycle that Vladali gave him is easy to ride.

His next destination was Windsor Town, a rural town quite different from the international metropolis of Miaret.

Because he was staying in Xiangxun City for a few more days than expected, Xia Chen rode much faster on this section of the road than before.

He left Fragrance City in the morning and arrived at the famous hotel in the Carlos region, located between Fragrance City and Windblown Town, in the evening.

Abandoned hotel.

It wasn't that the hotel owner chose such a name because it looked like no one would visit; rather, the hotel, as the name suggests, was an abandoned hotel.

Due to the passage of time, the hotel's original name has long been forgotten.

Since that horrific incident thirty years ago, the abandoned hotel, though not destroyed, has been abandoned and no one has dared to take over or renovate it.