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

This month, we collected over 380 gold coins, while Lao Su collected over 400, bringing the progress to over 80%.

Basically, if you search for another ten days to half a month in a metropolis like Brewmaster City, the Money-Grubber will be able to complete its evolution.

"Good job!"

Xia Chen praised generously, saying that although the evolution of the Money-Seeking Spirit was only a matter of time after knowing the evolution conditions, it was better to do it sooner rather than later.

What if that Roaring Tail reveals its evolution method to someone else?

Xia Chen was very satisfied with the results of this afternoon's battle. Not only did he resolve the issue with the Tianxing team, but he also took a big step forward in his research on the evolution path of the Money-Seeking Spirit.

Watching the sun gradually set in the west, Xia Chen recalled the elves and straddled Gu Le Dun.

"Let's go, Guleton."

After the round trip, plus the time spent communicating with Lao Suo, it was already dusk when we returned to the camp, and we could see wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys in the distance.

It was Mingyi who was preparing dinner.

To be honest, after being around Xia Chen for so long, a normal person should have already developed excellent cooking skills. For example, his personal disciple Gardevoir already has 70% of Xia Chen's abilities.

But Mingyi is truly impervious to all persuasion. She's better now, but at the beginning she was a terrible cook who couldn't tell the difference between salt and sugar. Even if Snorlax came, she would have to lie down and leave.

Right now, at least the wild elves who come to freeload are enjoying their food.

Xia Chen had Milotic spray a small water gun, quickly washed his hands, and then ran over to help. The two chatted as they cooked.

"How's the matter with the money-gathering spirit going?"

Mingyi put the very abstractly chopped potato pieces into the pot, asking as she did so.

"Very smoothly, we're just one step away from evolution."

Xia Chen looked somewhat troubled, not because of the money spirit, but because of the amount of curry cubes Mingyi had poured into the pot.

He quickly stopped him, "That's enough, don't put it down. By the way, what's the nearest major city to us?"

"The nearest major cities, besides Niangguang City, are Fukabo City and Ayaza City, one to the south and the other to the north, depending on where you want to go."

After a moment's thought, Xia Chen asked, "Is Xuezha City the city that's famous for its minerals?"

It seems that the ancient town and gold mine mentioned in that book, where Sai Fuhao once lived, are located nearby.

Although it has now been confirmed that the evolution of the Money-Gathering Spirit is not related to its location, since there are Rich Man in that area, there might be many Money-Gathering Spirits living there.

"How about we go to Xuezha City next?"

Xia Chen had just made the suggestion when he remembered something else, "Oh, I don't think there's a dojo over there?"

Mingyi shook her head and said, "It's okay, let's go there. I spent a month just fighting at the Brewmaster Gym. Let's improve our strength first before continuing to challenge. I'm not in a hurry."

Xia Chen didn't stand on ceremony with her, nodded, and thus confirmed the next stop on the trip.

…………

However, plans can change. Not long after the destination was decided, Xia Chen received a phone call after dinner.

A phone call he had been waiting for for a long time, coming to Pipa.

"Xia Chen, there's been progress on the matter of the treasure master and the secret seasoning! Are you free lately?"

Piper sounded excited on the other end of the phone, which was understandable, as he had finally found it after a month of searching in the wild.

Since it concerned Guleton's recovery, Xia Chen naturally had to postpone other matters. "Yes, go ahead."

"This Pokémon is called a Steelix, and it's a Velkhana. It's located west of Brewmaster City, near Rocky Hill in East District 3. Its strength is unknown, but it's seven or eight times the size of a normal Velkhana! We need to prepare for a tough battle!"

Seven or eight times?

Xia Chen was somewhat surprised. Although the Tuotuo worm was an earthworm spirit, it was quite large. An adult Tuotuo worm was at least two meters long.

A rough estimate suggests that this precious worm is nearly 20 meters long!

What is this concept?

Among the more famous large Pokémon in the Pokédex, Steelix is ​​only about ten meters long. This Worm is as long as two Steelixes put together!

Although size and strength are not directly related, such a large Pokémon must weigh at least two or three tons, and it would be unable to withstand a heavy impact from any of its attacks.

Defeating it is by no means an easy task.

Undoubtedly, its growth to this size is entirely thanks to that secret seasoning, and Xia Chen now fully believes it can heal Gu Leton's injuries.

The Rocky Grounds in the East Third District are not far from the Imprinted Forest. If we set off tomorrow morning and don't stop, we can get there before noon.

Having arranged to meet Piper the next day, Xia Chen hung up the phone.

Silent all night.

The next morning, after a quick breakfast, Xia Chen and Ming Yi set off again for the rocky area located west of the Imprint Forest.

After a night's rest and recovery, Mingyi's motorcycle lizard was full of energy, not to mention Leton, whose stamina allowed it to run for three days and three nights without stopping.

Following the route navigated by Rotom's mobile phone, the two arrived at Piper's location before midnight, an abandoned quarry that had been abandoned more than a decade ago.

After not seeing him for half a month, Pipa looked much more haggard. His once artistic medium-length hair was now greasy, and his face was covered in a scruffy beard, making him look like a wild man who had appeared out of nowhere.

"Oh, you've finally arrived!"

He was having lunch with his elves, which consisted of only a few sandwiches and some energy cubes, and looked quite meager.

"You're going to eat this?"

Xia Chen began to question the identity of the chef at Pipa.

Papa said with a wry smile, "We've been wandering around outside for more than half a month, and we're almost out of ammunition and food."

Xia Chen was speechless. "Alright, wait a moment, I'll cook."

Although he was working hard to heal his dog godfather's injuries, Leighton also benefited from it, and Xia Chen felt deep sympathy and gratitude for his plight.

After setting up the portable automatic stove, Xia Chen decided to give this Padiya chef a little taste of Eastern cuisine.

…………

At two o'clock in the afternoon, there was not a single scrap of food left on the rocky ground that served as a makeshift dining table. Even so, the Mastiff Godfather still used his tongue to finish every plate.

"Phew~ Thank you for the treat! This is the best meal I've had in the past two weeks, and in my entire life!"

Pipa, half-lying back against his backpack, patted his belly and expressed his gratitude.

It's certainly not the most delicious food in the true sense, but after eating sandwiches for half a month, Pipa's words were so sincere.

"Let's talk about this Qiangangbao Master without being too polite."

Xia Chen steered the conversation back to the objective.

When the conversation turned to business, Piper became serious, sat up straighter, and took out his phone, Rotom.

"Rotom, play that video."

The phone Rotom immediately flew between Piper and Xia Chen, and started playing a video.

The image shows a place with huge, haphazardly placed stones, which appears to be somewhere in this quarry.

A few seconds later, the stable screen suddenly started shaking, and at the same time, the sound of the ground trembling could be heard from the phone. The vibrations became stronger and stronger, and the scene was very similar to an earthquake.

However, this was not an earthquake.

In the video, a rut about two meters wide stretches out from a distance, and wherever the rut goes, countless pieces of soil and stones surge up from the ground, creating a truly awe-inspiring scene.

"This hidden steel treasure is quite good for arable land."

Xia Chen joked, "My subconscious farming mindset is starting to wander."

In the video, the steel worm plows several hundred meters of land in a winding path before emerging from the ground, revealing its true form—a round, red earthworm head.

Logically speaking, an earthworm with a diameter of two meters should have a very strange appearance, but this Qiangangbaozhu looks inexplicably cute.

Upon closer inspection, Xia Chen realized that what gave him this feeling were its particularly dull and lifeless eyes, and its large mouth that was unconsciously half-open, as if it were babbling in a daze.

If you put a picture of the universe and starry sky as a background on this image and made it into a "born of a mother" emoji, it would fit perfectly without any sense of incongruity.

The rest of the video is nothing more than an endless loop of the Steel Treasure digging, popping out, and standing there blankly; there's nothing worth watching anymore.

After turning off the recording, Piper said, "This is all we know about the Potential Steel Lord for now. As for its specific strength, I don't dare to provoke it to verify."

Xia Chen waved his hand, "It's alright, that's enough."

If the Steel Giant is no different from a regular worm except for its size, you can plan your tactics the same way you would against a giant worm.

Although Tuttoworm is an earthworm, it is a pure Steel type Pokémon, not a Steel/Ground type Pokémon.

This is somewhat disadvantageous for Xia Chen. If it were a steel-type ground-type, Milotic's weakness to water-type attacks would allow it to perform better.

The pure steel worm has only three weaknesses: Ground, Fire, and Fighting. Its Ground weakness can be negated by its [Soil Eater] ability, leaving it with only two weaknesses.

There aren't any Fire-type Pokémon themselves; the only moves they know are magic and fire. As for Fighting-type Pokémon...

Xia Chen looked at Gu Leton, who was playing a tire-spinning game with Xiao Duolong.

"After all, we're helping you regain your strength, so you should do your part, right?"

Therefore, Leighton pressed down on the tire that was being spun around in front of his chest by the little dragon and nodded.

Of course I will take action.

More than half a month has passed, and Guleton's strength has recovered somewhat naturally. At present, he is still a bit short of the gym level, but he is considered a relatively strong and usable combat force.

[However, you didn't want to steal the old money-grubbing spirit's gold coins yesterday, so why are you trying to steal the worm's stuff today?]

Therefore, Leighton joked: "[In your human terms, double standards?]"

That's a good question. Xia Chen thought for a moment and replied, "I can answer you from several perspectives. For example, there is a difference in the moral implications of bullying the weak versus challenging the strong."

"Secondly, whether Old Su's gold coins were stolen or found, their conversion into gold coins was thanks to his treasure chest. These gold coins are his earnings, but was the secret seasoning planted by the Master of the Steel Treasure? He is also a consumer, not a producer."

"Third, gold coins might be Old Thor's hope for survival, but the secret seasoning is not."

Therefore, Leighton felt that something was wrong with what Xia Chen said, but he couldn't find a point to refute it, so he could only mutter: [sophistry]

Xia Chen glanced at it. "Last and most importantly, I took this thing to heal your injuries."

Therefore, Leighton lowered his head and remained silent, his face appearing slightly red.

Xia Chen: "."

You genderless lizard, why are you blushing like a teapot?!