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

…………

Next, a heads-up: I'll be getting featured on the recommendation list these next few days, so there might be a surge in updates. I hope everyone will support me and try to increase my subscriptions during this period. (It's also possible that I won't be updating as much if I'm not feeling well.)

After that nerf, it's become increasingly difficult to get fanfiction recommendations. I waited over a month and only got the worst one. Hopefully, this isn't the last one I'll recommend.

One last request for monthly votes at the end of the month. I've already paid off all my rewards for this month, can you give me some more motivation?

Chapter 269 Golden and Sparkling, the Money-Gathering Spirit Evolves! (Daily)

17 votes! (Please vote with monthly tickets!)

So Leton thought the beginner quests were bizarre enough, but the advanced quests that followed were even more shocking.

Fighting Sylveon is one thing, at least it's an internal team competition and won't be seen by other people or Pokémon, but what the heck is this second task?

[To win a battle for the trainer, provided they have participated at least once.]

This is an incredibly difficult mission!

For Leighton, the difficulty certainly doesn't lie in winning the championship.

Does it mean that he wants to bully a group of children who may be a hundred times younger than him in front of everyone?

I've already recovered to the King-level, while what kind of competitions is Xia Chen participating in?

A competition that even gym-level trainers wouldn't participate in!

Therefore, Leighton listened to Xia Chen's plan for the next period of time.

After traveling in Padia until July or August, he will participate in a major tournament called the World Youth Pokémon Battle Championship.

This is the last competition he will participate in. As for other smaller competitions, Xia Chen, with the same mindset, disdains to participate.

The problem is that even world-class competitions have to be prefixed with "youth".

This means that all the participants in the competition are people of the same age as Xia Chen.

After observing for a period of time, Gu Leton was very certain that no one of his age could beat Xia Chen, let alone himself, a king-level player.

Therefore, Leighton was in a bit of a dilemma.

If Xia Chen participates in any championship challenge, world championship, or eight-master tournament in the future, it would be acceptable for him to play on his own.

Play a small youth tournament

I feel like if I actually make a move, this match will become a stain on my life.

Wherever they go, elves will secretly sneer behind their backs, "That's it! A legendary elf like that actually went to the Baby Cup to fry fish! How shameless!"

If word gets back to the other villagers in my hometown, will I still be able to live a decent life?

Oh wait, it seems like I can't go back now.

This is yet another sad story.

Complaining is one thing, grumbling is another.

After much deliberation, and remembering that the 200,000 points were still waiting for him in the store, Leighton decided to put aside his concerns.

After all, compared to points, face is worthless.

Otherwise, I can't just wait until Xia Chen goes to the championship challenge to complete this task, can I?

That was several years later. Even without the universal healing capsule, his strength would probably have recovered to about 70-80%.

Therefore, the match must be played.

Moreover, I not only have to do this task, but I also have to do it well.

The system notification that the task was completed clearly indicated that points were linked to task completion.

If we continue to slack off like we did in the first task, the points we can get will probably be negligible.

So Leighton scratched his head, thinking, "This is really troublesome."

Life is tough, even mythical beasts sigh.

…………

Perhaps due to the severity of his previous injuries, the Godfather of the Mastiffs appeared to be in slightly worse spirits than Gullington, but compared to his initial listless state, he had made a great improvement.

Seeing that the secret seasoning was truly effective, Papa was overjoyed and left Suza the next day, his purpose naturally being to travel to Padiya in search of a second secret seasoning.

Xia Chen did not leave with them. Pai Pa was responsible for searching, while Xia Chen was responsible for fighting. They each did their own job.

Moreover, he had other things to do while staying in Xuezha City.

One reason is to collect the gold coins from the Money-Gathering Spirit, and the other is to await the initial results of the research on the secret plant.

Both proceeded steadily while merging into the same lane.

On the third day after Jiang Qian's research team arrived in Xuezha City, the latter achieved a preliminary interim result.

"The research subject codenamed [Salty Secret Plant] has completed preliminary data collection and research analysis. In short, it has very low requirements for the growth environment, including sunlight, water and soil. It is expected to be planted on a large scale in Donghuang. The seeds have also been stored and can be further planted in Padiya and Donghuang respectively."

The research team leader, a middle-aged man with black-rimmed glasses and a hairstyle that exudes persuasiveness whether he were a doctor or a researcher, reported in this manner.

Xia Chen tapped the table lightly with his finger and suddenly asked, "If, according to you, the plant has very low requirements for its growing environment, then why hasn't it spread widely in the Parthian region?"

The man with the strong hairstyle adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and explained, "The primary way plants spread is through bird spirits eating the fruit and then dispersing the seeds contained in their droppings through flight. So there's only one answer."

He paused for a moment, then very tactfully passed on the most rewarding part to his boss.

Xia Chen nodded and continued, "The fruits of the secret plant have always been firmly controlled by the Master of Qiangang."

The team leader snapped his fingers, subtly praising, "A very accurate answer!"

After a slight pause, he continued, "However, I suggest that we set up one of our experimental sites in Padiya at the rocky spot where you found the plant. We still haven't figured out the active ingredients in this fruit that produce healing effects, so we need to set up several control sites for our experiments."

Xia Chen nodded, saying nonchalantly, "Sure, if you have an idea, go for it. I'll try to rent or buy a piece of that place."

His confidence doesn't stem from knowing Ye Ci; league champions don't care about that.

His confidence stems from his money.

With enough money, there's no problem taking over an abandoned quarry.

The commercial development of the secret seasoning has been temporarily put on hold. To move forward, the secret plant needs to be widely cultivated.

Meanwhile, the Money Spirit's gold coin collection plan continues.

…………

The number of wealth-seeking spirits in Azashi is much smaller than in Niangguang City, but they are generally much "richer".

Although only three Money-Gathering Spirits were caught in three days, the "gold content" in the treasure chests of these three Money-Gathering Spirits was not low at all, providing Xia Chen with a total of more than 110 gold coins.

With the original 800-plus coins, only 70-odd coins remain to reach the total target of 1,000.

If you're lucky enough, catching two more Money-Gathering Spirits will help your Money-Gathering Spirit evolve.

With such expectations, Xia Chen now goes out to eat breakfast, afternoon tea (which he hadn't gotten into the habit of before), in addition to lunch and dinner.

All for the sake of increasing the chances of "encountering" the shady, money-grabbing spirits in the city.

Finally, on the fifth day after arriving in Suzaku City, at noon, Xia Chen obtained the last gold coin to complete his evolution from a wild Money Spirit.

After releasing the wild money-stealing spirit, Xia Chen returned to his residence with a feeling of excitement.

Before long, a significant ceremony was about to begin in Xia Chen's room.

The Rotom cell phone floats in the air, its camera focused on the money-grubbing spirit inside the treasure chest, looking tense.

Off-camera, there were elves gathered in a circle, filled with blessings and curiosity.

Xia Chen held the last of the thousand gold coins in his hand, his heart filled with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

Although this is an evolutionary method spoken of by the ancient Roaring Tail, nothing is certain until evolution is truly successful.

What if only ancient money-gathering spirits can evolve?

Although he was also very nervous, Xia Chen kept reassuring the money spirit not to be nervous.

Finally, in the rather tense atmosphere, the last gold coin fell into the Money-Gathering Spirit's little treasure chest.

One second, two seconds, three seconds

Xia Chen, Suo Cailing, and all the surrounding elves tensed up and adjusted their breathing to manual mode.

Suddenly, a burst of golden light shone from the treasure chest.

The blinding light made Xia Chen, who was staring at the treasure chest, unconsciously squint. Then, the golden light gradually dimmed and softened, turning into the signature white light of evolution.

At this moment, the treasure-hunting spirit inside the treasure chest also began to change, its short body gradually growing larger and taller, like a compressed towel that had come into contact with water.

Soon, it grew from a tiny figure that was only about 20 or 30 centimeters tall into a humanoid figure that was nearly 1.5 meters tall.

As the light of evolution gradually faded, the true face of the Money-Seeking Spirit, or rather, the Rich Man, was finally revealed to Xia Chen.

It was a golden, glittering humanoid elf, its entire body composed of a thousand gold coins, with a somewhat abstract appearance.

As for why it's called abstract, and where the abstraction lies...

The cylindrical body, cylindrical arms and legs, and the four cylindrical hairs on its head inexplicably reminded Xia Chen of the cartoon mascot of a very famous lemonade from his previous life, 7UP.

It's not just very similar, it's practically identical.

…………

"Thump! (I really evolved! Is this what I look like after evolving?)"

Sai Fuhao looked at his golden new body with delight and seemed extremely satisfied.

It confidently posed in various ways for Rotom to take its picture.

It's hard to say whether I was taking a photo or trying out what movements my body could do.

The treasure chest hanging from its waist swayed back and forth with its large body movements.

Xia Chen then realized that the treasure chest seemed to be the same one that the Money-Seeking Spirit had carried before.

He chuckled and shook his head. Even after becoming wealthy, he still retained his original dream; he truly hasn't forgotten his roots.

Seeing that the evolution of the Money-Seeking Spirit was over, Little Dragon was the first to rush to Sai Fuhao's side, looking at its brand-new golden body with curiosity and envy.

It's not that I envy a body made of gold, but rather that I envy evolution.