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

As for the [Gardedor Stone], we'll have to wait until that giant rock is unearthed before we can even talk about it.

As I recall, that ruin was somewhere near Liuli City?

…………

As the car passed through the busy city center, its speed increased.

After driving for nearly another hour, Xia Chen finally left the forest of reinforced concrete and arrived at the outskirts of Kanaz City.

After saying goodbye to Kuroda, Xia Chen boarded the Guleton and followed Rotom's navigation system to Meteor Falls.

Actually, you don't need navigation. After flying for a while, the place where several Salamence seem to be patrolling hovers in the sky is most likely Meteor Falls.

Xia Chen couldn't think of anywhere else with such a spectacle besides that place.

"So, Leighton, don't be too low-key, put some pressure on them."

Xia Chen gently patted the large lizard beneath him, and the latter understood, revealing a slight aura—not much, but at the Heavenly King level.

It's not about hiding our talents or pretending to be weak to take advantage of others; the main problem is that if we do any more, it will cause panic among these dragon cubs.

Even so, the aura of a Celestial King was enough to alert the few Salamence. As Xia Chen and Gu Leton gradually approached, the two Salamence broke away from the patrol team.

One flew downwards as if to deliver a message, while the other flapped its blood-red wings and flew towards Xia Chen, faithfully fulfilling its duty to protect the safety of Meteor Village.

"Roar—(Stop! Do not move forward!)"

From a distance of nearly 100 meters, Salamence roared a warning to the powerful Dragon-type Pokémon it had never seen before not to come any closer.

Although its strength is only at the Gym level, it represents the Meteor Village, which has been passed down for thousands of years. A single Elite Four Pokémon can't cause any trouble here.

This is the source of Salamence's confidence.

Xia Chen came here to investigate super evolution and had no intention of clashing with the local tyrants, so he did not let Gu Leton continue forward.

He then called out towards the direction of the Salamence, "I am an envoy from Dragon Island. I have come here only to pay a visit and have no ill intentions."

Legend has it that Dragon Island is the birthplace of dragon-type spirits. Logically, it should have some status in a place that reveres the dragon god, so Xia Chen used this excuse to show goodwill.

As expected, the attitude of the Salamence opposite Xia Chen changed subtly as soon as he said those words.

However, unlike what Xia Chen had imagined, which was in a benevolent direction, a strong fighting spirit rose in Bao Feilong's eyes.

Good heavens, it seems these Meteorites aren't entirely convinced of the dragon race's legitimacy!

Xia Chen clicked his tongue and came to this conclusion.

However, he did not regret getting involved with Dragon Island; having a fighting spirit is always better than having an ordinary, indifferent mindset.

You can develop a deep friendship with the former after you've won him over and gained his approval, but with the latter, no matter how things develop, it will only ever be a superficial acquaintance.

…………

Under the curious yet wary gaze of the Salamence, Xia Chen and Gu Leton hovered in the air for a while before the arrival of the first human.

A Garchomp leaped into the air, with a beautiful, spirited young woman with black hair and bright eyes crouching on its back.

Xia Chen's eyes were solemn, because he had detected the strength of that Garchomp from afar using his Aura power. It was a three-star gym leader, close to the Elite Four!

But that girl clearly didn't look more than a few years older than me.

Xia Chen clicked his tongue slightly. Is this the legendary genius girl from the "hidden family"?

Joking aside, he could roughly guess why the girl was able to have such a powerful Garchomp at such a young age.

This place is isolated from the world, with almost no contact with the outside world. Naturally, there is no restriction from the League that allows people to raise Pokémon from the age of sixteen. This should be the most important reason.

Even so, someone who could gain the approval of a quasi-god at such a young age must not be an ordinary person.

Just as Garchomp met the Salamence guarding Xia Chen, the girl leaped up and gracefully landed on the Salamence's back.

Xia Chen broke out in a cold sweat. This was hundreds of meters in the air! Wasn't she afraid of slipping and falling?

Looking up at the sun, which was hanging directly in the center of the sky, Xia Chen thought to himself that the saying "such dangerous things can only be done at noon" really did hold true, because something bad would happen sooner or later.

The graceful girl seemed to be communicating with Salamence before jumping back onto Garchomp.

Immediately, the earth dragon that looked like a shark from the sea but could fly in the sky carried the girl to Xia Chen's side.

"Hello, my name is Xi Jiana. I heard you are an envoy from Dragon Island?"

The girl grinned, revealing her pearly white teeth as she greeted him warmly.

Xia Chen was slightly taken aback, then looked at her smooth, fair skin.

Higana?

They don't look alike at all.

Shouldn't Higanbana's skin be a healthy tan?

Could it be that I haven't gotten a tan yet?

And Sigana also has a Garchomp?

Is this Garchomp's strength actually close to that of a Champion?

Because "汐" and "希" are homophones, Xia Chen mistook the girl in front of him for Xi Jiana.

After all, Xi Jiana died nine years before the start of the story, and her face was never shown. How could Xia Chen possibly recognize her?

Higana is one of only two Meteor Dwellers to appear in the game; the other is her grandmother.

She is also an important character in the remake of Ruby and Sapphire.

…………

Although he found it strange that her appearance did not match his impression, Xia Chen replied with a calm expression, "Yes, I am Xia Chen, a Dragon Tamer from Dragon Island. I heard that there is a group of excellent Dragon-type trainers living here, so I came to pay a visit."

Xi Jiana laughed heartily and said, "No problem, come with me!"

Xia Chen was even more puzzled. Didn't Zivqi say he wanted to gain recognition or something? Was just throwing out a title enough?

It's likely that Leighton's domineering presence also played a significant role.

Pulling their thoughts back, Xia Chen and Gu Leton followed closely behind the Garchomp that had already turned around and swooped down.

Meteor Falls is not outside, but inside a huge cave formed by a meteorite impact a thousand years ago.

So Xia Chen, who had been walking all the way, had not yet seen the waterfall.

As for why this place is called Meteor Waterfall instead of Meteor Cave, Xia Chen wasn't quite sure.

Meteor Village is a hidden village nestled beneath a waterfall in a cave, like a nested doll.

This place used to be the home of the Meteor People, but as their numbers grew, they moved to a plain outside the cave.

The original site has become a kind of ancestral hall, which is only open to villagers during major festivals or sacrificial ceremonies.

Xia Chen learned all of this from Xi Jiana.

It seems that after gaining recognition by using the title of Dragon Island Dragon Master, she also considered Xia Chen as half one of her own.

Xi Jiana also asked Xia Chen a lot of questions.

Questions like "How old are you?", "What kind of elf is Guleton?", "Where is Dragon Island?", and "What is the outside world like?"

It vividly portrays the image of a young girl living in a secluded paradise, unaware of the ways of the world.

Xia Chen answered all questions truthfully, and he told Xi Jiana everything that didn't involve his secret with the elves.

As they chatted, the two walked through a dense forest, and a quiet village on a wide plain came into view.

Houses built of stone and wood are lined up one after another on both sides of the river, looking peaceful and serene.

Flocks of blue-feathered birds and dragon cubs like buzzing bats circled and chirped in the sky, playing and frolicking carefree.

Occasionally, one can even see a few ultrasonic larvae or even rare Pokémon like Dragonair. Xia Chen even saw a silly-looking Dragon Mesia.

The variety and density of Dragon-type Pokémon here are absolutely unmatched in any other wild area.

Of course, except for Dragon Island.

…………

"How about it? Our place isn't any worse than Dragon Island, is it?"

While thinking about Dragon Island, Xi Jiana suddenly asked this question with no small amount of pride.

When faced with questions like "Who is more handsome, me or Xu Gong of the North City?", Xia Chen always answers with great emotional intelligence.

"This place is much better than Dragon Island."

Anyway, he wasn't from Dragon Island, or even from the Imperial Dragon Clan, so he felt no guilt whatsoever when he said those words.

The innocent girl, who had never experienced sweet talk from the outside world, was very happy when Xia Chen coaxed her, and a proud smile appeared on her face.

As she walked further in, the villagers greeted Xi Jiana warmly, then looked at this outsider with curious eyes.

Some younger, innocent children ran over and hugged Xi Jiana's long, white legs, asking in their childish voices, "Sister Xi Jiana, who is this person?"

Xi Jiana would always pat her head affectionately and reply, "A guest from Dragon Island."

Then the little kid will look at Xia Chen with the same look that the Salamence had before.

This made Xia Chen a little scared, and he quickly asked, "Do you not welcome people from Dragon Island?"

Xi Jiana's smile remained bright. "Welcome! You're very welcome!"

Xia Chen: "."

If you soften your tone a little, it might be more believable.

The village is not large, with about a hundred houses. The building in the middle is relatively taller, and the most eye-catching thing is a statue built next to it.

A lifelike statue of Liekong, at least four or five meters long.

Liekong sat down, his body slightly curled up, his four paws clenched loosely, and he roared with his head raised, facing the sky with a firm and unyielding gaze, as if he were facing something that came from the sky.

Xia Chen sensed anger and resistance from the sculpture's theme.

"This is the Dragon God we worship."

Xi Jiana's voice suddenly softened, and there seemed to be something else in her tone besides reverence.

Xia Chen nodded and replied, "We also have a [Dragon God Venerable] on Dragon Island."

"They're definitely not as powerful as our Dragon God."