Pokémon: Starting as a Pokémon Researcher with Milotic

"Although I cannot take on disciples, I can still ask you, King Shi, for some knowledge in my spare time."

"That works too. I don't want to see a pearl go to waste."

Ye Chen thought for a moment and asked, "I want to train my Xiong 0.1 apprentice during the summer vacation, but I don't know which aspect I should focus on?"

"Your apprentice has already built an incredibly solid foundation. The most important thing for fighting elves is practical combat experience, so I suggest you let your apprentice participate in more actual combat. Only through combat can he understand what he lacks."

Shi Heng paused for a moment, then continued, "Soon, there will be a fighting spirit battle competition at the top of Mount Hua. If you want your apprentice Xiong to participate in real combat, that's the best place."

Chapter 163 Fighting-Type Pokémon Tournament!

As Shi Heng recounted the story, Ye Chen gained some understanding of the competition held atop Mount Hua.

The Xia Kingdom has had many martial arts schools since ancient times. However, with the arrival of elves, human strength became insignificant, and martial arts declined for a time. But with the emergence of trainers, the leaders of these martial arts schools discovered another promising path in elves.

Imagine combining martial arts techniques with spirit training, like a superhuman strength mastering Bajiquan, a flying kick mastering the 72-style Tan Tui, or a swordsman-like Onion Warrior...

Thanks to the high compatibility between Fighting-type Pokémon and martial arts, these martial arts styles have risen again and become a force to be reckoned with in the League.

The martial arts exchange tournament, which used to be held every 26 years, has been renamed the Fighting-type Pokémon Tournament. It has become a Pokémon battle competition between different schools of Pokémon. The competition is divided into youth and master groups, and the rewards for each competition are very generous.

As time went on, the Fighting-type Pokémon Tournament was no longer limited to specific styles. As its reputation spread, many trainers with Fighting-type Pokémon could participate, making it a competition open to all Fighting-type trainers.

The Youth Group is a competition among trainers under the age of 25, while the Master Group is a competition among trainers over the age of 25. Ye Chen naturally participated in the Youth Group.

"A Fighting-type Pokémon tournament? Do participating Pokémon have to be Fighting-type?"

“That’s right, but the competition rules are one-on-one, so you don’t need to worry about having only one Fighting-type Pokémon.”

Ye Chen nodded and said, "I originally thought there was no such thing as martial arts in the world, and that those chivalrous heroes were just made up in novels. It feels like participating in a competition between martial arts sects, which is quite interesting."

Shi Heng smiled and shook his head, saying, "In the end, it's just some techniques and moves, nothing as magical as you think. This world is still the world of elves, but it does have a bit of the atmosphere of the martial arts world that you can experience."

The system will issue timely prompts.

"Trigger option: Fighting-type Pokémon Tournament: "

Option 1: Participate in the Fighting-type Pokémon Tournament and achieve excellent results. Rewards will be given based on the final results (minimum top 16).

Option 2: Do not participate in the Fighting-type Pokémon Tournament. Reward: Black Belt *1.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen immediately said in his heart, "I choose option one: to participate in the competition."

He had originally planned to take his apprentice Xiong to increase his practical combat experience, and of course he wouldn't refuse the reward. Moreover, based on his previous experience in the Southwest University Tournament, he could imagine that the rewards for this kind of mission would be very generous, so Ye Chen naturally couldn't just miss it.

"The match is on July 15th, so don't let me down."

Ye Chen asked, "Are you also going to participate in this competition?"

"No, I'm a judge. Since I became the King of Fighters, I've been invited to be a judge for almost every major tournament."

797 Ye Chen had previously thought that Shi Heng would participate in the Master Group competition, but he didn't expect him to be a judge. Upon closer reflection, this result was understandable.

People usually participate in these kinds of competitions either for fame or for profit.

You have to understand that Shi Heng is already the Fighting King, and is recognized by everyone as the strongest Fighting-type trainer. Naturally, he would not covet the title of champion of this mere Fighting Pokémon Tournament.

As for Li, if he's willing to bully the weak for the sake of a small reward in a competition, what about his reputation?

Although there were many trainers older than him among the participants, in terms of status and strength, Shi Heng's participation was indeed an act of bullying the younger ones.

Chapter 164 Amazing!

After seeing Shi Heng off, Ye Chen and Mu Xue stared at each other in the villa's living room, bewildered.

Ye Chen couldn't help but touch his face and said, "Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something dirty on my face?"

Mu Xue looked Ye Chen up and down with a look of surprise: "You also awakened their so-called willpower? I heard Shi Heng say before that there are probably no more than five people in the whole world who have successfully awakened this thing, and you succeeded after listening to just one lesson?"

Ye Chen waved his hands humbly, saying, "Just lucky, it's nothing to mention!"

"If a boy who can train a gym-level Pokémon at the age of 18, publishes several world-influencing papers on Pokémon, and awakens the so-called ultimate fighting power of martial artists after hearing it only once, is not worth mentioning, then there is no one worth mentioning in the world."

Actually, Mu Xue had something else she didn't say. She also suspected that Ye Chen himself was the creator of those top-tier energy cubes. After all, judging from his achievements, it was hard to believe he would act as someone else's agent.

Therefore, that mysterious master breeder may very well be himself!

Hearing Mu Xue's words, Ye Chen's expression remained unchanged, but he said aloud, "Oh, not at all, I'm only a tiny bit stronger than the average person!"

"See what you can do."

"If I remember correctly, the King of Fighters tournament will start around the time school starts, right? So, are you confident?"

Mu Xue shook her head and said, "Thanks to your top-tier energy cube, my main Pokémon have made some minor breakthroughs, but there is still a gap between them and Shi Heng and Yi Yunfei. It won't be easy to surpass them."

These two have held the position of Four Heavenly Kings for nearly twenty years, and there is a considerable gap between them and Mu Xue and another Four Heavenly King. It is unrealistic to think that they can overtake them with some top-level energy cubes.

Ye Chen nodded without speaking, a plan already taking shape in his mind.

"By the way, I have to go out in a few days to participate in this year's Fighting Spirit Tournament. I'll have to trouble you again then."

Mu Xue rolled her eyes and said, "Luckily, the dangers in the country were eliminated some time ago, otherwise, with your love of running around, I don't know how much trouble you would have caused. Oh well, what can I do? I owe you from my past life. Just call me when you're leaving."

Ye Chen chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I'll give you something in a while. Maybe you can use it to improve your Heavenly King ranking."

Before Mu Xue could ask any further questions, Ye Chen had already opened the door and gone back, leaving her to keep wondering what it was that could improve her strength.

Once you reach this level, it becomes extremely difficult to make any further progress.

After returning home, Ye Chen immediately devised a new training plan for his apprentice, Xiong. The opponent he would face in this Fighting Spirit Tournament (Zhao Nuo Zhao) was definitely stronger than the one in the Southwest University Tournament.

Moreover, the system rewards are based on the final results. With Xiong's current strength, it would be very difficult for him to win the youth group championship. Therefore, Ye Chen could only try to strengthen his strength as much as possible during this period.

"After using his willpower, Xiong's apprentice can briefly possess the strength of a senior-level expert, but even that is certainly not enough. He needs to break through to at least the mid-advanced level before setting off."

Chapter 166 The Hanging Scroll of Evil, College Entrance Examination

In order to improve the bear apprentice's strength as soon as possible, Ye Chen rearranged a new training plan for it.

Over the next few days, Xiong's training volume increased by at least 50% compared to before. At the same time, Ye Chen personally made a large number of top-level fighting-type energy cubes to ensure that Xiong's disciples had sufficient nutrition.

A few days later, Ye Chen was surprised to find that his apprentice Xiong's progress was ridiculously fast, even faster than he had expected. Even though it had great talent, its physical fitness had improved significantly in just a few days.

Later, Ye Chen discovered that Xiong's apprentice had secretly adjusted the gravity multiplier of the weight training suit from 2 times to 2.5 times.

Don't underestimate this seemingly small multiplier of 0.5. It's important to know that the multiplier Ye Chen adjusted for Xiong's apprentice was the most suitable for its current physical strength. If Xiong's apprentice were to increase its own load without authorization, it could easily damage its body.

Moreover, Ye Chen had increased its training by 50% without its knowledge, so you can imagine how hard the bear apprentice had been working these past few days.

Fortunately, Ye Chen later found no hidden injuries during his examination, thanks to Xiong's incredibly strong physical resilience.

"You mustn't do that again. Although I want you to improve your strength quickly, that can't be done if 797's body is injured!"

There are too many examples in this world of forcing Pokémon into high-intensity training, resulting in irreparable damage to their bodies. Once such damage occurs, it is very likely that the Pokémon will never be able to improve again!

Garchomp is able to absorb energy by taking hits because it has the power of a legendary Pokémon as its backing, plus Ye Chen's Everlasting Power, which is why it can so recklessly exchange its strength for an increase in power through almost self-harm.

However, since Xiong's apprentice didn't have those skills, and only had the power of Changpan, Ye Chen wasn't confident that he could guarantee 100% that nothing would go wrong.

Ye Chen didn't want his apprentice Xiong to take such a risk just for a competition, even though the final reward was very generous.

"In my heart, you are far more important than any competition, do you understand?"

Seeing Ye Chen's sincere eyes, Xiong's apprentice nodded heavily!

Although it said nothing, the invisible bond between the human and the elf deepened once again. It seemed useless, but this power of the mind was indirectly increasing the waveguide connection (cgab) between the two.

Because the bear apprentice had increased the gravity factor to 2.5 times and adapted to this gravity without getting injured, it meant that it had quietly broken through its own limit.

Therefore, Ye Chen did not adjust the multiplier back. His apprentice Xiong's resilience exceeded his expectations, both physically and mentally.

The end of the year was fast approaching, and the most important exam for senior high school students was just around the corner, which Ye Chen hadn't planned to take.

Since he had already been admitted to Beijing University through a special admission program, taking the college entrance examination would take up several days of his time. Right now, Ye Chen was fully focused on training his apprentice Xiong, and every day was crucial.

But why didn't the system react to this important event and immediately give a choice?

Option 1: Take the college entrance examination and become the top scorer in Sichuan Province. Reward: 1 scroll of evil.

Option Two: Skip the college entrance exam and go directly to Beijing University for registration after the semester starts. Reward: 1 random sprite egg.

Ye Chen's energy is currently entirely consumed by his bear apprentice, so he has no plans to train another Pokémon for the time being, thus eliminating the second option.

The reward for the first option is quite intriguing. The Scroll of Evil is a treasure that originally hung on the top floor of the Tower of Evil. After taking the Bear Apprentice to observe the Scroll of Evil, the Bear Apprentice can evolve into a Martial Arts Bear Master (One-Strike Style).

7 six 3 four eight 0 one five 7

This is undoubtedly a great thing for other people who have Xiong as their apprentice, but it's a bit of a dilemma for Ye Chen.

In his vision, the best outcome for the Bear Apprentice after its evolution would be to master both the One-Hit Strike Style and the Combo Style. What if the Bear Apprentice evolved after observing the Evil Scroll?

It's important to know that reality is different from games; in reality, there's no "B" button to stop your evolution.

"System, is there any way to ensure that the bear apprentice only masters the power within the scroll of evil without evolving?"

"Ding, two methods have been detected. One is that the host can use the Everlasting Stone to force the bear apprentice to remain in its current form. The drawback is that it cannot evolve, which means the bear apprentice cannot fully obtain the power in the Scroll of Evil."

In other words, it has been grasped, but not fully grasped.

Ye Chen frowned. Although this method could allow Xiong's disciple to master the secrets of the One-Strike Style, the fact that he hadn't fully mastered it would inevitably lead to an imbalance between the two powers within his body after he evolved into the Combo Style.

"What's another way?"