Tang Dynasty: Starting with Dimo, he was targeted by Li Shimin.

Chapter 16 Li Shimin actually drew the winning number...

The second day after the shelter was activated.

The ground in front of the Magic Curiosity Shop had changed from "slightly damp" to "obviously wet".

Some daring locals even dug a small pit in the ground next to the shop, and the pit slowly filled with water.

The news spread throughout the West Market, then to the East Market, and finally to the imperial court.

By the afternoon, the crowd gathered at the entrance of the Magical Artifacts Shop had exceeded two hundred people.

Cheng Yaojin was ordered to guard the gate, with Duck Jiji perched on his shoulder, the duck and the man acting as security guards.

The effect was excellent—after all, no one dared to provoke a duke who carried two battle axes on his back and had a giant duck perched on his shoulder.

"Make way!! Don't block the way!! What's so interesting to see?!" Cheng Yaojin shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Quack quack!!" Duck Gigi puffed out its chest in agreement.

And inside the store—

Li Shimin has come again.

This time, he didn't even bother changing out of his everyday clothes and came directly wearing his dragon robe.

Anyway, those who need to know already know.

He sat on a chair in the backyard, holding a cup of tea brewed by Xiao Xiao, looking much more relaxed than yesterday.

After all, the ground outside the door was wet—which meant that what the shopkeeper said was true.

Fang Xuanling also came and sat down next to him, holding a cup of tea in his hand.

His expression was much more complex—

As a civil official who believed in Confucianism and valued logic, all of this was far beyond his comprehension.

Water appears out of thin air, fairies grow bigger, a lottery is played using a bronze mirror, and stars appear on your fingers...

He felt he might need to go home and lie in bed for three days to digest it.

"Shopkeeper," Li Shimin put down his teacup and got straight to the point.

"I have a question."

"Please speak." Lin Luo leaned back in his chair, with Dimo ​​resting on his knees.

"You mentioned before that Pokémon have different attributes. Besides attributes, what other differences exist between Pokémon?"

"Yes. There are different ranks among elves." Lin Luo took a sip of tea.

"The two dukes previously drew DuckGeely and Little Mouse Otter—which have now evolved into Swallowtail Otter—these are all common Pokémon."

"Ordinary??" Li Shimin raised an eyebrow.

That Swallowtail Otter, which can only evolve to half a meter in length and create a three-foot-deep crater with a single tidal impact, is actually just an ordinary Pokémon?

"Your Majesty, please calm down," Lin Luo quickly added upon seeing his expression.

"Ordinary Pokémon don't mean they're weak. Dizzy can grow to gigantic size, and Oshawott can break out of a large crater—these are abilities of ordinary Pokémon."

"But above the ordinary, there is indeed a higher level—the legendary spirit."

"Legendary Pokémon are said to be one or even several levels stronger than ordinary Pokémon."

He pointed to the roof beam in the backyard—

Abu was sleeping on the crossbeam, his small white body curled up in a ball, his tail dangling under the crossbeam and swaying gently.

"For example, that Abu is the juvenile form of a legendary elf."

Li Shimin looked up at the little white puppy and recalled the instinctively terrifying aura he had felt from it yesterday.

That tiny thing, no bigger than a palm... is it legendary?

"And there's Dimo ​​beside me," Lin Luo ruffled Dimo's hair.

"It is a Light-attribute Spirit King, and its level is above Legendary."

"Mmm~" Dimo ​​wiggled his ears triumphantly.

After digesting this information for a while, Li Shimin suddenly asked a question that no one had expected:

"Then... may I also draw one?"

The entire room fell silent.

Cheng Yaojin poked his head in from the doorway: "Your Majesty wants to smoke too?!"

Yuchi Gong's eyes lit up as he stood to the side.

Fang Xuanling almost spat out his tea.

And Lin Luo—

Lin Luo glanced at Li Shimin.

To be honest, he hesitated a bit.

It wasn't that I didn't want to give Li Shimin a draw, but rather—

He knew all too well how this system operated.

They deliberately withhold what you want.

What if Li Shimin draws a bunch of "Thank you for your patronage" cards...

That scene was quite awkward.

But looking into Li Shimin's earnest eyes—

This man, who was so worried about the drought, looked like a big kid standing in front of a gashapon machine.

"...Alright then."

Lin Luo took out the Star Mirror from under the counter.

The bronze mirror was placed on the table, and golden light flowed slowly across its surface.

Li Shimin looked at the mirror with a focused gaze, as if he were reviewing a military report.

"Just put your hand on it and think about what you want," Lin Luo said.

Li Shimin nodded.

He placed his palm firmly on the mirror.

The golden mist suddenly exploded—

The phantom of the elf began to spin rapidly in the mirror!

One shadow after another swept past—

Some run on four legs, some fly with wings, some swim in water, and some crawl through fire—

The speed is getting faster and faster.

Li Shimin stared intently at the mirror, his expression extremely serious.

Cheng Yaojin, standing beside him, was even more nervous than him, his hands clenched into fists.

"Summon elves, summon elves, summon elves, summon elves—"

Yuchi Gong rolled his eyes silently from the side.

The spinning phantom began to slow down—

An outline gradually became clear from the light—

A small body, four legs, and a long tail—

It looks like some kind of...cat?

As the golden light faded, a holographic image of an elf clearly appeared on the mirror.

It is a green, round-headed kitten.

Its body is covered in short, emerald-green fur, and it has two pointed, leaf-like ears on either side of its head.

Two big, bright green eyes, and a small mouth.

A ring of tender green vines was wrapped around its tail.

Overall, it looks like this—

A small green stray cat found in the grass.

"…………"

Li Shimin looked at the green kitten on the mirror.

Then he turned to look at Lin Luo.

"What is this?"

"Meowth. Grass-type. One of the starter Pokémon."

"Yu Sanjia?"

"These are one of the three most classic starter Pokémon in the game 'Roco Kingdom'—Spark, Water Blue, and Meow Meow."

"His Majesty drew a Grass-type Meowth."

"...Is it strong?"

"After evolving into its final form, Magic Cat, it becomes very tanky, has built-in healing, and is extremely durable in prolonged battles."

"And—" Lin Luo paused, a slight smile curving his lips.

"Grass-type Pokémon share a common characteristic."

"What are its characteristics?"

"They can promote plant growth."

Li Shimin's pupils suddenly contracted.

Promotes plant growth.

Under the drought, the land cracked and the crops withered.

If there were a spirit that could make plants regrow—

Even if it's just a tiny bit faster—

That, combined with the water-type Pokémon's water-creating ability—

Isn't this a complete agricultural recovery plan?!

"Shopkeeper!!" Li Shimin suddenly stood up, almost knocking over his teacup.

"Where is this cat? I need it right now!!"

Lin Luo couldn't help but laugh when she saw Li Shimin so excited, like a child.

"The backyard. I'll go get it for you."

He got up and went to the backyard, and a moment later came out carrying a small green kitten.

Meow Meow curled up in Lin Luo's arms, her big, bright green eyes curiously looking around.

The moment I saw Li Shimin—

"Meow?"

It tilted its head.

Then--

It jumped down from Lin Luo's arms.

With short legs, he took small steps and ran up to Li Shimin.

She looked up at him.

"Meow!"

Then, she leaped onto Li Shimin's lap, spun around twice, and curled up into a fluffy green ball.

He started snoring.

It's like finding the most comfortable spot.

A green cat was perched on the lap of the mighty Tang emperor.

The cat didn't seem to find anything wrong with it at all.

The entire room fell silent once again.

Cheng Yaojin was the first to break down:

"Pfft—!! Hahahaha! Your Majesty, your green cat is so rude!!"

"Quack quack!!" Duck Gigi laughed along.

Yuchi Gong pinched his thigh to stop himself from laughing.

Fang Xuanling pretended to be looking at the scenery in the distance.

Li Shimin looked down at the purring green kitten on his lap.

There was a three-second silence.

Then--

He reached out and gently stroked the cat's head.

The meowing grew louder.

The emerald green vines gently wrapped around Li Shimin's wrist.

Li Shimin's lips twitched.

"...It's quite warm."

(ΦωΦ)

Just as Li Shimin and Miaomiao were developing their relationship—

In the corner of the backyard wall,

Xiao Xiao suddenly opened his eyes.

Not the half-closed kind—

It is fully open.

His amber pupils contracted slightly.

"Boss."

Her voice was no longer languid, but carried a rare hint of seriousness.

"There's movement at the shelter."

Lin Luo was taken aback, and immediately opened the system panel—

[Sleepy Owl Sanctuary Notification: Water-type Pokémon detected approaching!]

[A water-type spirit signal has been detected within the current shelter area.]

[Estimated time to fully enter the shelter area: approximately two hours.]

Lin Luo looked at the line of text.

The first water-type Pokémon—

It was completed a full day ahead of the expected 72 hours!

He looked up, gazing out the window—

Although he couldn't see it, he knew—

In a certain direction outside Chang'an City,

A water-type spirit is slowly walking towards the Magic Treasure Shop.

Attracted by the power of the Water-type Spirit Fruit.

Drawn by the magic of the sanctuary.

It's coming.

The first one.

But it will certainly not be the last one.

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧The water's here! It's really here!!

In the backyard, the cat on Li Shimin's lap was still purring.

Cheng Yaojin was so anxious that he scratched his head and cheeks.

He also wants to draw a second Pokémon!

"Shopkeeper, shopkeeper! I want to smoke too! I want to smoke too!!"

"Okay, okay." Lin Luo pushed the Star Mirror over.

Cheng Yaojin rubbed his hands together and solemnly placed his hand on it—

Golden light flashed, and the phantom spun—

Slow down—freeze—

A... a small, round, black mouse appeared on the mirror.

"…………"

Cheng Yaojin looked at the little mouse on the mirror.

He glanced at Lin Luo again.

"Shopkeeper... is this rat... strong?"

Lin Luo glanced at it.

My lips twitched.

Well…

"That depends on how you use it."

(´ ・ ω ・ `)

……