Elf: I have a secret realm of emerald green.

It can be said that Chongqing University and Li Xiang are a model of mutual achievement between the school and its students over the past two decades.

It seems that Li Xiang still maintains a close connection with Chongqing University after graduation.

However, this had nothing to do with Xia Shen. What he cared more about was what level of resources he could get if he chose Wudu University.

As if seeing what Xia Shen was thinking, Li Xiang smiled slightly, "Don't worry, I will offer you a condition that you can't refuse."

## Chapter 148 The Return of Zoroark!

No one noticed that when the second game started, a low-key figure quietly came and quietly left the lounge of Zhijiang Middle School.

After seeing off the Steel-type Champion, Xia Shen returned to his teammates to continue watching the game.

"What does King Li Xiang want with you? Can you tell me?" Xu Chong, who was closest to Xia Shen, came over curiously to gossip.

"Nothing, I just wanted to ask if I'm interested in Chongqing University." Xia Shen smiled and briefly summarized their conversation.

"Ah, the Heavenly King came in person for this?" Xu Chong was a little confused. It wasn't that the matter was too big, but rather that it felt like... using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

The contrast was so great that he momentarily overlooked the fact that Xia Shen, who was only a sophomore in high school, was actually the first among them to receive offers from universities.

"Well, besides his close relationship with Chongqing University, there are also some reasons of his own..." Xia Shen explained hastily.

Speaking of this, he was a little speechless. At first, he was also very confused as to why the Heavenly King would personally get involved... Later he found out that the Heavenly King had something like "performance evaluation".

To put it more tactfully, with great power comes great responsibility, which is the responsibility that corresponds to one's extraordinary status and power.

Cultivating younger generations of trainers is also an important part of this, so, in Li Xiang's own joking words, recruiting Xia Shen with such generous conditions that they would amaze outsiders is "an important investment."

This applies to both Chongqing University and him personally.

However, Xia Shen was not an ordinary high school student who had never seen the world. Although the superstar was visiting and the conditions were generous, Xia Shen did not immediately agree.

The first group stage match has just ended, and Xia Shen's value has not been fully demonstrated. To put it bluntly, Xia Shen is "waiting for the right price," and so far, only Wudu University has made an offer.

The truly prestigious schools are yet to come.

…………

Similar to the qualifying rounds, the group stage concluded successfully after six days.

They swept Ulaanbaatar Middle School, the second strongest team in the group, with a score of 6-0. In the next two group matches, Zhijiang Middle School won without breaking a sweat.

Thus, with a perfect record of three wins and first place in the group, Zhijiang Middle School advanced to the knockout stage.

Then, the benefits of being first in the group became apparent.

Their first-round opponent was a second-seeded team of similar strength to Ulabato High School, which wasn't considered particularly strong.

After slightly adjusting their formation based on the strength of their opponents' Pokémon, Zhijiang Middle School still managed to defeat them before the tournament and advance to the quarterfinals.

With this, Zhijiang Middle School has equaled its best performance in the National High School Championships in nearly ten years.

Before that, it was the glorious moment when Yan Yu led her team into the finals in her senior year of high school, narrowly losing to Shangjing Middle School and winning the runner-up title.

The emergence of Xia Shen, this year's team, has given everyone hope of regaining their former glory.

Four matches, all with a score of 6-0, and not a single one went to the final round.

There is no doubt that the overall strength of Zhijiang Middle School is now vastly different from what it used to be.

Moreover, this was achieved without Xia Shen's Tebriem and Zoroark being revealed.

……

Speaking of Zoroark, Xia Shen picked her up from her father's place on the last day of the group stage.

To Xia Shen's surprise, in just half a month, Zoroark's energy level actually rose from level 31 to level 36.

Xia Shen knew that this somewhat absurd level increase was definitely related to the leader of Zoroark, and perhaps it was some secret of their race.

In addition to the increase in energy level, Zoroark has gained two more very useful cover skills: Flamethrower and Sludge Bomb.

It can be said that Zoroark is now fully capable of showcasing himself on the stage of the International Golf Championship and in front of the world.

All you need is... a suitable opponent.

For example, Jiangzhou No.1 Middle School will be Zhijiang Middle School's opponent in the next quarterfinal match.

A high school from Central China, a well-deserved traditional powerhouse in the national high school competition.

…………

If Shangjing Middle School and Dongdu Middle School are considered to be in the top tier, then Jiangzhou No.1 Middle School is in the second tier, just behind them, with strength comparable to that of Nandu Middle School.

This year, Jiangzhou No.1 Middle School has produced an even more outstanding genius, Zhong Chang, the nephew of the fighting king Zhong Yang.

The starter Pokémon is a recently evolved... Kommo-o!

The only Tier 3 near-legendary in this year's National High School Championship!

It is also one of the few Pokémon to reach the professional level.

Besides, none of the other Pokémon in their team were a hindrance.

Without a doubt, Jiangzhou No.1 Middle School is an even stronger opponent than Nandu Middle School, which they faced in the final of the qualifying rounds.

After the draw, the principal and coach spent the entire afternoon discussing the matter in their room before making a serious decision to deliberately postpone the match to a ring game.

After all, expecting to settle the score like the previous matches, with scores of 6-0 or 5-1, is wishful thinking. It would be good enough if we didn't get beaten to that score.

After final discussions, the three Pokémon to participate in the arena battle were Alakazam, Ursaring, and Garchomp.

On the last night before the competition began, Xia Shen secretly slipped into the principal's room.

Before the official lineup was submitted, I discussed it with the principal and made a small change to one of the three Pokémon for the arena battle.

------

The following evening, at the Tokyo National Pokémon Battle Arena.

The National High School Championship has been underway for over a week, and many observant people have noticed that this year's competition is seeing an increasing number of matches decided before the final rounds.

This undoubtedly reflects the significant gap in strength between strong and weak teams.

From another perspective, this year's National High School Championship has produced quite a few promising talents.

As all viewers know, starting with tonight's quarterfinals, a series of intense matches between top teams will make the National High School Championship increasingly exciting.

For example, tonight's first match is the showdown between Zhijiang Middle School and Jiangzhou No.1 Middle School.

The Central China and Jiangnan regions have always been regions with a relatively high overall level of Pokémon battles, both in terms of the number of professional players and the performance of the schools representing the national high school competitions.

The two national high school competition regulars, Jiangzhou No.1 Middle School and Nandu Middle School, have been rivals for many years, and their love-hate relationship has even developed into a kind of sworn enemy.

This year, Zhijiang Middle School, which dethroned Nandu Middle School, will once again ignite a spark with Jiangzhou No. 1 Middle School, attracting the attention of countless viewers across the country.

And so, amidst the great anticipation of everyone, the first match of the quarterfinals began.

----------

Author's Remarks

That's a bit short. It's Sunday, time to rest~ Have a great weekend everyone (it seems a bit inappropriate to say this now that the weekend is almost over).

2022-06-26 18:00

Chapter 149 Tibrim: I'm not acting anymore, I'm coming clean!

0: 4!

On the huge screen beside the battlefield, the bright score was so glaring that it was almost unbearable to look at.

It is obvious that Zhijiang Middle School has a score of 0, while Jiangzhou No.1 Middle School has a score of 4!

In other words, Zhijiang Middle School lost all three of their singles matches!

In the first match, Zhijiang Middle School unusually sent out their star player, Swampert, who has a strong singles ability, to see if they could secure those two valuable points.

Whether it was bad luck or their strategy was read, Jiangzhou No. 1 Middle School actually fielded Venusaur, which had never played in a main battle before, in this match!

He fears nothing and no one, except for Swampert, his natural enemy among Grass-type Pokémon.

Despite being a cut above the Venusaur, it was completely outmatched and suffered a crushing defeat in its first singles match, which was worth two points.

The second and third matches that followed were two matches that Zhijiang Middle School strategically forfeited, needless to say.

The two Lucky Kappa and Metal Monster, who had almost never appeared in the competition before, lost without any suspense.

Thus, we have the current score, which is as bleak as a cloud of sorrow for Zhijiang Middle School.

Although this was a situation that everyone at Zhijiang Middle School had anticipated, there was no doubt that the occurrence of this worst-case scenario had put them on the edge of a precipice.

Behind them lay the abyss of elimination.

They cannot afford to lose a single game in the upcoming matches!

……

Meanwhile, viewers in the live stream chat were discussing this delicate situation.

"Is Zhijiang Middle School really going to play this extreme? If Jiangzhou No.1 Middle School sends out Kommo-o in the doubles match, that would be really fun!"

"No, Jiangzhou No. 1 High School always plays it safe; they'll definitely save the Staff-Tailed Armored Dragon for the grand finale in the arena. But... don't forget Zhong Chang's Flame Warrior King hasn't even appeared yet..."

"Indeed, and to some extent, Emboar is more suitable for fighting Aggron than Kommo-o, after all, Emboar isn't very fast. The opponent can only set up Trick Room in vain. Not to mention that the support character from Jiangzhou No.1 Middle School, Whimsicott, can also use Trick Room."

"It's hard to say. The coaches at Zhijiang Middle School aren't just sitting idly by. They must have anticipated this situation. Maybe they'll bring on Long-haired Troll and Demonfire Red Fox instead, at least they won't be so restrained."

"Hilarious, so Aggron is moved to the arena and gets brutally beaten by Kommo-o, right?"

…………

The comments section was almost unanimously pessimistic about Zhijiang Middle School.

Everyone felt that even with the help of the Trick Space, it would be extremely difficult for Aggron to defeat King Yanwu.

As for that Tibulim... is it a tool that only knows how to help after opening up a space? Is there any need to discuss it?

Amidst the clamor of the live chat, this doubles match, which Zhijiang Middle School absolutely cannot afford to lose, is about to begin.

The players from both sides entered the arena in turn.

The pair sent by Zhijiang Middle School were Xia Shen and Wang Yiyi, who had played in all four doubles matches.