Chapter Summaries

Luo Mu planned a larger farm residence, oversaw Luxray and Dragonite’s training, and helped arrange a habitat for the Abomasnow family. The chapter ended with Sean sharing a rare apple from Kitakami and praising its juicy flesh.

• Luo Mu stored the Rayquaza ice sculpture in the Ice Cellar and agreed to let Oranguru handle plans for a larger farm residence.
• Luo Mu reviewed the residence designs with Eevee, then inspected Ninetales and the other Pokémon’s training.
• Luxray and Dragonite attacked Calyrex’s Psychic Barrier with a combined wind-and-lightning move, and Calyrex praised their progress.
• Luo Mu promised Luxray and Dragonite his full support in their pursuit of greater strength, and they knocked him into the mud in excitement.
• Luo Mu met Sean at the farm entrance and learned that Sean was delivering trees for the Ice Cellar and had received a rare apple from Kitakami.

Luo Mu received three letters: news about Nemona’s Gym challenge, Alder’s plan to visit, and Sha Li’s account of Kitakami and the mysterious Bloodmoon. Sha Li’s eerie photograph of a blood-red moon left Luo Mu intrigued by the being she was investigating.

• Luo Mu tasted Sean’s Kitakami apple, recognized the effects of Ripen, and shared farm fruit with Sean and Primeape in return.
• Luo Mu received a letter and photographs from Pippa and the other students, learning that Nemona was about to challenge Porto Marinada Gym Leader Hai Dai at full strength.
• Luo Mu read Alder’s reply accepting his invitation to visit Paldea and arranged to protect the letter’s Volcarona scales from catching fire.
• Luo Mu examined Sha Li’s photographs of Kitakami and read about its landscapes, foods, local legends, and the mysterious Bloodmoon she was pursuing.
• Luo Mu studied Sha Li’s eerie blood-moon photograph and wondered about Bloodmoon.

Luo Mu hired relic excavator Leader to search for Paldea Ancient Coins using guides to ruins, then learned that Alder would visit his farm to treat Volcarona. Geeta told him about the proposed Pokémon World Championships and warned that Alder or Nemona could become Paldea's competitor, while Luo Mu remained uninterested in competing himself.

• Luo Mu met Leader at a café, offered him a generous contract, and explained that he would provide detailed guides to ruins in exchange for Leader's searches for Paldea Ancient Coins.
• Leader accepted the contract and gave Luo Mu twenty Paldea Ancient Coins he had found in a maze-like ruin.
• Geeta called Luo Mu to confirm that Alder was visiting his farm to have Volcarona treated, and said Aoki would meet him at the airport.
• Geeta explained that Rose had proposed the Pokémon World Championships and warned Luo Mu that a restored Alder could be a formidable opponent.
• Luo Mu said he had no plans to compete, and Geeta suggested Nemona might represent Paldea before asking whether he would face Leon in an exhibition match.
• Luo Mu asked if Calyrex could battle Leon in his place.

Luo Mu and Alder brought Volcarona to the Small Field, where Calyrex ripened the final Sweet Herba Mystica and Luo Mu made it into medicinal powder. After Volcarona ate the powder, its injuries and restraints vanished, and it unleashed its Champion-level power as a blazing second sun.

• Luo Mu picked Alder up from Aoki and brought him to the farm, where Alder eagerly followed him to the Small Field to finish treating Volcarona.
• Calyrex used Tera Energy and Life Energy to ripen the final Sweet Herba Mystica while sealing the area with Psychic energy.
• Luo Mu ground the herb into powder, mixed it into a sandwich, and took Alder and Volcarona to a cleared area to avoid damaging the farm.
• Alder fed the sandwich to Volcarona, and the five Sweet Herba Mystica worked together to remove its lingering injuries and negative effects.
• Volcarona released its suppressed Champion-level power and filled the area with blazing heat, while Calyrex shielded Luo Mu and Alder and let it dance freely in flames.

Luo Mu helped Alder and Volcarona overcome the Pokémon’s hidden injuries, then received a Larvesta Egg and the Terarium Dome blueprints as gifts. Meanwhile, Tinkatink finally reached the Corviknight nest, and Shiba Kiyokawa embraced his new role as Akatsuki’s leader.

• Volcarona regained control of its energy, reunited emotionally with Alder, and Calyrex confirmed its injuries were healed after sealing Life Energy inside it.
• Alder gave Luo Mu a Larvesta Egg descended from the Volcarona that had battled his Mega Swampert and a hard drive containing the complete Terarium Dome blueprints.
• Luo Mu accepted Alder’s gifts, shared a meal with him, and battled his recovered Volcarona with Luxray before Alder left for Unova.
• Tinkatink crossed the mountain with its collected Corviknight feathers packed in a leaf bundle and spotted Corviknight circling their nest.
• Shiba Kiyokawa declared himself the leader of Akatsuki and rejected accusations that he was extreme or a war criminal.

Luo Mu received League approval to expand his farm and took Luxray to inspect the nearby mountain, where he shared news about a stronger move that could replace Wild Charge. He also considered using special Berries to help Luxray draw strength from its bond with him.

• Cosmog happily ate Luo Mu’s homemade Konpeito while he worried that he could not afford to build the Terarium Dome.
• Mayor Elsa delivered the League-approved documents and land deed, granting Luo Mu the wilderness land around his farm, including a small mountain, for development.
• Luo Mu chose Luxray to accompany him on a mountain inspection and encouraged it about its progress after its battle with Volcarona.
• Luo Mu told Luxray that Alder was helping them obtain information on Wildbolt Storm, a powerful Electric-type move with less punishing recoil than Wild Charge.
• Luo Mu considered whether Gold and Silver series Berries could let Luxray gain strength from their bond even without becoming a Partner Pokémon.

Luo Mu and Luxray explored the Back Mountain, where they encountered a Foongus and discovered Tinkatink forging hammers in a cave. Tinkatink continued working to make a weapon strong enough to help it rule the mountain and collect Corviknight feathers.

• Luxray warned Luo Mu that groups of Houndoom and Houndour lived on the far side of the mountain, then carried him up a steep, overgrown route.
• Luo Mu and Luxray gathered mushrooms and watched a Foongus give up its disguise and flee into the grass.
• Luo Mu explained that Foongus could poison people with its spores and considered the Pokémon’s potential medicinal uses.
• Luxray heard rhythmic hammering near a cave, and Luo Mu followed the sound to find Tinkatink working inside.
• Tinkatink inspected its Corviknight-feather hammers, decided they were too weak to rule the mountain, and resumed forging.

Luo Mu and Luxray encountered a wary Tinkatink on the mountain, then Luo Mu decided to bring it a gift and recruit it as the craftsman for reforging the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield. He took Serperior up the mountain with mushroom soup, leaving it to clear the overgrown path as they headed to meet Tinkatink.

• Luo Mu and Luxray startled Tinkatink outside its cave, and Tinkatink used its hammers to intimidate them before they withdrew.
• Tinkatink celebrated driving them away and vowed to conquer the farm after it had conquered the mountain.
• Oranguru told Luo Mu it planned to build a kiln and make ceramic utensils, and Luo Mu encouraged it to pursue the craft.
• Luo Mu prepared mushroom soup and carried some as a gift for Tinkatink, while explaining to Serperior that Tinkatink could reforge the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield.
• Luo Mu recalled Calyrex's clue about a one-eyed iron-producing giant and identified Meltan or Melmetal as the likely source of the special metal.
• Luo Mu asked Serperior to clear the overgrown mountain path, and Serperior used Leaf Storm to uncover it.

Luo Mu followed Serperior to find Tinkatink, who was secretly watching the Salazzle and Houndoom clans and wanted to rule the mountain. After Tinkatink fled with Luo Mu from the approaching Houndoom pack, Serperior defeated the pursuers, recruited them as underlings, and ordered them to infiltrate their clan.

• Serperior tracked Tinkatink to a mountainside hiding spot, where Luo Mu found it disguised beneath grass and watching the Salazzle and Houndoom clans.
• Tinkatink considered recruiting Luxray to help it become the Mountain King, but Luo Mu startled it from behind.
• After Tinkatink's cry alerted a Houndoom and Houndour pack, it tugged Luo Mu away from danger.
• Serperior blocked the pack's path and defeated Houndoom and the Houndour with Frenzy Plant.
• Serperior healed the defeated Pokémon, made them its underlings, and ordered them to infiltrate their clan and await its signal.

Luo Mu brought Tinkatink a gift of mushroom soup, then persuaded Serperior to let Applin choose its own evolution after revealing Dipplin and Honey Gathering Serpent. The next morning, Oranguru told Luo Mu that Naclstack and the others had evolved, and he found the three enormous Pokémon too large to fit through the Salt House door.

• Tinkatink led Luo Mu to its mountain cave, where it eagerly ate the mushroom soup he had brought and let him leave before nightfall.
• Luo Mu met Serperior on the mountainside and told it that Applin could evolve into Dipplin and Honey Gathering Serpent using a Syrupy Apple from Kitakami.
• Luo Mu reminded Serperior to respect Applin's choice, and Serperior decided to let its adopted son choose its own evolution.
• On the way home, Serperior asked Luo Mu which Eevee evolutions he preferred, and he struggled to choose among them.
• The next morning, Oranguru informed Luo Mu that Naclstack and the others had evolved, and Luo Mu saw that their new size was too large for the Salt House door.

Luo Mu brought the newly evolved, unusually enormous Salt Rock Titans to Uva Academy, where their size astonished Shizuka, Botan, and Zhen Si. He assigned the three students to battle classmates with the Salt Rock Titans during the upcoming school tournament, leaving them worried that the rest of the academy would ostracize them.

• Luo Mu released the three Salt Rock Titans from their Poké Balls after transferring them out of the Salt House, and the Eevee Sisters sampled their healing salt.
• Luo Mu and Oranguru suspected that soil from Silver Mountain had contributed to the Salt Rock Titans' delayed evolution and remarkable size.
• Luo Mu flew to Uva Academy with the Salt Rock Titans, where Botan admired photos of the Eevee Sisters and asked about the Pokémon in the pictures.
• Luo Mu revealed the three Salt Rock Titans to Shizuka, Botan, and Zhen Si, whose reactions turned to shock at their towering height.
• Luo Mu told the three students to enter the academy's upcoming Battle Tournament and use the Salt Rock Titans to battle their classmates.
• Shizuka, Botan, and Zhen Si worried that competing with the Salt Rock Titans would make the other students ostracize them.

Zhen Si faced a much older opponent in Uva Academy’s Battle Tournament, relying on a borrowed Salt Rock Titan to withstand Quaquaval’s attacks. After Salt Rock Titan recovered and Salt Cure began hurting Quaquaval, Zhen Si announced that the battle’s pressure had shifted to his opponent.

• Ortega and Erichis discussed the tournament’s Mysterious Reward, and Erichis hoped to earn a place in the Battle Specialty Group so he could defeat his brother at a future exchange tournament.
• Luo Mu reviewed the tournament brackets, then watched the opening match with Hageru, Mime, and their Pokémon.
• Zhen Si sent out a Salt Rock Titan borrowed from Luo Mu’s farm to battle a middle-aged student’s Quaquaval.
• Quaquaval repeatedly attacked while Zhen Si had Salt Rock Titan stack Iron Defense, and Luo Mu explained that its Sturdy ability gave it exceptional durability.
• When Quaquaval committed to Low Kick, Zhen Si ordered Salt Rock Titan to use Salt Cure, covering Quaquaval in salt before Salt Rock Titan fell.
• Zhen Si ordered Salt Rock Titan to recover and rise again, while Salt Cure’s embedded salt began causing Quaquaval intense pain.

Zhen Si, Shizuka, and Botan advanced through the academy tournament with Salt Rock Titans and a punishing Salt Cure strategy, while Luo Mu reflected on its strengths and weaknesses. Shizuka and Botan faced counters in the quarterfinals, and Botan narrowly defeated Melo to advance.

• Zhen Si defeated his opponent's Quaquaval with Salt Rock Titan's Salt Cure, Body Press, and Recover, leaving the spectators stunned.
• Luo Mu concluded that Salt Rock Titan Number Two's defenses had been strengthened by Silver Mountain soil, but its Recover-heavy strategy consumed substantial energy and had other limitations.
• Shizuka defeated a Copperajah user with Salt Rock Titan Number Three, and Luo Mu admitted to Hageru and Mime that he had taught his students the tactic.
• Botan advanced after Salt Rock Titan defeated a Trainer's Gumshoos, while Clavell recognized that Luo Mu was using the tournament to test his students' lessons.
• Ortega used Hatterene to defeat Shizuka and Salt Rock Titan Number Three, ending Shizuka's run in the tournament.
• Botan defeated Melo's Armarouge with Salt Rock Titan Number One after Rock Slide flinched it, advancing despite Hassaku's surprise at her victory.

Botan and Zhen Si advanced through the semifinals of Uva Academy’s Battle Tournament, with Botan defeating Ortega and Zhen Si narrowly overcoming Erichis. Botan won the final against Zhen Si, and Luo Mu revealed the mysterious championship reward: a Tera Orb provided by Geeta.

• Botan defeated Ortega by enduring Hatterene’s attacks and finishing the battle with Avalanche, then invited Ortega to spar with her own Pokémon.
• Erichis used Taunt and Grass Knot to disrupt Zhen Si’s Salt Rock Titan, but Zhen Si adapted and eventually wore down Meowscarada to advance.
• Ortega defeated Erichis in the third-place match, while Botan’s Flareon beat Zhen Si’s Grotle in the final.
• Clavell awarded Ortega, Zhen Si, and Botan the bronze, silver, and gold medals, respectively.
• Luo Mu opened the mysterious reward box and revealed the champion’s Tera Orb, provided by Chairwoman Geeta.

Luo Mu shared popsicles and chilled berries with Tinkatink, who gave him a handmade hammer in return and resolved to forge him a better one. Back at the farm, Luo Mu checked on Combee, Tropius, and Applin, then promised to take Applin to Kitakami to search for an apple that could help it evolve.

• Luo Mu gave Tinkatink popsicles, which it ate too quickly and gave itself a painful headache, then brought it chilled berries carried by Glastrier.
• Tinkatink gave Luo Mu a tiny hammer it had forged, and Luo Mu accepted it warmly; Tinkatink decided to make him an even better hammer after conquering the Corviknight Clan and gathering materials.
• Glastrier asked Luo Mu about bringing Tinkatink to live on the farm, and Luo Mu said they could invite it after a little while if things went smoothly.
• On September 9th, Luo Mu praised Combee's progress toward evolving and reminded Tropius not to spend its nutrients growing fruit while it was still young.
• Luo Mu told Applin that they would visit Kitakami in a few days to look for a special apple that might help it evolve.

Botan Terastallized Sylveon in a battle at Uva Academy, and Luo Mu announced his upcoming trip to Kitakami and plans for the students’ training. After reaching Kitakami, Luo Mu prepared to travel into its remote countryside and investigate the Bloodmoon legend.

• Botan defeated Erichis’s Meowscarada with Sylveon’s Tera Fairy-boosted Hyper Voice, and Comfey treated the injured Pokémon after the battles.
• Luo Mu advised Zhen Si that Fuecoco was nearing evolution and told the students he would soon leave Paldea for Kitakami.
• Luo Mu invited Erichis and Ortega to train with the others and said he would later bring a traveling trainer who had challenged Johto’s eighth Gym.
• Luo Mu returned to his expanded farm, then flew from Levincia toward Kitakami with Mimikyu and Applin.
• After landing, Luo Mu called the farm, checked a map and brochure, and released Spectrier to continue toward Kitakami.

Luo Mu traveled to Kitakami and checked into a guesthouse in Viridian Town, where he learned more about the area's legends and scenery. His host, Xue Zhong, offered his grandson and granddaughter as free guides, and Luo Mu accepted.

• Luo Mu rode Spectrier toward Viridian Town while reading about Kitakami, including the legend of the Loyal Companions and the ogre they fought.
• Luo Mu spotted a distant mountain summit that seemed to glow before landing Spectrier and entering Viridian Town.
• Luo Mu checked into a guesthouse run by Xue Zhong and Shu Zi, where he learned that Sha Li had arranged his reservation and that the guesthouse had an open-air hot spring.
• Xue Zhong told Luo Mu that his grandson had recently caught an Applin and offered his grandson and granddaughter as guides around Kitakami.
• Luo Mu accepted Xue Zhong's offer and introduced Mimikyu, whom Xue Zhong had initially overlooked.

Luo Mu settled into the Xue family’s inn, enjoyed the local food and hot springs, and met the siblings Carmine and Kieran, who took him to Apple Hills while Sha Li continued investigating Bloodmoon. At Central Apple Orchard, Kieran told Luo Mu that the Applin there competed to become the strongest, and that his own Applin had evolved into Dipplin after winning priority to choose a special apple.

• Luo Mu explored the inn with his six Pokémon, shared dinner with Xue Zhong and Aunt Shu Zi, and later enjoyed the hot spring with most of his team.
• Sha Li called Luo Mu to say she was still in Timeless Woods, so he agreed to spend the day touring Viridian Town with Carmine and Kieran.
• Carmine and Kieran led Luo Mu toward Apple Hills, where he noticed the siblings’ strained interactions as Kieran repeatedly hung back and Carmine scolded him after he bumped into her.
• Carmine introduced Apple Hills and its famous apples, and Luo Mu asked where the Applin gathered.
• Kieran explained that the Applin in Central Apple Orchard competed to become the strongest and that his Applin had evolved into Dipplin after earning first choice of a special apple.

Luo Mu visited Apple Hills with Carmine and Kieran to find an evolution for his Applin, where he discovered that Viridian Town residents had suppressed Dipplin’s evolution to preserve their apples’ flavor. After lunch, he planned to visit Loyal Companions Plaza and asked about a glowing mountain summit he had seen.

• Kieran showed Luo Mu his Dipplin, and Luo Mu explained that he had come to Apple Hills hoping his Applin would evolve.
• Carmine brought apples for the group, and Applin tried a Kitakami apple before returning to its own apple as its home.
• Luo Mu watched Applin evolve into Flapple and Appletun in the great tree, while the townsfolk avoided speaking to him.
• Kieran revealed that townsfolk destroyed Honey Juice Apples to prevent Applin from evolving into Dipplin, and explained how he had discovered Dipplin by chance.
• Luo Mu postponed his search for an evolution until the next day and returned to Xue Zhong’s home with Carmine and Kieran for lunch.
• After lunch, Luo Mu said he wanted to visit Loyal Companions Plaza and asked about the glowing summit he had seen.

Luo Mu took Carmine and Kieran to Crystal Light Pool on Oni Mountain, where they encountered the ogre Kieran admired. The group reached the lake and was confronted by a Dragon Terastal Gyarados, which Luo Mu sent Mimikyu to fight.

• Xue Zhong explained that Crystal Light Pool lay atop Oni Mountain, and Luo Mu agreed to protect Carmine and Kieran on the trip.
• Carmine and Kieran told Luo Mu about Kieran's admiration for the ogre, then released Dipplin and Sinistcha at the foot of the mountain.
• Luo Mu led the group up the mountain with his Pokémon, while Ogerpon followed them from its hiding place.
• The group reached Crystal Light Pool near sunset and admired its glowing crystals.
• Ogerpon arrived and warned them, but a Dragon Terastal Gyarados burst from the lake; Luo Mu ordered Luxray and Arcanine to protect the siblings and Mimikyu to battle it.