Chapter Summaries

Qian Bing agreed to take Wang Sheng to Soul Hunting Forest to hunt for a Soul Ring, then returned to the Pokémon World and began training his Pokémon at a newly rented courtyard. He left Pidgeotto and Dratini with demanding exercises and started Bulbasaur on a frisbee-smashing drill.

• Wang Sheng asked Qian Bing to help him obtain a Hundred-Year Soul Ring, and Qian Bing agreed to take him to Soul Hunting Forest the next day.
• Qian Bing cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Skill before returning to the Pokémon World at midnight.
• Qian Bing rented a courtyard in the Viridian City Suburbs and bought supplies and equipment for Pokémon training.
• Qian Bing sent Pidgeotto flying one hundred kilometers while wearing a Weighted Vest and instructed Dratini to run ten laps under increased gravity.
• Qian Bing told Bulbasaur to use Vine Whip to smash frisbees launched by five machines, then started the drill.

Qian Bing trained Bulbasaur under a Fivefold Force Field, helping it improve its accuracy and use its Vine Whips to hit multiple discs. He then made attribute-matched Energy Cubes for Dratini, Pidgeotto, and Bulbasaur, whose enjoyment of the food left him feeling happy.

• Qian Bing helped Bulbasaur adjust to the Fivefold Force Field and taught it to strike the flying discs with greater force.
• Bulbasaur practiced Smack Down for two hours, improving from frequent misses to hitting multiple discs with its Vine Whips.
• Qian Bing started preparing Energy Cubes from Pokemon Fruits, choosing ingredients suited to each Pokemon's attributes.
• Qian Bing made Dragon-type Energy Cubes for Dratini, then prepared food for Pidgeotto and Bulbasaur before their training ended.
• Dratini, Pidgeotto, and Bulbasaur eagerly ate their Energy Cubes, and Qian Bing realized their happiness made him happy too.

Qian Bing took Wang Sheng into the Soul Hunting Forest to find a suitable soul beast for his first soul ring. After saving Wang Sheng from a Solitary Bamboo’s attack, Qian Bing prepared to fight the nearly three-hundred-year-old beast.

• Qian Bing and Wang Sheng entered the Soul Hunting Forest, where Wang Sheng excitedly mistook ordinary plants and small creatures for soul beasts.
• Qian Bing rejected the low-cultivation soul beasts they found and stopped Wang Sheng from choosing an approximately eighty-year-old Roaring Tiger.
• During their lunch break, Qian Bing used Quick Attack to shove Wang Sheng away from three Soul Power-coated bamboo leaves.
• Qian Bing identified the attacker as a nearly three-hundred-year-old Solitary Bamboo and warned Wang Sheng to stay alert outside the academy.
• The Solitary Bamboo began to sway as Qian Bing told Wang Sheng to step back and prepare for battle.

Qian Bing used Blast Burn to destroy Solitary Bamboo’s attack and badly burn the nearly three-hundred-year-old Soul Beast. He then summoned the Dratini Spirit Ball Spirit to test a question that had drawn him to the Soul Hunting Forest.

• Solitary Bamboo launched Soul Power-infused bamboo leaves at Qian Bing, who calmly waited until they approached.
• Qian Bing released Blast Burn, burning away the leaves and scorching Solitary Bamboo and the surrounding bamboo grove.
• Wang Sheng praised Qian Bing’s powerful flame skill, inspiring Qian Bing to consider posing as a Flame Soul Master.
• Qian Bing assessed that Blast Burn consumed nearly half his Soul Power, making it a powerful trump card with limited uses.
• Qian Bing summoned the Spirit Ball Spirit bearing Dratini’s image to begin the experiment he had come to the Soul Hunting Forest to conduct.

Qian Bing confirmed that his Spirit Ball Spirit could create additional Spirit Balls, allowing him to capture more soul beasts to fuel his cultivation. While searching with Wang Sheng for a suitable Soul Ring, they encountered a 220-year Jungle Tiger that suited Wang Sheng's martial spirit, and Pidgeotto intercepted its pounce.

• Qian Bing used his new Spirit Ball to capture the struggling Solitary Bamboo and confirmed that he could create more Spirit Balls at Soul Power bottlenecks.
• Wang Sheng suspected Qian Bing had become a Two-Ring Great Soul Master, but Qian Bing avoided answering and continued searching for soul beasts.
• Qian Bing captured a Forest Baboon with his other Spirit Ball after Pidgeotto attacked it, completing his personal objectives for the trip.
• Qian Bing and Wang Sheng ventured toward the forest's inner region after nightfall, where a Jungle Tiger nearly attacked Wang Sheng.
• Qian Bing identified the Jungle Tiger as a 220-year soul beast well suited to Wang Sheng and released Pidgeotto and another Pokemon to fight it.
• Pidgeotto intercepted the Jungle Tiger's pounce but suffered three shallow claw marks across its chest.

Qian Bing and his Pokemon defeated a Jungle Tiger so Wang Sheng could obtain its Soul Ring. After absorbing the ring overnight, Wang Sheng became a One-Ring Soul Master.

• Qian Bing had Pidgeotto use Gust while Dratini struck the Jungle Tiger into the lingering wind attack.
• Dratini hit the wounded Jungle Tiger with Thunder, paralyzing it and leaving it unable to fight.
• Qian Bing told Wang Sheng to kill the Jungle Tiger, and Wang Sheng severed its neck with his claws.
• A yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring formed, and Wang Sheng drew it into himself and began absorbing it.
• Qian Bing guarded Wang Sheng through the night, and by morning Wang Sheng had become a One-Ring Soul Master.

After training Dratini to Level 20, Qian Bing left Viridian City and traveled to Pewter City to begin his first Gym challenge. He arrived at Pewter Gym, ready to challenge it while keeping his focus on strengthening his Pokemon.

• Wang Sheng's rise as the Tiger King made the Work-Study Students of Notting Academy famous, while Qian Bing continued cultivating and training his Pokemon.
• Qian Bing trained Dratini until it reached Level 20 and learned several new moves, then decided to head to Pewter City for his first Gym challenge.
• Qian Bing packed his belongings, returned the courtyard keys to the landlord, and took an intercity bus from Viridian City to Pewter City.
• Qian Bing considered Mt. Moon's fossils and valuable Moon Stones but prioritized reaching Pewter Gym.
• Qian Bing reviewed the purpose of Gym Badges and the requirements for entering the Pokemon League Conference, then entered Pewter Gym.

Qian Bing registered for his first Gym Challenge at Pewter Gym and prepared his team while waiting for his scheduled match. On Tuesday, Yi Mi checked him in and led him toward the arena as the challenge began.

• Qian Bing visited Pewter Gym, where Yi Mi explained the challenge procedures and booked him for next Tuesday at two in the afternoon.
• Qian Bing stayed in Pewter City, trained his Pokémon lightly, and selected the moves Bulbasaur, Pidgeotto, and Dratini would use.
• On the day of the challenge, Qian Bing had his Pokémon restored at the Pokémon Center before heading to Pewter Gym.
• Yi Mi checked Qian Bing's Pokémon and move selections into the Gym's system and asked him to wait.
• At two o'clock, the wall opened to reveal the rocky arena, and Yi Mi invited Qian Bing inside to begin the challenge.

Qian Bing began Pewter Gym’s 3v3 challenge against apprentice Gang Mu and used Pidgeotto to exploit its advantage in the air. The first battle remained unresolved as Pidgeotto wore Geodude down from a distance.

• Yi Mi announced Pewter Gym’s challenge rules and started Qian Bing’s match against Gang Mu.
• Gang Mu sent out Geodude, and Qian Bing chose Pidgeotto for the first battle.
• Pidgeotto’s powerful Gust knocked Geodude down and impressed Gang Mu.
• Geodude attacked with Rock Throw, but Pidgeotto’s improved speed and agility let it dodge the falling stones.
• Gang Mu ordered Geodude to use Defense Curl and wait for an opening, while Qian Bing kept Pidgeotto at a distance and chipped away with Gust and Whirlwind.

After winning the first battle on a time-limit ruling, Qian Bing sent Dratini against Gang Mu’s Onix to gain match experience. Dratini’s powerful Blast Burn and Twister combination badly hurt Onix, but Onix struck back and sent Dratini flying, leaving Qian Bing worried as the battle continued.

• Yi Mi declared Qian Bing the winner of the first battle after the time limit expired and asked him to choose his next Pokémon.
• Qian Bing sent out Dratini, and Gang Mu matched it with Onix.
• Dratini combined Blast Burn with Twister, creating a fire tornado that heavily damaged Onix.
• Gang Mu ordered Onix to use Slam, and its rocky tail hit Dratini before it could dodge.
• Dratini landed injured near the arena’s edge, and Qian Bing fought the urge to recall it.

Qian Bing used the sandy Gym field to help Dratini evade Onix and win their battle with repeated surprise attacks. After the exhausted Dratini was recalled, Yi Mi apologized for Gang Mu’s reaction, but Qian Bing graciously accepted that he had taken advantage of the conditions.

• Gang Mu ordered Onix to chase Dratini and trap it with Bind, while Qian Bing tried to keep Dratini out of reach.
• Qian Bing spotted the sand and told Dratini to use Twister, filling the field with dust so Dratini could hide behind rocks and artificial hills.
• Gang Mu ordered Onix to use Rock Throw indiscriminately, but Dratini struck Onix with Blast Burn and moved before Onix could counterattack.
• Dratini repeated its hit-and-run tactics until Onix fell, and Yi Mi announced Qian Bing’s victory.
• Yi Mi apologized for Gang Mu’s narrow view of battles, and Qian Bing said he had used the battlefield’s conditions to win.

Qian Bing received his first Gym Badge after winning the Pewter Gym Challenge and learned how badges help Trainers control Pokémon. While his Pokémon recovered at the Pokémon Center, he planned to train in Pewter City and decided to take Adventure Missions on the way to Mt. Moon to earn money.

• Yi Mi registered Qian Bing's victory and gave him his Pewter Gym Badge and Pokedex.
• Yi Mi explained that carrying a Gym Badge naturally strengthened a Trainer's ability to restrain Pokémon and advised him to register for a replacement if it was lost.
• Qian Bing brought Pidgeotto and Dratini to the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy found that both had only minor injuries.
• While waiting for his Pokémon to recover, Qian Bing planned to train in Pewter City before challenging the next Gym.
• Worried about the cost of training, Qian Bing decided to accept Adventure Missions on his way to Mt. Moon.

Qian Bing accepted an A-Rank mission to collect Elite Grade Nidorino near Mt. Moon and upgraded to Beginner Pokémon Trainer so he could qualify. After leaving the Pokémon Center with his healed Pokémon, he postponed preparations for the trip and went to rest at the Pokémon Hotel.

• Qian Bing spotted the Hu Family’s mission offering rewards for Elite Grade Nidorino and decided it suited his trip to Mt. Moon.
• Qian Bing asked Nurse Joy to accept the mission, but she explained that he needed Beginner Trainer status to take an A-Rank mission.
• Nurse Joy updated Qian Bing’s trainer rank after seeing his Pewter Gym victory record and accepted the mission for him.
• Nurse Joy warned Qian Bing that the mission could be canceled or claimed by another trainer, then returned his healed Pokémon.
• Qian Bing left the Pokémon Center and decided to rest at the Pokémon Hotel before buying supplies for Mt. Moon.

Qian Bing and Tang San trained together, strengthening their trust and combat skills. Qian Bing reflected on the powers of the Pokémon world and became especially interested in obtaining Viridian Power.

• Qian Bing joined Tang San’s morning training and sparred with him using footwork and close-combat techniques.
• Tang San praised Qian Bing’s improving skills, and the two resumed their practice after Qian Bing said he was fine.
• The narration explained that Qian Bing had shared his Soul Power circulation method with Tang San, while Tang San had taught him the simplified Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step.
• Qian Bing chose not to pursue Tang San’s other cultivation methods and instead considered the Pokémon world’s mysterious powers: Aura, Overcome Power, and Viridian Power.
• Qian Bing imagined that Viridian Power could heal Pokémon and help them grow stronger, making him eager to obtain it.

Qian Bing and Tang San attended a lesson on Soul Rings taught by substitute teacher Yu Xiaogang. Qian Bing lost interest and cultivated during class, then realized Yu Xiaogang had caught him spacing out.

• Qian Bing, Tang San, and Xiao Wu went to their first-year classroom after morning training and breakfast.
• Yu Xiaogang introduced himself as the substitute teacher and began teaching the class about Soul Ring grades and Spirit Beasts.
• Tang San ignored the familiar lesson and secretly cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
• Qian Bing became disappointed by Yu Xiaogang's basic lecture and also began cultivating during class.
• Qian Bing noticed Yu Xiaogang standing by his desk and staring at him.

Qian Bing startled Yu Xiaogang by reciting Soul Ring absorption limits that matched Yu Xiaogang’s private research. After Qian Bing claimed his parents’ notes contained the same figures, Yu Xiaogang questioned him about his family, leaving Qian Bing to maintain his cover.

• Yu Xiaogang quizzed Qian Bing on the maximum age for a First Soul Ring, and Qian Bing gave the precise figure of 423 years with an explanation of physical differences.
• Yu Xiaogang summoned Qian Bing after class and asked whether he had ever visited Notting City or how he knew the Soul Ring limit.
• Qian Bing claimed the figures were common knowledge he had learned as a child, but Yu Xiaogang told him the limit was his own research.
• Qian Bing said his parents’ notes listed absorption limits for all nine Soul Rings, astonishing Yu Xiaogang with figures that matched his research.
• Yu Xiaogang asked Qian Bing who his parents were, while Qian Bing carefully kept up his act of surprise.

Qian Bing discussed his parents’ Soul Master theories with Yu Xiaogang, who invited him to become his disciple. Qian Bing declined while accepting Yu Xiaogang’s offer of help, and they went to eat at Notting Academy’s cafeteria.

• Qian Bing told Yu Xiaogang that he had been raised by his grandfather and learned Soul Master knowledge from a notebook his parents left behind.
• Qian Bing shared the notebook’s theory that Soul Masters could absorb soul rings from different kinds of soul beasts if the rings suited their spirits, attributes, and limits.
• Yu Xiaogang praised Qian Bing’s parents and asked him to take him as his master, but Qian Bing said the decision was too significant to make lightly.
• Yu Xiaogang accepted Qian Bing’s refusal and offered to help him with academy, study, and cultivation problems, and Qian Bing agreed to seek his help if needed.
• Yu Xiaogang took Qian Bing to the second-floor cafeteria at Notting Academy, where they prepared to eat.

After realizing he wanted to rise above ordinary life, Qian Bing entered the Pokémon World and set out to train on Mt. Moon. He became lost in the mountain’s tunnels, where Bulbasaur helped him while Qian Bing blamed the map for every wrong turn.

• Qian Bing left the crowded cafeteria, returned to Seven Dorm, and entered the Pokémon World to train his Pokemon.
• Qian Bing bought camping supplies and began a hiking trip through Mt. Moon with his three Pokemon.
• After three days in the confusing tunnels, Qian Bing complained about the map while Bulbasaur knocked out a Diglett with Vine Whip.
• Qian Bing praised Bulbasaur’s training and continued searching for his route through the mountain.
• Qian Bing found a Super Ball at the end of a dead-end passage and later blamed an unmarked boulder for blocking their way.

After days of wandering through Mt. Moon, Qian Bing chased a valuable Nidorino into a secluded tunnel and reached three possible routes. Unable to choose, he let Bulbasaur decide, and Bulbasaur seriously inspected the left passage.

• Qian Bing relied on chance to navigate Mt. Moon and collected hidden items and several Nidorino, but found no Moon Stones or Ancient Fossils.
• Qian Bing and Bulbasaur pursued a King Grade Nidorino into an unexplored tunnel.
• Qian Bing found three dark passages and failed to identify the Nidorino's route from footprints or drifting dust.
• Qian Bing warned Bulbasaur that choosing incorrectly could cost it a month of tasty food, then asked it to pick a passage.
• Bulbasaur carefully peered into the left passage.

Qian Bing followed Ivysaur into a tunnel after it found a Moon Stone, then continued searching for the escaped Nidorino. After evolving Ivysaur into Venusaur, he heard an unsettling song coming from deeper inside the tunnel.

• Ivysaur lashed its Vine Whip into the left tunnel and pulled back a Moon Stone, delighting Qian Bing.
• Qian Bing followed Ivysaur to an unconscious Rattata beside a broken mud ball, but found no other valuables.
• Qian Bing left Energy Cubes beside the Rattata and continued deeper into the tunnel with Ivysaur.
• Qian Bing and Venusaur walked on until he heard a sweet, seductive song that made him feel uneasy.