The Power of Aura

"Lord Qing Wu, Leader Kuraki wishes to see you," Blondie said respectfully after stopping Qing Wu.

Qing Wu glanced at Blondie expressionlessly, causing Blondie to break out in a cold sweat. He knew he was taking a huge risk.

Times had changed. Qing Wu was now the number one ranked trial participant, holding immense power.

Stopping Qing Wu so rashly was a grave disrespect according to Team Rocket's rules.

"Let's go," Qing Wu agreed to meet Kuraki, considering Blondie's loyalty.

Qing Wu also wanted to obtain the Poison Person's blood from Kuraki. This would give him more confidence that his Golbat's aptitude would stabilize at the green tier when it evolved into Crobat.

Blondie quietly led the way. The only sounds in the corridor were their footsteps and Blondie's thumping heart.

Team Rocket Medical Bay

Kuraki was leaning quietly on the bed, engrossed in a book. A needle was inserted into the back of his right hand, indicating he had recently finished an IV drip.

Just then, the medical bay door was knocked on three times. Kuraki opened his mouth and let out a hoarse voice.

"Come in."

Blondie pushed open the medical bay door with Qing Wu.

"I heard you wanted to see me," Qing Wu said, meeting Kuraki's dark yellow eyes with his clear gaze.

Blondie quietly retreated and closed the medical bay door.

"Yes, I wanted to thank you. Thank you for saving my life, and thank you for the candy," Kuraki said after a moment's hesitation, a faint smile appearing on his pale face.

Perhaps due to his long-held gloominess, the smile on Kuraki's stiff, cold face looked rather unpleasant, neither smiling nor not smiling.

However, Qing Wu knew this was Kuraki's way of showing him goodwill, just as he had smiled when he was reborn.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't save you, and what candy? I have no idea. Don't talk nonsense," Qing Wu denied everything, causing Kuraki to smile knowingly.

"I understand, but I still want to thank you for letting me taste candy. Our past grievances are now settled," Kuraki said, tossing a vial of purple blood to Qing Wu.

Qing Wu caught it immediately, gazing at the blood, darker than any violet.

Having previously obtained the blood of a Poison Person, Qing Wu recognized it instantly as the Poison Person's venomous blood.

"This is my Poison Person blood. With this vial, nurturing Poison Type Sprites will be much smoother. Consider it repayment for the candy you gave me," Kuraki's voice was tinged with weakness.

"What candy?" Qing Wu asked, feigning ignorance despite his delight.

"Haha, there are no cameras here. Even though you deny it, I know it was you. Do you know why this battle took such a heavy toll on my body?" Kuraki asked Qing Wu.

Qing Wu had also been eager to understand this very question.

"It's because I took our battle very seriously and used the Poison Person's ability to enhance Arbok's poison," Kuraki stated the answer directly, without waiting for Qing Wu's question.

"Poison Person's ability!!!" This was the first time Qing Wu had heard such a novel term.

However, he recalled that Natsume could use Psychic Power to boost the strength of Psychic-type Pokémon. Therefore, it made sense for a Poison Person to enhance the poison of Poison-type Pokémon.

After all, this world was vast, filled with many individuals possessing special abilities, such as the Power of Tokiwa, Power of Overcoming, Power of Aura, and so on.

In his past life, Qing Wu had also heard of a young man with the Power of Evil, who could amplify the strength of all Dark-type Pokémon.

"My Poison Person ability allows me to enhance the poison of all Poison-type Pokémon. It was also the first time I used this ability, which is why I suffered a backlash later on."

"I'll be bedridden for at least three days now. I hope we can battle again the next time we meet," Kuraki said, issuing a challenge regardless of whether Qing Wu was listening.

"Alright, once you've recovered, we'll have another match," Qing Wu readily accepted Kuraki's challenge.

Qing Wu also wanted to see how many surprises the Kuraki with special abilities would bring him the next time they met.

Training Pokémon was not about working in isolation but about growing through constant challenges. Setting oneself a constantly evolving rival was also a very interesting endeavor.

Seeing Qing Wu agree, Kuraki said nothing more but closed his eyes wearily, as if the conversation had drained all his strength.

Noticing Kuraki's poor health, Qing Wu took the vial Kuraki had given him and pushed open the medical bay door.

Blondie was still waiting outside. When he saw Qing Wu emerge, he hesitated for a moment before bowing deeply to Qing Wu, expressing his sincere gratitude.

Qing Wu paused and asked Blondie, "Weren't you afraid when you stopped me back then?"

After a long pause, Blondie's voice echoed from the corridor, "I was scared, but I was more afraid of Leader Kuraki's disappointed expression. I'm the only one left in Leader Kuraki's team now, and I don't want to let him down. After all, he saved me."

"Kuraki is truly fortunate to have a subordinate like you," Qing Wu said before turning to leave.

The world was not lacking in loyal individuals. Often, a small gesture could leave an indelible mark, earning complete and utter assistance in return.

The saying goes, "He who gains the Way has many helpers; he who loses the Way has few." This was the principle. Even if Kuraki was cruel, he had shown a sincere side.

True hearts exchange for true hearts; this was a profitable transaction.

As Qing Wu reached the end of the corridor, he spotted someone with pink hair sneakily following him.

"Come out, Lian Ji. I know it's you," Qing Wu said to the empty corridor. Soon, a blue light faded, and Lian Ji appeared in the corridor, transformed.

"Lord Qing Wu, how did you know it was me?" Lian Ji asked, looking touched.

Qing Wu knew Lian Ji's personality well: she was loyal to the strong. As long as he remained stronger than her, he could completely control her.

"I also know you're here to join me," Qing Wu walked up to Lian Ji, looked into her pink pupils, and quietly lowered his voice, whispering next to her ear.

Lian Ji's face instantly turned as red as a monkey's backside. "Oh, stop it, Lord Qing Wu! How can you be so close to me?" Lian Ji stomped her foot fiercely, but a look of infatuation appeared on her face.

"Stop pretending. Psychic types are all very rational; they wouldn't be love-struck," Qing Wu's cold voice rang out from beside Lian Ji.

Lian Ji looked up and saw Qing Wu's icy gaze fixed on her, causing the blush on her face to fade.

"When did Lord Qing Wu discover it?" Lian Ji's voice changed completely from before.

If the original Lian Ji was like a friendly girl next door, the current Lian Ji was like a noble, mature woman.

A Kadabra silently appeared behind Lian Ji, its spoon tightly gripped, gathering psychic energy for a special move.

"I found out long ago. Sometimes, if you're going to pretend, you should commit to it fully. I saw contempt in your eyes, as if this were all a meticulously planned romance drama," Qing Wu said, knowing Lian Ji's wicked nature all too well.

"I'm here to pledge my allegiance to you. Will you accept me?" Lian Ji took out a pack of ladies' cigarettes from her black robe, snapped her fingers with her left hand, and a flame instantly appeared, lighting her cigarette.

In Qing Wu's eyes, this was quite a display of style.

"Smoking is harmful to your health." Qing Wu unhesitatingly snatched the cigarette from her, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it several times.

Qing Wu personally detested cigarettes and couldn't stand even a hint of their smell.

This was because cigarettes interfered with his sense of smell, and any Poffins made with the lingering scent of tobacco, no matter how top-tier, wouldn't be touched by Pokémon.

"Fine, fine, I won't smoke, alright?" Lian Ji tossed the cigarette pack into a nearby trash can.

"I accept your allegiance. What benefits can you bring me?" Qing Wu asked calmly.

Although he wanted to recruit Lian Ji, the nature of him actively seeking her out was different from her eagerly coming to him for refuge.

"Are you kidding me? A psychic type like me comes to pledge allegiance to you, and you still ask me for benefits?" Lian Ji was so angry her nostrils flared.

"Of course, I have to. Psychic abilities can't be eaten. Do you expect me to fawn over you? That's for my ancestors, the ones lying on the ground," Qing Wu retorted, giving her no face at all.

"What a stingy old miser," Lian Ji snapped her fingers. Her Kadabra's hand suddenly plunged into space and pulled out a book.

"This is my benefit," Lian Ji said, handing over the book from the Kadabra. The cover read "Psychic Manual."

"This book can help you become a psychic type, but the required materials are quite expensive, and the success rate of awakening psychic abilities is less than twenty percent," Lian Ji kindly reminded him.

"Twenty percent? Then I don't want it," Qing Wu said without hesitation, returning the book to Lian Ji with a look of disdain. In reality, his heart was already blooming with joy.

"Big brother, twenty percent is already very high, do you understand? Most people have a one in ten million chance of awakening psychic abilities. Plus, this book also records cultivation methods for many psychic-type Pokémon. Aren't you tempted?" Lian Ji had laid it all out, and she couldn't believe Qing Wu wouldn't be moved.

The moment Qing Wu touched the Psychic Manual, he had already activated his system's scan mode.

In just three seconds, all the content recorded in the Psychic Manual was scanned and stored in the system.

"No, let's change the terms," Qing Wu refused again, causing Lian Ji to deflate.

"If you want to pledge allegiance to me, you just need to agree to three conditions," Qing Wu said calmly after seeing Lian Ji's disappointment.

"First, in front of outsiders, we have no relationship."

"Second, when necessary, I will use Team Rocket points to exchange for resources that psychic-type Pokémon can use."

"Third, help me secretly gather information and see if there are any hidden plots or schemes against me."

The three conditions Qing Wu stated were all easily achievable for Lian Ji.

"It seems he really doesn't care about this Psychic Manual." Lian Ji had taken out the Psychic Manual more as a test for Qing Wu. If Qing Wu had accepted, Lian Ji would have unhesitatingly refused to pledge allegiance, as Lan Ling was already useless.

Originally, Lian Ji had thought Lan Ling would place in the top three, which had given her the idea of seeking refuge with Qing Wu.

But Lan Ling, that good-for-nothing, had lost to Kaminari. Not only did she fail to get into the top three, but Lian Ji had also secured a spot within the top five.

Now, Lian Ji and Lan Ling's situations were reversed. Even without pledging allegiance to Qing Wu, Lian Ji could live very well. She was a psychic type herself, and she had the backing of Athena's resources.

"Then I'll pledge allegiance. What benefits will you give me?" Lian Ji asked. She wouldn't engage in a losing deal where she received nothing.

"Psychic Poffins and the cultivation of psychic-type Pokémon," Qing Wu stated his terms.

"If you feel that the Poffins and cultivation methods I provide are unsatisfactory, you can terminate this deal at any time," Qing Wu quickly added.

"Deal." To Lian Ji, pledging allegiance to Qing Wu was quite an exciting prospect, so she agreed immediately.

Qing Wu not only gained a psychic subordinate, a future Psychic Elite Four member, but also received support in terms of psychic resources.

After all, most of Team Rocket's psychic resources were monopolized by Natsume and Athena, and any resource bearing the name "psychic" was extremely expensive.

Without special connections, it was impossible to obtain them. Moreover, Lian Ji could also help Qing Wu gather information. All he was giving up was support with Poffins and Pokémon cultivation, which were things Qing Wu excelled at. This deal was incredibly worthwhile.