Acrobatics, a Flying-type move that used skillful, acrobatic movements to strike opponents.
"Combusken, use Double Team!"
"Combusken!"
Combusken used Double Team before Acrobatics struck, creating a dozen or so copies. However, the Sandstorm disrupted them, and they scattered at once. Even so, they had given Combusken enough time to dodge Gliscor's Acrobatics.
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host! Combusken performed excellently and activated a hidden reward: Skill Awakening Card: Slash!]
"Learn it!"
Combusken learned Slash in an instant.
"Combusken, use Slash!"
After accelerating three times, Combusken charged forward at once. Gliscor tried to flap its wings and take to the sky again, but it was too late!
Combusken's claws slammed into Gliscor's back, smashing it into the ground.
"Encore—Slash!"
"Gyaa..."
Gliscor was defeated!
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host! Combusken successfully defeated Gliscor and gained Battle Experience. Level increased to Lv. 36!]
He'd won.
And fairly easily.
In actual Spirit Battles, unlike in games, you had to consider the Pokémon's real condition as well as tactics.
"Congratulations, Su Yi. You've passed the assessment. Just go to the person in charge to collect your Advanced Trainer Badge."
Su Yi smiled, pleased.
He was an Advanced Trainer now. The next step was Ace Trainer, and beyond that was the much harder rank of Heavenly King Trainer.
The Ace Trainer assessment was relatively easy, but the Heavenly King Trainer assessment was more difficult.
That was because you had to achieve a comprehensive victory against the examiner in a 6v6 battle.
So you needed six Pokémon at Lv. 50 or above.
After following the young woman from earlier to collect his Advanced Trainer Badge, Su Yi left the Pokémon League in Shangjing City.
Next, it was time to deal with the Zhang Family.
Su Yi had a plan.
The Zhang Family wanted to keep its position and hold on to the coveted middle region of the Spirit Primal Forest. They'd also lost a million Gold Coins to him. So they would definitely need to pull some strings.
And pulling strings meant getting connections at the International Pokémon League headquarters.
What was the most valuable thing to offer?
Without a doubt, a rare Pokémon.
Su Yi bought a mask.
He also bought a voice changer.
Then he put on the mask, changed his clothes, and put on another mask.
After making sure he was unrecognizable, Su Yi found out about a restaurant Zhang Mu frequented.
The restaurant wasn't large, but the food was excellent. Even as the Zhang Family's current head, Zhang Mu often went there to eat.
More importantly, it had a habit no other restaurant shared.
The owner liked to show all kinds of news about the Spirit Primal Forest on the restaurant's TV.
That day, Zhang Mu was there as usual, eating with several members of the Zhang Family.
His son, Zhang Kuang, was with them too.
"Dad, why don't we cooperate with another powerful family? We can't just give up this opportunity. If the Zhang Family can hold on for another three years, with my talent and the potential of my Pokémon, I'll be an Ace Trainer by then. If I'm willing to do whatever it takes, reaching the Heavenly King level isn't impossible either."
Whenever Zhang Mu and the others came, they ate in a private room.
This time was no exception.
Zhang Kuang looked frustrated. He knew they absolutely couldn't give up the coveted entrance to the middle region of the Spirit Primal Forest.
The Zhang Family had already prepared for this situation.
But Zhang Kuang had tied with Su Yi in battle. He'd thought victory was all but certain and that he'd even get a Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon Egg for free. He hadn't expected to lose.
"Hmph! If you hadn't lost a million Gold Coins, we wouldn't be in such a tight spot. We've borrowed from everyone we can. The other families know our situation and are avoiding us like the plague. The Shangguan Family is causing trouble too. They've had their eye on this opportunity of ours for ages. That old bastard Shangguan Hong!"
Zhang Mu gave Zhang Kuang a heavy scolding.
"Dad, you can't blame me for that. I performed normally. If Su Yi hadn't come out of nowhere, I'd be the Trial Ranking champion."
"That's right, Family Head. You can't blame Young Master. The real problem is Su Yi. He swindled us out of a million Gold Coins. We can't let that go."
"Exactly, Family Head. I think we should teach Su Yi a lesson once the Zhang Family gets through this crisis."
The other two Zhang Family members chimed in.
Zhang Mu nodded.
"Of course. The Shangguan Family is one thing, but what right does some wet-behind-the-ears kid have to oppose my Zhang Family?"
Zhang Mu had already come up with a way to deal with Su Yi.
"He also has an older sister who's a Heavenly King Trainer. We might be able to make use of Su Xiyan. Zhang Kuang, see if you can get close to her."
"Okay, Dad..."
Zhang Kuang nodded and was about to say more, but Zhang Mu abruptly raised a hand to stop him.
He was staring at the television on the wall.
It was a live news broadcast from a small TV station.
"Recently, a Trainer reported hearing what sounded like a dragon's roar near the outer region of the Spirit Primal Forest, close to the middle region. They also felt the ground shake. What could be going on? Let's interview the witness."
The reporter held out a microphone. The picture switched to a tall, thin, middle-aged man.
The camera focused on him.
The reporter handed him the microphone.
"Here's what happened. I went in this time to catch a cute Pokémon for my daughter. When I got to..."
The man described the events in vivid detail, making the roar sound incredibly lifelike. At the end, he even offered his own theory: the figure might have been a Garchomp—and that Garchomp might have laid an Egg, which would explain why it was so aggressive!
If a great river hadn't separated the middle and outer regions, it might even have charged across!
The man had eventually hurried away, afraid the commotion would attract even more powerful Pokémon.
"All right, thank you for sharing that, Trainer. And a reminder to everyone: wanting to do something for your daughter is perfectly natural, but if you enter the Spirit Primal Forest to catch and capture Wild Pokémon, be sure to keep yourself safe..."
No one in the private room paid attention to what came after.
A Pseudo-Legendary Garchomp?
It had laid an Egg?
The story still needed to be verified, but the news was definitely something the Zhang Family had to investigate!
If it was true, and the Zhang Family could capture a Pseudo-Legendary Garchomp—and even get its Pokémon Egg—then there'd be no problem holding on to their position!
"Let's go. Head back at once and investigate whether this is true. If it's a fully grown Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon, none of you will be able to handle it. I'll go myself. Zhang Kuang, message your grandfather. Several of his Pokémon are already halfway to the Champion level. Get him to weigh in. I'll head out first."
Zhang Mu made his decision without hesitation!
This involved a fully grown Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon. There was no room for error.
They had to check the site for signs of a Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon and find out what had really happened!
If the story was true, the Pokémon League hadn't yet confirmed it. The Zhang Family could seize the Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon and its Egg right away!
The thought of getting two Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon made Zhang Mu's blood run hot.
The Zhang Family was destined to rise to prosperity. With two Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon, the Shangguan Family could step aside.
Still, Zhang Mu remained wary. After all, a Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon Egg had already cost Zhang Kuang a million Gold Coins.
Had that man really been so lucky as to spot a Pokémon from the middle region while he was in the outer region? And it had just happened to be a Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon?
And that Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon had just happened to lay an Egg?
It all seemed like too much of a coincidence.
Zhang Mu never suspected that anyone would dare target the Zhang Family.
The Zhang Family was one of the most powerful families in Shangjing City.
The previous head of the family was a powerful Trainer with several Pokémon that were halfway to the Champion level!
Zhang Zhen!
Zhang Mu headed for the destination with the other members of the Zhang Family, while Zhang Kuang hurried home alone.
On the way, he'd already messaged his grandfather, Zhang Zhen, to explain the situation.
Then he rushed home without stopping.
As soon as he arrived, Zhang Kuang went straight to Zhang Zhen, who was training in seclusion.
"Grandpa, Dad has already set out. He asked me to come get you. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If the information is right, I think the Zhang Family will make a huge leap forward!"
Zhang Kuang was excited.
All that remained was to verify whether the report was true.
"Mm. I already know about it. This matter isn't as simple as it looks!"
Zhang Zhen's eyes seemed cloudy, yet they were bright and sharp, glinting with intelligence.
He'd lived most of his life and had seen more than Zhang Mu and Zhang Kuang could imagine.
So many coincidences all at once—and they expected him to believe it?
Someone was definitely targeting the Zhang Family!
After hearing his grandfather's analysis, Zhang Kuang stared in surprise.
"But... Grandpa, better safe than sorry. It won't hurt to go and have a look. Besides, you're here. Who would dare scheme against us? And if this is a trap, Dad could be in danger. We should go help him."
For once, Zhang Kuang wasn't thinking calmly.
"Mm, you're right. We're going. Your grandfather already had four old companions break through to the Champion level. I was planning to wait until all six of them broke through before ending my seclusion, but now I want to see who's bold enough to target my Zhang Family!"
Zhang Zhen's aura surged!
"That's great, Grandpa! Whoever they are, we won't have to fear them!"
The stronger the Zhang Family became, the more powerful Zhang Kuang's own future would be. He was overjoyed.
Little did he know, this would be the happiest day of his life—and the last one...
Meanwhile, Su Yi had already reached the area ahead of time.
His special student ID gave him access to the middle region.
That was one of the reasons Jingtian Academy had issued Su Yi a special student ID.
Jingtian Academy had specially applied for a pass for Su Yi, and the pass was stored in his special student ID.
It let him move freely through the outer and middle regions of the Spirit Primal Forest.
Before you continue