Eternal Pain Won't Fly!

The Houndour Trainer was a spirited youth with dyed yellow hair.

Once Lu Li stepped onto the field, Yellow Hair immediately sneered, "Qingfeng City's number one—I heard you're pretty badass!"

Lu Li asked, "Pardon me, but are you cosplaying Young and Dangerous?"

Feeling that his dignity as the First High School Boss had been challenged, Yellow Hair angrily said, "You actually dare pretend not to know me? Houndour, get out there! Bite his Tropius to death!"

Lu Li: "..."

Lu Li dared swear to heaven that he truly did not know this punk in front of him.

Yellow Hair shouted, "Houndour, Howl!"

"Tropius, Growth, then take to the air," Lu Li ordered curtly.

You can raise your Attack, and so can I. But my Tropius can fly—can your Houndour? Lu Li sneered inwardly.

Seeing Tropius fly into the sky, Yellow Hair mocked, "My Houndour isn't some trash like Eevee."

"Houndour, use Ember and knock it down!"

Lu Li gave his own command as well. "Tropius, dodge, then use Magical Leaf."

Ember was not a move that automatically pursued its target, but Magical Leaf was.

Tropius dodged the Embers in midair while unleashing Magical Leaf.

Yellow Hair hurriedly shouted, "Houndour, hurry up and dodge too!"

Upon hearing the command, Houndour hastily avoided Tropius's Magical Leaf, only for the leaves to bizarrely turn around and charge at Houndour again.

Yellow Hair demanded in shock, "What kind of move is that? It can even turn corners?!"

Lu Li did not answer Yellow Hair's question. Judging from his reaction, this Unlucky Kid was clearly the uneducated sort—he did not even recognize Magical Leaf.

Lu Li continued, "Tropius, keep using Magical Leaf."

Magical Leaf was a Grass-type special attack. While Grass-type attacks could not deal super effective damage to Houndour, quantity brought about qualitative change.

Lu Li did not believe Houndour could withstand repeated Magical Leafs.

Being kited around, Yellow Hair roared in fury, "Bastard! If you've got the guts, bring Tropius down here!"

"The three minutes aren't up yet," Lu Li sneered.

Yellow Hair: "..."

Three minutes later.

Houndour, worn down to defeat by Magical Leaf, lost the match.

Yellow Hair, who had been so arrogant moments ago, now looked like a defeated rooster.

"Don't get cocky. Once my Houndour evolves, I'll get my revenge." After throwing out that threat, Yellow Hair gloomily recalled Houndour and left the battlefield.

Jin Huang, who had returned to the Gymnasium at some point, walked over to Lu Li and exclaimed, "That was way too easy, wasn't it? But Tropius actually learned Magical Leaf? How is your Tropius's move pool so deep?"

So far, Lu Li's Tropius had revealed five moves: Headbutt, Sweet Scent, Growth, Magical Leaf, and Razor Leaf. Such a move pool was rare even among Normal-level Pokémon.

Jin Huang did not know that Tropius was already a Normal-level Pokémon.

However, those official Trainers could see Tropius's true strength at a glance.

Yu Zhonggang frowned and muttered, "He raised Tropius to Normal-level in just one week? Are Junior Breeders really this absurd?"

The principal beside him twitched at the corner of his mouth. Forget Junior Breeders—even Intermediate Breeders could not possibly be this absurd.

Looks like this little genius has secrets of his own, the principal thought, narrowing his eyes.

However, he had no intention of investigating Lu Li's secrets. The Pokémon world was so magical that the occasional extraordinary event was perfectly normal.

Jin Cuilian, standing beside Jin Huang, also sighed. "Lu Li, I never expected that even I had underestimated your talent. You're only missing the certificate to become a Junior Breeder now, right?"

Lu Li rubbed the bridge of his nose somewhat awkwardly, then nodded shyly.

If he were not afraid of causing too much of a sensation, Lu Li felt that he could even go take the examination for a Senior Breeder certificate.

Although the Grandmaster Level Hundred Immortal Cultivation Arts did not entirely suit this world, there were still some similarities between them. Whether it was breeding, planting, or item crafting, Lu Li felt that all he lacked was accumulated knowledge.

"When it comes to the finals later, the two of you must perform well. Especially you, Lu Li—you must put on an impressive match and show your style," Jin Cuilian instructed with utmost seriousness.

Having been reminded again, Lu Li nodded, then asked curiously, "Teacher, did some important figure from the Education Bureau come to our school?"

Jin Cuilian shook her head meaningfully.

"Not from the Education Bureau. I can only say that this person's status is even higher than the Education Bureau's Director," Jin Cuilian said.

"All right, this is the school's Surprise for you two, so I can't reveal it yet. As for what the Surprise is, you'll find out when the time comes." Jin Cuilian waved her hand, then turned and left.

After Jin Cuilian came over to his side, Dou Guomin sighed in a drawn-out tone, "What incredible luck."

Jin Cuilian modestly replied, "I still have to thank all of you colleagues for your help."

"No. Even with our assistance, this could never have happened if your son had not been capable." Dou Guomin shook his head.

Jin Cuilian's son had caught the eye of Qingyun City's Gym Leader. Previously, they would merely have been amazed, but now, all they felt was deep envy.

You had to know that Gym Leader Yu had already advanced to become an Elite Four Trainer, and his Elite Four Pokémon was an Aggron. Jin Huang, who owned an Aron, had taken Gym Leader Yu as his master. His future achievements would at least reach Gym Leader-level.

For ordinary people, becoming a Trainer was a dividing line.

For Trainers, becoming a Gym Trainer was a dividing line.

Only by becoming a Gym Trainer could one truly be considered an accomplished Trainer. Gym Trainers were the backbone of the Asian League.

"I originally thought this was all my life would amount to. I never expected to give birth to such a promising son. Though I often say he can't compare to Lu Li, he's actually quite outstanding!" Jin Cuilian looked kindly at Jin Huang, who was chatting and laughing with Lu Li in the distance.

Dou Guomin said, "That kind of discouraging parenting isn't good."

Jin Cuilian retorted, "Using Lu Li to push down Jin Huang hardly counts as discouraging parenting."

Was Lu Li an ordinary person?

A sixteen-year-old Junior Breeder—even Jin Huang couldn't compare to him, let alone the direct descendants of those Great Families.

If Jin Huang possessed even one-tenth of Lu Li's ability, she would wake up laughing from her dreams as his mother.

And that was indeed the case. Although Jin Huang could not compare to Lu Li, he had still reached a point where she could laugh in her dreams.

As time passed, the final decisive moment approached.

Everything unfolded just as Lu Li had expected. The semifinal contenders were himself, Jin Huang, and that Ekans Trainer.

Looking at the announced semifinal roster, Jin Huang said, "You really called it. That Ekans Trainer is indeed very strong."

"But unfortunately for you, it looks like you'll be facing him first." Jin Huang said gleefully.

"It doesn't matter. My Tropius could use a little pressure." Lu Li smiled casually.

Although Tropius was at a twofold disadvantage against Ekans, Ekans couldn't fly!