For such rare medicinal herbs, he definitely had to consider sustainability.
Herbology in this Pokémon world was actually quite advanced. The most famous herb was the legendary Revival Herb, which was practically the ultimate dream of all Planting Masters.
Anyone capable of growing Revival Herbs and bringing them to maturity was undoubtedly a Master-level Planting Master.
That was because the Revival Potions made from Revival Herbs were effective even on Master-level Pokémon. They were ultimate medicines capable of affecting the balance of the League.
However, Revival Herbs had always been nothing more than a legend. At the very least, Lu Li had only seen them in the school's legendary Pokédex. They were said to be as rare as Divine Beasts.
After putting all the herbs into his backpack, Lu Li decided to find a nearby place to meditate and restore the energy in his body.
The sky was growing darker and darker. If he returned too late, Xiao Mei would definitely worry.
Not making one's family worry was a trainer's basic responsibility. Lu Li was an orphan with no relatives, so the companions around him naturally became his family.
In the small water tank, Feebas stared at the darkening sky with bright eyes.
Ordinary Feebas usually had rather vacant eyes, but Xiao Mei was different. Her eyes were filled with confidence and hope for the future.
"It's gotten so dark. Why hasn't my trainer come back yet? Nothing could have happened to him, right?" Feebas worriedly let her thoughts run wild.
"No!"
"My trainer is so outstanding. Nothing could have happened to him. Something must have delayed him."
"Ah..."
"I really want to become stronger soon! Once I evolve, I'll be able to stay by my trainer's side all the time."
"Little brother Tropius is so strong, and his typing is powerful too. He should protect my trainer, right?"
"Grass-types actually counter Water-types? Shouldn't water be invincible? I wonder if I'll be able to beat that stinky little brother after I evolve."
As evolution drew nearer, Feebas was becoming smarter and smarter.
Ordinary Feebas tended to think rather slowly, but Xiao Mei's mind was incredibly quick. She was practically no different from a normal person.
All these traits conveyed one message to the outside world: this Feebas was about to evolve.
Meanwhile, a conversation between grandfather and grandson was taking place in Lu Li's neighbor's house.
"My good grandson, study hard, just like Lu Li next door. But don't imitate Lu Li completely. He's studied himself stupid and doesn't have any of the drive young people should have." Old Li patted his grandson's shoulder kindly as he lectured him.
Li Ming nodded heavily and promised, "Don't worry, Grandpa! I definitely won't let you down."
Thinking of what had happened at school today, Li Ming reminded him worriedly, "But... Grandpa, a group of police officers came to school today. They seemed to be promoting anti-fraud awareness. After listening to them, I feel like that organization you joined might be running a scam. Are you sure everything's okay?"
At those words, the kindness on Old Li's face instantly vanished.
"You absolutely cannot tell your classmates about our Hope Organization. If other people find out, you'll only be able to get some terrible starter Pokémon.
"Your task now is to study hard. Next year, Grandpa will prepare a Starter Pokémon for you." Old Li lectured her with an exceptionally serious expression.
Li Ming nodded in confusion.
"This is the only opportunity we ordinary people can seize. Look at Lu Li next door. So what if his grades are good? Look at the Pokémon he has.
"He can't even bear to throw away a Pokémon like Feebas. His grades are clearly so good, yet he still hasn't managed to get even one Starter Pokémon." Old Li continued using the neighbor as an example to educate Li Ming.
Li Ning said weakly, "But... I heard Big Brother Lu received a city sponsorship slot. He already has a Starter Pokémon now."
"What?"
Old Li shot to his feet in an instant.
"No wonder that guy wasn't tempted. So he already had a Starter Pokémon! No wonder!" Old Li suddenly understood, but then his teeth began to grind.
"That guy actually tried to persuade me to give up on preparing a Starter Pokémon for you, even saying that organization was a scam. How could he be so malicious?
"He clearly already has a Starter Pokémon himself, yet he still wants my grandson to end up without one." Old Li cursed through gritted teeth.
At that moment, all of Lu Li's previous attempts at persuasion became ill-intentioned in Old Li's heart.
A fixed impression of someone jealous and unable to stand seeing his grandson do better than him slowly took shape.
Old Li complained regretfully, "I shouldn't have gone to him in the first place. I even wanted to lend him a hand because he was so poor!"
Unaware that he was sinking deeper and deeper, Old Li became even more determined to prepare a Starter Pokémon for his grandson.
"Just a few more. Once I rope in a few more people, the Starter Pokémon will be ours next year." The obstinate Old Li gave himself a pep talk inwardly.
Two hours later, once the energy in his body had finally recovered for the most part, Lu Li skillfully took the Tortoise Shell out of his backpack.
The saying that fortune tellers could divine others but not themselves was complete nonsense.
Ever since coming to this world and entering the Qi Refining Stage, every reading he had done had been for himself.
Because of the World Rules, Lu Li had also discovered a bug in divination.
As long as his divinations did not involve those Deities who represented laws, his calculations came at almost no cost. He did not need to worry at all about heaven's secrets being impossible to reveal.
The Heavenly Dao of this world was equivalent to Arceus. Arceus was probably off wandering aimlessly in some other world right now. How could it possibly notice a little shrimp like him?
In the Cultivation World, revealing too many heavenly secrets would invite backlash from one's fortune. But it did not matter in this world. That was the wonderful thing about different worlds.
Lu Li's reading this time was simple: how could he return Home safely?
Cast the hexagram!
Three Ancient Bronze Coins landed on the ground. Lu Li stared intently at them, and after sensing something in the unseen, he silently gathered the coins.
"Southeast..."
Lu Li narrowed his eyes toward the southeast, where the depths of the Qingfeng Mountains lay.
This divination had produced three results, representing three different routes.
The result for the southeast direction was both great misfortune and great fortune. Disaster and blessing were impossible to predict. If he continued deeper, he might find a place where he could truly establish himself, but he might also perish.
Through this route, Lu Li realized that the Qingfeng Mountains definitely contained a great opportunity, but it was absolutely not something he could covet right now.
Lu Li released Tropius. After more than two hours of digestion, Tropius's energy had also mostly recovered.
"Tro~"
The moment Tropius came out, he happily licked Lu Li's face.
What could make a Pokémon happier than seeing its trainer standing before it, healthy and whole?
Lu Li said, "All right, Xiao Lu. Let's go Home."
Hearing that, Tropius obediently crouched down.
After jumping onto Tropius's back, Lu Li followed the vague guidance in his mind and said, "Fly this way."
Nearly an hour later.
Lu Li finally returned to the suburb of Qingfeng City. As he passed over the suburb, he unexpectedly spotted an acquaintance.
Before you continue