Chapter Summaries

Ye Lan reflected on the Celebi token and the power of time while keeping Rillaboom from overtraining. He then took Rillaboom to watch Whimsicott's upcoming match, which left Rillaboom curious about why others looked forward to battles.

• Huang Yuntian told Venusaur to keep up its training and assigned Breloom to train Whimsicott for its upcoming tournament.
• Ye Lan monitored Rillaboom's intense move training and made it rest before it could injure itself.
• Ye Lan examined the withered Celebi leaf and recalled that Celebi would awaken as a new individual after absorbing life energy.
• Ye Lan realized he might live for many years thanks to his Grass ability, then stopped Rillaboom's training and headed to watch Whimsicott's match.
• Rillaboom wondered why Serperior and Whimsicott anticipated battles when its own clan's hunts had been so dangerous.

Ye Lan watched Whimsicott compete in Division D’s provincial tournament preliminaries while learning about the rankings and the exchange matches held in his absence. Whimsicott faced Swellow without a trainer, and its opening moves knocked back the charging Pokémon.

• Ye Lan saw that Whimsicott had drawn Division D and read rankings that placed Wang Siqi first and Wang Hu sixth.
• Ye Lan learned that Mianzhou No. 1 High School had lost ground in a four-school team tournament while he was away in Unova.
• Leafeon brought Whimsicott to its match, astonishing Liu Qingshan by reading the tournament information and understanding it.
• Whimsicott entered the field alone with its camera, which the organizers had ruled occupied its item slot.
• Whimsicott recognized Swellow as its former bodyguard and countered its Quick Attack with Cotton Guard and Charm.

Whimsicott won its provincial tournament battles without Ye Lan’s commands, while Leafeon secretly promoted it online. Days later, Suicune reached the giant pit outside Aspertia City and called for Marshadow, prompting Ye Lan to head there with Rillaboom.

• Whimsicott defeated Contestant No. 4’s Swellow and Pidgeotto with rapid status moves, earning Ye Lan three points.
• Spectators recognized Ye Lan’s entry, and Liu Qingshan praised Whimsicott’s strength.
• Leafeon posted Whimsicott’s battle photos and video online, planning to build its popularity and earn resources.
• Ye Lan noticed Rillaboom still favored excessive force in official battles and decided to teach it the difference between wild and official matches.
• Suicune found the giant pit outside Aspertia City, used rain to neutralize unstable Grass-type energy, and called to Marshadow.
• Marshadow told Ye Lan that Suicune had arrived, and Ye Lan decided to travel there with Rillaboom.

Ye Lan received a large supply of Healing Water from Suicune and prepared to leave the Unova Region, while Whimsicott continued to impress in the tournament preliminaries. Before he could return to Snake Guardian Village, a group of Serperior approached and asked to follow him, having guarded a treasure that had now chosen him.

• Rillaboom brought Ye Lan and Marshadow to Suicune, who gave Ye Lan a large mass of Healing Water before departing.
• Ye Lan learned that Whimsicott had reached the main tournament and become notorious after defeating two Pokémon from Jindu No. 2 High School's sixth seed.
• Ye Lan had Rillaboom make a barrel for the Healing Water and prepared to return to Snake Guardian Village to say farewell.
• A group of Serperior emerged from the woods and asked to leave with Ye Lan.
• The leading Serperior explained that the group had guarded a treasure whose power had acknowledged Ye Lan, and they were willing to serve him.

Ye Lan prepared to leave the Unova Region for Huaxia, promising the Serperior leader that he would return for the clan when he had a place to settle them. Before departing Snake Guardian Village, he said goodbye to Granny Qing and Mickey and took their gifts, leaving Mickey and Granny Qing arguing behind him.

• Ye Lan refused to take the Serperior with him immediately but promised to return for them, and he sealed the promise with the leader.
• Ye Lan learned that Andrew had taken Taya to Kalos to search for a Serperior Mega Stone.
• Granny Qing and Ru Hua prepared books and items for Ye Lan, while Mickey objected when Granny Qing included his Toxic Orb.
• Ye Lan said goodbye to Granny Qing and Mickey, then used the crystal in his hair to take the manuals and Toxic Orb and filled their teapot with Healing Water.
• Ye Lan rushed away as Mickey lamented not getting to tell his old stories, and Granny Qing confronted him about his past romance.

Ye Lan reviewed ancient move-training manuals and considered a future source of income, then learned that Paldea had discovered Terastallization. He and Rillaboom arrived in China, while Ye Lan looked forward to visiting Paldea someday.

• Ye Lan studied the old move manuals, assessed the resources he needed, and planned to optimize the techniques for his Pokémon.
• Ye Lan considered mass-producing enhanced Grass-type candies but decided to wait until he reached Gym-level Trainer status.
• Ye Lan read that Paldea had discovered traces of Terastallization energy and wondered how the research and future battle system would develop.
• Ye Lan thought about Paldea's Grass-type Pokémon and hoped to travel there, while Rillaboom marveled at the clouds and realized Cottonee could fly.
• Ye Lan and Rillaboom landed in China after a ten-hour flight, and the flight attendants speculated about Ye Lan's background.

Ye Lan returned to Mianzhou and went to Mianzhou No. 1 High School to retrieve Serperior before the provincial tournament's main event. He reunited with Serperior and learned the Pokémon had been refusing the school's food while he was away.

• Ye Lan learned his parents were vacationing with Lin Yan's parents and headed to Mianzhou No. 1 High School to see Serperior.
• Mr. Zhang mistook Ye Lan for an outsider because of his changed appearance, but Liu Yan confirmed his identity and introduced Rillaboom as his recent Unova catch.
• Liu Yan explained that the school trained outdoors to prepare for the tournament's open-air arenas and noted Rillaboom's Professional-level aura.
• Ye Lan saw Serperior sparring with Chen Yang's scarred Charizard, and Serperior struck Charizard aside as soon as it noticed Ye Lan.
• Liu Yan told Ye Lan that Serperior had barely eaten the school's food and had been supervising the cafeteria cooks since his parents left.

Ye Lan returned to Mianzhou No. 1 High School, where his rapid progress and Serperior’s strength astonished Chen Yang and Liu Yan, then gave Chen Yang a jar of Healing Water. He headed to Jindu to deliver more Healing Water and arrived at the Shadow Auction to meet Chief Steward Hu.

• Ye Lan reunited with Chen Yang and Liu Yan, who discussed Serperior’s victory over Swellow and were surprised to hear that another student had reached Professional level.
• Ye Lan gave Chen Yang a jar containing Healing Water, and Chen Yang agreed to keep it safe.
• Ye Lan left Mianzhou No. 1 High School, called Ouyang Sheng Tian, and contacted Hu Bin’s acquaintance to arrange delivery of Healing Water for Lin Yan’s injured Blastoise.
• Ye Lan arrived in Jindu and went to the Shadow Auction, where his black-and-gold card earned him an escort to Chief Steward Hu.

Ye Lan met Hu Bin at the Shadow Auction House and gave him a drop of Healing Water to help Lin Yan’s Blastoise recover from its foundational injury. He also gave Hu Bin a share for himself in exchange for Grass-type Berries, leaving Hu Bin surprised by the modest request.

• Ye Lan watched Hu Bin address the auction crowd and became distracted by Hu Bin’s wig.
• Hu Bin visited Ye Lan’s VIP room and asked to inspect the item Ye Lan had brought for Lin Yan.
• Ye Lan handed Hu Bin a bottle containing one drop of Healing Water, and Hu Bin learned from his Alakazam that it could instantly heal a severely wounded Pokémon.
• Ye Lan gave Hu Bin the bottle as a thank-you gift in exchange for another batch of Berries suitable for Grass-type Pokémon.
• Ye Lan slammed a wooden barrel onto the table and told Hu Bin it held Lin Yan’s share, giving each of them one portion.

Ye Lan gave Hu Bin a barrel of healing water for Lin Yan and learned Lin Yan would soon return to the Huaxia Region. At the Green Sprout Gym, Ye Lan found its apprentices struggling against a rival gym’s challenge while Huang Yuntian was away.

• Ye Lan told Hu Bin that Lin Yan would soon return and offered him a barrel of healing water, which could help repair damage to a Pokémon’s foundation.
• Hu Bin called the injured Blastoise’s trainer and said Ye Lan had prepared a whole barrel of healing water for him; the trainer agreed to visit Ye Lan at the Green Sprout Gym.
• Su Muqing forced Whimsicott and Leafeon to eat a scientifically balanced meal while Ye Lan arrived at the Green Sprout Gym with a group of Shroomish.
• Ye Lan discovered Jingwu Gym’s challengers taunting the Green Sprout Gym after winning three matches against its apprentices.
• Wang Qiang’s fellow apprentices volunteered to battle the Jingwu Gym challengers, whose main contender was a Fire- and Fighting-type Infernape.

Ye Lan returned to Green Sprout Gym and stepped in to face Jingwu Gym’s challenge after Wang Qiang’s apprentices had suffered defeats. His Serperior swiftly knocked out Wang Hu’s Mienshao, leaving Wang Hu stunned by both the Pokémon’s power and Ye Lan’s reminder that they had battled before.

• Ye Lan offered to take over the challenge after learning that Wang Qiang and other Green Sprout Gym trainers had lost to Jingwu Gym.
• Ye Lan recognized Wang Hu as a fellow Jindu No. 2 High School trainer, while Wang Qiang failed to realize Ye Lan had placed first in their provincial league group.
• Ye Lan faced Wang Hu in battle, and the appearance of his enormous Serperior shocked the gathered apprentices.
• Ye Lan reminded Wang Hu that they had battled before when his Pokémon was Whimsicott, unsettling Wang Hu just as Serperior attacked.
• Serperior struck Mienshao with a powerful Leaf Blade, and the referee declared Mienshao unable to battle.

Ye Lan’s Serperior defeated Wang Hu and then knocked out Jingwu Gym’s Hariyama with Leaf Storm, leaving Liu Zhengkun to challenge him as a professional trainer. As Liu Zhengkun pressed Ye Lan to continue or concede, a Poké Ball at Ye Lan’s waist began to tremble.

• Ye Lan told Wang Hu they might face each other again in the main tournament, where he would fight alongside Whimsicott.
• Jingwu Gym’s leader sent an apprentice’s Hariyama to test Serperior, but Leaf Storm overwhelmed it and won the battle.
• The Green Sprout Gym apprentices cheered as the referee declared Hariyama unable to battle.
• Liu Zhengkun stepped onto the field and challenged Ye Lan, prompting the Green Sprout Gym group to protest that he was a professional trainer.
• As Liu Zhengkun demanded that Ye Lan concede or continue, a Poké Ball at Ye Lan’s waist trembled and made him change his mind.

Ye Lan sent out his Professional-level Rillaboom, which quickly defeated Liu Zhengkun’s Infernape and astonished the Green Sprout Gym apprentices and spectators. After Liu Zhengkun acknowledged Ye Lan’s command skills, Ye Lan offered to face the next opponent without using Rillaboom against an advanced-level Pokémon.

• Ye Lan recalled Serperior and sent out his Professional-level Rillaboom, surprising Liu Zhengkun and the others.
• Liu Zhengkun ordered Infernape to attack with Focus Punch, but Rillaboom blocked the strike and judged its power.
• Rillaboom blocked Infernape’s Flamethrower with a drum, then knocked it down with Grassy Glide and Hammer Arm.
• The Green Sprout Gym apprentices cheered as Infernape was revealed to be unconscious, while Wang Qiang worried about a joking suggestion that Rillaboom take over the Gym.
• Liu Zhengkun recalled Infernape and praised Ye Lan’s command skills; Ye Lan invited the next challenger to continue, promising not to use Rillaboom against an advanced-level opponent.

Ye Lan defeated Jingwu Gym’s challengers and learned Huang Yuntian wanted to arrange regular orders for his Pokémon Food. Meanwhile, Wang Hu brought footage of Ye Lan’s Serperior to Jindu No. 2 High School, alarming the teachers preparing to face Jindu No. 1 High School’s Shiny Gengar.

• Ye Lan recalled Rillaboom, sent out Serperior, and Jingwu Gym conceded after Wang Hu showed Liu Zhengkun footage of Whimsicott’s battle.
• Wang Qiang told Ye Lan that Huang Yuntian wanted regular orders of his Pokémon Food, and Ye Lan realized the Gym Leader suspected him of matchmaking for Venusaur.
• Wang Hu returned to Jindu No. 2 High School while its teachers planned how to counter Wang Siqi’s Shiny Gengar.
• Wang Hu played footage of Ye Lan’s Shiny Gyarados and Serperior, astonishing the teachers and prompting one to recognize the trainer who had won fourteen consecutive battles.

Ye Lan learned that Leafeon’s mutated Adaptability had given its Leaf Blade shadow-tracking abilities, but further growth would require encounters with powerful Mythical or Legendary Pokémon. He welcomed the challenge and asked Leafeon to join his team, and Leafeon accepted.

• Whimsicott complained to Ye Lan about being left alone, then enjoyed his freshly baked bread while Leafeon agreed that his cooking was delicious.
• Su Muqing explained that Leafeon’s mutated Adaptability had adapted to Marshadow’s Ghost energy, giving its Leaf Blade unusual properties including the ability to track shadows.
• Su Muqing warned that Leafeon would need help from or challenges against powerful Mythical or Legendary Pokémon to develop its move further, and Ye Lan eagerly named potential mentors such as the Swords of Justice.
• Ye Lan reassured Su Muqing that seeking legendary Pokémon was already part of his plans and asked Leafeon to become his companion.
• Leafeon accepted Ye Lan’s Poké Ball, while Whimsicott, Serperior, and Rillaboom encouraged it.

Ye Lan caught Leafeon and tested its unusual Grass-type Leaf Blade, then discovered a Shiny Amoonguss that wanted to become his Pokémon. Su Muqing offered the Amoonguss as part of a proposal for Ye Lan to become Professor Zhang's disciple, leaving Ye Lan concerned about how Champion Su Ding viewed the professor's experiment.

• Ye Lan caught Leafeon and learned that its Leaf Blade remained Grass-type despite carrying effects from Marshadow.
• Ye Lan found a Shiny male Amoonguss with the Regenerator ability training at the grounds and grew excited about adding a bulky Pokémon to his team.
• Su Muqing explained that the Amoonguss belonged to her senior brother's clan and wished to become Ye Lan's Pokémon.
• Su Muqing said Professor Zhang hoped Ye Lan would become his disciple at Huaxia Academy, making Ye Lan consider the obligations and rivalries involved.
• Ye Lan asked how Champion Su Ding viewed Professor Zhang's experiment.

Ye Lan agreed to become Professor Zhang's student and recruited the shiny Oh-no Amoonguss as his partner. Meanwhile, Lin Yan headed back toward the Huaxia Region after an ambush, planning to regroup at the black market and hoping Ye Lan had brought back something useful.

• Ye Lan agreed to study under Professor Zhang after Su Muqing explained that her grandfather supported the professor's experiments.
• Oh-no Amoonguss ignored Ye Lan until Whimsicott helped convince it he was the real Ye Lan, and it accepted his invitation to become his partner.
• Lin Yan removed a bullet from his arm after Number Six ambushed him on his way to the Huaxia Region.
• Lin Yan resolved to retaliate against Number Six and decided to rest and regroup at the black market, blaming Blastoise's weakness for his retreat.

Ye Lan considered his Pokémon’s development and the resources their growth would require while resting in Su Muqing’s laboratory. When an old friend of his and Serperior’s approached, Ye Lan went outside with Serperior and Rillaboom to meet them.

• Ye Lan reviewed Leafeon’s Leaf Blade · Dark Form and planned how it could grow stronger.
• Ye Lan weighed the training needs and expenses of his team, noting that Whimsicott was the cheapest to raise.
• Su Muqing persuaded Ye Lan to stay on the scanner by offering him free Berries so she could study his Grass-type energy.
• Serperior, Rillaboom, and Marshadow sensed someone approaching, and Ye Lan said the visitor was an old friend.
• Ye Lan went outside with Serperior and Rillaboom as a blue-green figure rushed toward them, and Dragon Claw and Iron Tail were called out.

Ye Lan and Lin Yan battled with Serperior and Charizard, each revealing a way to strengthen or surprise their Pokémon. The fight ended with both Pokémon still locked together, and neither Trainer willing to concede.

• Ye Lan boosted Serperior with his Grass-type psychic powers, allowing its Leaf Storm to overpower Charizard's flames.
• Charizard dodged Leaf Storm and clashed with Serperior at close range using Fire Fang and Dragon Claw against Iron Tail.
• Lin Yan revealed a bracelet and appeared to trigger Charizard's Mega Evolution, then used Fire Spin to blast Serperior away.
• Ye Lan trapped Charizard with thorny vines, poisoned its face, and struck it with Dragon Tail, but Charizard grabbed Serperior's tail and engulfed them both in Fire Spin.
• After the flames faded, Serperior held Charizard with Bind while badly burned, and the poisoned Charizard remained upright as Ye Lan and Lin Yan both refused to give up.

Lin Yan and Ye Lan called off Charizard and Serperior’s fight, exchanged healing water and a battle-technique booklet, and discussed how Ye Lan could use the technique to deceive opponents. The Pokémon later settled their rivalry with a height contest, which Serperior won.

• Ye Lan proposed a Dreepy-versus-Rillaboom match, but Lin Yan offered to teach him the energy technique instead, and Charizard and Serperior continued fighting.
• Ye Lan stopped the Pokémon before they knocked each other unconscious and healed them with healing water.
• Lin Yan brought out Blastoise, and Ye Lan gave him a barrel of healing water for Blastoise and his journey.
• Lin Yan gave Ye Lan a booklet about a battle technique and explained why he had not been fooled by it, prompting Ye Lan to plan to teach the technique to all his Pokémon.
• Serperior told Ye Lan it had won a height contest against Charizard, who stood much shorter than Serperior.