This Trainer Has No Sportsmanship

Phile wanted to say something but stopped herself. She did not know You Zhi's spiritual power level. On one hand, she was worried that he might overexert his spiritual power and suffer backlash if the summoning failed. On the other, she felt he could not possibly be so careless, and offering advice rashly might seem like she was looking down on him.

Without the mind to notice the struggle of the person beside him, You Zhi began the summoning ritual again without the slightest hesitation. This time, however, he channeled his spiritual power far more slowly than before.

For some reason, Phile grew tense when she noticed this. She instinctively held her breath, afraid of affecting him.

A moment later, as he recited the chant, the six-pointed star began to shine. The Summoning Stone shattered, and a C-rank Spell Card slowly appeared, bearing the image of Demon Lizard Yihao as well.

Another Associated Card!

Out of seven summons, six had succeeded, and four of them had been Associated Cards.

According to the statistics, D-rank Spell Cards had an 80% summoning success rate, while C-rank Spell Cards had a 60% success rate. No matter how one looked at it, You Zhi had hit a ridiculous streak of luck and made a fortune this time.

He checked the spiritual power within his body and found that almost nothing remained.

Seven times in one night had completely drained him dry.

Based on the calculation that spiritual power doubled with every rank increase, the spiritual power in his body was equivalent to 1.625 times the average spiritual power of a Five-Star Trainer.

By normal logic, You Zhi should have been a Five-Star Trainer, but he vaguely felt that he might not be quite normal.

"It's getting late. You should head back to your room and rest. Don't forget to get up early for morning training tomorrow."

"Brother You Zhi, can I try summoning once? I've never done it before."

"You've never tried before?"

"Mm. I never considered becoming a Spirit Trainer in the past. Father wanted me to become a painter like him, while Mother didn't want me doing anything dangerous. She always arranged classes like dancing, music, and poetry for me. But lately, I've become more and more interested in Trainers."

You Zhi considered it, then stepped aside. "Go ahead. I'll watch from the side."

"Yay!"

Phile happily walked up to the six-pointed star. She first checked the placement of the items and confirmed that nothing had shifted due to the previous summons. Then she selected a D-rank Summoning Stone and placed it at the center.

She only possessed three-star spiritual power. Even using all of it would not meet the requirements for a C-rank Summoning Stone. Though Silent Magician was nominally her spirit, she actually still belonged to Phile's father, Pegasus.

Generally speaking, spirits would not obey commands from anyone other than their masters, nor would they obey Trainers with lower star ratings than themselves. But in reality, it also depended on the bond between them. If the bond was deep enough, none of those restrictions mattered.

At the end of the day, spirits were not lines of program code. They had thoughts of their own.

Phile first closed her eyes and recalled You Zhi's earlier movements. Then she copied them exactly, without adding any unnecessary actions of her own.

The entire process went exceptionally smoothly. No accidents occurred. As light flickered, a Spell Card whose spiritual energy far surpassed the previous ones appeared out of thin air.

[Normal Spell: Dark Hole]

[Effect: Destroy all monsters on the field.]

"B-rank Spell Card!"

You Zhi was speechless. She had used D-rank spiritual power to summon a B-rank Spell Card. What absurd luck!

After Phile received the information from the Spell Card, she was initially overjoyed. But then she froze and slowly turned her head. "With my spiritual power, it seems I can't use this card."

Summoning a high-rank Spell Card that she could not use herself—it was hard to say whether that was good luck or bad luck.

Explosive Growth in Combat Power

Before he knew it, You Zhi had been living at Pegasus's home for three weeks. With good food and drink every day, along with unceasing martial arts practice, his body had visibly grown more robust and his complexion had become exceptionally healthy. He no longer looked like someone recovering from a serious illness.

"Attack together. Don't hold back."

You Zhi spoke seriously to Silent Magician and Demon Lizard Yihao standing before him.

The two spirits nodded solemnly. Because they often sparred with him separately, they knew the man before them was far stronger than ordinary humans and could not be judged by normal standards. Even more frightening was that his strength increased every day, with no visible limit in sight.

Demon Lizard Yihao launched the first attack, driving out a straight punch. It was the Fighting-type move Rock Smash, a fist capable of shattering stone.

"Your intent is too obvious."

What You Zhi feared least were Fighting-type spirits, especially humanoid Fighting-type spirits.

He immediately lowered his stance. His left hand formed a blade and cut through an arc, striking Demon Lizard Yihao's wrist at precisely the right moment and forcibly interrupting Rock Smash. Then his right palm shot toward Demon Lizard Yihao's abdomen, suddenly accelerating midway as power burst from his palm.

This was the technique of Inch Force. A clean hit could often cripple an opponent, making it a true killing move. But this was only a spar, and Demon Lizard Yihao was his own spirit. Naturally, You Zhi would not strike so ruthlessly. If he really scattered the other into spiritual energy particles, he would be the one suffering the spiritual backlash in the end. Thus, he used his palm rather than his fist, and held back thirty percent of his force when releasing the burst.

Even so, Demon Lizard Yihao did not fare well. The palm force jolted his body until he bent like a shrimp, and he staggered three meters backward.

At that moment, Silent Magician's Confusion attack arrived. The invisible attack was difficult to dodge, and You Zhi immediately felt an unseen force binding his body, leaving him unable to move.

As a Fighting-type spirit, Demon Lizard Yihao's toughness needed no questioning. Seeing the opening, he instantly counterattacked, unleashing a merciless Slash.

The first time You Zhi had suffered a Confusion attack, he had been somewhat at a loss and could only struggle against it with brute force. Now, however, he had long found a way to break it. He immediately circulated the spiritual power within his body and blasted it outward through his acupoints, canceling out the Confusion binding him and restoring his freedom.

He shifted his feet and turned his body aside, narrowly avoiding Demon Lizard Yihao's claws by a hair's breadth. At the same time, he closed in. A sliding sidestep disrupted his opponent's balance, then his hands seized the other's body from above and below and hoisted him straight overhead. Nearly two hundred pounds felt as effortless in his hands as lifting a lamb.

Demon Lizard Yihao did not panic. His tail coiled around You Zhi's neck and tightened inward, trying to force him to let go, only to be completely ignored.

"Enjoy this one. It's Seismic Toss!"

Rather than immediately throwing Demon Lizard Yihao out, You Zhi held him overhead like an acrobat and shook him back and forth. Power continuously burst from his palms, and the tail around his neck instantly loosened. This could deal continuous damage, completely break down the opponent's defenses, and inflict maximum damage with the final throw.

One had to know that being thrown while prepared and being thrown while unprepared were entirely different situations. In the former case, one might only suffer some bruises and rise steadily after a roll. In the latter, one might break bones or rupture internal organs.

Silent Magician naturally would not stand by and watch. She hurriedly used Confusion to interfere, while You Zhi had no intention of beating his own spirits to death. Sensing the mental fluctuations, he immediately hurled Demon Lizard Yihao toward Silent Magician.

This would not only block the Confusion attack, but also obstruct Silent Magician's vision. If he successfully pinned her down, You Zhi could close in through the opening and settle the battle in one go.

Silent Magician seemed to have anticipated this as well. She used Teleport to avoid the flying Demon Lizard Yihao and moved to the other end.

"You always habitually teleport behind your opponent. That position is good for sneak attacks, but once the opponent anticipates it in advance, you can easily be countered."

Almost the instant Silent Magician's figure disappeared, You Zhi spun around and counterattacked behind him, rapidly closing the distance between them. Teleport also had a spiritual power recovery period, so it could not be used continuously.

As the two were about to engage at close range, Silent Magician raised her staff and thrust it forward. A Reflect barrier rapidly condensed into shape, blocking You Zhi's path—this was precisely the tactical advice You Zhi had once given her: increase the casting speed of Reflect.

However, reality was not a game. In a game, once Reflect was cast, the opponent had to obediently suffer its effects. In reality, one could simply go around it from the side. There was no need to stubbornly clash head-on.

That was exactly what You Zhi did. He stepped with Shadowstep and made a sixty-degree turn around Reflect, pouncing directly toward Silent Magician.

At the crucial moment, Silent Magician did not flee. She remained exceptionally calm, gathering mental power in place and gambling on her casting speed. In the end, at the very instant You Zhi's palm struck her, she successfully unleashed a multicolored neon beam.

Psybeam!

Both sides hit their opponent. The small Silent Magician was sent flying like a sandbag, fortunately caught by Demon Lizard Yihao with a diving leap, preventing further injury.

You Zhi, meanwhile, felt as though his head were splitting apart. The scene before his eyes warped and distorted, and everything he saw turned into the famous painting The Scream. It took a while before he recovered.

"Mental power is still my weak point. I wonder whether the second level of Strength-Weakness Mimicry can effectively block it."

Of course, You Zhi was already quite satisfied with his current results. His physical abilities had completely surpassed the limits of humans on Earth. Without using spiritual power and relying solely on his body, he could run the hundred-meter sprint in under nine seconds. Explosive power was actually the attribute that had improved the least. His endurance had increased the most. He could now run eight hundred meters at the speed of a hundred-meter sprint, and after finishing, his breathing would only be slightly hurried.

If he used spiritual power, every aspect of his physical ability could improve by another third.

Compared to their master, the spirits' growth seemed rather lackluster. After all, You Zhi had devoted his energy to practicing martial arts and reading, leaving him no time to grind wild monsters in the forest.

Demon Lizard Yihao had spent more than half a month without comprehending Rock Tomb. Instead, he had practiced throwing stones to an extraordinary level, even using them to hit birds with seven hits out of ten.

The Goblin Elite Attack Force spent all day chattering and laughing without a shred of seriousness. Every training session, they would Slack Off and coast, yet they somehow comprehended the new skill Payback.

One was diligent but untalented, while the other was talented but lazy.

As someone else's spirit, Silent Magician possessed both talent and diligence, and she was especially self-disciplined. Not only had she mastered the technique of quickly casting Reflect, but she had also comprehended Psybeam on her own, making You Zhi drool with envy.

If all his future spirits were like Silent Magician, things would be far too easy. He could train them free-range style—take them to the forest, let them grind wild monsters and level up on their own, then find a pond to fish beside in peace. By evening, they could regroup with everyone having a full haul. Just imagining it was beautiful.

The Future Looks Bright

"You did well this time. You knew how to use your abilities to coordinate with each other. You still lack some synergy, but awareness is what matters most."

You Zhi did not forget to praise Demon Lizard Yihao and Silent Magician. He even reached out and patted the latter's little head. Though he had never raised pets, he had seen others teach disciples. He could just raise spirits like disciples.

"Hiss!"

Demon Lizard Yihao puffed out his chest and raised his arms, happy as a two-hundred-pound child.

"..."

Silent Magician tugged at her hat, seemingly a little embarrassed.

"That's enough for today. Get some proper rest."

You Zhi took out a Pokémon Card and recalled Demon Lizard Yihao. He intended to head to the study and read, but after only a few steps, he stopped. Turning around, he found Silent Magician still standing there, using the fallen leaves on the ground to practice her Confusion control.

He sighed, turned around, and walked over to Silent Magician. Meeting her puzzled gaze, he said, "What happened when Phile was in danger last time wasn't your responsibility. There's no need to blame yourself for everything."

A trace of startled shock clearly appeared on Silent Magician's expressionless face, as though he had struck directly at her thoughts.

"Given the situation at the time, Phile should unquestionably bear all the responsibility. Even if she had turned around and run, that would have been better than staying there and blindly giving orders. At least she would not have become dead weight. You already did everything you could. Stop blaming yourself."

You Zhi would not favor Phile just because she was a pretty girl. In his previous life, his roommates had jokingly called him an ace pilot with a 400% straight-man synchronization rate. He treated men and women equally. Whenever a girl made a mistake, he criticized her without the slightest softening.

Strangely enough, such a straight-laced man had still had girls actively pursue him, while his roommates who fulfilled every request from their girlfriends ended up losing both their money and their partners after graduating in their fourth year.

"Over these past days, I've seen your effort and your progress. I am absolutely certain that you will become a powerful spirit in the future. Rather than dwelling on the past and blaming yourself, look ahead. View your cultivation from a long-term perspective instead of chasing short-term progress. Learn to balance work and rest. Pushing yourself too hard will only backfire."

"..."

Whether Silent Magician had taken his words to heart or not, she eventually stopped training. Before leaving, she even bowed to You Zhi in thanks.

Phile, who had seen this scene through the window, felt a little jealous. She deliberately waited in the corridor, pretending to admire the paintings on the wall. When You Zhi passed by, she casually said, "Brother You Zhi cares more about Silent Magician than he cares about me. Anyone who didn't know better would think she was your spirit."

You Zhi had no intention of stealing someone else's spirit and answered openly, "I won't deny that I do like Silent Magician a lot. But that's because she's smart, obedient, and hardworking. Who wouldn't like a spirit like that?"

"Is that really all? Brother You Zhi clearly said you liked strong, handsome spirits. I was especially happy then, thinking we had the same tastes. But Brother You Zhi treats Silent Magician more intimately than your own spirits. I often see you patting her head. It always feels as though you only said those things to humor me."

You Zhi had no reply. There were only three spirits around him. If he did not pat Silent Magician's head, was he supposed to pat the head of a two-meter-tall blue lizard covered in muscles? Or perhaps pat four ugly green-skinned old monsters?

If his two spirits had been Eevee and Pikachu, he guaranteed he would pet them bald even if they did not suit his tastes.

Let him say it again: looks were an important attribute!

What Pokémon fanfic protagonist got intimate with Strength or Jynx?

"You should look further ahead instead of only focusing on what's in front of you." You Zhi pointed to the portrait of Dark Magician on the wall. "Maybe after Silent Magician evolves, she can become a handsome spirit like Dark Magician."

Phile froze when she heard this, then burst into laughter without the slightest ladylike restraint. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible!"

You Zhi said seriously, "As long as you're willing to work hard, nothing is impossible in this world."

Phile laughed even harder. "Some things are useless no matter how hard you work, because they're fundamentally impossible..."

She had wanted to reveal the truth and see You Zhi's expression after learning it. But on second thought, rather than telling him now, it would be better to wait until "the overall situation was settled" and place the ironclad truth before him. The impact would undoubtedly be much stronger then, so she swallowed her words.

"Forget it. There's still some time before dinner. Let me test the results and see whether you've been slacking off lately."

"How could I? No matter how much homework I had every day, I would still set aside half an hour to practice. I've already mastered every move and sequence by heart. I could perform them even with my eyes closed."

Phile spoke with complete confidence.

The facts proved that she had every reason to be confident. Her entire demonstration flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water, with no pauses between moves. Setting aside her actual combat ability, she at least looked convincing.

When You Zhi fed her moves, Phile could exchange blows with him back and forth. She was not mechanically copying techniques, but knew how to respond to moves with moves and adapt flexibly.

"Brother You Zhi, how was my performance?" Phile asked, unable to hide her pride.

"If it were that day again, even if you couldn't defeat Scyther, you could definitely escape easily." You Zhi gave her an impartial affirmation.

"Huh, only that? I think that if I teamed up with Silent Magician, we might still have a chance to defeat Scyther."

"Never entertain that thought. Even I would never casually enter a fight against spirits unless I had no other choice."

In a world of Spirit Duels, just command your spirits to fight properly! Trainers personally entering the battlefield is complete heresy!

Even though he had just sparred evenly with two spirits, You Zhi had not the slightest intention of replacing his spirits in battle.

As a Spirit Trainer, one should use one's abilities to cultivate spirits. Why go around proclaiming that you possessed inhuman combat power? Wouldn't it be better to keep it as a trump card and throw it out at a crucial moment to intimidate the enemy?

"Using it to protect yourself in dangerous moments is enough at this level. Next, I'll teach you some tips and experiences for going out alone."

You Zhi had no plans to teach her hardcore wilderness survival skills. He only intended to teach her some ordinary travel experience.

After all, if he really taught her wilderness survival knowledge, Pegasus and his wife might not be happy about it.

As the saying went, good swimmers drowned. If Phile did not know such things, she would try her best to avoid heading into remote wilderness areas. If she did, she might instead develop thoughts of adventure.

As the child of a wealthy family, she should make full use of her money rather than challenge her weaknesses.

As long as one had money, seventy percent of travel safety issues could be solved. As for the remaining thirty percent, one generally would not encounter them as long as one did not deliberately court death.