But when Xiao Ran saw this Pokémon, he frowned slightly and looked up at Ji Minxue.
"Are you sure you want to use this Pokémon for the assessment? It isn't yours, is it? And its strength far exceeds your own, doesn't it?"
Xiao Ran had actually been quite impressed with him during the previous battle, but the appearance of this Ninetales made him feel that Ji Minxue was aiming beyond his reach.
He could tell that Ji Minxue and Ninetales had a very good relationship, but that closeness applied to their everyday lives. It did not mean the Pokémon acknowledged his ability as a Pokémon Trainer.
Battling was not everyday life. Xiao Ran believed this Pokémon would risk its life to protect Ji Minxue, but in battle, if a Pokémon did not acknowledge its Trainer's ability, they could never truly act as one.
"That's right. I know I'm not good enough for it yet, but I still want to try. I want to see just how powerful Elite Class battles are, and just how vast the sky really is!" Ji Minxue nodded, his voice firm.
"If you insist, I can agree. But since this is your choice, I'll conduct the rest of the assessment according to Elite Class standards. That means there's a good chance you won't pass!" Xiao Ran said gravely.
"That's fine. It's only an assessment. Compared with the road ahead, this is just one hurdle in life. But only by seeing how vast the sky is can you find the drive to soar through it."
Xiao Ran suddenly felt that his earlier judgment might have been a little one-sided. Ji Minxue had his own ideas and a clear goal. He knew exactly what he wanted. Still, that would not change Xiao Ran's decision. Once a choice was