Zhang Cheng

Biodata

Power Progression

Zhang Cheng advances through formal Trainer certification and the development of his Pokémon.

Background / History

Before transmigrating, Zhang Cheng was an office worker and Pokémon enthusiast. He had no one to rely on and had never experienced family warmth. He awakens in a teenage body on Blue Star, where Pokémon appeared a century earlier, and receives the memories of his new life 1 16 25.

His mother supports his decision to become a Trainer and gives him a bank card containing 200,000 Pokémon Coins left by his missing father. Zhang resolves to repay her support and investigate his father’s disappearance. Although the disappearance is associated with an accident, he later suspects that his father is still alive and that the circumstances are more complicated than they appear 1 19.

With Poliwag as his first partner, Zhang begins training and accepting paid missions rather than relying on his mother for supplies. Work at Nanting Training Ground gives him his first battle experience. A subsequent ten-day assignment at Shennong Orchard lets him train against wild Pokémon, acquire Pidgey, and earn 40,000 Pokémon Coins plus ten Pecha Berries 4 6 11 13.

At school, Zhang wins a place in Elite Class One and becomes its monitor under Bai Yuling. He subsequently earns the Beginner Trainer title and qualifies for a Safari Zone visit through the interclass tournament. There, two Mareep offer him an Egg; it later hatches into a Shiny Mareep, bringing his team to three Pokémon 20 23 36 44 47 49 50.

Early Wilderness Training

Zhang moves beyond school practice by training in Magnolia Forest, matching opponents to his Pokémon’s levels. At a waterfall, he befriends a battle-hungry Machop stronger than any of his own partners at the time. Their sparring sessions and Zhang’s gifts of Fighting-type Pokéblocks establish a lasting connection. He returns to school for the midterm interschool tournament after learning that its rewards include starter Pokémon and an Evolution Stone 56 58 59 66.

Bai Yuling later persuades him to pursue opportunities in Modu rather than remain in Jiangcheng. She reveals her Bai Family background and gives him two million Pokémon Coins. By the time he next requests leave, his team includes Mudkip, while Poliwag and Pidgey have evolved into Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto 89 93.

His next expedition takes him to Yellow Sand Town and the Yellow Sand Mountains. He prepares maps, medicine, food, and move discs, then completes a Gold Rank Onix capture mission for 250,000 Pokémon Coins. Following an encounter with the R Organization, he stores a Lileep fossil at his inn and temporarily switches to training outside town while waiting for the mountains to become safer 94 97 102.

A friendly battle with local Trainer Xie Wen develops into a month of joint training. Their cooperation ends during a confrontation with Chu Qing and two R Organization members. After defeating the three opponents, Zhang orders lethal retaliation to prevent future revenge, but Chu Qing’s uncle arrives with a level-51 Salamence and immediately defeats Poliwhirl. Xie Wen betrays Zhang when the elder offers him safety in exchange for attacking his companion. Zhang activates Bai Yuling’s Paired Pendant, and she rescues him with Gardevoir 107 112.

Bai retrieves the fossil and returns him to school, where he has Poliwhirl treated. Zhang recognizes his vulnerability before stronger Trainers and powerful families. The elder subsequently kills Xie Wen and the two R Organization members; Zhang does not witness these deaths, but suspects that the elder disposed of Xie Wen and that influential families suppressed the news 113 114.

High-School Advancement and University Admission

After registering as an Ordinary/Normal-class Trainer, Zhang uses winter break for further Magnolia Forest missions. He reunites with Machop, now Machoke, and resumes waterfall training. During a capture mission, his team subdues Quagsire and its accompanying Wooper through coordinated attacks and status moves; he treats Quagsire before leaving and turns in the completed mission 126 128.

His team’s continuing growth, missions, and participation in a Double Battle tournament improve his finances. Extended training brings Poliwrath to level 32 and his other three partners to level 31 before he returns home for New Year’s. His mother’s welcome renews his determination to find his father and reunite their family 136 153 169.

Zhang and Ye Tian train together through the final school term. By late May, Pidgeotto, Marshtomp, and Flaaffy have evolved into Pidgeot, Swampert, and Ampharos, while Poliwrath reaches level 37. Zhang earns the Elite Trainer title and defeats both Pokémon in his practical college entrance assessment 190 195 204.

Although the examiner initially describes his theory and practical performance as perfect, his subsequently released results are 99 in theory and 100 in practical combat. He becomes Jiangcheng City’s top scorer and chooses Modu University, while Ye Tian plans to attend Kyoto University. Zhang spends the intervening summer training near Jade River and completing team missions around Jade Town with Yuwen Tian and Zheng Hao 204 207 212 213 218 219 237.

Modu University and National Competition

Before leaving for university, Zhang collects Mega Evolution stones modified by Li Jian. He registers in Modu University’s Class 5, settles into a private dorm, and continues training. His examination achievement earns him a two-million-coin admissions award and a refund of his 500,000-coin tuition payment 236 237.

He wins the university’s Freshman Competition, defeating Liao Wu in the championship contest and receiving ten million Pokémon Coins. Over the following year, he balances university study with sustained training, raises his four established partners to level 50 or above, and earns the Gym-level Trainer title 291 292 296.

Zhang later adds Horsea after obtaining the agreement of its Seadra guardians and inviting Horsea to accompany him. His rise continues through Junior Champion certification and selection for Modu University’s National Tournament team. At the tournament, he defeats Chu Qing, advances through the field, and ultimately becomes champion 299 321 330 389.

The tournament’s aftermath disrupts his friendship with Ye Tian. League officers attempt to detain Ye Tian, but a masked ally kills the officers and escapes with him. Bai Yuling explains that Ye Tian’s Aegislash suggests an R Organization connection. Unable to contact his friend, Zhang also asks about his father; Bai promises further information once he becomes a Champion-level Trainer 389.

He trains intensively during the final months before graduation and passes Chen Shan’s assessment three days before completing university. Despite the achievement, he remains troubled by the possibility that his next meeting with Ye Tian could be hostile 390 400.

Post-Graduation Training and Legendary Pokémon

After graduation, Zhang buys a house near Modu University and concentrates on strengthening his team. He monitors reports of Legendary Pokémon and decides to seek recruits at least at the pseudo-legendary tier. News of Moltres takes him to Mt. Pyre, where he initially observes R Organization members Wu Gang and Wu Tie from hiding before intervening to prevent them from capturing the weakened Legendary Pokémon 401 404.

Moltres subsequently joins his team and replaces Pidgeot in the six-Pokémon traveling lineup. Zhang invests nearly two million Pokémon Coins in move discs and uses Modu’s training facilities to develop her move proficiency and battle experience 409.

He later represents Director Fang Lin’s Modu Pokémon Center in an operating-rights assessment against his old mission companion Yuwen Tian. Zhang wins, but Wang Kun changes the requirements and demands a second consecutive assessment victory. Zhang challenges the manipulation and remains committed to helping Fang Lin. In return, Fang shares a lead concerning Zeraora at an abandoned power plant near the Huaxia–Northern Europe border 423 436 437.

After obtaining Zeraora and completing the Center’s assessments, Zhang buys a second Modu home for his mother, intending to bring her there once the family is reunited. Six months of further training raises his team to level 80, and he passes another assessment, also termed Champion-level, against Sun Hai 445 459 473.

He thereafter emphasizes Legendary and Mythical partners. Bai Yuling’s family supplies information and a map for Sky City, where he searches for Shaymin. During this expedition, he encounters R Organization member Su Jun, who addresses Ye Tian as “Young Master” but refuses to disclose his position. Shaymin later joins Zhang’s lineup, which reaches level 90 after another six months 473 476 486.

His Father’s Test and the Truth

Bai Yuling reveals that Zhang’s father arranged a final test: Zhang must reach the underwater Water City and capture its level-95 guardian, Keldeo. Rather than rush there, Zhang trains for three months until his Pokémon reach level 95. He then travels with Moltres and descends through the crushing depths under Poliwrath and Swampert’s protection 502.

After successfully capturing Keldeo and returning to Modu, Zhang learns that his father is Zhang Zhi, a League infiltrator who has risen to become one of the R Organization’s two leaders. The other leader is Ye Jun, Ye Tian’s father. Zhang resolves to become stronger and help his father complete the mission, promising that his friendship with Ye Tian will not compromise the operation 507 508.

Six months of intensive Pokémon training and personal physical conditioning brings his selected starting six—Kingdra, Shaymin, Keldeo, Zeraora, Moltres, and Diancie—to level 99. In the subsequent encounter with Ye Tian, Zhang scans Genesect while his former friend recognizes that Zhang’s Pokémon rival his own in levels and base strength 508 509.

Appearance

• Handsome face: Described when he checks whether his transmigration is real 1.
• Recurring dark circles: Appears visibly sleep-deprived after late nights caring for his Pokémon or gaming with Bai Yuling 25 33 37.

Personality

Zhang is ambitious but careful about what he can afford. He postpones obtaining a rideable Pokémon, takes routine jobs to fund training, and invests tournament rewards in moves and supplies. His immediate goals are stronger Pokémon, university admission, and enough strength to investigate his father’s disappearance 6 11 19 21.

He treats his Pokémon like children, regularly feeding, bathing, massaging, and encouraging them. He reassures Poliwag after a disadvantageous loss and schedules rest after exhausting work or battles rather than pushing the team continuously 8 10 13 24 50.

His previous adult life gives him confidence around classmates and instructors, but he dislikes chores and restrictions. He reluctantly accepts the monitor position, then carries out its duties and helps classmates who ask for assistance. He is often disengaged during theory lessons because he already knows the material, sometimes sleeping or using his phone with Bai Yuling’s tolerance 23 27 29 34.

Zhang can be sharp-tongued with rivals, particularly Ye Lang, while remaining courteous toward respectful opponents. He encourages Jiang Nian, advises Li Yue, and openly acknowledges that Bai Yuling’s restraint helped him threaten her much stronger Altaria 7 31 40 41.

As his opportunities expand, Zhang openly declares his ambition to become stronger than a Champion. He accepts Bai Yuling’s financial support despite questioning her motives, regards money as a means of improving his team rather than something to hoard, and consistently maintains that university resources cannot replace individual effort 89 93 94 218 236.

He generally shows sportsmanship toward honorable opponents and humility before senior Trainers. Even after important certifications, he credits luck and type matchups, thanks medical staff, and remains attentive to his Pokémon’s recovery. Public recognition interests him much less than tangible growth 242 247 292 296 400 473.

His caution develops through dangerous field experiences. He treats the Paired Pendant as emergency protection rather than permission to act recklessly, recognizes that powerful families can conceal violence, and prepares for Keldeo’s test instead of allowing his eagerness for family news to override judgment 102 114 502.

Zhang also has a ruthless side when he believes enemies will retaliate: after defeating Chu Qing and the R Organization members, he orders Poliwhirl to kill them, though the elder’s intervention prevents the order from being carried out. Conversely, he stands by his promises to allies and directly opposes Wang Kun’s manipulation of the Pokémon Center assessments 112 436.

His devotion to family remains his central motivation. He declines distractions after his later Champion-level certification, buys a future home for his mother, and eventually commits to supporting his father’s undercover mission even if that requires confronting Ye Tian 459 473 508.

Abilities & Skills

Pokémon Information Scan

Zhang possesses a “cheat” or system, later explicitly called the Detection System, that displays detailed Pokémon information. Its panels reveal level, sex, Potential, typing, held items, moves, Ability, and descriptive notes 6 7 30 219.

• Opponent analysis: Identifies dangerous moves and Abilities before committing to a battle plan 6 18 36.
• Team selection: Checks wild Pokémon’s Potential without catching them or taking them to a Pokémon Center for testing 11.
• Held-item detection: Makes Thief particularly useful by revealing exactly what an opponent holds 21 41.
• Advantage over a Pokédex: Zhang initially considers an ordinary Pokédex unnecessary because it only detects level and supplies a brief description; a Pokédex is later used in his Trainer-registration records 11 296.
• Communication limit: The scan does not itself let him understand Pokémon speech; he relies on gestures and behavior during the Mareep encounter 46 47.
• Potential enhancement: The system boosts Poliwrath’s Potential, allowing it to progress more quickly than the other established partners before the college entrance exam. The supplied account does not detail the mechanism 190.
• Team coordination: Scans allies’ Pokémon to assess their moves, items, and battlefield roles before dangerous cooperative missions 219 220.
• Advanced matchup analysis: Uses the system to identify Gastrodon’s Storm Drain, Kingdra’s Dragon Fang and Outrage, Bai Yuling’s Gardevoir’s Grass-type coverage, and Keldeo’s level, typing, and Mystic Water 201 254 486 502.
• Long-term comparison: Detects the increase in Ye Tian’s Butterfree’s Potential from C to A and reassesses familiar Pokémon when reunited with their Trainers 300 424 425.

Pokémon Knowledge

His familiarity with Pokémon predates his transmigration and extends beyond information commonly known on Blue Star 25 26.

• Correctly explains Scyther’s Swarm, Technician, and hidden Ability Steadfast 25.
• Identifies both Scizor and the newly discovered Kleavor, including their evolution requirements 26.
• Tutors Wu Yueyue on Shedinja’s Wonder Guard and the five types that can damage it through super-effective moves 27.
• Uses knowledge of future evolutions and Mega Evolution when choosing prospective team members 8 46.
• Recognizes that powerful families are likely to adopt newly discovered Mega Evolution resources first 107.
• Understands held-item effects well enough to select equipment without assistance, including a Black Belt to supplement Poliwrath’s rain-enhanced Water attacks with stronger Fighting moves 259.
• Distinguishes tactical command quality from a Pokémon’s underlying strength, concluding after Sun Hai’s assessment that skill alone cannot compensate for insufficiently powerful partners 473.

Battle Strategy

Zhang favors information, timing, and move combinations over simply exchanging attacks.

• Water Sport counterplay: Weakens Charmander’s Blaze-boosted Ember before finishing it with Water Gun 7.
• Endeavor reversals: Uses Poliwag’s low HP to bring Oshawott close to defeat; later pairs Endeavor with Mind Reader against Altaria 9 31.
• Status and accuracy combinations: Uses Hypnosis and Mind Reader to secure the finishing Bubble Beam against Hao Chenggong’s Tepig 44.
• Item control: Steals Oshawott’s Leftovers with Thief, gaining recovery while removing Ye Lang’s advantage 42.
• Calculated risk: Accepts Sandshrew’s Poison Sting because he has a Pecha Berry available and can exploit the attack’s recovery window 18.
• Limits: Endeavor is most effective when its user is dangerously close to fainting, while a large level gap can make Hypnosis less reliable 9 30.
• Capture control: Uses rain-enhanced Waterfall to weaken Onix, then Mind Reader and Hypnosis to prevent escape and secure the capture 97.
• Coordinated status setup: Combines Flaaffy’s Cotton Spore with Poliwhirl’s Mind Reader and sleep move so the team can overwhelm Quagsire 128.
• Poison attrition: Develops a Toxic strategy supported by Protect and Wide Guard; Mudkip’s inherited Counter and Mirror Coat provide additional responses to physical and special attacks 93.
• Anti-recovery pressure: Alternates Swampert’s defensive moves with Mud Bomb and Bulldoze to punish Slowking’s Slack Off while Toxic steadily drains its health 296.
• Ability-aware offense: Avoids Water attacks against Storm Drain Gastrodon and relies on Poliwrath’s Fighting-type moves; similarly adjusts against Water-resistant Kingdra 201 254.
• Defensive adaptation: Switches Diancie from Protect to Wide Guard when Articuno’s Mind Reader-assisted Sheer Cold threatens to break the first barrier, then exploits Articuno’s exhaustion with Rock Tomb 400.
• Concentrated multi-Pokémon attacks: Defeats Mightyena first, uses Togekiss to prevent Moltres’s capture, restrains Steelix with Swampert’s Whirlpool, and concentrates other partners’ attacks on Crawdaunt 404.
• Alternative coverage: During the battle with Mark, uses Thunder Wave to slow Hippowdon and switches to Dragon Pulse rather than continuing ineffective Electric attacks 440.
• Deliberate equipment selection: Later recognizes that using Thief exposes its user to attacks and may yield an unsuitable item, prompting him to purchase held items matched to his team 258 259.

Training & Pokémon Care

Zhang combines move practice, real battles, and recovery, adapting exercises to each partner’s strengths.

• Uses airborne roof tiles as moving targets for Poliwag’s Water Gun 10.
• Focuses Pidgey’s early training on Steel Wing and speed 13.
• Uses agile Pidgey as a difficult target for Hypnosis practice 14.
• Arranges held-item practice with Ye Tian’s Butterfree; Poliwag’s Thief success rate rises to about 40% during the session 34.
• Regulates Pokéblocks to avoid overfeeding and conserve supplies 27.
• Gives newborn Mareep Miltank milk and Electric-type food, planning only light exercise during its first week 49 50.
• Assigns wild opponents by level, initially sending Mareep against Pokémon below level 5, Pidgey against levels 5–10, and Poliwag against stronger opponents 56.
• Treats both his own Pokémon and friendly wild opponents, including Machop after sparring and Quagsire after the capture encounter 59 128.
• Uses experienced partners to help teach new moves: Poliwag explains Thief to Pidgey, while Poliwhirl, Pidgeotto, and Mareep share discoveries when learning Protect 65 93.
• Prevents excessive level gaps by letting newer partners gain battle experience while stronger ones concentrate on move mastery 97.
• Rotates partners between Machoke sparring and forest battles to strengthen the entire team 136.
• Gives his Pokémon rest and medical treatment between tournament rounds, and purchases high-grade Pokéblocks after winning the Freshman Competition 242 258 292.
• Trains exceptionally talented Legendary and Mythical Pokémon through intensive TM practice; Moltres gains a basic grasp of numerous moves in an afternoon, and Diancie learns three selected moves in one day 237 409.
• Later prioritizes Legendary and Mythical partners over some earlier members, then adds personal physical conditioning to his preparation for helping his father 473 508.

Rain Team Planning

Zhang initially intends to build a Rain Team around rain-enhanced attacks and compatible Abilities 3 8. The plan develops into an operational battle style: he uses rainy weather with Poliwrath in high school, later fields Politoed to open the Pokémon Center assessment, and includes Kingdra among his strongest long-term partners 179 423 486.

His later starting lineup is no longer limited to the original Rain Team concept, combining Kingdra and Keldeo with Shaymin, Zeraora, Moltres, and Diancie 508.

Pokémon Team

Final Documented Starting Lineup

Earlier and Other Documented Partners

Onix and the Wooper/Quagsire captures are mission acquisitions handed in for rewards rather than established permanent team members 97 126 128.

Equipment / Items

• Poké Balls — Buys five ordinary balls for future captures. During the Safari Zone visit, he receives three facility-issued balls and may obtain only one Pokémon or Egg. Later purchases large quantities for Legendary and Mythical expeditions, considering at least a hundred necessary for a reasonable capture chance 10 45 473.
• Thief Technical Machine — Purchases it for 40,000 Pokémon Coins after a group discount; the single-use disc breaks after Poliwag absorbs its energy. Later buys another for 30,000 coins and teaches the move to Pidgey 21 24 65.
• Pecha Berries — Receives ten from Shennong Orchard, uses one to cure Poliwag’s poisoning, and later gives four to Ye Tian in exchange for training assistance 13 18 34.
• Pokémon Food and Pokéblocks — Recurring expenses used for nutrition and training rewards; later adds Electric-type food and Miltank milk for Mareep. Buys Fighting-type Pokéblocks for Machop/Machoke and upgrades to high-grade Pokéblocks after winning the Freshman Competition 10 13 49 59 169 292.
• Phone — Used for mission browsing, training tutorials, communication, and games with Bai Yuling 10 11 30 33.
• Paired Pendant — Bai Yuling’s emergency protection item. Zhang regards it as a last resort and crushes it when Chu Qing’s uncle defeats Poliwhirl; Bai arrives with Gardevoir to rescue him 102 112.
• Healing Spray and Antidotes — Purchases wilderness medical supplies before leaving for Yellow Sand Town; uses Healing Spray after the Machop battle 59 94.
• Technical Machines — Uses three Protect discs for Poliwhirl, Pidgeotto, and Mareep. Purchases Waterfall, Roost, Thunderbolt, and Toxic for his respective partners, later Ice Beam for Poliwhirl and Rock Slide, Rock Tomb, and Calm Mind for Diancie 93 94 107 237.
• Water Stone — Receives it during the interschool league and later considers using it to evolve Poliwhirl when stronger tournament opponents make evolution desirable 153.
• Evolution Crystals / Mega Evolution Stones — Receives an Evolution Crystal from the principal, bringing his total to four at that point. Li Jian later modifies two of his Mega Evolution stones, increasing their energy 190 236.
• Held Items — Purchases suitable equipment for all five Pokémon during the Freshman Competition; Poliwrath receives a Black Belt. Moltres already holds Charcoal when Zhang begins training her 259 293 409.
• Lileep Fossil — Stores it at his Yellow Sand Town inn because he cannot yet revive it; Bai retrieves it during his rescue. After the college entrance exam, Zhang plans to take it to a research institute for revival 102 113 207.
• Candlenut Berries — Acquires them during the early Magnolia Forest training trip 66.
• Bai Yuling’s Black Card — Contains two million Pokémon Coins, which she gives him to support his development 89.
• Expedition Maps — Gathers a Yellow Sand Mountains map and local information; later uses maps from Bai Yuling and her family for Sky City and Water City 94 473 502.
• Modu Properties — Buys a home near Modu University after graduation and later purchases a second, fully finished house intended for his mother once the family is reunited 401 459.

Relationships

• Mother — Affectionate and supportive of his independence. Her trust is especially important to him because he lacked family warmth in his previous life. She repeatedly welcomes him home with his favorite meals, respects his decisions despite worrying about wilderness dangers, and remains central to his hope of reuniting the family. He eventually buys a Modu home for her future use 1 11 16 169 170 207 213 459.
• Father / Zhang Zhi — Initially missing under unresolved circumstances and believed lost in an accident; leaves 200,000 Pokémon Coins for Zhang’s first Pokémon. Zhang suspects he is alive and intends to investigate once stronger. After capturing Keldeo, he learns that Zhang Zhi joined the R Organization under a League infiltration plan and is now one of its two leaders. Zhang resolves to help him complete the mission 1 19 502 508.
• Ye Tian — Former deskmate, closest school friend, and regular training rival. They share information, spar frequently, and remain close after entering different Elite Classes. Their university paths diverge between Modu and Kyoto, but their competitive relationship continues through university encounters and the National Tournament. Ye Tian’s apparent R Organization connection unsettles Zhang, who later learns that Ye Tian’s father, Ye Jun, is the organization’s other leader. Zhang promises that their friendship will not compromise his father’s operation and subsequently encounters Ye Tian with both possessing extremely powerful teams 14 22 35 50 207 299 389 400 508 509.
• Bai Yuling — Elite Class One instructor and mentor. Appoints him monitor, advises him on certification and university choices, and develops a teasing rapport in which he calls her “sis”; they also message and play games together. She reveals her Bai Family background, provides financial support, rescues him from Chu Qing’s uncle, shares Legendary/Mythical Pokémon information, and guides him toward his father’s test. She initially withholds the truth about Zhang Zhi, then reveals it after Zhang captures Keldeo. Their first proper six-on-six battle takes place after his team reaches level 90 23 29 33 35 89 112 389 473 486 502 508.
• Ye Lang — Rival whose Oshawott Zhang defeats at Nanting Training Ground and again in the interclass tournament. Ye Lang treats the first loss as luck and seeks revenge 9 41 42.
• Hao Chenggong — Former class monitor and later Elite Class Two leader. Their tournament match ends in Zhang’s victory, which Hao accepts respectfully while promising a rematch. They subsequently participate in the same interschool competition 17 43 44 74 81.
• Wu Yueyue — Former study representative and Elite Class One classmate. Approaches Zhang for help with difficult Pokémon theory questions 22 25 27.
• Jin Haoxian — Former homeroom teacher who oversees the class-placement tournament. Zhang feels less attachment to him than his classmates because they have barely interacted since his transmigration 16 20.
• Liu Feng — Elite Class Two instructor who explains Safari Zone rules and transports Zhang and the other qualifiers there on Charizard 44 45.
• Machop / Machoke — Wild training companion at the Magnolia Forest waterfall. Their bond grows through repeated battles, Zhang’s food gifts, and reunions during later trips. Machoke helps search for mission targets and regularly spars with the team; their farewells are affectionate and visibly sad 58 59 66 126 128 136 169.
• Xie Wen — Yellow Sand Town Trainer who becomes a friendly rival and month-long training companion. Betrays Zhang under Chu Qing’s uncle’s threats and orders Tauros to attack him; the elder subsequently kills Xie Wen. Zhang later suspects the death and concealment of the incident 102 107 112 113 114.
• Chu Qing — Hostile opponent involved in the Yellow Sand Mountains confrontation over an Evolution Stone. His uncle nearly kills Zhang, prompting Bai Yuling’s rescue. Zhang later defeats Chu Qing in the National Tournament when Diancie overwhelms Haxorus and Chu concedes 112 330.
• Yuwen Tian — Friend and former Jade Town mission teammate. Their cooperation with Zheng Hao secures an Evolution Crystal that contributes to Yuwen’s growth. Years later, Yuwen acts as the Champion-level examiner for Fang Lin’s Center assessment; despite Zhang’s victory, they remain friendly and share a meal afterward 219 234 423 436.
• Zheng Hao — Experienced Jade Town mission teammate whose Muk, Slowbro, and Golem support cooperative battles. Zhang respects his investment in his Pokémon and later asks Yuwen about his well-being 219 220 234 423.
• Li Xue — Meets Zhang over hot pot in Magnolia Town, asks about his school and university plans, and exchanges contact details with him 169.
• Li Jian — Modifies Zhang’s Mega Evolution stones before his departure for Modu 236.
• Liao Wu — Wealthy Freshman Competition rival whom Zhang defeats for the championship; later a fellow Modu University National Tournament representative 286 291 330.
• Su Qian — Former opponent from a two-on-two high-school match against Zhang and Ye Tian. Encounters Zhang again at the National Tournament and threatens revenge, which Zhang dismisses 330 331.
• Fang Lin — Director of the Modu Pokémon Center. Zhang promises to help protect the Center’s operating rights, battles its examiners, and defends Fang against Wang Kun’s manipulation. Fang reciprocates by giving him the Zeraora lead 423 436 437 459.
• Wang Kun — League staffer who changes the Center assessment requirements after Zhang wins. Zhang opposes the unannounced rule change and threatens to report further misconduct to League leadership 436.
• Su Jun — Masked R Organization member encountered during the Shaymin expedition. Recognizes Zhang as Ye Tian’s friend and calls Ye Tian “Young Master,” reinforcing Zhang’s questions about his former friend’s status 476.

Major Battles & Achievements

Future Goals

• University admission — fulfilled: Initially favors Sakura University because of his attachment to Jiangcheng; Bai Yuling encourages Modu University’s resources. He later accepts her advice, enrolls in Modu University, and graduates 22 29 89 236 401.
• Ordinary Trainer certification — fulfilled: Initially must raise two Pokémon to at least level 21 and pass the assessment to meet the upcoming college entrance requirement; later registers as an Ordinary/Normal-class Trainer 35 126.
• Wilderness training — continuing method: Initially postpones Magnolia Forest until winter break, then considers requesting leave because school training offers limited progress. Subsequently undertakes expeditions in Magnolia Forest, the Yellow Sand Mountains, and the Jade River area 24 50 56 94 213.
• Wild held-item income: Originally plans to combine his scan with Thief to obtain valuable items from wild Pokémon. Items stolen during Trainer battles must be returned, or his Trainer qualification can be revoked. Later supplements this approach by purchasing suitable held items rather than accepting the risks of unsuitable theft targets 24 258 259.
• Strength beyond Champion level: States that he wants to become stronger than a Champion and continues training after successive certifications. His final selected six reach level 99 89 473 508.
• Legendary and Mythical recruitment: After graduation, seeks recruits at least at the pseudo-legendary tier, then increasingly prioritizes Legendary and Mythical Pokémon to strengthen his team 401 473 486.
• Father’s disappearance — truth uncovered: His original goal is to discover what happened to his father. After completing the Keldeo test, learns that Zhang Zhi is a League infiltrator and R Organization leader 19 502 508.
• Support his father’s mission: Resolves to help Zhang Zhi complete the operation and promises that his relationship with Ye Tian will not interfere 508.
• Family reunion: Continues to seek a reunion with his father and mother; purchases a second home in Modu for his mother’s eventual move 169 207 459.

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