Recaps

Zhang Cheng watched A-Tie defeat the R Organization’s Hypno, though the white-bearded man escaped with Fearow. After A-Tie arrested two of his subordinates, Zhang Cheng agreed to return to town with him for safety.

• A-Tie sent out his level 32 Arcanine, which gained the advantage over the R Organization’s Hypno in battle.
• Arcanine’s Flame Burst broke through Hypno’s Psybeam, and Take Down struck Hypno into a rock wall after it used Protect.
• The white-bearded man recalled Hypno and escaped on Fearow with one subordinate, while Arcanine’s attack knocked two other R Organization members to the ground.
• Fearow carried the injured white-bearded man away, and A-Tie handcuffed the two fallen members.
• A-Tie introduced himself as the Law Enforcement Officer responsible for security in the Yellow Sand Mountains and offered Zhang Cheng a safe escort back to town.

After the R Organization appeared in the Yellow Sand Mountains, Zhang Cheng trained his Pokémon for a week while waiting for the area to become safe. He met local Trainer Xie Wen and accepted a three-on-three battle, which began with Pidgeotto facing Doduo.

• A-Tie took the captured R Organization members to the League, while Zhang Cheng returned to the Inn and stored the Lileep fossil.
• Zhang Cheng stayed away from the Yellow Sand Mountains and spent a week training Pidgeotto, Poliwhirl, Mareep, and Mudkip in the plains outside Yellow Sand Town.
• Zhang Cheng decided to check whether the Yellow Sand Mountains were safe before returning to battle wild Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng met Xie Wen at the training ground, and the two agreed to a three-on-three match.
• Xie Wen sent out Doduo, and Zhang Cheng chose Pidgeotto for a Flying-type showdown.
• Doduo charged with Quick Attack, and Pidgeotto flew higher to evade while Zhang Cheng watched to see how high Doduo could jump.

Zhang Cheng's Pidgeotto and Xie Wen's Doduo fought through a close Flying-type showdown, with Doduo's Endeavor bringing Pidgeotto to the brink. The first matchup came down to speed as Zhang Cheng ordered one more Quick Attack.

• Doduo opened with Quick Attack and slammed into Pidgeotto, but Pidgeotto answered with Steel Wing and broke through Doduo's Aerial Ace.
• Xie Wen used Double Team and Fury Attack, but Zhang Cheng had Pidgeotto block with Protect and counter with Air Slash.
• Doduo dodged Air Slash with Agility and charged with Peck, but Pidgeotto caught it in Twister and followed with Quick Attack, badly wounding it.
• Xie Wen used Doduo's Quick Attack to interrupt Protect, then landed Endeavor and reduced Pidgeotto's HP to match Doduo's.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Pidgeotto to use Quick Attack, leaving the outcome of the first matchup undecided.

Zhang Cheng’s Poliwhirl faced Xie Wen’s powerful Tauros in a difficult battle. After trading heavy blows, Poliwhirl put Tauros to sleep with Hypnosis, and Zhang Cheng ordered a follow-up attack.

• Pidgeotto knocked out Doduo with Quick Attack, then Zhang Cheng recalled his exhausted Pokémon.
• Xie Wen sent out his level 16 Tauros, and Zhang Cheng chose Poliwhirl to face it.
• Poliwhirl used Rain Dance, blocked Tauros’s Horn Attack with Protect, and struck back with Waterfall.
• Tauros hit Poliwhirl with Horn Attack, then clashed with its second Waterfall using Smart Strike.
• Poliwhirl landed Hypnosis on Tauros, and Zhang Cheng ordered it to use Endeavor followed by Body Slam.

Zhang Cheng defeated Xie Wen’s Tauros with Poliwhirl’s Endeavor and Body Slam, then faced Xie Wen’s final Pokémon, Slowpoke. Poliwhirl fell to Psychic but put Slowpoke to sleep, allowing Pidgeotto to heal before the two Pokémon clashed again.

• Poliwhirl used Endeavor and Body Slam to knock out Xie Wen’s Tauros.
• Xie Wen sent out his level 14 Slowpoke, and Zhang Cheng chose to wear it down before bringing in Mareep.
• Poliwhirl used Hypnosis as Slowpoke struck it with Psychic, knocking Poliwhirl out while falling asleep.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Pidgeotto, which used Roost to heal while Slowpoke slept.
• Slowpoke woke and charged with Zen Headbutt, while Pidgeotto countered with Twister; Slowpoke forced his way through the whirlwind and reached Pidgeotto.

Slowpoke defeated Zhang Cheng's Pidgeotto but endured a powerful Hurricane, leaving both Trainers with one Pokémon each. Zhang Cheng's shiny Mareep landed a Thunderbolt and a Thunder Shock on Slowpoke, but Slowpoke remained standing, leaving the match's outcome uncertain.

• Slowpoke struck Pidgeotto with Zen Headbutt and Psychic, then endured Pidgeotto's Hurricane before defeating it with Water Gun.
• Zhang Cheng sent out his shiny Mareep for the final showdown against Xie Wen's injured Slowpoke.
• Mareep's Thunderbolt engulfed Slowpoke, but Slowpoke stood up despite its severe injuries.
• Slowpoke hit Mareep with Psychic, and Mareep answered with Thunder Shock.
• Slowpoke remained standing after Thunder Shock, leaving both Trainers uncertain whether it could continue battling.

Zhang Cheng and Xie Wen trained together in the Yellow Sand Mountains for a month, strengthening their Pokémon before Zhang Cheng bought an Ice Beam Technical Machine for Poliwhirl. Meanwhile, Ye Tian decided to leave school for field training, and Liu Feng approved his leave with a warning to stay safe.

• After Zhang Cheng defeated Xie Wen in battle, Mareep reached level 11 and learned Cotton Spore, and the two treated their Pokémon before returning to town.
• Zhang Cheng and Xie Wen trained their Pokémon together the next day, then agreed to enter the Yellow Sand Mountains as partners.
• The two trained in the mountains daily for a month, with Mudkip reaching level 14 and Mareep evolving into Flaaffy, which became proficient with Thunderbolt.
• Zhang Cheng bought an Ice Beam Technical Machine for Poliwhirl and read news that Evolution Stones could enable Mega Evolution for some Pokémon.
• Ye Tian told Liu Feng he wanted to go on field training to improve quickly, and Liu Feng approved his leave while warning him about the dangers outside school.

Zhang Cheng and Xie Wen ventured deeper into the Yellow Sand Mountains to train their Pokémon and look for Evolution Stones. Zhang Cheng’s Mudkip battled a level 14 Bonsly and used Toxic with Protect to wear her down.

• Xie Wen told Zhang Cheng that Evolution Stones might be appearing across Huaxia, and they agreed to search for clues while training in the mountains.
• Zhang Cheng found a level 14 Bonsly and chose her as a battle opponent for Mudkip.
• Mudkip’s Water Gun missed Bonsly, who countered with Rock Throw; Mudkip blocked the attack with Protect.
• Bonsly hit Mudkip with Low Kick, but Mudkip’s Water Gun blasted Bonsly several meters away.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Mudkip to use Toxic, and Bonsly was poisoned after failing to dodge.
• Mudkip used Protect to block Bonsly’s Rock Throw as the poison drained her HP, then Bonsly charged with Headbutt.

Zhang Cheng and Xie Wen searched the Yellow Sand Mountains for Evolution Stones and discovered three in a cave. They hid and watched as Chu Qing and the R Organization's Mei Xin and Mei Fei fought over the stones, waiting for both sides to weaken.

• Zhang Cheng's Mudkip used Wide Guard to deflect Bonsly's Headbutt, and the badly poisoned Bonsly fled.
• Zhang Cheng and Xie Wen trained their Pokémon through the morning, and Mudkip reached level 15.
• The two trainers searched the Yellow Sand Mountains for Evolution Stones, then entered a cave beside a cliff after hearing a battle inside.
• Zhang Cheng and Xie Wen saw three patterned stones on a platform as Chu Qing confronted Mei Xin and Mei Fei of the R Organization.
• Chu Qing ordered Bayleef to use Magical Leaf while the brothers sent their Mightyena to attack, and Zhang Cheng and Xie Wen stayed hidden to wait for the fighters to weaken.

Chu Qing's battle against Mei Xin and Mei Fei turned against him when their Dark- and Water-type Pokémon exploited his team's weaknesses. After Onix's Explosion injured both Crawdaunt, Chu Qing recalled the unconscious Pokémon, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Bayleef was poisoned by Mightyena's Poison Fang, so Chu Qing recalled him and sent out Golduck and Onix.
• Mei Xin and Mei Fei sent out two level-30 Crawdaunt, giving them an advantage over Chu Qing's team.
• Golduck's Confusion failed against the Dark-types, while Onix bound the Mightyena before both Crawdaunt struck Onix with Bubble Beam.
• Chu Qing ordered Onix to use Explosion, injuring both Crawdaunt after they retreated from the blast.
• Onix passed out, and Chu Qing recalled him, calling him a true warrior.

Zhang Cheng and Xie Wen ambushed Chu Qing and the Mei brothers after their Pokémon had worn each other down, then seized the Evolution Stone. Chu Qing sent out Furret to fight back, but the chapter ended with Furret caught in Pidgeotto’s Hurricane.

• Chu Qing’s Golduck and the Mei brothers’ two Crawdaunt fought until all three Pokémon were nearly exhausted.
• Zhang Cheng and Xie Wen emerged from hiding, and their four Pokémon knocked out both Crawdaunt.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwhirl to attack Golduck while Pidgeotto retrieved the Evolution Stone.
• Chu Qing sent out his level 19 Furret, and Zhang Cheng and Xie Wen coordinated attacks against it.
• Tauros and Poliwhirl struck Furret before Pidgeotto’s Hurricane swept it into the air.

Zhang Cheng was about to kill Chu Qing and the R Organization members when Chu Qing’s uncle arrived and defeated Poliwhirl. After Bai Yuling protected Zhang Cheng and forced a truce, she left with him using Teleport.

• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwhirl to finish off Chu Qing and the two R Organization members, but a white-haired old man arrived and knocked Poliwhirl out with Salamence.
• The old man recognized Chu Qing as his nephew and threatened to execute Zhang Cheng and Xie Wen, then offered to spare Xie Wen if he attacked Zhang Cheng.
• Xie Wen ordered Tauros to use Smart Strike, but Bai Yuling arrived and Gardevoir blocked the charge before knocking Tauros out with Psychic.
• The old man backed down when he realized Bai Yuling was a powerful Trainer, and Chu Qing gave up pressing for Zhang Cheng’s Evolution Stone.
• Bai Yuling took Zhang Cheng’s hand, and Gardevoir used Teleport to carry them away.

The white-haired elder killed Mei Xin, Mei Fei, and Xie Wen, then took Chu Qing to Jinling. Zhang Cheng returned safely to school with Bai Yuling, cared for his injured Poliwhirl, and resolved to grow stronger while allowing himself and his Pokémon time to rest.

• The white-haired elder ordered Salamence to kill Mei Xin and Mei Fei, then put Xie Wen to sleep with Crobat's Hypnosis and killed him with Flamethrower.
• The white-haired elder took Chu Qing on Salamence and flew toward Jinling.
• Bai Yuling brought Zhang Cheng back to Jiangcheng No. 1 High School with Gardevoir's Teleport after retrieving the Lileep fossil from Yellow Sand Town.
• Zhang Cheng brought his badly injured Poliwhirl to the Pokémon Treatment Room and waited until it recovered near midnight.
• Zhang Cheng fed and praised his Pokémon, then decided to rest and pursue admission to one of Huaxia's top Pokémon Academies so he could become stronger.

Zhang Cheng spent a month recovering at school and training his Pokémon, while Ye Tian trained in Magnolia Forest. The chapter left Ye Tian with a mysterious backpack containing a Poké Ball, a Magnetic Card, and a letter.

• Zhang Cheng found no news about Xie Wen and suspected powerful families had suppressed reports of his disappearance or death.
• Zhang Cheng resumed school life, declined to share Evolution Stones with Bai Yuling, and spent a month resting and training his Pokémon.
• Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto reached level 18, Flaaffy reached level 17, and Mudkip reached level 17 and evolved into Marshtomp.
• Ye Tian trained in Magnolia Forest, where Butterfree used Psybeam and Bug Bite to defeat a wild Krabby.
• A masked man in black arrived on Drapion and gave Ye Tian a backpack before leaving.
• Ye Tian opened the backpack and found a Poké Ball, a Magnetic Card, and a letter.

With the final exams approaching, Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian planned to train their level 19 Pokémon through battles and pursue Normal-class Trainer titles afterward. Their first 4v4 match began with Zhang Cheng sending out Pidgeotto against Ye Tian’s evolved Grovyle, while Ye Tian kept his fourth Pokémon a secret.

• Zhang Cheng trained Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto, but after twenty days both had only reached level 19.
• Ye Tian returned from training, and he and Zhang Cheng agreed to battle to help their Pokémon reach level 20 before the exams.
• Ye Tian proposed a 4v4 match and revealed that he had caught a fourth Pokémon in Magnolia Forest.
• Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian chose their opening Pokémon simultaneously, sending out Pidgeotto and Grovyle.
• Zhang Cheng checked Grovyle’s information and learned that Ye Tian’s Pokémon was level 18 with an A- potential.

Zhang Cheng’s Pidgeotto battled Ye Tian’s Grovyle, overcoming its Dragon Breath with a successful Hurricane and defeating it. Ye Tian sent out Butterfree as his second Pokémon, leaving the battle to continue.

• Ye Tian opened the battle by ordering Grovyle to use Quick Attack, but Pidgeotto blocked it with Protect and the Pokémon’s Air Slash and Dragon Breath clashed evenly.
• Ye Tian kept Grovyle in battle, wary that recalling it would let Zhang Cheng send out Poliwhirl and create rain.
• Pidgeotto failed to form Hurricane on its first attempt, allowing Grovyle’s Dragon Breath to hit and injure it.
• Zhang Cheng encouraged Pidgeotto to try Hurricane again, and it scattered Grovyle’s Dragon Breath before battering Grovyle with wind blades.
• Pidgeotto followed up with Quick Attack, and Grovyle collapsed, unable to battle.
• Ye Tian recalled Grovyle and sent out Butterfree as his second Pokémon.

Ye Tian’s Butterfree battled Zhang Cheng’s Poliwhirl, using Silver Wind to damage it and boost her stats before the two Pokémon traded powerful attacks. Poliwhirl completed Mind Reader despite taking Confusion, leaving the fight ongoing with both Pokémon badly weakened.

• Ye Tian sent out her stronger Butterfree, and Zhang Cheng recalled his weakened Pidgeotto before choosing Poliwhirl.
• Butterfree hit Poliwhirl with Silver Wind as it set up Rain Dance, damaging Poliwhirl and gaining a boost to all her stats.
• Poliwhirl struck Butterfree with a rain-powered Waterfall while Butterfree hit Poliwhirl with Psybeam, leaving both Pokémon with roughly half their HP or less.
• Butterfree used Gust, but Poliwhirl dodged and began using Mind Reader from a distance.
• Ye Tian ordered Butterfree to use Confusion, which hit Poliwhirl after it had finished Mind Reader and worsened its condition.

Zhang Cheng’s Poliwhirl defeated Ye Tian’s Butterfree, then fell to Heracross after restoring Rainy Weather. Zhang Cheng sent out his injured Pidgeotto to face Heracross, who had to overcome his fear of it.

• Zhang Cheng used Poliwhirl’s Mind Reader and Hypnosis strategy, but Ye Tian had Butterfree block it with Protect.
• Poliwhirl struck Butterfree with Endeavor and Waterfall; Butterfree’s Bug Bite also badly damaged Poliwhirl before Butterfree lost the ability to battle.
• Ye Tian sent out Heracross, and Zhang Cheng had Poliwhirl use Rain Dance before Heracross’s Aerial Ace knocked Poliwhirl out.
• Zhang Cheng sent out his half-injured Pidgeotto, and Ye Tian encouraged the frightened Heracross to face its former opponent.

Ye Tian’s Heracross overcame its fear of Flying-type Pokémon by defeating Zhang Cheng’s Pidgeotto, but Flaaffy knocked Heracross out with Thunder. With Zhang Cheng ahead and two Pokémon still in reserve, Ye Tian prepared to reveal his final Pokémon, confident it could turn the battle around.

• Ye Tian urged Heracross through Pidgeotto’s Hurricane, and Heracross landed Brick Break while surviving with little HP remaining.
• Zhang Cheng kept Pidgeotto in the battle, and it struck Heracross with Air Slash; Heracross endured the attack and knocked Pidgeotto out with Horn Attack.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Flaaffy, which defeated Heracross with Thunder after Heracross failed to withstand it using Endure.
• Ye Tian praised Zhang Cheng’s team, then declared that his final Pokémon could defeat Zhang Cheng’s remaining two Pokémon and reverse the battle.

Ye Tian sent out Zweilous, and Zhang Cheng tried to wear it down with Flaaffy despite the Dragon-type Pokémon’s resistance to Electric attacks. Flaaffy was defeated, leaving Zhang Cheng to continue the battle with his remaining Pokémon.

• Ye Tian sent out his level 17 Zweilous and immediately ordered it to use Dragon Rage, which Flaaffy blocked with Protect.
• Ye Tian ordered Dragon Tail, and Zhang Cheng countered with Thunder, briefly stopping Zweilous with the hit.
• Zweilous pushed through the pain and struck Flaaffy with Dragon Tail, taking half its HP while losing only a quarter of its own.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Thunderbolt, but Zweilous’s Dragon Tail sent Flaaffy flying and left it unable to battle.
• Zhang Cheng recalled Flaaffy, acknowledged Zweilous’s strength, and told Ye Tian that it was not unbeatable yet.

Zhang Cheng relied on Toxic and Marshtomp’s defensive moves to wear down Ye Tian’s Zweilous. The battle remained unresolved, but Zweilous was close to being knocked out by poison.

• Ye Tian ordered Zweilous to use Crunch, and Zhang Cheng had Marshtomp land Toxic while taking heavy damage.
• Zhang Cheng blocked Zweilous’s Dragon Breath with Protect, causing the poison to drain Zweilous’s HP further.
• Marshtomp used Wide Guard to stop Zweilous’s Dragon Tail, surprising Ye Tian with the unfamiliar defensive move.
• Ye Tian ordered another Dragon Tail, but Zhang Cheng reassured Marshtomp and had it use Protect again.
• Zweilous’s attack failed to break through the barrier, and its HP fell nearly to zero as the chapter ended.

Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian battled, and Zhang Cheng won after Marshtomp’s Wide Guard outlasted Zweilous’s Crunch and Toxic defeated Zweilous. After their Pokémon reached level 20 and the final exams ended, Zhang Cheng returned home and arranged with Ye Tian to visit the Challenge Tower the next morning.

• Ye Tian ordered Zweilous to use Crunch against Marshtomp, but Marshtomp’s Wide Guard broke only after absorbing the attack, and Toxic then knocked Zweilous out.
• Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian healed their Pokémon, continued training together, and agreed to visit the Challenge Tower after the exams to earn the Normal-class Trainer title.
• The day before finals, Zhang Cheng’s Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto and Ye Tian’s Butterfree and Heracross all reached level 20.
• Zhang Cheng finished his theory exam, went home for winter break, and enjoyed a meal prepared by his mother.
• Zhang Cheng arranged with Ye Tian to meet at the Challenge Tower the next morning, then contacted Bai Yuling to play games.

Zhang Cheng began his Normal-class Trainer assessment at the Challenge Tower and battled an examiner’s Skarmory with Poliwhirl. Rainy Weather helped Poliwhirl gain the advantage, but the battle remained unfinished as Poliwhirl prepared Mind Reader.

• Zhang Cheng met Ye Tian at the Challenge Tower, and staff assigned them to separate assessment rooms.
• The examiner explained the two-on-two assessment rules, and the system selected a rocky battlefield for Zhang Cheng’s match.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Poliwhirl, while the examiner chose a level-20 Skarmory.
• Poliwhirl blocked Skarmory’s Metal Claw with Protect, then used Rain Dance and clashed with Skarmory’s Drill Peck using Waterfall.
• Poliwhirl struck Skarmory with Bubble Beam, and Zhang Cheng ordered Mind Reader as the battle continued.

Zhang Cheng defeated the examiner’s Skarmory, then faced Loudred while trying to avoid the Stealth Rock damage Skarmory had left behind. Pidgeotto bypassed the hazard and battled Loudred, ending the chapter as it blocked another Circle Throw with Protect.

• Poliwhirl put Skarmory to sleep with Hypnosis, hit it with Waterfall, and defeated it with Body Slam after Skarmory set Stealth Rock.
• The examiner sent out Loudred, which used Circle Throw to force Poliwhirl off the field and activate the examiner’s Stealth Rock strategy.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Pidgeotto, which avoided Stealth Rock damage because it was a Flying type.
• The examiner ordered Loudred to use Disarming Voice, but Zhang Cheng countered with Hurricane, cutting Loudred’s HP in half.
• Loudred tried Circle Throw again, but Pidgeotto used Protect and blocked its attempt to grab it.

Zhang Cheng passed the Normal-class Trainer assessment by defeating the examiner’s Loudred with Pidgeotto. In another battle room, Ye Tian used Butterfree’s moves and a surprise Sleep Powder setup to gain the upper hand against the examiner’s Ninetales, but the battle was still underway.

• Zhang Cheng ordered Pidgeotto to use Quick Attack, knocking out the already weakened Loudred and passing the assessment.
• Ye Tian sent out Butterfree against the examiner’s Gloom and used Aerial Ace to cut its HP in half.
• The examiner recalled Gloom and sent out Ninetales, whose Flame Charge badly hurt Butterfree after Butterfree blocked Fire Spin with Protect.
• Ye Tian’s Gust-and-Sleep Powder combination put Ninetales to sleep, and Butterfree’s Psybeam struck it hard enough to wake it at critical HP.
• Ye Tian ordered Butterfree to attack the weakened Ninetales with Confusion.