Recaps

Zhang Cheng completed his entrance assessments, chose Modu University, and trained around Jade Town while completing missions with Zheng Hao and Yuwen Tian. Diancie hatched, and the arc ended with Zhang Cheng joining a mission to claim Evolution Stones guarded by a level 50 Aggron.

• Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian earned full marks on their practical assessments, and Zhang Cheng returned home to train for the summer.
• Zhang Cheng defeated Xia Bin in a three-on-three battle, then chose Modu University after receiving its offer.
• Zhang Cheng traveled to Jade Town and captured three Tentacruel for a mission before spending more than a month training his Pokémon along the Jade River.
• Zhang Cheng teamed up with Zheng Hao and Yuwen Tian to defeat and capture a Poison Toxicroak, then split the mission reward with them.
• Diancie hatched from her egg, agreed to become Zhang Cheng’s Pokémon, and called him Daddy.
• Zhang Cheng joined Zheng Hao and Yuwen Tian in a mission to seek Evolution Stones guarded by a level 50 Aggron.

Zhang Cheng and his companions secured the Evolution Crystals after fighting off R Organization members, then Zhang Cheng began university and advanced through the Freshman Competition. He entered his match against Wang Lu’s final Pokémon, Emolga, with Swampert.

• Zheng Hao, Zhang Cheng, and Yuwen Tian defeated Aggron and claimed the Evolution Crystals, but Xue Nong and Tan Zhen ambushed them and demanded the crystals.
• Zhang Cheng and Zheng Hao defeated Xue Nong and Tan Zhen’s Pokémon and handed the two members of R Organization to the League Security Team.
• After training near Jade Lake, Zhang Cheng returned to Jiangcheng City, modified two Evolution Crystals for Pidgeot and Swampert, and traveled to Modu University.
• Zhang Cheng trained his Pokémon and entered the Freshman Competition, winning his first three matches before defeating Zhu Han in the fourth round.
• Zhang Cheng defeated Lin Peng’s team to reach the top fifty, then began his match against Wang Lu and defeated her Venusaur with Pidgeot.
• Wang Lu’s Emolga knocked out Zhang Cheng’s poisoned Pidgeot, and Zhang Cheng sent out Swampert to face it.

Zhang Cheng advanced through the tournament’s elimination rounds and began the round-robin stage, relying on his Pokémon to overcome a series of varied opponents. After defeating Ke Jing, he faced Bai Lu, whose Wigglytuff was forced to retreat after Poliwrath’s rain-boosted Waterfall.

• Zhang Cheng defeated Wang Lu’s Froslass with Swampert’s defensive play as Toxic drained her health, then advanced to the top twenty-five.
• Zhang Cheng beat Chen Dian’s Kingdra, Pupitar, and Blastoise with Poliwrath, Swampert, and Ampharos, advancing to the top twenty.
• Zhang Cheng defeated Duan Hong in a one-on-one match after Poliwrath overcame Blaziken and Espeon, earning a place in the top ten.
• Zhang Cheng defeated Li Han’s Azumarill, Medicham, and Delphox, winning their match despite losing Poliwrath and Pidgeot.
• Zhang Cheng opened the round-robin stage against Ke Jing, whose Electrode, Mismagius, and Serperior were defeated by Poliwrath, Ampharos, and Pidgeot.
• Zhang Cheng began his next match against Bai Lu with Poliwrath, who activated Swift Swim with Rain Dance and forced Wigglytuff to retreat with Waterfall.

Zhang Cheng won the Freshman Competition, earned his Gym-level Trainer title, and added Horsea to his team. After learning that Ye Tian was Kyoto University’s strongest Trainer, Zhang Cheng challenged him, and their six-on-six battle began with Poliwrath facing Butterfree.

• Zhang Cheng defeated Bai Lu in the Freshman Competition final, then beat Li Ao and Liao Wu to become champion.
• After collecting his prize and training his Pokémon for a year, Zhang Cheng challenged the Challenge Tower and defeated Chen Hao’s Machamp, Jolteon, and Slowking to earn Gym-level Trainer status.
• Zhang Cheng accepted a mission to clear eight Sharpedo from the Dragon-Severing River and discovered that a nearby Horsea had A-grade potential.
• Zhang Cheng’s Poliwrath, Swampert, and Ampharos defeated the Sharpedo, and Zhang Cheng caught all eight before persuading Horsea’s Seadra guardians to let Horsea join his team.
• Horsea evolved into Seadra as Zhang Cheng trained, and he learned that Kyoto University had defeated Modu University’s competitors and that Ye Tian was their strongest Trainer.
• Zhang Cheng challenged Ye Tian to a six-on-six battle and sent Poliwrath against Butterfree, whose potential had risen to A-grade.
• Zhang Cheng used Rain Dance to boost Poliwrath, who dodged Butterfree’s Sleep Powder before their Hydro Pump and Psychic attacks struck both Pokémon.