Chapter Summaries

Zhang Cheng began his practical combat assessment by battling an examiner’s level 36 Gastrodon with Poliwrath. Poliwrath gained an early advantage with Dynamic Punch, but Gastrodon’s Mud Bomb landed as the battle continued.

• After the first candidate finished, Zhang Cheng entered his assigned battle area and sent out Poliwrath against the examiner’s Gastrodon.
• Zhang Cheng used his Detection System to discover that Gastrodon had the Storm Drain ability, making it immune to Water-type moves.
• Gastrodon’s Body Slam damaged Poliwrath, but Poliwrath’s Dynamic Punch took a third of Gastrodon’s HP and left her confused.
• Poliwrath’s Submission nearly broke Gastrodon’s Protect barrier, but the barrier held.
• Poliwrath used Mind Reader, leaving it unable to dodge Gastrodon’s Mud Bomb, which took a third of its HP.

Zhang Cheng’s Poliwrath defeated the examiner’s Gastrodon with Hypnosis, Wake-Up Slap, and Dynamic Punch, earning full marks in the first assessment match. The second match began with Pidgeot facing Hitmonlee, and Pidgeot dodged Hitmonlee’s opening attack.

• Zhang Cheng had Poliwrath use Mind Reader-enhanced Hypnosis to put Gastrodon to sleep.
• Poliwrath struck the sleeping Gastrodon with Wake-Up Slap, leaving it with less than a tenth of its HP and waking it.
• Gastrodon hit Poliwrath with Bulldoze, but Poliwrath countered with Dynamic Punch and defeated it, earning Zhang Cheng full marks.
• The examiner praised Zhang Cheng and began the second match, where Zhang Cheng chose Pidgeot to face Hitmonlee.
• Hitmonlee used High Jump Kick, but Pidgeot flew higher to evade it, causing Hitmonlee to take recoil damage.

Zhang Cheng’s Pidgeot battled the examiner’s Hitmonlee, using its Flying-type advantage to wear it down while avoiding a decisive High Jump Kick. Pidgeot defeated Hitmonlee with Brave Bird, leaving Zhang Cheng poised to secure a perfect score on the assessment.

• Pidgeot dodged Hitmonlee’s High Jump Kick and hit it with Air Slash, cutting its HP to half.
• The examiner had Hitmonlee use Mind Reader, but Pidgeot struck first with Hurricane and left Hitmonlee with only a sliver of HP.
• Hitmonlee landed a powerful High Jump Kick through Pidgeot’s Protect barrier, taking a third of Pidgeot’s HP.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Pidgeot to finish the battle with Brave Bird, and Pidgeot broke through Hitmonlee’s Double Team copies and knocked it out.

Zhang Cheng completed his exams with perfect scores in both battles and theory, then left the training grounds. Ye Tian began his assessment against an examiner’s Iron Fist Infernape, and the chapter left their battle underway as Zweilous attacked with Dragon Tail.

• Zhang Cheng received praise from the examiner for winning both battles and earning a perfect score, then registered his results and went back to his dorm.
• Ye Tian entered his assigned assessment area and chose Zweilous to face the examiner’s Infernape.
• The examiner ordered Infernape to use Mach Punch, and Ye Tian had Zweilous counter with Dragon Pulse; both Pokémon lost two-fifths of their HP.
• Ye Tian ordered Zweilous to use Dragon Tail and press the attack against Infernape.

Ye Tian's Zweilous defeated the examiner's Infernape by dodging Close Combat and counterattacking with Dragon Breath. The second assessment began with Ye Tian's Butterfree facing the examiner's Corsola, whose Rock Blast Butterfree tried to block with Protect.

• The examiner's Infernape struck Zweilous with Power-Up Punch, while Zweilous's Dragon Tail left Infernape with only one-fifth of its HP.
• Infernape's Close Combat missed when Ye Tian ordered Zweilous to fly out of reach, and Zweilous knocked Infernape out with Dragon Breath.
• Ye Tian and the examiner recalled their Pokémon, then sent out Butterfree and Corsola for the second assessment.
• The examiner ordered Corsola to use Rock Blast against Butterfree, and Ye Tian commanded Butterfree to use Protect.

Ye Tian used Butterfree to battle the examiner’s Corsola, exploiting Corsola’s fourfold weakness to Grass with Energy Ball while protecting Butterfree from Rock-type attacks. Butterfree defeated Corsola with a second Energy Ball, leaving Ye Tian the winner of the battle.

• Ye Tian had Butterfree block Corsola’s Rock Blast with Protect, then attack with Gust laced with Sleep Powder.
• Corsola struck Butterfree with Ancient Power, but Gust hit Corsola and put it to sleep.
• Ye Tian had Butterfree hit sleeping Corsola with Energy Ball, dealing half its HP and waking it.
• The examiner ordered Corsola to use Ancient Power, but Butterfree blocked it with Protect.
• Ye Tian ordered another Energy Ball as Corsola rushed to use Rock Blast; the attack hit first and left Corsola unable to battle.

Ye Tian passed his Trainer assessment with full marks, and Zhang Cheng finished his college entrance exam and returned home. Zhang Cheng began training his Pokémon during vacation while preparing to attend Modu University and search for his father.

• Ye Tian defeated the examiner's Corsola and earned full marks on his assessment.
• Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian discussed their full-mark assessments and plans to attend Modu University and Kyoto University, respectively.
• Zhang Cheng planned to spend his vacation training in the field, then packed his Pokémon Egg and Lileep fossil and went home.
• Zhang Cheng's mother welcomed him with his favorite dishes, strengthening his resolve to grow stronger and find his father.
• Zhang Cheng began exercising each morning and taking his Pokémon to Jiangcheng City training grounds for battles.
• Zhang Cheng followed his routine to Nanting Training Ground for battle training.

Zhang Cheng trained Swampert against Xia Bin’s Empoleon in a three-on-three practice battle, hoping to build Swampert’s match experience. Swampert gained an early edge, but Empoleon’s powerful Hydro Pump forced Swampert to defend with Protect.

• Zhang Cheng chose battle coach Xia Bin for a three-on-three training match and sent out Swampert, while Xia Bin chose Empoleon.
• Zhang Cheng checked Empoleon’s stats and noted its strong Water- and Steel-type moves, Mystic Water, and Hydro Pump.
• Xia Bin ordered Aqua Jet, and Zhang Cheng countered with Mud Bomb; both Pokémon took damage, but Swampert gained a slight advantage.
• Xia Bin ordered Empoleon to use Hydro Pump, and Zhang Cheng told Swampert to use Protect.
• Swampert formed a transparent barrier to block Empoleon’s Hydro Pump.

Zhang Cheng used Swampert to defeat Xia Bin’s Empoleon by stealing its Mystic Water and countering Brine with Mirror Coat. Xia Bin sent out Shiftry, whose Grass-type attacks threatened Swampert, while Zhang Cheng prepared to deal with her.

• Zhang Cheng ordered Swampert to use Thief, weakening Empoleon’s Water-type moves by stealing its Mystic Water.
• Xia Bin sent Empoleon after Swampert with Brine, and Swampert returned the damage with Mirror Coat.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Swampert to use Mud Shot, which knocked Empoleon out.
• Xia Bin recalled Empoleon and sent out his second Pokémon, Shiftry, to exploit her fourfold Grass-type advantage over Swampert.
• Zhang Cheng checked Shiftry’s stats and considered her moves and abilities.

Zhang Cheng and Xia Bin battled as Swampert, Shiftry, and Pidgeot traded attacks, leaving each Trainer with one Pokémon available. Zhang Cheng sent out his Shiny Ampharos to face Xia Bin’s Raichu, and the two Pokémon began a Thunderbolt clash.

• Shiftry’s Leaf Tornado knocked out Zhang Cheng’s weakened Swampert, but Swampert’s Toxic badly poisoned Shiftry.
• Xia Bin ordered Shiftry to attack Pidgeot with Dark Pulse, while Pidgeot answered with Air Slash and left Shiftry weakened and poisoned.
• Xia Bin recalled Shiftry and sent out Raichu to counter Pidgeot, so Zhang Cheng recalled Pidgeot and chose Ampharos for an Electric-type matchup.
• Xia Bin reacted with surprise to Zhang Cheng’s Shiny Ampharos as Zhang Cheng ordered it to use Thunderbolt.
• Xia Bin commanded Raichu to meet Ampharos’s Thunderbolt with its own.

Zhang Cheng’s Ampharos defeated Xia Bin’s Raichu in an Electric-type battle, leaving Xia Bin with only his half-strength Shiftry. Zhang Cheng recalled Ampharos and sent out Pidgeot, while Xia Bin continued the battle despite his poor chances.

• Raichu and Ampharos exchanged Thunderbolts, and Ampharos gained a slight advantage.
• Xia Bin had Raichu use Charge before its boosted Thunder left Ampharos with a quarter of its HP, while Ampharos’s Thunder also reduced Raichu to a quarter.
• Raichu attacked with Electro Ball, but Zhang Cheng’s Ampharos blocked it with Protect and then defeated Raichu with Thunderbolt.
• Xia Bin sent out his half-strength Shiftry as his last Pokémon, and Zhang Cheng recalled Ampharos and chose Pidgeot.
• Xia Bin acknowledged Zhang Cheng’s caution, and Zhang Cheng prepared to continue the battle with Pidgeot.

After defeating Xia Bin, Zhang Cheng checked his college entrance exam results and chose Modu University as his first choice. He and Ye Tian then met admissions instructors from three prestigious universities, who began competing to recruit them.

• Zhang Cheng's Pidgeot defeated Xia Bin's Shiftry, winning their battle.
• Zhang Cheng took his Pokémon to recover at Nanting Training Ground, then trained steadily for a week.
• Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian checked their exam scores: Zhang Cheng earned 99 in theory and 100 in practice, while Ye Tian earned 95 in theory and 100 in practice.
• Zhang Cheng chose Modu University as his first choice and Sakura University as his second, while Ye Tian chose Kyoto University.
• Liu Feng brought Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian to meet instructors from Jinling, Kyoto, and Modu Universities.
• Jinling University's instructor offered an A-grade Starter Pokémon and matching TMs and items, surprising the other instructor and Liu Feng.

Zhang Cheng chose Modu University, while Ye Tian committed to Kyoto University, and both rejected Jinling University's recruiting efforts. After telling his mother about his results, Zhang Cheng set out for Jade River to train, search for Water-type Pokémon, and take on Platinum Rank missions.

• The Modu University instructor offered Zhang Cheng a two-million-Pokémon-Coin grant and waived tuition, and Zhang Cheng chose Modu University.
• The Jinling University instructor warned Zhang Cheng and tried to recruit Ye Tian, but Ye Tian said he had already chosen Kyoto University.
• The Kyoto University instructor offered Ye Tian high-potential Pokémon and matching items, and the Jinling University instructor left the school.
• Zhang Cheng told his mother about his university admission and summer training plans, then rode Pidgeot to Jade Town near Jade River the next morning.
• Zhang Cheng checked into an inn, fed his Pokémon, bought a map, and went to the Pokémon Mission Hall to look for Platinum Rank missions.

Zhang Cheng accepted a mission to catch three Tentacruel in the Jade River, then found one bullying a Goldeen upstream and challenged her with Ampharos. Ampharos blocked Tentacruel’s Acid Spray and launched Thunder as Tentacruel countered with Water Pulse.

• Zhang Cheng accepted the mission to catch three level-35 Tentacruel and deliver them to the League Center.
• Back at the Inn, Zhang Cheng fed his Pokémon, checked Diancie's rocking Egg, and rested before the next day’s search.
• Zhang Cheng found a Tentacruel bullying a Goldeen upstream in the Jade River, and the Goldeen fled when Tentacruel turned on Ampharos.
• Zhang Cheng sent Ampharos to attack with Thunderbolt, which dealt heavy damage to Tentacruel.
• Ampharos blocked Tentacruel’s Acid Spray with Protect, then used Thunder as Tentacruel answered with Water Pulse.

Zhang Cheng caught one Tentacruel with Ampharos’s help, then sent his Pokémon to fight two more. After the group knocked out and caught a second Tentacruel, the last one tried to escape, and Poliwrath launched Hypnosis Waves after it.

• Ampharos knocked out the first Tentacruel with Thunder, and Zhang Cheng caught it before two more Tentacruel attacked.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Ampharos, Poliwrath, Pidgeot, and Swampert and focused their attacks on one of the two Tentacruel.
• The Tentacruel poisoned Poliwrath with Poison Jab, but the combined attacks weakened it and Swampert knocked it out with Mud Bomb.
• Zhang Cheng caught the defeated Tentacruel in a Poké Ball.
• The remaining Tentacruel tried to flee underwater, so Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to use Hypnosis and Poliwrath sent Hypnosis Waves after it.

Zhang Cheng captured the third Tentacruel, completed his platinum-rank mission, and collected the five hundred thousand Pokémon Coin reward. The next morning, he began training at Jade River and faced a level 37 Whiscash, ending the chapter by ordering Swampert to use Toxic.

• Zhang Cheng's Pidgeot, Swampert, and Ampharos defeated Tentacruel, and he captured the third one.
• Zhang Cheng took the injured, poisoned Poliwrath to the Pokémon Treatment Center before turning in the mission at the Pokémon Mission Hall.
• The staff member confirmed the mission and transferred five hundred thousand Pokémon Coins to Zhang Cheng's Emperor Account.
• After Poliwrath recovered, Zhang Cheng returned to the Inn, rested, and set out for Jade River the following morning.
• Zhang Cheng sent Swampert to battle a wild level 37 Whiscash, which ambushed it with Mud Bombs.
• Swampert blocked Whiscash's attack with Protect, and Zhang Cheng ordered it to use Toxic.

Zhang Cheng trained Swampert in a battle against a wild Whiscash, whose Toxic poisoning eventually drained its remaining HP. He continued training his Pokémon along the Jade River for more than a month and planned to pursue Diamond-tier missions once they reached level 40.

• Zhang Cheng ordered Swampert to poison Whiscash with Toxic, then meet its Water Pulse with Waterfall.
• Swampert blocked Whiscash's Aqua Tail with Wide Guard and struck it with Bulldoze, while Whiscash hit back with Thrash.
• Toxic flared up again and drained Whiscash's last HP, defeating it.
• Zhang Cheng continued taking his Pokémon to battle suitable wild opponents, stopping by the lake for lunch.
• Zhang Cheng trained his Pokémon along the Jade River for more than a month and planned to try Diamond-tier missions once they reached level 40.

Zhang Cheng accepted a Diamond-tier mission to eliminate a level 46 Poison Toxicroak near the Jade River and met his two teammates. Zheng Hao discovered that both Zhang Cheng and Yuwen Tian were young Elite Trainers, and the three turned to planning the dangerous mission.

• Zhang Cheng accepted a team mission to eliminate a Poison Toxicroak near the Jade River for a reward of two million Pokémon Coins.
• Zhang Cheng contacted Zheng Hao and Yuwen Tian, and they arranged to meet at the Pokémon Mission Hall.
• Zhang Cheng trained his Pokémon, fed them Pokéblocks, and arrived at the meeting place that afternoon.
• Zheng Hao warned Zhang Cheng and Yuwen Tian that the mission was dangerous, then learned Yuwen Tian had become an Elite Trainer at a young age.
• Zhang Cheng showed his Elite Trainer title and revealed he was Jiangcheng City's college entrance exam top scorer and had chosen Modu University.
• Zhang Cheng redirected the conversation toward the mission, and Zheng Hao expressed confidence in their team's chances.

Zhang Cheng, Yuwen Tian, and Zheng Hao introduced their Pokémon and began training together to prepare for a dangerous battle against a high-level Toxicroak. Zhang Cheng inspected Zheng Hao’s Muk and Slowbro, identifying Slowbro as their strongest option against Toxicroak.

• Yuwen Tian and Zheng Hao described their main Pokémon and levels, then Zhang Cheng revealed that his Poliwrath, Pidgeot, and Swampert were all level 40.
• Zhang Cheng suggested training their Pokémon together, and the three Trainers went to a clearing near Jade Town.
• Zhang Cheng used his Detection System to inspect Zheng Hao’s level 41 Muk and saw his Poison-type moves, Black Sludge, and Toxic and Protect techniques.
• Zhang Cheng inspected Zheng Hao’s level 39 Slowbro and recognized her Psychic-type moves as especially effective against Toxicroak.

Zhang Cheng, Zheng Hao, and Yuwen Tian trained their Pokémon together and planned their approach before setting out to find Toxicroak near the Jade River. They found the level 46 Toxicroak in the middle reaches, where he prepared to fight.

• Zhang Cheng told Zheng Hao that Slowbro had learned Psychic, and the three Trainers assigned their Pokémon roles for the battle against Toxicroak.
• Zhang Cheng, Zheng Hao, and Yuwen Tian trained their Pokémon together, then agreed to meet at noon the next day and search near the Jade River.
• Zhang Cheng fed his Pokémon, checked Diancie's increasingly active egg, and slept in before meeting Zheng Hao and Yuwen Tian at the Pokémon Mission Hall.
• The three Trainers searched the lower reaches of the Jade River without finding Toxicroak, then moved on to the middle reaches.
• Honchkrow spotted Toxicroak sunning himself on a rock, and Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to confirm his level and other stats before Toxicroak readied himself for battle.