Xiao Wu only wanted to end the fight quickly now. Her first soul ring lit up instantly.
"First soul skill, Waist Bow!"
Her body's flexibility instantly increased by 50%.
She stepped back to gather strength, then launched a left front kick at incredible speed.
"So fast!"
Tang San was startled for a moment, then decisively activated Purple Demon Eye.
His feet traced an uncanny pattern as he dodged aside.
Xiao Wu followed with a chain of kicks, relentlessly attacking Tang San.
Tang San moved with effortless grace, constantly using Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to weaken the force of her blows.
At the same time, he picked up pebbles from the ground and shot them at her joints.
"Ow... that hurts! If we're fighting, then fight! Why are you throwing pebbles? Are you a little kid?!"
Xiao Wu rubbed the reddened patches on her knees, grimacing in pain.
Tang San looked as though this were perfectly reasonable.
"This is one of my techniques."
Then he turned his hand, drew up another few pebbles, and fired them at Xiao Wu.
Seeing Xiao Wu being struck, Chen Yang lightly tapped the ground with his toe. A Wind Empress Arcane Formation that only he could see quietly spread out.
The Kun Character represented the earth element, while Earth River Cart could manipulate rocks and soil to attack.
Within the arcane formation, all earth elements fell under his control, including the pebbles Tang San was using as hidden weapons.
Chen Yang's fingertips moved slightly.
The pebbles Tang San had flicked with such precision abruptly veered off course, skimming past Xiao Wu's side without hitting their target.
Tang San's brows knitted tightly at the sight, his heart filled with bewilderment.
He had clearly aimed at her elbow joint just now, controlling both the angle and force with perfect precision. How could he have missed?
Without hesitating, he flicked his fingers repeatedly, sending several pebbles shooting out in succession. Yet every one swerved strangely at the crucial moment, all missing their marks.
Tang San, usually so composed and calm, instantly lost his composure.
"Impossible! This is impossible!"
It was hardly because his resolve was too weak. For someone as skilled in hidden weapon techniques as he was, making mistakes with such basic precision shots was nothing short of a disaster.
It was like a mathematical genius repeatedly getting simple addition and subtraction wrong.
Tang San's eyes instantly reddened as he tried again and again in disbelief.
"Ding! The host has caused the Son of Fortune to question his own strength and suffer a breakdown, plundering a small amount of fortune. Reward: Lucky Egg (multiplies the experience gained by the Pokémon holding it by 1.5)."
Oh ho, an unexpected bonus.
Chen Yang raised an eyebrow.
Xiao Wu still couldn't beat Tang San right now. His Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon alone were enough to keep her from landing a hit.
But the girl seemed to have been frightened by the previous Z-Move, and still hadn't used Cut.
Chen Yang hurriedly called out a reminder.
"Xiao Wu, finish the fight! Use Cut! Otherwise, you'll lose!"
Xiao Wu watched Tang San darting left and right with growing anxiety. Her heart tightened, and she made up her mind.
If it breaks, it breaks! At worst, I'll ask for another two Pokéblocks to patch myself up!!
Following the instructions for releasing the move in her mind, Xiao Wu shouted.
"Cut!"
A burst of white light enveloped her right hand, radiating a razor-sharp aura.
Xiao Wu's heart lurched. Oh no, this time it's my hand that's going to break!!
But the move had already been unleashed, and she couldn't take it back. She decisively swung it at Tang San.
He only felt that this attack was extraordinarily fast.
I can't dodge it! I have to block it head-on!
Mysterious Jade Hand!!
Tang San's hands shone with a white-jade glow as he raised them in front of himself.
Clang!!!
The sound of clashing blades rang out.
Slash-
"Aaaaah!!!"
Agonizing pain swept through Tang San's entire body, and he couldn't help crying out.
The protective energy of Mysterious Jade Hand shattered. A horrifying wound appeared across his palm, its edges clean and smooth, deep enough to expose the bone.
Tang San sank to one knee, trembling faintly. He stiffly held his injured palm open as bright red blood dripped from his fingertips onto the ground.
Meanwhile, Xiao Wu nervously moved the arm she had just used to attack.
"Huh?! I'm fine! Hahaha! Sister Xiao Wu is fine!!!"
Then she saw Tang San kneeling on the ground, howling in pain. Even with her temperament, the sight gave her a fright.
Wow! This new move is that powerful?! Just what you'd expect from me, hehe~~
Xiao Wu made a perfunctory inquiry.
"Hey, Tang San, are you okay?"
Tang San looked up in disbelief. A few words seemed to be written across his face, twisted in agony:
Are you kidding me? Can't you see this huge wound?
Chen Yang, however, turned his attention to the information sent back by the Master Ball.
[Pokémon: Soft-Boned Enchanting Rabbit has reached level 15.] [Beep beep beep beep! Something seems to be happening to Soft-Boned Enchanting Rabbit? Dun, dun, dun, dun~]
Hearing the familiar sound effects, Chen Yang looked curiously at Xiao Wu.
Is she evolving?!
At that moment, dazzling white light enveloped her entire body, leaving only a dark silhouette visible.
The silhouette gradually grew larger. Her figure became tall and voluptuous, with full curves in front and behind, before changing back into Xiao Wu's childlike form.
Then she began rapidly shifting back and forth between the two forms.
Nearby, Tang San forgot even the pain in his hand, staring at the scene before him in utter shock.
[Buzz~ It seems... the evolution failed... Soft-Boned Enchanting Rabbit remained unchanged.]
The light of evolution faded, and Xiao Wu looked at Chen Yang in bewilderment.
Tsk... it failed after all...
Was it because of a bug inherent to Xiao Wu, or did she need a specific item to evolve?
Chen Yang frowned. If it was the former, there was nothing he could do. If it was the latter, that meant Xiao Wu had great potential and would gain some special abilities after evolving.
"What was that just now?"
Tang San stood up and asked, fighting through the pain.
"Bleh, bleh, bleh! I'm not telling you."
Xiao Wu tossed her head and ran over to Chen Yang, chattering away about something.
Tang San pressed his lips together and instinctively tried to clench his fist in displeasure. But the moment he exerted any force, the pain made him bare his teeth, and he could no longer maintain his calm expression.
"Hiss... ow, ow, ow, ow..."
After lowering his voice and briefly explaining the basics of evolution to Xiao Wu, Chen Yang walked over to Tang San.
"What you saw just now was my soul skill, an illusion. I thought I'd distract you so it wouldn't hurt so much. If you don't believe me, look."
Chen Yang's first soul ring pulsed, but inwardly he silently called out.
Wind Empress Arcane Art, Heaven Character: Illusion Technique-Hundred Flowers in Chaos!
In an instant, multiple images of Chen Yang split away from his real body, surrounding Tang San in overlapping layers.
Startled and suspicious, Tang San raised his arm to tentatively touch one of the phantom images, only for his hand to pass straight through.
He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
If he called Chen Yang kindhearted, using this illusion to distract him was hardly as useful as simply calling the school doctor.
If he called Chen Yang unkind, the boy had at least thought to distract him from the pain.
"You... thank you... but the illusion isn't helping. I'd better go see the school doctor... Also, you were right. Fighting really can increase soul power."
Tang San glanced at Xiao Wu, who had suddenly gained a level after fighting him, then turned and walked toward the school infirmary with an indescribably complicated mix of emotions.
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