Recaps

Ye Qing found a level 40 Dusknoir in an alley on East Mountain Street and suspected the entrance to the Spirit World was becoming unstable, so he warned his family to avoid the area. After training his Pokémon and celebrating with his family, he left home to begin his journey to Jushi City.

• Ye Qing entered the alley with Milotic, Ralts, and Monferno, and Ralts exposed a hidden Dusknoir with Confusion.
• Dusknoir pointed Ye Qing and his Pokémon out of the alley, and Ye Qing reported the Ghost-type Pokémon to the Public Security Bureau.
• Ye Qing returned home, worried that the Spirit World entrance near Shanhai City was loosening, and ordered Ralts, Psyduck, and Monferno to train under Milotic's supervision.
• Ye Menghan welcomed Ye Qing home the next morning and showed him a red Pokéblock she had nearly learned to make.
• Ye Qing warned his mother to keep the family away from East Mountain Street, then spent the next few days at home as Ralts trained to level fourteen and Monferno reached level twenty-six.
• Ye Qing left home before dawn on the third day and set out for Jushi City.

Ye Qing and his Pokémon encountered an injured Seviper in Jinxi Forest, and Ralts faced her first real battle. The fight left Monferno and Seviper falling through the air, with Seviper biting Monferno’s arm as he punched her.

• Ye Qing entered Jinxi Forest with Monferno and Ralts, asking Ralts to stay alert during her training trip.
• Ralts detected an injured level-thirty Seviper hiding in the bushes, and Ye Qing ordered Monferno to attack while Ralts supported him.
• Ralts restrained Seviper with Confusion, but Seviper broke free and struck Monferno with Aqua Tail before lunging at Ralts.
• Ralts froze when Seviper charged, but Monferno interrupted Seviper’s Poison Fang and Ye Qing urged Ralts to use Teleport.
• Seviper constricted Monferno, so Ralts teleported them into the air; as they fell, Monferno punched Seviper with Fire Punch while Seviper bit his arm.

Ye Qing and his Pokémon survived Seviper’s attack, but a Zangoose appeared and killed Seviper before retreating with her prey. After healing and resting, the group continued through Jinxi Forest, where Monferno’s tossed bottle struck something in the bushes.

• Ralts stopped Seviper’s Poison Tail from hitting Monferno, and the battle’s pressure raised Ralts to level 17.
• A level 35 Zangoose killed the weakened Seviper, sized up Ye Qing’s team, and withdrew with Seviper’s body.
• Ye Qing treated Monferno and Ralts with healing spray, then hurried onward with his Pokémon.
• Ye Qing checked the map during a rest in a clearing and saw that the group had crossed only a quarter of Jinxi Forest.
• Monferno tossed an empty milk bottle into the bushes, and a sharp clunk sounded as it hit something.

Ye Qing and his Pokémon traveled deeper into the primeval forest, driving off wild Pokémon and avoiding a large bear Pokémon’s tracks. As rain and fierce winds approached, they camped between three trees and ate by the firelight.

• Mankey confronted Monferno after Monferno threw a milk bottle, then accepted Ye Qing’s Pokéblock and backed off.
• Ye Qing rewarded Ralts with an intermediate Pokéblock for helping Monferno, then continued through the forest with Ralts and Monferno.
• Monferno defeated a Raticate that jumped out at Ye Qing.
• Ye Qing found an enormous footprint near a small mountain, suspected a dangerous bear Pokémon was nearby, and asked Ralts to monitor their surroundings with her psychic power.
• Ye Qing chose a campsite between three trees, pitched a tent, and fed his Pokémon as fierce winds rose before the expected rain.

Ye Qing left his tent with Ralts and Monferno to investigate angry roars and found a group of Onix attacking an Aggron near a Totem Steelix. He watched from behind a rock as the battle continued, unable to see why Aggron refused to move.

• Ye Qing woke to distant roars during the storm and asked Ralts to teleport him and Monferno outside to investigate.
• Ye Qing spotted wild Pokémon gathering around the area and decided to approach the disturbance with Ralts and Monferno.
• Ralts teleported Ye Qing toward a rocky field while Monferno caught up by leaping through the trees.
• Ye Qing saw a Totem Steelix and a young Onix nearby as five larger Onix attacked an Aggron.
• Ye Qing noticed that Aggron stubbornly held his position despite the attacks, but darkness kept him from seeing the reason.

Ye Qing discovered that a level 50 Steelix was leading Onix in an attack on Aggron and her young Aron, and he decided to intervene despite the danger. Aron evolved into Lairon while defending his mother, but his potential fell to C+; Ye Qing and his Pokémon entered the battle to help them.

• Steelix ordered the Onix to seize Aron so it could force Aggron to surrender the Metal Coat.
• An Onix caught Aron, but he evolved into Lairon and broke free, driving back the Pokémon holding Aggron down.
• After seeing Lairon repeatedly rise and fight despite his injuries, Ye Qing decided to rescue him and recruit him despite his reduced potential.
• Ye Qing arrived with Milotic, Ralts, and Monferno, and they attacked the Onix and began treating Aggron.
• Steelix attacked Milotic with Dragon Breath while Monferno and Ralts fought to protect Lairon and Aggron.

Ye Qing and his Pokémon fought Steelix and the Onix while Aggron struggled to hold Steelix back. Ye Qing threatened Steelix’s child to secure a chance to leave, then prepared to escape with his Pokémon by air.

• Aggron knocked Onix unconscious, then Ralts teleported her beside Steelix and let her land a powerful Head Smash.
• Ye Qing saw Aggron tiring and had Ralts teleport him and Milotic behind Steelix, where Milotic threatened his timid child.
• Steelix’s remaining Onix stopped attacking after Ye Qing threatened the child, and Steelix agreed to let them go.
• Steelix used healing medicine to revive Aggron, who reunited with Lairon, while Ye Qing recalled Monferno.
• Ye Qing planned to leave with Milotic through the sky, but he was unsure whether she could carry Aggron.

Ye Qing escaped Steelix with Milotic, Aggron, Lairon, Ralts, and Monferno, then sheltered the group and treated their injuries. Aggron accepted Ye Qing’s offer to take Lairon traveling, and Lairon woke with hidden injuries still needing treatment.

• Ye Qing used Milotic’s Twister and Aggron’s Autotomize to flee with the group, while Ralts’s Teleport let them evade Steelix’s rock attack.
• Steelix stopped pursuing them after securing the Metal Coat, and Ye Qing’s group traveled several kilometers before landing in a forest.
• Aggron made a rocky shelter, and Ye Qing treated Aggron and Lairon while Milotic kept watch and Monferno provided warmth and light.
• Ye Qing told Aggron he wanted to take Lairon traveling and promised to help him grow stronger, and Aggron agreed to entrust her child to him.
• Lairon woke and heard their conversation; Ye Qing found that his hidden injuries would require gradual recovery and specialized Pokémon Center equipment.

Ye Qing secured Aggron’s approval for Lairon to join him, and Lairon chose to grow stronger by accepting his challenge. After everyone rested through the storm, Ye Qing woke and prepared to battle Lairon.

• Aggron approved of Ye Qing and agreed to let Lairon travel with him.
• Lairon decided to grow strong enough to protect his family and challenged Ye Qing, who agreed to battle him the next day.
• At Wang Yao’s villa, Gyarados brought Gardevoir roses, but she crushed them and slammed him to the floor; Jynx comforted him.
• Ye Mom stayed awake in Villa No. 6, worrying about her son and looking at the money he had left her.
• After the storm passed, Aggron took over the watch while Milotic rested, and Ye Qing later recalled Milotic to her Poké Ball.
• Ye Qing found Lairon ready outside the cave and asked whether he was prepared for the challenge.

Ye Qing battled and caught Aggron's Lairon, then arranged for Aggron to visit his home so she could stay near her child. Aggron left Lairon with Ye Qing and agreed to meet at the border of Shanhai City and Jinxi Forest in three days.

• Monferno defeated Lairon in a friendly battle using moves including Flamethrower, Mach Punch, and Feint.
• Ye Qing caught Lairon with a Great Ball and released him, and Lairon chose to follow Ye Qing to grow stronger.
• Ye Qing invited Aggron to stay at his home so she could see Lairon, but Aggron initially refused to leave the forest.
• Lairon persuaded Aggron to visit Ye Qing's home, and she agreed to meet at the border of Shanhai City and Jinxi Forest in three days.
• Aggron departed after saying goodbye to Lairon, and Ye Qing called out to her just as she was about to disappear from sight.

Ye Qing stopped in Jinxi Forest to train his Pokémon before continuing toward Jushi City, where he planned to challenge the Rock-type Gym. After lunch, he assigned Monferno, Ralts, and Lairon training tasks while Milotic kept watch.

• Ye Qing gave Aggron healing spray, then led his group toward Jushi City and recalled Lairon when he could not keep up.
• Ye Qing found a quiet stream in Jinxi Forest and brought out Milotic and Lairon to rest with the others.
• Ye Qing announced that the group would train there for a day before resuming their journey to meet Aggron.
• Lairon learned from Monferno about Ye Qing's kindness and grew more impressed with his Trainer.
• Ye Qing assigned Monferno to practice Flamethrower Counter Shield and Focus Punch, Ralts to push stream water upstream with Confusion, and Lairon to work on his existing moves while Milotic kept watch.

Ye Qing put his Pokémon through strenuous special training by the stream, then faced a territorial Pangoro gang that challenged his group. Monferno fought Pangoro while Ye Qing let him battle independently, and the outcome remained undecided.

• Ye Qing trained Lairon to charge fearlessly into the stream, while Monferno practiced Focus Punch and Ralts pushed against a Confusion wall in the current.
• Ye Qing ended training at sunset, treated Monferno's swollen fists, and praised the exhausted Pokémon.
• Ralts noticed a group of Pokémon emerging from the forest, led by Pangoro, who demanded that Ye Qing and his Pokémon leave by jumping into the stream.
• Monferno stepped forward to challenge Pangoro, and Ye Qing instructed him to use Quick Guard as Pangoro attacked with Arm Thrust.
• Monferno countered with Mach Punch and Flame Wheel, clashing with Pangoro's Bullet Punch and Karate Chop as Ye Qing watched without directing his moves.

Monferno defeated Pangoro with Focus Punch and reached level 28, while Ralts and Lairon drove off Pangoro’s underlings. As Ye Qing searched for a place to spend the night, he discovered a Pokémon Hunter operation and suspected it might lead him to the Pokémon Hunter who had killed Ralts’s family.

• Monferno exploited Pangoro’s weak lower body, then used Focus Punch to knock him down and break through to level 28.
• Scraggy, Pancham, Nidorino, and the other underlings charged at Ye Qing’s Pokémon, but Ralts and Lairon quickly sent them sprawling.
• Ye Qing recalled Lairon, Milotic, and Monferno before continuing through the dark forest with Ralts on his shoulder.
• Ralts warned Ye Qing of machinery ahead, and he crept through the vines to find a clearing with a transport plane bearing a J-shaped emblem and a cage full of Pokémon.
• Ye Qing recognized the operation as the work of Pokémon Hunters and connected it to his search for the hunter who had killed Ralts’s family.

Ye Qing and Ralts intervened when Pokémon Hunters captured wild Pokémon, rescuing the caged Pokémon and joining a silver-haired Trainer’s fight against the poachers. The battle continued as Milotic clashed with a level 37 Skarmory in the rain.

• Ye Qing and Ralts watched three Pokémon Hunters capture wild Pokémon, but a silver-haired boy appeared and challenged the criminals.
• The boy summoned Snorlax, whose Earthquake devastated the area and left the Hunters’ Houndoom badly injured.
• While the Hunters attacked the boy, Ye Qing and Ralts teleported the caged Pokémon to safety, though the effort exhausted Ralts.
• Ye Qing sent Milotic, Monferno, and Lairon to help the silver-haired boy, while one Hunter rode Skarmory to attack him.
• Milotic used Rain Dance and fought Skarmory, knocking him back with Aqua Tail before their Hydro Pump and Swift attacks collided.

Ye Qing and Zhao Ling defeated Pokémon Hunters who had been capturing Pokémon, then Zhao Ling took charge of the transport plane while Ye Qing left to rest with his Pokémon. The next morning, Ye Qing woke to find Lairon still sleeping and Monferno exhausted from a sleepless night.

• Ye Qing and Milotic defeated Skarmory and Houndoom, while Dusclops helped disable Skarmory.
• Ye Qing and Zhao Ling stopped the fleeing Pokémon Hunters, but one man was engulfed by Monferno’s Flamethrower as Ralts restrained Fearow.
• The rescued Pokémon thanked Ye Qing and Zhao Ling, who gave his name as Zhao Ling and warned Ye Qing that cameras on the transport plane had likely recorded him.
• Zhao Ling stayed behind to handle the transport plane, while Ye Qing left and camped with his Pokémon.
• Ye Qing woke the next morning to find Monferno tired and Lairon still fast asleep.

Ye Qing learned that Lairon’s potential had been overdrawn and that he needed rare metals, ores, and Advanced Pokéblocks to recover. He considered trading information about Legendary Pokémon to obtain supplies and asked his grandfather to negotiate with researchers on his behalf.

• Ye Qing left Jinxi Forest with Ralts and asked Wang Yao to collect Aggron and take her to his house.
• At the Pokémon Center, Ye Qing had Lairon examined and learned that Lairon’s foundation was unstable from overdrawn potential.
• Ye Qing considered obtaining Advanced Pokéblocks by sharing information about the ice dragon and the DNA Splicers, and thought about asking the Clefairy on Black Rock Mountain for meteorite.
• Ye Qing called his grandfather to find researchers interested in Legendary Pokémon, and his grandfather offered to negotiate after asking what Ye Qing wanted.

After negotiating with the Old Master over a reward for the DNA Splicers, Ye Qing rested and prepared to challenge the Rock-type Gym. A Dragonite delivered him a letter at the Gym entrance, and Ye Qing opened it privately in a restroom stall.

• Ye Qing asked the Old Master for five years of Advanced Pokéblocks tailored to six Pokémon, and the Old Master agreed to put the request to the higher-ups.
• Ye Qing checked the Rock-type Gym’s roster and decided to give his other Pokémon a chance to train instead of relying on Milotic.
• Monferno watched a movie about Lucario all night and pleaded with Ye Qing afterward, but Ye Qing refused his proposal because Monferno could not write.
• Ye Qing headed to the Rock-type Gym, where a Dragonite identified him from a photograph and delivered him a letter.
• Ye Qing went into an empty restroom stall and opened the letter away from the watching crowd.

Ye Qing received an invitation to a party on New Island, then challenged the Rock-type Gym, where acting Gym Leader Zhang Jialei sent out Rhyhorn. Monferno agreed to battle after Ye Qing promised to consider his request if he defeated all three Pokémon, and the match began with both sides attacking.

• Ye Qing opened a projected invitation asking young Trainers to attend Mewtwo’s party on New Island in two months.
• Ye Qing arrived at the Rock-type Gym and learned that Zhang Jialei was serving as acting Gym Leader while the regular Leader dug for rocks.
• The referee confirmed Ye Qing was a novice Trainer, and Zhang Jialei chose his level 32 Rhyhorn as his first Pokémon.
• Monferno initially refused to fight, but Ye Qing promised to consider his request if he swept all three opponents, prompting Monferno to prepare for battle.
• Monferno used Fake Out and Double Team to evade Rhyhorn’s Drill Run, then Ye Qing ordered Flamethrower as Rhyhorn began Bulldoze.

Ye Qing’s Monferno defeated Zhang Jialei’s Rhyhorn and battled his Golem, using Encore to interrupt Rollout before landing a powerful Low Kick. The fight remained unresolved as Ye Qing tried to help Monferno master Focus Punch, while Zhang Jialei chose to battle fairly as a Gym Leader.

• Monferno dodged Rhyhorn’s Drill Run and defeated him with Low Kick and Mach Punch.
• Zhang Jialei sent out his Level 35 Golem, and Monferno blocked its Mega Punch with Quick Guard before being knocked back by the blow’s force.
• Monferno’s Focus Punch failed to activate, and Golem struck him with Mega Punch and used Defense Curl.
• Ye Qing used Encore to force Golem to repeat Defense Curl, preventing Rollout from activating.
• Monferno knocked Golem down with Low Kick, and Ye Qing ordered another Focus Punch attempt.
• Zhang Jialei realized Monferno had not mastered Focus Punch, but continued the battle fairly rather than using Double Team to disrupt him.

Ye Qing’s Monferno endured Golem’s Self-Destruct and won the Gym battle, after which Zhang Jialei offered a harder challenge with his partner Solrock. Solrock overwhelmed Monferno, and Ye Qing sent out his other Pokémon as Monferno struggled to keep fighting.

• Zhang Jialei ordered Golem to use Self-Destruct, and Monferno protected itself behind Protect while the blast devastated the Rock Terrain.
• The referee declared Golem unable to battle, and Zhang Jialei invited Ye Qing to face a harder challenge.
• Zhang Jialei sent out his level 36 partner Solrock, and Ye Qing realized Jushi City’s meteorites might be what he had been searching for.
• Ye Qing let Monferno battle independently, but Solrock detected the real Monferno among its Double Team copies and struck it with Psychic.
• Monferno charged with Flame Wheel, but Solrock’s Flare Blitz overpowered it and sent it crashing into a rock.
• Ye Qing sent out his other three Pokémon as Monferno panted from the impact.

Ye Qing’s Monferno defeated Zhang Jialei’s Solrock after activating Blaze and unleashing a powerful counterattack, earning Ye Qing his first Boulder Badge. Zhang Gang then welcomed Ye Qing to Jushi City and hinted that influential people were watching him, while Ye Qing later opened the Badge box at his hotel.

• Monferno broke through Solrock’s Confusion defenses, awakened Blaze, and overwhelmed Solrock with a series of attacks.
• The referee declared Monferno the winner, and Ye Qing caught him as he collapsed before accepting the Boulder Badge from Zhang Jialei.
• Zhang Gang entered the battle hall, praised Zhang Jialei, and told Ye Qing that higher-ups were paying close attention to him.
• Ye Qing took Monferno to a Pokémon Center for treatment, then opened the Badge box at the hotel and saw a metal Badge shaped like a brown mountain.

Ye Qing tested a badge that carried a Legendary Pokémon’s aura, then met Professor Qian to exchange information about the Tao Trio for Pokéblocks and Meteoric Iron. After Professor Qian left, Ye Qing decided to explore Jushi City’s unusual stones and fossils before heading to the next Gym.

• Ye Qing showed the badge to his Pokémon, whose reactions confirmed that it carried an oppressive Legendary Pokémon aura.
• Ye Qing spoke with his grandfather and requested three months of Pokéblocks for Lairon, Monferno, and Milotic.
• Professor Qian visited Ye Qing, bringing Pokéblocks and six pieces of Meteoric Iron as a personal gift.
• Ye Qing told Professor Qian more about the Tao Trio, including Kyurem’s Ice- and Dragon-type nature and fierce temperament, but kept the secret of the DNA Splicers to himself.
• Professor Qian told Ye Qing that his graduation paperwork was ready, then left with his notes.
• Ye Qing decided to search Jushi City for unusual stones and fossils before traveling to the next Gym.

Ye Qing took Monferno to the Twin Fossil Mountains and promised to let him catch one Pokémon if he found a fossil containing one. They began searching the crowded mountain, where Pokémon fossils were rare and revivals often failed.

• Ye Qing gave Lairon a golden Pokéblock and a piece of meteoric iron, then recalled him.
• Monferno reminded Ye Qing of his promise to let him catch a Pokémon, and Ye Qing agreed on the condition that Monferno found one himself.
• Ye Qing took Monferno to the taller of the Twin Fossil Mountains, where crowds searched for fossils amid wild Pokémon.
• Ye Qing explained that Monferno could catch a Pokémon if he dug up a fossil containing one, and told him Fossil Pokémon were rare and difficult to revive.

Ye Qing took Monferno to a barren mountain to search for Pokémon fossils, while Wang Yao set out to retrieve Aggron from Jinxi Forest. Wang Yao reached Villa No. 6 with Aggron and a container truck, where Ye Mom opened the gate.

• Ye Qing let Lairon out to help Monferno find fossils, and Lairon tested rocks while Monferno followed him through the afternoon.
• Wang Yao rode Rapidash through Shanhai City, leaped over a Mercedes, and was stopped by a Security Officer who fined him for showing off.
• Wang Yao reached Jinxi Forest and used Rapidash's Flamethrower to summon Aggron, whose Pokédex reading showed level 47.
• Wang Yao arranged a cargo truck for Aggron and rode back to Villa No. 6 with her.
• Ye Mom opened the villa gate and saw Wang Yao, Rapidash, and the container truck outside.

Wang Yao brought Aggron home, while Ye Qing stayed at the mountain as Monferno searched for a fossil and Ralts trained until it neared evolution. The chapter ended when Li Feng and his girlfriend demanded Ye Qing leave their chosen spot, then recognized his Ralts.

• Wang Yao brought Aggron to Ye Qing’s home, where Ye Mom welcomed her and Wang Yao reassured Gardevoir that she was safe.
• Ye Qing told Ye Mom to treat Aggron normally and try to win her over, while Lairon rested after eating too much.
• Ye Qing stayed at the mountain as Monferno and Lairon continued digging, and Ralts reached level nineteen after practicing Calm Mind.
• Ye Qing sent Ralts to deliver a Pokéblock to Monferno, but Ralts sensed hostile feelings from a man and a woman approaching with Prinplup.
• Li Feng demanded that Ye Qing give up the spot for his girlfriend, then his girlfriend noticed Ralts and Li Feng realized its Trainer might not be ordinary.