Recaps

Cheng Tian discovered that Noibat felt anxious about lagging behind the rest of the team and sought advice on helping it progress. Long Weixi suggested battling Dragon-type Pokémon to stimulate Noibat’s growth, but her warning against challenging Deino or its evolutions came too late.

• Cheng Tian discussed the possibility of helping Noibat evolve during battle with Rotom.
• Cheng Tian comforted Noibat after realizing it felt weak and worried that its teammates had surpassed it, while Su Han and Gengar encouraged it too.
• Cheng Tian decided to revise his training plans and ask Long Weixi for advice.
• Long Weixi told Cheng Tian that battling stronger Dragon-type Pokémon could help Noibat improve faster and awaken its battle instincts.
• Long Weixi warned Cheng Tian not to let Noibat challenge Deino or its evolutions, but Cheng Tian had already hung up.

After leaving their volunteer teaching posts, Cheng Tian and Su Han received He Xisong’s approval to travel for a year and began their journey at Tongtian Gorge. They slipped into a closed-off, undeveloped area to search for ancient cliff murals, and Su Han heard running water nearby.

• Cheng Tian and Su Han said farewell to their students and received He Xisong’s permission to take a year away from school if Cheng Tian continued to grow.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han set off for Tongtian Gorge with Togekiss, Gengar, Noibat, and Rotom, hoping to investigate ancient murals linked to Legendary Pokémon.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han entered the scenic area and used Gengar’s concealment to pass beyond a barrier into the prohibited undeveloped section.
• After they emerged from the hidden route, Su Han heard running water nearby and suggested they look for a river.

Cheng Tian and Su Han camped in Tongtian Gorge, where their Pokémon enjoyed the scenery, fished, and shared lunch. After Aggron knocked two Graveler back up the cliff, Cheng Tian and Su Han went to nap, while Aggron sensed that something had been watching them.

• Cheng Tian and Su Han set up camp in Tongtian Gorge and let their Pokémon roam while Greninja fished with Ditto as its rod.
• Greninja caught a Milotic, then later hooked a Psyduck, which Cheng Tian fed before it wandered away.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han prepared lunch with help from their Pokémon, but two Graveler rolled down the mountainside toward them.
• Cheng Tian sent Aggron to punch the Graveler back up the cliff, then told the Pokémon to keep watch before taking a nap with Su Han.
• Aggron kept staring at the cliff and sensed that something had been there, though it had disappeared.

Cheng Tian and Su Han were confronted by a group of Scyther led by an unusually skilled fighter, and Cheng Tian’s Pokémon launched an attack to break through them. A mysterious deerlike Pokémon emerged and struck Aggron, leaving Cheng Tian shocked by its identity.

• Cheng Tian and Su Han noticed they were being followed and were attacked by a Scyther in the bushes.
• More Scyther appeared, and their leader challenged Cheng Tian’s group to stop them from crossing the forest.
• Greninja fought the leader but found its swordsmanship unnaturally refined, prompting Cheng Tian to suspect someone was directing the Scyther.
• Cheng Tian ordered his Pokémon to attack the Scyther swarm while he and Su Han took cover on Togekiss.
• A deerlike Pokémon appeared and struck Aggron with a Fighting-type move, and Cheng Tian recognized it with surprise.

Cheng Tian discovered that the Pokémon guarding the route was Virizion, a level 55 Legendary Pokémon who hated humans. He tried to leave without fighting, but Virizion’s insults enraged Greninja, which punched her and threatened to kill her.

• Cheng Tian identified the mysterious Pokémon as Virizion, who warned the group to leave or face her Sacred Sword.
• Virizion accused Cheng Tian’s Pokémon of being deluded for obeying a human, provoking them to defend him.
• Cheng Tian chose to take another route and led his group away rather than fight Virizion.
• Virizion insulted humans again, causing Greninja to stop and confront her.
• Greninja punched Virizion and warned her to stop speaking or be beaten to death.

Greninja’s attack on Virizion sparked a battle between Cheng Tian and Su Han’s Pokémon and Virizion’s Scyther. The fight escalated into a direct clash with Virizion, which wounded Greninja and revealed a precise technique for piercing Protect.

• Greninja punched Virizion after taking offense at its insults, and Cheng Tian’s Pokémon fought back against the Scyther with coordinated attacks.
• Virizion attacked Greninja, but Su Han pulled Cheng Tian out of the way and joined the battle with her Pokémon.
• Cheng Tian ordered Greninja to use Steam Mode and Liquidation against Virizion, while Gengar and Togekiss also struck it.
• Virizion used Sacred Sword and then pierced Greninja’s Protect with Leaf Blade, leaving Greninja wounded and forcing it to retreat.
• Greninja and Cheng Tian realized Virizion’s precise attacks could break Protect through finesse rather than brute force, and suspected Virizion had taught the Scyther the technique.

Cheng Tian and Greninja used their Bond Phenomenon to fight Virizion, with Su Han and their Pokémon helping them defeat and capture it. After Virizion woke while its injuries were being treated, Cheng Tian offered to release it if it promised to do one thing for him.

• Cheng Tian and Greninja awakened the Bond Phenomenon, sharing pain and matching auras as Greninja challenged Virizion with a water katana.
• Greninja used its speed and relentless strikes to pressure Virizion, but Virizion landed Close Combat and pushed Greninja back.
• Su Han sent Tinkaton at Virizion, then changed its attack to Ice Hammer to avoid hitting Greninja.
• Greninja wounded Virizion, and Gengar used Hypnosis to make it collapse so Cheng Tian could catch it in a Great Ball.
• Virizion woke under Milotic's care and realized Cheng Tian had captured it, then cried in humiliation.
• Cheng Tian told Virizion he would let it go if it promised to help him do one thing.

Su Han and Cheng Tian persuaded Virizion to guide them to a mural, and she led them through the gorge while telling Su Han about the Great Calamity. They cleared a boulder and uncovered a large black slab covered in inscriptions and patterns.

• Su Han swore by Aura to free Virizion after she guided them, and Virizion agreed to help.
• Virizion led the group through the forest and told Su Han that humans had destroyed her former home and that the Great Calamity arose from revenge and resentment.
• Virizion cut through a boulder with Sacred Sword, and Aggron pushed the remaining rock aside.
• The group uncovered a large black slab covered in inscriptions and patterns.

Bai Yun helped a new student named Moufan carry his luggage and talked with him about writing novels and persevering through setbacks. The chapter ended with Moufan's birthday note announcing an upcoming Bilibili livestream and thanking readers for supporting his writing.

• Bai Yun and Lin Lin discussed A-Tian traveling with his girlfriend and planned a weekend date while Bai Yun helped with student enrollment.
• Bai Yun redirected a shy new student to other upperclassmen, then offered to carry Moufan's luggage to his dorm.
• Bai Yun learned Moufan had written over a million Chinese characters of fanfiction and discussed the challenges and rewards of writing with him.
• Moufan told Bai Yun that he would keep writing as long as life had not beaten him down, and Bai Yun encouraged him.
• Moufan explained that he had started writing out of interest, marked his birthday and nearly one year of writing, and announced a Bilibili livestream for October 21.

Su Han and Cheng Tian found a surviving mural about Ho-Oh and the Super-Ancient Civilization, and Virizion shared its history and pointed them toward an island with its apprentice and an abandoned temple. After Cheng Tian freed Virizion, Su Han chose to head toward the sea.

• Su Han and Cheng Tian examined the sole surviving mural, and Virizion explained how Ho-Oh ended an ancient war before destroying a nation that broke their covenant.
• Virizion told Su Han that it was a relatively young Mythical Pokémon and explained how Divine Authority allowed Legendary Pokémon to be reborn after death.
• Aggron dug up the remaining mural fragments, but they held no useful information about Giratina, so Cheng Tian destroyed Virizion’s Great Ball and freed it.
• Virizion told Su Han to head south to a remote island where its apprentice trained near an abandoned temple.
• Cheng Tian named the newly discovered Pokémon Virizion for Rotom’s Pokédex, and Su Han directed the group toward the sea.

Cheng Tian and Su Han arrived in Nanhe Province for the Harvest Festival, but Rotom was accidentally carried off in a delivery truck while they shopped for Pokéblocks. They tracked Rotom to a small town and entered a family’s courtyard, where they heard Rotom calling from inside the house.

• Cheng Tian and Su Han decided to spend a day in Nanhe Province for the Harvest Festival and went to buy Pokéblocks.
• Uncle Miao delivered boxes of Pokéblocks to the shop, and Rotom followed him outside after spotting his dropped towel.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han discovered Rotom trapped in the back of a speeding truck and followed its location signal by taxi.
• After three hours of pursuit, Cheng Tian and Su Han reached a courtyard where a little boy said his father had found the noisy robot in the truck.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han entered the courtyard, where a Lillipup barked at them and Rotom’s cries came from inside the house.

Cheng Tian and Su Han met the Miao family and learned about Old Mr. Miao’s Pokémon Flute tradition. Xiaomiaozi revealed that he had composed a lonely tune in memory of the Magikarp who saved him, and Cheng Tian reassured him that they might meet again.

• Cheng Tian and Su Han rescued Rotom from Old Mr. Miao, who had mistaken him for a machine to dismantle.
• Uncle Miao left to make a delivery while Old Mr. Miao played the Pokémon Flute for Cheng Tian and Su Han.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han went upstairs and found Xiaomiaozi playing a sad tune he had composed himself.
• Xiaomiaozi told Cheng Tian and Su Han that Magikarp had carried him to safety during a flood two years earlier and then disappeared.
• Cheng Tian told Xiaomiaozi that people determined to see each other could meet again someday.

At the harvest celebration, Cheng Tian and Su Han joined the Snorlax-feeding event, where a Figy Berry sent the largest Snorlax into a confused frenzy. As the panic spread through the Plaza, Cheng Tian and Su Han prepared to battle while the enormous Magikarp watched from the pool.

• Cheng Tian noticed a lonely, unusually large level 29 Magikarp and left it a Pokéblock.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han browsed the celebration and bought souvenirs before joining the Snorlax-feeding event.
• Uncle Miao warned Cheng Tian and Su Han that the central Snorlax disliked spicy food.
• A chubby man threw his daughter’s Figy Berry into Snorlax’s mouth, causing the Pokémon to rampage and triggering a panic among the crowd and other Pokémon.
• Cheng Tian sent out Aggron and Su Han sent out Togekiss, while Cheng Tian told Uncle Miao to restore order.
• The enormous Magikarp swam up to the glass to watch the chaos.

Confused Snorlax rampaged through the harvest festival until Cheng Tian, Su Han, and the security staff subdued them. Xiaomiaozi played his Pokémon Flute to calm the last Snorlax, and his missing Magikarp evolved into Gyarados and saved him, reuniting with him at last.

• Cheng Tian and Su Han split up to help subdue the rampaging Snorlax, and the other trainers and security personnel stopped the rest without anyone being injured.
• Xiaomiaozi asked to use his Pokémon Flute to calm the largest Snorlax, and Uncle Miao reluctantly let him try.
• As Xiaomiaozi played a song about missing Magikarp, Snorlax appeared to fall asleep, but it suddenly woke and charged at him with Rollout.
• Magikarp leaped out of the pool, evolved into Gyarados, and struck Snorlax down before Aggron pinned it again.
• Xiaomiaozi tearfully greeted Gyarados after they finally met again.

Bai Yun committed to pursuing the vacant Fighting-type Elite Four position, and Shi Shen set him a two-year deadline to reach Elite Four level. Meanwhile, Lin Lin chose to take leave from school to stay with Bai Yun, while Su Mulin returned to search the Chuyi Ruins for evidence that Qianqian was alive.

• Su Han rested against Cheng Tian as they watched Xiaomiaozi and Gyarados, and Cheng Tian reassured her that people determined to meet would meet again.
• Bai Yun told Shi Shen he planned to compete for the Fighting-type Elite Four seat, and Shi Shen challenged him to raise two main Pokémon to level 55 within two years.
• Bai Yun declared that he would become the next Fighting-type Elite Four member, and Shi Shen told him to prepare for secluded training.
• Bai Yun told Lin Lin he might take time off school, and she revealed that she had already applied for leave so she could accompany him.
• Su Mulin told Mayor Huang he intended to search the Chuyi Ruins for traces of Qianqian, and Mayor Huang warned him the search would require approval from higher-ups.

Su Han and Cheng Tian explored a remote temple dedicated to Raikou and translated its surviving legend about Ho-Oh and the three Auspicious Beasts. As they left, they discovered a powerful Flapple disguised as an apple, and Cheng Tian prepared to catch it for Coach Long.

• Su Han and Cheng Tian followed directions to a remote temple dedicated to Raikou in China's North Lake region.
• Greninja, Florges, Togekiss, and Noibat helped them search through the mountains and locate the overgrown temple.
• Su Han translated the temple wall's script, which described Raikou as Ho-Oh's emissary and said the three Auspicious Beasts would appear with a rainbow before those with just, grateful, and compassionate hearts.
• As the group left the temple, Noibat noticed an oddly colored apple hanging from a tree.
• Cheng Tian recognized the apple as a level 37 Flapple disguised in the tree and told Noibat to knock it down, planning to catch it for Coach Long.

After learning of a rumored Legendary Pokémon near Shennongjia, Cheng Tian and Su Han traveled into the rainy mountains to investigate. They stopped for the night near a vast cyclone, while two powerful figures fought inside the storm above them.

• Long Weixi told Cheng Tian and Su Han that a Legendary Pokémon was rumored to live near Shennongjia, possibly a huge bird.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han heard reports of months of rain near Shennongjia and decided to investigate.
• The pair bypassed a checkpoint with Togekiss and continued up the mountain on Aggron through the rain.
• Su Han pointed out a massive gray-black cyclone above a distant mountaintop as they approached their destination.
• As night fell, Su Han had Kirlia use Secret Power to create shelter for them.
• Two figures clashed amid fierce winds, rain, and lightning inside the storm clouds over Shennongjia.

Tornadus endured a month of fighting with a young Zapdos whose powerful father kept it from retaliating. It tricked Zapdos into leaving, then rested on Shennong Mountain as the rain finally stopped.

• Tornadus fought Zapdos through storms over Shennong Mountain, holding back because Zapdos had a powerful father.
• Zapdos struck Tornadus with a charged Thunder and believed it had defeated it, then flew away.
• Tornadus re-formed on the mountaintop and realized its injuries would keep it from ending the storm at once.
• Tornadus summoned clouds to hide and recover as the dark clouds dispersed and the month-long rain stopped.

Cheng Tian and Su Han found Tornadus hiding inside a vast bank of clouds on Shennong Mountain. Tornadus tried to scare them, but Cheng Tian approached without fear and praised its kind nature, leaving the Legendary Pokémon unexpectedly embarrassed.

• Cheng Tian, Su Han, and their Pokémon left the Secret Power space after the rain, and Kirlia rested after maintaining it overnight.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han flew toward Shennong Mountain’s summit on Togekiss and discovered it covered in a vast sea of clouds.
• Cheng Tian sent out Noibat and had it work with Togekiss to blow the clouds apart, revealing Tornadus.
• Tornadus roared to frighten Cheng Tian and Su Han, and Su Han and their Pokémon recoiled while Cheng Tian recognized Tornadus as a level 77 Legendary Pokémon.
• Cheng Tian walked toward Tornadus and praised it as righteous, kind, and warm-hearted despite its fierce appearance, embarrassing Tornadus.

Cheng Tian and Su Han found Tornadus badly injured on Shennong Mountain, and Milotic healed it with Life Dew. Tornadus stopped trying to drive them away, and after they promised to help, it began explaining how it had been wounded.

• Tornadus tried to scare Cheng Tian and Su Han away, but its injuries made its wind blades disappear.
• Su Han offered Healing Spray, and Cheng Tian offered to help treat Tornadus with a Heal Ball.
• Cheng Tian sent out Milotic, whose Life Dew rapidly healed most of Tornadus's wounds.
• Tornadus became captivated by Milotic and decided to let Cheng Tian and Su Han stay on the mountain.
• Cheng Tian asked who had injured Tornadus, and Tornadus began telling the story after making them promise to keep it secret.

Tornadus explained that Divine Offices protected their holders and could be taken only by killing them, though he did not know where they originated. After Milotic healed him, Tornadus tried to keep Cheng Tian and Su Han from leaving, then pointed them toward a place where he had sensed signs of life.

• Cheng Tian and Su Han questioned Tornadus about the Zapdos he had fought, and Rotom explained what Divine Offices were and how they could be seized.
• Tornadus warned Cheng Tian that contenders risked disaster if they took a Divine Office without enough strength to keep it.
• Tornadus admitted he did not know where Divine Offices came from, and Cheng Tian suspected they were connected to Arceus.
• Milotic finished healing Tornadus, and Tornadus tried unsuccessfully to persuade Cheng Tian and Su Han to stay.
• Cheng Tian asked Tornadus for leads on special Pokémon, and Tornadus pointed them toward a place where he had sensed life after seeing shooting stars.

Cheng Tian, Su Han, and their Pokémon searched Meteor Falls for clues about the meteors Tornadus had mentioned. Greninja sensed something behind the waterfall, and the group crossed through it to explore what lay beyond.

• Su Han and Cheng Tian chose Meteor Falls as their best lead after Rotom found the attraction on its navigation map.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han visited the crowded waterfall, then secretly rode Milotic toward it while Gengar concealed them.
• Greninja used Mind Reader and told Cheng Tian there was something behind the waterfall.
• Cheng Tian had Milotic use Waterfall to carry the group through the falls, leaving them to examine the hidden place beyond.

Cheng Tian and Su Han explored a vast maze inside Meteor Falls and discovered a hidden cavern filled with glowing, exceptionally pure Moon Stones. As Greninja sensed danger, numerous pairs of scarlet eyes appeared in the darkness around them.

• Cheng Tian and Su Han entered the space behind the waterfall, using Noibat to scout and Kirlia's Flash to light their way.
• Cheng Tian led the group through branching tunnels, where they battled Zubat swarms and found that the wild Pokémon grew stronger deeper inside.
• Kirlia sensed something hidden, and Greninja used Mind Reader to locate a Lunatone disguised as a white rock in the wall.
• Cheng Tian sent out Aggron to widen the opening behind Lunatone, revealing a vast, naturally lit cavern.
• Su Han pulled a glowing Moon Stone from the cavern wall, and Rotom identified it as exceptionally pure.
• Greninja sensed danger and formed Water Shuriken as pairs of scarlet eyes appeared in the darkness.

Cheng Tian and Su Han fought a swarm of Lunatone while giving Kirlia a chance to gain battle experience. After Kirlia endured a dangerous close-range attack and struck back, she evolved into Gardevoir.

• Cheng Tian and Su Han prepared for the restless Lunatone, and Cheng Tian gave Su Han his Wristband so Kirlia could train.
• Cheng Tian baited the Lunatone into attacking, while Gengar, Greninja, Sylveon, and Tinkaton protected the group and Kirlia faced the swarm.
• Kirlia used Reflect to withstand a Gyro Ball charge, then continued battling as Su Han directed her to heal herself and use Misty Terrain and Dazzling Gleam.
• A Lunatone surprised Kirlia with a point-blank Gyro Ball, but Kirlia retaliated with Shadow Ball and Ice Punch, knocking it out.
• Kirlia glowed with a brilliant white light and evolved into Gardevoir, stirring unease in Gengar.

Gardevoir completed its evolution and battled five Lunatone, then Mega Evolved under Su Han’s guidance to overwhelm most of them. The sudden surge of psychic power caused Gardevoir pain, so Su Han ended the transformation and Gengar took over the fight.

• Gardevoir completed its final evolution, and Gengar felt both heartache at its growth and pride in its strength.
• Su Han sent Gardevoir against the five remaining Lunatone, and it used Energy Ball, Confusion, Shadow Ball, Reflect, Light Screen, and Teleport to fight them.
• After a Lunatone struck Gardevoir, Su Han gave it a Mega Stone and Mega Evolved it with her Key Stone.
• Mega Gardevoir used Psychic and Energy Ball to badly damage the Lunatone, leaving only two still standing.
• Cheng Tian explained that Mega Evolution’s psychic power was causing Gardevoir pain, so Su Han ended the transformation and Gengar caught it as it collapsed.
• Gengar comforted Gardevoir, then faced the battered Lunatone and prepared to finish the battle.