Chapter Summaries

At the Shanghai Pokémon Cup, Xia Chi joked around during a livestream interview before entering the preliminary rounds with Sprigatito. Sprigatito swept their opponents, and Xia Chi qualified for the main event with a 9-0 record.

• Reporter Zhang Yu approached Xia Chi for a livestream interview, and Sprigatito bristled until Xia Chi calmed it.
• Xia Chi teased Zhang Yu about his tournament goals, then said he and Sprigatito would aim to improve and might win the championship.
• Xia Chi and Sprigatito began competing in the double-elimination preliminaries at Hongqiao Arena.
• Sprigatito defeated a range of opponents, including weakly trained Pokémon and stronger foes such as Wartortle and Haunter.
• Xia Chi qualified for the main event with a perfect 9-0 record.

After qualifying for the Shanghai Pokémon Cup main tournament, Xia Chi brought Sprigatito to the arena and watched its former trainer Lin Lange win her match. Sprigatito said Lin Lange had nothing to do with it anymore, and Xia Chi prepared to enter his own match.

• Chen Zhenze congratulated Xia Chi on qualifying for the Shanghai Pokémon Cup main tournament, and Xia Chi learned he was the only Shanghai University contestant left outside the Pokémon Battling Department.
• Xia Chi left Misdreavus at home and went with Sprigatito to the Hongqiao Pokémon Arena for the main tournament.
• Xia Chi and Sprigatito watched Lin Lange face Wang Yang, and Sprigatito said it had moved on from its former trainer.
• Lin Lange's Servine defeated Wang Yang's type-advantaged Quilava through durable defenses and persistent Vine Whip attacks.
• An announcement called Xia Chi to Arena A1, and he prepared to battle with Sprigatito.

Xia Chi faced a cocky opponent in the Shanghai Pokémon Cup and let Sprigatito exploit Hitmonlee’s attack to win their battle. He left the blond trainer stunned after defeating him with Shadow Claw.

• Xia Chi waited nervously for his first match before insulting the blond trainer who taunted him.
• The blond trainer sent out Hitmonlee, while Xia Chi chose Sprigatito.
• Hitmonlee struck Sprigatito with Fake Out and followed up with High Jump Kick.
• Sprigatito used Shadow Claw to become a Ghost type and knock out Hitmonlee.
• The referee told the stunned blond trainer to recall Hitmonlee, and the trainer conceded, saying, “Capitalism, you win!”

Xia Chi advanced through two rounds of the Shanghai Pokémon Cup with Sprigatito, then returned to the dorm to find Chen Zhenze and Clefairy waiting over a feast. He left the medical room without learning whether Lin Lange would release Servine, but remained interested in acquiring it.

• Sprigatito defeated Hitmonlee with Fake Out and Shadow Claw, advancing Xia Chi to the round of sixteen.
• At the medical room, Xia Chi thanked Lin Lange for abandoning Sprigatito and asked whether she would release Servine if she lost; Lin Lange left angrily without answering.
• Xia Chi collected Sprigatito after its treatment and enjoyed the tournament's plentiful food with it in the contestant lounge.
• Sprigatito's full belly nearly cost them their afternoon match, but it and Xia Chi defeated their opponent's Haunter and advanced to the final eight.
• Xia Chi returned to the dorm with Sprigatito and found Chen Zhenze and Clefairy drooling over beef ribs at the dining table.

After Misdreavus cooked a feast, Xia Chi joined Iono for the gaming session he had promised her, and prepared to stream their first game together. The chapter ended as he introduced the evening’s stream to his viewers.

• Misdreavus served roasted beef short ribs and salad, and Xia Chi, Chen Zhenze, Clefairy, and Sprigatito eagerly ate the meal.
• Iono messaged Xia Chi to remind him that he had agreed to be her gaming partner, and Xia Chi arranged to play with her during his stream.
• Iono celebrated Xia Chi’s reply and headed to her gaming room while Pawmot and Bellibolt watched her in confusion.
• Xia Chi went live to his large audience and announced that he would play games with a cutie instead of climbing the ladder.

Xia Chi and Iono teamed up for ranked Double Battles in Pokémon: Champion's Path and matched against Hoenn's Steven and Wallace. They selected their teams and prepared to begin a high-profile battle.

• Xia Chi introduced Iono to his viewers, and they launched the game together.
• Iono chose Pawmot, Kilowattrel, and Wash Rotom, while Xia Chi selected Rillaboom, Indeedee, and Shedinja.
• After a long matchmaking queue, Xia Chi and Iono were paired against Steven and Wallace, Hoenn's former and current Champions.
• Xia Chi and Iono reviewed their opponents' Pokémon and chose Kilowattrel, Pawmot, Rillaboom, and Indeedee for the battle.
• Both teams locked in their Pokémon, and the Double Battle began.

Xia Chi and Iono used Tailwind and powerful attacks to nearly knock out Steven and Wallace’s lead Pokémon, while the Champions stacked Spikes across the field. Steven then switched out his critically injured Skarmory, revealing Steelix instead of the expected Metagross.

• Rillaboom’s Grassy Surge spread grassy terrain as Xia Chi and Iono opened with Fake Out on Skarmory and Tailwind from Kilowattrel, while Whiscash laid Spikes.
• Kilowattrel’s boosted Electro Ball nearly knocked out Skarmory, and Rillaboom’s Grassy Glide nearly knocked out Whiscash.
• Steven and Wallace used Protect to stall the attackers’ Tailwind, while Xia Chi and Iono continued pressing their attacks.
• Steven switched out the badly injured Skarmory, sending Steelix onto the field.

Xia Chi and Iono faced Steven and Wallace in a double battle, using Reflect and Ally Switch to overcome the Champions’ coordinated attacks. Kilowattrel and Rillaboom defeated Milotic, Steelix, and the weakened Skarmory, securing the win.

• Wallace teased Steven for underestimating Shuiye’s strategies as they continued their battle against Xia Chi and Iono.
• Xia Chi switched Rillaboom for Indeedee, who set up Reflect while Steelix’s Rock Slide damaged Kilowattrel.
• Steven and Wallace coordinated Gyro Ball and Hydro Pump against Kilowattrel, but Xia Chi used Indeedee’s Ally Switch to redirect both attacks.
• Kilowattrel’s Electro Ball and Rillaboom’s sliding tackle knocked out Milotic, while Indeedee was defeated.
• Kilowattrel and Rillaboom defeated Steelix and the weakened Skarmory, winning the battle against Steven and Wallace.

After Xia Chi and Iono finished their long stream, Xia Chi relaxed with Sprigatito and checked his progress toward the Shanghai Pokémon Cup finals. He found his Fear total was only 72.2, but hoped the remaining matches would bring it close to 90.

• Wallace teased Steven about his loss, then both watched Xia Chi's stream and discussed the battle strategies they had learned.
• Xia Chi and Iono ended their five-hour stream after a Multi Battle victory, and Xia Chi signed off for the night.
• Xia Chi cuddled Sprigatito and learned that Misdreavus had gone out, then realized he still needed to prepare equipment for it.
• Xia Chi checked his Fear and found it had reached only 72.2, though he expected the Shanghai Pokémon Cup's final three matches might raise it toward 90.

Xia Chi and Lin Lange advanced through the Shanghai Pokémon Cup and faced each other in the final, with Sprigatito’s history with Lin Lange making the match especially personal. Lin Lange opened with a powerful Leaf Storm aimed at Sprigatito.

• Xia Chi defeated the Northeastern Yoga Lady’s Meditite with Sprigatito’s consecutive Shadow Claws in the quarterfinals.
• Lin Lange and Servine advanced smoothly through their matches, and they and Xia Chi became the finalists.
• Xia Chi’s fans gathered noisily in the livestream chat before the final, then calmed down after a fan leader intervened.
• Xia Chi steadied his nerves in the competitors’ tunnel and walked onto the battlefield to face Lin Lange.
• The referee started the final, and Lin Lange immediately ordered Servine to attack with Leaf Storm.
• Xia Chi called for Sprigatito to use Protect as Servine’s Leaf Storm swept across the battlefield.