Pokémon: Master System.

The sweltering heat distorted the view, and the hot air currents surged.

At the same time, Heracross's Rock Block skill took effect, and a huge rock fell on Charmeleon, knocking it down and taking away its last bit of strength.

As the heat subsided, both Pokémon on the field collapsed unconscious. Charmeleon was relatively normal, but Heracross had completely lost its ability to fight. Thick smoke was billowing from many parts of its body, which were charred black as if they had been roasted, indicating that it was seriously injured.

Both sides were rendered unable to fight simultaneously, a scene that surprised everyone. Many believed that Li Wenkai's strongest Heracross had a chance to turn the tide; even if it couldn't defeat all three, it could at least defeat two Pokémon.

No one expected that Li Wenkai's strongest, most powerful Heracross would perish together with the dying Charmander!

"This is a Charmeleon with the Solar Power ability?!"

"No wonder Xia Yu wanted the Forest Lizard to use the Sunny Day skill; it turns out it was to activate the Fire Dragon's Solar Power skill."

"What terrifying power! This is even more terrifying than a battle at the Lord level."

Many people in the crowd noticed Xia Yu's tactical setup and were all amazed by the power of this Charmeleon. They had thought Xia Yu's Grovyle was already invincible at the elite level, but they hadn't expected this Charmeleon to be even more ferocious. Where did this Pokémon come from?!

…………

Xia Yu was quite satisfied with the result. The Charmeleon with the Solar Power ability under Sunny Day had an unparalleled beauty of strength.

In the game, Heat Wave has a power of 95, plus Sunny Day gives Fire-type moves 1.5x power, Solar Power increases Special Attack by 50%, and finally, it has a 1.5x STAB boost and Heracross's double weakness to Fire.

95×1.5×1.5×1.5×2=641.25

Xia Yu just wanted to say, who can stop my Charizard from dealing this damage? It's already this powerful before it even evolves into Charizard. If it evolves into Charizard and then Mega Evolves into Mega Charizard Y, that would be unstoppable.

At the same time, Xia Yu secretly decided that such a powerful Charizard must be equipped with a Sunny Day weather setter.

Which should you choose: Ninetales, Torkoal, or Groudon? Groudon is the better choice. After all, with Primal Reversion, no one can compete with Groudon for the Last Land ability except for Kyogre's Primal Reversion ability and Mega Rayquaza's Primal Ocean and Delta Force abilities.

Now that the decision has been made, let's think about the next step: how to catch Groudon? In the game, you just need to find Groudon and then use a Master Ball to defeat it, but what about in reality?

Xia Yu shook his head. He couldn't worry about that now. Sooner or later, he would definitely capture Groudon and let everyone taste the power of the Precipice Sword!

From that moment on, an eighteen-year-old boy made a grand vow to capture Groudon.

If you really can't catch Groudon, you can always catch a baby Groudon first, like Torkoal, which is said to be the final evolution of Groudon.

…………

“You won.” Li Wenkai was frank and open. He accepted his defeat wholeheartedly, as Xia Yu was stronger than him in both strength and tactics. “Actually, I’m very curious. Your Forest Lizard and Charmeleon are so strong, why did you come to the Dragon-type Gym as a defending trainer? I haven’t seen you use many Dragon-type Pokémon. Fire-type or Grass-type gyms would be more suitable for you.”

Xia Yu awkwardly touched his neck. Of his five Pokémon, three were Dragon-type, but he wouldn't let Dragapult battle for the time being. The remaining Axew was too weak to use either, leaving him with only Nombat to hold the fort, which was a bit embarrassing. However, he was at least better than a certain champion from his previous life, who used Flying-type Pokémon to impersonate a Dragon-type trainer.

"Because I have a heart set on becoming a Dragon-type Pokémon Master." Xia Yu raised his head, gazing at the sky at a 45-degree angle, his face filled with longing: "Fire and Grass types are just passersby; only Dragon-type Pokémon are my final destination and my ultimate belief!"

Hearing what Xia Yu said, Long Yan Ning looked at Xia Yu with tears in her eyes and felt as if she had found a kindred spirit. It was like searching for someone a thousand times in the crowd, and then suddenly turning around, she found him where the lights were dim.

She is a staunch Dragon-type trainer, and nothing can stop her love for Dragon-type Pokémon!

What she didn't know was that Xia Yu's true thoughts were completely opposite to what he said.

Dragon-type Pokémon are nothing compared to my invincible Steel-type. All I need is one more Dragon-type Pokémon. Just you wait, I'll switch all my allegiance to Steel without hesitation.

General of the Serpent, Greatsmith, Rich Man, and the Sandstorm Team's only designated true god, Garchomp, wait for me! My second team, wait for me! Just one more Dragon-type Pokémon will do. (Just a heads-up, there will be a second team, most likely only two teams, but the second team won't be Steel-type, and the first Pokémon in the second team has already been hinted at earlier—a physical attacker with dominant performance in battles!)

Xia Yu had long since mastered the skill of lying through his teeth.

"I admire you." Li Wenkai looked at Xia Yu and said, "I will also strive to become a Fighting-type Elite Four Trainer like you. This is my lifelong dream."

"Looking forward to facing you again."

…………

After finishing the match, Xia Yu changed out of the dojo uniform and went backstage to meet up with Long Yanning and Wu Qianshan.

"Junior brother, let's have dinner together tonight." Wu Qianshan said to Xia Yu, "It's your first time at the dojo, so it's on me. I'll treat you both to a meal, and we won't leave until we're drunk."

"Senior, let's skip it today. How about this, after I finish the University Cup, I'll treat you to dinner no matter how the results are." Faced with Wu Qianshan's enthusiasm, Xia Yu could only politely decline.

"A night's rest will be fine," Wu Qianshan continued to persuade.

"No, senior brother, I have to go back and continue training. I can't relax for a moment. You know that I don't have a single Lord-level Pokémon yet. There are just too many people behind me."

Seeing that Xia Yu spoke with such sincerity, Wu Qianshan could no longer persuade him. He turned his gaze to Long Yanning and asked, "Where is Junior Sister? Doesn't Junior Sister love drinking the most? Xia Yu has something to do, but you can't have something to do too, can you?"

When Long Yan Ning heard Wu Qian Shan mention drinking, she, who hadn't had a drink for a month, was tempted to drink. However, she couldn't let Xia Yu go back alone just for drinking, as she was supposed to be Xia Yu's bodyguard. So she simply refused, saying, "I have to take Xia Yu back. I'm sorry, senior brother."

"Really not going to have a drink?" Wu Qianshan asked, still unwilling to give up.

"Never mind, I still have to drive."

"Alright then, let's do as Xia Yu said. After he finishes the college cup, we'll drink until we drop."

Watching the two figures disappear, Wu Qianshan's eyes flickered.

…………

Chapter 127 Conspiracy

In the suburbs of the capital, in the same dilapidated old house, the night was deep and quiet, the full moon hung high, and the weather in the capital in December was already extremely cold. Light snow began to fall from the sky, but fortunately, there was heating inside, so it was still warm.

Gong Yeranjin and Xu Xiu sat together, and opposite them sat the middle-aged man.

“It’s been three and a half months, and we’ve checked all the names on the list, but we haven’t found any useful clues.” Xu Xiu’s voice rang out as he addressed the middle-aged man. “Many people have seen that pot-shaped prop you mentioned, but nobody knows who ended up with it. Besides, some of the people on the list have been dead for decades. We’re powerless to help.”

"No!" The middle-aged man's voice was tinged with hysteria, his eyes bloodshot and red. He had been under immense pressure for the past three and a half months, and he knew better than anyone the terror of the person behind him.

Although that person always presented a perfect image to outsiders, the middle-aged man had seen that person's fierce side.

"You must help me find that thing. You've already received your payment! If you can't find it, I won't be able to explain myself, and neither will you." The middle-aged man was breathing heavily with anger as he looked at the two men. "After checking the people on the list, check their families, their children and descendants. We must find this pot."

As he finished speaking, the middle-aged man's voice suddenly rose, filled with anger and a hint of imperiousness.

Upon hearing the middle-aged man's tone, Xu Xiu's eyes grew cold. He stared at the man, his voice chilling: "Are you ordering me around?"

Xu Xiu slowly stood up. Even though he was nearly fifty, he was still tall and strong. "We have already checked everyone on the list as you requested. This has wasted three months of our time. Our mission is complete. We have spent three months in the capital. We also have our own things to do. If we were to check their families, do you know how much time that would take? And the reward you mentioned hasn't even reached us."

“You’ve already done the initial screening. You just need to check their families again according to the list. This time it will definitely be much faster. You can finish in less than three months.” The middle-aged man was also intimidated by Xu Xiu’s imposing manner and gradually regained his composure, but he was not afraid of Xu Xiu: “Besides, it’s your Dawn Society’s business if you didn’t receive the reward. We have already told you the transportation route of the Gible’s Pokémon egg as you requested, and the Gible’s Pokémon egg has already been taken by your Dawn Society. Whether you received the reward or not, we have already paid the Dawn Society.”

"You can simply quit, but you'll be ruining the reputation of your Dawn Society. Let's see what the Dawn Society behind you thinks then." The middle-aged man's tone carried a hint of threat: "You're on the Pokémon Association's wanted list, and the bounty isn't low. If you offend the Dawn Society as well, you won't have a place to stand on either side."

"boom!"

Xu Xiu's attack came without warning. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of the middle-aged man, grabbing his collar tightly with one hand and slamming him against the wall with a thud.

"Are you threatening me?" Xu Xiu's eyes flashed with undisguised murderous intent. Xu Xiu's fearsome reputation made the middle-aged man's aura weaken.

"Cough cough." The middle-aged man felt his breathing become difficult, his face turned red, and he coughed rapidly: "Xu Xiu, I'm not threatening you, I'm trying to reason with you."

Xu Xiu looked at the middle-aged man, and after a few breaths he released his grip, letting the man go: "If you want us to continue working for you, you can, but you have to provide us with something."

"Ahem, what do you want?" The middle-aged man, who had suffered a loss, looked at Xu Xiu with a flickering gaze, not in a hurry to refuse: "Xu Xiu, I know you are also talented, managing to train such a powerful Tyranitar in just three years, but you mustn't go too far. If you offend the person behind me, the investigation into you won't be as easy as it is now. And by the way, let me tell you some news: Wei Yeqin has become a League Special Investigator, and he is in charge of tracking down your whereabouts. Be careful."

"Wei Yeqin." Xu Xiu murmured the name, lost in thought.

“Wei Yeqin is very strong. Even though he only has one Pokémon, don’t underestimate him. Tan Yongsen, the Elite Four member from the Southwest region, was no match for him in a 1v1 match even using Z-Moves.” The middle-aged man said, “You are definitely no match for him.”

“I understand.” Xu Xiu paused here, looked at the middle-aged man, and slowly said, “We can continue to help you with the investigation, but we need you to do us a favor.”

"What's the deal?"

"I need the duty rosters and architectural plans for the two secret realms surrounding the capital, as well as the duty roster for the next month." Xu Xiu's voice was calm: "This request should be very simple for you. If you agree, we guarantee we can continue to help you find what you're looking for, but at most three months. If we haven't found it by three months, there's nothing we can do."

"You want to attack the secret realm?" The middle-aged man was startled when he heard Xu Xiu's conditions, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. But then he became excited: "Is this your idea or the Dawn Society's idea?"

"What do you think?" Xu Xiu said, "There are four or five Elite Four level trainers in the secret realm, and their support arrives very quickly. Do you think it's possible for just the two of us, Gongye Ranjin and me, to do it?"

"I can't make that decision myself; I need to go back and report." The middle-aged man's mind raced. He secretly guessed that if the Dawn Society really intended to attack the secret realm, there were only two secret realms near the capital: a Dragon-type secret realm and a Ground-type secret realm. The Dragon-type secret realm, now devoid of the Dragon King, was undoubtedly the best choice for attack. Most importantly, it contained a large number of pseudo-legendary Pokémon! If the Dawn Society succeeded, he might also be able to get a share and take one pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

“Sure, but we need to do it as soon as possible,” Xu Xiu said. “The Pokémon Association has controlled pseudo-legendary Pokémon for too long. If the person behind you is interested, you can cooperate with us. We will only steal the Pokémon eggs and leave. The chances of success are still quite high.”

“We will consider it,” the middle-aged man replied.

…………

After Xu Xiu and Gong Ye Ranjin left, the two walked side by side on the road. Snowflakes fell on them and melted. Gong Ye Ranjin couldn't help but ask in broken Chinese, "Who do you think is behind him?"

"I can't guess." Xu Xiu also couldn't guess who was behind this middle-aged man, but he must have a lot of influence in the League. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been qualified to check the transportation route of the Gible Pokémon egg: "But he is definitely a person in a high position and with great strength."

"So you still dare to lie to them this time that the Dawn Society wants to attack the secret realm?" Gongye Ranjin asked.

"How can you call it a scam?" Xu Xiu chuckled. "It's just that they were greedy."

"Moreover, while there's still a sliver of hope for attacking other secret realms this time, attacking dragon-type secret realms is absolutely impossible. Our target should be the ground-type secret realms."

…………

Chapter 128 The Vanished Jar of Punishment

A week has passed in the blink of an eye.

Xia Yu's Forest Lizard and Doron Mesia successfully broke through from Elite to Lord level. The Forest Lizard was relatively normal, as it had been stuck at Elite level for a long time. After last week's battle and recent hard training, it finally broke through to Lord level.

Dragapult's breakthrough was a completely unexpected surprise for Xia Yu. However, upon closer reflection, Xia Yu felt relieved. With the accelerated growth of the Ghost-type core energy from the Punishment Bottle, Dragapult's growth rate was extremely fast. If it continued to grow at this rate, it would probably soon surpass Grovyle to become the strongest Pokémon among all of Xia Yu's Pokémon.

Of course, this "strongest" only refers to the strongest in terms of paper strength. If we only consider combat strength, Dorgonmesia's strength is actually very poor, and his combat awareness is also extremely weak.

As his strength increased, Xia Yu became increasingly aware of his weakness and cherished his time more, training like crazy every day.

…………

Yunxiang Village, back mountain, cemetery.