Pokémon battle for Huaxia

Zhengzhou Olympic Sports Center, Saturday

A new officially certified Pokémon gym has opened here, and the opening ceremony wasn't particularly grand. However, many local residents came to watch. A number of student trainers from Zhengzhou also attended. There were no fancy performances; just a simple stage and viewing area set up in the open space in front of the gym. Yet, it still attracted many local residents—elderly people with children who came to see something new, student trainers holding up support signs, and League reporters carrying cameras, making this "community-level" opening ceremony seem exceptionally formal.

Qiancheng Jiqiuchuan Yunnuoyan also joined in the fun.

The group of devout followers mingled in the crowd. As soon as they passed through the security checkpoint, they heard him humming an off-key pop song, his steps as light as if he were walking on clouds.

"Today is a happy day~" Qiancheng hummed a song as he walked, looking like he was in a very good mood.

"Qiancheng, you seem to be in a good mood. Tell me what's making you happy." Chuan Yun, carrying a small cloth bag, moved closer to him, her eyes sparkling. She, Nuoyan, and Jiqiu walked a little behind, forming a small triangle, as if they had deliberately reserved the "interrogation spot" for Qiancheng.

"Hehe, yesterday I finally beat Sister Jiqiu!" Nuoyan immediately jumped to the other side of Chuanyun like a nimble little cat, and deliberately bumped Jiqiu's arm with his elbow.

"Still a 3-0 sweep! Sister Jiqiu didn't even win a single game!" After she finished speaking, she winked at Jiqiu with a smug grin that stretched from ear to ear.

Ji Qiu's steps suddenly stopped, his brows instantly furrowed into a knot, his mouth puffed out, and his cheeks bulged slightly with anger, making him look like a shrew whose nuts had been stolen.

"He just got lucky..."

"Oh, Sister Jiqiu, don't be angry~" Nuoyan said with a grin, taking her arm and shaking it.

Chuan Yun covered her mouth and chuckled, her shoulders swaying. Ji Qiu glared at her but didn't actually pull away from Nuo Yan's hand. She just turned her face away, pretending to study the promotional posters at the dojo entrance, but her ears secretly blushed slightly—she had actually been secretly surprised by Qian Cheng's tactical adjustments in yesterday's match, but she would never admit it.

The group mingled in the crowd and watched the opening ceremony of the newly opened dojo.

The autumn breeze at Zhengzhou Olympic Sports Center carried the fragrance of osmanthus as the opening ceremony of Chuxin Dojo drew to a close.

On stage, former Huaxia Alliance champion Li Fan was smiling and shaking hands with city leaders. He was wearing a simple gray tracksuit, and his square face was inconspicuous in the crowd. If it weren't for the host repeatedly emphasizing that "the owner is a former champion," he would have been easily overlooked.

Almost no one would associate this unremarkable face with the word "powerful".

Li Fan is 45 years old this year. He is a gym leader of the Normal type. At his peak, he dominated the League battlefield with his "all-around tactics". After being defeated by Shangguan Ying, he retired.

In the last two years, he was appointed as the Gym Leader of the Normal-type Gym of the League. He stood on the side of the stage, his gaze sweeping over the bustling crowd below, finally landing on a few young people with their arms around each other's shoulders—especially the sunny and confident boy with a red star badge pinned to his left chest.

Qiancheng was surrounded by Nuoyan and Chuanyun, gesturing animatedly about the details of yesterday's battle. His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but loud enough for people within a few meters to hear.

"Come on, who is your brother? He's the top trainer in Central China, okay? Countless outstanding talents from the Chinese continent have taken the exam, and your brother is number one!" He boasted sincerely about his recent achievements, and no one expected that beating Ji Qiu would make him so arrogant.

"Haha, but the Froggy Frog still won't listen to you~"

Li Fan's square face remained expressionless, though his eyes narrowed slightly. He had seen many talented trainers, but few young people like him who became arrogant and boastful in public after just one victory.

The general system emphasizes "stability" and avoids a restless mindset the most—this young man may have good talent, but if he is not disciplined in time, he will surely suffer a great setback in the future.

"A top-tier trainer in Central China? Xiaoying seems to have mentioned him. Why would Dr. Wang care about such an arrogant kid?"

"Young man, are you a Pokémon Trainer? How about becoming my first challenger after my gym moved to Zhengzhou? You mentioned winning a rather tough battle yesterday."

Qiancheng turned around and saw a strange middle-aged man with a square face, wearing a gray tracksuit, and eyes as calm as an ancient well. It was the dojo master who had just given the speech. His sudden appearance also aroused the curiosity of Jiqiu Nuoyan and Chuanyun.

He paused for a moment, then laughed. "Hello, Master, it was just good luck." Qiancheng suddenly became polite, but his arrogance remained.

"A trainer's mindset is more important than their techniques. If you're feeling complacent now, one mistake can lead to total defeat when you actually encounter a tough opponent."

He paused, his tone still calm, yet carrying an undeniable weight.

"I am Li Fan, the owner of Chuxin Dojo and former champion of the China League. Would you like to be the first challenger of my dojo in Zhengzhou, Central China?"

"Of course, I would be delighted to have Master Li instruct me!" Qiancheng became excited upon hearing about the duel. He had originally planned to challenge him another day, but since the master had personally invited him, he certainly couldn't refuse.

Have you ever had an all-out battle?

Zhengzhou Olympic Sports Center, Chuxin Dojo vs. the battlefield.

Li Fan, the former champion of the China League and now the Normal-type Gym Leader, clearly noticed Qiancheng's current restlessness. To guide the boy in the right direction, he naturally engaged him in a battle.

Thus, Qiancheng became the first challenger of the Chuxin Dojo.

"The Student Trainer's Loyal Heart Gym Challenge now begins! Both sides will engage in a full-scale battle of six against six, and I am free to trade Pokémon!"

Qiancheng had only played a full-scale match once before, which was against Qi Xiaoyang. Although he won, he had very little experience in this area.

"Keep going, keep going!"

As the dojo referee announced the rules, the match began with cheers from Chuan Yun Nuo Yan!

"I choose you, Mareep!"

"Go on, happy egg!"

Qiancheng started with Mare the Sheep, while Li Fan chose to start with Lucky Egg.

"Strike first, strike hard! Mareep unleashes 10 Volts in quick succession!"

"Blessed Egg uses Stealth Rock!"

Blissey neither dodged nor avoided the 10 volts, immediately scattering Stealth Rocks on the bed. Thanks to its extremely high Special Defense and HP, it suffered almost no damage.

"Mary Sheep, keep chasing! Electric Ball!"

Li Fan did not give any instructions, but after the Lucky Egg easily caught the electric ball attack, he retrieved the Lucky Egg.

"Kangaskhan attack! High five surprise attack!"

After the Kangaskhan appeared, it moved with power and speed, delivering a heavy punch.

"Mary Sheep, use Cotton Defense!" Maary Sheep used its spreading wool to minimize the impact of the opponent's attack.

"Boost Fist!"

After Kangaskhan's high-five attack was blocked, it immediately launched a booster punch upwards, knocking Mareep to the ground and rendering it unable to fight!

Qiancheng and his friends were all stunned for a moment...

"One strike and..."