The soul penetrates Xiaozhi and destroys Gou Hao at the beginning

"Hehe, I heard you two are classmates."

As soon as Xiao Pu Pu heard from Xiao Dan Dan that I, the old man, had told him about coming to my martial arts school to train, he couldn't wait to come here.

"She's even more straightforward than Xiao Dandan," Ma Shide laughed.

"Master Ma, I'm sorry to have troubled you," Hep said, scratching his head somewhat apologetically.

"What are you saying? Master Ma's martial arts school always welcomes everyone, no matter the time."

"And you're Xiaodandan's younger brother, so to us you're practically family," Ma Shide said.

"That's right, when we were little, my older brother also trained at this martial arts school for a while."

"Master Ma, then I'll be bothering you here for the rest of the day," Hep said.

“Of course, no problem. Your arrival will make it even more lively. Just thinking about it makes me happy. We all welcome you,” Ma Shide said with a smile.

"By the way, Master, I also have something to tell you. My training on Armor Island is almost complete."

"I plan to leave the Isle of Armor today and travel to other parts of the Galar region to challenge the Galar League," Ash said.

"Haha, she really does look a lot like Xiao Dandan!"

Okay, then go ahead. It's a good thing for young people to want to venture out and explore.

"Just remember to come back and visit this old man often," Ma Shide said with a smile.

"Okay, Master, just wait here for my good news. I will definitely make a name for myself," Xiao Zhi said.

That evening, all the disciples gathered together once again for a farewell dinner for Xiaozhi.

Ash also borrowed the gym's kitchen and used the three Dynamax mushrooms he had previously gathered to cook a pot of Dynamax soup.

They also contacted Professor Oak, asking him to teleport Charizard, Venusaur, Blastoise, Kingler, Snorlax, Gengar, Lapras, Eevee, Melmetal, and other Pokémon over for a meal.

Ash also served Pikachu, who had been by his side the whole time, as well as the newly caught Grookey and the two Urshifu. Ash served each of them a bowl of Dynamax soup.

All other Pokémon are fine.

Ash added Max Sweet to the soup that Urshifu had told them to drink.

Then there's Melmeta, which refuses to drink soup at all, so Ash had to dip the screws he was going to feed it in the soup to get it to eat.

The next morning, Ash, along with Hop, bid farewell to his master Mash, his master's wife Mime, Clara, Saiboli, and other disciples, and left the Isle of Armor. They took a train from the Isle of Armor station and set off for the Galar region.

That afternoon, the two arrived in Hualang Town.

Harlem Town, known as "a town where people and Pokémon live in harmony, with ranching as their main occupation," is located in the southern part of the Galar region.

To the north is Route 1, to the west is the Whispering Forest, and to the south is the Crown Snowfield.

This is probably due to the lack of facilities like Pokémon Arenas and Pokémon Centers, as well as its remote location.

Harlem Town is the least populated town in the Galar region, and also the least populated town in the Pokémon world.

This is the hometown of the brothers Dante and Hop.

Here, you can see Pokémon such as Wooloo, Butterfree, and Trolltias everywhere, giving Ash's first impression of a very cozy agricultural town.

Hop first led Ash, who was visiting for the first time, to their home for a visit.

You wouldn't believe it until you see it; the Hop family's house is really big.

It's a two-story villa with at least a dozen rooms.

There's also a courtyard with fruit trees, a pond, tables and chairs, a garage, and a gaming area.

But that makes sense, considering that Leon is already the strongest in the Galar region.

Moreover, the cape he wears every day is covered with various advertisements and endorsements, earning him the nickname "walking billboard," so it's normal for him to have some money.

Hep, Dante, their parents and grandparents live here, and they also have a pickpocket cat.

On the left side of the second floor is Hop's room, and on the right is Leon's room.

Hop's room contains the three most popular Pokémon in the Galar region: Charizard, Machamp, and Gengar.

Xiao Zhi also couldn't figure out how this ranking was determined.

After all, the people of the Galar region actually prefer Pokémon from other regions?

This isn't exactly gourmet food; it's not surprising that restaurants serving English cuisine mostly serve foreign dishes.

I only knew that Darrow Island was a food desert, but is it also a Pokémon desert?

Back to the present.

"Mom, we're back," Hep called out as she pushed open the door.

Hep's mother was busy in the kitchen when she heard Hep's call, so she came to the door to greet her.

"You're back, Hep."

"Oh dear, we have guests too," Hep's mother said with a smile.

"Mom, let me introduce you. This is Satoshi, my classmate from when I was in Indigo Academy," Hop said.

"Hello Auntie."

"So you're Ash! Hello, my friend Hop always talks about your name and says he wants to travel like you."

"Hep is overestimating me."

"Hey, where's my brother?" Hep looked around the empty house and asked.

"Why are you so impulsive? Didn't I say there's still plenty of time? Your older brother should have just arrived at the station in Mugan Town by now."

"I see. But my brother has no sense of direction, so I'll go pick him up."

“That’s fine, I’ll feel more at ease if you go pick him up,” said Mrs. Hop.

"Ash, you haven't seen my older brother in a long time, have you? Come with me to the station in Motostoke to pick him up."

"Okay."

"Ash, Hop, I'll leave Leon to you two to pick up. I'm at home preparing a barbecue for tonight. Ash, why don't you come to my house for dinner tonight too?" Hop's mother said.

"Thank you auntie."

Hop's mother turned around and went back to the kitchen to get busy, while Ash and Hop went out to the station in Motostoke to pick up Leon.

Mugan Town and Hualang Town are very close, separated only by Highway 1. If you keep going straight north, you'll arrive in no time.

Mogan, known as "a quiet town on the outskirts," is located in the southern part of the Galler region.

This is one of only nine stations in the entire Galar region.

Furthermore, Professor Mulan's research lab, which is very famous for its research on Dynamax, is also located in this town.

Ash and Hop had just arrived at the entrance of the Motostoke station when they saw that the entrance was already surrounded by a large crowd.

Surrounded by fans in the center of the crowd, warmly greeting them, was a man and a fire-breathing dragon.

It was none other than Dante, the champion of the Galar region.