A water-type trainer who specializes in dragon-type water.

This is the best solution he can think of right now. His father is the regional champion in China, with great strength, rich experience, and extensive connections, and he also has the support of the entire Chinese league.

Having him hold and use the stone tablet would undoubtedly allow him to exert greater power, better deal with the covetousness of the Temple of Creation, and buy himself more time to grow.

This proposal was clearly well thought out and was full of pragmatism and sacrifice.

Even Uncle Luo was slightly moved, and his gaze towards Zhang Heng held even more admiration.

However, Zhang Leiyuan slowly and firmly shook his head.

"Xiao Heng, your idea is good, but... it won't work."

His tone conveyed a profound understanding of the rules of the world.

“The stone tablets have a ‘will’. They only show their power to those they ‘approve’. When you first came into contact with the stone tablet, you must have been subjected to some kind of test on a conscious level.”

Zhang Heng nodded upon hearing this. He touched the stone slab and was pulled into a space of consciousness by the Dragon Stone Slab. He was in the space with the rippling water and had a direct battle with an unknown enemy.

But he couldn't recall any of the memories inside, as if they were obscured by a pair of large hands.

“And once this recognition is established, the stone tablet will never ‘choose a new master’ unless the recognized person dies.”

Uncle Luo added quietly from the side, confirming this cruel rule.

He said, "If that weren't the case, why didn't the League try to let other top Fighting-type trainers temporarily borrow the power of the Fighting Stones after Old Duan fell into a coma?"

"It's not that I don't want to, but that I can't. The stone slab is right next to Lao Duan, and no one else can move it even a little bit."

Zhang Leiyuan's gaze became incredibly sharp, as if trying to pierce through Zhang Heng's soul.

He said, "Therefore, from the moment you were recognized by the stone tablet, the relationship between you and the Temple of Creation was already one of 'until death do us part'."

"The only way for them to get the stone tablet is to kill you and then try to 'change hands' with it."

They won't even give you a chance to surrender...

"Acknowledgment is binding. Binding is mortal enmity."

These few words, like cold chains, completely and irrevocably bound Zhang Heng to the two stone slabs and to the ultimate goal of the Creation Palace.

That suffocating feeling of being gripped by the invisible hand of fate, that urgent feeling of time slipping away like sand through an hourglass.

The atmosphere in the study became extremely oppressive once again.

"Hahaha!"

In the midst of this suffocating silence, Zhang Leiyuan suddenly burst into a hearty and unrestrained laugh.

He stood up, his burly body like a reliable fortress, walked to Zhang Heng's side, and placed his broad hand heavily on his shoulder.

"Kid, don't look like the sky is falling!"

Zhang Leiyuan's eyes gleamed with a sharp light, exuding an air of domineering arrogance.

"Your father is still standing right here! If the sky really falls, I, your son, will be the first to hold it up for you!"

He paused, then dropped a bombshell that perked Zhang Heng up: "Besides, do you think you're the only one in China who possesses the stone slab?"

Zhang Heng suddenly looked up: "Who else?"

“Old Duan, who is in a coma, possesses the Fighting Stone Tablet,” Zhang Leiyuan said. “And there’s also that one who has been guarding the capital for many years—Zhu Guanjun.”

The image of the champion, famous for his Dragon-type Pokémon, who guarded the political center of China and whose strength was unfathomable, immediately came to Zhang Heng's mind.

"in addition,"

Zhang Leiyuan's voice carried a rare hint of complex emotion, not fear, but respect and recognition for a true strongman.

"There's another one... who might be even stronger. Even I, your old man, wouldn't get much of an advantage over him."

Even stronger than his father? Zhang Heng was shocked. In his memory, his father, Zhang Leiyuan, was an unruly person who never easily bowed to anyone.

Even with Duan Guanjun, who possessed the Fighting Stone Tablet, or the mysterious and powerful Zhu Guanjun, his father once admitted that "the outcome is still uncertain."

The person who could make him say something like "I won't get any advantage"...

A name flashed through my mind.

"Is it... Champion Shi from the Southwest region? He's even stronger than my father?"

Zhang Heng asked tentatively. That champion was equally renowned, known for his rock-solid steadiness and unparalleled defense.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Leiyuan reacted as if a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his eyes widening and his voice unconsciously rising a few decibels.

"Bullshit! That guy cheats by using his type! He's a Ground and Steel type trainer, and Ground type is immune to Electric."

"Steel-type moves have excellent resistances. When I fight him, I can't use most of my Electric-type moves. I have to rely on other types to maneuver, which is very frustrating!"

He may have been unconvinced, but the hint of helplessness and importance in his tone was not hidden from the people present.

Uncle Luo held his teacup, a faint smile playing on his lips, and silently sipped his tea, not responding to the conversation—clearly, he knew very well about the "grudge" between Zhang Leiyuan and Shi Guanjun.

Qi Shu, who had been listening quietly nearby, blinked his big eyes, as if he had suddenly remembered something from the past, and blurted it out.

He said, "Oh, right, Master! I remember reading in the records that Shi Guanjun, who represented the Southwest region in the first National Youth Cup after the founding of the People's Republic of China, defeated you in the semi-finals!"

"Zhu Guanjun defeated Duan Guanjun in the semifinals. At that time, you and Duan Guanjun were called the 'Twin Stars of South China' by the media. However, you both fell in the semifinals. The championship match was between Shi Guanjun and Zhu Guanjun..."

She got more and more excited as she spoke, completely oblivious to her master's increasingly stiff expression.

"Oh right! I heard the final match ended in a draw? And because of the complicated domestic and international situation at the time, in order to protect the players."

"That match wasn't broadcast publicly, and there's no video recording of it; it remains a mystery. Master, do you know the inside story? Who really won?"

Zhang Heng's interest was piqued, and he looked at his father with curiosity. His father had never mentioned these old battle records in detail.

Zhang Leiyuan's expression shifted several times. He picked up his teacup and took a big gulp, trying to use the tea to cover up the embarrassment of being publicly exposed by his disciple. He cleared his throat, trying to make his tone sound calm.

"Ahem... Let's not dwell on the past. The rules and environment of the competition were different back then, so the results don't count."

However, Qi Shu clearly failed to grasp his master's "hint" and remained immersed in the excitement of digging up historical gossip, continuing to rub salt into Zhang Leiyuan's "wounds".

"Wait a minute, Master! The battle report I found says that you had a big advantage in the early stages of that semi-final, but Champion Stone relied on the tenacious defensive synergy of several core Pokémon and crucial counterattacks to eventually turn the tide with a narrow margin. One of those matches was even a thrilling 1v2 comeback..."

"Xiao Heng!"

Zhang Leiyuan suddenly raised his voice, loudly interrupting Qi Shu's words. This forced change of topic was quite awkward and strange.

He looked intently at his son, and the embarrassment on his face was instantly replaced by a serious expression. The abrupt change of topic startled Zhang Heng.

I want you to transfer schools!

"Huh?" Zhang Heng didn't react for a moment.

"Me? Transfer schools?"

"Where are you going?!"