Pokémon: Growlithe, the Champion King, gets the best of both worlds right from the start!

His gaze swept across the crowd and landed on the figure standing quietly not far away.

Xu Qingyan didn't say much, but his figure was clearly reflected in her clear eyes, as if she wanted to deeply imprint his appearance at this moment.

Lin Che understood that silent farewell.

He returned the same firm look, then turned away without a trace of lingering affection.

The aircraft heading towards Rock City pierced through the clouds, leaving the tranquility of the ivory tower completely behind.

The moment the hatch opened, a completely different smell violently rushed into my lungs.

The air was humid and hot, thick with an overwhelming salty smell, and the acrid, rusty odor of steel baked by the scorching sun. This was Panshi City, a behemoth on the eastern coast of China, the largest and most complex port city.

The greenery and scholarly atmosphere of the campus have been completely overturned.

What comes into view are colossal cranes that blot out the sky, their long steel arms moving slowly through the air, hoisting mountain-like containers. In the distance, massive ships, each weighing tens of thousands of tons, lie silently anchored, their enormous shadows covering the sea and creating a suffocating sense of oppression.

Everything here is filled with cruel and real survival rules.

Lin Che didn't pause at all, walking straight through the crowd.

The trainers in the port area were a completely different species from those he had seen on campus.

A burly man, shirtless and with skin tanned bronze by the sea breeze and scorching sun, leaned against a mooring post, polishing a dagger. Behind him, a Gyarados, far larger than usual, had half its body above the water, its single, crimson eye fixed intently on passing ships. Its gaze was devoid of emotion, only a pure, cold indifference, viewing everything as prey. Its scarred scales reflected a dull light in the sunlight, testifying to countless life-or-death battles.

Not far away, several men and women with stern expressions sat together, with several fierce-looking megalodon sharks lying at their feet. Their sharp teeth were exposed, and even while resting, the terrifying aura emanating from them, that of deep-sea predators, still kept ordinary people away.

The eyes of these people were devoid of any gentleness; they were so sharp they seemed to pierce one's very bones.

Their gazes as they surveyed their surroundings were not scrutinizing, but rather assessing.

Assess value, assess threat.

Here, strength is not something to boast about, but the only thing you have to rely on to survive.

This real world, far removed from the sanctuary, allowed Lin Che to experience for the first time the cruelty and weight of the professional trainer's world.

However, this overwhelming sense of pressure, enough to make an ordinary rookie trainer's legs go weak, did not instill any fear in him.

Quite the opposite.

A long-suppressed, scalding warmth suddenly surged from the depths of his heart, instantly flowing through his limbs and bones. The blood in his body was slightly hot, and every cell trembled with excitement in this real and challenging aura.

The corners of his lips curved into an almost imperceptible arc.

This is the world he longs for.

Without hesitation, Lin Che quickly stopped in front of the enormous electronic information bulletin board in the city center. Countless data streams flashed across the screen, and he precisely captured the information he needed, rapidly constructing a plan of action for his trip in his mind.

The three core objectives are crystal clear.

First, Dragon's Roar Islands, [Dragon Scales].

This was no ordinary treasure hunt. He wasn't looking for the common dragon scales circulating in the market, but rather the purest dragon scales, the kind that, according to legend, could only be born once the primordial energy of the dragon race had been precipitated for millennia and compressed for tens of thousands of years. Only a treasure of this caliber could lay the perfect foundation for his mini-dragon, ensuring its evolutionary path was flawless, and even… prematurely unlock the door to the realm of "Godspeed."

Second, the evolution of the fledgling eagle.

The little creature, hatched from its egg with eyes full of arrogance and untamed spirit, possessed unfathomable potential. Lin Che knew that conventional battles and training couldn't fully unleash its indomitable spirit. What it needed was a true testing ground, a place where it could struggle on the brink of life and death, and roar in adversity. The unique environment of the Dragon's Roar Islands, filled with raging winds and powerful Flying-type Pokémon, was the perfect evolutionary sanctuary for it.

Third, complete the tactical puzzle.

Arcanine is an irreplaceable ace in terms of burst damage, Alolan Ninetales is an Ice-type Special Attacker and Weather Setter, the soon-to-evolve Braviary will guarantee air superiority, and the future Dragonite will be the cornerstone of the team. However, his team has always lacked a true tactical core—a Psychic-type Pokémon capable of twisting the tide of battle, controlling the tempo, and creating endless possibilities with its unpredictable abilities. This adventure deep into the Forbidden Sea is also to find this final, crucial piece of the puzzle.

The goal is set in mind.

Lin Che's gaze became incredibly focused.

He immediately turned around and walked toward the official information center next to the information bulletin board.

He unhesitatingly spent a sum of money that would make ordinary trainers gasp, in exchange for an encrypted electronic nautical chart of the Dragon Roar Islands and surrounding waters, which was touted as the latest and most detailed.

Having obtained the information, he didn't linger at all, nor did he even plan to find a place to stay.

He had already taken a step and was walking straight toward the dock.

Time should not be wasted.

He needed to find there a professional exploration vessel capable of venturing deep into that legendary forbidden sea where storms and fog never dissipated.

The ship's performance must be superior enough to withstand sudden storms and giant waves.

More importantly, there is the captain.

What he needs is someone who truly understands that sea area, someone who has survived countless life-threatening situations through experience and skill—a true "living map."

Chapter 54 System Upgrade! Trajectory Analysis Across the East China Sea! A Monotonous Voyage, Peeping from the Deep Sea!

Donghai City, Pier No. 3.

The air was filled with a strong, salty, fishy smell mixed with the odor of engine oil.

Several slovenly-dressed boat owners surrounded the group, their faces plastered with fawning smiles, but their words carried an unmistakable air of slickness.

"Young man, want to set sail? My boat is the fastest!"

"You look like a trainer on a mission. I know this route well, I'll guarantee your safety!"

Lin Che's gaze swept over them one by one, and finally he calmly shook his head.

On the panel of the Eye of Truth, the information of these people is clearly marked.

Greed, shortsightedness, and poor ship maintenance.

Entrusting your life to such a person is tantamount to a high-stakes gamble.

He ignored the disappointed curses of the people behind him, his gaze passing over rows of brand-new, gleaming sightseeing yachts, finally settling on the berth at the very edge of the dock.

There, a ship was moored.

Its name is "Breaking Waves".

The ship's hull is covered with mottled scratches from the erosion of time, each one like a medal, telling the story of the storms it has conquered. But the key parts of the hull—the cables, the anchor, and the portholes—are meticulously maintained, reflecting a calm light in the afternoon sun.

An elderly man with only one arm was leaning against the railing of the ship.

His hair was gray, and he had a dark brown old-fashioned pipe dangling from his mouth, with smoke swirling around him.

He seemed to notice Lin Che's gaze and slowly raised his head.

Those were cloudy eyes, like amber covered in dust, but when his gaze focused, the sharpness that had weathered half a lifetime of storms was enough to expose any ulterior motive.

[Character: Buck]

[Identity: Captain of the Wavebreaker]

[Strength: Peak Elite Level (Retired)]

[Status: Old injury recurrence, qi and blood deficiency]

That's him.

Lin Che stepped forward.

Without uttering a single wasted word, he directly opened his personal terminal, pulled up a number, and displayed it in front of Captain Buck.

Buck's deep nasolabial folds twitched almost imperceptibly as he held the pipe in his mouth.

He took a deep drag of his cigarette, and the smoke rings he exhaled scattered instantly in the sea breeze.

"Half a month."

Lin Che's voice was clear and calm.

"We'll charter your ship, and you too."

Buck took the pipe from his mouth and gently tapped the ash on the gunwale with his only remaining, calloused hand.

"Are all young people these days so arrogant?"

He spoke in a hoarse voice, his gaze sweeping over Lin Che once more, as if trying to see through him completely.

"Where?"

"Dragon's Roar Islands".

Upon hearing the name of the place, a look of seriousness flashed in Buck's cloudy eyes.

He remained silent for a full half minute, as if the hustle and bustle of the dock had nothing to do with this corner.

Finally, he put the pipe back in his mouth.

"Get aboard."

The engines of the "Breaking Waves" roared with a deep and powerful sound as it slowly sailed away from the port.

As the ship set sail, Buck stood by the helm and spoke without turning his head.

“Young man, Dragon's Roar Islands are not an amusement park.”

"Once you're on my ship, you have to follow my rules."

"of course."

Lin Che stood on the deck, feeling the slight vibrations beneath his feet, and nodded.

The ships were moving faster and faster, and the city skyline was gradually swallowed up by the sea.

When the "Breaking Waves" completely sailed away from the nearshore waters and plunged into that forbidden sea area where the storms were said to never stop, everything around it changed.

The sky looked as if it had been splashed with ink, so gloomy it was suffocating.

The seawater beneath our feet was no longer azure, but a deep, ink-black color, with surging waves crashing against the hull with a dull, resounding roar.

The energy components in the air became violent and chaotic.

At that very moment, deep within Lin Che's mind, the long-dormant [Eye of Truth] system suddenly popped up with a brand new notification!

The light screen flickered, but the text remained clear.

[Ding! High concentration and high purity of dragon-type primordial energy detected...]

The system is currently absorbing and analyzing the data...

coming!

(bjbj) Lin Che's breathing suddenly stopped.