Chapter 170: Treasury Divine Item
Unhappy as he was, and holding grudges as he did, the matter at hand still needed to be resolved.
Although the officials had specially issued a statement saying that Tropius was not nurtured in advance, if someone really latched onto this issue and wouldn’t let go, it would still have a slight impact.
This matter wasn’t easy to resolve, first because he had no connections.
Whether it was Yu Zhonggang or Yao Yifei, neither could really help much with this issue.
For ordinary people, a Gym Leader could be considered a top-tier figure, but looking from the top down, a Gym Leader was somewhat lacking compared to those above.
Thinking of this, Lu Li could only helplessly contact Yao Yifei.
A familiar phone ringtone sounded, but it wasn’t coming from the phone; it was coming from the doorway.
Yao Yifei, who had pushed the door open and entered, looked at Lu Li helplessly.
“You little rascal, didn’t you say you wanted to keep a low profile? Is this how you keep a low profile?” Yao Yifei complained, exasperated as if disappointed in him for failing to meet expectations.
Lu Li: “…”
Lu Li could only say that the low profile he meant was different from what she understood.
The low profile he envisioned was not making himself seem too all-rounded, and instead showcasing his talent in the Trainer aspect.
After all, the Alliance was now strongly supporting genius Trainers, not Breeders, so Lu Li was firmly following the trend of the times.
Unfortunately, he had underestimated the value of reaching Elite Level in two months.
“Yifei sis, there are bad people in the Alliance!” Lu Li pretended to be aggrieved as he vented.
Listening to Lu Li’s complaints, Yao Yifei gave him a charmingly amorous eye roll.
Yao Yifei comforted him: “Don’t look so down. This matter has both pros and cons. Do you want to hear the good news?”
Hearing this, the grievance on Lu Li’s face instantly subsided. “What good news?”
“The district chief of the Southern Region, under pressure from public opinion, exposed your Milotic. As compensation, the Alliance has decided to let you enter the Southern Region Treasury to pick one treasure.” Yao Yifei explained.
There was a hint of envy in Yao Yifei’s tone. After all, that was the Southern Region Treasury, and it was said to even contain divine items.
Even she had only seen it once, and that was just picking from the outer circle.
But Lu Li’s selection had no such restrictions.
Thinking of this, Yao Yifei’s gaze toward Lu Li became a bit strange again.
It was said that this was due to the Fairy Heavenly King’s strong support. Originally, Lu Li only had qualification to pick from the outer circle.
“Is this guy really a mature woman killer?” Yao Yifei complained inwardly.
Ekaterina, Fairy Heavenly King Qu Suxin, plus herself—this guy couldn’t really have a treasure specialized against mature women, could he?
Sensing Yao Yifei’s gaze, Lu Li asked somewhat apprehensively, “Yifei sis, why is your gaze so strange?”
“Nothing, just observing what makes you special.” Yao Yifei explained.
Lu Li asked curiously, “Tell me more about the Alliance Treasury instead.”
As for the impact brought by Milotic?
With the official Alliance endorsement, this matter shouldn’t cause him any political influence. Milotic’s exposure would mostly bring him a boost in reputation.
A boost in reputation was a double-edged sword; whether it was good or bad in the end?
That would depend on the precedent.
“Reserve Ideal Messenger bro, you must live well, preferably until I achieve success in cultivation!” Lu Li thought silently to himself.
If talking about being high-profile, that Ideal bro was the truly high-profile one. Even if someone targeted him, with that one taking the lead, his own risk as the second would drop quite a bit.
Yao Yifei explained, “The Southern Region Alliance Treasury is divided into three circles: the outer first circle, middle second circle, and inner third circle. The deeper in, the better the treasures, and it’s said that the inner third circle even has legendary divine items.”
Hearing the name divine item, Lu Li nodded thoughtfully, then gently rubbed the gem on his necklace.
Divine items were treasures to him as well; they could accelerate his cultivation speed and also speed up his Pokémon’s growth.
In terms of utilization degree, those Trainers couldn’t compare at all. After all, Trainers couldn’t cultivate, but he could.
“So, does that mean I can go pick a divine item now?” Lu Li asked full of expectation.
Yao Yifei said enviously, “I don’t know where you get your charm from. The Fairy Heavenly King personally lobbied for you. Originally, you could only pick treasures from the outer first circle, but now you can go to the inner third circle.”
“Fairy Heavenly King Qu Suxin?” Lu Li asked in surprise.
Yao Yifei nodded.
Hearing this name again, Lu Li silently committed it to memory.
Cultivator Lu Li repaid favors!
Although he had compensation and felt a bit comforted, Lu Li was still somewhat depressed inside.
That minister had leaked his privacy without his consent; that behavior was truly overbearing.
Even if you had notified him beforehand, letting him prepare in advance, that would have been better.
Thinking this way, Lu Li silently crossed this person off his little notebook.
Although that minister’s behavior was overbearing, given the compensation, he’d put the grudge on hold for now.
If there were no divine items in the treasury, he could always add the name back later.
“By the way, the player in your next match is a bit special, so be careful then.” Yao Yifei reminded him.
“How so?”
Lu Li looked at Yao Yifei curiously.
“Ducat is the youngest young master of the Du Family’s third branch. Though not from the main line, due to his age, he was highly pampered by the family from a young age.”
Lu Li nodded. Wasn’t this the standard spoiled dandy?
Were the villain young masters from novels finally making their appearance?
“Most importantly, this guy often deliberately targets the Trainer themselves during battles, and he’s a Poison-type Trainer.” Yao Yifei reminded.
Lu Li furrowed his brows and asked, “Doesn’t the Alliance care about this?”
Yao Yifei said, “The Grand Festival has no rules prohibiting Pokémon from attacking Trainers.”
Lu Li: “…”
“I’m telling you this so you can be prepared.” Yao Yifei added.
She wasn’t worried that Lu Li would suffer in the match; after all, she had seen the video of his wild battle.
The power to kick open a skull cap wasn’t a joke. If the Alliance allowed Trainers to intervene, Ducat would definitely learn what true terror was.
Thinking of this, Yao Yifei couldn’t help but laugh.
She particularly despised ruthless people like Ducat.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.” Lu Li nodded.
If Trainers could really intervene, Lu Li felt he could win the Grand Festival championship relying solely on himself.
After finishing about the match, Yao Yifei comforted him again: “I’ll wait here for your match to end, then directly take you away with my Pokémon.”
Right now, quite a few reporters were gathered outside the Pokémon Center, all waiting to interview Lu Li.
The scene would definitely be chaotic then. Lu Li was just a rookie Trainer and would struggle against those malicious reporters.
If handled poorly, Lu Li might even get canceled across the internet. It was precisely because she worried about Lu Li making a mistake that Yao Yifei had rushed to the Pokémon Center early.
“Thanks for your trouble.” Lu Li thanked her sincerely.
Yao Yifei just smiled without modesty; after all, she had canceled her afternoon spa for Lu Li.
…………
Meanwhile, in another lounge.
Ducat angrily looked at the announcement on the official website.
“How did this guy do it? Nurturing an Elite Level Tropius in two months—cheating, right? Could it be a divine item?” Ducat said through gritted teeth, his facial expression dark.
The guardian beside him comforted, “Young Master, the master said the opponent might have used a Pokémon Secret Treasure in advance. That mud-legged guy has no experience; it’s normal for him to use a secret treasure on his Pokémon early.”
“Ha?”
Ducat looked at the middle-aged man in front of him, completely confused.
Ducat asked brainlessly, “Then can I use it in advance too?”
Facing Ducat’s gaze, the middle-aged man’s mouth twitched slightly.
Was the Du Family’s education this trashy now? How could he be on the same level as a mud-legged guy!
The middle-aged man, inwardly complaining nonstop, braced himself to explain: “Using a Pokémon Secret Treasure in advance makes it harder for the Pokémon to break through in the late stage, with growth speed lagging behind same-level Pokémon.”
The main effect of Pokémon Secret Treasures was to mindlessly accelerate Pokémon growth, and the effect was the same regardless of the stage.
For example, using it at Normal Level could let the Pokémon break through two minor levels; using it later would also allow two minor levels.
When to use it for the best cost-effectiveness went without saying.
Although Pokémon Secret Treasures only worked on Pokémon below Champion Level（ not including Champion）, anyone with a bit of intelligence knew to wait until the Pokémon reached its qualification limit.
“But what about my match? How am I supposed to fight Elite Level with Normal Mid-stage using my head?” Ducat demanded irritably.
The middle-aged man comforted, “The opponent might send out Charmander.”
Hearing this, Ducat got even angrier.
“What do you mean by that? Are you saying that lowly peasant dares not to go all out against me in battle?” Ducat roared in fury.
Middle-aged man: “…”
If they go all out, you’re afraid of losing; if they don’t, you say they look down on you? So it’s always the other’s fault, huh?
The middle-aged man was too exhausted to complain.
Ducat was completely refreshing his view of noble family scions.
Could the elite education of noble families and powerful clans really produce such brainless idiots? How did such families survive from the previous epoch?
After venting, Ducat’s little brain turned, and he excitedly asked, “Should I go catch an Elite Level Pokémon now?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” The middle-aged man wearing sunglasses rolled his eyes. If he really agreed, the Du Family would hunt him to the ends of the earth.
The first tier almost determined a Trainer’s ceiling. Everyone started from Pokémon Eggs for nurturing, yet this youth wanted to take a shortcut?
The middle-aged man reminded, “That wouldn’t be good, right? First tier Pokémon are very important.”
“Then don’t let it enter the first tier. Use it up and discard it, as long as no bond forms.” Ducat said coldly.
“No way! That would pollute the bond between you and your Pokémon.” The middle-aged man objected in alarm.
“This won’t work, that won’t work—does that mean I really can only lose?” Ducat’s tone was full of resentment.
With no other ideas, the middle-aged man probed, “How about I go find him and make him forfeit the match?”
Ducat rejected without thinking, “No way! Battles between Trainers—using off-field tricks like that is what?”
Middle-aged man: “…”
He was truly numb now; this young master was really hard to serve.
Say he had principles? This guy was ready to catch an Elite Level Pokémon to deal with the opponent.
Say he had no principles? But this young master firmly refused to use power to oppress; he insisted on upright battle on the field.
The middle-aged man could only helplessly comfort, “Young Master, if worst comes to worst, just go all out, like that Gib. After all, it’s just one match’s win or loss.”
Ducat nodded glumly: “I just hope the second match has no accidents. If I can’t get top five, I won’t even qualify for the Alliance Tournament—that would be too embarrassing.”
Seeing he had finally steadied this young master, the middle-aged man let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Actually, he quite understood Ducat. In the same era, such a freakish talent emerging—anyone would feel immense pressure.
In his era, the most talented favored child of heaven was just Ling Kong, who had lost to him in the Grand Festival back then.
…………
Unaware that he had unknowingly pressured his opponent, Lu Li was still constantly returning calls.
He had now comforted Ekaterina and then called to reassure Yu Lili.
Telling them not to worry about him; the issue wasn’t big, and on the contrary, he had gained quite a few benefits.
Especially Yu Lili—upon hearing Lu Li could go to the Alliance Treasury to pick a divine item, she was practically broadcasting her envy on the public screen.
After finally reassuring everyone, Lu Li had just put down the phone when the ringtone sounded again.
Looking at the caller ID on the phone, Lu Li furrowed his brows.
Jin Fengjiao.
This aunt never came without reason.
With doubts in his heart, Lu Li answered the call.
As soon as he picked up, Lu Li heard Jin Fengjiao’s fawning voice.
“Little Li! It’s your Aunt Fengjiao!”
Hearing Jin Fengjiao’s fawning voice, Lu Li raised his eyebrows. It reminded him of the tone an old auntie masseuse used last life when kneeling and begging him to extend the session.
How could she lick so much?
Instantly on guard, Lu Li asked calmly, “Aunt Fengjiao, what do you need me for?”
“I heard you got qualification to enter the Alliance Treasury and pick a treasure?”
“As expected, it’s about this.” Lu Li, now understanding, nodded and replied, “Yes, it’s compensation from the Southern Region.”
“Here’s the thing: I heard there are divine items in the Alliance Treasury. Can you check if there’s a Steel-type divine item? Your Uncle Yu really needs one right now.”
“We’re family, no need for formalities. You’re planning to go the Breeder route anyway, so a divine item is optional for you. But if your Uncle Yu gets one matching his attribute, he might advance further at the Heavenly King stage—that could bolster our family’s foundation.”
“Don’t worry about losing out. When you marry Lili in the future, these things will still be yours, right?”
“I don’t think so!” Lu Li complained speechlessly in his mind.
This Aunt Jin really dared to dream.
Leaving aside whether he and Yu Lili would end up together, even if there was a Steel-type divine item, wouldn’t he keep it for himself?
After all, he still had an Onix, and he could use it too.
He had to admit, this Jin Fengjiao was truly shameless in that regard, and her greed was no ordinary level.
