Chapter 210: Multifunctional Uses Of Pokémon Abilities
“So now, which power is in charge of the Secret Realm Entrance?” Lu Li asked.
“Of course it’s the Alliance.” Yao Yifei said matter-of-factly.
Lu Li, who was somewhat worried about accidents in his heart, asked: “Then we shouldn’t have any accidents entering the Secret Realm, right?”
Yao Yifei confidently guaranteed: “Of course. I’m at least an Alliance Gym Leader, a Gym Level Trainer. Entering just one Secret Realm—anyone with a functioning brain wouldn’t refuse me.”
Led by Yao Yifei, Lu Li arrived at the entrance of Deep Gray Secret Realm. The entrance of Deep Gray Secret Realm was no different from that of Qingyun Secret Realm.
If there was truly a difference, it would be the local legion guarding it.
Stationed at this Secret Realm entrance was the Dugtrio Legion. In terms of value, Dugtrio definitely outclassed the Bidoof Legion.
However, the Dugtrio Legion’s flaw was also obvious: insufficient mobility.
After Yao Yifei showed her Gym Leader identification, she was about to lead Lu Li into the Secret Realm when a voice suddenly stopped the two.
“Wait!”
A youth with gray hair walked over.
The youth smiled, thinking himself handsome: “You’re Gym Leader Yao Yifei, right?”
Yao Yifei looked puzzled at the youth before her.
In terms of looks, this gray-haired youth did have something going for him.
“Who are you?” Yao Yifei asked politely.
The youth walked up to Yao Yifei, a smile he thought charming tugging at his lips, and introduced himself: “I’m Young Master Shen.”
Yao Yifei calmly sized up Young Master Shen. “Does Young Master Shen need something from me?”
“I’m very familiar with Deep Gray Secret Realm. Do you need a guide?” Young Master Shen deliberately struck a suave pose.
“No.” Yao Yifei responded flatly, then turned to lead Lu Li into the Secret Realm.
“Wait, Miss Yao, I think you do need a guide. Although Deep Gray Secret Realm is under Alliance jurisdiction, there are many places not given by the Alliance or on the map.”
Young Master Shen began chattering endlessly about various bits of intel on the Anhui Secret Realm, occasionally mixing in exaggerated gestures to attract Yao Yifei.
Yao Yifei just looked helplessly at Young Master Shen before her.
They weren’t entering to capture Pokémon anyway, and they had a clear destination—no need for a guide at all.
Moreover, Yao Yifei could tell at a glance what this youth wanted.
This peacock-strutting pursuit method was all too familiar to Yao Yifei—8 out of 10 suitors chased her with this routine.
“Look at my Fairy Gem. This is what I found in the Secret Realm. I’m the only one in Deep Gray City who’s found a Pokémon Secret Treasure in the Secret Realm.” He raised his wrist to show off.
Yao Yifei frowned slightly. It wasn’t envy of the Fairy Gem in his hand; she just purely thought this guy was wasting resources.
Wearing a Fairy Gem as jewelry was lucky he hadn’t run into her in the wilderness, or she’d have robbed him for sure.
Lu Li beside her shared the same thought. Flaunting a Pokémon Secret Treasure so blatantly as a wrist accessory—Young Master Shen here probably hadn’t left Deep Gray City his whole life.
If Young Master Shen went traveling, he might not survive three days.
Young Master Shen added: “Oh right, I’m also an Elite Late Stage Trainer. I believe it won’t be long before I break through to Gym Level.”
Lu Li, not wanting to watch him show off anymore, interrupted: “If I may be so bold, how old are you?”
“Just shy of 30!” Young Master Shen said, chin raised.
If Young Master Shen could break through to Gym Level within a year, his talent would be top-notch—at least ranking in the top hundred in Southern Jiuzhou Region.
Of course, that presupposed he could break through to Gym Level in a year. But through Spiritual Vision Eye observation, Lu Li thought the odds low.
Young Master Shen’s Elite Late Stage meant just one Pokémon had reached Elite Late Stage, and it looked freshly broken through.
Under the might of Spiritual Vision Eye, Lu Li could see every Pokémon in the Poké Balls at Young Master Shen’s waist clearly.
If Tropius were here with his Spiritual Energy support, Lu Li had full confidence in crushing him.
“We have our own destination and don’t need a guide. Thanks again for your kindness. We have matters to attend to, so we’ll take our leave.” After Yao Yifei spoke, she gave Lu Li a look beside her, and the two turned to leave.
Watching their departing backs, Young Master Shen neither flew into a rage nor maliciously cursed them for ingratitude.
With a slight smirk, Young Master Shen grinned wickedly. Once they were fully gone, he took out his phone and dialed.
“Old Man, you won’t believe who I met today!” Young Master Shen said in a tone like claiming credit.
“Spit it out!”
An impatient voice from the Old Man came through the phone.
Young Master Shen: “I saw Yao Yifei at the Deep Gray Secret Realm entrance.”
The Old Man asked incredulously: “Yao Yifei? You mean that world-class Star Trainer, Linmu City Gym Leader Yao Yifei?”
“Of course. The name Yao Yifei isn’t common.” Young Master Shen answered smugly.
Hearing his grandson confirm it, a bad premonition flashed in the Old Man’s heart.
“So what do you want?”
“I feel like I can win over Yao Yifei.” Young Master Shen said confidently.
Hearing this expected answer, the Old Man’s expression changed, and he shouted urgently: “No! That’s a delusion. Get your ass back here now!”
Don’t you know what you are? What kind of existence is Yao Yifei?
Setting aside her star aura, I’m a 26-year-old Gym Level Peak Trainer. If I hadn’t been too playful in my youth, I might already be a Heavenly King.
For such a Favored Child of Heaven, you’re a toad dreaming of swan meat? Exaggerating, my grandson doesn’t even qualify to be her simp.
Fearing his grandson’s antics would anger Yao Yifei, the Old Man tried desperately to stop him.
“Old Man, you look down on me too? I’m Deep Gray City’s prodigy!” Young Master Shen retorted unhappily.
“You’re just Deep Gray City’s prodigy. Small cities like Deep Gray City—there are at least a hundred thousand worldwide.” The Old Man sighed.
Young Master Shen: “…”
The Old Man didn’t blame his grandson. Young Master Shen had never left Deep Gray City his whole life; his vision was limited.
“Come back. You can’t afford to provoke someone like Yao Yifei. It might even bring trouble to the family.” The Old Man advised helplessly.
Full of reluctance, Young Master Shen gritted his teeth and said firmly: “No! I still want to try.”
That graceful figure like a goddess from Nine Heavens kept replaying in his mind.
How could there be such a perfect person in the world?
Give up just like that? How could he be content?
Young Master Shen hung up right after.
Listening to the busy tone, the Old Man’s face darkened instantly.
The Shin Family had been declining in recent years. Young Master Shen was their best Trainer talent in decades.
Precisely because Young Master Shen’s talent was too good, the Shin Family never dared let him venture out—not even to prestigious universities, instead having him attend a local normal university.
No choice; the Shin Family finally produced a genius. If he died midway, the family might truly be done.
“I hope the kid recognizes his limits.” The Old Man sighed softly.
…………
After entering the Secret Realm, Lu Li teased with a smile: “As expected of a big star—suitors everywhere.”
“That’s because you don’t know how annoying I find this stuff.” Yao Yifei rolled her eyes at Lu Li.
“Ones like Young Master Shen are fine; my strength surpasses his. The real trouble is Heavenly King Level suitors—have to reject them without offending too much. Such a hassle.” Yao Yifei sighed in true Versailles fashion.
Lu Li: “…”
Not wanting to dwell on the topic, Yao Yifei urged: “Alright, enough. The map shows the volcano is in this area. Let’s head out.”
Lu Li nodded.
“Come with me. An Elite Level Bidoof is easy prey for attacks in the Secret Realm.” Yao Yifei said.
Lu Li nodded, then cooperatively climbed onto Togekiss’s back.
Togekiss was nearly two meters long. Two people on its back was a bit cramped but wouldn’t affect much.
Feeling the hot breath by her earlobe, Yao Yifei, cheeks slightly flushed, asked composedly: “All set?”
“Yeah! I’m steady.”
“Togekiss, thanks.” Yao Yifei gently patted Togekiss’s back.
Receiving the command, Togekiss flapped its wings and soared high. Its wings floated like White Clouds, though its body looked somewhat bulky.
As Togekiss flew, the two traced brilliant trails in the sky, weaving through the sea of clouds.
“Who is that youth?”
Young Master Shen, just entering the Secret Realm, looked glumly at Lu Li sharing a ride with Yao Yifei.
Could he be Yao Yifei’s younger brother?
Young Master Shen didn’t think otherwise. Lu Li looked only 16, while Yao Yifei was 26.
A full ten-year gap—how could a girl like Yao Yifei fancy an immature youth like Lu Li?
“Impossible. Absolutely impossible!” Young Master Shen shook his head vigorously, trying to shake out the guess.
The two soon arrived at the Volcanic Zone.
Along the flight, Lu Li got a rough sense of Deep Gray Secret Realm’s layout.
Deep Gray Secret Realm mainly consisted of forest, volcano, wasteland, and mines.
Pokémon living here were mostly Steel, Fire, Ground, Bug, and such attributes.
After landing, Yao Yifei looked curiously at Lu Li.
“What do we do next?” Yao Yifei asked.
“Next is entering the volcano interior to find the lava pool.” Lu Li said, then released Onix from the Poké Ball.
With the pill’s aid, Onix’s strength had reached Normal Mid-stage, nearly breaking through to Normal Late Stage.
Compared to Charmander, Onix was just one minor level below.
In terms of qualification, Onix surpassed Charmander everywhere except comprehension.
Lu Li said: “Onix, trouble you to dig a tunnel into the volcano interior later.”
“On~”
Onix nodded honestly.
Don’t let Onix’s bulky size fool you; it dug fast.
In the high-heat area, Onix dug nearly a kilometer tunnel in under ten minutes.
This speed could only be described as outrageous.
Lu Li turned to Yao Yifei: “Trouble you to use Psychic Power to take us to the tunnel’s end.”
Yao Yifei nodded. Two beams of white light flashed from the Poké Ball at her waist.
A fiery red Pokémon jumped into Yao Yifei’s arms, while a purple Pokémon stood by her leg.
“Flareon?” Lu Li looked curiously at the Flareon in Yao Yifei’s arms.
Gym Level Early Stage Flareon…
Looks like Yao Yifei’s earlier complaining wasn’t boasting. With an Eevee evolution, she could indeed claim to be an Eevee Attribute Trainer.
“My Little Six has the Ignite Ability. The temperature here’s too high; with it, it absorbs some heat, making me cooler.” Yao Yifei explained, holding Flareon.
Hearing this, Lu Li’s eyes lit up.
Though as a Cultivator he feared no such heat, who wouldn’t want to be cooler?
Charmander had Ignite Ability too.
Thinking this, Lu Li released Charmander.
“Come, Charmander, let me hug you.” Lu Li invited kindly and gently.
Charmander: “???”
Has this Trainer changed again? Or planning to pit me?
Charmander eyed Lu Li suspiciously.
Since passing Newborn Stage, he hadn’t initiated a hug in ages, and now with such a caring tone.
But… who isn’t a little prince?
Charmander happily jumped onto Lu Li. No Pokémon refuses intimacy with its Trainer.
Holding Charmander, Lu Li quickly sensed something wrong.
Why is this guy even hotter?
If the Volcanic Zone was around 45 degrees before, now it was spiking to 50 or higher.
Lu Li looked puzzled at Yao Yifei.
Both Ignite Ability—why am I hotter?
Yao Yifei explained amusedly: “Ignite absorbs flames, but without mastery, it gathers them instead. Only at profound levels does it perfectly absorb nearby heat or flames.”
“Your Charmander hasn’t developed its Ability. It can only passively absorb surrounding Fire Attribute Energy, making the Fire Attribute Energy around it more active, thus raising the temperature.”
Lu Li: “…”
“Charmander, see it?” Lu Li set down Charmander and pointed at Flareon.
Charmander nodded energetically, eyeing Lu Li warily.
You won’t make me fight it, right?
Normal Late Stage Charmander vs. Gym Early Stage Flareon—real or fake?
Face dark, Lu Li explained: “No, I mean, this is your new teacher. Go learn how to develop your Ability from it.”
“Char~”
（Can I?）
Charmander’s eyes lit up, excitedly looking at Lu Li.
Single-minded about Matches, Charmander craved every chance to grow stronger—like now.
