To prevent any accidents,
Luo Xing rode on his Pidgeot and circled above the lake
as soon as everyone entered the Secret Realm.
He was afraid some kid would ignore his warning
and sneak near the water.
And sure enough!
His expression darkened.
Down below, Cha Wanwan was so busy happily collecting treasure
that she didn't even notice the Salandit creeping up behind her.
Luckily, Bulbasaur reacted quickly
and took the hit for her.
He nearly flew down to help several times
during the chaos that followed.
But the twists kept surprising him,
and he watched with great interest.
Especially when he saw Lin Yu rob the thugs right back
and even strip them of their shirts, laughing cheerfully.
This kid… just like me back in the day.
He was also utterly astonished.
Nearly every time he saw Lin Yu,
the boy shocked him beyond belief.
"A mid-Elite Gyarados… he can't win this, right?"
Just as he thought the two would fire their signal flares,
he saw Lin Yu and Charmeleon charge forward
with fighting burning in their eyes.
Two versus one.
Ralts and Charmeleon showed no fear at all
against a Gyarados far stronger than them
with the Intimidate Ability.
Protect.
Fairy Wings.
Fire Punch.
Flamethrower.
And Psybeam (Mind Spire).
The two Pokémon worked in perfect sync.
Poor Gyarados ended up like a practice dummy.
Its Aqua Tail, Water Gun,
and even its frustrated, desperate Hyper Beam —
either blocked by Protect,
or dodged by Charmeleon's early prediction.
Gyarados was already a short-tempered Pokémon.
In the end, it was so enraged
that it swam up the narrow stream
and became a sitting target.
After losing the ability to battle,
it was recalled into its Poké Ball.
Luo Xing watched the whole fight,
stunned speechless.
Down below.
After the battle,
Charmeleon reached Level 21.
It had broken through the Normal stage
and officially reached the Elite stage.
Winning an overleveled fight,
plus all the prior experience —
the evolution felt only natural.
It had been a tough battle.
Even with Aura guiding it,
Charmeleon still grazed by the first Aqua Tail.
Its back was bruised black and blue.
Charmeleon panted heavily after the fight.
Lin Yu quickly swapped[Combat Drain]for[Forest Friend].
In just one minute,
Charmeleon and Ralts stood before Lin Yu again,
energetic and full of life.
"Wow, senior! You're amazing!"
Cha Wanwan's eyes sparkled.
That Gyarados was five or six meters long,
at least mid-Elite level.
And her junior had beaten it!
His strength was insane.
It was like…
they were all supposed to be students together —
well, she was a grade higher.
But he was already at champion-level caliber.
"Senior Cha, let's heal Bulbasaur's poison first!"
Bulbasaur was still unconscious from the poison.
After splitting the "loot,"
Lin Yu was in an excellent mood.
"Ah? I don't have any Antidote with me!"
Cha Wanwan panicked.
Did she really have to use the signal flare?
"Don't worry. I can make some."
Lin Yu smiled.
As long as he had ingredients,
making Antidote was child's play for him.
And ingredients?
He'd collected plenty
both in this Secret Realm
and the previous Green Maple Secret Realm.
"Pecha Berry, Heat-Clearing Grass, Stain-Removal Flower…"
It was his first time making this particular medicine,
so he worked carefully.
Material processors and Berry mixers —
he'd kept all the equipment in his Space Backpack
since the last exam.
It didn't take long.
One bottle of Antidote was done!
"Senior, you're… really too strong!"
Cha Wanwan stared in disbelief at Lin Yu's skilled movements,
then at the clear, perfectly blended Antidote.
The quality was top-tier.
He was an incredible Trainer.
And now he showed he was a Breeder, too.
She couldn't believe how much this junior could do.
"Alright, alright. Give it to Bulbasaur first."
After handing over the Antidote,
Lin Yu stored the rest.
Each of these Antidote bottles
could sell for hundreds, even over a thousand yuan on the market.
And Lin Yu had made fifty-three.
The raw materials would've only sold for a few thousand.
That was the insane profit of a Breeder!
That was why,
when Lin Yu showed his Breeder license,
Ye Qingxue had trusted him
to raise Charmander.
Cha Wanwan looked at Lin Yu gratefully.
This was no time to be shy.
She immediately gave the Antidote to Bulbasaur.
When Bulbasaur slowly woke up
with clear, gentle eyes,
Cha Wanwan hugged it happily.
The Secret Realm expedition only lasted one day.
Lin Yu hurried her to collect more Light Water Stones.
As for safety,
Charmeleon patrolled the sky above them.
Near the lake,
the Light Water Stones held richer, denser energy.
The two collected them joyfully.
They searched all around the lake
but didn't find any more of Ho-Oh's Lost Feather.
But Lin Yu didn't mind.
Treasures were right in front of him —
why not take them?
They kept collecting until afternoon,
when it was almost time to leave.
They finally stopped, reluctant.
Their Space Backpacks were completely full!
"Thank you so much, senior Lin Yu."
Cha Wanwan didn't know what else to say.
It was a shame so many girls already liked him…
Her parents were ordinary textile workers
at a Caterpie silk factory.
They only made a few thousand a month.
For Pokémon training, medicine, and care —
it was barely enough.
These Light Water Stones
would support her Pokémon's growth for a long, long time.
"It's nothing."
Lin Yu waved.
Charmeleon landed beside him at once,
rubbing its head affectionately against his hand.
Charmeleon was now about 1.6–1.7 meters tall,
tough and muscular.
Lin Yu could barely imagine
how big it would get once it became Charizard.
Ralts had also grown taller these days,
still delicate and cute, like a little girl.
With Aura guiding the way,
Lin Yu didn't run into any wild Pokémon on the way back.
Even if they did,
Ralts took them out in one hit.
Why not let Charmeleon fight?
Lin Yu was afraid it would burn down the whole jungle.
The Secret Realm exit looked just like the entrance:
a crimson gate,
guarded by law enforcement soldiers with Arcanine.
The two stepped out one after another.
"Collecting Secret Realm treasures!
One-time and permanent-boost items only!
Official League buying station!"
A black van was set up like a small stall.
It was the Treasure Bureau,
under the Pokémon League,
specializing in treasure trading.
Many explorers crowded around.