The next three battles were indeed as Zhu Yishan said, Zhou Yuan won easily.

Host Battle Victory x3, Energy Points +150

Passerby's Numbness x3, Energy Points +150

Host's Current Energy Points: 6410

Zhou Yuan rubbed Growlithe's head, chatting idly with Li Feiyong. Just as he thought the Gym battles for the day were over, Li Tao came down the stairs with Zhu Yishan.

Li Tao was about the same height as Zhou Yuan, just over 1.8 meters, but he was very sturdy. He had a very standard square face, and combined with his features and expression, he generally gave people a feeling of unapproachable authority.

“Good, you guys fought well. So many people in the Training Hall were beaten by one person?!”

Li Tao's voice sounded very angry, causing all the apprentices, whether they participated in the battle or not, to lower their heads.

“You all need to reflect properly, especially those who participated in the battles. You've been studying for over a year and still lost, even getting into a Pokémon university, yet you were utterly defeated by a new Trainer. All of you, reflect properly! Double the training volume for everyone during this period!”

Li Tao showed his brutal side as the Gym Leader. His words made the apprentices submissive and afraid to speak, then he turned his gaze to Zhou Yuan, making Zhou Yuan's heart tighten.

“Zhou Yuan, come with me.”

Li Tao led Zhou Yuan towards the reception room inside the venue, followed by Zhu Yishan and a curious Li Feiyong.

Upon reaching the reception room, Li Tao and Zhou Yuan sat across from each other at a table.

“Xiao Yuan, can I call you that?” Li Tao spoke first.

“Of course, Uncle Li. Is there something you need me for?” Zhou Yuan was a bit puzzled. It couldn't be that he was upset because Zhou Yuan had beaten up all his students, could it?

Logically, Li Tao, as a retired soldier and Gym Leader, wouldn't be so narrow-minded.

While Zhou Yuan was still thinking, Li Tao spoke.

“Xiao Yuan, I need to thank you today. I've long been annoyed with these brats, always Slacking Off. Did they really think I didn't know? Even their senior brother was helping them cover it up.”

At this, Li Tao glared at Zhu Yishan beside him. Zhu Yishan didn't speak when stared at, only rubbed his nose with a wry smile.

“I've wanted to deal with them for a long time, but I couldn't find a suitable reason. Today you came and beat them all up, so I can use this opportunity to make them train twice as hard. I still have to thank you for helping me teach them a lesson, hahahaha.”

Li Tao laughed heartily, looking up. Watching this scene, Zhou Yuan had a sense of déjà vu, as if he was seeing Uncle Liu.

After laughing for a while, Li Tao stood up, paced two steps left and right, and said:

“I can't think of any compensation for you right now. Logically, you are Liu Yongming's junior, so your initial resources probably won't be bad, and as a new Trainer, you can't use most resources.”

Hearing this, Zhou Yuan quickly stood up and said:

“Uncle Li, why would I need any reward? I came here for battles to begin with. Helping Uncle Li was just going with the flow, not for any reward. Uncle Li doesn't need to be so polite with me. Li Feiyong and I get along very well. It's normal for friends to help each other.”

Hearing Zhou Yuan say this, Li Tao was speechless for a moment. Li Feiyong next to him was also a bit confused, wondering how he had become friends with Zhou Yuan when they hadn't even chatted much.

After pacing two more steps, Li Tao said:

“Since you say so, then I won't give you any other rewards. I'm a rough man, I haven't studied much culture, and all that politeness and refusal gives me a headache.”

“However, as Feiyong's friend, you can also be considered my junior. How about this: it's not very suitable for you to battle at Yongming's place, so you can come here and battle with them whenever you're free. It can also motivate them to train harder. Actually, it still feels like I'm gaining more.”

“Furthermore, if you need to learn any Skills in the future, just come directly to me. I don't have many other Skills here, but I do have Fighting-type and various coverage Skills. Our Li's Training Hall was established based on those three elemental punches, which built our good reputation.”

At this point, Li Tao paused, as if remembering something.

“Oh right, your starter Pokémon is Growlithe, but that's okay. I estimate you'll catch your second Pokémon after school starts. You can come to me to learn then, or whenever you want to learn in the future, you can always find me. Your Growlithe can also learn Iron Head. It probably has low morale after too many battles today, so let's start tomorrow. Bring Growlithe tomorrow, and I'll teach it the Skills it can learn for now.”

“Then thank you, Uncle Li.” This was an unexpected pleasant surprise for Zhou Yuan. He had originally just planned to come today to battle a few times to farm some experience and Energy Points, but he didn't expect to learn new Skills.

This wave, oh, this wave is a huge profit.

Li Tao spoke again, this time to Zhu Yishan.

“Yishan, how have you considered that matter I mentioned earlier? Your second Pokémon hasn't broken through to Senior Level yet, has it? Want to have a practice match with Xiao Yuan?”

Zhou Yuan was also a bit surprised, there were still Energy Points to be gained... no, there were still battles to be fought? This was incredibly exciting!

Zhu Yishan saw that his master had said so much, and knew he couldn't escape this battle, but he still wanted to make some struggle.

“My second Pokémon isn't a Fighting type, is that okay?”

Li Tao slapped him on the back of the head.

“What if it's not a Fighting type? Does that mean you're not my apprentice anymore? Stop dawdling, get on the stage now.”

There was also a battle stage behind the reception room. The group walked onto the stage, and Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yishan stood on opposite sides.

“I'm really sorry, Master is always like this, just doing whatever comes to mind.” Zhu Yishan was about to continue speaking, but Li Tao below was already impatient.

“Hey! What are you chatting about! Do you really think I can't hear you?! You! After the battle, your training will be doubled along with theirs!”

“Ah…”

Zhou Yuan clearly felt a sense of life not being worth living in Zhu Yishan opposite him at this moment.

Li Feiyong, acting as the referee, once again swung down his arm.

“Battle start!”

“Go, Growlithe!” Zhou Yuan commanded Growlithe to enter the arena.

Seeing this, Zhu Yishan knew that this battle today was unavoidable. He pulled out his second Poké Ball from his waist:

“Go, Luxio!”

Luxio

Level: Normal Level, Peak

Ability: Guts

Skills: Tackle, Glare, Charge, Spark, Bite, Roar, Swagger, Thunder Fang, Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Iron Tail, Fury Cutter, Double Kick, Howl, Assurance, Take Down, Endure, Facade

“Oh wow, even a Peak-level one. One more step and it'll be Senior Level, right? After Senior Level, it can evolve into Luxray.”

Zhou Yuan muttered to himself while commanding Growlithe to use Agility. It was the familiar buff-first opening.

“Luxio, ignore him. We'll use Howl then Charge!” Zhu Yishan also commanded Luxio to use a Skill.

“Growlithe, we'll use Howl too!” When it comes to buffing, who doesn't know how to do it?

For a moment, the sounds of “Woof!” and “Meow!” were incessant on the stage.

After Luxio used Howl and Charge, its fur crackled with electricity. Charge can effectively boost the power of a Pokémon's Electric-type Skills.

“Luxio, use Spark!”

It was very fast, a flash and it was there, so fast that Growlithe's Protect hadn't even come out. Luxio directly slammed its head into Growlithe's head, making Growlithe dizzy.

“Growlithe, don't let it get away, use Play Rough!”

They were already face to face. Charge-type Skills were hard to get going, so Zhou Yuan chose to have Growlithe use the higher-power Play Rough. Two paws covered in light pink energy crossed and slapped Luxio's body, directly sending Luxio flying.

After this exchange of damage, due to the boost from Charge and STAB, Luxio dealt considerable damage to Growlithe. However, due to Luxio's weak physical defense, its condition was not good after taking a Play Rough to the face, but overall, Growlithe was still at a disadvantage.

The two Pokémon stood at a distance, facing each other. The Trainers below also pondered their next moves.

“Luxio, use Swagger!”

Ultimately, Zhu Yishan made the first move. Under Zhu Yishan's command, Luxio began to flail its limbs wildly. Growlithe, upon seeing this, gradually became enraged. Growlithe's Attack greatly increased! But Growlithe also fell into a confused state.

While confused, there's a chance to hit oneself when attacking.

“Growlithe, use Morning Sun!”

Zhou Yuan didn't care. The confusion effect would automatically wear off after a period of time anyway. He just needed to stall through that period, and he could also take the opportunity to buff himself, gaining two free stages of Attack buff.

Seeing Zhou Yuan refuse to attack, Zhu Yishan was a bit helpless. Luxio, as his second Pokémon, hadn't been fully trained yet. High-power Skills and combo moves were still lacking. He could only try to interfere with the opponent using the confusion effect, but he didn't expect the opponent to not fall for it, which made things difficult. Now he could only actively attack to force the opponent to retaliate, thereby triggering the confusion effect.

Although buffing Luxio at the same time was also a method, Luxio's Speed was almost identical to Growlithe's, and Growlithe had already undergone one Agility buff. If both sides buffed themselves to the maximum, Luxio's Speed would definitely be inferior to Growlithe's, and it would likely be taken out by a quick attack. Therefore, he could only use offense as defense.

Under Zhu Yishan's command, Luxio repeatedly used Spark to interfere with Growlithe, but Growlithe blocked them either with its body or with Protect. After taking damage, it would promptly use Morning Sun to restore its stamina.

Zhu Yishan's mindset underwent a subtle change. It was just too tanky. How could there be such a disgusting Skill as Morning Sun!

After stalling for a while, Growlithe was no longer dizzy. Its eyes became sharp again, and it grinned, showing a knowing smile.

Zhou Yuan saw that the time was ripe and commanded Growlithe to use Flare Blitz, charging directly at Luxio.

Luxio had already taken one Play Rough. How could it withstand this Flare Blitz now? Even Endure wouldn't hold up. It was hit in the face by Growlithe's Ember, turning its eyes into swirls.

Host Cross-Level Battle Victory. Energy Points +250

Host's Remaining Energy Points: 6660

After recalling Luxio, Zhu Yishan stepped forward and said:

“Your Growlithe is very well-trained. Its moveset and resistances are excellent, even allowing for sustained presence and output.”

Zhou Yuan also knew that this victory today was because Luxio hadn't been fully trained yet, but it didn't matter. If both sides trained their Pokémon to the same extent, Zhou Yuan was confident that even Luxray couldn't beat Arcanine, but he still engaged in polite flattery:

“I wouldn't dare say that, I wouldn't dare. It's mainly because your Luxio hasn't been fully trained yet. If its moveset were complete, it's hard to say who would have won this battle today. But even without being fully trained, it still gave Growlithe quite a challenge.”

Li Tao couldn't stand the two of them flattering each other anymore and interrupted:

“Xiao Yuan fought well, able to reasonably utilize Skills and effects. Yishan also fought well, trying to break out of unfavorable situations. Both of you are very good. Alright, stop flattering each other, come with me to the back for dinner.”

After speaking, he put an arm around each of them and escorted them to the dining hall in the back.