While Fang Yuan was bonding with Ditto, Principal Mo's phone rang. "Have you arrived? I'll go open the gate." After a brief conversation on the phone, nodding his head, Principal Mo turned to Dr. Li Qing and said, "Kai Xin is here."
"Then go ahead and open the gate." Dr. Li Qing nodded.
After Principal Mo left, Fang Yuan asked curiously, "Dr. Li, do we have another guest?"
"It's a student who was once mentored by Sun Weidong; he happened to be visiting him today," Dr. Li Qing explained.
"Oh," Fang Yuan realized. Sun Weidong was the real name of Principal Mo, and his former student must be a remarkable Trainer too.
At this moment, Fang Yuan suddenly remembered something. There was an item in the research mansion of Mo Da.
[Pink Metal]
A type of metallic mineral from a secret location.
As per the introduction, its function was unknown. Many researchers had tried feeding it to Steel-type Spirits, but to no effect. Also, unlike other metallic minerals, it was not applicable in any other domain.
Fang Yuan had initially deduced that it was Metal Powder, a magical powder that, when carried by Ditto, would increase its Defense. Besides Metal Powder, there were similar items such as Speed Powder, all unique to Ditto...
"Feels like there's trouble to stir up again."
...
When Fang Yuan and his companions arrived at the first floor of the research institute from the backyard, Principal Sun was chatting with a young man in his twenties.
Upon seeing Fang Yuan and the others return, Principal Sun immediately introduced, "Fang Yuan, this is Zhang Kaixin, your senior. He was the captain of Magic City University Team back then and like you, he was also the individual Champion of the national competition."
Zhang Kaixin had thick eyebrows and big eyes and looked very sturdy, with a constant slight smile on his face. Upon seeing Fang Yuan, he said, "Junior Fang Yuan, hello. I've been fired up ever since watching the playback of your battle in the national competition, your Monferno is really cool."
"Hello, senior." Fang Yuan grinned. Those words... Monferno would surely love to hear them, but you've only seen how cool it is, not how miserable it gets after entering the battlefield.
"Since Fang Yuan is also here, why don't we all talk together," suggested Principal Sun suddenly with a smile. "About the World Sprite Alliance conference."
"Uh..." Zhang Kaixin was taken aback. "Is junior Fang Yuan also going to participate in the substitute selection?"
Also?
Fang Yuan looked at Zhang Kaixin, meaning that this senior was one of the Trainers recommended by Mo Da?
"Yes, Mo Da will also be recommending him this time, and you'll participate in the substitute selection together," Principal Sun nodded. When he heard that Fang Yuan wanted to try out for the World competition, he was baffled since, at that time, Fang Yuan wasn't even a Professional Trainer. To even consider joining the selection to become a substitute, one would need to possess Master Level strength, right?
Although Fang Yuan had proved his strength in the national competition, the abilities of Milotic and Dragonite were not quite up to the standard.
However, the performance of Monferno made Principal Sun feel that giving Fang Yuan a chance wasn't out of the question.
After all, Fang Yuan had brought not a few honors to Mo Da, and since he was so keen to participate, why not let him? Even if he didn't succeed this time, it would be good experience. Consider it investing in Fang Yuan.
In any case, Fang Yuan's strength was already much stronger than Principal Sun had imagined... He was quite satisfied.
"Eh..." Fang Yuan was surprised by these words. He had thought he would need to undergo many complex trials to be recommended by Mo Da, but Principal Sun was so forthcoming.
Teacher Tang Sheng had said that recommendation slots were incredibly precious and that Mo Da wouldn't have that many. Professional Trainers under thirty who graduated from Magic City University all wanted to vie for a recommendation slot.
Fang Yuan had not expected that winning a national championship would grant him a slot since, over the past ten years, there surely had been several students bringing such honors to Mo Da, like his Senior Zhang.
Beyond that, there could be a variety of influential connections. Under such fierce competition... it was surprising to be given the slot without a more comprehensive assessment of his abilities...
Just for that reason, Fang Yuan felt that he too should pass the selection and become a substitute player! To let Mo Da understand, their judgment was indeed not bad...
"That's really exciting..." Upon hearing this, Zhang Kaixin was also stunned, suddenly feeling unbalanced.
He had once led Mo Da to a team championship and had become an individual Champion, yet after graduating and undergoing years of grueling training, he finally received a recommendation slot; whereas Fang Yuan got it in his sophomore year...
Was Fang Yuan that strong?
"Would you two like to have a battle?" Principal Mo suddenly said cheerfully, and at the same time, Dr. Li Qing had heated the tea and served it to the three of them.
"A battle?..." Fang Yuan touched his nose.
Although he had received the recommendation slot, it seemed Principal Sun still wanted a clearer understanding of his strength.
The Principal must have thought that Zhang Kaixin's arrival was timely.
However, Fang Yuan was also curious about the strength of a true substitute selection participant, and so he too looked forward to the battle.
"I don't have a problem with it," Zhang Kaixin said with a laugh.
"Fang Yuan, during your Professional assessment, you must have undergone training for team battles, right?" Principal Sun asked.
"Yes."
"How about a 3vs3 team battle as the format of our battle?" Principal Mo also recognized the strength of Fang Yuan's Monferno, but to better gauge Fang Yuan's abilities, he suggested this.