"Each selector has three challenges," Zhao Xuenya said, "If all three challenges fail, the contestant is eliminated. Starting from the fourth level, breaking through each level earns an extra special reward."
"This reward system... it must be the association's way of giving less skilled trainers a chance to grow, even though it's just for a short week..."
"Time, resources, pressure, it's all there. Admittedly the time is short, but for some geniuses, they might just break through their limits..."
"What I'm more curious about, though, is what the reward for defeating the tenth Pokemon will be, assuming defeating nine is the passing criteria," Li You said, stroking his chin, "I think it won't be those resources that you can simply buy with money. It must be a top-tier resource that can significantly boost a Pokemon's strength in a short time! However, correspondingly, the strength of the tenth Pokemon must be very formidable... closing in on top-level combat power, or a true top overlord?"
"It's likely the former. If it's the latter, no one could pass unless the current Four Heavenly Kings or Champion takes the challenge... Even so, it's going to be very difficult, as you're facing nine strong Pokemon in a row without breaks," Zhang Kaixin added.
After carefully reading the rules for the first selection match, Fang Yuan was also surprised; the substitute selection for the World Championship was harder than he had imagined. 3vs10, huh? Without using Eevee, Glutton, or Monferno, even Fang Yuan wasn't confident about completely getting through...
And this was just the first stage of the selection... The latter stages would undoubtedly be even more brutal.
Nevertheless, Fang Yuan was looking forward to this series of continuous battles. He rarely experienced such progressively intense continuous battles. In Fang Yuan's memory, the most impressive trainer in this aspect was a guy named Ailan from an animation, whose MEGA Blastoise won consecutively against ten trainers, including the Fire Type Four Heavenly King Paqila, all of whom mastered Mega Evolution, almost single-handedly.
Even though Ailan could use healing items in his battles, it was still 1VS10, and that too in the high energy-consuming state of Mega Evolution... And considering his last opponent was one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Fang Yuan estimated that Ailan's Super Blastoise probably had the strength of Top Tier Level Three.
If only his own Glutton had such formidable physical strength... that would truly be the strongest Mega Evolution.
However, looking at it from another angle, Xiaozhi was even more frightening. A single Froakie evolved in just under a year to possess strength not inferior to that of the Super Blastoise. A bit abnormal?
When can Eevee and I achieve that level with the "Power of the Heart"?
"This selection not only tests the strength of the Pokemon," Zhao Xuenya said, "the most important thing is the tactical acumen of the trainer... if the opponent has no trainer to command, then using various tactics to overcome stronger enemies with minimal consumption is the breakthrough point of this selection."
"That's what I think as well," Li You nodded.
"Yeah, we need to plan various tactics in advance," Zhang Kaixin also said.
"Junior brother Fang Yuan, you can try challenging up to the tenth Pokemon," Zhao Xuenya kindly reminded, "I remember your Monferno now possesses the combat power of the master level, right? Even at the professional difficulty of the tenth level, it's not impossible for you to have a chance if the opponent is also at the master level, and if you show enough potential you'll definitely receive more resource support..."
"Hmm... thank you, Sister Xie. But I want to try challenging the master level difficulty," said Fang Yuan.
As Fang Yuan spoke, Zhao Xuenya and Li You were momentarily stunned, their faces full of question marks as they looked at Fang Yuan.
"Master level difficulty???"
They glanced at the drink in Fang Yuan's cup—it was Sprite, not alcohol...
"Hahaha..." Zhang Kaixin couldn't help but laugh at this moment: "Don't underestimate Fang Yuan. His strength is very formidable, he might not be incapable of taking up the master level difficulty."
"Even if I ultimately only succeed in challenging half of the levels, the benefits I obtain will definitely not be comparable to those gained from passing ten challenges at the professional level."
After all, selectors of the same age as Fang Yuan were almost all participating in challenges of professional-level difficulty, and Fang Yuan was completely taking on challenges above his level.
"Uh..." Hearing what Zhang Kaixin said, Li You and Zhao Xuenya still found it difficult to comprehend, which is to say, Fang Yuan could bring out three Master Level Pokemon?
Fang Yuan is only a sophomore...
................
The next day!
Road of Champions, Domed Arena.
Starting at eight in the morning, battles were to be fought here continuously and without pause.
There were no spectators, no recording equipment, just a team of professional referees about ten people strong, as well as three overseers for substitute selectors and several dozen trainer selectors.
In the vast arena, there were only nearly a hundred people, but standing inside, many trainers could still feel an immense pressure.
In the first stage of the selection challenge, trainers could apply to enter the arena on their own, be arranged in order according to the time of application, and then start the challenge. If no one voluntarily applied, the final sequence would follow the order officially announced, taking turns undergoing selection.
During other trainers' challenge times, those not engaged in battle could choose to stay and watch or leave for special intensive training. Both choices had their advantages and disadvantages, and it was entirely up to the selectors to decide.
However, considering this was only the first stage of selection, and that significant improvement was very difficult to achieve in just a few days, many preferred to stay and observe. After all, there would certainly be fights for competition among the selectors later, and watching now was a process of familiarizing themselves with their opponents, which was also very important.
Fang Yuan, Zhang Kaixin, Zhao Xuenya, and Li You, the four Magic University trainers, were already sitting quietly in the arena, silently waiting for the selection to begin.
"I see the Cloud Armor King!!" Zhao Xuenya, seated, looked towards the main stage and said excitedly after seeing the solemn-faced young man.
"Rather than the reigning kings, shouldn't you be paying attention to them?" Li You took a deep breath and looked at other selectors sitting elsewhere.
"Especially that one..."
"The Reigning King, the one replaced by school sister Xie Qingyi from the Four Heavenly Kings, even though his strength was once only fifth in the King Tournament rankings, he's still a very powerful opponent to us. I hope we won't encounter him in the later stages of the selection," said Li You.
"The Reigning King..." Fang Yuan had an odd expression. He thought to himself, this big brother's name really fits the situation. "Shang Ren Shang Ren," now he's truly the former King. He must have been teased a lot by his friends, poor guy...
Apart from the powerful trainer the Reigning King, there were many famous trainers who were regulars in the King tournaments, geniuses recommended by all the major inheritances. Fang Yuan glanced around and saw Jiang Ran, Xu Jing, Yun Guancheng—trainers of professional level, aiming for the next world tournament, ignoring even those like school sister Xie who had fought in a King Tournament. The Daoist Successor from the Evergreen Dojo was present too; his ace had nearly top-level combat power back then, and even if he hadn't reached the top now, his strength must certainly be even stronger.
Then there was the rich beauty from Dawn Group, also an extremely powerful trainer. After all, from birth, she possessed something even more formidable than superpowers—the power of cash... Fang Yuan's gaze swept over, spotting many familiar faces, and he couldn't help but smile.
Once, they were all subjects of Fang Yuan's analysis and study, but now, they had become his rivals. Fang Yuan had made it step by step to the present, and finally, he could compete against the top young masters of Hua Nation.
While Fang Yuan and his group were observing others, their presence was also under scrutiny. Fang Yuan figured not many people would recognize him, as the national competitions were relatively low-end to some extent, but no matter, he would soon stand out...