"Another trial?"
After the battle ended, Fang Yuan was brought by Master Tao Xiuying to the center of the valley.
On the way, with a word from Tao Xiuying saying "Prepare for the next trial," Fang Yuan was suddenly stunned.
He thought that by solving the Inflammation Attribute he could then practice through the Fire of Life… So the trial isn't over yet?
"I never said there was only one trial… But this time it really is the last one."
"The first trial was just to determine your mastery over the Fire Attribute and whether you are worthy of using the Fire of Life," Master Tao Xiuying spoke: "The second one is the key to whether you can come into contact with the Fire of Life."
"Understood."
Fang Yuan honestly followed behind the other person, whether it was one trial or several, as long as he passed them all, that was all that mattered.
"The second trial seems simple, but it's not that simple."
"The Fire of Life from Moltres has its own consciousness; although it usually manifests in a gentle form, sometimes it can produce high temperatures. Regardless of which form, it varies from person to person, depending on the human or Pokemon that comes into contact with it."
"To practice with the help of the Fire of Life, the most basic requirement is that the flame does not become hostile toward you."
"That is the second trial… You should know about Pokemon like Ponyta and Rapidash, right? The nature of the Fire of Life is quite similar to the flames found on their bodies."
Ponyta and Rapidash… their bodies are engulfed in flames, but if they recognize a Trainer, they can be ridden without the flames causing harm. Not only will the flames not injure the Trainer, but they won't even burn the Trainer's clothes…
Master Tao Xiuying looked at Fang Yuan: "You want to come into contact with the Fire of Life to perfect your Pokemon's combat skills and heal hidden injuries, right? With this intention, you should not be rejected. Please approach with sincerity… But speaking of which, the Pokemon you mentioned, is it this one?"
Tao Xiuying then looked at the Eevee on Fang Yuan's shoulder, still feeling very incredulous that an Eevee could master Solar Energy and become adept in the nature of Fire Type…
Moreover… it also possesses nearly-top-level combat power.
Thinking of what Fang Yuan had said earlier about "one Pokémon's combat style being quite extreme, making it prone to hidden injuries," Master Tao Xiuying subconsciously associated it with Eevee, guessing that to grant such strength to an Eevee must have come at a great cost.
"Bwoo?" Sensing the gaze of the elderly woman in front of it, Eevee shook its head like a rattle; it was not having a fate as miserable as Monferno's… No, wait!
Wrong! After pondering for a moment, Eevee's expression turned grave as it realized a blind spot.
Lying down… isn't good?
Now it would rather have a fate as miserable as Monferno's. Although Monferno's situation was unfortunate, it could enter the Top Tier Domain, whereas it still couldn't, making its fate even more miserable!
Thinking this way, Eevee suddenly became envious of Monferno who could lie down for half a month after a single battle; give it a phone, and it could lie down for half a year!
"No, not this one, another one of mine," Fang Yuan quickly said.
"You have another Pokémon that is adept with flames?" Tao Xiuying looked slightly more favorably at Fang Yuan.
However, at this time, Master Tao Xiuying had a greater doubt: Fang Yuan, why not evolve this Eevee, whose expression is always changing, into a Flareon?
......
"This is the place." After bringing Fang Yuan to the center of the valley, Master Tao Xiuying spoke. Fang Yuan and Eevee both wore astonished expressions because before them was a huge Lava Pool.
"No need to be surprised; this is created by the Secret Location and the power of the Pokémon," Master Tao Xiuying explained.
As she finished speaking, the magma pool began to bubble with "gurgle, gurgle" noises, then a column of magma erupted upward, accompanied by flames, and a billowing white smoke trailed around a red silhouette that flew out!
This was a Pokémon with flames erupting from its head and shoulders and a fiery emblem on its belly, its whole body seemingly engulfed in roaring flames.
At this moment, the Magmar, clutching a special container with a simple-appearing, normal-colored flame within, was a Pokémon with a top-level combat power…" As the Magmar flew out from the magma and landed on the ground, Fang Yuan instinctively judged, the combat power of this Magmar was definitely not weak!
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It seemed that the guardian of the Fire of Life here was indeed this creature.
"Bwoo!!" After landing, the Magmar shook off the magma on its body and walked over step by step, handing the container to Master Tao Xiuying.
Taking the container, Tao Xiuying muttered to herself, "I'll need to trouble you again."
Witnessing this scene, Fang Yuan felt as if the other party was not talking to a flame, but to a conscious being!
"It must be akin to the flame of Moltres of the Sacred Fire level, that Moltres' power must have truly reached Legend Level, not something an ordinary Moltres could compare with..." Fang Yuan became serious.
"Release the Pokemon you want to come into contact with the flame," Master Tao Xiuying said at the same time.
"Okay."
Fang Yuan nodded, took out Monferno's Poké Ball, and in the next moment, Monferno appeared beside him.
After examining the impressive Monferno, Tao Xiuying turned on the switch of the container and said, "Both of you, touch the flame with your hands. If you don't feel the heat, it means the flame doesn't reject you."
After speaking, Tao Xiuying demonstrated by lightly placing her hand above the fire. At such a close distance, even the flame of a lighter would be enough to cause a burning sensation. However, the flame of Moltres felt as if it had no temperature at all, having no effect on Master Tao Xiuying.
The Fire of Life, for those with kind hearts, especially kind trainers who have been in regular contact with Fire Type Spirits, would not produce heat. On the contrary, it would be like a Blazing flame comparable to top-level fire for the rest. Master Tao Xiuying was aware of this property of the Fire of Life, which is why she so strictly controlled access to it, not allowing people to touch it casually.
Although Fang Yuan had passed her test, whether he could gain the recognition of the conscious Fire of Life was the most important issue.
If the Fire of Life didn't produce heat towards Fang Yuan or Monferno, then by touching it briefly, Monferno could allow the Fire of Life to envelop its whole body, thus achieving the purposes of healing and training.
But if it did produce heat and hostility, then Master Tao Xiuying would have no option but to issue a dismissal.
"Let's try," Fang Yuan said somewhat nervously. Monferno also understood the situation and was quite tense. Eevee also poked its head out from Fang Yuan's shoulder...
Although Master Tao Xiuying said there should be no problem, who knows what might happen...
"Aside from telling some well-meaning lies to Pokemon, I shouldn't have done anything wrong..." Fang Yuan mumbled to himself as he approached.
However, just as Fang Yuan and Monferno were getting close to Tao Xiuying, suddenly, an unexpected change occurred, and Fang Yuan's eyes widened abruptly.
Within the container, the flame, which had been burning, suddenly erupted, swelling rapidly in size. Though Master Tao Xiuying was taken aback, she dared not throw away the container. Fortunately, the flame did not cause her any harm but simply grew on its own.
As it grew, the fire spun continuously, exuding an immensely imposing presence. Fang Yuan even thought he heard a cry. The growl encompassed within it, the flame suddenly broke free from the container, dancing into the air.
When the flame danced into the air, in the bewildered gazes of Fang Yuan and Tao Xiuying, the fire began to condense, forming the shape of a Moltres!
"Moltres—" On seeing the transformation of the Fire of Life, Tao Xiuying was shocked and wore a look of disbelief.
"There's Life Fluctuation, a response from Life Fluctuation..."
At the same time, though the Rotom phone in Fang Yuan's backpack did not come out, it sensed a massive wave of life force. The moment the Moltres took shape, Eevee jumped off Fang Yuan's shoulder, gravely observing the fire... Judging by the Life Fluctuation, did this mere flame possess Top-Level Combat Power?
The fire surged, and the Fire of Life, as if endowed with intelligence, continued to circle in the air. Finally, after glancing at Monferno and then at Eevee, it flew back into the container... Everything was as if nothing had happened.
"This..." Still in shock and yet to recover, Master Tao Xiuying stood there stunned, and the Magmar beside her bore a dumbfounded expression as well. The flame it was guarding, could it transform?
"Umm..." After being startled, Fang Yuan, Eevee, and Monferno also had a bewildering look. What's going on?
Fang Yuan felt as though he had gotten himself into trouble again.
"Master Tao, this is a normal reaction, right?"
"Normal... reaction?"
Tao Xiuying wore an expression as if she had seen a ghost. Ever since she had acquired this flame, such a bizarre incident had never occurred before!
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