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The original plan was for Mrs. Yin to take Li Xiang to get his first Pokémon during lunch break.
However, for some reason, Su Yiliu ended up taking over, and they were leaving right away, with Su seeming to be in a bit of a hurry.
Skipping work?
Li Xiang didn't mind. He had long passed the age of relying on his parents. If not for his current eleven-year-old body, he felt he could have gone by himself.
"Which breeder's shop in the city are we going to? I think Sharp Rival is pretty good," he suggested, seated in the passenger seat of Su Yiliu's two-door sports car.
He had done his research. Many forums rated Sharp Rival Breeder's Shop highly. Ignoring the overhyped reviews, the general consensus was that it was the best choice in Qingcheng.
Even Mrs. Yin had confirmed through her network that the place was indeed reputable.
In this world, most breeding facilities had official ties and were strictly regulated. Private individuals were forbidden from mass-selling Pokémon to ensure proper oversight of both trainers and Pokémon owners.
In this Pokémon world, the destructive power of low-level Pokémon might not be apparent, but as their levels rose, so did their potential for harm. To maintain social order, protect citizens' safety, and preserve the hard-earned peace, all Pokémon ownership had to be logged in the association's database.
Pokémon caught in the wild, purchased from breeders, traded with others, or privately sold—every single one had to be registered.
Pokémon not in the database, with unknown origins, were not allowed in public spaces, barred from competitions, and denied any civil privileges. If found, the police would intervene, tracing the origin of the Pokémon in question.
In essence, being logged in the database was like holding an ID card for Pokémon. Trainers acted as the Pokémon's household registry. Unregistered Pokémon were collectively referred to as "blacklisted Pokémon," which could only live in secrecy under certain owners.
Li Xiang had seen such blacklisted Pokémon at conservation centers. Physically, they were no different from registered ones.
"Sharp Rival? We're not going there. Your big sis is taking you somewhere even better!" Su Yiliu chuckled as she fastened her seatbelt. "I guarantee it'll be way better than any breeder's shop!"
Li Xiang was momentarily stunned. Then, as a thought crossed his mind, his heart began to race.
Better than a breeder's shop? Could it be—?
Half an hour later, they arrived at the Qingcheng Pokémon Breeding Facility.
The grandeur of the facility rivaled that of a conservation center. Despite the near-identical naming, the two had vastly different roles.
The Breeding Facility supplied Pokémon and Pokémon Eggs to breeders, academies, advanced institutes, police departments, hospitals, and other organizations. It was managed entirely by the association and was home to the largest number of low-level Pokémon in Qingcheng.
There was no better place for Li Xiang to select his first Pokémon.
But the breeding facility was generally not open to the public and did not sell Pokémon directly—unless...
"Your big sis earned this privilege back in her school days," Su Yiliu said with a proud grin. "She can personally come here and pick any Pokémon she wants!"
There were many ways to earn such a privilege, and the details were complicated. In simple terms, Su Yiliu had won honors for Qingcheng and the regional Pokémon association during her university days, showcasing her exceptional contributions.
As a result, she was allowed to select any Pokémon from the breeding facility—yes, any Pokémon, as long as it was legally permitted.
This was a massive favor!
Li Xiang instantly understood why his mother had entrusted this task to Su Yiliu instead of coming herself.
For highly accomplished trainers, this reward might not be a big deal, but for Li Xiang, a complete beginner, this was an unparalleled opportunity. If he could choose a Pokémon with extraordinary potential, his future as a trainer would be off to a stellar start.
"Sis…" he said, his voice filled with gratitude as he looked at Su Yiliu.
"Hehe, now you know how awesome your big sis is, huh? So, are you still going to let me pinch your cheeks in the future?"
Su Yiliu couldn't resist reaching out and giving his soft, chubby cheek a playful squeeze. The texture was simply irresistible.
Li Xiang didn't respond verbally, merely smiling and nodding. If this was considered "mooching," then he was more than happy to oblige.
As for why Su Yiliu hadn't used her reward after all these years since her university days, the reasons varied. Not everyone liked owning a dozen or so Pokémon. There was also the possibility she simply didn't care much for it.
Either way, Li Xiang was deeply grateful. Many people lacked opportunities, not ability. Su Yiliu was now providing him with one such opportunity.
.....
The car stopped at the entrance.
Su Yiliu showed her credentials to the gatekeeper, and the barrier slowly rose, granting them entry.
Ten minutes later, Li Xiang and Su Yiliu sat side by side in a tour cart, curiously observing their surroundings.
A tall, thin man with a less-than-healthy hairline sat in front of them, smiling politely as he explained the layout of the breeding facility.
Structurally, the facility was similar to a conservation center, but it featured more extensive ecological gardens, and the buildings were painted in warm tones.
One particular building was said to house countless Pokémon Eggs, stored in tiered layers, with a large number of Flame Body-bearing Pokémon and heat lamps accelerating the incubation process.
The reason new trainers were generally not encouraged to purchase Pokémon Eggs was the unpredictable nature of the resulting Pokémon's potential. Success depended largely on luck.
From a trainer's perspective, while every Pokémon could excel depending on training focus and effort, some innate attributes were beyond the influence of training.
For instance, Li Xiang's Purugly, Biscuit, was twenty years old, stood at 1.3 meters tall, weighed 60 kilograms, had an energy level of 47, and could easily carry him around town.
Meanwhile, the database recorded another Purugly of similar age and level, but only 0.9 meters tall, 45 kilograms, with just seven moves learned. It was lazy and unmotivated, even requiring coaxing to perform routine physical exams.
Both had the same Ability and were of comparable level and age, yet their physical stature and capacity to learn moves differed significantly.
In competitive sports, weight divisions are strictly enforced—if you weigh a certain amount, your opponent will also fall within that range, eliminating any significant weight disparities.
Why is that?
Because there's an advantage. Matches are designed to emphasize skill and strategy, ensuring fairness and balance.
Who enjoys watching one-sided crushes?
Surely, no one genuinely believes lightweight contenders are always more agile than heavyweights and can simply outmaneuver them, right?
The reality is that, in most cases, lightweight fighters stand little chance against heavyweights.
The same logic applies to Pokémon. Within the same species, the stronger individuals are far more likely to overpower the weaker ones.
Yes, the bond between a Pokémon and its Trainer can indeed enable extraordinary comebacks. That much is undeniable—Pokémon are remarkable creatures in this regard.
Features like Mega Evolution and Z-Moves rely heavily on such bonds. Even the games have mechanics like friendship levels, which can enable feats like enduring hits, shaking off status effects, or landing critical attacks under pressure.
But do you think only your Pokémon has a bond, while your opponent's Pokémon doesn't?
Bonds are universal.
If everyone can have them, why should your bond be any more special than someone else's?
In the end, just like people differ in height, weight, intelligence, and talents, Pokémon, too, come in varying degrees of capability.
Of course, a Pokémon's worth isn't limited to battles alone. Pokémon thrive across various fields, contributing meaningfully to diverse industries.
The notion that a Pokémon is useless if it can't fight has long become a relic of the past.
Fields like contests and Pokémon-centered industries like Pokéwood hold little regard for combat prowess.
However, experienced breeders, leveraging their expertise, can evaluate a Pokémon's potential by studying its parentage and conducting brief training.
In just one to two months, they can generally discern whether a young Pokémon is exceptionally talented or not.
Granted, their assessments might lack absolute precision since the future is inherently unpredictable, and human eyes aren't data scanners capable of reading numerical stats.
While these evaluations may seem vague, they are rarely far off the mark.
The more seasoned the breeder, the more accurate their assessments.
....
Ecological Zone #5.
The group entered the area, greeted by the overwhelming ambiance of nature.
Birdsong, fragrant blossoms, and the gentle murmur of flowing water made Li Xiang feel as if he were wandering through a lush jungle, observing wild Pokémon in their natural habitats.
Juvenile Pokémon raised by breeders were often housed in such environments.
This served two purposes: accommodating their varying habits and ensuring a high-quality living environment.
Pokémon weren't fragile; their adaptability was remarkable. However, a comfortable environment could still greatly enhance their growth.
"Miss Su, this zone houses a wide variety of Pokémon encompassing all types, most of which are of exceptional quality. These are the ones most favored by Qing City's top academies," the guide explained with a smile as he suddenly produced a stack of papers.
Li Xiang glanced at the documents and vaguely made out images and text.
A catalog?
High-level academies, being havens for Trainers, breeders, and other Pokémon-related professions, naturally had stringent standards for Pokémon selection.
The Pokémon here were top-tier, suitable to be handed out as rewards by academy administrators. Their value was self-evident.
Li Xiang was quietly impressed. Starting at such a high level—was there even a need to visit other areas after this?
The sheer variety left him feeling overwhelmed by choice.
"Favored by top academies?"
To his surprise, Su Yiliu frowned upon hearing this and turned to leave.
"These Pokémon aren't right for you, Li Xiang. Let's check out another area," she said.
Huh? Why not?
Li Xiang obediently followed her but couldn't help feeling puzzled. Did Su Yiliu find this area beneath her standards, or was there something else at play?
The lanky guide seemed to realize something, chuckled awkwardly, and said, "My apologies, I didn't realize this was for the young man. In that case, we're indeed in the wrong area. Please follow me."
With that, he led the way out, acting as their guide once more.
As they boarded the cart again, Li Xiang couldn't resist his curiosity and leaned over to whisper his question to Su Yiliu.
She smiled but didn't answer, instead passing his query to the guide for explanation.
The guide laughed and began, "Young man, the Pokémon required by novice Trainers are very different from those sought by elite Trainers in advanced academies.
"Novice Trainers, being new to handling Pokémon independently, often prioritize qualities like gentleness, friendliness, obedience, and quick responsiveness.
"To help with this, our breeders put effort into familiarizing the Pokémon with human language and social cues, making it easier for young Trainers to connect with and train them.
"By contrast, elite academy students don't have such basic needs. For them, it doesn't matter if a Pokémon isn't particularly friendly or has a temper. In fact, an aggressive nature can often be an advantage in battles.
"They have their own training methods and don't need breeders to go the extra mile—they can handle things themselves."
He paused briefly, perhaps catching his breath or organizing his thoughts.
"Essentially, they're looking for unique traits—rare abilities, useful inherited moves, and a strong and healthy lineage from the Pokémon's parents. Even the Pokémon's personality factors into their choices."
Though a bit vague, the explanation was clear enough for Li Xiang to understand.
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