Greatest Pokémon Trainer

Shen Gong.

He had raised several Pokemon, but he retired as a professional trainer quite early.

Officially, he ran a shop on the Road of Champions, selling various souvenirs and rare stones to make a living.

Yet, aside from his public identity, he had another impressive secret title.

He was the guardian of the Crystal Steelix, a Guardian god-level spirit residing in the Crystal Cave on the Road of Champions.

Although he was referred to as a "guardian", the Crystal Steelix didn't really need any protection from a trainer, especially when that trainer was just an ordinary professional.

His task was to occasionally take some tasty Pokemon food to bond with the Crystal Steelix.

This was a relationship passed down from his ancestors, and it was something the Trainer Association wished to see continued; humans maintaining a good relationship with a wild Guardian God was naturally cause for great joy.

So, while Shen Gong was just an ordinary professional trainer, his status as the guardian of the Crystal Steelix meant his reputation was not low among top-tier circles.

However, Shen Gong wasn't much for pursuing power; after marrying and having children, he cared even less about matters in the trainer domain.

Pokemon battles... Pokemon battles... None of that brought as much happiness as spending time with his wife and children.

However, there were times when Shen Gong would still receive tasks assigned by the Trainer Association.

"The challenge of the Road of Champions has started again?"

After receiving a sudden invitation from President Wen of the Trainer Association, Shen Gong fell into deep thought.

"Exactly, your father once commanded the Crystal Steelix as a gatekeeper on the Road of Champions. This generation, I wonder if you are willing to take on the role once more,"

The Crystal Steelix was not adverse to battle and had experience as a gatekeeper, which was one of the reasons why President Wen came to invite him.

"Become a gatekeeper," Shen Gong said. "Alright, Uncle Wen, I'll get ready right away. I'll head to the Crystal Cave to discuss this with the Crystal Steelix."

Each Guardian god-level spirit is a strategic entity for a nation.

After Shen Gong's father passed away, this was the first combat-oriented task that the Trainer Association had assigned to Shen Gong, even though it was just an ordinary gatekeeping job. It also served as a wake-up call from President Wen for Shen Gong.

The Trainer Association hoped that Shen Gong would be more ambitious, commanding the Crystal Steelix in battle like his father. Otherwise, his laid-back attitude would be too great a waste of a Guardian god's combat prowess.

Therefore, President Wen also wanted to use this opportunity to reignite Shen Gong's interest in Pokemon battles.

Shen Gong didn't usually have the chance to fight side by side with the Crystal Steelix, and now, he was helping Shen Gong find one!

As for Shen Gong, considering the association's care for his family on ordinary days, and the fact that his father and President Wen had been friends, he did not refuse.

Not long after.

President Wen sent over Fang Yuan's information.

And videos of Fang Yuan challenging the first six stages of the Road of Champions.

As Fang Yuan was a household name in Hua Nation, Shen Gong naturally recognized the world champion, but he didn't expect that Fang Yuan would be the one challenging the Road of Champions.

His father had once served as a gatekeeper on the Road of Champions; Shen Gong was very aware of the Road's significance.

It was the place to select the strongest trainers of Hua Nation.

Anyone who passed it might not be ranked first in terms of combat strength in Hua Nation, but being in the top five was absolutely no problem.

Overnight, Shen Gong reviewed Fang Yuan's information and came to a conclusion: this world champion was formidable.

At Fang Yuan's age, Shen Gong was still a clueless college student.

While Fang Yuan managed to sweep through the first six stages rapidly with minimal expenditure, which was truly impressive.

"The seventh stage..."

The next morning, as the gatekeeper of the eighth stage, Shen Gong started watching the livestream of Fang Yuan challenging Principal Mo of the seventh stage.

Behind him stood a Pokemon composed of multiple huge deep blue crystals, snake-like and ten meters long, watching the battle video with him.

It was the Crystal Steelix!

Although the Crystal Steelix was powerful, it wasn't ill-tempered; otherwise, it wouldn't bond so well with humans.

Humans were willing to build it a more suitable habitat and constantly provided it with a variety of exotic foods, so the Crystal Steelix didn't despise living alongside them.

Shen Gong's father was the first trainer it recognized, and Shen Gong himself had been clambering all over it since he was just a few years old; naturally, the Crystal Steelix had approved of him too.

If not for the species difference, Shen Gong calling the Crystal Steelix "godfather" wouldn't be out of place...

"Roar!!"

Many years ago, not long after the challenge of the Road of Champions had been established, the Crystal Steelix and Shen Gong's father served as gatekeepers for one of the stages, and it wasn't just once.

As Guardian god-level beings, they easily swept all challengers aside.

Even though the rules allowed challengers to fight against a Guardian god-level spirit in a multiple-versus-one scenario, it was still not an easy victory.

Even though the memory was vague, the Crystal Steelix was hardly concerned about the challenge. In its eyes, no Pokemon could defeat it.

However, the strength of these challengers did arouse its interest. Having such a challenge every once in a while wasn't so bad.

"Damn, how is that Monferno still able to fight?"

The seventh stage video introduced Shen Gong to the strength of Fang Yuan's Monferno.

Today, Shen Gong thought Fang Yuan would deploy other Pokemon, but...

Seeing Fang Yuan send out Monferno on the screen, and then watching Monferno pin the other Electric Elves to the ground, Shen Gong, a man in his thirties, suddenly let out a "damn".

Wait a second, wasn't your Monferno exhausted during the sixth stage? How come it seems even more fierce today?

Although he wasn't very powerful, years of exposure had given Shen Gong a good eye for strength.

This battle scene... is simply ridiculous.

Can the Crystal Steelix manage...? He's a bit worried.

"Steelix..."

"Roar!!! (Just like that.)"

Through the screen, after seeing the Monferno's brutal fighting style, the Crystal Steelix also rarely showed a serious expression.

However, although it's worth paying attention to, there's no need to be overly concerned.

As a mutant creature, before its evolution, when it was a Crystal Onix, it was unlike normal Onixes; it wasn't afraid of water but feared fire.

But now, through the training methods of Onix, using high pressure and high heat from underground to forge this evolved body, it has become entirely different.

Not only is it still not afraid of water, but it has also overcome most of its weakness to fire.

Even the Trainer Association can't definitively analyze what attribute the current Crystal Steelix holds.

"Roar!! (Rest assured!!)"

The Crystal Steelix shifted its gaze; it didn't believe that the Monferno's power could break through its defense...

Although this Monferno had just started to pose a threat to its abilities, it still wasn't enough.

And looking at the size difference, this Monferno seemed too tiny, probably lacking in defensive power and physical strength. With its power, as long as it could withstand one hit, it should be able to fling the creature several hundred meters away.

"That's a relief," Shen Gong sighed.

The next moment... he eagerly anticipated the Pokemon battle.

Commanding a Crystal Steelix against the world champion... sounds quite interesting.

.........

"Inhuman."

"This is way too brutal, that Monferno is actually withstanding the opponent's Thunder and Lightning attack."

On the other side.

As Fang Yuan swiftly crushed the seventh challenge, Principal Mo, within just a minute, the Twelve Branches all expressed their complaints.

Master Jo's mouth twitched involuntarily. Considering the combat style of this Monferno, the fact that it lived until now is truly a medical miracle.

The Fire of Life... can it really heal the aftereffects of energy misalignment so quickly?

She now urgently wanted to know how Fang Yuan raised such a monkey.

Principal Mo's ace combination was definitely not weak, and the reason they lost so miserably could only be one, purely because Fang Yuan and his team were too beastly.

"Well done!!"

"It's like Hitmonlee learning to Fly, an ox soaring to the skies!"

Only one person was very happy at the moment, that was Master Tao Xiuying, who had gifted the Fire of Life to Fang Yuan. Although she had deep ties with Principal Mo, they didn't get along well. Seeing Fang Yuan use the fire she gifted to trounce Principal Mo, she felt particularly refreshed.

The fire wasn't given in vain.

......

"Ahh...!!!"

At the seventh challenge, Principal Mo, after his defeat, didn't know what to say anymore.

He looked at the two Electric Elves lying on the ground emitting white smoke, and the panting Monferno on the other side, completely dumbfounded.

Before coming here, he estimated that Fang Yuan might at best get through two or three stages, but as it turned out, they really broke through to him.

"You may go!!"

Right after the battle ended, Principal Mo pointed towards the exit and spoke to Fang Yuan and his team.

Fang Yuan: "...???"

"Then... shall I challenge the eighth stage?" Seeing Principal Mo seemed rather displeased at the moment, Fang Yuan decided not to disturb the old man, waved his hand grandly, and immediately led his Pokemon towards the next stage.

As they were leaving, the Monferno's four aftereffects from the fight had already shown themselves. Although treated by the Fire of Life, it had temporarily collapsed.

It was carried away by the Dragonite.

This gave Principal Mo some comfort; at least, it seemed that the Monferno had reached its limit when fighting his challenge.

Anyway, this rule-breaking monkey shouldn't be appearing anymore, right!!

The Twelve Branches, along with the Gatekeeper of the eighth challenge Shen Gong, seeing the Monferno collapse once more, glanced at the time. There was less than half a day left before Fang Yuan's challenge time ended.

This time, the Monferno shouldn't have time to recover through the Fire of Life, right? And anyway, the Fire of Life has an energy limit, doesn't it?

Fang Yuan's Bursting Seed Tactics should end here.

However, 20 minutes later, Fang Yuan arrived at the location of the eighth challenge and came before Shen Gong.

Behind Fang Yuan, the Monferno that had barely been able to stand was now free from its earlier injuries and exhaustion, once again standing tall like a War God among Fang Yuan's team.

"Uncle, are you the Gatekeeper for the eighth challenge?"

Fang Yuan, along with a group of Pokemon, asked Shen Gong.

"Woo ah!!" The Monferno even stepped forward eagerly, itching to battle.

Shen Gong, the Twelve Branches, Principal Mo: ????