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For the next half month, Li Xiang focused on building synergy with Honedge.
This sword, due to its inherently lazy nature, had substantial strength but didn't know how to utilize it properly.
It could hit targets quite impressively, but when it came to actual combat, its skills were basically only good for bullying a human like himself.
It couldn't even beat Metang and ended up fleeing in panic, even hiding behind Li Xiang.
That iron blockhead was truly simple-minded; even knowing Li Xiang was there, it still tried to hit with Bullet Punch.
If Li Xiang hadn't dodged in time, he would have gotten a concussion from that punch.
It made one suspect it was intentional retaliation.
Speaking of which, the battlefield at the new house was huge—fifty by thirty meters, looking almost like a basketball court, with an area far exceeding the house itself.
Moreover, it was built in a sunken trapezoidal structure, with all sides covered in green grass.
It seemed Li Zhehan bought this particular house largely because of this super-large field.
With such a spacious field available, Li Xiang rarely went to the park for training anymore. He only occasionally visited to earn some candy.
The park's resources couldn't withstand constant harvesting. After many people learned about his strong skills and saw him in the newspaper, they were unwilling to battle him.
They lacked any drive to improve; no wonder some failed their exams, and others remained amateurs.
However, after it became known that he frequented this park, more outsiders came looking for him.
But most weren't there to battle him; instead, they asked all sorts of random questions.
They were likely reporters from self-media or tabloid magazines. Holding onto the idea that even one candy was still candy, Li Xiang told them he would answer one question for each battle they had with him.
Thus, challengers came in a steady stream. However, since his answers didn't satisfy those reporters, gradually, they too became unwilling to battle him.
Unable to find opponents, Li Xiang had no choice but to turn to his dad.
Why his dad?
To find a way into Qingcheng's Trainer Clubs.
Somewhat similar to professional esports clubs in later generations, Trainer Clubs were often initiated by a few high-ranking trainers, with a large number of mid-ranking trainers as members, serving as places for exchange, battling, and mutual improvement.
At the same time, they also sought sponsorship from external companies, similar to how Leon's cape was covered in advertisements.
In the past, these clubs were like large and small martial arts sects, full of enforcers. Occasionally, there were a few masters among them.
Nowadays... they had become semi-official organizations, using the Pokémon Association's halls for group activities.
Are private clubs allowed to exist?
Of course, they are.
However, they require a trainer ranked Ultra Ball Tier 2 or above as a guarantor, or the founder must hold that rank themselves.
Essentially, trainers ranked Ultra Ball Tier 2 or above have the qualification to "establish their own school."
These private clubs were equivalent to Gyms in another world.
These individuals were also referred to as Master Trainers instead of just Top/Chief Trainers.
The entry threshold for the Qingcheng Trainer Club was eighteen years old, the same as the Battle Arena.
Li Xiang definitely didn't meet that requirement. Therefore, he couldn't join this semi-official club and had to find another way.
When Li Zhehan heard this, he contacted an old friend.
—Huo Li, Uncle Huo.
Someone who had given Li Xiang a lot of help before he grew stronger. Also the person who told him about the three essential elements of a trainer.
A dropout from Qingcheng University, his rank was Ultra Ball Tier 3, having risen two sub-tiers over three years.
He was a member of the Qingcheng Wintercrow Club.
They met in front of a subway station.
"Long time no see! Brother Xiang!" Uncle Huo got out of a car, his eyes lighting up when he saw Li Xiang, laughing heartily, "You've grown so handsome!"
A thirty-five-year-old middle-aged man with a nine-year-old daughter, yet still so "unconventional," calling a young guy 'brother' as soon as he opened his mouth.
Li Xiang stepped forward and hugged him. "Uncle Huo, long time no see."
Saying long time no see, but it had only been half a month. He had seen him at the celebration banquet before.
"Oof!" Uncle Huo grunted as Li Xiang hugged him tightly but didn't mind. "People who practice martial arts are really different."
The two exchanged pleasantries for a while.
In the car, Huo Li drove further away. "You came to the right person asking me. Qingcheng has three clubs in total: the Association's, Wintercrow, and Horn. Ours, Wintercrow, has the most members."
Being one of the five major cities in Yuzhou, having only three clubs was something Li Xiang hadn't expected.
"Then what should I do later..."
"Nothing. I've arranged everything for you. Being a formal member is definitely not possible; that requires linking to the Association's data network. Just be a temporary member."
Huo Li might speak unconventionally, but he was quite reliable, having arranged everything for Li Xiang well in advance.
In short, Li Xiang just needed to go in and have fun. He could do whatever he wanted.
"Actually, I wanted to invite you long ago, but the checks were strict the first two years. The new official in charge of education didn't allow students like you into such places at all." Huo Li chattered on.
Li Xiang listened and nodded, simultaneously trying to remove the sword from his back—it was really uncomfortable.
But his clothes were stuck to the sword's tassel, and he couldn't get it off.
'This sword! Causing trouble again!'
Li Xiang's face darkened. He originally thought Metang was enough of a problem child, but Honedge was even worse.
'Do you have intermittent depression? Always acting up like this? Just like how Riolu used to be afraid and resent cats—both have psychological issues.'
"What's wrong?" Huo Li noticed Li Xiang's unusual behavior and asked.
"It's nothing, my Pokémon is shy around strangers." Li Xiang smiled at Huo Li.
Huo Li glanced at Honedge, said "Oh," and didn't pursue the topic further.
Soon, they arrived at the Wintercrow Club.
The first thing that caught the eye was a large glass building, only two stories low, but its length was comparable to a city block.
On the main door, there was a hollow silver icon depicting a Honchkrow, a Murkrow, and a Corviknight.
Below it were the two large characters for "Wintercrow."
"This was founded by Master Trainer Mr. Zhou Tong and a few of his good friends. The three Pokémon on the icon are all his," Huo Li said in a low voice.
"Three? Aren't Honchkrow and Murkrow the same Pokémon?" Li Xiang asked in surprise. Generally, few trainers raised duplicate Pokémon.
Huo Li nodded. "One has Super Luck, the other has Prankster. They're siblings."
'This… Actually quite fitting.'
A Prankster Murkrow, holding an Eviolite.
The two entered.
The interior was quieter than expected, perhaps because it was the administrative area.
Huo Li got a card from the front desk and handed it to Li Xiang.
Li Xiang took it and saw his photo and name on it, with the words "Temporary Member" and "Visitor Pass" below.
"From now on, if you come by yourself, just show this card to the security guard," Huo Li said with a smile.
"Thank you, Uncle Huo!" Li Xiang nodded.
"Hey, why so formal, kid? Come to my place for dinner tonight. My daughter has been wanting to see you for a long time."
Huo Li led Li Xiang inside through another entrance. Inside was a different world compared to the quiet outside.
Professional battlefields were everywhere, and the equipment Li Xiang had seen in the A and B level training halls at the Youth Camp could also be found here freely.
Someone spotted Huo Li and greeted him. As they approached, they noticed Li Xiang.
"Hey! Isn't that so-and-so!" the person exclaimed in surprise. "Old Huo, I always thought you were bragging."
"Go away, what kind of talk is that? Your Brother Huo never brags, always sticks to the facts," Huo Li waved his hand. "And this is my nephew Li Xiang. What 'so-and-so'? You sound awful."
"Hello, uncle." Li Xiang nodded at the man, sensing he had a good relationship with Huo Li.
"Hello, hello." The man quickly nodded in response, then turned around. "Old Huo, wait for me. I'll go get the others to come see your nationally-ranked-first nephew."
'Sigh, here we go again.'
Li Xiang rubbed his temples. After hearing this title so many times, his ears were almost calloused. Still, it was better than being someone mediocre.
Seeing his expression, Huo Li said, "Sorry, Brother Xiang. I mentioned it offhandedly to them before. Let's go somewhere else..."
"It's fine, Uncle Huo, I don't mind." Li Xiang smiled in response. "I'll have to get used to it sooner or later anyway. No big deal."
As they were talking, the person from earlier returned with a crowd to join the excitement.
They were all Huo Li's friends. It was clear they had a good relationship with him, the kind that called each other brothers.
Some came up asking to take photos with Li Xiang, others asked for autographs, saying their kids really admired him.
It made him feel like a celebrity, especially since this group was mostly between thirty-five and forty years old.
Finally, Huo Li rescued him, telling them to stop messing around and explaining Li Xiang's purpose for coming.
"Small matter! Brother Xiang, Wintercrow has plenty of everything, especially trainers!" someone shouted, starting to mimic Huo Li's form of address.
"That's right, we just accepted a bunch of new members the other day!"
"Brother Xiang! How about your uncle here battles you?"
"Ah! You jumped the gun! Brother Xiang, pick me! I'm easy to beat!"
This group of middle-aged men started causing a ruckus. However, before Li Xiang could start picking someone, someone called Huo Li and Li Xiang away.
A higher-up in the club wanted to meet Li Xiang and had sent someone to relay the message.
Since they were using the other's territory, it was proper to meet the boss.
Huo Li also didn't expect the higher-ups to have free time like this, so he took Li Xiang over. Unexpectedly, the person who received them was a middle-aged woman named Zhou Ya, the sister of the founder, Zhou Tong.
The purpose of this meeting was for her to express her hope that Li Xiang would become a formal member of the Wintercrow Club after graduation.
If he agreed, he could be exempt from membership fees for ten years.
The annual fee for a formal member of the Wintercrow Club was 100,000, so ten years would be one million.
Of course, this was just a gesture to build goodwill; it didn't mean Li Xiang had to become an employee of the club. Nor did it mean that if Li Xiang became a member of Wintercrow Club, he couldn't join other clubs.
Overall, it was quite a good deal for Li Xiang at his current stage.
They didn't look down on him for his young age either. They were amiable and treated him as an equal during the conversation.
When asking for his opinion, she looked directly at him, very seriously.
Just based on that attitude alone, Li Xiang felt he had no reason to refuse. Coupled with the fact that Huo Li was also a Wintercrow member, having been one for over a decade without any issues, he verbally agreed.