Jiayuan Television.
Among the list of Top 32, Li Wei saw a familiar name.
Xiao Xue.
Xiao Xue, who entrusted her Vulpix to Brock.
She was the person Li Wei felt somewhat familiar with but couldn't quite recall.
However, among all the names on the list, Xiao Xue, aside from being pretty, was considered rather mediocre.
Although they were all Breeders, Xiao Xue was particularly skilled in Pokemon grooming, and making it into the Top 32 was practically a fluke for her.
Most people didn't expect Xiao Xue to make it into the Top 16.
Li Wei and A Jin chatted while looking at their phones.
Brock: "Besides Li Wei and A Jin, there are also a few highly anticipated contestants in the competition: Sasha from the Galar region."
Following Brock's introduction, Li Wei looked at a black-haired, curly-haired girl wearing a hat, accompanied by three Eevee wearing different colored bows.
From Li Wei's perspective, who breeds Eevee at home, these three Eevee were in excellent condition.
"Ge Li from the Hoenn region, who owns a Sceptile and a Hydreigon."
"Lalami from the Kalos region... She is a very beautiful older sister."
...
Xiao Qian couldn't take it anymore.
"Are you introducing Breeders or beautiful women?!"
So, her Poochyena and Mantyke weren't going to be introduced, right?
A Jin said seriously, "Indeed."
A Jin's gaze unconsciously drifted towards a woman with long pink hair wearing a yellow hat.
According to the contestant's profile, Lalami was 26 years old this year, fitting the type of older sister that both Brock and A Jin admired.
As Li Wei and A Jin chatted, a staff member pushed the door open.
"Here are the profiles of the judges. Please take a look, so you don't make any gaffes."
Li Wei and A Jin exchanged glances, indicating that the staff member was very thoughtful.
Because as soon as they checked the information, they realized they didn't recognize any of the judges.
The staff member also thoughtfully provided a brief introduction.
"The first is Mr. Morikawa, who is best at making Energy Cubes. He is extremely particular about berry ratios."
"The second is Mr. Tetsu Gorou, who excels at cooking. He once quelled disputes between Pokemon with his gourmet food."
Li Wei was at a loss for words, not knowing where to begin his complaints.
"The third is Ms. Dai Lan, who specializes in Pokemon fur care."
All three judges were around fifty years old and highly experienced.
Nurse Joy of Hearthome City didn't need an introduction; everyone knew her anyway.
"Next, each person will draw a number card, and contestants will appear in groups of four according to the number order."
16 people were destined to be eliminated in this round, so there would be no individual introductions.
"There will be two rounds in total. The first round is a Pokemon display, and the second round is currently a secret."
Before the competition began, A Jin quietly sat next to Li Wei.
He had suffered a great blow; as a celebrity Trainer, A Jin had received very unfair treatment.
Li Wei drew number 24 this time, a bit later.
A Jin was earlier, number 13.
At four o'clock, the competition began on time.
The first four contestants entered together.
Li Wei and A Jin were probably the most relaxed two people.
Li Wei had full confidence in himself, while A Jin didn't care about the results.
The two of them, backstage, began to comment on the contestants with great interest.
"That Eevee with the blue bow is a bit underdeveloped."
"Looks like it's a congenital issue."
The Eevee wearing the blue bow was smaller than the two next to it.
After a wave of sponsor advertisements, the host finally got to the point.
"Pokemon fur management is a fundamental skill for a Breeder. The first round tests this basic skill."
"The first event of the competition is grooming and display. Work with your Pokemon to showcase their charm to the judges and audience!"
"The bottom eight in the first round's scoring will be directly eliminated."
A Jin looked stunned, "Playing it this intense?"
Li Wei turned his head helplessly, "Don't you read the competition rules at all?"
A Jin confidently ran a hand through his hair.
"No need to read them. Does a young master like me, with my breeding skills, need to worry about advancing?"
"You're so confident, you'll trip up one day."
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
A Jin felt a little tingly on his scalp from Li Wei's gaze. Li Wei looked at him as if he were looking at a dead man.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Li Wei said faintly, "You're covered in death flags."
Could it be, today?
While Li Wei and A Jin were talking, the four people on stage had already started.
Sasha was grooming the fur of her female Eevee with the pink bow.
Also on stage was a man named Yalou, who was the grandson of Mr. Yasong.
He was an elder skilled in making Energy Cubes whom Li Wei had met during his Intermediate Breeder assessment.
It wasn't because Yalou was famous; it was just that Yalou had come to chat with Li Wei earlier.
Before long, the Pokemon grooming of the four on stage was finished.
Ms. Dai Lan pushed up her glasses and sharply commented on Yalou, "In terms of fur management, you're not quite there yet."
The host cooperatively played along, asking,
"Why? Wasn't the Stoutland very cooperative?"
Dai Lan snorted, "The Stoutland was very cooperative, but only because Stoutland is his Pokemon. He even got the order of the wide-tooth comb and fine-tooth comb wrong."
Undoubtedly, Yalou received a low score.
"Conversely, Sasha did very well with Eevee's fur management and even considered the issue of static electricity."
Li Wei didn't know if Ms. Dai Lan had taken money, but he agreed with what she said.
"Fang Ye's Raichu was also well-maintained. First, reverse-brush to remove dust, then smooth the fur to restore its luster..."
Fang Ye bowed deeply, "Thank you for your guidance!"
This was one of the benefits of holding the Breeder Competition.
Seniors could pass down their experience.
Through variety shows and live broadcasts, more and more Trainers could also learn about the charm of breeding and better understand their Pokemon.
So that a Trainer wouldn't be unable to even manage their Pokemon.
Here, Ash needs to be criticized by name.
His bond with Pokemon was invincible, but when it came to breeding and management, he relied entirely on Brock and Professor Oak...
Mr. Morikawa also commented on Sasha.
"Your Eevee is well-bred, but you can apply hair oil to the ends to repair damaged fur."
...
After three rounds, it was A Jin's turn.
Before going on stage, A Jin gave a charming evil smile and boasted to Li Wei,
"Watch carefully how I, a celebrity Trainer, perform grooming."
...
For the first round, A Jin chose his ace partner, the Typhlosion 'Explosion Taro'.
Despite the death flags, A Jin's fur management for Typhlosion was on point.
"As expected of the celebrity Trainer A Jin, he received a fantastic score!"
In the first round, A Jin temporarily ranked first.
...
Li Wei gripped his Luxury Ball.
"Milotic, it's our turn to go on stage."