"The sparring match is over—Bai Mu wins!"
The Nuoding Dean announced the result and immediately let out a long breath of relief.
He would rather fight a thousand-year Spirit Beast than referee another match like that.
Kids these days were way too ruthless.
They really didn't treat their lives as precious.
"How is this possible…? Am I dreaming?"
Beside him, Yu Xiaogang's face was darker than the bottom of a pot, his head spinning.
Tang San—his Innate Full Spirit Power, twin-spirit genius disciple—had actually lost to a Spirit Scholar with Innate Spirit Power Rank 1, despite being ten ranks higher.
Was this reasonable?
Was this even remotely acceptable?!
"Bai Mu, both you and your Spirit are very strong," Tang San said unwillingly, looking at him.
"But next time we spar, I will win."
He could accept losing to someone of a higher Rank—but losing to a mere Spirit Scholar?
That was something he absolutely could not accept.
"Relax," Bai Mu said arrogantly.
"I definitely won't lose."
Once I become a Spirit Master, I'm dropping out anyway.
Beat me in your dreams, Little San.
"I'm sorry, Teacher… I lost."
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's displeased expression, Tang San immediately felt guilty.
"It's fine, Little San," Yu Xiaogang said gently, putting on a comforting smile.
"This is just a small setback. Believe in your talent—the future still belongs to you."
Tang San nodded firmly.
"Mm!"
"Excellent, excellent!" the Dean laughed, patting Bai Mu on the shoulder.
"Your Zygarde is truly the most special Spirit I've ever seen. Just in terms of quality alone, it might even rival the number-one Beast Spirit—the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon."
"There's no comparison!"
Bai Mu waved his hands repeatedly.
A mere Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon being compared to Zygarde?
That was ridiculous.
"Hahaha—worthy of being a genius from my academy!"
The Dean mistook his reaction for modesty and laughed even harder.
"I think you could at least challenge a 400-year Spirit Beast."
"Really?"
Bai Mu put on a surprised expression, though in reality he couldn't care less.
As long as the Spirit Beast provided a suitable Spirit Ability, whether it was 100 years or 999 years didn't matter at all.
"I admit it—I underestimated you before, Bai Mu."
Yu Xiaogang walked over and asked shamelessly:
"Your Spirit far exceeds my expectations. Can you tell me how you made Zygarde learn Spirit Abilities?"
"Doesn't it just learn them naturally after evolving?" Bai Mu replied, eyes wide in confusion.
"Does it need to be taught?"
"Could it be… Grandmaster, you can't do that?"
"Cough—cough…"
Yu Xiaogang coughed lightly to hide his embarrassment.
"Differences between Spirits are normal."
"That's true," Bai Mu laughed.
"People differ in physique, and Spirits are no different."
"There are differences even among external Spirits."
Golden Holy Dragon? Sure, that could be compared.
But Luo San Pao, which can only fart three times a day, doesn't even qualify to sit at the same table as Zygarde.
"Let's drop this topic," Yu Xiaogang said stiffly, forcefully changing the subject.
"Bai Mu, your talent exceeds your own imagination. I think you need guidance from a truly renowned teacher to fully unleash your potential. Coincidentally, I happen to know such a renowned teacher."
"A renowned teacher?" Bai Mu burst into laughter and directly cut him off.
"Grandmaster, you can forget about it."
"What kind of renowned teacher could there be in a tiny place like Nuoding City?
They definitely wouldn't be that skilled."
"I won't take a master. I absolutely won't."
"…."
Yu Xiaogang froze, just about to continue persuading when the Dean wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
"Alright, alright, that settles it!"
The Dean laughed loudly.
"We'll depart for the Spirit Hunting Forest tomorrow. You all go back and prepare what you need."
"Okay, Dean! I'll get ready right away!"
Bai Mu responded enthusiastically, recalled Zygarde, and turned to leave.
"Dean!"
Yu Xiaogang shot the Dean an unhappy glare.
"A forced melon isn't sweet, Xiaogang," the Dean said calmly.
"You should go prepare as well."
All my academy's outstanding students keep getting snatched away as your disciples—what kind of behavior is that?
---
The next morning, a carriage departed Nuoding City, heading northeast toward the Spirit Hunting Forest.
Inside sat the Nuoding Dean, Bai Mu, Tang San, and Yu Xiaogang.
"The Spirit Hunting Forest is about four hundred li from Nuoding City," the Dean explained.
"We should arrive before noon tomorrow."
He then looked at Bai Mu.
"If you're determined to obtain a healing-type Spirit Ability, then the choice of Spirit Beast will largely depend on luck. Most healing Spirit Beasts are plant-type."
"No problem," Bai Mu replied.
"Plants are fine."
He had already thought this through.
Zygarde's very nature was tied to ecology, and plants were a crucial part of that.
In the Pokémon world, 50% Zygarde had once spread vegetation and forests across an entire region.
From that perspective, plant-type Spirit Beasts were a perfect match.
"Healing Spirit Beasts are rare and the options are limited," Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but interject.
"I still suggest you choose an offensive Spirit Ability."
"The development of a Spirit should capitalize on strengths and avoid weaknesses—not compensate for shortcomings.
"And as the first spirit ring, it lays the foundation for the future. Since your Spirit already possesses multiple combat abilities, you should reinforce its offensive advantage!"
"Grandmaster's advice is very good," Bai Mu said calmly.
"But don't give it next time."
"My decision is final. I want a healing-type Spirit Ability."
Zygarde learns its own moves—why would I waste a spirit ring on offense?
Control, defense, enhancement—anything but attack.
"You—! You're hopeless!"
Yu Xiaogang was furious.
"Capitalize on strengths and avoid weaknesses… compensate for shortcomings…"
Tang San sat quietly to the side, deep in thought.
He had once considered healing Spirit Abilities as well, but he didn't want to become a support-type Spirit Master whose fate depended on others.
That was why he chose the control system.
Control system… is the strongest.
---
The next day at noon, the carriage finally arrived at the edge of the Spirit Hunting Forest.
After a simple meal, they passed through the market and reached the forest entrance.
Showing their permits to the guards, they were allowed inside.
The moment they passed through the steel fence, the noise vanished, and the air turned fresh and clean, instantly relaxing their minds.
"Don't let appearances fool you," the Dean reminded them as he led the way.
"Most Spirit Beasts here are only decades to a hundred years old. Thousand-year Spirit Beasts are rare—we'll need to go deeper."
"Got it!"
Bai Mu responded, immediately summoning Zygarde, which had been cooped up all day.
"Come out, Little Soft!"
"Woof~"
The moment it appeared in the forest, Zygarde felt an unprecedented sense of comfort.
Every breath seemed to resonate with the life around it.
It was a pity there weren't enough cells yet—
otherwise, it would have spread itself throughout the entire forest.
Bai Mu smiled and said:
"Your ambition is too small."
"The goal is the entire continent—no, the entire world."