novelraw Chapter 749: Teacher Lu Becomes Champion but Is About to Retire
Chapter 749: Teacher Lu Becomes Champion but Is About to Retire
Chapter 749: Teacher Lu Becomes Champion but Is About to RetireA new champion of the Donghua League has been crowned!
With the blessing and encouragement of the outgoing champion, Lu Ye accepted the trophy from Shangren, then lifted it high under a shower of fireworks and spotlights.
The fans in the chat reacted with excitement, and a few teasing comments slipped through.
“Shangren: Oh no, I’m the former champ now!”
“They actually had Champion Shangren present the award, haha, what a gut punch.”
“Shangren wasn’t weak… it’s just his opponent was utterly insane!”
In this battle, the veteran Shangren deployed multiple team strategies—Tailwind, Sunny Day plus Sleep Powder, Sandstorm—proving himself a master of the “Sun-Sand” lineup.
But his opponent was Teacher Lu.
Not only was Lu Ye’s read-and-switch skill superior, he even pulled off Geomancy and Precipice Blades!
Completely ridiculous!For trainers from Kalos and Hoenn, combined with Teacher Lu’s deeds in Orus Forest and around Kanaz City’s waters…
His claim of having a “professor friend” was not baseless!
“What the… my friend is from the legendary Pokémon series?”
“Good thing Champion’s Road bans mythical/legendary Pokémon, otherwise it wouldn’t have been just Precipice Blades!”
In the group chat, Steven sent a red packet congratulating Teacher Lu on his victory.
“Ah, I grabbed it!” Ash shouted.
“The luckiest is Little Yellow again.” The girl said in surprise.
“Hehe, just got lucky…” Little Yellow shyly scratched his head.
“Thank you, Boss Steven!!” Lily teared up—tonight she gets an extra chicken leg.
Lorelei stared at the screen’s number “11.11,” a vein twitching on her forehead.
That absolutely cannot be a hint of anything!
The award ceremony continued.
“Celebrate! A new champion is born!”
Major media outlets simultaneously broadcast the moment of Teacher Lu holding the cup, and the chat exploded.
“Teacher Lu is amazing!”
“Tears!!”
The director switched camera angles to focus on Bonnie holding up Dedenne.
“Hey, look here!” Bonnie raised Dedenne high with a bright smile.
A tall blonde beauty stood beside her, giving the camera a gentle smile and a graceful wave.
The chat instantly turned lemon-yellow.
“Sister Cabbage, my Sister Cabbage!”
“She watched my Pokémon battle, when she first won a championship at twenty…”
“I unilaterally agree to this marriage!!”
The two parents looked up at the screen and commented:
“That girl is so pretty…”
“Not as pretty as you were when you were young.”
Liang Fang rolled her eyes at Lu Yong as he shamelessly began reciting: “When you are old and your hair is white, and you’re drowsy…”
When the camera moved to the gray-haired couple, they were already cuddled together, waving at the camera.
Pallet Town, Kanto.
The broadcast showed the transfer of the champion’s cloak.
Slurp—
Professor Samuel Oak swallowed his instant noodles and glanced at Lu Ye, seeing his eighteen-year-old self in the boy’s face, sighing:
“Lu Ye actually became the league champion.”
Green, wearing a brown jacket and seated to the left on the sofa, replied calmly: “As expected. Now it’s just a question of how long Teacher Lu will hold that position.”
Sitting to Professor Oak’s right, Red in a black T-shirt mused:
“I have a feeling he’ll choose to retire… then keep traveling.”
“Oh? Why do you say that?” Professor Oak asked curiously.
“Just an instinct, I guess.” Red said.
Green nodded slightly, then changed the subject: “The World Championships are next year… Dan Emperor and Lance are preparing. Teacher Lu now has a seeded spot.”
Green lifted his sharp gaze to Red and asked seriously: “Will you participate?”
“I don’t really have an official entry status.” Red had relinquished champion and gym leader titles, so he wasn’t on the roster, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.
“Still… it sounds like it’ll be fun!”
Donghua region, Champion’s Road.
Lu Ye took the champion’s cloak from President Tang.
President Tang nodded and smiled: “Congratulations, Lu Ye.”
“President Tang…” Lu Ye smiled back, then asked suddenly: “If you win Champion’s Road and then retire, does the previous champion take over the title?”
“Ah, why ask that all of a sudden?”
“Just curious.”
“Uh… in principle, yes, but retiring—uh…”
Before tens of thousands of spectators, President Tang hesitated, a cold bead of sweat sliding down his temple.
What, are you going to be like Red and hand over the champion’s seat right after winning?
Or trying to compete with Green for the record of shortest reign?
President Tang shook his head and coughed lightly: “We’ll discuss those matters after you meet Ho-Oh’s envoy.”
“Ho-Oh’s envoy?” Lu Ye blinked.
President Tang nodded: “Where there is a rainbow, there must be a shadow, and that envoy is a guide from within the shadow. Donghua champions have long had the tradition of meeting Ho-Oh, to test whether they possess the proper character and heart.”
Lu Ye paused.
Test character and heart?
Oh boy, that’s not great for me!
Is it still possible to bail now and run away?
But… the envoy from the shadow should be an old acquaintance of mine… Marshadow!
“Marshadow… that shouldn’t be a problem, I’m good with social etiquette and worldly matters!” Lu Ye daydreamed.
The award ceremony neared its end.
Amid the roaring cheers,
Lu Ye looked toward the shadowed players’ tunnel.
Shangren stood alone, the silhouette of a veteran lingering.
Teacher Lu felt a pang in his chest.
Keep going, Champion Shangren!
When I retire… that future will be yours!
At Teacher Lu’s waist, the trainer belt’s little ones chatted through their Poké Balls.
Gengarrr squinted his eyes. “Gengarrr~(⁎˃ꌂ˂⁎)”
Great! We’re champions!
“Sylveon vocalizes~o(´^｀)o” Sylveon, noble and elegant.
Not bad~ could be better!
“Ka-may…ヾ(⌐■_■)” Blastoise wiped cold sweat.
That was close, we nearly lost!
“Awwoo! ᕦ(･ㅂ･)ᕤ” Arcanine grinned.
Look, my wound’s almost healed!
“Togepi peeps~(◦`~´◦)” Togepi sat at the bottom of its ball.
Humph, I have some little emotions.
“Gah! (｡・`ω´･)” Sirfetch’d’ gaze sharpened.
Easy win, because I pulled through!
Crunch—
“Bangii…(￣～￣)” Pupitar ate silently.
Hungry, I’ll snack on some diamonds!
Under the stadium’s bright sky, an invisible Latias happily flew by, inching its eyes into a cute crescent.
Victini widened its eyes, spying the ripple around Lu Ye.
The victory aura on him… got even stronger again!
Too bad his luck is still the same~︿(￣︶￣)︿
People slowly left the venue, still abuzz about the recent battle.
No matter what, this trainer’s title gained another golden achievement.
Donghua region, League Champion Lu Ye!
N walked away with a smile, his cap brim low, leaving with the crowd.
He looked up at the clear blue sky, eyes glinting.
I must continue moving forward, Teacher.
To create a world… where humans and Pokémon coexist in harmony.
Master Ma stood with hands behind his back, accompanied by disciples, ready to return to the Isle of Armor.
“Master, aren’t you staying to see Ho-Oh’s trial?” Mustard asked.
“No, gotta go back to play games~” Master Ma answered happily.
“Eh—” Klara’s face fell, thinking: I still wanted to get a few more autographs from Teacher Lu!
“Oh, Master, you were a guest judge for the fifth stage—doesn’t that mean…” Mustard’s face paled as he cautiously asked: “In the future, could Teacher Lu also be a guest judge for Champion’s Road?”
Master Ma laughed: “Well… haha, if he doesn’t stay champion, that might be possible!”
Mustard’s expression turned complicated.
Battling babies… that’s practically the perfect job match for this champion!
…
As dusk approached, Lu Ye met up with Bamboo Lan and the others.
“Teacher Lu, Champion~!” Bonnie cheered.
Lu Ye bent to ruffle Bonnie’s yellow hair, then looked up at the blonde beauty.
“Welcome back… Champion?” Bamboo Lan teased.
Only then did Lu Ye realize, slowly patting his shoulder and exclaiming:
“You really are—league champion!”
Bamboo Lan smiled helplessly, arms folded, watching him quietly.
Lu Ye asked: “Where’s Ash?”
“He went to battle;
watching the match fired him up.” Clemont explained.
Lu Ye nodded, intending to tally the berry stall rewards and plan the next three days’ schedule.
Since his parents and Mengmengda were around, maybe they could all meet…
Back at their lodging.
Bamboo Lan sat on the sofa, holding Togepi in her arms, soothing the little egg shell’s sulkiness.
Teacher Lu video-called his parents to report he was safe, promising to visit them tomorrow, then opened the system prompt.
[Quest 'Champion's Road' completed!]
[Completion: Perfect]
[Rewards: Random Rare Berry*5, Master Ball*1!]
Only five berries for winning the championship.
Are these berries covered in gold peel, or silver peel?
Lu Ye shook his head and clicked to claim them.
A golden-rimmed void shaped like a Hoopa ring opened, and a purplish-red Master Ball flew out.
Lu Ye fumbled and caught it.
This thing is extremely precious… normally in a first playthrough you can only get one Master Ball.
It’s one of the rarest items in the entire Pokémon world!
[Master Ball: Manufactured by Silph Company with top-tier technology, the best Poké Ball. (Note: Almost 100% capture rate for any Pokémon.)]
Everyone in the Pokémon world knows about the Master Ball and its near-certain capture rate.
However, in the special episode, Siebold captured Mewtwo with a Master Ball—with help from Red—after wearing it down first, then using the Master Ball.
In reality, the Master Ball’s effectiveness is diminished by practical concerns.
After all, not everyone has the arm strength or accuracy to throw it successfully a hundred meters.
If you toss a Master Ball directly at a legendary Pokémon, one stray attack might make it fail.
From another perspective,
the Master Ball’s collectible value surpasses its practical use.
Teacher Lu always kept the Master Balls from each generation in his bag, reluctant to use them even after finishing the game.
Lu Ye stared at the Master Ball in his palm—purple-red hues, heavy—holding it felt like carrying the aura of a Pokémon Master.
“This can serve as the final reward for completing the first playthrough.” Lu Ye murmured.
Beating Champion’s Road and becoming league champion—this is just the end of the first playthrough.
Typically, in the second playthrough, various legendaries start to appear!
“Please don’t…”
Lu Ye thought silently and slipped the Master Ball back into his bag.
“Gengarrr~”
Gengar buried his head in the bag, then pulled out the Master Ball and held it high, making it shimmer.
“Tadaaa! （๑`▽´๑)۶”
I’m a Pokémon Master now, Gengarrr~!
“Don’t throw it around, it could save your life.”
Lu Ye paused and warned: “And don’t bring it into the Reversed World, that could cause errors…”
“Gengarrr~” Gengar wagged his long tongue.
Lu Ye: “No licking either!”
After the interlude, Lu Ye continued counting the five rare berries.
They were: Lomei Berry (Anti-Demon Berry), Pecha Berry (Anti-Poison Berry);
Yakai Berry (raises Defense, hellishly spicy and ferociously astringent);
Sitrus-like Berry (raises Special Defense, extremely bitter on the outside, sweet like soda on the inside);
and Mistral Berry (so sour it makes you cry, bought back at high prices by certain people).
The Anti-Demon Berry could be used in Old Bang’s diet, the Anti-Poison Berry could be fed to Sylveon.
The Yakai Berry… could be given to A-Jin.
Teacher Lu acquired another useless trivia about berries and said suddenly:
“Yakai Berry is a variant of Zui Fruit and Dragon Eye Fruit, Sitrus-like Berry is a variant of Sandscale Fruit and Dragon Fire Berry! That’s a lot of crossbreeds!”
As a cook, he had to know natural ingredients like berries inside and out.
Lu Ye nodded in satisfaction.
From now on when buying berries, he wouldn’t be cheated by shopkeepers!
…
The influence of Champion’s Road continued to spread.
Lu Ye becoming Donghua Champion caused quite a stir across regions.
But only a few people—President Tang, Champion Shangren, and others—knew.
Lu Ye’s resignation letter and retirement statement had already been formally submitted…
The outgoing champion looked bewildered.
I just stepped down, and now I have to step up again?
Still, the Champion’s Road rewards had to be issued.
Since Lu Ye already owned a Rainbow Wing, the planned reward was replaced by a sprig of primordial flame in a silver basin of sacred fire.
This sprig was called the Flame of Life, almost solid in form, appearing as a blazing golden feather.
Fire-type Pokémon can absorb the Flame of Life, using life energy to boost their physical qualities and stamina.
Arcanine had once been given a flame sprig by Entei, but the Flame of Life never hurts to have more of.
When its strength grows, Arcanine might even master Ho-Oh’s and Entei’s move “Sacred Fire.”
In Donghua legend, that Arcanine used “Sacred Fire” to enter the realm of battle legends.
After that came Ho-Oh’s trial.
Champions who pass Ho-Oh’s trial receive Ho-Oh’s reward, which varies.
Some reportedly received sacred-fire-blessed charcoal, a Rainbow Wing, or even everlasting beauty.
Teacher Lu’s goal was simple.
If I manage to get through by luck… I only need the Sacred Ash!
Sacred Ash, nicknamed the Great Revival Herb, can fully restore all fainted Pokémon!
Ho-Oh once scattered crystalline rainbow Sacred Ash to revive Entei, Raikou, and Suicune.
In the movies, it even revived Ash… which says a lot about Ash’s constitution—on par with the three legendary beasts, even able to take them on one-on-three! (Not quite.)
The nature of Sacred Ash is not revealed in the lore, but Lu Ye guessed it was the ashes left when Ho-Oh burned its Rainbow Wing with Sacred Fire.
Burning itself to ash, then reborn from the flames—this fits Ho-Oh’s immortality motif.
A Rainbow Wing is not just any feather from Ho-Oh;
it’s rare and precious even to Ho-Oh.
Ho-Oh’s trial would start in three days.
During that time, with consent, Teacher Lu arranged meetings for Bamboo Lan and his parents.
“She already met my grandmother, so this should be fine…” Bamboo Lan blushed.
At first his parents were stunned for a long while when they met, then pulled him into the kitchen to question him, finally confirming that it was truly Cynthia in person.
The three of them huddled in the kitchen to chat.
Bamboo Lan sat on the sofa, quietly sipping tea, unusually awkward.
After Lu Ye finished recounting his embellished experiences,
his parents immediately approved the marriage, asking when they would meet the in-laws to formalize the relationship.
Lu Ye’s marriage proposal plan was set for Alola, but he hadn’t finalized the details and faltered.
His parents wore looks of “you could do better,” and ordered him not to sleep at home that night—take Cynthia out…
But he could leave the Pokémon behind.
Liang Fang had not seen Gengar for months and missed it terribly.
Lu Ye had already sketched out his post-champion daily life—
open a shop in Miare City.
When both were free, invite Bamboo Lan to travel to Alola… and propose!
Considering the Miare Conference is at the end of the year,
there’s still a chance to see Ash’s Greninja’s “bond evolution” live…
Teacher Lu gritted his teeth.
If I can’t beat him, I’ll just kick him from the group and delete his account to retrain!
October 20, Wednesday.
Ho-Oh’s trial officially began.
Since the trial posed little difficulty to Lu Ye, Bamboo Lan returned to the Sinnoh League first.
Early in the morning, ready to depart, Teacher Lu arrived at the mountain range known as Celestial Blue Mountain.
The rocks of the range where Ho-Oh soars take on a bluish sheen and are collectively called Celestial Blue Mountain.
There’s even a lyric about it: “Celestial Blue Mountain waits for mist and rain…” (Not true.)
Morning mist was cold, breath steaming.
Lu Ye took out a carefully kept black little flower… the gift Marshadow had given him when they parted at the Gracidea flower sea.
“Ho-Oh’s envoy, huh.”
Lu Ye looked toward the mist-shrouded mountains, the path glowing like bluestone, murmuring:
“It should be Marshadow…”
…