Chapter 23: Famous Craftsmen Across the Regions

Facing Guang Tai’s cryptic reply, Du Jianqiao didn’t fully understand, but somehow felt it must be some incredibly powerful technique.

Huh? Continuous slash, cancel?

It fell into thought, seemingly constructing a sword technique model within its mind.

At that moment, Guang Tai also raised his right hand, the ancient symbols on the technique bracer lying silent.

Simply by touching the technique bracer to a Pokémon, the Pokémon will naturally awaken its power.

This differs somewhat from the Ultimate Bracelet, more akin to the “Evil Scroll” and “Water Scroll”—the Pokémon named Xiong Tudi, after sufficient training, only needs to observe these two scrolls to evolve and awaken the corresponding type’s ultimate technique.

Of course, learning techniques doesn’t necessarily require a TM; seeking guidance from other Pokémon, observing their moves, and imitating them can also lead to learning those techniques.

For example, Ash’s Pikachu’s Iron Tail was actually taught to Ash by a passerby’s Tailow.

As Guang Tai thought, he removed the ancient bracer from his wrist and extended it toward Du Jianqiao, who floated forward and caught it with its blue ribbon.

He had already heard on the mountain that this bracelet-like object contained techniques.

But what is “Reflect”?

Guang Tai suddenly teased it: “Reflect is a Psychic-type defensive move—it constructs a magical wall that halves physical damage taken by the Pokémon behind it!”

“This is a defensive technique, yet you said earlier you dislike defensive moves. How’s that?”

“How did using Substitute feel?”

Du Jianqiao felt no shame at all, its single eye narrowing as it emitted a sound like, “Times change!”

“Oh~”

Saying I didn’t need defense was me from a few days ago—what does that have to do with me tonight?

Substitute?

Substitute is so useful! So is the Shituo Fruit!

“Imagine in your mind—not your head, but your spirit—a transparent wall, drawing upon your psychic energy. That shouldn’t be hard for you.”

“Just like using Psychic Blade.”

Psychic-type energy?

Du Jianqiao kept fiddling with the technique bracer, sensing the type energy within, and gradually, its eye seemed to see a brilliant, luminous transparent wall—the recording from the bracer!

“Oh!”

Du Jianqiao floated into the air, a faint psychic energy slowly releasing from its blade, gradually coalescing into an irregular transparent wall before it.

At that moment, Guang Tai also noticed the symbols on the technique bracer glowing faintly!

The technique is being copied and learned!

“Recording techniques, letting Pokémon observe, guiding them, then learning—modern TMs likely simplify these steps.”

Learning the technique went extremely smoothly; this bracer proved even more reliable than Guang Tai imagined, perhaps because Du Jianqiao had already learned “Psychic Blade,” another Psychic-type technique, before learning Reflect?

“In battle games, Reflect and Light Screen only reduce special and physical attacks, but in real battles, the wall created is real—if an opponent uses a contact move and crashes into it, they’ll face serious obstruction.”

Guang Tai recalled scenes he’d seen: in the anime, Ash’s Treecko once slammed headfirst into a Reflect wall during a challenge at the Cinder Rock Gym, getting bounced back, and the wall moved with the Pokémon.

In the Special manga, Light Screen was similarly used to construct an invisible wall-shaped shelter to trap the opponent.

“Oh!”

Du Jianqiao made a sound; its wall had now fully transformed into a rectangular shape, glowing brightly!

Learned technique “Reflect”!

“Success!”

Guang Tai grew even more convinced of the bracelet’s wonder.

“Try Reflect again?”

Du Jianqiao fixed its single eye on the bracer, understood Guang Tai’s intent, and activated Reflect directly in front of it!

A faintly glowing transparent wall appeared, and the bracer’s inscriptions instantly lit up; then the psychic wall began to dissolve like mist, twisting as its type energy was reabsorbed into the bracer.

“So that’s how it works—I completely understand!” Guang Tai grasped the bracer’s storage mechanism: it absorbs corresponding type energy, and when the technique is used, the energy resonates with the bracer’s inscriptions, allowing repeated recording and storage.

This is just like a “HM”!

In many regions, there exist HMs—TMs containing techniques that Pokémon rarely forget once learned. But since Alola, HMs have gradually vanished from the scene; they were originally developed to help people better utilize Pokémon’s abilities.

Cut, Rock Smash, Strength, Surf, Waterfall, Fly—these are the six most common HMs.

“Now, with the right craftsmanship, I can create ancient technique bracers—‘Ancient Bracelets’!”

But where can I find such craftsmanship? Or what materials are required? Unlike directly carved ancient statues, these Ancient Bracelets seem infused with unimaginable psychic energy—this made Guang Tai think of the Kalos region’s precious item, the “Punishment Vase.”

Some items require the infusion of Pokémon type energy during creation.

Guang Tai opened his computer; it could connect to the internet here too—unbelievable.

“Let me search online for famous craftsmen.”

Unlike regular Trainers, who write training notes or manuals to teach or share with others, craftsmen guard their secret arts and never reveal them—so finding their techniques online is unrealistic.

Guang Tai was only searching for well-known craftsmen across regions, involved in various trades.

“In Johto, Mr. Steel is the most renowned Poké Ball craftsman.”

“Liu Bo in Cianwood City is a master ice sculptor.”

“The ancient apothecary in Olivine City holds the secret formula and technique for the Mystic Potion; the charcoal from the Eucalyptus Forest is also a Johto specialty.”

“In Hoenn, the glass workshop at the foot of Mount Chimney is most famous; the Glass Master crafts unique volcanic ash glass whistles, and by the sea lives the Shell Elder, who makes Shell Bells.”

“In Sinnoh, the elder of Shenhezhen—Zhulan’s grandmother—possesses the craft of making ancient talismans; moreover, she seems to retain methods for crafting relics from the Shui Cui era.”

“In Unova, Shanyu Town has the craft of firing ceramics with ‘volcanic clay,’ as well as ancient artifact and metalworking techniques; in Paldea, Bèigù Town is a renowned ceramic town, and Paldea also has the craft of forging strange armors.”

“In Galar, silk and textile industries are highly renowned; Wooloo wool is top-grade textile material.”

“In Almia, there’s an elderly woodcarving master; in Paldea, Mr. Kousha is a renowned sculptor.”

“Besides these, there are other craftsmen—studying their techniques might help me advance my own craft.”

Guang Tai pondered carefully.

After Shen Du enters autumn, I may leave; by then, the Shen Du Ruins will be buried under snow, and I’ll temporarily travel to other regions to learn skills.

Watching them create their works firsthand might grant me new insights—or even uncover rare materials.

Imitate, replicate, then surpass them.

The next morning, Guang Tai bid farewell to the Mountain Elder and Yangtuo Wang Luo; before leaving, Wang Luo mentioned he’d soon depart the mountain cabin to search for rare materials.

“If I find anything good, I’ll give you a discount!”

With that, he departed.

Guang Tai returned to the village in the afternoon, returned Dudu to the villagers, said goodbye, and brought Du Jianqiao back to the workshop.

He glanced at the fields around the workshop—no Lillipup in sight—but a small dirt pit lay near the herb garden.

Had she come and gone?

I wonder if she can take care of herself.

He set down his backpack, didn’t immediately remove his work clothes, only placed his boots by the door and swapped them for ordinary shoes, then began unpacking and sorting the materials and tools one by one.

“.Finally back. This trip yielded plenty!”

Fortunately, none of the materials were fragile—all had survived the journey intact. Beach Radish, Jianjian Ore, Imperial Leaf, Silent Spray, Ancient Bracelet, Leaf Stone, Dragon Stone Tablet.

Inside the backpack, five flat, roughly rectangular ruin stones occupied most of the space.

After removing the five ruin stones, Guang Tai took out the most important Dragon Stone Tablet—but he always felt this tablet was unsafe anywhere, though no one ever came here, so it was purely psychological.

He finally placed it under the computer.

“Phew, that’s enough for today.”

Huhu—

“Huh? What’s that sound?”

A strange, massive wind roared from the horizon; Guang Tai stepped out of the hut and saw, bathed in sunlight, a huge black dot in the distant sky!

As clouds parted, Guang Tai shielded his eyes to see clearly—the dot grew larger, became a shadow, then revealed its true form against the sunlit sky!

“Aaoo!”

Guang Tai was startled—it was a Charizard!

Charizard is a bipedal Pokémon with classic dragon traits, though it lacks the Dragon type.

Its skin is primarily orange, cream-colored from belly to tail tip and soles, with short, sturdy lower limbs and relatively slender upper limbs; its back bears enormous wings for flight, a long neck, blue eyes, two horn-like protrusions on the back of its head, and a long tail ending in a flame that burns with vitality!

With a roaring wind, the Charizard landed with great force; its body was enormous, and it wore a delivery box on its chest.

Upon landing, it immediately stared at Guang Tai, as if comparing his face to a photo, and Guang Tai noticed a device on its wrist resembling a Poké Device—perhaps a watch-like locator.

“A delivery Pokémon?”

This Charizard came from Vermilion City; Guang Tai hurried inside to pack the shipment.

The shipped items were, of course, the “Evolution Stones” and “Focus Sash,” but also the “Cleansing Talisman,” which needed transshipment.

From Vermilion City to Celadon City, then shipped by sea to Unova.

Johto has many Charizard—like the Charizard Valley, which teems with wild ones.

In other regions, Charizard are often used as riding or delivery Pokémon; after systematic training, their endurance for long-distance flight is astonishing.

After confirming Guang Tai was the sender, the Charizard looked around curiously—he’d clearly never been here before, finding everything novel—but didn’t forget his task, gesturing with his claw at the empty box, signaling Guang Tai to place the package inside.

“Thank you!”

(End of Chapter)