Chapter 1172: Longchang Epiphany

After the sumptuous banquet.

Porygon-Z taught Lilie hand-in-hand, having her film a sample clip of Yde playing the piano.

"Is this good enough?"

Lilie looped the playback excitedly.

She used to frequently record Pokémon School content and post it to PokéTube, but now she was seriously preparing to become a video blogger.

"Still need to edit and do post-production."

Baimu said: "From the perspective of a pure rookie blogger, it's actually about enough, but I personally feel the hook isn't sufficient."

"Hook?"

The little girl looked blank.

He said: "What I mean is creativity; creativity can be a certain style, or it can be a personal trademark."

Lilie seemed to half-understand.

So Baimu gave her an example—

A girl moved through a dim corridor with heavy and coarse breathing, when she suddenly heard a pleasant piano sound.

She drew near and discovered, in a room shrouded in bright moonlight, beneath fluttering white curtains, a Pokémon never heard of, never seen before, slowly playing the piano.

Just as she was immersed in it, the Pokémon suddenly vanished.

While the girl searched everywhere for it, the Pokémon abruptly appeared and jumped right in her face!

The video ends here.

"The video's theme is called Mystery." Baimu paused. "My idea is to set off the rarity of this kind of Pokémon, the Ultra Beast."

Lilie's eyes lit up. "What a great idea!"

In his previous life this subject was already hackneyed to the extreme, but the entertainment module of the Pokémon anime world hadn't yet developed to that extent.

Like Hollywood's many classic films, Baimu actually felt they weren't as good as in his previous life.

Perhaps it has something to do with the world's foundation being aimed at children?

"You can use it as reference, though I feel mystery and suspense may not suit you."

He looked at Lilie, who seemed weak on the outside but was actually strong within, and said: "You must figure out your own trademark."

"Mhm!"

Lilie nodded seriously.

Lusamine and Mo En watched with smiles, holding hands under the table, occasionally exchanging a glance, their faces written full of tender affection.

Though they were a middle-aged couple, a long separation beats a new marriage.

If not for Lusamine being busy with PokéTube's development, they'd most likely have added a little brother or sister for Gladion and Lilie.

"Baimu!"

Gladion had changed clothes and eagerly challenged him: "Witness my growth these past six months!"

He gripped his Poké Ball tightly with confidence.

Then he was matched against Blissey and Shiny Mismagius.

The two had only just reached Level 90 not long ago; they needed plenty of real battles to consolidate their new strength.

Gladion and his Pokémon were beaten to the point of doubting their lives.

"You guys???"

He couldn't understand how, even now, Baimu's Pokémon could still make such a huge leap in strength.

He was familiar with both Blissey and Mismagius; they ran a semi-tank, semi-damage route.

Result: just now, a single move instantly KO'd his Pokémon?

Is this reasonable?

"Happy……"

Blissey looked a bit embarrassed.

It never expected Gladion's Zoroark to be so frail it couldn't even withstand its Aura Sphere.

Baimu patted Big Egg's head. "Progress fairly belongs to everyone, and that naturally includes me."

Normally speaking, once a Trainer becomes Champion, their strength indeed enters a stagnation period.

Because there's no one above them anymore.

Champion Dawu, Kukui, and other Champions diverting energy to other things is also largely related to the drastic drop in positive feedback from training Pokémon.

Of course this is only one reason, not the whole reason.

But Baimu is different; Baimu he has a cheat.

Battle victory reduces simulation cooldown; simulation cooldown complete gives Pokémon level ups; thereby winning again reduces simulation cooldown.

A perpetual motion loop!

He'd already thought it through: if he can become World Champion, he'll set the goal of raising at least one team of Level 100 Pokémon before age twenty-five!

The crushed Gladion became a bit withdrawn.

He originally thought his hard work this year would close the gap; how come it feels like the gap is only getting wider?

The youth pondered this problem until midnight.

And Lilie, after deep consideration, decided to adopt Baimu's creativity and attempt to produce the first short video belonging to Yde.

The reason that persuaded her was—

Ideas are ideas, reality is reality.

Without suitable cinematic language plus excellent post-production editing, even the best creativity goes to waste.

Porygon2 believed Lilie had great talent in this aspect.

Wanting to be a director doesn't necessarily require being an exceptionally talented screenwriter; knowing a little about everything is enough.

So.

Taking advantage of the late night when everyone was quiet.

Lily Ai and Xu Wu Yi De filmed all night without anyone's help, continuing until dawn.

And due to exhaustion, they fell asleep embracing each other in the piano hall.

Finally, Mo En woke up relatively early, discovered Lily Ai wasn't in the room, and only then found his two precious daughters, bringing them back to bed.

"Again, again film one... I can do it..."

Lily Ai's dreamy murmur made him feel both heartache and relief.

Having missed his daughter's crucial growing years, she has now become a brave young lady.

Just like her mother, she has begun pursuing her own career.

Mo En decided to help his precious daughter.

"Zhao Ao Bo, it's me, help me invite some directors. Yes, preferably those who have won awards..."

At the same time.

In the seaside villa.

Bai Mu received a message from the multi-function phone.

"So soon another match? Who?"

"He De Li Ya of the Four Heavenly Kings of United, her rank is lower than yours—98th, and the battle location is set in Alola."

"Huh? Why?"

"Naturally because you two are both in Alola."

The multi-function phone displayed a photo showing He De Li Ya and Zhu Lan in swimsuits, lying on a beach bench resting.

No wonder he was quickly scheduled a new match—it was just a coincidence.

He De Li Ya...

I vaguely recall this person is a rare psychic, in some sense the same as Na Zi.

The difference is, Na Zi has been able to freely control her psychic power since childhood.

He De Li Ya cannot; her young age often leads to loss of control, forcing her to resign as the head of the Battle Frontier, coming to the United region to become one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

After long-term cultivation, He De Li Ya finally succeeded in controlling her psychic power.

"I am very much looking forward to battling her."

Bai Mu's face was full of smiles.

Although fighting someone with a low rank, even if winning doesn't yield many points, being able to battle a mysterious strong trainer is also a joy.

Not to mention He De Li Ya and Zhu Lan coming together to Alola.

Perhaps I have a chance to battle this person?

Although I have previously defeated Ni Mo, Yi Ci, and Ai Li Si—these three champions—but Bai Mu clearly knows that among regional champions, the highest value still belongs to the earliest generations.

This is not based on popularity, but purely on my current insight.

Just like Champion Dan Di.

No matter how great the controversy was in his past life, based on what Bai Mu sees now, only one can say the strongest king is certainly not an empty reputation.

After the World Championship official website released the schedule.

Shan Ren's phone call naturally came through.

"Is the scenery of Alola beautiful?"

"... Hehehe, not bad."

Bai Mu was not surprised his sneaking out was discovered, after all he took the plane openly.

Even if Shan Ren didn't instruct his subordinates to pay attention, someone would still see and inform him.

"Hmph! As expected, you can't stay put."

Shan Ren was not angry.

He clearly knows Bai Mu, although his marketing direction leans toward Dan Di, their actual personalities and habits are worlds apart.

Bai Mu belongs to the more traditional type of champion, with his own goals and ideas.

And the biggest trait of such champions is that they cannot stay put.

They are used to running around, enhancing their experiences to indirectly improve their strength.

Moreover, Shan Ren knows he also has responsibility.

Not giving Bai Mu an exact time, informing him when to hold the Champion Alliance, leaving him waiting.

How can one keep waiting?

People's time is often very precious.

But Shan Ren is not unwilling to quickly hold the Champion Alliance; rather, he has encountered trouble.

As everyone knows, the Champion Alliance will invite some past tournament winners to participate, giving them the chance to challenge the Four Heavenly Kings and regional champions.

While increasing the schedule, it helps stimulate these trainers' growth...

How could the Ou Lei Alliance have so many past tournament winners?

So someone proposed to bring back the losers of the previous Four Heavenly Kings matches for another run.

This idea was immediately rejected.

In a short time, letting losers battle three times—are they still losers?

Moreover, if by chance a loser defeats one of the Four Heavenly Kings, would making one step down to make way for the worthy be acceptable?

Hey!

The person who made the proposal really did think that way!

He felt the losers should be given a few more chances; how could a battle or two test a Trainer's true strength?

Therefore, the League remained deadlocked over how the Champion League should be run.

Shannian originally wanted to copy other regions, but discovered that in the vast majority of regions, the Champion and Elite Four only appeared after several generations.

They were the ones truly feeling their way across the river by touching the stones!

Not Orea, crossing by feeling them.

Shannian was bothered into a splitting headache.

He certainly had Rozze's ambition and resolve, but lacked Rozze's capital.

Rozze's Malocon Group firmly controlled all the key joints of the Galar region, and he himself was the Group's dictator; no one would defy him.

Orea was different; Orea was a region saved by the rescue organization's tens of thousands working together with one heart.

Even though Shannian's contributions were great, and he held a certain degree of say thanks to a Champion close friend, he still could not make it his one-man show.

Under these circumstances.

Shannian made a decision—

He went to the prison to find Rozze, wanting to obtain advice from Rozze, even "enlightenment at Longchang"!

He hadn't told Baimu about this for the time being, worried Baimu would resist him doing so.

After all, Rozze was caught by this close friend of his with his own hands.

"You do your best."

Shannian hung up the phone, looked at the refined man flipping through a book beside him, "Chairman Rozze, let's continue."

"Sure."

Rozze closed the book, smiling: "What else do you want to know? Young Chairman Shannian?"

"Tell me... how to become the sole one."

Shannian said seriously.

—

Ula'ula Island.

Although Alolan Meowth told on Modan, Baimu still came to see him bearing gifts.

"Officer Modan!"

"Yo! Rare visitor!"

Modan cocked his legs up casually, gave the smiling him a couple more glances, and said: "A changed identity really is different; you've lost a lot of your murderous air, kid."

"Is that so?"

Baimu sat down opposite Modan, "That's great then, but probably only you have that discerning eye."

Once upon a time, the fact that he had killed people was seen through by Modan.

The funny thing is he not only wasn't thrown in prison, but because of his tragic past experiences, this old cop instead harbored guilt.

"Meow~"

"Meow wow~"

"Hah—!!"

Numerous Alolan Meowth tore at the gifts; seeing toys they threw them away, seeing food they frantically stuffed it into their mouths.

Baimu asked strangely: "How come the cats here have multiplied?"

"Actually it's already a new batch."

Modan waved his hand, "Thanks to you, Alolan Meowth has become a popular starter Pokemon. Many people don't even want Pokemon like Litten, specifically choosing Alolan Meowth."

Baimu's Meowth didn't participate much in battles, but the camera never missed it once.

It itself also has accounts similar to Shiny Gengar and Mime Jr., it just hates others taking them to operate, so it does it itself.

This guy is a miser.

"Too exaggerated."

Baimu separated the two Alolan Meowth tearing at each other.

Could tell this group really was Modan's latest batch, every single one wild to the core.

They even hiss!

"Baimu!"

Voice arrived before person, Acerola entered laughing with a little Mimikyu, "Long time no see!"

"It has been a long time, Acerola you've grown quite a bit taller."

Baimu raised a hand to gesture, when a huge purple-black fatty suddenly leapt out from her shadow.

"Gah!"

Who said you could touch her!

"Gah??"

Just touched her, so what!!

The Gengar from Baimu's shadow, not to be outdone, likewise rushed out to block Greedent.

Two Gengar forehead to forehead, staring at each other at zero distance.

"No fighting! No fighting!"

Seeing this, Acerola hurriedly tried to stop them, but was blocked by Baimu, "Gengar has restraint, don't worry."

"Alright then..."

Acerola trusted Baimu's judgment greatly.

The two chatted idly in Modan's police station, and were soon chased out by the latter, who found them thoroughly annoying.

"Go talk outside. I'm old; I can't stand the noise."

"Uncle Modan is clearly young! He just likes slacking off!"

Acerola glared at him huffily, but didn't keep pestering him, and actively led Baimu to the library where she worked.

Who knew that just as the two of them entered, they happened to see two figures already inside.

One tall, one short; one a mature beauty, one a little girl.

The mature beauty flipped through books with interest; the little girl propped her chin in boredom, her fingers trembling slightly.

Not far away, some chairs floated in the air.

Acerola exclaimed in surprise, "You two are—"

"Ah, excuse us. We heard the books here hold a great deal of historical material on Alola, so we came to take a look."

The mature beauty gently brushed her hair behind her ear; many, many books lay spread before her.

A large portion of them had been opened.

Baimu knew this wasn't because the other party lacked manners, but because she had choice paralysis — she could spend hours just picking ice cream.

The little girl cast a listless glance over, and her eyes lit up the moment she saw Baimu.

"Huh? Baimu!"

"Hello, Madam Zhulan, Miss Gardevoir." He greeted them with a smile.

Without a doubt, these two were Champion Zhulan and Elite Four Gardevoir!