Chapter 417: These Days, Do Masters Even Deliver Themselves to Your Doorstep?

After the rough assembly of the ice blocks, the next step was preliminary shaping, shaving off the protruding parts.

This part of the process was naturally handed over to the married couple of Sandslash, as well as Mimikyu and Ceruledge.

As Pokémon originating from the same region as Vulpix, and being a regional form, Sandslash had completely abandoned its former Ground type, instead gaining Ice and Steel types.

Their pair of sharp claws could easily tear apart not just soft soil, but even steel.

Let alone ice blocks.

However, these ice blocks were made by Regice; in terms of energy quantity and density, they were almost overwhelmingly different compared to those made by other Pokémon.

Thanks to this, the claws of the Sandslash couple, capable of digging through the ground and splitting steel, had to exert their utmost effort just to shave off certain parts of the ice layer.

Fortunately, under Luo Mu's repeated emphasis, Regice had tried its best to control this issue; although slightly difficult, the claws of the Sandslash couple could still proceed with the cutting smoothly.

Compared to the struggle of the Sandslash couple, Ceruledge and Mimikyu had it much easier.

After all, even Regice's own body could be breached by the two of them once certain conditions were met, let alone ice blocks that Regice had intentionally created with controlled hardness.

With the active efforts of the four Pokémon, for a moment, within the work area designated by Luo Mu, ice shards rained down from the sky continuously.

Even so, completing this process would still require no short amount of time; compared to the small dragon-shaped ice sculpture experimentally produced at the farm, creating this enlarged version inevitably meant an increase in workload.

At the speed of Ceruledge and the others, finishing the cutting would still take about an hour or more.

Seizing this opportunity, Luo Mu, whose hands were temporarily free, took out a specially made extra-large cold-proof tent from his backpack, along with kerosene lamps for lighting and heaters for warmth.

The competition deadline was seven o'clock tomorrow evening, lasting nearly two days; since humans also need rest, setting up tents outside one's work area was not a rare occurrence.

But starting to pitch a tent this early was indeed rare.

Some of the audience, who were leaving one after another, cast curious glances toward Luo Mu's side.

Whether it was the striking appearance of the Pokémon, the size of the ice sculpture, or the act of dumping all the work onto the Pokémon while he started setting up the tent, all these factors made the audience remember Luo Mu, looking forward to what kind of work he would present when tomorrow evening arrived.

Quite a few contestants also noticed Luo Mu's actions.

But merely completing a full work before seven o'clock tomorrow evening was already a stretch; with many people already estimating that they would need to compress their sleep time to compete fiercely, even those who paid attention only took one look before lowering their heads to continue busying themselves with their own tasks.

Luo Mu first laid down the ground sheet, taking further measures to prevent cold air from entering the tent.

Although he was still young, he did not want to suffer from old-age rheumatic legs in his later years, feeling as if he were undergoing torture every time it rained.

Then, with Calyrex's help, he spread out the tent and smoothed out its wrinkles; he smiled and glanced at Vulpix, who was happily jumping up and down on the yet-unraised tent, before lowering his head to take out quite a few "sticks and rods."

At this moment, Calyrex stepped forward, and a telepathic voice rang out in Luo Mu's mind.

"Let me help you."

Hearing this.

Luo Mu's nimble movements paused; he looked at Calyrex and asked without any concealment, "Do you know how?"

Calyrex honestly shook its head. "I don't, but I can learn."

"Alright then."

Luo Mu did not dampen Calyrex's enthusiasm and began explaining the process of setting up the tent to it.

"First, we need to install the support poles; since the tent is quite large, I was finding it a bit difficult to install it alone, so your help comes at just the right time."

After subtly praising Calyrex, Luo Mu told it some rules for pitching the tent.

Throughout the entire process, Calyrex floated slowly up and down a few centimeters above the ground like an eager student, listening intently to Luo Mu's instruction.

A moment later.

"During the time I was asleep, humans have truly become more and more remarkable."

Calyrex said with considerable emotion, using psychic power to "hold" several support poles.

Luo Mu felt the same way.

He nodded in agreement with Calyrex's words, then called out to Spectrier, who was slacking off nearby: "Hey, come over and lend a hand!"

Calyrex originally wanted to say that it alone was enough to assist Luo Mu, but Luo Mu, as if knowing in advance what Calyrex was about to say, blocked its unspoken words with a single sentence.

"Didn't you say that Spectrier has been eating too much lately and needs some exercise?"

"Although pitching a tent won't consume too much of its physical strength, it's a perfect opportunity to exercise its mindset and lay a foundation."

Persuaded by Luo Mu, Calyrex thought for a moment before beckoning Spectrier over.

Spectrier walked over with heavy hooves, a trace of reluctance still lingering on its face.

But this was the King's summons; it had no choice but to come.

Spectrier stared at Luo Mu with a rather resentful gaze, as if trying to pierce him through with its eyes.

At the same time, Spectrier thought resentfully in its heart, "Master Horse is still carefully savoring the aftertaste of the ice radish; why have you summoned Master Horse?"

Although they hadn't been together for long, Luo Mu had long figured out Spectrier's personality, which wore its heart on its sleeve; he didn't need to do anything else, merely smiling slightly as he said, "If you eat the ice radish, you must work."

"!!!!"

Spectrier looked at Luo Mu with an expression of utter disbelief, as if asking, "Are these really words from a human?"

But after a few seconds, Spectrier yielded.

Spectrier opened its horse mouth, bit down on a support pole, and looked at Luo Mu with a fawning expression, awaiting his further commands.

Hehe, as long as you don't stop Master Horse's ice radishes, everything is negotiable.

Watching this scene, Calyrex felt somewhat speechless.

Its two beloved horses truly seemed unable to quit ice radishes and black radishes.

It had to be said that Psychic type, as the most versatile and useful ability in the Pokémon world, truly lived up to its reputation.

Under Luo Mu's explanation, the highly intelligent Calyrex quickly learned how to pitch the tent; although still a bit clumsy, with the assistance of psychic power, its pitching actions were not slow in the slightest.

Added to this, with Spectrier and Vulpix each pulling on one side of the ropes, the tent was fully set up in no time.

Luo Mu personally walked inside to check; the space was very spacious, without the slightest feeling of confinement; being able to sleep in such a tent in the wild truly proved that technology changes life.

Next, knowing that he would become busy soon and that there was still some time before Ceruledge and the others finished, Luo Mu kept moving, taking out sleeping bags from his portable spatial backpack, then tables, chairs, and benches, and even brought out a set of tea ware and tools for brewing tea.

The people nearby watched, completely stunned.

At this moment, Mu Mu, who had just happened to patrol over to this side of the competition venue, saw Luo Mu busy brewing tea to warm his body, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

Buddy, are you here for a vacation?

Luo Mu was, of course, not here for a vacation.

He was simply doing everything within his power to build a comfortable cultivation camp for Cang Yan Ren Gui and the others for the upcoming battle; in the prolonged fight to come, aside from providing support from the sidelines, it would still be up to Luo Mu alone to do the fighting.

After finishing all this and taking another sip of hot tea to warm his body, Luo Mu glanced at the progress Cang Yan Ren Gui and the others had made.

They were already working on the rear section of the dragon body, which totaled nearly thirty meters in length. After a brief thought, Luo Mu agreed to Vulpix's intense request and, taking advantage of the last bit of free time, guided it to continue training its Aurora Beam move, striving toward the future mastery of Aurora Veil.

Just as they were conducting this heated special training, nearby, Sha Hua, who had finally condensed a suitably sized block of ice and carved out its rough outline, wiped the non-existent sweat from her forehead and turned her gaze toward Luo Mu's direction.

When she saw that winding, long strip shape, resembling an ice sculpture of a snake or a dragon, she murmured low in thoughtful contemplation: "A snake?"

A question arose in Sha Hua's heart.

Judging by its appearance, it should be an ice sculpture of a snake-type Pokémon, something like Serperior, Arbok, or Milotic.

However, wanting to complete an ice sculpture of that scale in less than two days, and to perfection, to be honest, Sha Hua held a pessimistic view on the matter.

Perhaps this was the reason Luo Mu had brought so many assistant Pokémon.

"Weavile?"

At this moment, Sha Hua noticed Weavile, who had been busy clearing away ice shards, stop its movements, tug at her sleeve, and point toward the tent.

Sha Hua followed the direction it pointed and froze for an instant.

"Are they training Aurora Veil?"

Hearing the name Aurora Veil, Frosmoth, who was stationed nearby solely as a special effects artist and had been slacking off, also opened its eyes, curiously looked over there, and emitted a chirp of extremely high frequency.

"Frosmoth?"

The antennae atop Frosmoth's head, capable of sensing atmospheric currents, trembled slightly, as if perceiving something.

A moment later.

Frosmoth spread its translucent wings, adorned with beautiful icy scale powder, and flew over to Sha Hua's side.

Sha Hua guessed what Frosmoth wanted to do and smiled helplessly: "If you want to go, then go; anyway, it's not yet time for you to make your appearance."

Lapras and Weavile also shook their heads helplessly.

It had been like this since forever.

This Frosmoth, who loved being a Pokémon teacher, not only frequently brought back all sorts of strange Pokémon to their home but also particularly enjoyed teaching them how to use Ice-type moves.

Even if some Pokémon could not learn Ice-type moves, it didn't care and would force the teaching upon them regardless.

But it had to be said, Frosmoth's teaching ability was truly formidable.

Weavile's Ice Beam move, Lapras's Blizzard move, as well as the Hail and Snowscape moves they had mastered, were all taught by Frosmoth.

Among these Pokémon, Lapras and Weavile had once been part of that same group.

However, unlike those others who left and then returned, these two, due to their excellent performance, were directly granted formal status by Sha Hua and received official positions.

As for Frosmoth's behavior, they had long since grown accustomed to it.

Seeing that Sha Hua had given permission, Frosmoth, unable to suppress the teacher's soul within it, eagerly flapped its wings and flew toward the opponent's work area, intending to aid the enemy.

Watching its eager demeanor, Sha Hua shook her head, turned around, and laughed while scolding: "Really, not helping us is one thing, but going to help our competitors is another."

On the other side.

Luo Mu, who was meticulously teaching Vulpix how to disperse its energy, was just pondering that the time was about right and that Cang Yan Ren Gui and the others were nearly finished with the dragon tail, so he should get up and start working, when Lei Guan Wang's sudden reminder caused him to subconsciously look up to the right.

A Frosmoth, possessing an aura akin to that of a noble lady, was elegantly flapping its wings as it flew toward them.

Frosmoth had a pure white body, gem-like blue compound eyes, and a blue diamond-shaped spot adorning its brow like a floral mark, enhancing its ethereal temperament, while a pair of feather-like antennae grew beside them.

If one were to say where Frosmoth's most beautiful feature lay, it would undoubtedly be its translucent wings, patterned with snowflake-like markings.

As Frosmoth flapped its wings, the beautiful icy scale powder clinging to them scattered down, sparkling like stars twinkling in the night sky, filled with a dreamlike beauty.

Upon seeing Frosmoth, Vulpix's large eyes became bright and sparkling, thinking how it too wished to become so ethereal and beautiful! Seemingly noticing the gazes of Luo Mu, Lei Guan Wang, and Vulpix, the familiar Frosmoth opened its small arms, which it had been holding across its chest like a scarf, and waved a greeting to them.

"Frosmoth~" (Hello there~)

"Hello."

Luo Mu stood up while holding Vulpix, looking at the uninvited Frosmoth before him, a trace of confusion swirling in Emperor Yan Di's eyes.

This Frosmoth... why isn't it helping its master with the carving, and what is it doing coming over here? Seemingly because Luo Mu had responded to its words, Frosmoth displayed a surprisingly human-like expression of shock and cried out again.

"Frosmoth!?" (You can understand what I'm saying!?) Even Sha Hua could only communicate with me by guessing; what is the deal with this human?

Frosmoth displayed an excitement that was visible to the naked eye.

"..."

Luo Mu fell silent for a second and looked at Lei Guan Wang.

Lei Guan Wang was obviously reliable.

A mental wave transmitted into Luo Mu's mind; he instantly understood Frosmoth's meaning, and after a brief thought, he explained: "I cannot understand your language, but my friend Lei Guan Wang can translate what you say for me."

Frosmoth was startled, and upon looking at Lei Guan Wang, understanding immediately dawned.

"Frosmoth Frosmoth~" (So it was the doing of this noble my lord; I fully understand now~)

Whether due to Lei Guan Wang's influence or simply because Frosmoth was naturally like this, Luo Mu always felt something was odd when communicating with it.

When the cries of ordinary Pokémon were translated, the words they spoke were unexpectedly monotonous and simple, yet this Frosmoth was somewhat different... truly strange.

At this moment, Frosmoth seemed to remember its primary purpose for coming, flapped its wings to hover before Luo Mu, and examined Vulpix with its sapphire-like beautiful compound eyes.

Rarely, Vulpix did not feel nervous despite Frosmoth being a strange Pokémon it was meeting for the first time.

Instead, it looked at Frosmoth with an expression full of admiration.

"Vul vul!" (The Aurora Veil you released is so beautiful!)

Frosmoth blinked its eyes, feeling that Vulpix's little mouth was truly sweet, and chirped happily.

"Frosmoth~" (You want to learn? Then I'll teach you!)

The Snom spun gracefully in midair, using the lingering hail from Vulpix's Snow Warning ability to unleash a curtain of light composed of beautiful auroras.

The Vulpix nestled in Luo Mu's arms grew even more excited; it kept pawing at his arm with its tiny claws, kicking its little legs, and letting out highly agitated cries.

"Mewu mewu!" (I want to learn!)

Luo Mu, who continued to receive real-time translation from Lei Guan Wang, fell silent.

First, he glanced toward Lady Shana on the other side, who wasn't looking their way at all and seemed indifferent to what the Snom was doing; then he looked back at the Snom before him, several question marks popping up above his head.

No way.

These days, do masters even deliver themselves to your doorstep?

(End of Chapter)