Chapter 472: Celebi

Deep in the Li Shu Lin, the foliage was thick and the light in the forest dim.

Huo La followed behind Chi Hong and asked softly, "Xiao Chi Ge, do we really need to come this early?"

At the rear of the group, Neimu Boshi and Bilan followed closely.

In fact, Huo La had not intended to let the two get into danger; he originally wanted to warn them that the situation tonight was perilous and have them stay in town to wait.

But Bilan insisted she could help and refused to stay behind; Neimu Boshi even brandished a GS Ball, taking a hardline stance.

Huo La could not persuade the two, so he repeatedly warned them to stay safe and even handed Bilan a Naclotzma Pokeball for self‑defense, adding an extra layer of protection.

Chi Hong reached out to push aside the dense foliage before him, walking steadily while responding in a low voice, "It was necessary to come early. Your earlier judgment was correct; although those people weren't wearing Rocket Team uniforms, their tactics and style were unmistakably those of the Rocket Team. Moreover, the leader is Iron Mask, and their arrangement has long been set up."

Behind him, Bilan asked softly, "So this time, are we going to face the Rocket Team Executive called Iron Mask head‑on?"

"It's highly likely we can't avoid a battle," Chi Hong nodded, his tone steady. "But you needn't worry too much. Professor Oak relayed that the League will send people to assist us, though they can only act covertly and won't appear openly."

"Act covertly?" Neimu Boshi frowned at the words, his tone tinged with displeasure. "The League hides in the shadows, letting you kids charge at the forefront as the vanguard."

Chi Hong gave a helpless wry smile and patiently explained, "Neimu Boshi, the other side is a top‑tier force like the Rocket Team. Given the League's current situation, it's utterly unsuitable to engage them in a full‑scale frontal war. Moreover, Alola has just been consolidated; everything is in disarray, and the League is swamped with countless tasks, lacking the capacity to spare resources."

"Considering Huo La's present circumstances, the League's tacit permission for us to act without direct intervention is already the utmost they can allow."

Neimu Boshi looked at the composed Chi Hong before him, then glanced at the calmly‑bearing Huo La, finally shaking his head helplessly and saying nothing more.

The party shuffled forward a bit more, and Chi Hong suddenly raised his hand to halt.

"Let's stop around here. Going any further, we'd enter the ambush the Rocket Team set up in advance."

Huo La followed his gaze; deep in the dense forest, a simple shrine stood alone, thin wisps of blue smoke drifting slowly upward from within, standing out conspicuously in the night.

He simply sat down on the spot, reclined on his back, and looked up at the night sky.

A bright full moon hung high in the TianQiong, the night clear, and only an hour remained until the moon reached its fullest.

The four kept silent watch in place, holding their breath, while within a hundred‑meter radius ahead, a hidden current had already been surging incessantly.

On the other side of the dense forest, Iron-faced Bixas leisurely gnawed on a Flame Flamingo's leg, relaxed in posture yet exuding a chilling aura.

He turned his head toward the subordinate beside him and asked in a deep voice, "Are all the arrangements in place?"

The subordinate immediately bowed and replied, "Lord Bi Xia Si, everything is set. Our men have taken four positions, completely encircling the shrine with no gaps."

"Very good."

Bi Xia Si took another bite of meat, a hint of ambition flashing in his eyes, "Success or failure hinges on tonight. Once we obtain Celebi and seize control of the power of time, I will lead you to revive the Rocket Team and let our glory spread across the entire world!"

The Rocket Team members shouted in unison, their momentum fierce, "We pledge to follow Lord Bi Xia Si to the death!"

Bi Xia Si roared with laughter, his ambition laid bare.

Meanwhile, inside the Li Shu Lin shrine.

Liu Bo sat quietly in a wheelchair, his expression detached and calm, his palm tightly gripping a Pokeball.

Directly ahead, the altar displayed a vague Pokemon silhouette, its features indistinct, and on the altar platform two stationary Pokeballs were placed.

He murmured to himself in a low voice, his gaze burning with obsession, "Celebi... it's close, it's close... our lifelong wish is about to be fulfilled."

Time flowed slowly as night deepened; the entire Li Shu Lin fell silent, save for a gentle rustle of wind.

Suddenly, a mysterious, indescribable force thundered down, enveloping the entire shrine!

The altar instantly erupted in dazzling, radiant rainbow light, the aura swirling and illuminating the whole shrine. The two Pokeballs on the platform began to shake violently, their energy restless.

Liu Bo's pupils flashed, his expression unable to hide excitement, and he quickly secured the Pokeball in his hand: "It's coming! Celebi is coming!"

Over a hundred meters away, Bi Xia Si, sensing the disturbance, instantly tightened his expression, becoming gravely solemn. He decisively raised his hand and issued a command.

The subordinate beside him immediately grabbed the communicator and, in a deep voice, ordered, "All units converge, encircle the shrine!"

Huo La shivered, jolted awake from his relaxed state, sprang to his feet, his palm instantly gripping the Palkia Pokeball, his nerves taut and ready to act at any moment.

Behind him, Neimu Boshi also recognized the peril, stepped forward, and handed Huo La a specially textured Gold Pokeball, saying plainly, "This is the GS Ball. If the fight really breaks out, it'll be too chaotic and dangerous; Bilan and I will stay back and watch from afar."

Huo La took the GS Ball steadily, his fingertips touching the cold surface, and gave a slight nod.

Beside him, Chi Hong had already shed all relaxation; his aura was fully restrained, his edge concealed, his surrounding qi steady and fierce, completely poised and ready for battle.

"Let's go, Huo La, we'll move forward."

At this moment, the Time and Space aura within the shrine grew ever denser and more majestic, the brilliant rainbow light bursting through the eaves, soaring skyward, dyeing the surrounding few meters of forest in gorgeous multicolored hues, the flowing light both sacred and uncanny.

Amid the dazzling sea of light, two completely different sounds suddenly intertwined.

A bright, soaring phoenix cry tore the night, bold and grand; a distant, deep wail echoed through the forest, vast and forlorn.

The phoenix king and Lugia's silhouettes burst through the aura, soaring, the massive divine beast phantoms spiraling and intertwining in midair, gradually drawing together.

Finally, a red and a white light stream interlocked head to tail, merging in a circle; at the exact center between the two legendary divine‑beast phantoms, a slender, hazy, petite figure emerged, slowly coalescing amid the swirling rainbow light.