Read advance chapters for both of my work, exclusively on Patreon at - www.patreon.com/Sniperwoof
-----------------
Metagross was settled.
The only ones left to evolve were Riolu and Honedge.
Li Xiang wasn't in a particular hurry about the former because rushing wouldn't help and might even disrupt Riolu's current momentum of steady progress.
Besides, the Prankster ability was quite good; it could be used for support in double battles.
Perhaps only after he obtained the Mega Stone and Key Stone would Li Xiang start getting anxious, fretting over why the dog still hadn't evolved.
For now, it was still early. No need to rush; take it slow.
It would evolve eventually.
As for the newly joined Honedge, it had rarely been sent out into battles recently. It would only fight a couple of matches occasionally when they went to the park, mostly against opponents above level 30, with wins and losses about fifty-fifty.
For a beginner, that was actually pretty good.
Moreover, it was also learning and growing rapidly.
Whether it was understanding Li Xiang's commands, making in-battle judgments, the crisp execution of moves, or knowing when to advance and retreat after attacking.
A talented Pokémon that needed time to hone and refine its skills.
Its evolution range was between levels 32 and 38. Currently at level 31, with luck, it might evolve by the end of this month.
Of course, it might also push the limit.
As for the Dusk Stone, he managed to get one the day before yesterday through the Witercrow Forum from a guy in the same city, trading a Leaf Stone for it.
According to that guy, his wife had an Eevee, and his daughter kept pestering them to let it evolve into an Umbreon. Unable to bear the noise anymore, his wife tried to find a way.
Somehow, she ended up being tricked into buying a so-called "super high-quality" Dusk Stone for thirty thousand Pokedollars.
By the time they realized what happened, the scammer was long gone.
'What the hell, using a Dusk Stone to evolve into Umbreon...'
Li Xiang knew that before Generation VII, Glaceon and Leafeon, which could only evolve in special locations, could evolve using evolution stones in Generation VIII.
Perhaps Umbreon and Espeon could too.
'But even then, it should be a Moon Stone. Aren't Dusk Stones for Ghost-type Pokémon?'
People these days are really like elderly folks tricked into buying health supplements.
Li Xiang looked at the guy who had suddenly started venting his woes and patted his shoulder sympathetically.
During training.
Putting aside Honedge's usual tendency to argue with Li Xiang and its noisy personality...
When it came to serious training, this guy was quite reliable. It did whatever it was told. Its obedience to commands was also higher than when he first got Corvisquire and Metang.
Faced with such an obedient sword, Li Xiang, in his adolescence, couldn't help but have some mischievous thoughts.
For example.
"Sword, come!"
Standing in place, Li Xiang suddenly shouted, holding out his hand!
In the distance, Honedge, which had been swaying while looking at the scenery, paused, then swiftly flew towards Li Xiang's palm!
Slap!
A perfect landing!
Shing—
The blade unsheathed!
"Secret Sword!"
Li Xiang, holding Honedge high, shouted again. An energy blade enveloped Honedge's body, instantly extending its blade several times!
A dazzling silver light illuminated the surroundings!
"EX—CALIBUR!!"
Li Xiang swung down fiercely!
Boom!
The ground shook, sand and stones flew!
"Return to sheath!"
Li Xiang released Honedge, gestured with two fingers of his right hand, and Honedge swiftly sheathed itself, attaching to his back.
"Phew... All done~"
He let out a light breath, satisfied as he looked at the shallow crack on the ground left by the Secret Sword.
Honestly, what man doesn't dream of being a sword immortal? Li Xiang was no exception, and Honedge using Secret Sword was just too reminiscent of Excalibur.
He couldn't help but shout it out. Cringy as it was, when no one was around, shouting it felt really good.
Behind him, Honedge slowly floated in front of Li Xiang, looking at him suspiciously with its single eye, as if saying, 'What's the point of this?'
"Of course there is. Who knows, one day I might need to use you to fight someone. Shouting 'Sword, come!' and having you fly into my hand would be so cool."
Li Xiang waved his hand, then added, "How about this? I'll give you a line of poetry for free—'The sword's aura spans thirty thousand miles; a single blade's light chills nineteen continents!'"
It came from Gu Long's "The Sword of the Third Young Master", a line he had always liked.
Honedge's pupil lit up, shing as it unsheathed, dancing wildly in the air.
It even started using moves while dancing.
It was clear it really liked this line of poetry, given its extremely chuunibyou personality.
A few days ago, when they passed a video store and it saw a wuxia movie playing on the big screen outside, it couldn't walk away, stubbornly dragging Li Xiang inside to watch.
He had no choice but to be dragged in by this sword.
But watching was one thing; what was with its sash constantly trying to stuff discs into his bag?
Li Xiang almost got mistaken for a thief. And if he hadn't been short on cash, this guy probably would have bought every single movie in the wuxia section.
This hobby... really something else.
Just like Greninja... no, Greninja was much better.
Greninja's chuunibyou was the kind that liked to act cool alone, and it certainly had the qualifications to do so. But Honedge's chuunibyou was more costly—both financially and mentally.
"How about using this as your introductory poem?" Li Xiang suggested proactively.
'Introductory poem?'
The excited Honedge paused slightly, looking curiously at Li Xiang, clearly not understanding what an introductory poem was.
Li Xiang explained it.
The more Honedge listened, the brighter its sapphire-like single eye became. By the end, it was trembling with excitement, shaking its body wildly.
'Introductory poem! Introductory poem! Introductory poem!'
Li Xiang could almost hear its silent shouts.
"Glad you like it."
He nodded. Honestly, with poetry and movies, Honedge was really easy to handle.
Martial Arts School.
Li Xiang held the Cloud Severer Blade, silently maintaining the starting stance of the Zhenxing Blade.
Since achieving that state of harmony, practicing the Zhenxing Blade had also become much smoother, as if he had practiced it thousands of times before.
Li Xiang asked his senior brothers if they had felt this way; they all said no.
At first, he thought he had encountered some exclusive benefit.
Later, he realized that his senior brothers had genuinely practiced it thousands of times, so they naturally didn't have that "mere familiarity" illusion.
However, besides the Zhenxing Blade, Li Xiang always felt an itch in his hands, as if his mind had its own ideas, wanting to try something different.
This feeling had persisted for almost half a month.
Improving the Zhenxing Blade?
That didn't seem to be it.
It was more like other blade techniques. Recently, while studying Niten Ichi-ryū and other dual-wielding sword techniques with Greninja, he had gained some insights.
He glanced towards the backyard.
Confirming that Duan Tianxing indeed hadn't come over, Li Xiang discussed it with his three senior brothers, found a corner, and quietly started practicing.
Once he started, it was surprising.
He thought he would fumble through a chaotic dance, with nonsensical moves, but that didn't happen at all.
Instead, he practiced with extreme fluidity, including shouts, breath control, and force application points, all mastered with incredible precision.
His three senior brothers watching from the side were stunned.
"Junior Brother... when did he practice another martial art? And it's in the Sakura Island style?"
"Last month during the trip?"
"Look at that proficiency; it's clearly not something achieved in a few months. With Junior Brother's talent, could he practice like this without seven or eight years?"
"Are you saying Junior Brother practiced other sword techniques before coming to Zhenxing? You're joking!"
"Stop arguing! Something's wrong!"
Duan Yu interrupted Lu Chengfeng and Wang Dong's bickering, watching Li Xiang practice his sword with a grave expression.
He said, "Don't you think it looks familiar? This sword technique!"
'Familiar?'
Lu Chengfeng and Wang Dong were momentarily stunned, then looked over again. After a few more glances and some recollection, they exclaimed in shock, "Swordsman Shimazaki!"
Yes.
The sword technique Li Xiang was using now was exactly the same as the one belonging to Swordsman Shimazaki that they had seen in the Aegislash's spiritual energy when they were in that state!
"I'll get the master!"
Duan Yu turned and ran towards the backyard, "You two keep an eye on Junior Brother."
The two nodded.
However, Li Xiang wasn't stupid either; he had naturally noticed this anomaly and couldn't help but feel panicked.
After all, this situation was very similar to possession plots in certain fantasy novels.
But then he thought, apart from having these impulses while practicing swordplay, he felt nothing else at other times.
Incineroar and the others weren't blind; they might notice any changes better than he himself could.
Therefore, all anomalies occurred only during sword practice.
'—Martial arts enlightenment? Power transfer?'
These terms popped into Li Xiang's mind.
In wuxia novels, power transfer was the epitome of gaining without effort.
The lifelong cultivation of those great heroes or monks could be transmitted to others in a short time, serving as a measure of martial prowess.
Often decades of cultivation.
Did this world have martial arts enlightenment?
Surely not.
Recalling the scene when he was under the influence of the Aegislash's spiritual energy, he suddenly realized that he could vaguely remember Swordsman Shimazaki practicing martial arts and killing people.
It was like watching a movie.
Very strange.
After finishing the set of sword techniques, Li Xiang fell silent.
At that moment, Duan Yu brought Duan Tianxing in through the back door. Li Xiang shuddered involuntarily, like a child caught sneaking food at night.
"Ma-Master?"
"Practice it once."
Duan Tianxing was concise, his face wearing sunglasses so Li Xiang couldn't see his eyes.
Li Xiang obediently practiced it once.
Duan Tianxing watched silently throughout, not saying a word. Only when Li Xiang finished and settled his stance did he speak, "It's fine. Practice diligently. Don't mix up the two techniques."
After saying that, he turned and left.
'If the old master said it was fine, then it was probably really fine.'
Li Xiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, as did the three senior brothers beside him.
Afterwards, the three borrowed wooden swords and tried it out, wondering if they had the same experience as Li Xiang.
They found they did not.
Li Xiang, who had performed the most pitifully back then, seemed to have become the biggest beneficiary.
When Li Xiang asked Honedge about it, Honedge was also shocked that he could execute the Shimazaki family sword technique so skillfully.
It stared at him as if seeing him for the first time, making him feel embarrassed.
"Junior Brother, I can tell this sword technique has at least seven or eight years of skill! Come, spar with me!"
Lu Chengfeng was excited; he was very curious about how powerful Li Xiang had become after receiving this "transmission."
"Alright!"
Li Xiang nodded, also somewhat excited, feeling that after being beaten for so long, he could finally redeem himself.
As a result, he got utterly crushed by Lu Chengfeng.
"Not good enough, Junior Brother. You're using it like a wooden dummy. Can you put some soul into it? It feels like you're just practicing from a textbook—all flash, no substance."
He said disappointedly, twirling the wooden sword in his hand.
Li Xiang, sitting on the ground wiping sweat from his forehead, twitched his mouth, "I understand what you mean, but I feel like I'm using it with plenty of soul."
"Ah, this martial arts talent... even a transmission is useless."
Wang Dong held his head, and Duan Yu silently turned away.
They thought Junior Brother had suddenly risen to prominence, but it turned out he was still the same.
He really wasn't cut out for martial arts.
Being a trainer was indeed more suitable for him.