Lin Xia stood up. After returning to the dormitory with Bulbasaur, he walked over to the only small window in the room, where warm afternoon sunlight streamed in.
He pointed at the patch of light and said to Bulbasaur,
"Look, Bulbasaur—right there. A large part of your strength comes from that. Sunlight."
He guided Bulbasaur into the sunlit area. The gentle rays fell over its body, especially the mysterious seed on its back.
Almost the moment the sunlight touched the seed, Lin Xia clearly felt Bulbasaur's Spirit stir slightly.
"Do you feel it?"
"Da na!?"
Lin Xia held his breath and focused, using his senses to connect with the Spirit bound closely to him.
"This is your instinct—Synthesis. You use sunlight to convert light energy into life energy and spirit power."
"Follow that instinct. Release your spirit power and absorb the sunlight."
Bulbasaur hadn't been born long, and because it possessed independent life, Lin Xia hadn't arranged formal cultivation for it before, instead letting it roam and play freely.
This was Bulbasaur's first time cultivating seriously.
Even so, Lin Xia knew that in the Pokémon system, one of the core abilities of Grass-type Pokémon was Synthesis, and the seed on Bulbasaur's back was the organ used to perform it.
Under the rules of the Douluo Continent, Lin Xia immediately realized that this would become Bulbasaur's most important natural cultivation method—far more efficient than ordinary meditation.
In the absence of cultivation resources, this was already the optimal choice.
Sure enough, under the sunlight, the seed on Bulbasaur's back emitted a faint glow. Although the progress was slow, it continuously absorbed the essence of the sun.
Warm, pure life energy gathered within Bulbasaur's body, naturally transforming into spirit power.
As the Spirit's master, Lin Xia could clearly sense Bulbasaur's spirit power increasing bit by bit.
What surprised him even more was that this process didn't only strengthen Bulbasaur itself—it also fed back a portion of pure life energy and spirit power to him through the Spirit bond.
This wasn't intentional. It was simply an overflow effect from Bulbasaur's growth.
Just like how plants release oxygen while growing under sunlight.
As Bulbasaur cultivated, Lin Xia felt a warm current slowly flow through his body. It was completely different from the weak spirit power produced by his own meditation.
It was gentler, purer, and brimming with vitality, subtly nourishing every cell in his body while also increasing his own spirit power and life force.
The cultivation efficiency was actually faster than meditating alone.
With only Rank 1 innate spirit power, if Lin Xia told anyone about this speed and effect, no one would believe him.
It was simply abnormal.
And this was only Synthesis.
As a Grass-type Pokémon, Bulbasaur could also use Ingrain to absorb nutrients from the earth.
After confirming that this cultivation path was correct, Lin Xia finally felt at ease.
However, having already offended Yu Xiaogang, Lin Xia knew better than to remain under a collapsing wall. Staying at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy was no longer an option.
But where should he go?
He ruled out Spirit Hall and Blue Tyrant Academy immediately.
He had no intention of going anywhere related to Yu Xiaogang.
Bibi Dong of Spirit Hall was a lunatic. Liu Erlong of Blue Tyrant Academy was ruled by emotions. And Flender of Shrek Academy was Yu Xiaogang's closest friend.
Any of those paths would end badly.
Even Heaven Dou Royal Academy wasn't safe—the coach of the Heaven Dou Imperial Team was Qin Ming, someone thoroughly molded by Flender.
That left only the various elemental academies.
Tianshui. Blazing. Kamikaze. Thunder.
None of them suited his Spirit.
Beyond those were academies like Exotic Beast Academy and Plant Academy.
Among them, the most compatible choice was clearly Plant Academy.
As soon as the thought arose, Lin Xia felt a headache coming on. Could the resources of such an academy really support him?
Then another issue surfaced.
What right did he have to be picky?
Plant Academy was an Advanced Spirit Master Academy.
His spirit power was only Rank 1.
At that thought, Lin Xia fell silent.
Whatever.
Even with Rank 1 innate spirit power, relying on his unique Spirit, it might not be impossible to enter.
In any case, he couldn't stay at Nuoding.
The more he thought about it, the more dangerous it felt. Lin Xia immediately began packing his belongings.
Once Bulbasaur finished cultivating, Lin Xia picked it up and walked straight out of the academy.
At that moment, Xiao Wu, who had just finished playing outside, happened to run into him. Confusion filled her eyes.
"Lin Xia, where are you going?"
Lin Xia wanted to hint at something, but then he thought of Tang Hao possibly watching from nearby.
The words reached his lips, then were swallowed back.
"Something came up at home. I'm going back for a while. I'll return soon."
Xiao Wu frowned.
"Lin Xia, don't you… not have anyone at home?"
"…"
"Forget it, forget it. Go on, then. Goodbye, Bulbasaur!"
She reached out and patted Bulbasaur in Lin Xia's arms before turning and leaving.
Watching her retreating figure, Lin Xia let out a soft sigh.
Over the past few days, he hadn't felt any ill will toward Xiao Wu. He didn't want her to fall into Tang San's shadow.
But circumstances left him no choice.
Or perhaps this was just his own overthinking—maybe Xiao Wu was perfectly willing.
Shaking off his thoughts, Lin Xia left Nuoding City and set out toward the Silves Kingdom.
He knew his strength was low and the journey dangerous, so he chose safer trade routes. Along the way, he strictly followed Bulbasaur's instinctive needs.
He traveled mostly during the day, letting Bulbasaur perch on his shoulder or walk briefly on the ground, maximizing its exposure to sunlight.
He could clearly feel the seed on Bulbasaur's back warming under the sun, continuously producing wisps of pure life energy.
At night or while resting, Lin Xia sought areas with dense vegetation and fertile soil, guiding Bulbasaur to sink its Vine Whips deep into the earth and attempt to resonate with the land's energy.
Though clumsy, it occasionally absorbed traces of heavy, nourishing life force.
This instinctive cultivation method—Synthesis as the core, earth nourishment as support—formed a remarkable symbiotic cycle.
After just over ten days of travel, Lin Xia was pleasantly shocked to discover that the threadlike spirit power within his body had not only grown full, but undergone a qualitative leap.
He had reached Rank 3 spirit power.
Without intensive meditation, relying solely on the Spirit's feedback, he had advanced two ranks in half a month.
This astonishing growth filled Lin Xia with confidence in Bulbasaur's potential—and in the path he had chosen.
At the very least, he hadn't gone wrong.
His idea worked.