"Evolution sites for all attributes? With better effects than New World?"
These were the most basic supporting facilities at Whale Island University.
The common five-element terrains barely got a glance from Su Hao as he skimmed past them.
He lingered a bit longer on the introduction to the Lightning-type Pokémon evolution site. It was a valley with a special magnetic field, where thunder roared year-round. The photo Su Hao looked at showed a scene comparable to "immortals undergoing tribulation."
The Ghost-type Pokémon evolution site, on the other hand, was an abandoned town. On the surface, it seemed unremarkable, but in reality, it was a "place of extreme yin," thick with dense yin energy and death aura. For ordinary people stepping inside, it was normal to lose their minds and go crazy after a while.
But the abandoned town was a favorite haunt for Ghost-type Pokémon. To them, it felt as warm as home. Not only could Ghost-type Pokémon evolve there, but new Ghost-type Pokémon would occasionally be born within. By spending a certain amount of credits, one could enter and search for rare Ghost-type Pokémon to contract.
To be honest, Su Hao was a bit tempted.
Ghost-type Pokémon had no physical form. For one, they could merge into his shadow and act as bodyguards. For another, they could work with the Dream Moth. The little one could construct dreams, while the Ghost-type could traverse through them—one inside, one outside, an unstoppable combination.
"But now isn't the time to contract a new Pokémon."
He looked at his three Pokémon.
The Dream Moth's current task was to improve its basic stats, focusing on mental power... it wasn't too far from the Elite level.
The Ember Crow was his main attacker right now and needed to keep honing its offensive strength. Its durability also had to be improved a bit. After all, survival was the prerequisite for dealing damage.
"The Ember Crow has the Fire Feather stance, but its flames are too ordinary. If I could cultivate a special flame for it, its combat power would skyrocket."
As far as Su Hao knew, there were two ways to cultivate special flames.
One was to train in a special site, absorbing flames, and over time, enhance the "quality" of its own fire.
The second...
Was to obtain a rare flame seed and have the Pokémon fuse with it.
"I need to save my credits for now. The second option is out. I'll keep the first one in mind, pick a training environment later, and see if I can trigger a corresponding cultivation plan."
Finally, there was the Water Spirit Beast.
Su Hao looked at it.
To help it evolve sooner, the Water Spirit Beast currently had no special training direction. Its combat power was only a tiny bit stronger than an average beginner-level Pokémon.
Now, he could start planning for it.
Su Hao flipped through the various cultivation plans for the Water Spirit Beast in his mind.
It was an all-rounder type.
"Originally, I planned to train it as a close-combat tank."
That wasn't impossible.
But...
During the practical exam, if it weren't for the Water Spirit Beast as a mount, even with the Dream Moth and Ember Crow being strong, he, Su Hao, wouldn't have been able to handle things so easily. Over those two days, aside from rest time, he was basically riding the Water Spirit Beast.
"Since I'm positioning it as a mount, training it as a tank isn't quite right anymore."
A scene flashed through Su Hao's mind.
Facing an enemy.
The Water Spirit Beast would neigh: I'll block it!
Then it would charge forward with him on its back, facing the enemy's fist the size of a sandbag.
The image was too beautiful to imagine.
"First priority for a mount: it needs to run, and run fast enough."
Even the freshman handbook mentioned that one absolutely, positively had to have a rideable Pokémon. If possible, a flying mount was even better. The development direction the handbook suggested for freshmen was never about combat power first. Survival ability was key!
Thus...
Su Hao tailored two advanced techniques for the Water Spirit Beast based on its situation.
Cloud Step!
Water Path!
Cloud Step was a universal technique, suitable for Pokémon with legs... supposedly, spider-like Pokémon could make the best use of it. When a Pokémon used Cloud Step, it could leave a trail of afterimages. Speed and agility both saw significant improvement. At a high level of training, Cloud Step even allowed brief aerial steps, which, combined with the Water Spirit Beast's natural ability to tread air, meant double the fun.
Water Path, on the other hand, let the Water Spirit Beast leave a watery trail wherever it went. The path was shrouded in mist. The technique only slightly boosted the Pokémon's speed, but... it could hinder enemies. As the old saying goes, speed is relative. As long as I make the enemy slow enough, it can't catch me.
"Not only that, Water Path can also provide a 'home field advantage' effect. As the one being chased, I can use the Water Path to set up a counterattack with other Water-type techniques."
Both Cloud Step and Water Path were advanced techniques.
They couldn't be found on the Thousand Net.
Usually, they were only available for purchase in the Alliance Mall, and Su Hao would have to unlock the advanced version.
But...
"I'm already a student at Whale Island University, so I've outgrown the Alliance Mall!"
He flipped open the handbook and saw the introduction to the school library.
Among its collections was one dedicated to techniques and ultimate moves, more comprehensive than the Alliance Mall.
After all,
The Alliance Mall catered to the general public; any Spirit Master with money could buy from it.
University students were the favored children, the direct line.
"Plus, the techniques and ultimate moves in the library are 'common items,' so borrowing them is much cheaper than buying from the Alliance Mall!"
What was truly expensive, requiring credits, was consulting a tutor or hiring someone for one-on-one instruction until the Pokémon learned the move.
...
Su Hao left the Water Spirit Beast and Ember Crow at the villa.
He only took the Dream Moth to the library.
"You need to study the training methods for the techniques so you can guide the Ember Crow and Water Spirit Beast, got it?"
"Guno?"
"Remember what you promised when you forgot to grab my phone?"
"Guno (o°ω°o)"
The Dream Moth used the technique of cute evasion.
The Dream Moth's technique failed.
The Dream Moth fell over.
"Guno (oT-T)尸"
Su Hao wasn't a monster, of course.
He was just saying it; he didn't actually plan to have the Dream Moth supervise the Ember Crow and Water Spirit Beast's training.
After all...
He had also prepared training tasks for the Dream Moth, so there was no spare time.
At the entrance of Lakeview Court.
When Su Hao walked out, he happened to run into that same white-clothed freshman again.
They both paused in their steps, their eyes meeting.
The Dream Moth above his head and the Alolan Vulpix on the other's shoulder stared each other down.
The atmosphere was tense.
It felt like crackling electric sparks were in the air.
After a long moment,
The white-clothed boy snorted, "You're not bad, but I'll be the one to win."
Su Hao spread his hands, "You do your best, I'll take it easy."
...
Every year, Whale Island University sent out a certain number of recommendation letters.
They used special anti-counterfeiting measures, easy to verify.
But recommendation letters also differed from one another.
It depended on who sent them.
"This one was sent by King Xia, to be delivered to King Wu."
A tutor personally handed the recommendation letter to King Wu.
King Wu, full name Wu Cuizhi, titled King of Ten Thousand Trees, was one of the eight King-level figures at Whale Island University.
A high-ranking authority.
When he received the letter, he let out a surprised "Huh."
"That old Xia actually deigned to send out a recommendation letter?"
As the president of the Tiannan Province Guild, King Xia had a pile of recommendation letters stockpiled, but he'd sent out very few. Personal favors? Hardly anyone could sway King Xia. Ordinary top students weren't worth his recommendation.
"This letter was specifically handed to me—does he want me to give this new student extra care?
"Let me see who managed to get a recommendation letter from old Xia."
King Wu opened the envelope and slowly pulled out the letter inside.