Pokémon: Start with a Dragon-type Gym Leader, and pick up Guroton.

Chapter 604 A Request from Du Juan

"Let's talk about it next time then."

The failure did not discourage Du Juan.

On the contrary, he was even more excited than before the war began.

"By the way! Gym Leader Luo Chen, I originally thought your forte was Dragon-type Pokémon and those legendary Pokémon, but I didn't expect you to be able to command even a Rock/Ground-type Shakiras so well!"

After the challenge, the next step is to offer praise.

Du Juan's tone was full of sincere admiration, her eyes almost shining. "As a competitor, I find it very beneficial to watch, let alone my students."

Du Juan praised her a lot.

Li Luochen could only give an awkward smile.

He knew in his heart that although the battle just now was due to precise command, in the end it was because Shakiras himself was strong enough.

Du Juan praised him for his precise timing and clean finish, but he knew he was just letting Shakiras run him over head-on.

It's a little embarrassing to talk about how strong I was that I could fly bricks.

However, one shouldn't hit a smiling face, and since the girl's praise was so sincere, he couldn't very well embarrass himself.

So he maintained a polite smile throughout, nodding occasionally, and let Du Juan praise him to the skies.

When Du Juan finally stopped talking, still feeling a bit unsatisfied, she seemed to suddenly remember something and gently clapped her hands together:

"I was so busy talking that I forgot to invite you in. Master Luo Chen, please come to my office for a cup of tea. I happen to have a few questions to ask you about Pokémon breeding."

"Alright."

Li Luochen nodded and waved to the spectator stands.

Rukia immediately jumped up from her seat and hopped down the steps in a few steps, while Lillie followed behind her at a leisurely pace, and together they came to Li Luochen's side.

Led by Du Juan, the group walked through the corridor of the teaching building and soon arrived at her office.

The room wasn't big, but it was kept very tidy.

The wall is adorned with the emblem and flag of the Kanaz Gym, the bookshelves are neatly arranged with professional books on geology and Pokémon breeding, and several rock specimens of various shapes are placed on the windowsill.

Du Juan invited the three of them to sit down and personally brewed a pot of black tea, the aroma of which quickly filled the entire room.

She placed three cups of black tea in front of Li Luochen, Liuqia, and Lillie before sitting down across from them at the desk.

Du Juan picked up her glass, blew on it gently, but didn't drink it immediately. Instead, she looked up at Li Luochen with an earnest expression, almost like a student asking a teacher a question:

"Master Luo Chen, I have a question I'd like to ask you."

"Your Shakiras is exceptionally well-trained. Both the luster of its shell and the speed at which it unleashes its attacks far surpass the average level for its class."

"How do you usually raise it? Is it its diet, training intensity, or some special rock-type energy environment? If it's convenient, could you share a little bit about it?"

Li Luochen took a sip of black tea and answered the questions one by one, counting on his fingers: "In terms of diet, it mainly consists of high-quality mineral-based feed, with occasional additions of volcanic rock powder rich in minerals."

"Shakiras isn't a picky eater, but he has a big appetite and needs to be fed at least nine times a day."

"For training, I usually arrange for it to do two to three sets of Rock-type moves in practice every day. The intensity is controlled to the point that its shell is slightly worn, which is conducive to evolution. Any higher and it will hurt its body."

Du Juan listened intently, and before she knew it, she had put down her cup and pulled out her notebook, quickly jotting down the key points.

She looked up, her eyes filled with curiosity: "What about the environment? Shakiras has both rock and ground properties, so it should have very high requirements for its living environment."

"What kind of terrain do you want it to be in? Rocky ground, sandy ground, or some kind of special cultivation facility?"

"As for the environment..."

Li Luochen put down his teacup and hesitated for a rare moment.

"What's wrong?" Du Juan stopped writing and looked at him with some confusion.

"They were all cultivated in a secret realm," Li Luochen answered truthfully.

"A secret realm..."

Du Juan paused slightly, her pen hovering over the notebook.

The secret realm is something unique to the Eastern Huang region.

This special realm, independent of ordinary spaces, contains extremely rich and pure attribute energy, making it a sacred training ground that countless trainers dream of.

She had read about it in textbooks, researched it in academic journals, and even written a paper specifically about the impact of the Secret Realm's ecology on Rock-type Pokémon.

But all of that was just theoretical.

There are no hidden domains in the Hoenn region, so even if she, as a Rock-type Gym Leader, longs for them, she can only raise her Pokémon through conventional methods.

"No wonder Shakiras's carapace has such an outstanding luster and energy response."

Du Juan put down her pen, sighed softly, and said with envy, "So you grew up in a secret place. It seems I can't replicate that environment."

"Um... Master Luo Chen, I have a favor to ask."

Du Juan put down her notebook, placed her hands on her knees, and straightened her back.

Li Luochen simply waved his hand: "Speak freely."

Du Juan asked earnestly, "When are you planning to return to the Donghuang region? Would it be convenient for me to come along?"

"I know this request is a bit abrupt. The secret realms in the Eastern Empire are very open to you locals, but the screening of trainers from other places is extremely strict. Just to get an entry permit, you have to go through layers of approval."

"Therefore, I think that if I could enter the secret realm for an on-site investigation in your name, even if it is just a short period of learning and exchange, it would be a very valuable opportunity for me."

"No problem, I happen to have many secret areas where Rock-type Pokémon live. Just come with me then."

Li Luochen agreed very readily, after all, it was just a small favor.

Du Juan was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting that the entry permit issue that had troubled her for so long would be so casually mentioned by the other party.

She blinked, and when she came to her senses, her smile was already wide open: "Thank you so much! I'll go prepare the application materials right away—"

"No need for that trouble." Li Luochen put down his teacup and said casually, "Just come over when the time comes. I'll put in a good word with the secret realm. No need for the usual approval process."

"That's amazing!"

Du Juan couldn't help but blurt it out, clasping her hands together and resting them on her chin, her eyes shining as if she had discovered a rare mineral.

Having served as a dojo master for so long, she was very familiar with the approval process for the Eastern Empire Secret Realm.

It was notoriously complicated and strict; even if Daigo personally intervened, the best he could do was secure a short-term evaluation spot for her.

When it came to Li Luochen, no approval was even needed; he simply said "give a heads-up" and it was all done.

She suddenly understood why Daigo always praised the Donghuang Pavilion Master whenever he came back. This person was not only strong, but also had ridiculously large energy!

……

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