As the Gym Leader stationed in a major city, Li Zebing encountered several Trainers every single day who came to challenge his Gym.
Especially now— with the Heavenly Kings Tournament drawing closer— many high-level Trainers were rushing across the country, timing their journeys to challenge the eight first-tier Gyms in order to obtain badges.
The Heavenly Kings Tournament wasn't simply about ranking the Four Heavenly Kings by strength.
In fact, each tournament was also the moment when new Heavenly Kings could be selected.
The entry requirement for the Heavenly Kings Tournament was simple but brutal:
A Trainer had to obtain all eight badges from the nation's first-tier Gyms.
Once all qualifying Trainers gathered, they would compete against one another.
The final champion would then earn the right to challenge any of the current Four Heavenly Kings.
If the challenge succeeded, the victor would replace that Heavenly King's position.
For example—
If Oliver collected all eight badges, won the tournament, and then challenged Mu Xue, the Water-type Heavenly King ranked third, and succeeded—
Then Oliver would become the new third-ranked Heavenly King, while Mu Xue would be pushed down to fourth.
Naturally, the Four Heavenly Kings themselves were also allowed to challenge one another for rankings.
Because the tournament was approaching, Trainers who aspired to participate had begun challenging Gyms like mad.
And since these challengers were no ordinary Trainers, Li Zebing's main Pokémon were getting injured more frequently than usual.
At this moment, all six of his core Pokémon were injured to varying degrees, making it impossible to continue Gym battles.
Left with no choice, Li Zebing temporarily closed the Gym and brought his Pokémon to the Pokémon Center for treatment.
"Don't worry, Gym Leader Li," the doctor said reassuringly.
"The injuries aren't serious. A period of rest here will be enough."
"Thank you, Doctor Wang," Li Zebing replied.
"I'll have to trouble you for a while."
"It's because the Heavenly Kings Tournament is near," Doctor Wang sighed.
"There have been far more injured Pokémon lately. We've been working overtime every day."
Li Zebing laughed awkwardly.
Most of those Pokémon had been injured by his own team, after all.
As one of the nation's eight first-tier Gyms, challengers losing here was far more common than the opposite.
Just then, two Pokémon Center staff members walked past behind him, speaking anxiously.
"Are there any examiners available right now?"
"Only Examiner Liu and Examiner Wu—both Veteran-rank.
The Gym-level Examiner Zhang was transferred for security duty because of that newly discovered ruin a few days ago."
"Then what do we do? Someone just applied to take the Veteran Trainer certification, but only Gym-level examiners are qualified to oversee that test."
"Maybe ask them to wait a few days? Examiner Zhang should be back by then."
"That's the only option. I'll go explain it to the applicant."
At that moment, a calm voice spoke from the side.
"Someone's applying for the Veteran Trainer exam?"
"Would you mind if I handled it instead?"
The two staff members turned around—
—and froze.
It was Li Zebing, the Gym Leader of Luocheng.
"G-Gym Leader Li! H-Hello! B-But… wouldn't that take up your time?"
"It's fine," Li Zebing said casually.
"My Pokémon can't battle right now anyway, and the Gym is temporarily closed.
I might as well supervise the exam—consider it a way to relax."
"T-Then… thank you very much!"
The two staff members exchanged relieved looks. This solution was perfect.
Under their guidance, Li Zebing headed to the first-floor lounge.
From a distance, he spotted a young man and a young woman sitting opposite each other.
That must be the applicant, he thought.
Applying for a Veteran Trainer exam at such a young age… looks like a genuine prodigy.
With a quiet sigh of admiration, Li Zebing walked over.
"Hello. You're the Trainer applying for the Veteran-rank certification, correct?"
"I'll be the chief examiner for this assessment."
Oliver looked up at the middle-aged man.
Since he had never visited the Luocheng Gym before, he didn't recognize him.
"Yes. That's me."
"Good. Please follow me."
The group arrived at a sealed examination room.
Oliver stepped inside first.
When Mu Xue moved to follow, Li Zebing raised a hand to stop her.
"I'm sorry. Only the examinee may enter. Please wait outside."
Mu Xue glanced at Oliver.
Oliver nodded slightly, indicating it was fine.
But then Mu Xue spoke calmly.
"I'm not allowed in either?"
Li Zebing frowned.
This girl is a little too bold, he thought.
But then—
Her voice struck him as strangely familiar.
Before he could place it, Mu Xue removed her sunglasses.
The moment Li Zebing saw those clear, cold, breathtaking eyes, his mind went blank—
—and then a bolt of realization struck him.
"Y-You…?!"
"Why are you here?!"
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