Inside the dim room, the air seemed to solidify.
Liu Yuan's fingers exerted a slight force, and that pink-and-white Heal Ball traced an elegant arc through the air, accurately striking the god sealing platform that had just been opened slightly.
"Bang!"
A crisp sound of impact rang out.
In the next instant, a dazzling red light erupted from the center of the Heal Ball, instantly enveloping the small figure emanating extreme cold within the god sealing platform.
Without any resistance, the Snow Empress's 700,000-year spirit power, which should have been incredibly violent, actually quieted down like a docile sheep the moment it touched this red light.
"Swoosh!"
With a flash of light, the Snow Empress's figure instantly disappeared from within the god sealing platform, turning into a streak of red light that was forcibly sucked into that small Heal Ball.
"Thump."
The Heal Ball landed on the carpet, making a dull sound.
Immediately after, the red indicator light representing the capture process lit up, and the sphere began to shake violently from side to side.
"You must succeed..."
Liu Yuan stared fixedly at the Heal Ball on the floor, a fine layer of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
This was his only Heal Ball; if it failed, he wouldn't have another chance.
...
Inside the Heal Ball.
It wasn't dark and cramped as one might imagine; instead, it was filled with a warm and soft glow.
The Snow Empress's consciousness awakened the moment she was sucked in.
She warily scanned her surroundings, originally thinking that what awaited her would be an even more cruel Seal or the pain of being forcibly refined by a human.
However, in the next second, a strange warm current suddenly enveloped her entire body.
"Hmm? This is..."
A flicker of astonishment flashed through the Snow Empress's beautiful ice-blue eyes.
She could clearly feel that the warm current was nourishing her Origin at an incredible speed.
The backlash injuries she had suffered from her failed forced Transformation were healing rapidly;
Her 700,000-year cultivation, which was about to dissipate, was also gradually stabilizing;
Even her mental force, which had been weakened from long imprisonment, was becoming full under the nourishment of this power.
That feeling was like returning to the warmest ice cave in the Extreme North Land, being gently enveloped by the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
"Is this... healing me?"
The Snow Empress was stunned. Was that human who locked her in here actually helping her?
As soon as this thought surfaced, she instantly snuffed it out.
"Impossible!"
The Snow Empress's gaze turned bone-chillingly cold once again.
"How could humans, such greedy and base creatures, help a Spirit Beast for no reason? That guy spent such a huge price to buy me; how could it be for charity?"
"This must be some new conspiracy!"
"He must want to restore my condition first, then use some evil secret method to control me, or refine me into an even more powerful Puppet!"
"Or it's a so-called'sugar-coated bullet,' trying to make me let down my guard so he can take advantage!"
The Snow Empress snorted coldly. Although her body was involuntarily craving this healing power, her heart was filled with wariness and hostility toward Liu Yuan.
"Hmph, foolish human. No matter what tricks you play, this Empress will not let you have your way!"
She tried to struggle inside the ball, wanting to break through this strange space.
...
Outside.
"Thump!"
The Heal Ball shook violently to the left, the red light flashing.
Liu Yuan's heart leaped into his throat.
"Thump!"
The Heal Ball jerked to the right, even rolling once on the carpet.
"Still struggling..." Liu Yuan's palms were soaked in sweat.
"Thump!"
The third shake!
Immediately after, the flickering red light suddenly emitted a crisp "ding" and then went out completely, returning to its original calm white.
The shaking stopped.
The room was deathly silent, save for Liu Yuan's heavy breathing.
"It... succeeded?!"
Liu Yuan's eyes widened, looking at the Heal Ball lying quietly on the floor in disbelief.
A 700,000-year Spirit Beast, the head of the Three Great Kings of the Extreme North, the Snow Empress!
She was actually captured by such a small ball?!
He took a few deep breaths, walked forward with trembling hands, and bent down to pick up the Heal Ball.
The sphere was as warm and smooth as jade, and holding it in his hand, he could even feel a faint chill—that was the Snow Empress's aura.
"Whew..."
Liu Yuan exhaled a long breath, slumping onto the floor as if he were exhausted.
Success!
However, just as he held the Heal Ball and was about to press the button to release the Snow Empress and take a look, his thumb suddenly stopped in mid-air.
"Wait..."
The fervor in Liu Yuan's eyes gradually cooled, replaced by deep wariness and calmness.
"I can't release her."
"At least, definitely not now."
He knew the rules of the Pokémon world very well.
Although Poké Balls (Heal Balls) had a forced capture function, it didn't mean the captured Pokémon would be completely obedient to the Trainer.
Especially an existence at the level of a Transcendent Divine Beast like the Snow Empress, who possessed high intelligence, formidable strength, and deep-seated prejudice against humans.
This was just like Ash's disobedient Charizard, or Mewtwo when it was first captured.
If he released her now, what if she not only disobeyed but directly hit him with an "Empress's Palm: Great Coldness Without Snow"? His small frame would probably turn into an ice sculpture instantly, even with the Rayquaza Martial Soul Martial Soul Possession.
Although Poké Balls have a forced recall mechanism, that's based on the premise that the Trainer has time to react.
Facing a powerhouse of the Snow Empress's level, even a 0.1-second hesitation could be fatal.
"It's too dangerous."
Liu Yuan shook his head, decisively abandoning this tempting idea.
"To truly master the Snow Empress, I must at least wait until I'm in an absolutely safe place where I can summon Rayquaza's true body at any time to hold the field."
"But in a place like the Star Emperor Grand Hotel, where there are many eyes and ears, it's absolutely out of the question."
"Once the Snow Empress's aura leaks out, or if she makes any commotion and attracts Xu Jiawei or those lunatics from the Body Sect, it would be a total disaster."
Having thought this through, Liu Yuan no longer hesitated.
He carefully placed the Heal Ball containing the Snow Empress into the storage space provided by the System.
"Snow Empress, oh Snow Empress, you just stay in there and recover properly for now. We have plenty of time ahead of us."
After finishing all this, Liu Yuan finally felt the large stone in his heart truly drop.
Just then, that familiar mechanical voice rang out abruptly in his mind once again, breaking the silence of the night.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the Host for successfully capturing the 700,000-year Spirit Beast, the Snow Empress, and completing the time-limited mission!]
[mission evaluation: Perfect (Utilized the Heal Ball's Ability for a damage-free capture)]
[Distributing mission rewards...]
Liu Yuan's eyes lit up.
What good stuff are you giving me this time?
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving a random Pokémon item reward—the Soothe Bell!]
[Soothe Bell: A Pokémon holding this item will find it easier to calm their mood, and the growth rate of their intimacy with the Trainer will be significantly increased.]
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