Pokémon, Ash is going to become a perfect man from now on.

A false sense of defense is when two Pokémon stand together and fight each other, and neither of them can escape.

True defenselessness should mean that all my attacks will hit, while my opponent's attacks can be dodged!

How to achieve this depends on the subsequent training of Bebe and Might.

"I'll give it a try!" The girl's face lit up with excitement, feeling as if she had suddenly found her direction again.

But soon, she fell into doubt again: "How exactly do I cultivate my mind?"

“Everyone has their own way of doing things, and you and Mighty might need to explore that together… The training I’m currently undergoing is probably about being sincere and honest, and not telling lies,” Ash said after thinking for a moment.

In order to be able to comprehend the power of the Super, Ash did indeed practice mental discipline, and he really hasn't told a lie since... except for once when he pretended to be Ye Yue in a battle.

The circumstances of combat are unique, and deception is a reasonable tactic in battle.

Getting back to the main point, being sincere to everything around us is not an easy thing; speaking the truth without offending others also requires a high level of linguistic skill.

Xiao Zhi was initially quite conflicted about these things, but he soon discovered that when a person is 'sincere,' their efficiency in getting things done is incredibly high.

For example, when dealing with people he doesn't know well, Xiao Zhi mostly stays silent now... Anyway, they don't like to hear the truth, and Xiao Zhi doesn't want to say anything flattering, so he simply doesn't say anything at all.

As for close friends and family, I will speak my mind while taking care of their feelings and help them solve problems quickly.

This training process added some troubles for him, such as Xiaochun's problem, but it also made his mindset more stable, and he seemed to be able to better understand the feelings of Pokémon.

No special abilities are needed; a single glance is enough to know what one's partner is thinking.

At the same time, it is easier to switch to the perspective of your companions, learn from their example to observe and experience, and constantly adjust the details of your practice.

"Is it sincere..." Cai Dou pondered, unsure if this method of self-cultivation was suitable for her.

But now that she has a direction, she will definitely try it with her partners!

"Don't think too much about it, just take it slow," Ash said with a smile, pulling a chocolate bar from his pocket. "Here, take this. You'll need to replenish your energy after the battle."

"Thank you!" The girl's eyes lit up instantly, and she eagerly brought her lips closer...

Just before she was about to touch it, Bea paused for a moment, as if she remembered what had happened at the Azure Gym.

But when she thought of the 'sincerity' that Xiaozhi mentioned, she quickly made up her mind, naturally opened her mouth and bit into the chocolate bar, and two shallow dimples appeared on her face.

"Mmm...it's delicious!"

“Yes…” Ash’s mind stirred slightly, and he understood what Bea meant.

She has now crossed the line in their friendship, and it's her turn to respond.

"Oh right, wait a minute." Cai Dou suddenly remembered something, finished the chocolate in a few bites, and without even wiping her mouth, started rummaging through her backpack.

Soon, she found a black and red finger glove and handed it to Ash with anticipation.

"This is for you... I thought I could give it to you after our match, but I was eliminated."

"Thank you." Xiao Zhi immediately accepted it carefully, adjusted it a few times, and put it on. "It's nice, it fits perfectly."

The style of these gloves is exactly the same as the ones Bea has, except that the color scheme has been changed from the orange that girls like to Ash's exclusive red.

Bea wore it on her right hand, but gave it to Ash on his left.

"I'm glad you like it." Cai Dou seemed relieved, and her smile became more relaxed.

"Hmm~" Xiao Zhi looked at the girl's face, took out the tissue he always carried, and carefully wiped the corner of the girl's mouth.

Bea was taken aback for a moment, but she didn't dodge and let Ash do what he wanted.

"Let's practice together sometime... or have another spar?" the girl asked hopefully.

"Sure, you can have it if you want."

Chapter 600 The Finals, the Night Before

"Let's drink to Ash and Gary's return to the League finals!"

Congratulations! *N

On the night before the finals, Ash and his friends were enjoying a sumptuous dinner in the banquet hall of the Silver Tournament contestants' village.

This was naturally Hanako's doing; a dinner party is an essential part of the League Conference and cannot be omitted under any circumstances.

What's more, this time, Rika and Naz also arrived at the venue, so it was a good opportunity to welcome them.

At Hanako's suggestion, the group raised their glasses and drank. She herself took a sip of her drink and smiled as she looked at each of the guests.

Serena and Nanami were also there at the gathering at Quartz Plateau last year, along with Ma Xiu, who came to discuss business.

The two girls, who live far away in Carlos, are too busy to attend this year, but this year's banquet has four more girls: Rika, Naz, Koharu, and Aya... Even if you exclude the quiet boy, Gin, the total number of people is more than last year.

In addition, there's Lillie who looks like a girl, Latias who is actually a girl, and Chikorita who insisted on being served...

Hanako had no objection to them eating at the same table; after all, they were all Ash's Pokémon, and they even helped with the cooking.

"Satoshi, that's a good result. Keep up the good work!" Hanako suddenly smiled and praised her son, who was whispering to Blue.

"Uh... okay." Ash was a little confused by this, and the meaningful smile made him even more puzzled, but since it was his mother who had spoken, Ash obediently agreed.

"Aunt Hanako wants Ash to keep working hard, so we need to work harder too." The shrewd Blue immediately understood the unspoken meaning.

While teasing her, she secretly tickled Xiaochun's palm, causing the girl to lower her head guiltily, her face flushed as if she were thinking of something.

"This is truly remarkable! You two are even facing off in the finals of the Silver Conference. It's absolutely wonderful!" Professor Oak, oblivious to their subtle movements, watched the two children with delight. "How about we make a sentence together... Silver Finals, a clash of titans, Ash vs. Gary!"

The highly respected Professor Oak recited his signature senryu poem, and everyone present, whether they understood it or not, applauded enthusiastically…

But his grandson is an exception.

"Why are you talking about senryu at a time like this?" Xiao Mao rolled his eyes in disgust. "Besides, the word count doesn't even match up."

"I'm happy," the professor said with a nonchalant smile. "You and Ash really are the two unparalleled talents of Pallet Town... no, of this era!"

"This title is equally hard to look at..." Xiao Zhi also looked helpless.

Throughout the banquet, there was a warm and harmonious atmosphere. People sitting around the table chatted, laughed, and raised their glasses, as intimate as a family gathering.

Xiao Yin watched this scene in silence, experiencing a warmth he had never felt before.

He had been alone ever since he ran away from his father, until he met the Steel Grandfather and Grandson, and life began to get a little better...

"Hey~" Just as he was reminiscing, he suddenly saw Ash raise his glass to him. "Make yourself at home, there are no outsiders here."

"Um…"

"You must be Silver." The doctor looked kindly at the slightly uneasy red-haired boy. "Empty Wood and Steel have both mentioned you to me, saying that you are a particularly good kid. It is because of new forces like you that the League is developing better and better."

"Thank you..." Xiao Yin nodded gratefully and drank the beverage in her cup in one gulp.

No matter how aloof he was, he could sense that everyone present treated him like one of their own... and that was after they learned his identity!

Ash had no intention of hiding anything from him and started talking about the post-conference action plan right at the dinner table.

"The action plan has been distributed, and all the Elite Four members and Gym Leaders of the two major leagues have confirmed receipt!" Rika reported earnestly. "Miss Lorelei and Granny Akiko will be in charge of leading the Gym Leaders of Kanto. Everyone from the Battle Frontier will also participate. The Kanto team will then travel on Mr. Kamishiro's pyramid directly to Ruins of Alpford!"

Of course, not all gym leaders will participate in the operation... Cerulean Gym was excluded from the operation, but Rika couldn't say that outright.

"As for the city, Miss Tsubaki and Mr. Liu Bo will be in charge of the Gym Leader's actions. They have already set off in batches to deploy defenses in Green Meadow Town near the ruins," Sabrina added. "In addition, the Dragon Sanctuary is on standby and will send reinforcements to Mt. Silver at any time."

Finally, this is Ash's arrangement. He has gathered a large number of Dragonite from Dragon Island in advance, along with Pokémon from the Dragon Sanctuary, and will bring them to the tournament to serve as mounts for trainers who are willing to participate!

"Excellent! With this, the final battle is now foolproof!"

In this battle, Ash had no intention of preparing any defensive strategies; he wanted to finish the job in one fell swoop and completely eliminate the remnants of Team Rocket!

He wants to ensure that there is no trace of Team Rocket on the mainland of both regions!

...

The lively banquet finally came to an end, but after returning to his private room, Xiao Zhi didn't forget to let his loved ones far away know he was safe.

"It's a pity I have a lot of classes here and can't come to cheer you on... Ash, you will definitely win the championship!"

On the other end of the phone, a girl far away in Carlos sent Ash her heartfelt blessings.

Little Smart noticed the regret in Serena's eyes, but this also showed her determination in making her choice... Even if she couldn't be there to cheer for Little Smart, she was unwilling to give up halfway!

Soon.

Once this matter is resolved, Ash can leave Osaka with peace of mind and head to Kalos to meet her!

"Wait for me, Serena."

"Hmm~" The girl nodded gently on the other end of the phone, her face filled with anticipation.

...

After having a long phone conversation with Serena, reflecting on his finally started schedule and the recent changes in the girl, Ash couldn't help but feel happy.

Calculating that there was still some time before bedtime, Xiao Zhi dialed another person's number.

"Nanami-neechan... uh, are you going to rest?"

After the video call connected, what appeared on the screen was a silk nightgown and fair skin that wasn't completely covered...

The older sister on the screen was holding a towel, intending to dry her hair which was still damp, but her eyes were fixed on the screen, and she had a completely unguarded smile on her face.

"Ash, why didn't you get some rest? Why did you call me? Aren't you going to play the finals against Gary tomorrow?" Nanami asked with a smile.

"There was a gathering here tonight, and neither you nor Serena were there, so I was thinking of calling to say hello," Ash asked with concern. "Nanami-neechan, how have you been over there lately?"