Elf: I'm Just a Commentator

While there is indeed a saying among Magikarp's kind of creatures called "Leaping Over the Dragon Gate," and in many places Magikarp swim upstream in an attempt to find the opportunity to evolve into Gyarados, doing so is also a test of Magikarp's own abilities. If successful, it will be stronger than an ordinary Gyarados.

There are only two known methods for Gyarados to evolve: one is extreme anger, and the other is the natural progression of its strength (James's evolution kick is not considered).

As for the behavior of leaping over the dragon gate, researchers see it more as a ritual of the Magikarp species, which can also be used to train their physical strength. It has no direct connection with evolution. Those Magikarp that evolve directly after leaping up are already capable of evolution.

The Magikarp in front of Lin Xuan seemed to be performing this ancient ritual. However, as the distance closed, Lin Xuan noticed something... This Magikarp was thinner than a typical Magikarp.

It's important to know that even a regular Magikarp is practically skin and bones, placing it at the very bottom of the food chain, because unless it's extremely hungry, no Pokémon would want to prey on it.

Swimming is already a very difficult thing for them, let alone the even smaller Magikarp in front of them.

Seemingly feeling that it had reached the right depth, Magikarp began to change direction and swim upstream towards the exit, which seemed to be similar to what Lin Xuan had just thought.

When the Magikarp turned around and saw Lin Xuan, a glint of light seemed to flash in its previously dull eyes. However, seeing that Lin Xuan was just watching from a distance, it didn't pay any attention to it and just swam upwards with even more effort.

However, his "leaping over the dragon gate" process did not seem to be so simple. After moving forward a certain distance, he began to show signs of exhaustion. His thin body was no longer able to support such intense training.

The Magikarp's speed continued to slow down, and its body struggled in the current, but it was already losing momentum and seemed that it would be completely swept away by the current in just a few seconds.

"Kirullian, give this to him."

Lin Xuan released Kirlia and casually slipped an Energy Cube into his hand.

"Qilu?"

Kirlia didn't understand Lin Xuan's intentions. If she wanted to help this Magikarp, wouldn't it be simpler to just send it away? Even if the Power Cube had the effect of restoring stamina, would it really save this Magikarp?

"What does the process of 'leaping over the dragon gate' really mean for Magikarp? If I send him out, I can only help him this once, so let him be. After all, it's his choice to leap over the dragon gate here."

Lin Xuan patted Kirlia on the shoulder, and Kirlia nodded, teleporting to Magikarp's side along with the Power Cube.

Magikarp, whose situation was already quite difficult, was even more startled when it noticed Kirlia's sudden appearance. It almost lost its balance and was swept away by the current, but fortunately it managed to regain its footing at the last moment.

Then Magikarp looked at Kirlia with a puzzled expression, and was blowing a few bubbles. If Lin Xuan had gotten closer and seen this, he might have been quite surprised, because both Magikarp and Gyarados are Pokémon with relatively simple emotions.

The former is listless, the latter is a destructive urge that is hard to hide deep in their memories, which makes them go crazy from time to time, but this Magikarp's eyes show a hint of liveliness.

Kirlia shook the Power Cube in her hand, and some tiny fragments floated into Magikarp's mouth with the water flow. A look of longing instantly appeared in Magikarp's eyes.

Kirlia keenly sensed Magikarp's emotional change, and immediately let go, sending the Energy Cube into Magikarp's mouth. She then teleported back to Lin Xuan's side once more.

"Well done!"

Lin Xuan patted Kirlia's head, then put him back into his Poké Ball.

Lin Xuan glanced at the Magikarp again. After consuming the Energy Cube, its stamina had quickly recovered considerably. It began to swim upwards slowly but steadily. Because of the slight distance between them, Lin Xuan couldn't see it clearly, but she vaguely saw that the Magikarp seemed to have turned around and looked at her.

But what this Magikarp didn't know was that Lin Xuan was thinking about something else entirely—

If I go over and kick him now, will this guy evolve?

Lin Xuan had heard the legend of the Evolutionary Leg for a long time, but had never tried it himself.

But he quickly shook his head and told Ibrahimovic to continue diving, since they didn't have much time and couldn't waste too much time here.

Lin Xuan helped the Magikarp simply because he felt it had a bit of potential to "leap over the dragon gate." It was just a small favor, and he didn't mind lending a hand. However, the Magikarp's innate conditions seemed rather average. Whether it could actually leap over the dragon gate in the end depended on itself.

About a minute later, Lin Xuan frowned as he looked at the seemingly endless passage in front of him. Observing the surroundings, he could see that there seemed to be some fish Pokémon skeletons buried in the sand.

Among them were Savage Bass and Griffon, but there were many more Magikarp, after all, these guys have the strongest reproductive ability, the largest number, and are also the closest to this place.

"Dong dong!"

Ibu tapped Lin Xuan's "bubble" on top, indicating that it was almost time to go up, otherwise the oxygen in the "bubble" would be almost used up.

Faced with this situation, Lin Xuan could only nod helplessly.

"Then let's go back first... Be careful!"

Chapter 235 Urban Legends of Washington University

Just as Lin Xuan was about to have Eevee take her away, a Water Pulse attack suddenly appeared not far ahead, and Eevee quickly used its psychic powers to block it.

However, the attacker seemed to be very strong. Even a very ordinary Water Pulse easily pierced through Eevee's psychic power. Since they were in the water, it was not convenient for Xiaodian, who was next to Lin Xuan, to take action. So he could only quickly set up a light wall.

Only with the combined efforts of the two little ones could they barely stop the water wave.

"go!"

Lin Xuan spoke to Eevee without hesitation, while glancing down into the depths. The light from Little Dot's hand wasn't enough to reach that far; the area ahead, unlit by light, remained pitch black, and the attack had occurred in the darkness.

Although I was very curious about what kind of Pokémon lived here, I obviously couldn't care less at the moment. The opponent was very strong, and neither Tiny nor Eevee could unleash their full power here.

Without hesitation, they led Lin Xuan back the way they came and emerged from the cave in no time. Due to the speed of the water flow, Eevee's speed was obviously hindered when it went out. As a water-type Pokémon, it would be very dangerous for Lin Xuan and the others if the other party wanted to chase them.

Strangely, after the water ripples, the other party made no further moves, seemingly only wanting to drive them out of the area.

"What kind of spirit is it? A Darktail Ghoul?"

Lin Xuan immediately thought of the Pokémon she had come to target – the Darktail Gryphon.

But if it really is a Darktail Gyarados, a Pokémon born from a vengeful soul in legend, it should be more irritable than Gyarados, right? Would it really just drive them away after encountering them?

However, in general, Lin Xuan's understanding of the Ghost Tail Fish was limited to the game Arceus, which was very little, and ultimately he did not get the answer.

After returning to the lake, Lin Xuan released the Savage Bass, which carried her back to the shore. After giving the remaining energy cubes to the Savage Bass, she released it back into the lake.

"Lulu?"

The Savage Bass, carrying the box containing the energy cubes, felt its weight and asked Lin Xuan with some confusion.

Why does it feel like there's less than before?

"Ahem, that's enough. Anyway, I've given it all to you, so let's go!"

Lin Xuan coughed twice and then waved at the Savage Bass. He had sprinkled some on the Savage Bass that passed by on the way, and also gave one to the Magikarp. It was indeed less than what he had initially promised.

However, the wild bass didn't care, since its head was still inside, and it quickly swam away wagging its tail.

After the Savage Bass left for a while, Lin Xuan also released Gyarados. The main reason for not releasing both Pokémon at the same time... was probably to give Gyarados an extra meal.

"Roar!"

After entering the water, Gyarados immediately roared to the sky, but after crackling electricity appeared on its claws again, it quickly ran away, not wanting to stay there for even a second longer.

As for revenge... a gentleman takes revenge even after ten years. Although Gyarados often acts without thinking, as long as you scare it, everything will be fine.

"Let's go back."

Lin Xuan greeted the children and prepared to leave, not to go back to the hotel, but to Jianghai City.

Judging from the strength displayed by the elf at the bottom of the lake, it was beyond Lin Xuan's current ability to deal with. If it hadn't shown no intention of attacking him, it would have been uncertain whether he could have safely gotten out of there. Naturally, Lin Xuan would not have taken the risk again.

Of course, he remained curious about what was inside, but he would wait until he was strong enough to do so.

After packing his things at the hotel, Lin Xuan went straight back to Jianghai City, since school was about to start in a few days and he needed to go back to register.

February 25th, Wednesday

"Ah! You're finally back!"

Lin Xuan opened the door, piled her luggage in front of the shoe rack, then took off her shoes and pounced on the sofa. No matter what, it was still more comfortable to stay here.

Little Dot and Ibu followed closely behind, pouncing on them one after another.

As for Kirlia, looking at the room she hadn't returned to in a long time, she had only one thought in her mind... Should she do a thorough cleaning?

"If you think about it that way, keeping a family of mice wouldn't be so bad, you could even do a thorough cleaning..."

After thinking for a moment, Lin Xuan said, "Clean-up is a skill exclusive to this rat, known as 'Rat Dance.' It can clear out Stealth Rocks, Sticky Webs, and even Substitutes. And that's just an added effect. The most important thing is that this skill can simultaneously increase Attack and Speed. Dragon Dance is nothing compared to it."

In addition, this guy has another unique skill—counting mice, which allows him to hit up to ten times, each hit dealing twenty points of damage. And among the characteristics of mice is the ability to be a master technician…

It can be considered the top-tier Pokémon among mice; even Cinnamoroll looks inferior to it.

On the day he returned, Lin Xuan still helped the three little ones clean the house... Although that's what he said, it felt like he and Kirlia did most of the work.

"You two, stop slacking off! Ibu, how long have you been wiping the window with that rag? It's almost worn out!"

"And another little one! You were the one who blew up the last TV? Do you want to do it again?"

Kirlian, who was holding a mop, first shook her head, then continued cleaning. But as she mopped, she realized something was wrong—where was Lin Xuan?

But when he looked up, he saw that Lin Xuan had already taken Ibu's place and was slacking off there.

Kirullian: ...

I always feel out of place with you three lazybones because I'm too normal.

Lin Xuan was too tired that night, so she didn't do a live stream and saved her energy for noon the next day.

"Ha~ I never thought I'd be back in time for the Sichuan Provincial Competition finals~"

Lin Xuan yawned in the live stream and said that she was busy with some things last night and didn't go to bed until very late. She was only woken up by Kirlia when it was lunchtime.

Has Teacher Mimikyu gone home?

It seems like classes at the University of Washington are about to start.

[Damn it, I almost forgot that Professor Mimikyu is only a freshman.]

Does that mean we won't see Mimikyu-sensei's explanations anymore after school starts?

[What's there to be afraid of? It's obvious that Mimikyu-sensei is the kind of person the school can't control. Didn't she still stream every day before?]

"Ahem, the main reason I didn't go to class was because I was doing research! Please remember what's important!" Lin Xuan said righteously after seeing the comments.