Tang Dynasty: Starting with Dimo, he was targeted by Li Shimin.

Chapter 17 Mystical Lottery

Cheng Yaojin stared at the small purple thing on the Star Mirror. Although he already had a general idea of what it was just from its appearance—

This thing... doesn't look like a very powerful elf.

It has a round little head, two pointed ears, a purplish-black body, and a wide-open mouth.

It doesn't look like a spirit beast; it looks more like a little fairy that ran out of someone's stove.

"Shopkeeper, what is this?"

"Demon Ding," Lin Luo glanced at it, "Ghost attribute, not high level, and its strength... is indeed average."

Cheng Yaojin's face fell instantly.

really.

"However—" Lin Luo changed the subject, glancing at Cheng Yaojin,

"Let me ask you something. If a veteran who has fought on the battlefield for twenty years were to face off against a spoiled brat who has just been promoted to general but has never fought a single battle, who do you think would win?"

Cheng Yaojin replied without hesitation, "That goes without saying! It's definitely a veteran!"

"Don't be fooled by that 'playboy' title. When it comes to fighting on the front lines, experience and guts are more important than anything else!"

"The principle is the same." Lin Luo picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"The strength of an elf is not entirely determined by its birth and base stats. An elf with average potential, if properly trained, may not necessarily lose to those that appear to have noble lineages."

"Veteran soldiers can defeat generals because of training and combat experience. The same applies to elves—nurturing is sometimes more important than talent."

After he finished speaking, everyone present was stunned for a moment.

Li Shimin looked down at the purring cat on his lap, lost in thought.

Fang Xuanling gently stroked his beard, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

Yuchi Gong then thought of his swallowtail otter—that tiny otter that used to be no bigger than a palm, now capable of creating a three-foot-deep crater with a single tidal surge.

It was cultivated step by step.

"This principle... is the same as leading troops." Yuchi Gong nodded.

Cheng Yaojin was persuaded and grinned:

"Alright! I'll keep this demon for now! But—"

He slapped his thigh, his eyes gleaming:

"I want to draw another one!!"

Lin Luo: "...You're still smoking?"

"Of course!!" Cheng Yaojin said confidently.

"Last time I fought with that black-faced swallowtail otter, and DuckGigi was so scared that he hid behind me and wouldn't come out—"

"That's because the other side has evolved while you haven't—"

"I don't care!!" Cheng Yaojin interrupted Lin Luo.

"Shopkeeper, tell me, what element is effective against water?!"

"...Grass-type and Electric-type."

"good!!"

Cheng Yaojin slammed his hand on the table and stood up, almost startling the cat on Li Shimin's lap awake.

"Then I'll go for Grass or Electric this time!!"

Having said that, he walked to the Star Mirror.

Hands clasped together

He closed his eyes.

The entire audience was stunned.

"Cheng Yaojin, what are you doing?" Yuchi Gong asked, his face full of questions.

"Shh!! Don't disturb me!! I'm making a wish!!"

Cheng Yaojin closed his eyes and began to mutter—

"By the Three Pure Ones, your disciple Cheng Yaojin sincerely prays!!"

"May my disciple draw a Grass-type or Electric-type Pokémon this time!!"

"This disciple is willing to—"

He secretly opened one eye and glanced in Yuchi Gong's direction.

Then close your eyes and continue shouting—

"This disciple is willing to offer ten years of the lifespan of the charcoal-headed Yuchi Gong as a sacrifice—"

"Please, the Three Pure Ones, show your divine power!!!"

"What did you say?!"

Yuchi Gong jumped up from his chair, his face so black it looked like ink could drip from it.

"Cheng Banfu!! You're using my life as a bargaining chip!! Are you out of your mind?!"

"Hehehe," Cheng Yaojin opened his eyes with a grin.

"What's a grown man like you afraid of dying for! Besides, just by looking at your face, I can tell you're destined for great wealth and honor!"

"Losing ten years won't have any impact at all!"

"Bullshit!! When did you become a face reader?! If you're so capable, why don't you try using your own lifespan?!"

"Mine won't do. I need to live a few more years to teach that brat a lesson."

"you!!!"

Yuchi Gong was trembling with anger, but he couldn't do anything about it.

After all, the more you scold Cheng Yaojin, the more excited he gets.

Li Shimin, watching Cheng Yaojin's actions, actually fell into serious thought—

Is this... a ritual that must be performed before the lottery?

So this kind of spirit beast drawing system not only depends on luck, but also on sincerity?

Fang Xuanling leaned closer and whispered, "Your Majesty, this isn't the normal procedure..."

"Yes, I know."

But Li Shimin's eyes clearly said: What if it really works?

(´⊙ω⊙`)

Before anyone could react—

Cheng Yaojin had already slapped his hand onto the Star Mirror!

"Come on!!! Let's see if the Three Pure Ones will give us any face!!!"

A burst of golden light!

The phantom of the elf spun rapidly—

Faster and faster—

Then it stopped abruptly.

An outline emerged from the light—

A small figure, with something seemingly on its head—

It looks like a... flower?

As the light faded, an elf appeared clearly on the mirror's surface—

It has a round head, is entirely emerald green, and has a small pink flower blooming on its head.

A ring of tender green leaves encircled its neck.

She has two big, round eyes and a small mouth.

Overall, it looks like this—

A little flower seedling that has grown eyes and can walk.

"This..." Li Shimin tilted his head and looked at the mirror.

"Why does it look like a... scallion?"

"Garlic, perhaps?" Fang Xuanling leaned closer to take a look.

"Like an onion," Yuchi Gong interjected.

"Quack!" Duck Gigi also peeked over and took a look, then turned away in disgust—it wasn't golden, so he wasn't interested.

Lin Luo looked at the elf in the mirror and a smile curved his lips.

"Beautiful Grass. Grass type."

"A proper Grass-type Pokémon, its evolution path is Vivid Grass → Vivid Leaf → Vivid Flower."

"In the current version, Chikorita is a Tier 0 Pokémon—a Grass-type perpetual motion machine with built-in LP regeneration upon entry and almost zero cost for its moves. You'll find that it's more effective than most legendary Pokémon in the late game."

Lin Luo paused, then looked at Cheng Yaojin:

"Your luck... is truly remarkable. You drew a Grass-type Pokémon, and the strongest Grass-type at that."

Cheng Yaojin was stunned for two seconds.

Then--

"Hahahaha!!! The Three Pure Ones have manifested!!! Blackie, your ten years of lifespan weren't wasted!!!"

"Go to hell!!!" Yuchi Gong punched Cheng Yaojin in the back.

But everyone noticed—

Cheng Yaojin wished for either a Grass or Electric type, and he actually drew a Grass type.

This……

Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling exchanged a glance.

The same thought simultaneously surfaced in their eyes:

When I draw my own later... should I get a set too?

It's a bit harsh, but what if it actually works...?

(°△°|||) Metaphysics is something that works if you believe in it.

Lin Luo carried the Qili Grass out of the backyard.

The tiny grass-type Pokémon stood on the ground, the pink flower above its head swaying as it walked.

Two big eyes curiously surveyed everyone around them.

"Korea!"

It let out a clear cry, then trotted over to Cheng Yaojin with tiny steps—

I circled around him twice.

Then, two slender green vines emerged from beneath the flowers above.

He gently patted Cheng Yaojin's calf.

"Clap clap."

It's as if it's saying, "Hello! Are you my master?"

Cheng Yaojin squatted down and looked at the little guy with flowers blooming on his head, liking him more and more as he looked at him.

Although it does look a bit like a garlic sprout, it's not uncut!

And those two vines—

Cheng Yaojin's eyes suddenly changed.

He stared at the two freely extending and retracting vines of the Qili Grass.

A picture instantly flashed into my mind—

Use these two vines to whip that disobedient Huaimo at home...

That feeling...

Isn't it even more effective than bamboo strips?!

"Hahaha!! Great!! Shopkeeper! I love this one so much!!"

Cheng Yaojin picked up Qilicao and was overjoyed.

Yuchi Gong sneered from the side, "Don't be too happy yet. It's true that grass types beat water types, but do you think your little seedling can beat my Swallowtail Otter?"

"Hmph! That was before! Just you wait, you charcoal head! This beautiful grass of mine will crush your big otter into the ground sooner or later!"

"Lili!!" Qilicao actually nodded, as if she understood.

"Look! Even it says it can win!!"

Yuchi Gong's lips twitched.

This combination of ducks and grass seedlings just doesn't seem like a reliable combination.

Just then, Cheng Yaojin pulled something out of his robes—

A piece of dried beef jerky.

"Come here! Little flower seedling! Here's a reward for you!"

He handed the beef jerky to Qilicao.

Yuchi Gong immediately retorted, "Are you stupid? The shopkeeper already said it's a Grass-type Pokémon! How can a Grass-type eat beef! You're just wasting food!"

"Shouldn't grass-type plants eat sunlight?" Fang Xuanling chimed in.

"Exactly! It only eats cocoa beans at most!" Yuchi Gong added.

however--

Qilicao lowered her head and brought her little nose close to the piece of beef jerky to smell it—

Two round eyes lit up instantly!

It's so shiny, like a duck seeing gold!

"Lililililili!!!!"

It took a big bite of the beef jerky and gnawed on it with great relish.

The little one excitedly spun around, pushing off the ground with its short legs.

The flowers above were shaking violently, and the petals were about to fall off.

"…………"

Yuchi Gong and Fang Xuanling both fell silent.

A grass-type Pokémon.

Eat beef.

They ate with more joy than anyone else.

(；゜0゜)

Cheng Yaojin laughed so hard he almost fell over: "Look! It likes to eat beef too! Just like me!!"

"This is the true spirit of Cheng Yaojin!! It doesn't eat grass! It eats meat!!"

Speaking of eating beef—

In the Tang Dynasty, cattle were important livestock for farming, and the court had explicitly prohibited their slaughter. Many censors impeached Cheng Yaojin for privately consuming beef.

But Cheng Yaojin always managed to get away with it using all sorts of outrageous excuses—

What nonsense about "my cow running into a tree and dying"?

What do you mean, "This isn't beef, it's donkey meat, it just looks like it"?

What nonsense! "This cow was already sick, I was just helping it get better."

Whether he believed it or not didn't matter; Li Shimin was too lazy to care anyway.

And now-

His elves also eat beef.

Now he had even more reason to believe it.

"If anyone accuses me of eating beef again, I'll just say it's for the elves!"

"Quack!" Duck Gigi chirped in agreement—although it didn't eat beef, it supported all of its owner's decisions, as long as it was given gold.

Lin Luo watched Cheng Yaojin happily hugging Qilicao and Yajiji.

I couldn't help but glance at Yuchi Gong—