Pokémon: Start with a Dragon-type Gym Leader, and pick up Guroton.

Chapter 236 Seeking My True Self and Reconciling with the Past

"Son, wake up! It's so late and you're still sleeping? Today is your college entrance exam day!"

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice woke Li Luochen.

Li Luochen looked up and saw a familiar face he hadn't seen in a long time. He subconsciously said, "Dad?"

"You still remember I'm your dad? Get up and go take the college entrance exam!"

Li Fan pulled Li Luochen up and urged, "I don't know where you got this lazy, procrastinating personality from. What if you become a top trainer someday?"

"Wait, let me catch my breath."

Li Luochen rubbed his temples, and as his vision gradually cleared, he said, "Where am I? Wasn't I in Odomare? How did I end up taking the college entrance exam?"

"Are you really still half asleep? Did you stay up too late chatting with Jia... that good buddy of yours online last night, almost to the point of collapse?"

Li Fan immediately had the Demon Fire Red Fox fetch a basin of water, then threw a towel into it, soaked it, and slapped it on Li Luochen's face.

"After we get you to the exam hall, your mother and I will go explore the secret realm. This time it's a calamity-level secret realm. If we find anything good, your mother and I will basically be guaranteed to reach the Heavenly King rank."

"After you finish your college entrance exam, your mom and I will tell you a big surprise."

Hearing those familiar words.

Li Luochen's throat moved slightly, and two lines of clear tears slid down from the corners of her eyes.

he……

Is this a time travel back to the period before the college entrance exam?

Seeing tears welling up in Li Luochen's eyes, Li Fan became a little nervous: "You brat, what's wrong? Don't scare your dad!"

My thoughts can't be too active.

Li Luochen pursed his lips before saying to Li Fan, "Dad... could you please not go to the secret realm?"

"How can we not go to the secret realm? Now is the best time to strive for the Heavenly King level and the Eight Great Halls. As long as we pull off this job, all the mistakes your father made in the past can be wiped clean and we can make amends."

Li Fan laughed heartily: "Look how nervous you are, you brat. Your mother and I have explored calamity-level secret realms before, it's a piece of cake for us."

"Okay, it's really too late now. After your college entrance exam, your mom and I have a big surprise for you."

After saying that, Li Fan patted Li Luochen on the shoulder, thinking that his emotional turmoil was due to the college entrance examination: "From now on, you will be the son of a king. Even if you fail the college entrance examination, inheriting our family's dojo will not be a problem."

"Can't we really go? Even... even if we can postpone it for a while..."

Li Luochen, on the other hand, grasped Li Fan's hand, his tone full of worry.

"Disaster."

Li Fan shook his head and replied, "Kid, some things can't be changed just like that. Before you have enough strength, it's very difficult to change the course of something."

"..."

Li Luochen knew he couldn't persuade his father, Li Fan.

He could only go downstairs to find his mother, Yu Longwan.

She has a gentle nature; perhaps through persistent pleading and gentle persuasion, she can actually prevent this disaster from happening!

Tapping.

Li Luochen went downstairs.

Yu Longwan was sitting at the dining table when she saw Li Luochen rushing over. She said softly, "Slow down. Today is the day of the college entrance examination. Don't be in such a hurry during the battle. Try to get a good ranking."

Listen to your mother's gentle words.

Li Luochen quickly recounted his earlier request to Li Fan, hoping that his mother and father could stay.

"Son, some things can't be changed just like that. Before you have enough power, it's very difficult to change the course of something."

The mother, Yu Longwan, gave the same answer as the father, Li Fan.

Neither of them wavered because of Li Luochen's words.

"But you will die!"

Li Luochen said directly, "This time, the secret realm will undergo a massive collapse, and almost all the explorers who entered will be killed or injured! Are you still going?"

"We must go now."

Li Fan walked downstairs, placing his calloused hand on Li Luochen's shoulder. His tone was more solemn than ever before: "As a trainer in the League, you must play a vital role. If you know you will sacrifice yourself and let others die in vain, what is the point of being a League trainer?"

"Your dad is right about that."

Yu Longwan nodded in agreement: "It is precisely because we know the danger that we explore the secret realm. Even if the price is our own lives, we will not regret our choice."

"But……"

Li Luochen wanted to say something more.

Yu Longwan placed her hand on his other shoulder at that moment: "Are you... alright now? I mean, after the college entrance exam, after you know about our sacrifice..."

"Dad... Mom..."

Li Luochen's eyes welled up with tears, and he almost choked up as he said, "During the college entrance examination, Charizard evolved into Charizard and won the top score in Fujian Province."

"After the results came out, Ye Tian told me about your sacrifice. Uncle Du also found out about it and came all the way from the Johto region to attend the funeral, bringing me a Hakuryu..."

"I didn't go to Suzuran University, but instead enrolled in the Nurturing Department of Rongcheng University, where I took over the dojo..."

"After learning about your sacrifices, Cattleya submitted an application to the Eastern Alliance to travel to Rongcheng. She didn't come to annul the engagement, but to be with me through that most difficult period..."

"I've almost caught enough Pokémon to form my third team, and now I'm aiming for the provincial gyms. In a while, I'll be able to reach the top eight gyms..."

Li Luochen talked a lot, telling his parents about his recent situation.

The two listened quietly.

There was no interruption.

"Dad, Mom... I don't know why you kept those things about Catharia, Uncle Sakaki, and Uncle Watari from me... but I'm really doing well now..."

Li Luochen wiped away his tears and forced a smile: "In about two more years, when I'm old enough, I can propose to Gadria and the others..."

"only……"

"But you won't see that time..."

"Rest assured, it is my duty to restore the glory of Minrong Martial Arts Academy..."

"Son, you've really grown up."

"Your mother and I know you have a lot to say."

"But now, you need to go back to where you belong..."

"Instead of staying here, reminiscing about the past, and trying to change something that cannot be changed..."

"Remember, some things can't be changed just like that. Before you have enough power, trying to change the course of something is extremely difficult..."

Li Fan and Yu Longwan touched Li Luochen's cheek at the same time.

Click!

A crisp cracking sound rang out.

Everything around us changed drastically.

Most of Li Luochen's body was already covered in viscous liquid.

His eyes were dim, yet a faint light flickered within them.

"I want to become stronger..."

"I want to change all of this..."

"I will turn back all the suffering that has befallen me!"

Odomare, the carnival venue.

The eight cornerstone members of the Eternal Team, their gazes fixed on the sea monster soaring through the sky, turned to the man beside them and asked, "Shadow Ninja, can this sea monster, whose essence has been partially cleansed, truly be completely eliminated?"

"With the addition of the power of will and the essence of Lord Momotaro, even after being cleansed by those two Suien, it is not something an ordinary person can withstand."

After the Shadow Ninja finished speaking,

The sky suddenly brightened.

Two powerful energies pierced through the heavens and earth. The pitch-black lightning forcefully cleaved the sea monster into pieces, and then the azure flames tightly enveloped it.

"If it weren't for that 'black tide' just now, I don't know how long I would have been trapped in the past."

"I have now reconciled with the past and embarked on a path where truth and ideals coexist."

"So, to express my gratitude..."

Li Luochen stood atop the Dark Lugia, hands behind his back:

"Please, go to your deaths!"