Chapter 168

That night, on the official website of the Pokémon Era:

**Super Series Special Topic**

The portraits, information, and main Pokémon of the top ten players are all posted.

The ranking of these ten people is not divided into high or low; they are:

"Zhongli, Venti, Klee, Eula, Hu Tao, Xiangling, Keqing, Ningguang, Tartaglia, Traveler Lumine, and Paimon."

Under the topic, the discussion area was full of heated discussions.

"Woo hoo, I didn't see Miss Ganyu!"

"Miss Ganyu suddenly withdrew from the competition in the last round. Because she was missing from Yujing Terrace, it is said that all aspects of Liyue's government affairs are in a bad state these days..."

"Liyue cannot live without Miss Ganyu!!"

"I feel sorry for Master Diluc. I think if Mr. Diluc hadn't met Klee earlier, he would definitely be in the top ten!"

"Diluc: My family is in despair!"

"That's how the game is; luck is also a kind of strength. Who told Mr. Diluc to match Klee? Besides, if you let him match Venti and Zhongli, he would have to kneel down!"

Takumi was also looking at the list of ten people in the special column and called them a good group.

All of them... Xiangling is the only one that stands out.

A four-star character who was given out immediately after the server launch mixed into the noble five-star group?

However, Xiangling, Xingqiu, and Bennett are all in the realm of "true gods."

Xingqiu's Pokémon only has one Milotic, and his combat power is not as good as the five-star characters, so it is normal for him to be eliminated.

Bennett's Pokémon are "disaster beasts" Absol and Togepi.

Normally, Bennett could enter the top ten without being matched against a powerful opponent.

The problem is, his bad luck struck and he met Venti and Lapras.

Lapras was manageable, level 50, so he was not incapable of dealing with it.

But during the battle, weird situations frequently occurred on the field.

For example, a strong wind suddenly blew, causing moves to be inaccurate...

Then Bennett was naturally defeated by Venti.

Therefore, among the four-star true gods, only Xiangling was left.

Takumi clicked his tongue: "This list is quite reasonable!"

"After all, this is the first Super Tournament. The level of these Vision holders' own martial arts still plays a large part in the ranking factors."

When the characters' Pokémon formation gathers six members and the average strength reaches the champion level, the influence of the Vision holders' martial arts will be infinitely reduced.

At that time, the winning and losing factors of the Super Tournament will truly focus on formation, coordination, tactics, etc.

Beep!

Suddenly, a message pops up in the Pokédex. It's a group chat.

**Zhongli:** Manager Takumi, I quit the game.

**Venti:** Manager Takumi, hey, I'm in the top ten. There's no need to compete~

Takumi glanced at these two pieces of information and was not surprised.

Entering the top ten and getting a pass to the Hisui region is enough for the ruling twin gods.

As for the top three rewards that are amazing, medals of honor or something—they take the ruling position very lightly.

**Hu Tao:** What the heck?

**Xiangling:** Holy crap?

**Tartaglia:** Zhongli, Venti, what really good news—you two gods are finally gone!

**Diluc:** Tartaglia, huh, it's a crime of disrespect. Do you want to have a taste of my Dawn Claymore?

**Tartaglia:** Diluc, is your big sword as thick as mine? Come and take it out in front of me to compare! Take a picture for everyone to see?

*System message:* Tartaglia was banned by Mona (administrator) for 1 hour.

*Reason for ban: inappropriate content.*

**Albedo:** Tartaglia, I stand with you. These two gods are so shameless!

**Kunzite:** Albedo, you can't say this. I'll give you the top ten spots—do you want them?

**Albedo:** Give them to me quickly!

**Kunzite:** Haha, you see, Dragon King, you can't refuse the temptation to explore the Hisui region!

**Albedo:** (angry) You are also the Dragon King!

**Yae Miko:** Manager Takumi, I would like to ask, where is my administrator?

*System message:* The group leader (Takumi) has upgraded Yoimiya Naganohara's authority to administrator.

*System message:* The group leader (Takumi) has upgraded Yelan's authority to administrator.

**Yae Miko:** ...Me??? (Smile darkens.jpg)

**Takumi:** Only store managers in each region can become administrators.

**Yoimiya Naganohara:** Manager Takumi, I... I will work hard!!

**Yelan:** Manager Takumi, hey, do I actually have a share? The store managers in each region... interesting, you're quite good at assigning people, but I won't refuse this job.

News of Zhongli and Venti withdrawing from the competition spread.

Takumi contacted the operations team of the Adventurers' Guild and asked them to make an announcement immediately.

Now, the top 10 competition has become the top 8.

Players will be matched up and compete!

From 8 to 4 in the semifinals and finals!

---

It's another sunny morning.

Early at nine o'clock sharp, the atmosphere in the Super Tournament arena had already heated up.

Because Zhongli and Venti retired from the race, these two ranked ninth and tenth by default.

For the remaining 8 people, the prizes will be different every time their rankings rise.

Therefore, after matching up, the top four will be selected.

The other four eliminated players will have to play another ranking round after the finals.

But that was a small stage after all. Now the big stage that tens of millions of people are watching is the round to decide the top four, and... the decisive round scheduled for this afternoon!

"I announce, the quarterfinals officially begin!"

Takumi smiled slightly.

"Please look at the big screen—"

Beep.

On the big screen at the scene, the heads of the eight players appeared.

These avatars were rapidly shuffling.

Below, it's the first match at 9 o'clock:

? (awaiting) VS ? (awaiting)!

Suddenly, one of the avatars stopped.

"Holy crap!!"

"In the first match, it's the leader Hu Tao?!"

"With the leader Hu Tao here, I recognize its gold content. Having so many record holders is not a boast!"

"So excited! It's the quarterfinals, and the opponent is not a soft persimmon. Who will Leader Hu Tao be randomly matched with?"

In the guest stand, Hu Tao was stunned for a moment when she saw her avatar land on the blue side of the battle column.

On the big screen, two seconds later, her opponent was randomly matched, and another avatar landed on the red side.

Location...

**Xiangling!**

"Yeah~" Xiangling's exclamation came from the side.

"Ha~"

Hu Tao laughed.

**Xiangling:** "So, do we still have to fight each other?"

Hu Tao grinned: "Isn't this destined?"

"Don't forget!"

"The first day we adopted our Pokémon, we battled!"

After saying that, Hu Tao was majestic and high-spirited. She took the lead in walking towards the contestant area with a stride that showed no recognition of relatives.

Liu Su, who acted as the commentator and host, shouted in a loud and passionate voice:

"Coming!"

"Hu Tao has arrived on stage! Ready!"

"Where is Xiangling?"

Hmph!

Xiangling waved her spear and took majestic steps as if she were a female general taking the stage.

In an instant, the atmosphere at the scene exploded.

"Chef Xiangling, I love your specialty, Black-Back Perch Stew!"

"Ice Mist Flowers, Strange Beasts, Slime Condensate, Hilichurl Wooden Sticks... Chef Xiangling, can you make your good sisters into a dish?"

"Hu Tao, I like you so much, give me a signed poster... I just want Garchomp signature!"

Hu Tao is very popular...

But the wave of people shouting for Chef Xiangling is also an eardrum killer.

In the official live broadcast room of the Super Series, the barrage was so dense that it flooded the screen like a sea.

Hiss...!

Everyone seeing this scene and feeling the fanatical atmosphere—the neutral audience couldn't help but be shocked, and they were astounded.

It is indeed a big collision and a big showdown between popular players.

It's worthy of the quarterfinals!

---

Within the venue, Hu Tao and Xiangling, good sisters who adopted Pokémon together and went out to train together, stared at each other with big eyes.

"Ha—!"

"You have three Pokémon, and I have three," Hu Tao hummed. "Each of our Pokémon joined the team at the same time, and their cultivation levels are also very similar, so if you lose, don't make excuses!"

"From now on, please accept me as your elder sister!"

Xiangling grinned slightly, her energetic and sunny smile revealing deep confidence:

"I am the elder sister!"

"From now on, when we go out for training and adventure, you will be the maid serving tea and water! You even have to pour water for washing my feet!"

"Yo ho, we'll see!" Hu Tao smiled, revealing her pointed and shiny little tiger teeth.

Liu Su, acting as the host, was happy for the players to banter with each other.

Trash talk before the game is the best way to heat up the atmosphere, and he didn't even have to shout at the top of his voice; there was another wave of cheers and screams at the scene.

"Needless to say, the rules used in this Super Tournament are unlimited!"

"This round is the quarterfinals!"

"The battle begins!"

After the scene simulation is completed, the referee immediately blows the whistle.

"My silly little Xiangling~ Today I'm going to teach you how to fear the owner of a pseudo-legendary Pokémon!"

As soon as the game started, Hu Tao's face was full of confidence and a smile.

A white commemorative ball enlarged in her hand.

Bang!

The red light fell to the ground.

"Roar~~"

The deafening roar of the dragon.

From Gible to Gabite.

And now the perfect form that is Garchomp.

The 50 million Mora famous in Liyue, Mondstadt, and Inazuma.

Teyvat's first pseudo-legendary finally appears in its final form!

"Sure enough, it's Garchomp."

Xiangling's eyebrows jumped.

She murmured in her heart. She had already guessed that Hu Tao had been secretive before, just not sending out Garchomp.

She had been using Vibrava to reach the top 8, just to suddenly release the powerful Garchomp at this crucial moment.

I have to say, Hu Tao's strategy was very successful.

The Garchomp in its pseudo-legendary form shocked the audience and was full of intensity and oppression on the field!

"If only my Larvesta... had also evolved into Volcarona..."

Xiangling had a fleeting thought and threw three Poké Balls high at the same time.

"Larvesta, Centiskorch, Scyther!"

Opposite her, Hu Tao's lineup was:

Garchomp, flygon, and the unevolved Exeggcute.

"Don't underestimate that Exeggcute. Last time it performed a miracle and eliminated the suspected 'demon' player Albedo!"

Xiangling took a deep breath, thinking quickly before deciding on her on-the-spot tactics.

"Scyther, go attack the Exeggcute!"

"Centiskorch, use Smoke Screen! Reduce Garchomp's move accuracy for me!"

"Larvesta, use Bug Buzz!"