With the water ghost subdued.
The Squirtle, glowing brightly, transformed back into a Squirtle. It and the other Squirtles chirped happily, pleased to have completed Zhang Wei's mission.
Afterward.
They reached into their shells, pulled out sunglasses, put them on with swagger, and, holding the Poké Ball containing the water ghost, swam towards Zhang Wei.
On the other side.
By the riverbank where Zhang Wei was.
At this moment.
Cao Yu stood on the bank, his gaze fixed on the river. Even though considerable time had passed, he dared not look away, fearing he would miss the moment the Squirtles emerged, a regret he would carry for life.
After waiting a while longer and seeing no movement on the river's surface, Cao Yu couldn't help but ask:
"Brother Wei, is everything really okay? It seems to have been a rather long time."
Just as Zhang Wei was about to respond, he suddenly felt something and immediately gestured for Cao Yu to look at the river:
"It's fine. Don't you see they're back?"
The next moment.
Cao Yu saw it. The previously calm river surface stirred. Bubbles gurgled, and six Squirtles wearing sunglasses swam out of the water.
As they emerged, they all moved their stubby turtle legs and ran happily towards Zhang Wei.
"Squirtle Squirtle~"
The leading Squirtle held up a Poké Ball with both hands and handed it to Zhang Wei.
Although Cao Yu couldn't understand what the Squirtles were saying, judging by their swagger and demeanor with the sunglasses, he could tell they had achieved something.
Instantly.
He was stunned, his gaze fixed on the Poké Ball in the Squirtle's hand, his heart skipping a beat.
Hiss!
Could it be…
Just then, Zhang Wei took the Poké Ball, patted the Squirtle's head, and said:
"You've worked hard."
"Squirtle Squirtle."
The Squirtles shook their heads. Then, they all saluted Zhang Wei and Cao Yu in unison before being recalled by Zhang Wei into their Poké Balls.
Only then did Cao Yu snap back to reality and quickly leaned in to ask:
"Brother Wei, that Poké Ball…"
Zhang Wei knew what Cao Yu wanted to ask and, with a smile, shook the Poké Ball containing the water ghost:
"See? I told you it would be fine. Not only did they find the water ghost, but they also caught it."
As soon as he said this.
Cao Yu couldn't help but gasp, understanding his meaning:
"Hiss! You really caught it?!"
His words.
He stared intently at the Poké Ball in Zhang Wei's hand, lost in thought.
Seeing this, Zhang Wei smiled, directly pressed the red light button on the Poké Ball, and raised it forward. The next second, the red light shot out a red line, condensing into a humanoid creature – a dying water ghost.
Cao Yu, having fought the water ghost before, recognized it at a glance:
"Holy cow! You actually subdued it?!"
Hearing this, Zhang Wei looked over and asked:
"Cao Yu, are you sure this water ghost is the one that almost killed you? I didn't catch the wrong ghost, did I?"
Cao Yu nodded repeatedly:
"Yes, I'm absolutely sure it's this ghost. Even if it turned to ash and became a Gengar, I could recognize it by its Yin energy. It's definitely it."
"That's good then. The ghost-exorcism mission is successfully completed. By the way, Cao Yu, can you help me trade this thing with the Wei Dao Division? A living Ghost King-level water ghost should be quite valuable, right?"
Zhang Wei's words.
Staring at the water ghost released from the Poké Ball, Cao Yu instinctively replied.
"Huh? What did you say, Brother Wei? You want to trade the water ghost? Don't you want to challenge gyms… no, wait, you don't want the water ghost? This is a Ghost King-level water ghost! If trained well, it could be a great asset."
Cao Yu stopped mid-sentence.
He suddenly remembered that Zhang Wei already had Elder Willow as his 'Pokémon,' so he didn't need a subordinate like a newly promoted Ghost King water ghost.
"I don't need the water ghost. This thing is useless to me. Its only use is to step on it and use it as a water ski. It's better to exchange it for something useful."
Zhang Wei replied with a smile.
Afterward.
Cao Yu contacted people from the Wei Dao Division to bring spiritual artifacts, apprehend and seal the water ghost, and escort it back to the Wei Dao Division.
Watching the water ghost being loaded onto the Wei Dao Division's escort vehicle.
Cao Yu was filled with emotion.
As a member of the Wei Dao Division, and the descendant of a high-ranking official, he knew very well how difficult it was to capture a Ghost King. They might not even catch one in a year, let alone trade a living Ghost King. Usually, ghost exorcists would trade dead Ghost Kings.
But Zhang Wei had not only previously obtained four Ghost King skulls and a jade slip comparable to a Ghost King skull, but now he had also captured a living Ghost King.
On the other side.
Zhang Wei was unaware of Cao Yu's thoughts; he was busy calculating his earnings:
"I remember Xiao Xue said that a living Ghost King is very valuable, equivalent to the price of two Ghost King skulls. So, does that mean I now have seven Ghost King skulls? Have I gathered the Dragon Balls so quickly?"
"Seven Ghost King skulls, while they can't summon the Divine Dragon, should at least fulfill my wish to enter the Wei Dao Division prison once."
"But if it can't get me into the Wei Dao Division prison, what should I exchange for?"
Thinking of the Dragon Balls in his mind.
Zhang Wei turned to ask Cao Yu:
"Cao Yu, does the Wei Dao Division have dragons?"
"Ah? Brother Wei, why do you suddenly ask that?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking, since I've gathered seven 'Dragon Balls,' it's time to summon the Divine Dragon."
Although Zhang Wei's words were cryptic, Cao Yu, who knew Zhang Wei and the Wei Dao Division, understood his intention:
"Brother Wei, there are no dragons here. However, there are True Dragon Guards. If you want to summon a True Dragon Guard to help, that's possible. After all, the value of seven Ghost King skulls is enough to have a True Dragon Guard help you once, no doubt."
As Cao Yu spoke, he seemed to recall something and added:
"Right, the Wei Dao Division doesn't have dragons, but it does have dragon veins. Brother Wei, you could try exchanging for a chance to see a dragon vein."
"Dragon veins?"
Zhang Wei's eyebrows twitched. Although he really wanted to witness the dragon veins of Great Xia, and even wondered what would happen if he added points to the dragon veins of Great Xia, exchanging for a chance to see a dragon vein felt like a bit of a loss.
He dismissed the thought. 138 Reading Network
However, requesting the help of a True Dragon Guard did pique his interest.
If he could get a True Dragon Guard to use his system-enhanced points, he might gain a lot of system points.
Afterward.
Zhang Wei dismissed the thoughts from his mind. It was useless to think about that now; he should wait for news from the Wei Dao Division to see if they could get him into their prison.
At this very moment.
After seeing off the Wei Dao Division's vehicle, Cao Yu turned back and said:
"Brother Wei, thank you for helping our Wei Dao Division capture a living Ghost King. I've already arranged a banquet. Let's go eat, so I can thank you properly, haha."
As he spoke, he remembered Zhang Wei's earlier question and chuckled:
"By the way, Brother Wei, congratulations on gathering seven 'Dragon Balls'! Although you didn't summon the Divine Dragon, if you're willing, I can take you to a foot spa. They have dragons there too, you know, a 'one-dragon service,' haha."
Hearing this, Zhang Wei laughed and replied:
"That's a possibility. In that case, I can't be polite either. Let me treat you to some dragon meat. I had the good fortune to eat it once. That dragon meat, slightly spicy, with tender and delicious flesh. I vaguely remember the dragon I ate was called Wei Long."
…