The latter was very relieved, taking out a Poké Block, "I'm so happy, Xi Jiana, it was so sad you didn't recognize me just now~"
"Guh~"
The Whismur, having finished the familiar-tasting Poké Block, shyly nodded.
Xijana, catching this scene out of the corner of her eye, said nothing, only the smile couldn't be wiped off her face.
The island where the Pillar of the Sky is located is very far.
And quite secluded.
Why say that?
Because ships must navigate through a patch of fog to see the towering, cloud-piercing gray limestone giant tower atop the lush island, its exterior walls weathered and chipped, much more magnificent than in the games, its higher levels obscured by drifting clouds, as if holding up the sky to prevent its collapse.
It's hard to imagine what kind of skills the Meteor People used thousands of years ago, this level of architecture...
Absolutely unreasonable!
"The ancient ancestors were amazing."
Baimu genuinely marveled, and Xijana added, "Actually, there was also the help of the Glazed People; they still guard the seal of the Pillar of the Sky."
The Glazed People refer to the earliest inhabitants of Glazed City, now even rarer than the Meteor People.
Mikoli and Liuqia are Glazed People.
It's just that the seal...
Suddenly.
Xijana stopped the engine and anchored the boat to a reef protruding from the sea surface.
"There are many reefs ahead, the boat can't pass, let's fly over." She quickly resolved Baimu's confusion by releasing a vibrant Salamence.
The Hydreigon appeared a second later, the two powerful Dragon-type Pokémon exchanged glances, both showing delight and readiness to move.
They had previously exchanged moves without a Trainer's command, leaving quite an impression on each other, agreeing in their hearts that they must have a real battle when they meet again.
"Quiet."
Xijana gazed directly at the Pillar of the Sky, her face, once full of smiles, now full of reverence and solemnity.
No longer burdened by the mission to save the world, she let go of the extreme, but not her strong faith in Rayquaza and her sense of responsibility and mission as a Meteor Person.
To her, the Holy Land is no place for fooling around.
In this regard, Xijana is even more traditional than her grandmother.
Salamence swayed its tail, not even daring to make a sound in response, while Baimu quietly patted Hydreigon on the head, making it settle down too.
They are both wise and perceptive Pokémon.
Unlike the barren island in the game, the island where the Pillar of the Sky is located in the animation is lush with trees, even the broken exterior walls are covered with moss-like and vine-like plants, some growing into the damaged parts.
Of course.
The vegetation coverage isn't high, so the Pillar of the Sky remains gray limestone in color.
There are broken parts, but the overall structure is quite solid.
And surrounding it are several stone houses, which upon close inspection show some signs of human habitation, though they are generally quite old.
Xijana jumped down from Salamence's back and explained, "A hundred years ago, when the Glazed People stopped stationing outside the Pillar of the Sky, they left these houses behind."
"A hundred years ago?"
"Yes, during a major social change, when Trainers began to appear in large numbers because Pokéball acquisition became easier. The already small number of Glazed People chose to follow the change and switch from permanent stationing to regular patrolling."
Major social change...
Could it be when the Pokémon Balls gradually went into mass production?
Baimu knows that in the animated world he's in, the development of Pokémon Balls is quite complicated, from Hisui's hand-crafted wooden Poké Balls to the high-tech-enabled, seamlessly transferring, internet-connected ordinary Poké Balls, having undergone numerous developments impactful enough to influence the world.
The Glazed People seemed to be a group deeply affected by the era.
But looking at the current state of Mikoli and Liuqia, the reform of the Glazed People was quite correct, whereas the Meteor People lagged by decades, if not for the innate powerful Dragon-type Pokémon and Super Evolution, perhaps they might have been eliminated by the era.
Like the Water People in the Prince of the Azure Sea.
Once so glorious.
Baimu turned to Xijana, "Do we still have the technology to build another Pillar of the Sky now?"
"Build another one?"
She was stunned for a moment, "What do you want to do?"
"It's just that it's a pity such technology hasn't been passed down..." Baimu expressed his feelings but suddenly was at a loss.
Because he realized that the position of Inheritor was established precisely to pass on the glorious past and the technical skills of the Meteor People, even if they may eventually become obsolete.
His utilitarian mindset caused him to subconsciously overlook the essence of Inheritor.
Foolish, infected by Hydreigon and Milotic.
He thought frustratedly.
And upon seeing his expression, Xijana smiled and said, "Do you need me to explain it to you?"
"...No need, thank you."
Baimu inexplicably felt ashamed.
"Actually, I'm not surprised you would think that."
She instead began to comfort him, "There are those who overly expand the rights of an Inheritor, neglecting the responsibilities and obligations it entails, even among Meteor People. But sadly, the treasures left by the ancestors have turned fromvaluable technology into mere records..."
The Meteor People are forgetting their ancient inheritance.
Baimu understood Xijana's mindset, she was probably very worried that in a few decades, the Meteor People would completely integrate into the outside world, indistinguishable from others.
Many ancient lineages with long traditions have disappeared like this.
Perhaps not everyone thinks integration is better, but it's clear at least Xijana is quite opposed to abandoning the Meteor People's heritage, a staunch nationalist?
Fortunately, she's born in a mainstream area of the animated world and hasn't gone to extremes.
"I very much hope that someone can share the responsibility of Inheritor with me, to carry our lineage to the end of history, more important than the so-called position of elder."
Xijana sincerely said, "If you are willing—"
"My goal is to return to the Ore Region, become the World Champion, and if by chance I become an Inheritor, expanding and propagating the Meteor People in the Ore Region also sounds like a pretty good option."
Baimu interrupted her, unabashedly revealing his future plans, "As for the elder role, better leave it to you, I think you're more suited."
Xijana responded with silence, a few seconds later she chose to pretend as if nothing happened:
"The test for becoming an Inheritor is actually not difficult, just climb from the bottom to the top with your own feet and gain Rayquaza's acknowledgment."
Half a second ago, Baimu immersed in solemn mission, went momentarily blank.
"...Wait, gain Rayquaza's acknowledgment?"
"Gain Rayquaza's acknowledgment."
The girl with wheat-colored skin nodded while repeating, "I think it's not difficult for you."
"I'm glad you have such confidence in me, but frankly, I'm clueless about how to gain the acknowledgment of a Legendary Pokémon."
Inevitably, Baimu recalled the alternate-colored Rayquaza he saw on the plane; getting close for a look almost scared him to death.
An alternate form is like that, how imposing must the genuine Third God of Hoenn be?
He constantly thought this being known as the Celestial Dragon in the Master Bao series might not have a good temper, perhaps influenced by impressions from the animated movie and special edition.
Xijana appeared composed, gently saying, "You just need to stand before it and tell it your intentions."
Baimu worriedly asked, "Will it really listen to me?"
"So what do you think our ancestors relied on to resist the wars between Super Ancient Pokémon?"
"What if it's not there?"
"It certainly is, as long as you can ascend to the top."
"I see why only you have passed the test to become an Inheritor..."
"Relax, nerves are inevitable, get ready and then set off!" The spirited Miss Xijana seemed slightly impatient.
Baimu had no choice but to take a deep breath and head towards the entrance of the Pillar of the Sky.
Halfway, he turned back and asked, "Wasn't there a seal mentioned?"
"The seal is only for foreigners, Meteor People may come and go as they please—you better hurry, the Pillar of the Sky is more dangerous at night compared to the day."
When Xijana spoke, she bore the stance of someone ready to drag him in if he didn't move quick enough.
Why the hurry!
Baimu sighed.