"Little Soft, use Dragon Breath!"
As Bai Mu spoke, a green beam shot from Zygarde's mouth, ripping through the air.
The Dragon Breath struck the Poison Mist Snake squarely on the head, making its massive body stagger.
The balance between the two sides was instantly broken!
"Well done, Flash Stick!"
Seizing the opening, the Dean smashed the Poison Mist Snake back with a heavy blow.
He stepped into the air, appearing three meters above the snake's head in an instant.
Gripping his staff, he brought it down with overwhelming force!
The Poison Mist Snake sensed danger and tried to dodge, but it was already too late.
Bang!!!
Mud exploded upward as the Poison Mist Snake was smashed deep into the swamp, letting out a miserable hiss.
Yet as a seven-hundred-year Spirit Beast, the heavy blow instead stirred its ferocity.
"Hiss!"
The next moment, ignoring its injuries, the Poison Mist Snake shot out like a coiled spring. Its bloodstained maw opened wide as it lunged straight at Zygarde!
While airborne, its two poisonous fangs glowed with eerie purple light.
"Dragon Breath!"
Zygarde remained calm, gathering its strength and blasting a Dragon Breath directly into the snake's mouth.
Bang!
A violent explosion erupted, smoke pouring from the Poison Mist Snake's jaws.
But the enraged beast showed no sign of slowing, biting down toward Zygarde with its venomous fangs!
Whoosh—
The distance closed rapidly. Unable to dodge in time, Zygarde seemed almost close enough to smell the bloody stench from the snake's mouth.
Yet it showed no fear at all.
At that moment, the snake's jaws snapped shut—and Zygarde's body turned into a streak of green light, flying back into Bai Mu's body!
"???"
Confusion flashed through the Poison Mist Snake's crimson eyes. The prey that was about to be in its mouth had vanished.
Suddenly, a sharp shout rang out.
"Charged Strike!!!"
The Nuoding Academy Dean descended like a falling meteor, his Wind Fire Staff smashing down onto the top of the Poison Mist Snake's head.
Boom!
Scales shattered, and blood splattered everywhere!
"Hiss—!!!"
The Poison Mist Snake let out a piercing shriek, thrashing violently in the mud for a few seconds before collapsing, motionless.
"Little San, hurry up and finish it!"
Afraid the Poison Mist Snake would die prematurely, Yu Xiaogang urged anxiously.
"Thank you—this is for the Spirit Epiphyllum Jade Lotus."
Tang San glanced gratefully at Bai Mu. Without his help, taking down the Poison Mist Snake so quickly would have been impossible.
"I'm doing this for myself."
Bai Mu waved his hand indifferently, his expression cold.
Tang San did not mind. He stepped forward, killed the Poison Mist Snake, and began absorbing its spirit ring.
On the other side, the Dean carefully uprooted the Spirit Epiphyllum Jade Lotus, keeping the pure soil clinging to its roots, and handed it to Bai Mu.
Once removed from the ground, the lotus shone even more brilliantly, its life aura so dense it seemed almost tangible.
"The Spirit Epiphyllum Jade Lotus is relatively gentle. With your physique, absorbing it shouldn't be difficult," the Dean said.
"Kill it, then use Calm Mind to draw in the spirit ring. Stay conscious."
"Thank you, Dean."
Bai Mu smiled, then crushed the lotus in his hand without hesitation.
A bright yellow spirit ring slowly condensed from the shattered remains.
Sitting cross-legged, Bai Mu closed his eyes and entered Calm Mind, guiding his spirit power to draw the spirit ring toward himself.
As the ring merged with him, a cool energy flooded his body.
Unlike the imagined pain, the energy transformed into gentle spirit power, flowing through his meridians like a clear stream, nourishing every cell.
His spirit power rose steadily, and his physique strengthened as well.
Just as everything progressed smoothly, Bai Mu's consciousness suddenly sank, and he lost awareness.
…
When his consciousness returned, new information appeared before him—
[Successfully absorbed a 290-year Spirit Epiphyllum Jade Lotus spirit ring. Gained First Spirit Ability: Spiritual Healing Aura (releases life aura to slowly heal oneself and allies).]
[Resonance-replaceable Pokémon Moves: Synthesis, Growth, Ingrain, Heal Pulse, Aromatic Mist, Refresh, Purify…]
"What's this?"
"Can I replace the Spirit Ability I gain with a resonant Pokémon move based on the spirit ring?"
Bai Mu was stunned.
So he had possessed this ability all along.
Then… replace it or not?
"Replace it—of course I replace it!"
Spiritual Healing Aura was strong and cost little spirit power, but its slow healing speed made it impractical.
In real danger, no enemy would wait for you to recover slowly.
Even Synthesis would be more useful than this.
But… which one?
Bai Mu scanned the list, hesitating briefly, until one Move caught his eye.
"No way… this Move can resonate too?"
His eyes lit up as he stared at the name—
[Jungle Healing]
Jungle Healing, the exclusive Move of the Mythical Pokémon Zarude, restores one-quarter of HP and spirit power to the user and allies, while curing status conditions.
Though its healing output was lower than Synthesis, it had a wider range and broader effects. Adapted into a Spirit Ability, it could even restore spirit power, making it the most perfect First Spirit Ability.
Moreover, as Zarude's exclusive Move, it could also promote rapid plant growth.
[Do you wish to resonate Jungle Healing to replace Spiritual Healing Aura?]
"Confirm!"
——
Sunset light filtered through the forest canopy, scattering across the clearing by the swamp.
Tang San finished absorbing the Poison Mist Snake's spirit ring, purple aura faintly surrounding his Blue Silver Grass.
Bai Mu completed his absorption as well, his body radiating a pure halo.
Yu Xiaogang watched them both, his expression complicated.
The Dean remained vigilant, guarding the surroundings.
Suddenly, both of them opened their eyes at the same time, their auras surging sharply.
Bai Mu's presence became more ethereal, carrying a natural affinity that drew others toward him.
Tang San, on the other hand, gained a hint of sinister sharpness. Dark green patterns appeared on his Blue Silver Grass, its leaves resembling a venomous snake.
"Did it succeed?" Yu Xiaogang asked eagerly.
"Second Spirit Ability: Blue Silver Poison Mist," Tang San said.
"My Blue Silver Grass can spray corrosive poison mist. Those affected will slow down, and their spirit power will be continuously eroded."
He demonstrated by spraying poison mist at a nearby tree.
Its leaves and trunk withered instantly, soon turning into a dead husk.
Yu Xiaogang was ecstatic.
"Good! Excellent! This is the perfect proof of my theories!"
"How do you feel?" the Dean asked Bai Mu.
"Great. Better than ever."
Bai Mu stood up and stretched, feeling completely refreshed.
He raised his hand and summoned Zygarde, nodding at it.
"Little Soft."
"Roar~"
Zygarde let out a long howl, green light surging from its body as it seemed to merge with the surrounding jungle.
A strange ripple spread outward.
Everyone touched by it felt warm life energy flow into their bodies.
"This Spirit Ability is incredible… My depleted spirit power and stamina are recovering rapidly," the Dean said in surprise.
"So strong! It can even heal and restore a Spirit Ancestor!" Tang San exclaimed.
Zygarde snorted proudly and rubbed against Bai Mu.
"First Spirit Ability: Jungle Healing," Bai Mu said.
"Zygarde can heal allies, restoring stamina and spirit power."
As a Move-based Spirit Master, it was easy for him to intentionally suppress the Spirit Ability's visible strength and conceal its true potential.
"It's not even a support Spirit, yet it possesses a healing ability stronger than that of support Spirits…"
Yu Xiaogang stared at Zygarde in amazement.
With this ability, Zygarde could freely shift between attack and support roles in team battles.
This Spirit was terrifying.
"No matter what, I must take Bai Mu as my disciple."
Yu Xiaogang made up his mind.
"And no matter what, I must find the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and obtain the Immortal Herb."
Bai Mu made his own decision at the same time.