The host saw this and retreated from the center to his designated spot.
Next up was the main event: the battles.
However, before the formal battles began, the host glanced at the large screen displaying Ye Feng and Xiao Jie, along with the number of Poké Balls each held.
He noticed something.
Each side could use three Pokémon, but why did Ye Feng only bring two?
It was a disadvantage, wasn't it?
It wasn't just the host; many in the audience had also noticed this.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
Xiao Jie, Ye Feng's opponent, also noticed.
Although named Xiao Jie, he was a thirty-year-old man.
He was burly and strong.
His attire was not cheap.
When Xiao Jie was ten, he had also gone on a journey.
But he encountered the same problem as Zhen Ye of Pallet Town: his strength was not enough, making gym battles too difficult.
Furthermore, and more crucially, Pokémon battling was a very expensive sport.
He couldn't afford it.
Raising Pokémon, accommodation, and food all required money.
After traveling through only four cities, his money ran out, and he had no choice but to return.
Upon his return, Xiao Jie swore to himself that he would work hard to earn money! With money, he could fulfill his dreams!
So, he studied diligently.
Coupled with his innate business acumen,
By the age of twenty-five, he had made a significant fortune. Now, at thirty, he owned a company and several shopping malls.
Therefore, now wealthy, he began to pursue his original dream.
At this moment, he looked at Ye Feng opposite him, frowned, and demanded,
"Why did you only bring two Pokémon? Do you look down on me?"
Xiao Jie was displeased with Ye Feng.
He also had no good feelings towards Ye Feng.
Because he himself was plain-looking, when he was poor, his girlfriend had been stolen by handsome pretty boys like Ye Feng.
Ye Feng smiled slightly, "No, I only have two in total."
"What?! Ye Feng only has two?!"
At first, only Ye Feng, Xiao Jie, and the host heard their conversation.
But the host, in his enthusiasm, announced it aloud.
Thus, the entire venue heard it.
"What's this?! Ye Feng only has two? Is he joking! I have five or six!"
"Wait, if he only has two, how did he get into the Indigo League?! He must have cheated!"
Many people started to gossip.
After all, with only two Pokémon, the idea of clearing eight gyms was unbelievable to many. Many trainers with seven or eight, even ten or more, Pokémon couldn't collect all eight badges, so they strongly suspected Ye Feng had taken a shortcut.
But was the reality as they imagined?
Ye Feng did not answer their curiosity.
He directly threw a Poké Ball from his waist.
A Pikachu with red markings landed on a water platform in the water arena.
"A Pikachu with red markings?"
Everyone who saw this Pikachu was taken aback.
After all, shiny variants were rare.
But they didn't pay it much mind.
While shiny Pokémon were indeed slightly stronger than their normal counterparts, it wasn't by much.
Xiao Jie remained silent.
He also threw out one of his Pokémon.
Butterfree!!!
"Butterfree, use Gust!!!"
Xiao Jie gave Ye Feng no chance to react, immediately ordering his Butterfree to attack aggressively.
Upon hearing the command, Butterfree floated in the air, flapping its wings and unleashing a strong gust of wind towards the Pikachu on the water platform.
If, during gym battles, Ye Feng had given the gym leaders some face by letting Pikachu play around a bit longer,
then facing the Indigo League, the region's highest-profile event,
Ye Feng had no intention of holding back.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt and finish it."
Pikachu, upon hearing the command, erupted in yellow lightning.
The terrifying Thunderbolt directly shattered the turbulent Gust and struck the Butterfree in the air.
Butterfree immediately lost the will to battle.
"What the heck?!"
Xiao Jie was incredulous to see his Butterfree defeated in one move.
He looked at Butterfree, which had fallen into the water and was floating, and could only grit his teeth and recall it.
The audience also gasped in shock at the swift defeat of Butterfree.
With the first Pokémon down, Xiao Jie released his second.
"Go, Gengar!!!"
A black sphere appeared in mid-air.
This black sphere had only a head and no limbs.
Its head had two eyes and a wickedly grinning mouth, cackling sinisterly.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Seeing Gengar, Ye Feng immediately ordered Pikachu.
Pikachu was already prepared and unleashed another Thunderbolt.
"Scrape"
Xiao Jie had no time to react.
His Gengar was hit by Thunderbolt.
"Heh, so what if it got hit? I don't believe you can defeat my Gengar in one move?!"
As soon as he finished speaking, his Gengar, just like his Butterfree, fell into the water.
Xiao Jie: "..."
"Oh my, Trainer Ye Feng's Pikachu is truly formidable!"
The host chimed in at this moment.
Facing this situation, with two Pokémon already down before he could even fight properly, Xiao Jie's scalp tingled.
His pupils constricted fiercely.
His head turned to the right, looking at someone in the spectator stands.
It was a woman.
Although she was dressed flamboyantly and heavily made up,
her ugly features were still apparent.
Seeing this woman, Xiao Jie trembled violently.
The woman, seeing Xiao Jie looking at her, returned a smile and seemed to mouth something.
From her lip movements, it was two words: "The promise."
Xiao Jie wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
He took deep breaths, trying to calm himself.
Did he remember that he had a knack for business, making a fortune at twenty-five, and now at thirty, he owned a company and several malls?
That's right, the fortune he made at twenty-five wasn't about money!
It was about that woman! The ugly woman!
This woman was very rich! But very ugly!
Xiao Jie married her!!
The meaning of his business acumen was!
That Xiao Jie, in his more than twenty years of life, the biggest and best deal he made was marrying this woman!!!
Therefore, his company and several malls at thirty were all thanks to this woman! Without her, he would have nothing!!!
Then what was the connection between his sweating, fear, and the "promise" mentioned by the woman?
Xiao Jie's dream was to become a Pokémon Master, but this woman was not entirely agreeable to it.
So, she made a promise with him.
If he could achieve a top-three result in the Indigo League this time, he could continue his career as a Pokémon Trainer.
But if not, he would have to return and work diligently!!!
Although the condition of a top-three finish was extremely demanding! Xiao Jie had no choice, because without this woman, he would lose everything.
So, he had to agree!
But he never expected that today.
Let alone a top-three finish, he was about to lose in the very first match?!
He stared in horror at the strikingly handsome young man before him.
He immediately felt that this person was simply a demon trying to steal his soul.
His lips trembled, and in his fear, he managed to say: