Chương 173: The Trip to Mount Song

Fengyuan, sending off the sacred mountain.

The terrain of Songshen Mountain is extremely unique; it is a solitary mountain that stands abruptly on the plain.

Viewed from a distance, it somewhat resembles Mount Song in Lu Sha's memories of his previous life.

The mountain peaks rise abruptly from the plains like sharp swords, soaring straight into the clouds, exuding a majestic and magnificent aura just by looking at them.

The mountain that sends off the gods is named so, but it actually has no connection with any deity whatsoever.

The so-called "sending off the gods" refers to bidding farewell to the spirit and soul.

As its name suggests, this place, like the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town in the Kanto region and the Lost Tower in the Sinnoh region, is a sacred place dedicated to the souls of departed Pokémon.

If you look closely at the mountain peak, which is a thousand meters high, you can clearly see the massive tomb complex that spirals upwards along the mountain's contours.

Thousands of years ago, this place was known as a place where ancient people used it to sacrifice their monster companions who died in battle.

As time progressed, in modern times, this place gradually evolved into a grand Pokémon cemetery.

In the Hoenn region, a small number of trainers choose to bury their Pokémon companions near their homes after they die from illness or accidents.

Many more people would travel great distances to place their companion's remains here and hold a special farewell ceremony.

It is precisely because of this place that so many of humanity's beloved companions are buried.

Many trainers who deeply cherish the memory of their lost Pokémon choose to settle near Mt. Kami after their journey ends or they retire in old age, just to be closer to their former partners.

Over the course of several generations, the area around Songshen Mountain gradually prospered and developed, eventually forming a large settlement with distinctive local characteristics.

"Click! (That's about it!)" Lu Sha finished reading the encyclopedia entry she had just found on her phone in a serious manner, and then looked up at the distant horizon.

After more than three hours of high-speed flight, the outline of the solitary peak that pierced the clouds in the distance became clearly visible.

The plain rises abruptly from the mountains, a terrain that clearly indicates a place of auspicious geomancy.

In any world, these famous mountains and rivers that occupy geographical advantages are definitely the core areas that were first discovered and occupied by human civilization.

"So, the guardians here now are all trainers who are reluctant to leave because their comrades have passed away?"

Cattleya asked softly, asking about things she knew by heart but Lu Sha might not be so clear about.

Lu Sha likes to talk a lot, while she prefers to listen quietly; this has always been their way of getting along.

It doesn't depend on how much she knows.

As long as Lu Sha is interested in talking, even if it's something he's said countless times before, she's willing to listen attentively and remember it as if it were the first time she's heard it.

"Click! (I just looked it up. The current manager of Mt. Okami is named Yueqi, who was once the Flying-type Elite Four of the Hoenn region. After retiring, he and his wife have been living in seclusion on Mt. Okami.)"

"Crack! (By the way, his wife was also a renowned Heavenly King-level powerhouse back in the day, though she didn't make it into the Four Heavenly Kings. The two met during the first Heavenly King Challenge, and their love story was quite a legendary tale back then.)" Lu Sha chuckled and proudly dropped a piece of gossip that Cattleya had never heard of before.

"Both husband and wife are Heavenly King-level powerhouses? With the defensive strength of Mount Sacred Deity, can Team Lava and Team Ocean really succeed so easily?"

Cattleya frowned slightly and asked a reasonable question.

She truly didn't know that the retired superstar's wife was also a superstar-level powerhouse.

"Click! (They rose to power and became top players decades ago. These two old folks seem to be in their seventies now. If they've been playing Pokémon since they were kids...)" Lu Sha only said half of what he meant, but Cattleya had already fully understood the deeper meaning behind it.

Human lifespan is typically less than a hundred years, but for most Pokémon, that is an extremely long lifespan limit.

Bug-type Pokémon like Beedrill have a normal lifespan of less than ten years, unless they use some extremely rare and special resources to barely extend their lifespan.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural laws, and no matter how great a player is or how successful a champion is, they cannot reverse the erosion of time.

In this respect, humans and Pokémon are equal.

Rumor has it that only by breaking through to the level of champion, reaching a terrifying level comparable to a true legendary god, and undergoing a leap in life level, can one truly extend their lifespan.

Clearly, most of the Pokémon that were once the mainstays of these two former Elite Four level powerhouses have now succumbed to the passage of time and passed away.

While some types of Pokémon have extremely long lifespans, this is clearly unrelated to the situation of these two elderly people.

After all, this is the mountain where the gods are sent off.

The fact that these two once-renowned figures were willing to give up the outside world's prosperity and choose to retire quietly here speaks volumes.

According to information that Gadria herself had gathered, the retired King of Leaping Qi had been living on Mount Songshen for thousands of years.

"We've arrived."

Cattleya's cool voice rang out. At the same time, the figures of the human and the shark, enveloped by psychic power, officially stepped into the domain of Mount Songshen.

As you get closer, you can see more clearly that the verdant mountain is densely covered with neatly planned cemeteries.

An indescribable sense of heaviness and sorrow permeated the air from every corner of the mountain, as if it were a tangible presence.

"Crack! (Tsk tsk, the concentration of ghost-type energy in this place is really exaggerated.)" Lu Sha exclaimed in amazement.

Not to mention the young lady whose perception abilities far surpass those of ordinary people, even he could clearly feel that the aura here was completely different from that outside.

The extremely dense ghostly energy, combined with the emotions poured into the memorial services for the dead by countless people over the centuries, imbues this place with a solemn and divine aura while simultaneously filling it with the sorrowful atmosphere of the deceased.

Whether in his past or present life, Lu Sha dislikes this kind of place.

It's too depressing, too sad.

In the desolate mountains and forests, there are only rows of cold white stone tombs. Even if you don't think about anything, a sense of unease will naturally creep up your spine.

Needless to say, this is the real Pokémon world, a fantasy world where souls truly exist after death.

The birth of certain Ghost-type Pokémon is essentially the result of countless Pokémon spirits gathering and fusing in extreme environments, ultimately forming a new life form.

Of course, since the major regional leagues were officially established and regulated, the vast majority of Ghost-type Pokémon appearing in human society are born through normal reproduction, rather than being ghosts formed by natural aggregation.

"It is indeed a very special place. However, I did not sense any particularly strong energy sources here. There are no more than ten energy fluctuations reaching the Heavenly King level in the entire mountain."

Cattleya gently placed her hand on Lu Sha's broad dorsal fin. Although she was using her telekinesis to carry Lu Sha, from behind, it looked as if Lu Sha was carrying her and soaring through the sky.

Under the precise control of their telekinetic powers, the figures of the man and the shark began to descend rapidly.

"Click! (After all, it's just a cemetery, so it's normal that the security isn't very strong. Besides, those two orbs shouldn't usually emit energy fluctuations, otherwise, such divine objects would have been stolen eight hundred times over.)" 97 Lu Sha made his analysis casually, while glancing down at the mountain peaks below.

They chose to land at the summit of Mount Sendin.

This is also the location of the Songshenshan Temple, the core of the entire cemetery, and a sacred place specifically used for commemorating the deceased and offering incense.

According to the research data, the indigo blue pearl and the vermilion pearl were the two sacred objects enshrined in the temple of the Sending God Mountain.

In fact, Lu Sha is now more curious about what the statues enshrined in that temple will look like.

A god who holds the power over the dead and death?

In the Pokémon canon, it seems that no deity explicitly possesses this divine authority.

However, legends about the underworld and the dead do indeed circulate in various regions.

"It seems the owner here isn't very welcoming to us."

With Lu Sha in tow, Gadriya landed lightly in the plaza in front of the temple.

After they landed, they were not greeted with polite inquiries and directions from the surrounding security personnel.

Instead, several large, menacing wolfhounds baring their teeth quickly surrounded them.

At the same time, a group of uniformed police officers, looking extremely vigilant, emerged from the shadows and surrounded them.

Seeing this formation, Lu Sha instantly understood.

I'm late!

Something must have happened at Songshenshan before they arrived!

Young lady, state your identity!

Cattleya nodded slightly, her figure floating down from Lu Sha's back like a feather.

Ignoring the wary gazes around her, she calmly pulled out her Alliance badge from her pouch, her cool voice echoing in the empty square: "I am Cattleya, an active-duty Alliance investigator. I am here to investigate the disappearances of Yan Yue and Miao Wang."

Upon seeing the official identification, the security personnel and police, who were on high alert, breathed a slight sigh of relief, and the encirclement was slightly expanded.

Immediately afterwards, an elderly man with gray hair and a slightly hunched posture walked over slowly.

He merely glanced at the documents in Cattleya's hand before quickly averting his gaze, his tone carrying a hint of official business: "Excuse me, Investigator Cattleya. I am Yue Qi, the administrator of this Sacred Mountain."

"Mount Kami was recently attacked by the Ocean Team, so the defenses are inevitably a bit tighter. Please forgive us."

""

"As for the two missing persons you just mentioned, Yan Yue and Miao Wang, I don't think they are staff members of Songshenshan. I have never heard of these two names before."

Team Ocean?!

Upon hearing that this evil organization that worshipped the sea had launched an attack, both Cattleya and Lu Sha were instantly invigorated.

"They are researchers from Carnarvon University, specializing in the crimson and indigo jewels. Mr. Yueqi, what is the current status of those two jewels?"

Caldelia remained expressionless and went straight to the point, posing the core question.

"I see... no wonder they headed straight for the temple with such a clear objective..."

A look of sudden realization flashed across the old man Yueqi's face.

They hadn't understood why the Ocean Team had suddenly launched an attack, but now everything made sense.

The source of the attack was probably those two missing researchers.

It's highly likely that they made some major breakthrough in their research, which attracted this group of lunatics from the Ocean Team.

Thoughts raced through his mind, but Yue Yuan's face remained expressionless, his tone indifferent: "Investigator Gadria, if we find any trace of the two missing persons in this mountain, we will report it to the Hoenn Alliance immediately."

His words already conveyed the intention to get rid of them.

He could see the investigator's badge very clearly just now.

Although the seals of the various regional alliances are generally similar, there are still subtle differences in the details.

The seal on Cattleya's ID comes from the Sinnoh League, not their Hoenn League.

A Sinnoh investigator has no jurisdiction over Hoenn territory.

"You are... Chief Cattleya of Zhuqing Academy, right?"

Unexpectedly, just as Yue Qi finished giving the order to leave, a policewoman standing next to him suddenly looked surprised and hesitated before asking a question.

"Yes. May I ask who you are?"

Gadriya looked at the other person's iconic Officer Jenny attire, nodded slightly, and politely asked a question in return.

There are many Officer Jennys in the Pokémon world, and they all have different ranks.

The lowest rank might be a police squad leader in a remote village, while the highest rank could be the head of the Alliance Investigators or the highest commander of the entire Alliance police system.

"I am Junsa Shizuka from Seishun City. This is what happened."

Junsa Shizuka quickly stepped forward and explained to the old man, "I just received instructions personally conveyed by King Genji, requiring our Lilycove City police to fully cooperate with the Sinnoh investigator, Cattleya, in the investigation."

As a retired superstar, Yueqi has been guarding the sacred mountain for many years simply to enjoy his retirement, and he doesn't care about any news or events from the outside world.

Since he wasn't paying attention, the instructions from the Hoenn Alliance's higher-ups could only be directly passed on to Junsa Shizuka, who was in charge of this area.

"Did that kid Genji personally give the order?"

Yueqi frowned slightly, his two long, white eyebrows raised high. This was the first time he had seriously looked at the blonde girl in front of him.

Upon closer inspection, he discovered something truly remarkable, so much so that his tone became tinged with surprise and doubt: "Little girl, how old are you? How come you've already mastered the power of origin? Are you perhaps one of the newly appointed Elite Four of the Sinnoh League?"

A trainer's skill level is not as easily determined as that of a Pokémon by observing energy fluctuations.

If it weren't for Gadria's usual high-profile behavior and complete lack of restraint in her enormous superpower fluctuations, Yue Yuan would never have been able to see through her secrets at a glance.

He had only noticed Lu Sha standing next to him.

In his view, while Garchomp with professional-level strength is rare, it's just so-so in the eyes of this former Elite Four member, not worth a second glance.

However, if the trainer beside this Garchomp is a Champion-level powerhouse who has mastered the power of origin, then the situation is completely different.

He looks like a minor, Heavenly King-level powerhouse.

At this moment, he finally understood why Genji had specifically ordered this outsider to take over this mess.

"My personal situation is not important. Mr. Yueqi, what is more important now is that I need to know the exact situation of Songshenshan Ziqian."

With the endorsement of King Genji and the official Hoenn, Cattleya naturally gained the upper hand in the dialogue.

"Haha, the way you talk is just like Genji when he was young!"

Yueqi laughed twice, but when it came to serious matters, he was quite clear: "Because of the Ocean Team's sudden attack, the Crimson Pearl has been confirmed stolen. We tried our best, but we only managed to save this Indigo Pearl."

"When did the Marines launch their attack? Can we still find any trace of their retreat?" Cattleya asked urgently.

"Click! (Where is the indigo jewel now?)" Lu Sha also spoke up at almost the same time.

Lu Sha was clearly more concerned about the subsequent development of the incident.

Keep in mind, this is the Hoenn region, and Team Aqua isn't the only one causing trouble; Team Magma is also lurking nearby, ready to pounce.

Cattleya's idea, however, was very simple and pure.

She flew all the way to the sacred mountain with only one goal: to help Lu Sha obtain the vermilion pearl.

Now that the Crimson Pearl has been stolen by Team Ocean, it is now ownerless.

Stealing from the villains, can that be called robbery? That's called the strong taking what's theirs!

"Hahaha! You Garchomp are quite something, actually knowing to care about the whereabouts of the Orb."

Yueqi laughed heartily and waved his hand casually: "Don't worry, the indigo pearl is now being kept by my old woman herself, so it's absolutely safe."

"As for the Ocean Team's whereabouts... I really can't provide any follow-up information. This old body of mine isn't good at tracking, but Officer Officer Jenny should have some clues."

Up until now, Yueqi still didn't know what the purpose of the two precious jades that were worshipped as divine objects was, so he was actually quite relaxed at the moment.

"Investigator Cattleya!"

Junsa Shizuka quickly added, "This attack was premeditated. Almost simultaneously, Team Marine committed a major incident in Lilycove City, forcing King Yueqi to lead the security forces here to Lilycove City to provide support."

"This directly led to a severe shortage of defenses on Mount Songshen, which allowed them to exploit the loopholes and cause the theft of the vermilion pearl."

"Did this happen a few days ago?"

Cattleya frowned slightly, sensing that things were getting increasingly complicated.

Will the Ocean team use the same tactic of luring the enemy away from their base?

"It happened last night. To prevent them from making a surprise return and eyeing the remaining indigo jewel, we've gathered all our security forces here today..."

Before Junsa Jing could finish speaking, a terrifying burst of flames suddenly erupted from behind the temple in the distance without warning.

boom!

Upon seeing this, the expressions on everyone's faces changed drastically in an instant.

It seems the counterattack is really coming!