“We are not only looking for someone who breaks the rules, but he must also be in one mind with us.”
Zhang Heng stroked his chin, carefully savoring the information conveyed by the water tower will, and pondered, “To discern the core concept in every layer of thought, to find resonance among these concepts, and to achieve the so-called unity of mind with the water tower will?”
Zhang Heng had clearly understood the Water Tower’s final trial. It was not about a breakthrough in combat power, nor was it about the level of the Trainer’s ability, but rather the harmony of concepts, ultimately reaching a unity of mind.
Zhang Heng spoke again to confirm, “The so-called unity of mind means being consistent with the original intention of your trials, right? Since you designed the trials, each layer of the trial has its inherent core meaning. As long as I can discern the core value of each layer, I will achieve the unity of mind you require.”
This time, all the ethereal voices gathered back into Psyduck’s body and spoke again, “That’s right. As for the core meaning of the second layer, Trainer, you already know it. Next, you only need to tell me the core meanings of the first and third layers.”
Zhang Heng’s brain was currently working at high speed, with thoughts and memories surging and receding like a tide. He frowned tightly, and a fine layer of sweat even appeared on his forehead, clearly indicating he was in a state of intense thought.
He tried to recall the thrilling yet safe all-out battle trial he experienced in the third layer for the last time. Every detail, every engagement, flashed in his mind like movie scenes. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck, as if several key pieces of information were about to be grasped by him.
However, just as Zhang Heng opened his mouth to speak what he had thought of, as if deliberately interrupting his thoughts, the mysterious and ethereal voice from the Water Tower sounded once again.
This sudden sound made Zhang Heng’s heart tighten, and his previously clear train of thought instantly became blurred.
“Human. You only have one chance to answer. However, there is no time limit for thinking. You can consider it carefully before responding to me. If you do not have the answer we want in your heart, it doesn’t matter.”
“As a challenger who has passed the three trials, you can train on the top floor. The flow of time in the Water Tower’s top floor space is different from the outside, roughly a 1:2 time flow. You can let your Pokémon get stronger here before exiting the attic.”
Zhang Heng’s emotions did not show on his face. To become a Water-type Trainer, the first things to overcome must be impatience and a tendency to be anxious and flustered.
Psyduck looked at Zhang Heng, who showed no obvious emotional fluctuations, but the feeling of having words on the tip of his tongue but being cut off by someone else still made Zhang Heng uncomfortable all over.
A subtle smile even appeared on its duck beak, as if a cunning plan had succeeded. (I really want an illustration, but I can’t do it!)
Zhang Heng merely reached out and stroked Walking Wake’s light purple mane beside him, not only to reassure himself, but also because the answer to this challenge lay in Walking Wake’s choice of action when facing Psyduck just now. (See previous chapter for details)
Just now, Zhang Heng thought he was going to have the final battle trial with Psyduck. Walking Wake mobilized Dragon-type energy and did not choose the pure Water-type energy in the space, fearing that its energy would not be under its own control and would cause irresistible losses to their side.
This choice demonstrated an improvement in Walking Wake’s combat intelligence.
He calmed his mind, then slowly began to speak, “In the third layer, which is the final, one-on-one, no-rules all-out battle, building upon the first two layers of trials, the third layer is a comprehensive test of the challenger’s skill application, potential activation, and tactical deployment.”
When Zhang Heng reached this point, his words paused slightly, not because he was stuck, but because he was a little unaccustomed to seeing Psyduck’s tightly furrowed brows.
After all, a yellow duck glowing with blue light, floating in front of you with a furrowed brow, that scene was incredibly bizarre.
At this moment, the ethereal voice sounded, “Anything else?”
Zhang Heng had no intention of keeping them in suspense, as this was a trial, not a discussion. He said, “Therefore, the third layer, this ultimate comprehensive trial, its core meaning not only tests the challenger not to overly rely on combat power, but focuses on improving the challenger’s combat intelligence.”
Psyduck’s brows relaxed, and the ethereal voice commented to Zhang Heng, “Very good, you possess the same keen insight as the two Water-type Legendary Pokémon Trainers before you. They also answered the core meanings of the third and second layer trials similarly.”
Zhang Heng also sighed inwardly, marveling that other Water-type Trainers also possessed calm and composed personalities and keen insight. Those who could pass these three trials not only had great strength, but most importantly, extremely high combat intelligence.
Before he could lament too much, Psyduck’s ethereal voice came again, “Only this first layer, no Trainer has ever been able to understand…”
In fact, this was why Zhang Heng did not start answering and explaining from the first layer, but instead worked backward from the final trial, the third layer, because he himself was still somewhat confused about how to pass the first layer trial.
This indeed put Zhang Heng in a sudden predicament. The problem was so real before him, and it was a difficult problem that no one before him had broken through.
Zhang Heng’s brain was currently working at high speed, with various thoughts and memories surging like a tide. A fine layer of sweat even appeared on his forehead, clearly indicating he was in a state of intense thought.
He tried to recall everything he experienced in the first layer, from entering the trial and discovering that strange Psyduck, to passing the trial before he even started any, while Kubfu was instead beaten up by Psyduck.
And the portal that signified the trial’s completion just appeared directly before him. It seemed that there were some logical points to all this, yet it also seemed particularly illogical, and Zhang Heng fell into a tangled contradiction.
Shiny Mudkip watched its master, Zhang Heng, fall into deep contradiction, and immediately stood on his shoulder with concern, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with its soft pink little paw.
And as if fearing that its master might suffer some damage from overthinking, it tapped him on the head again with its pink little paw.
Zhang Heng suddenly startled awake, then connected Mudkip’s action with another small incident that happened in the first layer.
“Hmm?! It seems Mudkip also did this action to Psyduck before. It was precisely when Mudkip went and tapped Psyduck’s head that we passed this trial. But Kubfu striking Psyduck’s head caused an unexpected counterattack?!”