While considering where and with what tools to make energy cubes, Zhou Yuan also granted moderator privileges to the two patrons who had given him large gifts: "Ice Puppet Kills Him" and "I'm First in the End."
As he pondered, he casually edited the live stream video, naming them: "Ambush? Ambush! 【Pokémon Tactics 05】" and "Espeon Sunbathing 【Pokémon Tactics 06】."
After uploading these two videos, Zhou Yuan checked his follower count, which had already surpassed 900,000, making reaching one million just around the corner.
After finishing all the post-processing for the live stream and videos, Zhou Yuan lay back on his bed, wondering whether to buy an energy cube making machine. However, machines were quite expensive, and it would be hard to explain the source of the funds or where he learned the energy cube crafting technique.
"I can't just have this Skill and not be able to use it, can I?" Zhou Yuan felt a bit helpless, so he could only think of other solutions. As he pondered, sleepiness overcame him, his breathing gradually steadied, and he fell asleep.
The next morning, Zhou Yuan woke up due to his biological clock. He looked at the Growlithe lying by his bed and woke him up too:
"Growlithe, Growlithe, don't sleep anymore, get up! We still have to learn new Skills today."
"Awoo woof?" Growlithe shook his head, still a bit groggy.
Taking Growlithe to the dining room, Zhou Yuan's gaze fell upon the kitchen utensils.
After a night of deep sleep (crossed out)... thinking, and reviewing the crafting knowledge in his mind, Zhou Yuan felt that kitchen utensils could also be used to make energy cubes. It was theoretically feasible, and since it was theoretically feasible, Zhou Yuan decided to put it into practice.
After breakfast, Zhou Yuan walked into the kitchen.
"Blender, steamer, air fryer, large iron pot—the equipment is quite complete. Let me think about how to start."
Zhou Yuan took out two Wepear Berries, first putting them into the blender to crush them into a solid-liquid mixture. He filtered out and discarded the dregs, retaining a certain amount of the essence pulp. Then, he added a little flour to increase viscosity, molded the mixture into a cuboid shape, and steamed it, finally obtaining a not-so-crystal-clear block.
"Congratulations, Host, for your first attempt at making an energy cube...?"
"System is judging..."
"?"
"After System judgment, the product made by the Host is an energy cube (pseudo). Its nutritional value is higher than that of a Berry but lower than an energy cube, approximately two-thirds of the nutrition provided by an energy cube of the same volume."
"Congratulations, Host, for completing the achievement: Failed Masterpiece! Energy Points +200."
"Host's current Energy Points: 5010."
"System, what do you mean? It's already very difficult for me to make a product like this in this environment, and you're still mocking me?"
This was unbearable.
"Come out and fight! Come here! Why are you hiding?!"
Zhou Yuan was exasperated. Making an energy cube under the current conditions was extremely difficult.
If he had a Pokémon that could use Psychic to help him compress it, he wouldn't need to add flour for shaping. The finished product would then be as crystal clear as a normal energy cube, and its efficacy wouldn't be much worse.
As he pondered, Zhou Yuan remembered that he still had a Skill.
Combat Aura Lv3
Closing his eyes and quietly sensing, Zhou Yuan could feel a formless Combat Aura in his dantian. Attempting to mobilize it, the Combat Aura appeared in his hand along his meridians, a white energy body.
After another blending operation, Zhou Yuan did not add flour. Instead, he enveloped his hand in Combat Aura, then picked up the fruit pulp with his left hand, using the Combat Aura in his right hand to attract the fruit juice and prevent it from falling, slowly bringing his hands together.
Under the immense pressure of the Combat Aura and the high temperature controlled by Zhou Yuan, the two sides gradually fused and compressed, eventually forming a crystal-clear spherical orb.
Zhou Yuan held the orb, shaking his head helplessly.
"There's no other way. After all, I'm using both hands. It's too difficult to maintain the Combat Aura while also molding it into a cuboid."
"No problem, from now on, I'll call you Energy Ball Block!"
Zhou Yuan gave his creation a new name.
"Congratulations, Host, for your first successful creation of an energy cube (crossed out) Energy Ball Block! Energy Points +100."
"Congratulations, Host, for completing the achievement: Everyone Is a Breeder! Energy Points +200."
"Host's current Energy Points: 5310."
With the System's notification and confirmation, Zhou Yuan knew that this attempt was successful.
Over the next half hour, Zhou Yuan used Combat Aura to create resistance Energy Ball Blocks suitable for Growlithe, using Wepear Berries and grass silkworm fruits and other resistance Berries. Two Berries yielded five Energy Ball Blocks, enough for Growlithe to eat for a day.
Thinking of the golden Magikarp still in the wild, Zhou Yuan also made razz berries into Energy Ball Blocks.
The razz berry is a very peculiar Berry. It doesn't provide as much energy as an Oran Berry, nor can it boost a Pokémon's specific stat or resistance.
However, if fed to a wild Pokémon, it can increase the wild Pokémon's affection towards the feeder. The higher-grade silver manberry fruit and golden razz berry are even more potent; for some Pokémon, feeding them will make them immediately lie down and allow themselves to be petted, but whether they can ultimately be captured still depends on the Pokémon's own will.
Zhou Yuan's purpose in making energy cubes with it was also very simple: to entice that golden Magikarp. Even if he couldn't capture it immediately, at least he could build a steady, long-term foundation for future capture.
After doing all this, Zhou Yuan walked out of the kitchen and found Big Red. Tempted by the Energy Ball Blocks, Big Red once again carried Zhou Yuan to the lake.
Standing by the lake, Zhou Yuan said nothing, just silently broke up the razz berry block and tossed it little by little onto the lake surface.
After tossing for a while, the lake surface rippled slightly, followed by a golden crown emerging from the water.
Magikarp swam to the surface, looking at the person on the shore. This was the third time it had seen him.
Every time, he would throw some delicious things to it.
Although it didn't know why, eating was always the right thing to do.
Because of its different color, it was out of place with its kin and often bullied by other Pokémon.
But this person was different; not only did he not look down on it because of its different color, but he would also give it things to eat. After eating what he gave, it wouldn't be hungry all day.
Magikarp felt that he was a good person.
Zhou Yuan, standing on the shore, watched as Magikarp ate all the energy cubes he fed it, secretly delighted. The enticing plan was half successful.
After crushing another energy cube and throwing it in, watching Magikarp eat it and then flick its tail before swimming back into the lake, Zhou Yuan wasn't discouraged. After all, it had only been three days, and building a bond with a Pokémon required patience and a steady approach.
He remembered how it was with him and Growlithe; he used to hold him and feed him milk every day, and once he could eat Berries, he would secretly feed him one every day. That's how their bond slowly formed.
Watching Magikarp disappear from his sight, Zhou Yuan stood up, patted his backside, and prepared to go to Li's Training Hall to learn something from Li Tao.
Just as Zhou Yuan turned around, another golden crown floated up on the lake surface.
Magikarp watched the strange human leave, its eyes seemingly vacant, yet something seemed to be hidden within them.
Only after Zhou Yuan had completely disappeared from its sight did Magikarp slowly sink back into the lake.