Julian's team successfully advanced from Group E, and shortly after, the final match of the st group cluded.

  With that, all nine petition groups had been pleted, and eams were now assembled, ready to take the stage for the draw that would determiheir oppos for tomorrow's matches.

  These eams will be divided introups of three, with the top teams from each group peting for the championship, runner-up, and third pce spots.

  The team petition will then ed up, making way for the individual petition ahead.

  When the draw took pce, Julian and his team were the first to be called, and Will stepped up to draw their group.

  "Group A! The first letter. It signifies we'll be the first," Will said with a grin.

  However, an ued rea erupted from the crowd as Will noticed a number of teams wearing "607" uniforms eyeing them with smugness.

  He quickly turo see someone on stage holding a table tennis ball marked with an "A" — evidently, they too had drawn Group A.

  What caught Will's attention even more was the name "Lit Middle School" embzoned across their oppo's jersey.

  Lit Middle School was the reigning champion from the previous Yale Provincial College League Team petition.

  In every Yale Provincial High School League, Lit Middle School and Lake Middle School sistently fight for the title, with their two schools dominating 70% of both team and individual championships.

  As a result, Lake No. 1 Middle School and Lit Middle School were rivals in every sense.

  Fortunately, fate had kept them apart in the early matchups this time around.

  The other teams heaved a sigh of relief, realizing that the fierpetitioweewo would lead to only one surviving tender, allowing them to pete for the remaining two spots.

  In theory, sih powerful teams would be fighting against each other, the ce of one emerging injured would increase, possibly giving aeam a ce to snag the championship title.

  With this thought, a sense of delight washed over them.

  Now, all the undiscovered teams were hoping to avoid being drawn into Group A, which was widely regarded as the "death group."

  Ahat ended up there would face a daunting challenge.

  Meanwhile, a sullen-faced petitor selected froup A appeared as if life had been drained from him, refleg the challenges ahead.

  Stig to the principle of the unfortunate suffering together, the remaining teams exged grateful gnces before fidently heading to the stage to draw their own groups.

  With the test category cluded, the staff annouhe match schedule for tomorrow, signaling that it was time for them to disperse.

  "Julia's check out the Shopping District at the ference venue,"

  Will urged as Julian was headed back to their hotel for some rest.

  The Yale Province High School League is a pivotal event each year in Yale Province, creating the liveliest atmosphere in the region during the petition.

  Tourists flock from various cities within Yale Provind even from other provinces, with nearly a million visitors desding upon Lake City, boosting the local ey and the city's profile.

  Among these millions, most arrive specifically for this petition, and even if they didn't get tickets, it would be good to go to the ference veo experiehe atmosphere of the petition.

  The Shopping Distri the side of the ference field is the most visited pce by these tourists and testants.

  While Julian wasn't particurly keen on such pces, Will, who clearly ehe bustling enviro and was eager to vent his energy after not participating in today's match, decided t Julian along, suspeg there might be good finds with him around.

  In Will's view, having Julian around was a stroke of luck, which is why he decided to take him to the Shopping District.

  Seeing Will and Juliao the Shopping District, Zosh, Han, and Shen grew ied and decided to join them.

  Thus, the five main petitors set off for the Shopping District, while the three supp didates, Chase aeammates, shared a knowing gnd followed suit.

  They uood their unlikelihood of peting in the matless some unforesee occurred; given their current skill levels, Coach Sam would undoubtedly overlook them.

  heless, they aimed to pete in the qualifiers where a strong individual performance could earn them extra points for their uping college entrance exams.

  Additionally, perf well in the main petition might attract attention from uies, possibly leading to early admissions.

  The Shopping District at the ference venue is exteretg across four football fields and situated to the south of the venue.

  It hosts hotels ament stores, though Julian and his teammates were staying in a hotel west of the ference area.

  During this season, the ercial street at the venue offers the rgest sele of goods, boasting a remarkable array of products from across Drakoria.

  Visitors might even glimpse Pokémon representing different provinces among the small breeding shops.

  "Check out this Pancham from Shu Province!"

  Shen gasped, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the adorable creature led in the shopkeeper's arms, pyfully mung on a bamboo leaf.

  Pancham is a Pokémon native to Shu Province. While it isn't rare, it's affordable for someone like Shen, who es from a well-off family.

  "Go ahead and buy it if you want,"

  Will suggested.

  "It's not as easy as grocery shopping! I'm already exhausted managing three Pokémon," Sheed, frustration evident in her voice.

  She cast a relut g Pancham.

  "What's the issue? Just sleep less, I sleep only five hours a day now," Will replied casually.

  Shen was born into a more privileged situation, she didn't have to wake up each day just to provide for her trio of Pokémon like him.

  "Please I'm girl; sleep deprivation makes me ugly, and I'm not nearly as eic as you," she shot back.

  She wao add that his level of energy was almost unnatural.

  "Besides, Julian is so powerful even he's only caught three Pokémon. I won't capture a fourth until I reach the peak of my advaraining," Shen expined.

  Julian: Actually, I have four.

  Apart from his family, no one, not even Will, knew about Meltaence.

  "Julian has high standards. Do you really think he's ied in just any Pokémon? At least a Pokémon simir to Lucario would catch his attention," Will remarked as a matter-of-course.

  He wasn't envious of Julian; it was merely an observation.

  Why does a family thrive feions? It's not just aborous training for their children, but also about seleg the fi Pokémon.

  Only the best children and exceptional Pokémon ensure a family's sting prosperity.