Previously, the training for Bulbasaur focused on normal agility, but the training method for Venusaur is different from Bulbasaur's.
Not only does he need to train to enhance strength, but he also needs to practice fighting in a way specific to Venusaur.
During the battle with Fuchsia Gym, Champion Ash had already demonstrated it once, but that was just a preliminary demonstration. For the methods of further improvement, Ash still needs to consult someone.
[Breeder Ash: My suggestion is to put Venusaur in Professor Oak's backyard. The backyard is actually more suitable for Venusaur's advancements.]
[Newbie Ash: Put it in the backyard? Why is that?]
Though Professor Oak's backyard can gradually boost Pokemon, it's still quite different compared to Ash personally training them.
After all, in the backyard, there is only Gengar for guidance, which is basically semi-free-range, but in Ash's hands, Aura Power and the Power of Viridian can be used for support.
There are no recovery methods when becoming exhausted from training in the backyard, at most Professor Oak might use the institute's machines to help them recover when he has time, and that's about it.
Compared to training in Ash's hands, the progression is significantly different.
If there were no difference between training in the backyard and in Ash's hands, Ash wouldn't rotate his Pokemon all day long.
[Breeder Ash: Venusaur is different; he now has some of Xerneas' power. Truly, a divine power can only be used with the recognition from the god, whether it's the Rainbow Wing or the Life Branch you obtained.]
[Breeder Ash: Venusaur received approval from the Life Branch, partly because of his exceptional potential, and partly because he shares some similarities with Xerneas.]
[Breeder Ash: Xerneas is a Fairy Type Pokemon and is called the God of Life, a deity that controls the earth... It has many titles, mostly related to life, and the similarity between Venusaur and it lies in Venusaur's abundant Life Force.]
[Breeder Ash: Since Venusaur has inherited part of Xerneas' power, naturally, he can adopt Xerneas' training method, which is to absorb the Life Force of the earth and all living things, thereby enhancing himself.]
[Breeder Ash: For Venusaur to absorb the Life Force of the earth, you need to let him be outside continually to keep absorbing it. This enhancement process takes a very long time, equivalent to having to keep him out, and such a large Pokemon, if not kept in a Pokeball and just left outside, it would considerably hinder your journey, right?]
Breeder Ash's words left Ash deep in thought.
If it's truly like Breeder Ash said, leaving Venusaur outside the entire time means the journey would substantially slow down, and carrying such a big Pokemon around would also be quite conspicuous.
It's fine in the wild, but in cities, there are regulations against leaving such large Pokemon out for extended periods, otherwise, it would seriously hinder traffic.
So, according to Breeder Ash's training situation, putting him back at Oak's Research Institute seems like the best choice.
[Breeder Ash: Additionally, returning Venusaur, besides absorbing the Life Force of the earth, the flowers, plants, and trees in Oak's Research Institute also contain Life Force. You can't always travel in the forest, right? Thinking this way, Oak's Research Institute is undoubtedly the most suitable choice.]
[Newbie Ash: Uh... if the trees of Professor Oak are drained, wouldn't Professor Oak kill me?]
With a flourishing collection of flowers and plants in the institute's backyard, if Venusaur were placed back and turned that area into wasteland, Professor Oak might just come with a knife to chop him to pieces!
[Breeder Ash: You're overthinking. Venusaur's absorption of Life Force isn't just pure absorption; it's absorption, then feeding it back, and absorbing again, in a cycle.]
[Breeder Ash: This positive cycle not only prevents the surrounding plants and the land from becoming barren but makes them even more lush. Professor Oak will be thanking you profusely.]
[Newbie Ash: !!!]
Well, with such benefits, indeed Professor Oak should be grateful to him.
Previously, Professor Oak mentioned that setting up the ecological environment in the backyard takes a long time and is incredibly troublesome.
Because different Pokemon require different living environments, the backyard has been continually expanded and constructed to provide varied living spaces for different Pokemon.
However, the funds and time needed for expansion are not minor. For Professor Oak, money is just a number; the emphasis is on time and ecological cultivation.
If Venusaur truly has the miraculous effect mentioned by Breeder Ash, then indeed it's suitable for him to return to Oak's Research Institute.
[Newbie Ash: Thanks, boss. Tomorrow, I'll discuss this with Venusaur and have him sent back.]
[Breeder Ash: No problem. By the way... hasn't your Pikachu been stuck at the Professional Peak for a while now?]
[Newbie Ash: Uh... I wouldn't say stuck, would I? Pikachu has been at the Professional Peak for less than ten days. There's no way to upgrade to the next level so quickly.]
[Breeder Ash: Is that so? Only ten days, huh? I thought it was a long time.]
Seeing Breeder Ash's words, a strange feeling arose in Ash's heart. Could it be that... once Pikachu reaches the Professional Peak quickly, they would encounter a bottleneck?
Or is it the same for Pikachu in all parallel worlds?
Ash didn't pursue further, thinking it could wait until Pikachu truly got stuck at this level before asking the group about this issue.
...
The next day, after waking up, Ash took the group to the Pokemon Center, called Oak's Research Institute, and told Professor Oak about the events in the Incredible Garden.
Upon learning that Bulbasaur had evolved into Venusaur all at once, Professor Oak was astonished. Evolution is common, but double evolution is rare.
When Ash initially mentioned finding the Incredible Garden to allow Bulbasaur a perfect evolution, Professor Oak was a bit puzzled. Now, knowing about Bulbasaur's double evolution gave him a clear understanding of what Ash meant by perfect evolution.
"But I truly didn't expect that inside the Incredible Garden, there would be such mystical..."
"Ahem, Professor Oak, you can research Venusaur later. I've already decided to return Venusaur." Seeing Professor Oak about to reveal something, Ash hurriedly interrupted and communicated his true reason for calling.
Misty and Brock were watching nearby, and if they discovered that this visit to the Incredible Garden wasn't from intelligence provided by Professor Oak, he'd have to find another excuse.
When Professor Oak heard Ash wanted to send Venusaur back, he showed a surprised expression.
Logically, since Venusaur just evolved, with a considerable power increase, Ash should cooperate with Venusaur to understand his new strength, training him to become one of his key team members.
Why then is he being sent back to the institute? This doesn't make sense, right?
Then, Ash shared his 'speculation' about Venusaur's future enhancement, repeating Breeder Ash's words while omitting Xerneas's name, only saying that after absorbing the Life Branch, Venusaur gained a magical ability over life.
He could even absorb Life Force from the ground for self-enhancement, and also feed the earth back, making it more alive, among other powers.
Upon hearing that Venusaur might assist in constructing the backyard environment, Professor Oak urgently prompted Ash to have Venusaur sent back.
He might overlook other matters, but if this meant boosting the backyard's renovation, he couldn't ignore that!
This precisely addressed his pressing need!