Parting Ways

Finally, the time to part ways had come.

Master Roshi said, "I've taught you almost everything I can. From now on, you'll each walk your own path and gain experience..."

Son Goku looked at Sun Mo and said, "Sun Mo, want to come with me to find Grandpa's Four-Star Ball?"

Sun Mo shook his head. "You go find it yourself. I have my own things to do."

"Alright, then I'll go alone!" Wukong replied.

Bulma immediately looped her arm through Sun Mo's, leaning against his shoulder like a clinging bird. "Sun Mo, you finally have time for me..."

Sun Mo turned to look at her and said, "I need to go out for a while. I'll come find you when I'm done..."

Bulma blinked, puzzled. "Where are you going?"

Sun Mo said, "I'm going to climb Korin Tower. It'll be very useful for my training."

Seeing Bulma's face quickly darken, Sun Mo continued, "Don't worry, I won't make you wait too long. I still need the Gravity Chamber for training, after all. Once I get the Ultra Divine Water, I'll come find you in West City!"

Bulma nodded. "Alright, but don't take too long..."

"I know, I know!"

Krillin immediately asked, "Sun Mo, what's this Korin Tower you mentioned?"

Sun Mo explained, "In a place called Korin Sacred Land, there's a tower that pierces the clouds—you can't even see the top. Rumor has it that if you climb it and drink the Ultra Divine Water, your power can multiply several times over!"

Krillin was startled. "What? It can multiply your power several times?"

Sun Mo nodded. "Yes!"

Krillin said excitedly, "Then take me along! I want to climb Korin Tower too..."

Sun Mo shook his head. "Krillin, I suggest you train a bit more first. That tower is too tall. If you don't have enough stamina, it's dangerous. If you can't make it to the top in one go, I'm afraid you'll fall to your death..."

Krillin's mouth twitched. "Alright, then I won't go for now."

With that, he looked at Wukong. "Wukong, since I've got nothing to do, how about I come with you to find the Dragon Balls?"

Wukong scratched his head. "But you can't ride the Flying Nimbus..."

"Ah, I forgot about that. That's really frustrating..." Krillin said, a bit dejected. "Looks like I'll just have to head back to Kame House for now..."

Master Roshi immediately suggested, "Wukong, in my opinion, you should use the Flying Nimbus less! Walking on foot will help your training more and build up your endurance."

Hearing Master Roshi say this, Wukong nodded at once. "I understand. Then I won't use the Flying Nimbus. I'll treat the journey as training."

With that, Wukong looked at Krillin. "Krillin, since Master says I should walk, why don't you come with me to find the Dragon Balls? We can train together along the way!"

Krillin said excitedly, "Great!"

Wukong then looked at Sun Mo and asked, "After I find Grandpa's Dragon Ball, I want to go to Korin Tower too. Do you think I can climb it?"

Sun Mo nodded. "You should be fine. Just make sure to eat and drink your fill beforehand..."

Wukong nodded. "Mm, got it!"

Krillin pouted. "If Wukong can climb it, I definitely can too. I'll just bring a backpack full of food..."

Sun Mo thought for a moment and said, "I'd suggest you bring a parachute too. Korin Tower is way higher than any airplane..."

Krillin: "..."

Soon, Krillin and Wukong gathered together.

"Well, we're off now!"

Everyone waved goodbye to them.

"See you!"

Bulma reminded, "Wukong, do you know how to use the Dragon Radar yourself? Want me to teach you?"

Wukong said, "No need to teach me, I know how to use it! And Krillin's with me, so it'll be fine..."

"Take care, then!"

Sun Mo waved back at them. "Goodbye!"

And so Krillin and Goku left, walking side by side.

After taking leave of Master Roshi, Sun Mo said to Bulma, "Let me take you home first..."

"No need, I flew here in a plane. I'm taking Amy back with me..."

Sun Mo thought it over. It was already dark today; if he wanted to go to Korin Tower, it would have to wait until tomorrow.

Log-Riding Flight could cover thousands of miles in just half an hour, so it didn't matter where he stayed.

So he said directly, "Bulma, I'll go back to West City with you anyway!"

Bulma thought he was just worried about her. Her expression softened, and she murmured, "I knew it... you don't feel at ease leaving me..."

Amy watched from the side, covered in goosebumps.

Soon, Bulma tossed out a Hoi-Poi Capsule and released the plane.

"Let's go, dear..."

The next day.

At the foot of Korin Tower, Upa was helping his father sharpen a spear.

The morning sunlight glinted off the spear's tip with an unusual gleam.

"Dad, the spear's sharpened. Look!"

Bora took the spear and nodded in satisfaction.

"Good work, Upa. Today, Dad will teach you how to spear fish!"

Upa jumped up in delight. "Great! Now I can spear fish too!"

Just then, an orange figure shot over from the distance, a pillar beneath his feet.

Bora was startled and immediately scooped up Upa, retreating.

"Boom!"

The pillar slammed into the earth, kicking up a huge spray of dirt.

Sun Mo, standing atop it, landed steadily on the ground.

He looked up at Korin Tower and couldn't help but marvel. "Finally found Korin Tower... it's really tall..."

Seeing Sun Mo and sensing no killing intent from him—and that his attention was entirely on Korin Tower—Bora lowered his guard.

"Brave warrior, are you planning to climb Korin Tower?"

Sun Mo finally tore his gaze away from the tower and looked at Bora and Upa.

"That's right. You two are the guardians of this tower, aren't you?"

Bora nodded. "Yes. Our family has guarded Korin Sacred Land for generations."

Sun Mo glanced at the spear in his hand. "Looks like you're about to go hunting.

I won't disturb you, then. Time to start climbing!"

Upa peeked out from behind Bora's leg and said quietly, "Hey, Korin Tower is really, really tall.

You can't even see the top. Climbing it takes forever. You should prepare well.

Why don't you wait a bit? Let me spear a fish and treat you to a meal. Once you're full, you can go up..."

Sun Mo smiled. "Thanks, but I already ate breakfast!"

With that, Sun Mo aimed at the top of the tower. No running start, no buildup—he just jumped straight up from flat ground, a sheer vertical leap.

The ground beneath his feet instantly exploded with a ring of air and dust, and his body shot upward like a rocket, rocketing straight toward the tower's peak.

As soon as his speed began to slow, he planted his feet on Korin Tower and sprinted upward.

Until he pierced through the clouds and vanished from sight.

Bora and Upa craned their necks, faces full of shock.

Bora's ancestors had guarded this tower for generations, and he himself had seen countless challengers fail.

But this was the first time he'd ever seen anyone "challenge" it this way.

Upa swallowed hard and looked away.

He said in amazement, "Dad, that big brother just now was amazing..."

Bora also looked away. Sun Mo's figure was already out of sight.

"In all these years, this is the first time I've seen such a master. Maybe he really can reach the top and meet the hermit sage."