"Even Master Roshi says so?" Krillin was astonished.
After all, Krillin felt like he'd known Luo Tian for a long time.
So many years had passed. Surely they knew what Luo Tian was capable of by now?
But today, after hearing Goku say that Luo Tian wasn't an ordinary person, Krillin found it hard to accept. Was this really the same Luo Tian he knew?
"Yeah. Don't forget, he healed Goku's injuries with ease," Master Roshi said.
"It was just a healing technique, though," Krillin said with a wry smile.
"Just a healing technique? Then why don't you try it?" Master Roshi said irritably.
Krillin lowered his head.
The problem was, he didn't know how to do anything.
"Krillin, remember: always stay humble," Master Roshi admonished him. "Goku was right. Luo Tian is definitely much stronger than we imagined."
"Really? The thing is, I can't tell at all." Krillin scratched his head.
"Putting his healing technique aside, have you noticed any change in Luo Tian's appearance over the years?" Master Roshi asked.
"His appearance? What do you mean?" Krillin was taken aback.
"Nearly twenty years have passed since the day we first met Luo Tian. Has he gotten fatter or thinner? Or has he aged? According to the age he gave us, he's forty now! A forty-year-old man, and he doesn't have a single wrinkle at the corners of his eyes." Master Roshi mused.
Krillin's eyes widened.
Now that Master Roshi mentioned it, Krillin realized it really did seem that way.
Without them noticing, Luo Tian had become a man in his forties.
If he were a martial artist, then perhaps it wouldn't be unusual for him to show no signs of aging at forty.
But the problem was, Luo Tian had always acted as if he couldn't fight.
Even so, after all these years, he still looked exactly the same as when he'd first appeared. He hadn't changed in the slightest.
Neither fatter nor thinner!
That really was strange.
"Just who is he?" Krillin exclaimed.
"That's why I say Luo Tian must be extraordinary. We just never paid attention to him before," Son Goku said with a smile.
"Hey, could Bulma have secretly gathered the Dragon Balls and wished Shenron would make Luo Tian stay young forever?" Krillin guessed.
"That's not impossible..." Master Roshi nodded slightly.
"No way," Son Goku said with a wry smile.
"Enough about that for now. Goku, since you've made up your mind, do what you think is best," Master Roshi said. "It's a shame I don't have anything left to teach you."
"Haha, what are you saying, Master Roshi? No matter what, you were the one who taught me the basics!" Son Goku laughed.
On the helicopter.
"Luo Tian, you're not really going to teach Goku something called... Ultra something, are you?" Bulma turned to ask him.
"Yeah. What else did you think?" Luo Tian smiled.
"What was it called again? Ultra something?" Bulma asked.
"Ultra Instinct," Luo Tian replied.
"Can he really learn it? It'll be a problem if he can't beat those two Saiyans," Bulma said, wiping her brow.
"That depends on how well he can grasp it. If he can't, then he probably won't be able to beat those two Saiyans," Luo Tian said with a faint smile.
"How can you still smile at a time like this?" Bulma said, exasperated.
"I'll see how quickly he picks it up in a few days. If he can't, I'll have him work on the basics first," Luo Tian said thoughtfully.
"But speaking of which, Luo Tian..." Bulma turned to look at him again. "Can you use that Ultra Instinct thing?"
"I can," Luo Tian said with a nod.
"Could you beat those two Saiyans?" Bulma asked.
"Not just two. Even ten thousand wouldn't be enough to take me down," Luo Tian said with a sigh.
Bulma: "..."
Could they have a normal conversation?
When he said that, she had no idea how to respond.
"By the way, how did you make that Scepter appear?" Bulma asked again.
"Look. Like this." A Scepter suddenly materialized in Luo Tian's hand as he spoke.
Bulma's eyes widened.
"Pretty cool, huh?" Luo Tian smiled.
Bulma rubbed her eyes. She couldn't help feeling as if she were dreaming.
When had Luo Tian learned to do magic tricks?
And... was this really a magic trick?
Why did she suddenly feel that Luo Tian was so mysterious?
The verdant mountains.
Piccolo carried the unconscious Son Gohan down into a body of water nearby.
"Wake up, Son Goku's son." Piccolo lifted Son Gohan high into the air.
But Son Gohan remained fast asleep.
"Hmph, you little brat!" Piccolo gritted his teeth and casually tossed Son Gohan into the water.
Son Gohan swallowed a few mouthfuls of water and woke up at once.
Then he looked around in confusion.
Where was he?
How had he ended up in the water?
"I need to talk to you. Hurry up and get out," Piccolo said.
Son Gohan paused and turned to look behind him.
Piccolo's face was cold and terrifying.
"Huh? Who are you?" Son Gohan yelped in fright, then suddenly realized something. "Where's my dad? Where did he go? Help! Dad!"
Son Gohan splashed around wildly in the water, searching for his father.
"Dad, I'm scared!" he cried.
"You're such a nuisance!" Piccolo gritted his teeth. "I'll take care of you."
With that, Piccolo took off, grabbed Son Gohan, and tossed him onto the grass nearby.
"Waaah..."
Son Gohan burst into tears.
"Don't make a sound. If you keep crying, I'll snap your neck," Piccolo threatened.
The threat seemed to work. Son Gohan didn't dare cry loudly anymore.
"Now listen," Piccolo said coldly. "First of all, your father's still alive, but he doesn't have time to look after you! You remember, don't you? He nearly died trying to defeat that man."
"What? Dad... W-wah..." Son Gohan looked so aggrieved that he nearly started crying again.
"Hey, your dad isn't dead. What are you crying for? If you cry again... I really will kill you." Piccolo spread his hands, trying to scare Son Gohan.
Son Gohan trembled all over in fright and didn't dare cry again.
"Even if your dad died, it wouldn't matter. You've heard about the Dragon Balls, haven't you? Even if he died, he could be brought back to life with them," Piccolo said calmly. "That's not the point. The terrifying guy who took you away is dead, but in a year, two accomplices even stronger than him will come to Earth. Your father and I are no match for them, so we need your strength. Train hard, and help us protect our planet."
Before you continue