After returning to Turtle Hermit's House, Zhou Zilong took a day to rest. Then he and Master Roshi resumed their training. This time, Master Roshi didn't just put him through basic exercises; alongside the fundamentals, he began teaching Zhou Zilong techniques as well.
One morning, after they had been training for some time, Master Roshi emerged from the house, leaning on his cane. A warm smile lit his face as he looked at Zhou Zilong, satisfaction shining in his eyes.
"Zilong, you've been training under me for eight months now. I've taught you everything I can. It's time for you to go out and test yourself," Master Roshi said calmly.
Zhou Zilong felt reluctant to leave, but his anticipation of the unknown world was stronger. He bowed deeply and said respectfully, "Master, thank you for teaching me everything you know. After I leave, please take good care of yourself!"
Master Roshi laughed and waved a hand. "Don't worry. This old man is in fine health. I could easily live another hundred or two years. As you go out to test yourself, remember this: the martial way is long and difficult, but as long as you keep your resolve, nothing can stop you from moving forward!"
Zhou Zilong nodded firmly, engraving his master's words in his heart. After leaving Master Roshi some supplies, he set off from Turtle Hermit's House.
After leaving, Zhou Zilong first headed to a bustling district nearby. Shops lined both sides of the street, their wares dazzling, while vendors' cries rose and fell through the lively crowds. He threaded his way between people, scanning the stalls for the fresh fish he needed.
After looking around, Zhou Zilong bought a large number of fresh river and sea fish.
When he reached his laboratory, Zhou Zilong placed the fish he'd bought into specially made containers one by one. Using the technology he'd learned from Dr. Brief, he converted them into Capsules. The Capsules kept the fish fresh and made them easy to carry and store.
With everything ready, Zhou Zilong planned to head to Korin Tower. He wanted to meet Korin, then go up to Kami's Lookout and begin one of the early training challenges from Dragon Ball.
Just as he was about to set off, however, Xiao Ling's long-missed, lively voice rang out in his mind.
"Zilong, long time no see! I've finished updating!" Xiao Ling's voice brimmed with pride.
Zhou Zilong smiled. "Xiao Ling, it's been a long time! You're finally done updating!"
"That's right, Zilong. I also need to remind you that even though you're much stronger now, you still have a long way to go. This world is full of unknown dangers, so you need to work even harder to improve yourself." A hint of seriousness entered Xiao Ling's voice.
Zhou Zilong nodded. "I understand. I'll work even harder!"
"Zilong, this update comes with a surprise for you," Xiao Ling said mysteriously.
"What surprise?" Zhou Zilong asked curiously.
"With this update, I'm combining your two remaining body-tempering opportunities into one. This final treatment will bring you changes unlike anything you've experienced before. I've also opened a system shop for you, where you can use the currency of the Dragon Ball World to exchange for special items," Xiao Ling explained.
Zhou Zilong was thrilled. "What's in the shop?"
Xiao Ling immediately opened a panel for him. It listed the prices of all kinds of items and books. Zhou Zilong looked through it carefully and spotted plenty of things that interested him.
[System Shop Items: Senzu Bean Tree, ten million Dragon Coins each (each tree produces one Senzu Bean per day, with a choice of flavors); high-tech transforming outfit, ten thousand Dragon Coins per set; alternate-dimension globe, one million each (comes with an undeveloped world the size of Earth); transforming storage device, ten thousand Dragon Coins each (comes with a space covering one hundred mu) Books: Flavorful Recipes, one thousand Dragon Coins each (one hundred books in total); Language of the Gods, one hundred thousand each (ten books in total); Law of the Mind, one million Dragon Coins; Law of Supernatural Abilities, one million Dragon Coins; Law of Time, one billion Dragon Coins; Law of Creation, one billion Dragon Coins; Law of Space, one billion Dragon Coins; Law of Destruction, one billion Dragon Coins Potential-Rank Potions: Warrior Potential Potion, ten thousand Dragon Coins per bottle; Elite Potential Potion, one hundred thousand Dragon Coins per bottle; King Potential Potion, one million Dragon Coins per bottle; Epic Potential Potion, ten million Dragon Coins per bottle; God-Level Potential Potion, one billion Dragon Coins per bottle]
"Buy me three Senzu Bean Trees, one alternate-dimension globe, and one transforming storage device," Zhou Zilong said after a moment's thought.
"Sure. Your purchases are complete. You can check and use them in the system space whenever you like," Xiao Ling replied.
After that, Zhou Zilong took out a room stored in a Capsule. He went into the bathroom and said, "Xiao Ling, start the final body-tempering treatment!"
"All right, Zilong. This treatment will be the most important turning point in your life. You have to endure it," Xiao Ling said, her voice gentle but firm.
Zhou Zilong took a deep breath and put the golden body-tempering pill in his mouth. As it went down, a warm current quickly spread through his body. Every cell seemed to awaken, singing with joy.
The process was painful and drawn-out, but Zhou Zilong didn't give up. He clenched his teeth, endured the agony, and repeated to himself, To become stronger, to protect the people I care about, I have to see this through!
As the treatment progressed, Zhou Zilong's body underwent astonishing changes. His muscles grew stronger and more defined, and his skin took on a healthy bronze hue. More remarkably, he grew several centimeters taller without even noticing, reaching an incredible 1.89 meters (he had originally been 1.181 meters, though of course, the readers were still the tallest, most handsome, and most beautiful).
What surprised Zhou Zilong most was the brown-black tail that grew from his tailbone. About eighty-five centimeters long, it looked both mysterious and powerful. He gently touched it, filled with anticipation for the future.
"Is this a Saiyan's tail?" Zhou Zilong murmured to himself. He knew it was the hallmark of the Saiyans of Universe 7 in the Dragon Ball World. Saiyans were one of the strongest races in the universe, possessing strength and potential far beyond ordinary people.
"That's right, Zilong. You've successfully gained Saiyan blood and potential," Xiao Ling's voice rang out in his mind. "What's more, your potential rank has reached Super God level—a height never seen before. Do you like the surprise?"
Zhou Zilong was overcome with excitement. He knew he was no longer an ordinary person. He now had the power to change his own fate and the fate of this world.
He eagerly checked his status panel.
Zhou Zilong:
[Race] Saiyan
[Height] 1.89 meters
[Weight] 87 kg
[Potential Rank] Super God-level Potential
[Potential Value] Infinite (one to infinite)
[Battle Power] 500,000 (includes transformations; currently no transformation active)
The figures on the panel left Zhou Zilong stunned. A battle power of 500,000 might not be top-tier in general, but at this point in the timeline, it was already at the top. And on top of that, he still had infinite potential to draw upon.
"Of course I like it!" Zhou Zilong replied excitedly. "But Xiao Ling, what kind of Saiyan bloodline did I get?"
Xiao Ling smiled and explained, "There are two kinds of Saiyan bloodlines. The first is the Super Saiyan bloodline. Once enough S-Cells build up in the body, a Saiyan can transform into a Super Saiyan when particularly angry. The other is the Legendary Super Saiyan Bloodline, which evolved from the Super Saiyan bloodline after the addition of berserk anger cells. Zilong, the one you gained is an improved Legendary Super Saiyan Bloodline. But where there's good, there's also evil. In special circumstances, another Saiyan branch can emerge: if a Saiyan is born with a very high concentration of cells infused with evil energy, that Saiyan is called an Evil Saiyan. (Everyone has their own Hamlet; this is the author's own setting, so please understand.)"
Zhou Zilong was astonished. He hadn't imagined he could gain such a powerful bloodline. He asked curiously, "What makes this improved mutant Super Saiyan bloodline different from the original mutant Super Saiyan bloodline?"
Xiao Ling patiently explained, "The improved mutant Super Saiyan bloodline won't make you lose your reason from having too many berserk anger cells. Your Great Ape Transformation also multiplies your battle power by twenty. On top of that, your transformation boosts your battle power far more than an ordinary Super Saiyan transformation. Your Super Saiyan 1 form multiplies your base power by one hundred. Normally, a Saiyan with this mutant Super Saiyan bloodline can grow stronger year by year even without training. But your mutant Super Saiyan bloodline doesn't work that way, Zilong. Without training, your battle power will only increase by about one hundred thousand each year. (In the original version of this story, it increased by one hundred million each year.)"
Zhou Zilong nodded, showing he understood. He knew that power didn't come all at once; he had to improve through constant training and fighting. "That's fine. I'll just work hard to become stronger!"
Xiao Ling added, "There's one more special thing. Every time you fight someone whose strength is close to yours, your own strength will improve. That's one of the traits of your mutant Super Saiyan bloodline: battle growth!"
Zhou Zilong's heart stirred. He understood that he could grow stronger through battle, which was wonderful news. He took a deep breath, felt the power surging through him, and looked forward to the future with confidence.
"By the way, Xiao Ling, Saiyans in the original Dragon Ball World follow the Super Saiyan God path, while in the fan-made GT series, they have Super Saiyan 4. I can develop in both directions, right?" Zhou Zilong suddenly asked, remembering another question.
"Of course, Zilong. Your bloodline has been improved. It retains the Saiyans' original potential and has also absorbed the best of other worlds. You can choose different paths based on your wishes and training," Xiao Ling replied.
Hearing that, joy rippled through Zhou Zilong like a spring breeze over a lake. He had always loved both Super Saiyan forms—their tremendous power and peerless fighting techniques were exactly what he had dreamed of. Now that he knew he could develop in both directions, how could he not be thrilled?
However, Zhou Zilong didn't forget his original purpose. He understood that gaining great power wasn't his ultimate goal; he wanted to protect the people close to him. Taking a deep breath to calm his excitement, he continued, "Xiao Ling, I can't look at the moon now, can I? After all, Saiyans with tails transform into Great Apes. I don't want to accidentally hurt the people around me!"
Xiao Ling answered with a smile in her voice, "Zilong, there's no need to worry. Your bloodline has been improved, so you don't have to fear turning into a mindless Great Ape. Even if you see the moon, you can control your transformation at will. And when you become a Great Ape, you'll still be in full possession of your reason. You'll be able to control your power however you want!"
At that answer, Zhou Zilong's worries vanished. After packing his things, he set off for Korin Tower.
Before you continue