"Guardian of Earth wants to see you. Let's go!" Master Korin's voice rang out as Zhou Zilong emerged from the space where the Super Divine Water was kept.
Zilong nodded, but a sudden, intense hunger hit him. He rubbed his stomach and said awkwardly, "I'm starving. Master Korin, do you have anything to eat?"
By then, three days had passed since Zhou Zilong drank the Super Divine Water. He hadn't eaten or drunk anything, and at the time, he'd been locked in a contest with the poison, each waiting for the other to give out first. Naturally, he hadn't felt hungry.
Master Korin smiled faintly, as if he'd expected this. He held out his hand, and a green bean appeared in his palm. He passed it to Zhou Zilong. "This is a Senzu Bean. Eat it, and you'll recover your strength."
Zhou Zilong took the Senzu Bean, popped it into his mouth, and began chewing. Crunch! Crunch!
Feeling power surge through his body, Zhou Zilong pretended to be curious and looked at Master Korin. "Master Korin, this bean you gave me is amazing! Could I have some more? I'll trade you fish for them!"
As he spoke, Zhou Zilong took several capsules containing live fish from his pocket.
Master Korin glanced at the capsules in Zhou Zilong's hand, surprise flashing in his eyes. He nodded and led Zilong over to a huge jar. It was filled with green Senzu Beans that gave off a faint glow.
Master Korin handed Zhou Zilong a small brown cloth pouch with a cord threaded through it. "Take these Senzu Beans, but remember not to misuse them!"
Zhou Zilong took the pouch and carefully put some Senzu Beans inside.
After packing them away, Zhou Zilong looked at Master Korin again. "Master Korin, could you teach me how to grow these Senzu Beans? They'd really help me grow stronger. I'd feel bad if I had to keep asking you for them."
Master Korin saw the earnest look in Zhou Zilong's eyes and nodded. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I don't mind teaching you, but do you have the materials needed to produce Senzu Beans?"
Zhou Zilong thought it over. "I spent some time at Capsule Corporation in West City before, and I know a little about technological manufacturing. I'm sure I can make them!"
Master Korin nodded in approval. He took out a blank sheet of paper and wrote down detailed instructions for growing Senzu Beans, along with a list of the materials required. Then he handed the paper to Zhou Zilong.
Zhou Zilong took it as if it were a priceless treasure. Looking gratefully at Master Korin, he said, "Thank you, Master Korin! I'll study it carefully!"
Master Korin smiled and nodded, then continued leading Zhou Zilong farther up Korin Tower.
Before long, they arrived at a wondrous place high in the sky. Zhou Zilong looked up and saw a figure standing ahead: green-skinned, wearing a blue cape, with an orange-red symbol for "god" on his chest. Two antennae sprouted from his head, and yellow stripes covered his arms. He looked imposing and mysterious.
Master Korin respectfully greeted the Guardian of Earth. "Goodbye, Guardian." Then he turned and left, leaving Zhou Zilong alone with him.
The Guardian of Earth smiled at Zhou Zilong, his voice calm and dignified. "I heard what you and Korin said. If you're willing, I'd like to ask you to help protect this planet."
Zhou Zilong straightened his chest, his gaze firm. "Of course. I grew up here. This is my home, and I won't allow anyone or anything to trample it!"
The Guardian of Earth nodded, a trace of approval in his eyes. He paused, then asked, "Is there anything you need my help with?"
Zhou Zilong considered it for a moment before answering, "I need a place where I can train more efficiently and consolidate my strength."
The Guardian of Earth smiled faintly, then turned to a dark-skinned man standing nearby who looked a little vacant. "Mr. Popo, take him to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber!"
Mr. Popo nodded, stepped forward, and said to Zhou Zilong, "Please follow me!"
They walked through a mysterious corridor and stopped in front of what looked like an ordinary room. Mr. Popo gently opened the door, and a strange force instantly filled the air. Zhou Zilong felt as if he'd entered an entirely new world, where time seemed to pass much more slowly.
Mr. Popo explained, "This is the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. One year inside is equivalent to one day outside. You can train here without worry and grow stronger!"
Zhou Zilong nodded gratefully and entered the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
"Congratulations, Zilong! You've discovered one of the Dragon Ball world's training cheat spots—the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. As a reward, you've received a divine-grade, improved Hyperbolic Time Chamber. It's been added to your system space, and you can take it out whenever you like." Xiao Ling's voice sounded in Zhou Zilong's mind.
Zhou Zilong was delighted and immediately checked the detailed information on the divine-grade, improved Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
He discovered that it was vastly different from the original version. The original Hyperbolic Time Chamber sped up the passage of time, but it also affected the actual age of anyone inside. It could only hold a limited number of people at once, and one person could enter for only two days if they weren't strong enough. (P.S. I checked the official explanation: the two-day limit doesn't mean there are only two visits; it means a person can spend a total of two years inside. As long as they haven't reached two years, they can enter and leave as many times as they like.) The improved version had none of these restrictions.
Anyone inside the improved chamber would remain unaffected by the passage of time in terms of actual age, allowing them to train without any worries. Best of all, its interior was vast—an astonishing 100,000 mu. It had dedicated training areas, a place to rest, and even areas for growing things.
After checking the divine-grade, improved Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Zhou Zilong spent a hefty sum in the system shop to redeem three valuable books: Law of Time, Law of Creation, and Law of Life. These books contained the universe's most profound wisdom and were keys to attaining a higher level of power.
Zhou Zilong sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, beginning to combine his time-manipulation abilities with the knowledge in the books. It was as if new doors were opening in his mind, each hiding endless mysteries behind it. He immersed himself in a sea of knowledge and lost track of time.
After an unknown stretch of time, Zhou Zilong finally opened his eyes.
He leaped lightly, and his body floated effortlessly in the air. Feeling the power coursing through him, he experienced a strength unlike anything he'd ever known.
"Xiao Ling, I've used my time-manipulation abilities to spend three years in here. How much time has passed outside?" Zhou Zilong asked after landing steadily on the ground.
"Zilong, only thirteen hours have passed outside," Xiao Ling's voice replied in his mind.
Zhou Zilong nodded. During those three years, he'd not only consolidated his basic strength but also learned and understood more, raising his combat power from one million to two million. More importantly, he'd learned how to control his strength better and unleash its full potential.
With a new plan in mind, Zhou Zilong muttered, "I've learned a lot of techniques from the laws during these three years, and my foundations are solid now. I can go out and ask the Guardian of Earth to take me to the Other World. Then I'll find North Kai and learn those two techniques first!"
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