First Marrow Cleansing

"Big Brother Zilong, you'll stay at our house for a few more days, right?" After showing Zhou Zilong around, Bulma tugged at his hand, her clear eyes filled with anticipation.

Zhou Zilong smiled at Bulma and replied, "I don't think staying for a few days will be a problem, but would it be too much of an imposition if I stayed for too long?"

"Not at all! Not at all!" Bulma shook her head quickly. "Mom and Dad love making friends, especially with big brothers like you!"

"That's right, little brother Zilong, you should stay for a few more days; it won't be any trouble." Bulma's father, Dr. Brief, walked in and said to Zhou Zilong with a smile, "Besides, you saved Bulma today, and I haven't properly thanked you yet. If you don't mind, I'd like to hire you as Bulma's personal bodyguard for a while. Don't worry about the money; I'll pay you 100,000 Dragon Coins per hour."

Zhou Zilong was stunned by Dr. Brief's words. 100,000 Dragon Coins? Is money in this world really that easy to earn? He hesitated for a moment but ultimately agreed; after all, he had nowhere else to go right now.

"Big Brother Zilong, this is your room." Bulma led Zhou Zilong to a spacious and bright room, which was furnished with various modern facilities, including a complete set of fitness equipment.

"Alright, thank you for the trouble," Zhou Zilong replied politely to Bulma.

"It's no trouble at all. If you're willing, this room can be yours permanently," Bulma said playfully. Bulma's enthusiasm made Zhou Zilong feel a bit flattered.

Zhou Zilong felt a stir in his heart, but he immediately shook his head and said, "How could I possibly accept that? By the way, Bulma, do you have any spare clothes? I forgot to bring a change of clothes when I left home."

Bulma was taken aback, then asked curiously, "Big Brother Zilong, then how is it that your clothes don't have any sweat odor at all?"

Zhou Zilong scratched his head and said somewhat awkwardly, "I had some money with me when I left, so I stayed at a few places where I could wash my clothes and wait for them to dry before setting off again."

Bulma nodded upon hearing this and said, "Then go take a shower first. I'll have Dad take me to buy a few sets of clothes for you."

Zhou Zilong waved his hands quickly and said, "How could I trouble you with that? Just find me something that fits; I can wash this set and wear it again later."

Seeing this, Bulma didn't insist. She led Zhou Zilong to the bathroom and prepared a clean set of pajamas for him. Zhou Zilong gratefully accepted the pajamas and walked into the bathroom.

Locking the bathroom door, Zhou Zilong sat in the bathtub. Petals floated on the water, emitting a faint fragrance. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes gently, and said to the system, "Xiao Ling, perform the marrow cleansing for me."

"Understood. The marrow cleansing is about to begin. Xiao Ling wishes for you to undergo a great transformation on your first attempt," Xiao Ling's voice echoed in Zhou Zilong's mind, warm and firm.

As soon as the words fell, a soft yet dazzling light shone from Zhou Zilong's chest, instantly pouring into his body. Zhou Zilong felt a warm current coursing through him, as if countless energy particles were traveling through his blood vessels, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort.

However, this warmth did not last long. Soon, Zhou Zilong felt his body begin to heat up, as if he were being scorched by flames. He gritted his teeth, struggling to endure the pain. Immediately after, he noticed black liquid beginning to seep from his fingertips; this liquid emitted a foul, chilling stench.

Zhou Zilong knew this was a sign that the impurities in his body were being expelled during the marrow cleansing process. He took a deep breath, focused his attention on every part of his body, and felt the warm current continuously scouring his system.

As time passed, Zhou Zilong's body began to undergo subtle changes. His skin became smoother and more delicate, and his muscle lines became more fluid and powerful. He felt his strength constantly increasing, as if he had an inexhaustible supply of energy.

Just as Zhou Zilong was immersed in the changes brought by the marrow cleansing, Xiao Ling's voice suddenly rang out in his mind: "Marrow cleansing is eighty percent complete. We are about to enter the critical stage. Please remain conscious, Host, and do not let your guard down."

Zhou Zilong was startled and immediately focused his mind, preparing to face the upcoming challenge. He knew that the critical stage of marrow cleansing was the most dangerous moment; the slightest carelessness could lead to failure.

As the cleansing deepened, Zhou Zilong's body began to undergo even more drastic changes. His skin began to glow with a faint golden luster, as if shrouded in a mysterious power, and his eyes became piercing, as if he could see through all illusions.

Just as Zhou Zilong was about to reach his limit, he suddenly felt a powerful force erupt from within his body. This force, like a raging flood, instantly broke through his physical limits, giving him an unprecedented sense of relief and ease.

"Marrow cleansing successful! Congratulations on unlocking special abilities: God-tier Super Intellect, Steel Body, Basic Time Control, and God-tier Shapeshifting," Xiao Ling's voice sounded in Zhou Zilong's mind, carrying a hint of joy and pride.

Zhou Zilong immediately checked his status:

Zhou Zilong: [Race] Pure Earthling [Vitality] 507 [Potential] Ten Trillion [Potential Development Progress] 1% [Combat Power] 10 [Potential Rank] Epic [Mastered Techniques] Advanced Sanda Skills [Abilities] God-tier Super Intellect, Steel Body, Basic Time Control, God-tier Shapeshifting

Looking at this information, Zhou Zilong's heart was filled with excitement and thrill. He knew he was no longer an ordinary Earthling; he possessed extraordinary power and potential.

"Xiao Ling, I roughly understand the other three abilities, but what is the use of this God-tier Shapeshifting?" Zhou Zilong asked impatiently.

"God-tier Shapeshifting is a powerful transformation ability. You can completely take on someone else's appearance and mimic their aura. This can be used not only to hide your identity but also to intimidate or confuse enemies," Xiao Ling explained.

Zhou Zilong nodded, his heart filled with anticipation for the adventures that would unfold in the future. He knew that his destiny would undergo a earth-shattering change because of this marrow cleansing.

"Alright, I understand. Thank you for being so thoughtful, Xiao Ling," Zhou Zilong said gratefully.

"It's nothing. Since Xiao Ling chose you, I must help you with all my might. However, Zilong, before you are truly powerful, you must be extremely cautious when using the Time Control skill, okay? Because some people in the Dragon Ball World are very wary of this ability," Xiao Ling warned again.

"Alright, I understand. I will be careful," Zhou Zilong replied solemnly.

"By the way, Xiao Ling, didn't I have two more opportunities for marrow cleansing? When will those happen?" Zhou Zilong asked curiously.

"The timing for those two cleansings is not something Xiao Ling can decide. They will only be triggered after you advance the development of the Dragon Ball plot," Xiao Ling's voice was calm and firm.

Zhou Zilong nodded, understanding the responsibility on his shoulders. He had to adapt to his power as quickly as possible while also pushing the Dragon Ball plot forward to gain more opportunities for marrow cleansing.