North Kai (Seeking Recommendations)

The Z Fighters on Earth had each begun their own training, and Son Goku had once again arrived at Kami's Lookout.

"Kami, I feel like I've hit a bottleneck. My combat power won't increase very quickly in the short term. Is there any way to break through my limits?"

Kami was silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "Goku, with your current strength, it is already difficult to find an opponent on Earth. But... if you truly wish to break through your limits, I do have one candidate in mind."

"Who?"

"North Kai." Kami's voice carried a hint of reverence. "He is the deity who governs the North Galaxy and resides on the King of Worlds Planet. If you could take him as your master, perhaps..."

It's happening, it's finally happening! North Kai, Kaio-ken, Spirit Bomb!

Son Goku's eyes lit up instantly, like stars suddenly igniting in the night sky: "Then what are we waiting for! Kami, take me there quickly!"

Kami shook his head with a wry smile: "The road to the King of Worlds Planet is not so simple. First, you must obtain King Yemma's permission, and then... you must traverse Snake Way."

"Snake Way?" Son Goku scratched his head. "Is it very long?"

"Long enough to drive most people insane. However, with your current combat power, it shouldn't be a problem!"

The Underworld, King Yemma's Palace.

The massive King Yemma sat upright on his throne, lowering his head to size up the tiny human before him.

After listening to Kami's explanation, he pondered for a moment before finally waving a large hand: "Very well, since it is a recommendation from Kami, this King shall grant it. Little ghost, take him to the entrance of Snake Way!"

Son Goku grinned and waved at King Yemma: "Thanks!"

King Yemma paused, then chuckled: "This kid... he's actually quite interesting."

At the entrance to Snake Way, Son Goku gazed at the winding path that stretched into the infinite void and took a deep breath.

He stomped his foot, and his figure shot out like an arrow released from a bowstring.

Given the level of Son Goku's current combat power, the various illusions and exhaustion on Snake Way could not hinder his progress at all. His figure turned into a golden streak of light, speeding along the path. The wind whistled past his ears, and the clouds on either side retreated rapidly.

After an unknown amount of time, a tiny planet finally appeared ahead.

The King of Worlds Planet.

As soon as Son Goku stepped onto the ground, he felt a heavy pressure surging from all directions—ten times the gravity of Earth.

He adjusted his Gravity Suit, set the comprehensive gravity to 15, and strode toward the person sitting nearby.

At this moment, North Kai was sitting on the grass, teasing Bubbles the monkey and Gregory the grasshopper beside him, while muttering a cold joke he had just made up.

Seeing Son Goku walking over quickly, he was stunned for a moment, then his eyes rolled behind his lenses as he felt a mischievous urge.

"Hey, you brat, how did you end up in my territory?" North Kai deliberately stiffened his face, putting on an air of majesty.

Son Goku scratched his head and smiled honestly: "I am Son Goku, from Earth. I want to learn martial arts from you."

North Kai raised an eyebrow and wiggled his antennae: "You can learn martial arts, but you must pass my tests first."

"Tests?" Son Goku's eyes brightened. "What are they? Bring them on!"

North Kai held up three fingers: "First, tell a joke that can make me laugh. Second, catch my pet, Bubbles. Third, hit my other pet, Gregory, with a hammer. Well, do you have the guts to try?"

Son Goku grinned, revealing a confident smile: "No problem!"

The first test: a joke.

Son Goku scratched the back of his head, suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and said to North Kai.

"Well... Lord Kai, one day Tien Shinhan went to a restaurant to eat. The waiter asked him how many bowls of rice he wanted, and Tien Shinhan said, 'I want three bowls.' The waiter asked, 'Can you finish them all by yourself?' Tien Shinhan replied—'Because I have three eyes, and each eye needs to watch one bowl!'"

North Kai froze for a moment, then "pfft" and burst into laughter, his round belly shaking: "Hahaha! What kind of joke is that! Three eyes watching three bowls of rice... Hahaha!"

Seeing North Kai laugh, Son Goku joined in with a silly grin.

The second test: catching Bubbles.

Bubbles was an agile ape, incredibly nimble even under ten times gravity. He hopped around the King of Worlds Planet, his speed so fast he left only afterimages behind.

Son Goku stood in place, closed his eyes, and spread his perception of ki.

He opened his eyes abruptly, his figure flashed, and he appeared beside Bubbles like a phantom. Before the ape could react, Son Goku had grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.

"Caught you," Son Goku laughed.

Bubbles squeaked twice, looking aggrieved.

North Kai widened his eyes: "Such... such fast speed!"

The third test: hitting Gregory.

Gregory was a winged, insect-like creature with extremely fast flight speed and erratic, unpredictable flight paths.

Son Goku picked up a small hammer from the ground and weighed it in his hand.

He took a deep breath and focused his ki into his eyes. Gregory's flight path instantly became clear in his vision.

"Now!"

Son Goku swung his arm, the hammer left his hand, and it traced a precise arc—

"Bang!"

A direct hit.

Gregory spun around dizzily before collapsing headfirst onto the ground.

North Kai's mouth hung wide open, leaving him speechless for a long moment. He looked Son Goku up and down; the disdain in his eyes had long since vanished, replaced by a faint sense of appreciation.

"You... you brat, what exactly is your background?"

Son Goku scratched his head sheepishly. "I'm just an ordinary Earth martial artist. Lord Kai, I've passed your tests—can you teach me how to train now?"

North Kai took a deep breath, his expression turning solemn. "Very well! Since you have passed the trials, I shall impart one of the greatest techniques of my life to you! Listen closely: this technique is called—Kaio-ken!"

"Kaio-ken?"

"That's right!" North Kai paced back and forth in front of Son Goku with his hands behind his back, his expression grave. "The Kaio-ken is a technique that can comprehensively boost your combat power, speed, strength, and defense in a short amount of time. However, it has a fatal flaw: it places an immense burden on the body. If your physical strength is insufficient and you force its use, it will cost you your life!"

Son Goku listened intently, his eyes gleaming with a thirst for knowledge.

"The higher the multiplier of the Kaio-ken, the greater the boost to your combat power, but the physical strain increases exponentially as well. Onefold, twofold, threefold... theoretically, there is no upper limit, but in reality, how many times you can multiply it depends entirely on your own physical constitution and willpower. Once you exceed the critical threshold of your body or spirit, your body or soul will collapse, and not even the gods could save you! Therefore, remember well: never use a multiplier that exceeds your limits!"

As he spoke, North Kai extended a hand, palm upward. "Come, first feel the way your ki flows. The essence of the Kaio-ken lies in circulating the ki within your body using a specific frequency and trajectory, thereby stimulating the latent potential of your cells. But this method of circulation is extremely violent; if you are the least bit careless, it will backfire on you."

Son Goku closed his eyes and, following North Kai's guidance, began to perceive the flow of ki within his body.