Shenron's First Request for Help

The afternoon sun streamed through the wide floor-to-ceiling windows into Bulma's luxurious bedroom, which was practically a small research center, but it did nothing to dispel the heavy atmosphere.

Lin Fan stood by the window, gazing at the spherical pods scattered across the lawn in the courtyard. They were prototypes Bulma and her father had built in preparation for the possible journey through space.

His brows furrowed slightly, and his fingertips turned restlessly. The True Essence within him, now at the peak of Foundation Establishment, flowed slowly like a dormant river. It gave him a sense of power, but also an even deeper urgency.

One year. Less than a year remained. Those two terrifyingly powerful Saiyans hung over them like the sword of Damocles.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Bulma's voice came from behind him. She held a cup of coffee, looking a little tired, but her eyes were still bright. "Still thinking about those two fiends? Don't worry. Dad said he'd make a breakthrough in analyzing the spaceship's power core soon."

Lin Fan turned and shook his head, his voice calm. "A spaceship alone isn't enough, Bulma. We need more accurate information. Where will they land? How will they arrive? More importantly... our chances of matching their strength head-on are practically zero."

Krillin, Gohan, Tien Shinhan, Piccolo... They were all training like their lives depended on it, growing stronger with every passing day.

But with the spiritual perception of a cultivator, Lin Fan could faintly sense just how immense the threat from the depths of space was.

A direct clash would likely end in tragedy, even with him as an unpredictable factor.

"Then what do you have in mind?"

Bulma set down her coffee and looked at him curiously. This mysterious guy always came up with unexpected ideas.

"Dragon Balls."

Lin Fan said two words. "We need to ask Shenron for help."

Bulma's eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands. "That's right! How could I forget? I'll contact Dad right away and see where the Dragon Radar is!"

She dashed out, her energy instantly restored.

The search for the seven Dragon Balls went surprisingly smoothly.

With the Capsule Corp's technology and Lin Fan's increasingly powerful spiritual sense, it took less than a week for all seven Dragon Balls to lie quietly in the middle of the company's courtyard.

The glow of the setting sun gilded the Dragon Balls in a gorgeous golden-red hue.

Bulma led the way, with Krillin, Gohan, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu gathered around. Even Master Roshi and Yajirobe had hurried over after hearing the news.

Everyone formed a circle, their eyes fixed on the seven orbs that held the power of miracles.

"So, who's going to make the wish?"

Bulma looked at Lin Fan, and everyone else turned to look at him as well. Without realizing it, this calm and powerful companion had become one of the team's core members.

Lin Fan took a deep breath and stepped forward. He remembered how Goku and the others had once tried to get Shenron to kill the Saiyans, only to be refused. He had no intention of making the same mistake. In a clear, ringing voice, he called, "Come forth, Shenron! Grant my wish!"

The sky changed in an instant, and stars appeared in broad daylight! A mighty pillar of light shot into the heavens as the enormous green dragon coiled into being, its imposing presence enveloping the surroundings.

"Speak your wish..."

Shenron's deep, resonant voice echoed across the land. "I can grant any wish, but only one."

Everyone held their breath, waiting for Lin Fan to make his wish. Krillin even muttered under his breath, "Should we wish for Mr. Lin Fan to become stronger?"

But Lin Fan looked straight into Shenron's enormous red eyes and spoke clearly and firmly. "Shenron, please tell me the exact coordinates where the two Saiyans who will arrive on Earth in a year are going to land."

The wish clearly took Shenron and everyone else by surprise.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

A red glimmer flashed in Shenron's eyes. A moment later, his magnificent voice rang out again. "This wish can be granted."

A stream of information instantly flooded Lin Fan's mind: an extremely precise set of coordinates, along with rough images of the surrounding terrain.

Lin Fan committed them to memory and nodded slightly.

"And,"

Lin Fan immediately followed up with the crucial question he had thought long and hard about. "Please tell me the most effective 'nonviolent method' of stopping or countering these two Saiyans, apart from a purely physical confrontation. I need a hint, not a direct solution."

Shenron fell silent for a moment, as if weighing the limits of this "wish."

When he spoke again, his voice seemed to carry an ineffable depth. "Space travelers rely on precise instruments for navigation and detection. Their equipment is particularly sensitive to 'abnormal energy fluctuations' outside the ordinary range. An excessively strong abnormal fluctuation will act like a beacon in the dark, attracting their attention and even interfering with their judgment..."

Abnormal energy fluctuations?

Lin Fan's heart stirred.

The True Essence within him came from a cultivation system. It was energy, just like the "ki" that existed throughout this world, but purer and more restrained in nature, and circulated in a completely different way. Could it count as a kind of "abnormal energy fluctuation"?

"Your wish has been granted."

With that, Shenron's enormous body suddenly transformed into a dazzling golden light. The seven Dragon Balls hummed as they flew into the sky and scattered across the world, their petrified shells glimmering faintly in the sunset.

The sky returned to normal, as though nothing had happened.

"That's... that's it?"

Yamcha looked baffled. "We only asked for a location and got a vague hint?"

"Idiot!" Bulma glared at him. She had clearly grasped the key point. "The coordinates are important! We can go there in advance to set traps or scout the area! As for that hint..." She turned to Lin Fan, her eyes flashing with a scientist's particular curiosity. "'Abnormal energy fluctuations'? Lin Fan, could it be that your special power..."

Lin Fan nodded, his expression grave. "Very likely. Their Scouter might be able to detect 'ki,' but when it comes to True Essence... this energy from a different system, the reaction could be quite unusual."

This could be a risk, but perhaps... an opportunity too? His mind began racing through the possibilities.

"I see!"

Master Roshi adjusted his sunglasses, looking as though he'd had a sudden realization. "So we avoid a direct battle and look for another way? Lin Fan, you've got a clear head on your shoulders."

Krillin and Gohan also nodded, though they only half understood. Lin Fan's questions sounded profound and reasonable to them.

Lin Fan didn't explain further. He simply committed the coordinates to memory and firmly remembered Shenron's hint. True Essence... sensitive instruments... He felt as though he'd grasped a clue to turning the tide, but he still needed to sort out the details.

The night breeze rose, carrying a hint of chill.

The Dragon Balls' glow had faded, but new hope and more complicated thoughts were quietly taking root in everyone's hearts.

The setting sun sank completely below the horizon, and night fell. Lin Fan clenched his fist, feeling the True Essence surging within him, and looked toward the distant sky.

Saiyans... One year.