Goku's Underworld Cultivation

Son Goku trains in the Other World.

Preparations for battle in West City were tense and orderly, yet a heavy stone weighed on everyone's hearts: the strongest warrior, Son Goku, remained in the distant Other World, his life or death status still unknown.

Lin Fan knew full well that without Goku, the Z Fighters' chances of victory against Vegeta and Nappa were incredibly slim.

"We must confirm Goku's status and inform him of our preparations and the precise intelligence we have on the enemy."

Lin Fan sought out Bulma and Master Roshi. "Master Roshi, you mentioned Fortuneteller Baba before. Does she really have a way to contact the afterlife?"

"Oh ho ho, that old woman? She may have a peculiar temper, but she certainly has the skills."

Master Roshi adjusted his sunglasses. "She frequently travels between the realms of the living and the dead, bringing the deceased back to the mortal world for a day to visit their loved ones. Her fees are frighteningly high... but for just passing a message, it shouldn't be a problem. I have a bit of a rapport with her."

Without delay, Lin Fan and Bulma took Master Roshi and immediately boarded a plane to Fortuneteller Baba's mysterious palace. Krillin, Tien Shinhan, and the others remained behind to continue their training and assist with processing materials.

The palace still floated above the desert oasis, looking bizarre and otherworldly.

Fortuneteller Baba was still riding her crystal ball. Seeing the uninvited guests, especially Master Roshi, she huffed irritably. "Hmph! You old lecher, what are you here for again? And you brought two little brats with you. Let's get this straight: the price for bringing back the dead has doubled!"

Master Roshi chuckled and stepped forward to butter her up. "Don't be like that, old sister. We aren't here to bring anyone back this time. We just want to ask for a small favor: to pass a message to our student, Son Goku, who is training in the Other World."

"Pass a message?" Fortuneteller Baba's small eyes darted toward Lin Fan and Bulma. "That kid on that old geezer King Kai's turf? That's so far away, and finding someone precisely is very taxing! It won't be cheap!"

Bulma immediately stepped forward, pulled out a black card from Capsule Corporation, and said with the confidence of the wealthy, "Baba, money is no object! Just name your price!"

Seeing the black card, Fortuneteller Baba's expression shifted from cloudy to sunny in an instant, her smile widening significantly. "Oh my, why didn't you say so sooner! This young lady is so sensible! Unlike some old penniless geezer!"

She glared at Master Roshi, then cleared her throat twice. "Fine, for the sake of your sincerity, this old woman will go through the trouble."

She had them sit in a circle while she hovered in the center, pressing her hands onto the crystal ball and chanting under her breath.

The crystal ball began to emit a hazy glow, its interior swirling with clouds as if connecting to some unknown dimension.

"Hey—! Son Goku on King Kai's planet—! Answer if you can hear me—! Your friends in the mortal world are looking for you—!"

Fortuneteller Baba's voice became ethereal and hollow, carrying through the crystal ball toward the far reaches of the universe.

In the Other World, at the end of Snake Way, on King Kai's Planet.

Son Goku was drenched in sweat, desperately trying to catch Bubbles, who moved with lightning speed. North King Kai sat leisurely to the side, reading a newspaper and letting out a chuckle every now and then.

"Aww! Missed again!"

Goku lunged at empty air and crashed to the ground, but he immediately sprang back up, full of energy. "King Kai, your training is really tough!"

"Heh heh, of course it is! Otherwise, how could it be worthy of my title, North King Kai..."

Before King Kai could finish, an ethereal voice suddenly rang out from thin air, echoing across the tiny planet.

"Hey—! Son Goku on King Kai's planet—! Answer if you can hear me—! Your friends in the mortal world are looking for you—!"

"Huh?" Goku paused, scratching his head. "Who's calling me? The voice sounds like it's coming from very, very far away..."

North King Kai put down his newspaper and adjusted his sunglasses, looking slightly surprised. "Oh? It's actually communication magic from the mortal world. To penetrate all the way to King Kai's Planet—the caster has some real skill. Goku, it seems they're looking for you."

"Really?"

Goku immediately grew excited and shouted toward the sky, "Hey! I'm Son Goku! Who's looking for me? Is it Lin Fan? Or Krillin? Bulma?"

His voice traveled back through the same mysterious connection to Fortuneteller Baba's crystal ball.

Inside the palace, hearing Goku's familiar, energetic voice from the crystal ball, everyone let out a sigh of relief. Bulma, in particular, clenched her fists in excitement.

"Goku! It's me, Lin Fan! And Bulma and Master Roshi!"

Lin Fan spoke directly into the crystal ball. "Listen, Goku! It's an emergency! We learned through Shenron that two Saiyans will arrive on Earth in one year. One is named Vegeta, and the other is Nappa. Vegeta even has a power level of over ten thousand! Furthermore, their goal is to find you and wipe out the Earth!"

"Over ten thousand?!" Goku's voice was filled with shock, but it immediately ignited with overwhelming fighting spirit. "That's incredible! So there really are so many strong people in the universe! King Kai, did you hear that? I have to train even harder!"

North King Kai's voice could also be heard faintly. "Oh? A power level of ten thousand? Tsk tsk, it seems the situation is indeed dire, Goku."

"Goku!"

Lin Fan continued to shout. "We are preparing for battle on Earth with everything we've got! Bulma's family is providing resources, I've set up formations, and Piccolo has even agreed to cooperate for now! You must learn the real techniques from King Kai and make it back on time!"

"Piccolo is cooperating too?"

Goku's voice sounded even more surprised, but it quickly turned incredibly serious and excited. "Don't worry! Lin Fan, Bulma, Master Roshi! King Kai is teaching me some very powerful moves! They're difficult, but I will definitely master them! I will make it back on time to defeat those Saiyans and protect the Earth!"

His voice was filled with absolute confidence and soaring morale, as if no enemy, no matter how strong, could make him back down.

"Tell him to hurry!"

Master Roshi leaned in and shouted. "Also, say hello to King Kai for us!"

"Hey! Goku, give our regards to King Kai!" Bulma added.

"Got it! King Kai, my friends on Earth say hello!"

Goku's voice came through, followed by North King Kai's chuckle. "They're quite polite, aren't they."

The communication time seemed limited, and the light from the crystal ball began to flicker unsteadily.

"Goku! Take care! See you on Earth!"

Lin Fan said as a final farewell.

"Mm! Everyone, keep working hard on your training! See you on Earth!"

Goku's voice gradually faded, finally vanishing as the light from the crystal ball dissipated.

The palace returned to silence, but a sense of confidence and hope had grown on everyone's faces.

"You heard him, right?"

Fortuneteller Baba wiped away non-existent sweat. "Mission accomplished. That will be ten million Zeni, thank you for your patronage!"

Bulma swiped her card without hesitation.

On the flight back, Bulma looked out the window and let out a sigh of relief. "That idiot, he's still as energetic as ever... It's good."

Lin Fan smiled slightly as well. "Indeed. As long as he has a goal, he unleashes unimaginable energy. What we need to do now is protect our home before he returns and become stronger—strong enough to fight alongside him."

His gaze became resolute once more. Goku's fighting spirit had infected him as well.