The Direction of Kame House Island

The sports car sped along, the scenery outside the window gradually shifting from barren wilderness to signs of human habitation, with soft mountain silhouettes and the occasional farmhouse dotting the landscape.

Bulma drove the car in high spirits, humming an off-key tune while her slender fingers tapped rhythmically against the steering wheel.

Lin Fan sat quietly in the passenger seat, the faint strand of true qi within his body circulating ceaselessly, like a hidden mountain stream, nourishing all things in silence.

Though he appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, he was actually listening to everything around him, absorbing the strange melodies Bulma hummed, the whistling wind outside, and even the faint, distant roar of engines, silently adapting to the various sounds of this world.

Bulma suddenly seemed to recall something, turning her head to blink and ask, "Right, Uncle Savage... er, Lin Fan, since you came from deep in the mountains, you must be a good fighter, right? Don't people who practice cultivation all know some martial arts?"

Her tone carried a hint of probing and a touch of curiosity; clearly, she hadn't entirely given up on investigating his "divination" skills and wanted to find verification elsewhere.

Lin Fan thought to himself that this young girl was sharp-witted and not easily fooled.

After a moment of contemplation, he said slowly, "People of the mountains do indeed practice some crude breathing and guiding techniques, merely to strengthen the body and nourish life, not to compete or fight. Compared to the true martial arts masters of this world, it is but a firefly before the bright moon."

His words were half-true and half-false; he acknowledged possessing "skills" while remaining humble, placing himself in a very low position.

"Martial arts masters?"

Bulma's attention was successfully diverted, and she pouted, "You mean those guys who participate in the World Martial Arts Tournament? Hmph, just a bunch of muscle-heads, simple-minded, only knowing how to fight and kill—it's so boring."

Though she said this, her eyes brightened for a moment, clearly recalling something interesting.

"World... Martial Arts Tournament?"

Lin Fan caught these words, his heart skipping a beat, though his expression remained calm, revealing only a perfectly measured amount of confusion. "What kind of grand event is this? I am ignorant and have never heard of it."

"Haha, I knew you hadn't!"

Bulma immediately grew interested, as if she had found the perfect person to confide in, her speaking speed increasing. "It's just a competition where the strongest martial artists in the world gather to fight! It's held every three years, and the prize money is quite generous! The champion gets 500,000! Though I heard the prize money is even higher this year."

As she spoke, she gestured with a number, her tone carrying the nonchalance of a young lady toward "mere" prize money, yet she was clearly well-informed about the grand event.

Martial Arts Tournament! Prize money!

Lin Fan's heart surged with waves, and numerous thoughts flashed through his mind.

This tournament—he hadn't just heard of it; it was clearly a crucial plot point from his past-life memories!

If he could participate, not only could he witness the true power of the martial artists of this world and measure the gap between his own "trash with a power level of 5" self and the world, but he could also use that generous prize money to solve his immediate needs: buying clothes, supplies, and even exchanging for some cultivation resources!

More importantly, Son Goku, Krillin, and even Master Roshi would certainly appear at that venue!

This was a heaven-sent opportunity!

His emotions stirred, and his true qi accelerated slightly, though he suppressed it immediately, revealing no outward signs.

He feigned contemplation for a moment before speaking slowly, his tone carrying the natural longing and caution of a mountain dweller toward the outside world: "The World Martial Arts Tournament, gathering the heroes of the world... to listen to profound theories and observe marvelous techniques... it truly is a rare event. But... I wonder where this tournament is held? Can ordinary people go to watch?"

"It's on Papaya Island in the south! It takes several days to get there by boat."

Bulma answered casually, then her eyes darted with a hint of cunning as she looked at Lin Fan with a grin.

"What? Are you interested too? Want to go see how those 'bright moons' shine?"

Her tone was teasing; clearly, she still felt that Lin Fan's "crude skills" would only lead to a beating on stage.

Lin Fan met her gaze frankly, his expression peaceful and even slightly embarrassed. "To be honest, Miss, I am a wanderer in this place, possessing nothing, and I am ignorant of the ways of this world. Hearing of such a grand event, I truly wish to go and see it, and perhaps... perhaps find a way to make a living."

His words were nine parts true and one part false, cleverly steering his motive for the tournament toward "seeing the world" and "making a living," which was reasonable and flawless.

Bulma looked him up and down, her gaze sweeping over his still-exposed, unhealed wounds, and nodded. "That's true, in your state, it would be hard to get anywhere without money."

She rested her chin on her hand, thought for a moment, and then clapped her hands. "Perfect! I have to go in that direction to take care of some business anyway, so giving you a ride isn't out of the question!"

Lin Fan was overjoyed, though he only bowed slightly. "In that case, thank you, Miss. I will keep this kindness in my heart."

"Oh, stop calling me 'Miss', just call me Bulma."

Bulma waved her hand, very straightforwardly. "But we have to agree on one thing: you have to keep helping me calculate the location of the Dragon Balls on the way! If you're accurate, and I'm in a good mood, maybe I'll even sponsor your registration fee!"

In the end, she hadn't forgotten the regret of her "Dragon Radar" failing to do its job, and she set her sights on Lin Fan's "divination" skills.

"Of course I will help you, don't you worry."

Lin Fan smiled and agreed, his mind already racing.

Traveling with Bulma would not only allow him to reach the tournament directly but also provide a shortcut to approach Son Goku and Master Roshi—a path to the core plot of this world far better than fumbling on his own.

The sports car continued forward, and the silhouette of a town was already faintly visible in the distance.

Bulma began planning the route with great enthusiasm: "We'll go to the town ahead to get you some clothes, buy some food, and then head southeast. I remember there's a pier on that coast where we can rent a boat..."

Lin Fan listened quietly, his gaze fixed on the wilderness flashing past the window, the clouds in the sky drifting and changing unpredictably.

World Martial Arts Tournament... Turtle School... Son Goku...

Each name crossed his mind, bringing an indescribable tremor.

The grand scenes from the pages of his past life might now become a battlefield he would experience firsthand.

Although his cultivation was shallow and he was merely "trash with a power level of 5," he now possessed the supreme scripture, the Great Dao Source Scripture. Though the road ahead was dangerous, it was not a dead end.

He quietly clenched his palm, and the faint strand of true qi seemed to sense it, vibrating gently in his meridians like a hidden dragon in the abyss, ready but not yet unleashed.

The speeding car carried the two, each with their own goals, toward the nearest town and toward that grand, turbulent path of destiny.

Lin Fan's path of cultivation would face its first true trial on that martial arts stage where the heroes of the world gathered.