Climb Korin Tower

"What do you think, Mr. Bora? Can I successfully complete this challenge and meet Master Korin at the top of the tower?"

Bora paused to look at Zhang Wutian, then replied, "Frankly speaking, I don't think you're capable of that yet."

Hearing Bora's assessment, Zhang Wutian didn't argue. Instead, he smiled and said, "I thought as much. In fact, I agree with you."

The logic was simple. In the original story, Bora once told young Goku that he had failed to climb Korin Tower in his youth. The current Zhang Wutian was likely not yet on par with the young Goku who had undergone Master Roshi's training; he was at best evenly matched with the current Bora, perhaps only slightly superior. Since Bora in his prime couldn't climb the tower, it was highly probable that he couldn't either.

But this was no reason for Zhang Wutian to give up.

"As a martial artist, one cannot fear a challenge. Besides, Korin Tower doesn't charge an entrance fee; there's no harm in giving it a try."

"Is that so? Then do your best, young martial artist."

After offering his well-wishes, Bora led Zhang Wutian to the base of Korin Tower.

Zhang Wutian looked up and remarked, "I really can't see the top. If I fall halfway up, I'll probably die..."

Saying this, Zhang Wutian stretched his body.

"Thank you for showing me the way, Mr. Bora. I'm going up."

"Please be careful. If you feel you can't go on, don't push yourself. Know your limits."

"I appreciate the advice."

Zhang Wutian crouched low, then suddenly launched himself into the air.

After leaping about 15 meters high, his upward momentum reached its limit, and he grabbed onto the tower to begin his climb.

Climb after climb, after an hour of repetitive effort, Zhang Wutian's fingers began to ache.

Five hours later, his hands, now completely numb, suddenly lost their grip, and Zhang Wutian plummeted from the tower.

In a moment of crisis, Zhang Wutian clamped his legs around the tower, barely managing to hang upside down, though his hands were temporarily useless.

"Just as I thought." Having failed the challenge, Zhang Wutian carefully descended to the ground, yet he wasn't discouraged. This failure had validated a theory of his.

It was a further realization regarding his ability: Whenever I battle someone stronger than myself, I grow stronger, regardless of the outcome.

This climb made Zhang Wutian realize that those stronger than him didn't necessarily have to be humans or living creatures; certain inanimate objects could also serve as his challengers. This tower was a perfect example.

Although he had fallen, Zhang Wutian clearly felt his combat power had increased following the failed attempt.

At the same time, climbing the tower itself was an excellent form of training. Perhaps the material of the tower was beneficial to the human body, or perhaps its structure followed some special law; regardless, as he climbed, his basic physical attributes were improving at an unprecedented speed, which also benefited him greatly.

"This is it! The feeling of growing stronger—it's truly intoxicating!"

Is climbing boring? Of course, it is. But the strength gained from it was enough to offset everything. Gamers in the past could be obsessed with a single data change in a game; when such changes occurred within his own body, the joy was indescribable.

"Again! Second attempt!!"

Third attempt...

Tenth attempt...

The 25th attempt—this time, it would definitely work!

About half a month later, Zhang Wutian, now noticeably more robust, began his latest challenge.

This time, Zhang Wutian climbed for half a day in one go before finally feeling exhausted, so he decided to stop and rest for a moment.

After stopping, he accidentally looked down.

"So high! This is the highest I've ever climbed!"

Although Korin Tower didn't charge an entrance fee, it wasn't exactly a place one could climb casually. If he were to accidentally fall from here, death would surely be waiting for him.

It was clear that the most terrifying part of challenging Korin Tower wasn't the climbing itself; height was the most difficult factor.

"Don't look down. One final push, keep going up!"

And so, Zhang Wutian continued to climb. Resting and climbing, the sky gradually turned dark.

"I don't have the talent young Goku had to sleep while clinging to the tower. No choice, I'll have to climb through the night."

In the original story, if Sun Goku fell, he had the Flying Nimbus as a safety net. If Zhang Wutian fell from here, he would truly be reduced to a pulp. Thus, he didn't dare to be careless and continued his ascent under the cover of darkness.

Sun Goku first reached the top on the morning of the second day, but Zhang Wutian, climbing and stopping, didn't see the top even by the evening of the second day.

"Am I really that much worse than the young Goku of that time? Is this the gap created by Master Roshi's training? As I suspected, basic training is truly vital."

Talking to himself amidst the endless climb, Zhang Wutian pushed through another night with the same perseverance he once used for all-night gaming sessions. On the third day, with dark circles under his eyes and his brain feeling numb, he finally saw the top.

The 25th attempt had finally reached a successful conclusion.

Carefully climbing into the room at the top, he passed through a staircase and arrived in the central chamber.

There, a cat had been waiting for a long time.

"To climb Korin Tower in just half a month—you have quite the talent."

"No, I still have a long way to go, Master Korin." Zhang Wutian bowed to the cat hermit.

"You aren't surprised at all to see what I look like. Is it because you're naturally calm, or did you learn of my existence from somewhere?" Master Korin looked at Zhang Wutian with amusement, then said, "Since you know of me, you must also know of the existence of the Sacred Water."

"I have no interest in that, Master Korin. I would like to ask you to guide me in martial arts."

"You don't want the Sacred Water, but want to learn martial arts from me? Your way of thinking is truly strange."

"Because I'm self-taught, I always feel like my movements are a bit off without a master's guidance. I hope to have a teacher who can guide me in my martial arts practice starting from the basics."

"Starting from the basics? A young man as steady as you is rare." The cat hermit said with his signature smiling expression, "Since you have climbed Korin Tower, according to the rules, I will naturally guide you in martial arts training. Since you don't care for the Sacred Water, it is fine for me to teach you a few basics. But before that, won't you introduce yourself?"

"Zhang Wutian, a wandering martial artist," Zhang Wutian said.

"Anything else? Is that really all there is to your introduction?"

Zhang Wutian fell silent.

He remembered that the Master Korin before him could read minds. Back then, it had even read the thoughts in Son Goku's heart.

"From you, I sense an aura that is different from ordinary people."

After saying this, Master Korin's tone suddenly shifted: "But you are a kind and good child. I have seen your various actions, and I appreciate you, so I will not pry into your origins."

As he said this, Master Korin smiled and winked his squinted eyes at Zhang Wutian, then said, "Three hundred years ago, a guy climbed to the top of the tower. Since then, you are the first person to climb up. Oh my, my body has become a bit rusty. Could you help me loosen up these rusty bones a little?"

"I'd be happy to oblige, but before that..."

In an instant, Zhang Wutian fell vertically to the ground.

"Let me take a nap first. I'm so sleepy, my head hurts so much, snore..."

Watching Zhang Wutian fall asleep immediately after his excitement faded, Master Korin didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"He's a child with no defenses. Although his origins are a bit strange, he shouldn't be a bad person. God, if I guide him in martial arts, it should be fine, right?"

After a moment of silence, as if having received some kind of answer, the cat hermit nodded and hummed twice, then fell silent. Leaning on his staff, he maintained a distant aura, watching Zhang Wutian, who was fast asleep on the ground, without moving, as if he had transformed into a gentle breeze and drifting clouds.