The System's New Feature: Obtaining Time Points

Black holes weren't actually rare in the universe. These things, invisible to the naked eye, were like traps scattered throughout space. Every race capable of traveling through the universe made a point of marking them on their star charts.

After obtaining the Time Metal, Lin Chen's next destination was Planet Vegeta.

He didn't stay long. After confirming the location of the nearest black hole to Planet Vegeta, he immediately used Instant Transmission to appear in space near it.

Even Lin Chen, who could transform into a Super Saiyan, couldn't withstand the power of a black hole. So he had teleported to a point still a great distance away from it.

As soon as he emerged from Instant Transmission, Lin Chen transformed into a Super Saiyan and formed an energy barrier to protect himself.

"A black hole... It's over there!"

After sensing around for a moment, Lin Chen detected the black hole.

In one particular direction, he couldn't sense anything at all.

Black holes attracted all matter, including energy. So if Lin Chen found a place where he couldn't sense anything, that had to be where the black hole was.

After flying for an hour, Lin Chen gradually began to feel the black hole's tremendous gravitational pull. Going any farther might put him in danger.

So he stopped and took out the Time Metal, following the information Zuno had given him.

"If I throw the Time Metal into a black hole, it'll open a Gate of Time and Space. Can my system control the gate's destination?"

Lin Chen muttered to himself. After hesitating briefly, he threw the Time Metal toward the black hole.

"I hope Zuno didn't lie to me. Otherwise, I'll make him regret it!"

As Lin Chen watched, the precious metal—now extinct in the universe—slowly drifted toward the depths of the black hole.

Suddenly, a dazzling light rose from the metal. Then Lin Chen saw the Time Metal, which had originally been shaped like a solid block, bend under the pull of a powerful force, twisting into strange lines.

Then, as if it could no longer hold together, the Time Metal broke apart under the force of gravity and disappeared.

The Time Metal Lin Chen had spent three wishes to obtain was just... gone?

Lin Chen was about to curse Zuno for being unreliable when he suddenly saw blood-red spatial rifts, like gaping maws, appear where the Time Metal had vanished.

The rifts kept growing until they spread into one enormous opening, just wide enough for Lin Chen to pass through.

Could this be the Gate of Time and Space?

Lin Chen was still trying to make sure when a voice sounded in his mind.

"Ding! Gate of Time and Space detected. Activating time-space travel function! Host, please spend Time Points to select a destination."

So Zuno had been telling the truth. When the Gate of Time and Space opened, Lin Chen's system had indeed gained a new function.

And from the prompt, this new function would let Lin Chen choose which world he wanted to visit.

But...

"System, what are Time Points?"

"Ding! In response to the host: traveling to a parallel timeline will interfere with that timeline. To offset the effect of this interference, the system must consume a special form of energy. This energy is called Time Points."

"The host can earn Time Points by correcting the history of the current timeline."

Lin Chen furrowed his brow. "Correcting the history of the current timeline? What does that mean?"

However, this time the system didn't explain. Instead, it gave Lin Chen a countdown.

"Ding! Warning: the newly opened Gate of Time and Space is unstable. The host must spend Time Points to confirm a destination within one hour, or the gate will close."

"Seriously?!"

Seeing the countdown before him, Lin Chen scratched his head.

This system really loved making trouble. If it had a function like this, couldn't it have told him sooner?

Now it was giving him only an hour. Where was he supposed to get Time Points?

Wait...

Lin Chen's eyes suddenly sharpened. The next moment, he used Instant Transmission to return to Earth, to the Lookout.

Kami was observing the world below when he suddenly sensed Lin Chen's presence behind him.

He turned around in surprise. "Mr. Lin Chen? Why are you back again?"

Lin Chen waved a hand. "Don't worry about that. Kami, where are the Dragon Balls I gave you after returning from Namek last time?"

"The Dragon Balls? I've put them away. I created them to give people a way to pursue their wishes, but unfortunately, humanity..."

"Enough, enough. Kami, hurry up and bring me the Dragon Balls!" Lin Chen said urgently, his tone so serious that even Kami was startled.

"Huh? Oh..."

Seeing this, Kami had Mr. Popo bring out the Dragon Balls. At this point, they still looked like stones.

Lin Chen frowned. "Kami, can you tell me how many stars are in each of these stones?"

"Of course. This one is the One-Star Dragon Ball, this one is the Two-Star Dragon Ball, and this one is..."

Lin Chen memorized each one, then picked up all the Dragon Balls and threw them into his System Space.

"Kami, I'm taking these Dragon Balls down to the world below. See you!"

With that, Lin Chen disappeared from in front of Kami and Mr. Popo once more.

Watching Lin Chen come and go like a gust of wind, Kami stared in bewilderment. "Mr. Popo, what is Lin Chen trying to do?"

Mr. Popo replied, "Kami, it sounded like Lin Chen wanted to return the Dragon Balls to the world below."

At that moment, Lin Chen appeared at Son Goku's home on Mount Paozu.

As before, no one was home. Lin Chen didn't stay long. He took out the still-stone-like Four-Star Dragon Ball from his System Space and rolled it under Son Goku's bed.

Next, Lin Chen went to Kame House. There was no one there either.

Once again, Lin Chen didn't linger. He found a place to leave the Three-Star Dragon Ball, then left.

Lin Chen continued using Instant Transmission, placing the Dragon Balls in various locations, including Ox-King's castle.

After he had taken care of all seven Dragon Balls, a prompt appeared in his mind, just as expected.

"Ding! History correction confirmed. Congratulations, host, you have obtained 1 Time Point!"

Sure enough, Lin Chen clenched his fist.

Correcting history simply meant steering the course of this world closer to the original story of Dragon Ball.

Because of what had happened on Tiwei Planet, Lin Chen had caused Kami to collect all the Dragon Balls on Earth. That might have prevented the story of the seven Dragon Balls from unfolding in this world.

But now Lin Chen had returned all seven Dragon Balls to the places they originally belonged. The story of the Dragon Ball world could continue.