"Of course not."
Old Supreme Kai shook his head, his white beard swaying along with it.
But his eyes never left Jiang Che's face.
"I just need to make sure—have you really become the being of legend?" He raised a hand to touch the ancient emblem on his chest, his fingertip tracing the mottled patterns as if calling back some distant memory.
"The being from legend?" Jiang Che gave a casual, mocking laugh, tinged with arrogance.
His laughter echoed through the vast hall. "You mean the God of Super Saiyans?"
Old Supreme Kai nodded, the light in his eyes suddenly turning so deep it was almost impossible to see the bottom.
For a moment, he seemed to become that ancient deity who had lived for millennia once more.
He fell silent for a while, as if weighing the importance of what he was about to say, then slowly asked, "You've heard that legend too?"
"I know a little."
Jiang Che spoke casually, his gaze fixed on the starry sky beyond the hall. "According to the legend, only righteous Saiyans who learn a special transformation can become a God of Super Saiyans. They have red hair and red eyes, and their power far surpasses that of ordinary Super Saiyans."
As he spoke the final words, his voice dropped, as if he were afraid of waking something that had been sleeping.
A flash of unmistakable surprise crossed Old Supreme Kai's eyes. His brows furrowed unconsciously, and his mouth even hung open for half a second before he shut it.
"I never thought you'd know that too..." he murmured. His gaze burned as he stared at Jiang Che, as if trying to see right through him.
As he spoke, his hand tightened unconsciously, his knuckles cracking softly.
"All right, enough about that." Jiang Che abruptly cut off the conversation, his tone turning brisk.
He shook his arms and stepped forward, the stone slab beneath his foot trembling slightly.
"You want me to transform? Fine—but I have one condition."
As he spoke, he stared straight into Old Supreme Kai's eyes without the slightest hesitation.
"A condition?" Old Supreme Kai's face darkened, his brows nearly knotting together. "You're just a human, and you dare bargain with me?"
Though he was hunched and moved with the slow steps of age, in that instant he unleashed a divine presence that seemed to make the entire hall contract under its pressure.
"Why wouldn't I dare?"
Jiang Che remained calm, that troublesome confidence returning to the corners of his mouth.
As he spoke, he strolled slowly around Old Supreme Kai, circling halfway around him before saying, "You're the Supreme Kai... that's true. But don't forget, the one standing before you can erase the entire universe with a wave of his hand. Tell me, should I be afraid of you?"
He stopped and tilted his head slightly, arrogance practically spilling from his eyes.
Old Supreme Kai froze, the countless wrinkles on his face twitching.
He opened his mouth, his lips moving for a long moment, but couldn't get a word out.
His chest heaved, and he instinctively took half a step back. His fingers trembled faintly beneath his sleeves.
That kid certainly didn't mince words.
But he had to admit that Jiang Che was right. In the crystal ball, the young man had appeared enveloped in red flames, his aura powerful enough to tear through the galaxy with ease.
When he opened his eyes, it was as if he could see right through you, even across space.
To be honest, this fellow was already powerful enough to threaten the gods.
Old Supreme Kai drew a deep breath, tasting a faint bitterness in the air.
"Tell me what you want."
He sighed helplessly, his voice lowering.
As he spoke, he raised a hand to rub his brow, deepening the wrinkles on his forehead.
"I want to learn Unlimited Instant Transmission."
Jiang Che got straight to the point, laying out his condition without hesitation.
He planted his feet and put his hands in his pockets, his tone utterly resolute.
"What?" Kibito Kai couldn't help exclaiming.
He instinctively took two steps forward. "Unlimited Instant Transmission? That's a technique only Lord Supreme Kai and I can use. How can you..."
Before he could finish, Jiang Che calmly tilted his head. His gaze left no room for argument, as if every excuse was invalid.
"I didn't say I couldn't do it," Jiang Che cut in, his tone calm and firm. "I want to learn your kind of Instant Transmission, the kind that lets you go anywhere in the universe, anytime."
As he spoke, he pointed toward the sea of stars beyond the hall, his fingertip tracing a gentle arc. "I want that kind of true freedom."
Old Supreme Kai fell silent for several seconds, tapping the top of his staff with his fingers. It made a dull, steady "thock, thock."
The candlelight flickered, stretching his shadow long across the floor.
His gaze returned to Jiang Che's face, missing nothing from the corners of his eyes to the edges of his mouth.
As if he were trying to see past the young man's skin and into the deepest part of his heart.
After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice seeming to rise from the bottom of a well. "What do you want to do with this technique?"
His hand stopped tapping. The staff struck the floor, raising a little dust that glimmered in the light like motes dancing in the air.
Jiang Che remained composed, his voice as calm as a mountain stream. "I have my reasons."
He turned slightly, the hem of his clothes brushing past his knees and stirring a faint breeze.
"Besides, it's just a technique. It's not a big deal for you, is it?"
His gaze wasn't shaken by the scrutiny, and a faint smile still played on his lips.
"Easy for you to say."
Old Supreme Kai shook his head, his white beard trembling.
He pointed to a faded mural on the wall, depicting countless stars and divine figures wreathed in flames, its lines crude and ancient.
"This is a skill passed down from the ancient gods. It's not something you can just decide to learn!"
As he spoke, his expression grew nostalgic, and his grip tightened around his staff.
"So you're not going to teach me?"
Jiang Che narrowed his eyes, his smile fading as impatience showed on his face.
He flicked his sleeve and turned to leave, his movements decisive. Even the fallen leaves on the ground stirred in the breeze. "Then forget it. I won't show you my transformation. I'm leaving."
Before he had even finished speaking, he was already stepping onto the stone stairs. His footsteps rang crisply through the hall.
"Wait!" Old Supreme Kai panicked, nearly turning to chase after him.
His staff struck the ground with a sudden thud, the sound echoing through the hall.
Old Supreme Kai leaned forward and called after Jiang Che, "All right, I'll teach you."
He let out a long sigh, clearly giving in.
Jiang Che stopped, then turned around with an elegant flourish, the tip of his shoe tracing a semicircle on the floor and raising a thin layer of dust.
He looked back at Old Supreme Kai, a hint of sly amusement rising at the corners of his mouth. His smile was bright, yet sharp as a blade.
"You should've said that sooner. It would've saved us all the trouble."
He laughed lightly, the tension leaving most of his shoulders.
Kibito Kai stood to the side, his mouth hanging open, his eyes wide as saucers.
He stood frozen, swallowing hard as his hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of his sword.
He could never have imagined that Old Supreme Kai—the god who only taught you when he was in a good mood—would agree just like that.
The hall fell strangely silent, broken only by the crackling candle flames, making the atmosphere even more peculiar.
"However, I have one condition too."
Old Supreme Kai's expression suddenly shifted, a flash of slyness crossing his face.
He lifted his chin slightly, his white brows rising as an inscrutable look flickered in his eyes in the candlelight.
Before you continue