The Supreme Kai's Deal

"Jiang Che, kid, I really have to thank you."

Old Supreme Kai turned his head, his gaze settling on Jiang Che. For once, there was a touch of seriousness in his expression. "If you hadn't stepped in when you did, Baby might have killed this guy. The fate of the universe would've been ruined."

"It was nothing," Jiang Che replied casually, a faint smile on his lips.

He turned his head to look at Old Supreme Kai, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. "By the way, Old Supreme Kai, what are you going to do about Son Goku? Baby's seeds have already infested his body and memories. If we leave him alone, trouble is sure to follow."

Old Supreme Kai lowered his head and pondered for a moment. His gaze shifted back and forth between Jiang Che and Son Goku, a hint of inscrutability gradually appearing in his eyes.

He suddenly smiled meaningfully, his expression sly and confident. "Jiang Che, you've already learned Instant Transmission, haven't you?"

Jiang Che nodded without saying more.

"Good." Old Supreme Kai stroked his snowy-white beard, running his fingers over its curled length. "I'd like to make another deal with you."

"What deal?" Jiang Che's eyes narrowed slightly, but his tone remained calm.

"I can help you unlock your potential." Old Supreme Kai's voice was low and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority. "Using my secret technique, I can awaken the power lying dormant within you. There's a chance it could let you break through to a level of cultivation beyond anything you've ever reached. But in exchange—" His gaze was as deep as an abyss. "I have to deal with Son Goku first. The universe can't be destroyed by Baby. That guy is currently devouring the heart of the universe at a terrifying pace."

Jiang Che paused, then smiled, his expression showing both understanding and relief. "How do you plan to deal with him?"

Old Supreme Kai slowly reached into his robes and took out an ancient scroll that was almost in pieces.

The scroll was covered in complex runes and patterns. Each symbol seemed to move as if alive, and a faint glow surrounded them.

He carefully unrolled it. A glowing magic circle rose into the air and spun, shimmering brightly.

"I'll use a special method to awaken the power deep within a Saiyan's body." Old Supreme Kai's eyes gleamed, and there was a hint of excitement in his voice. "It's the Ancient Bloodline Awakening Technique. It can break through the limits of mortals and awaken the Soul of Burning Blood deep within their cells. But the process takes five days. During those five days, Baby will surely spread across Earth, devouring every inhabited planet. The safety of the universe..."

"It's fine." Jiang Che cut him off, his voice decisive and without the slightest hesitation.

His gaze was firm and unwavering. "I'll take care of Baby with my own hands sooner or later. I can wait five days."

As he spoke, he turned to gaze at the starry sky beyond Kami's Lookout, a cold smile crossing his lips. "In five days, I'll show him what true power looks like."

Hearing this, Old Supreme Kai smiled with relief, the wrinkles on his face softening. His smile was warm and steadfast, like the sun breaking through the clouds on a winter's day.

He nodded gently, his beard lifting slightly in the breeze. "Then it's settled. I'll spend these five days helping Son Goku unlock his power. On the fifth day, I'll help you unlock your potential."

Jiang Che said nothing more. He simply nodded and turned to leave.

He slowly walked to the edge of the temple. Beneath his feet stretched a bottomless void, with seas of clouds rolling below.

He clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing through the clouds toward the distant horizon.

A blade-sharp glint suddenly flashed in his eyes, as if he meant to rip the sky apart.

"Baby," he said in a low, cold voice, like cracking ice, "I'll let you live five more days."

After that, the Supreme Kai World grew extraordinarily busy.

The entire temple was enveloped in a golden glow, and the air was filled with an ancient, mysterious presence.

Every morning, Old Supreme Kai sat cross-legged beside Son Goku, steady as a mountain, forming intricate, strange hand seals before his chest.

Sometimes his hands opened like a lotus flower; sometimes they moved like a winding dragon or serpent. Each gesture stirred faint ripples of energy in the air.

He chanted continuously, his voice low and drawn out, as though an ancient spell were echoing from the depths of time and space.

With each sweep of his hand, a mysterious power woven from gold, silver, and every color of the rainbow flowed from his fingertips, like a stream pouring into Son Goku's forehead, chest, and abdomen.

Son Goku lay quietly on a stone platform in the center of the temple, eyes closed and breathing steadily, still unconscious. Yet his body was changing—his muscles bulged and shifted from time to time, and golden light flowed faintly beneath his skin, as if a sleeping giant were awakening.

As for Jiang Che, every morning he went alone to sit cross-legged on a bluestone by the cliff, eyes closed and mind focused, a faint blue aura swirling around him.

At times, the aura blazed like fire; at others, it was as calm as water.

He formed hand seals and circulated the energy within his body again and again. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, glinting in the sunlight.

Now and then, he opened his eyes and waved his hand—a rift in space split open before him, revealing a crystal ball.

He tapped it with a fingertip, and images of Earth appeared inside.

The cities were packed with people, but something seemed wrong everywhere. Many walked stiffly, their eyes vacant and strange smiles hanging from their lips.

Earth's situation was getting worse by the day.

After losing Son Goku, Baby's rage spread across the entire planet.

Mr. Satan, once a celebrated martial arts champion, was quietly infected by one of Baby's parasites. His pupils turned dark red, and a grotesque grin spread across his lips. Then he turned and went to find his family.

While Tien Shinhan was training in the mountains, he suddenly grew dizzy. When he came to, he was already kneeling on the ground, black markings appearing on his forehead.

Chiaotzu, Krillin, Yajirobe... One after another, they fell and became Baby's puppets.

The number of people under his control doubled every day, growing from dozens to hundreds, then to thousands.

Panic gripped the cities. People sprinted through the streets, shop windows and doors were smashed, sirens blared nonstop, and clouds of smoke filled the sky.

Earth was like a ship tossed about in a storm.

"That Baby really does want to turn Earth into Planet Tuffle." Kibito Kai stood before the crystal ball in the temple, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white. His face was livid, his expression as sour as if he'd swallowed a fly.

He stared at the people under Baby's control, watching them dance wildly, sing, and revel in the streets as though celebrating the end of the world.

Jiang Che stood beside him with his arms crossed, his face expressionless.

He glanced at the crystal ball as if he were watching a show that had nothing to do with him.

"That's all he can do," Jiang Che said calmly, as if casually commenting on the weather.

"Are you... really not worried?" Kibito Kai suddenly turned around and stared at Jiang Che, his voice full of urgency. "What if Baby takes control of the whole planet? Then..."

"So what?" Jiang Che slowly turned his head and looked at Kibito Kai, his eyes clear and tranquil. "No matter how many people he controls, they're nothing but ants. When the time comes, I'll deal with him."