Aftermath of Battle

"Still alive."

Jiang Che flickered, appearing beside Son Goku like a phantom.

He stood perfectly straight with his hands behind his back, his clothes snapping loudly in the wind.

He glanced down at Vegeta, his tone as indifferent as if he were discussing the weather, devoid of any ripples.

Son Goku finally let out a sigh of relief, beads of sweat dripping down his chin.

He slowly looked up at Jiang Che, his eyes complex—a mix of gratitude, admiration, and a trace of wariness.

His lips moved, his voice low and sincere: "Thank you, Jiang Che."

Just as Jiang Che was about to respond, the sky suddenly shifted; several streaks of light tore through space, as if someone had ripped open a curtain.

Kibito Kai appeared first, clad in white robes, his fingers moving in a rapid seal as golden light swirled around him.

Immediately after, Gohan, Goten, Trunks, and Bulma all arrived.

They had clearly been teleported in an emergency; some stumbled upon landing, Gohan nearly falling over before Goten steadied him.

Once Kibito Kai touched down, his eyes swept across the battlefield—the shattered ground, the collapsed rock walls, the debris scattered everywhere, the fallen Vegeta, and the half-kneeling Son Goku.

His pupils constricted and he gasped, his voice filled with shock: "You... you actually finished off Baby?"

Jiang Che glanced at him, a trace of careless mockery at the corner of his mouth: "Obviously. Do you think it's a fake?"

He stretched, his shoulders popping, as if the earth-shattering battle that had just occurred were nothing more than a light morning workout.

Kibito Kai offered a bitter smile, shook his head, and hurried over to Goku and Vegeta.

He crouched down, pressed his fingers to Vegeta's pulse, frowned, and gestured for Bulma to step back: "I will heal their wounds."

"I'm counting on you." Son Goku nodded and slowly stood up, placing Vegeta gently on the ground with the care one might show a fragile object.

Kibito Kai took a deep breath, pressed his palms together, and a white light ignited between them.

The radiance spread, enveloping Goku and Vegeta like ripples in a pond.

Divine power seeped into their muscles and bones like a warm tide.

The wounds on Goku's body closed at a speed visible to the naked eye, the torn skin knitting together, while Vegeta's fractured left arm began to slowly reset with a faint, rhythmic clicking.

A faint fragrance of grass and trees drifted through the air—the scent of divine power resonating with the essence of heaven and earth.

Jiang Che stood to the side, arms crossed, watching silently.

On the surface, he appeared to be observing Kibito Kai, but his mind had long since drifted into the depths of his consciousness—the system shop page in his mind slowly unfolded, a dazzling array of goods sliding by like liquid mercury, every name radiating temptation.

50,000 exchange points were enough for him to trade for a top-tier divine artifact or several powerful secret techniques.

His fingertips twitched slightly in the air, as if selecting items on a virtual interface.

"Jiang Che."

Son Goku's voice sounded from behind, hoarse yet still full of strength.

Jiang Che pulled back his thoughts and turned around.

Goku had already stood up; most of his wounds were healed, and beneath his shattered armor was fresh skin. Though a few bloodstains remained, he looked to be in no serious danger.

He loosened his limbs, his bones popping, and he looked refreshed.

"Something the matter?" Jiang Che looked at Goku calmly.

Goku stepped forward, his brown eyes fixed intently on him, as if trying to see right through him.

He stopped three paces away from Jiang Che, lifted his head slightly, and spoke with determination: "I want to spar with you."

Jiang Che paused, raising an eyebrow: "Now?"

Goku smiled, his expression filled with anticipation and fighting spirit: "No, there's no rush. We'll do it when you're ready."

He clenched his fists, veins bulging, and golden arcs of electricity flickered at his fingertips.

"I want to know just how strong you are now."

Jiang Che was silent for a moment, the two locking eyes.

He could feel the energy surging within Goku, and he could feel his own blood boiling with the desire to fight.

Finally, Jiang Che smiled faintly and nodded: "Fine, I'll be waiting."

In the distance, Vegeta also slowly stood up, one hand bracing his knee, sweat and blood dripping down together.

His face was still pale and his injuries were far from fully healed, but the fighting spirit in his eyes was as sharp as a blade.

From several meters away, he said in a low voice: "When the day of the final battle comes, I'm joining in too."

The words were quiet, yet they struck like a hammer against the ground, crisp and decisive.

Jiang Che glanced at him, noting his tightly pressed lips and slightly trembling fists, and nodded in agreement: "No problem."

The scorching sun hung high overhead, pouring down golden light that bathed the entire battlefield in a brilliant white.

A light breeze swirled dust and broken grass into the air.

In the distance, the mountains rolled, and thunder rumbled on the horizon, as if signaling that a cataclysmic showdown was soon to arrive.

Jiang Che knew that this was merely the first step on the journey ahead.

Kibito Kai pressed his palms together, and a golden light of healing flowed slowly, enveloping Goku and Vegeta to mend their wounds bit by bit.

The wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye; broken bones knit back together, and bloodstains were slowly erased by the divine power.

Sweat beaded on Kibito Kai's forehead, yet he steadily channeled energy into their bodies until he was certain they had truly recovered.

He then turned to Gohan and Goten, hovering his hands over their chests with his eyes closed to investigate.

A soft green light spread from his palms, wrapping around the two brothers.

His brows furrowed slightly as he carefully sensed every injury.

A moment later, he breathed a sigh of relief and nodded—the two were merely exhausted and in no mortal danger; they would be fine with proper rest.

Jiang Che stood not far away, his back to the others, his robes fluttering slightly in the high-altitude wind.

He turned slowly, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, his eyes devoid of emotion.

"I am returning to Earth first." His tone was flat, as if he were casually mentioning something of no consequence.

As his voice fell, Jiang Che's figure flickered slightly, the air seemingly distorted by some force, and in the next second, he vanished like smoke, leaving only a gentle breeze to brush past the group.

Goku snapped his head up, staring fixedly at the spot where Jiang Che had disappeared, his eyes filled with complex emotions—shock, admiration, and a flicker of unwillingness burning deep within.

He clenched his fists unconsciously, his lips trembling slightly as if he wanted to speak, only to swallow the words back down.

"That guy..." Vegeta gritted his teeth, his voice low and roiling with fury.

He tightened his fists until his knuckles turned white, veins bulging on his forehead. "I will definitely surpass him."

Every word felt forced out, heavy with stubbornness.

Goku regained his senses and patted Vegeta on the shoulder with a heavy hand, as if trying to snap him out of his obsession. "Vegeta, you should just focus on recovering for now."

He offered a smile, though it carried a certain heaviness.

Jiang Che's figure appeared quietly above the Heavenly God's Palace.

He hovered above the clouds, with layers of white mist beneath his feet, while in the distance, the setting sun stained the horizon in hues of amber and crimson.

The ancient stone pillars of the palace roof cast long shadows, and as a breeze passed through, a low, mournful whistling echoed beneath the eaves.