The Path of Cultivation on Mount Paozu

Chapter 2: The Path of Cultivation on Mount Paozu

During the long and peaceful years on Mount Paozu, Sun Wukong and his grandfather, Sun Gohan, depended on each other as they embarked on a grueling yet hope-filled journey of cultivation.

Seven-year-old Goku was like the brilliant morning sun, his heart brimming with an ardent desire for greater power. Whenever he saw powerful skills flash through his mind, he could hardly wait to master them at once. But Grandpa Sun Gohan knew that cultivation was not something one could accomplish overnight. With a gentle yet resolute expression, he would patiently tell Goku, "My boy, the path of cultivation is like climbing a towering mountain. Every step must be firm and sure. You mustn't grow impatient or rush to succeed." Goku's bright, star-like eyes shone with unwavering determination. He nodded hard, as if making a solemn promise to his grandfather.

Every morning, as the first rays of sunlight gently fell across every inch of Mount Paozu, Goku followed close behind his grandfather along steep, rugged mountain paths tangled with thorns. Again and again, he struggled to cross the rushing streams, fast as galloping horses. Though he fell into the water countless times, splashing himself and soaking his clothes, and even scraped his hands and feet on sharp stones, he never once lost heart. Gritting his teeth, he climbed out of the water time and again and pressed on. He worked to scale towering trees, and even when crisscrossing branches scraped his cheeks and cut his arms, he never cried out in pain. He simply kept going in silence. Grandpa Sun Gohan always stood nearby, watching Goku with an encouraging, affectionate gaze as he called, "Goku, keep charging forward bravely! Every fall is a precious sign of how you're growing."

Alongside his grueling physical training, Goku also bravely began cultivating his Martial Soul and Soul Skills. He concentrated on drawing out the mysterious, powerful force within him, but at first he struggled to control its immense power, and it scattered in every direction like a horse with its reins cut. Still, Goku refused to give up in the face of these setbacks. With an unyielding will, he kept exploring and trying.

By the age of eight, after a long period of persistence and hard work, Goku was finally seeing results in his physical training. His body had grown stronger, and his movements had become more agile. He began learning close-quarters combat from his grandfather. Every one of Grandpa's movements was as swift as a driving storm and as precise as Thunderous Might. Goku watched each movement and every subtle change with rapt attention, then copied them meticulously, practicing over and over. Even when sweat soaked his clothes like a stream and exhaustion made his body tremble, he never stopped for a moment. He kept at it until he had mastered every move and reached the point where his body moved as his mind willed.

At the same time, Goku was gradually gaining better control over his Martial Soul. He began to perform the Soul Skill Ape Force Impact. Gathering all his strength, he charged forward like a fierce leopard, unleashing a powerful burst that made the air around him tremble and demonstrated considerable force. As his training deepened, his Saiyan bloodline quietly began to change, advancing from a low-level Saiyan bloodline toward a mid-level one. His body grew stronger, and his sense and control of his power became sharper.

At nine, Goku faced another major challenge in his cultivation: learning the Kamehameha. He held his hands together in the shape of a flower bud and focused intently on gathering the energy within him into his palms. But at first, he could never concentrate properly, and the Kamehameha he released was weak and limp, like a passing breeze. Grandpa Sun Gohan patiently guided him from the side. "Goku, calm your mind and cast aside every distraction. Focus on feeling the ceaselessly surging ki within you. Imagine it like a gently flowing stream, slowly gathering in your palms." Under his grandfather's careful guidance and constant encouragement, Goku gradually settled into the right state of mind. His thoughts grew as still as a placid lake. At last, he successfully unleashed a powerful Kamehameha, its blue light shining like brilliant stars and illuminating all of Mount Paozu.

Goku also made a significant breakthrough in cultivating his Martial Soul. He successfully awakened a century-old Yellow Soul Ring and mastered the powerful Soul Skill Great Ape Protection. When he used it, a golden Energy Shield appeared around his body in an instant. It greatly enhanced his defense and gave off an imposing aura. By this stage, Goku's Saiyan bloodline had advanced to the high-level stage. His power had been deeply awakened, and every aspect of his physical abilities had undergone a qualitative leap.

At ten, Goku set his sights on the far more demanding Kaio-ken. During his training, his body endured unimaginable pressure. Every muscle trembled, and every cell seemed to cry out. His face was pale as paper, and beads of sweat the size of peas streamed down like rain, soaking the earth beneath his feet. Grandpa Sun Gohan watched from nearby, his eyes full of concern and sympathy. But Goku gritted his teeth, his resolute gaze seeming to tell the world, "Grandpa, I can do this!" In the end, through sheer determination and an intense longing for power, Goku successfully mastered the Kaio-ken, greatly increasing his combat strength.

Meanwhile, Goku's Martial Soul continued to evolve. A thousand-year-old purple Soul Ring shone like a brilliant purple star in the night sky. He learned the mysterious and powerful Soul Skill Ape Shadow Clone. When he used it, he could instantly create multiple clones with powerful attacks. The clones confused his enemies like phantoms, making them impossible to read. That same year, Goku also successfully transformed into Super Saiyan 1. In an instant, his hair stood on end and turned a dazzling gold, while blazing golden energy flared around him. His ki and power surged, as if he had been reborn.

At eleven, Goku faced the immense challenge of learning the Spirit Bomb. To master it, he had to sense the ki of all living things and gather their energy. For someone so young, it was an unprecedentedly difficult task. But Goku wasn't intimidated. He bravely took every step. He traveled across every inch of Mount Paozu, communicating with each blooming flower, speaking with every towering tree, resonating with every bird in flight, and moving in harmony with every running beast. He put his heart into understanding the life force within them and sensing the endless mysteries of nature.

After countless days and nights of tireless effort, Goku finally succeeded in gathering an immensely powerful Spirit Bomb. It shone brilliantly in his hands, as if it contained the power of the entire universe. At this point, his ten-thousand-year-old black Soul Ring awakened. The Soul Skill Berserk Ape Strike let him enter a berserk state in an instant during battle, boosting his strength and speed at once and making him unstoppable, like a beast released from its cage. His Saiyan bloodline also reached its ultimate stage, allowing him to shift freely between Super Saiyan 3 and even higher forms with ease, unleashing power capable of destroying heaven and earth.

At twelve, Goku had grown much more mature and composed. When he began training in the high-level technique Instant Transmission, he ran into an unprecedented bottleneck. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't accurately sense other people's ki, leaving him confused and frustrated. Seeing Goku's dejection, Grandpa Sun Gohan walked over and gently reassured him. "Goku, don't get impatient. The path of cultivation is bound to be full of obstacles. Focus on what you feel, and trust that you can overcome this hurdle." Goku listened, took a deep breath, and calmed his restless mind. He gathered his thoughts and persevered, trying again and again to sense the subtle ki around him. At last, in a certain moment, Goku felt as though he had become one with the world and successfully performed Instant Transmission.

After that, learning Dragon Fist Explosion, the Afterimage Technique, Solar Flare, Destructo Disc, and other skills proved just as grueling and challenging. But with his unbreakable determination and unshakable pursuit of power, Goku overcame each obstacle in turn. His Martial Soul also underwent another astonishing evolution: a hundred-thousand-year-old red Soul Ring appeared, and the powerful Soul Skill Great Ape Domain allowed him to unfold a special domain in battle. Within it, all his attributes were greatly enhanced while his enemies were suppressed. His Saiyan bloodline ultimately evolved into a god-level Saiyan bloodline, perfectly merging with divine power. He gained the aura and power of a god, along with some ability to perceive and control the laws of the universe. His Martial Soul also evolved into the Saiyan Golden Great Ape Martial Soul, and all his Soul Rings and Soul Skills rose to the godly level. By then, Goku had also mastered every transformation from Super Saiyan 2 through Super Saiyan 10. Each transformation multiplied his strength many times over.

Six years passed in the blink of an eye. Goku had transformed from a naive, curious child into a mighty warrior who inspired awe. He had mastered every skill, and his strength had undergone a tremendous, qualitative leap.

On a peaceful, beautiful evening, the setting sun bathed all of Mount Paozu in gold. Goku and Grandpa Sun Gohan sat side by side on the mountaintop, admiring the sunset's poetic splendor. Goku's eyes brimmed with gratitude as he said sincerely, "Grandpa, thank you for teaching me so carefully and caring for me all this time. Without you, I could never have become this strong." Grandpa Sun Gohan smiled and gently patted Goku's head, his loving gaze full of pride. "Goku, you achieved all this through your own hard work. The road ahead is long and full of unknowns, but Grandpa believes you'll use this great power to protect justice and the world we cherish." Goku nodded, his gaze firm. He knew his own legendary journey had only just begun, and many more challenges and adventures awaited him.