Training

"Master Korin, do you have anything to eat?"

"Ah... yes, yes, yes! Meow! Yajirobe, go bring me my Senzu Beans!"

Li Ming's stare made Master Korin's fur stand on end, and he hurriedly replied. There was nothing to eat in this godforsaken place; they relied entirely on Senzu Beans to get by.

But eating them as meals now would be a terrible waste. They would be lifesavers in the future, and letting Yajirobe eat them like food was simply too extravagant.

Seeing Yajirobe come out carrying a huge jar, Li Ming reckoned there had to be at least a thousand beans in there!?

"Thanks."

This was no time to worry about appearances. He took the jar directly, tossed one bean to Goku, then swallowed one himself.

Goku was injured. As for him, he was hungry.

These things were said to keep someone from feeling hungry for ten days. Never mind whether there were side effects—for Saiyans, that effect alone made them strategic supplies!

"Goku, if you want to revive Shenron, you'll have to go to the Lookout."

Master Korin was clearly wary of Li Ming. Perhaps the Saiyans' innate fighting nature gave off a violent aura to him. None of these beings who had lived for centuries were simple.

Their understanding and perception of ki went beyond merely gauging strength and location. They could even use it to judge whether someone's heart was kind.

Someone like Goku, with a heart as pure as an infant's, was why Master Korin was willing to help him.

But beneath Li Ming's powerful aura lay a violent streak. It was not evil, but it was immense!

"The Lookout? Master Korin, where is the Lookout?"

Master Korin jumped onto the platform railing and beckoned. "Follow me."

Goku and Li Ming leaped onto the top of Korin Tower, while Yajirobe stayed seated where he was, too lazy to move. Ever since coming here, he had only grown lazier.

Standing atop the oval peak of Korin Tower, Master Korin pointed upward. "The Lookout is up there, but you need something to serve as a bridge. Goku, your Power Pole is the bridge connecting to the Lookout. I gave it to Master Roshi back then, and he passed it on to your grandfather."

"So the Power Pole was yours, Master Korin. Hup!"

As he spoke, Goku did as instructed and inserted the Power Pole into the indentation atop Korin Tower. It immediately began extending wildly. The Lookout was probably far more than ten thousand meters away.

Li Ming was confident he could fly up there, but the energy consumption would likely be considerable.

"Hm?" At that moment, Master Korin's ears twitched. Pointing at Li Ming, he called out, "Hey, kid, if you know the Flight Technique, you'll have to fly up yourself. Otherwise, Kami won't see you."

"Fine."

Li Ming frowned but did not refuse. It seemed Kami had noticed him and had likely sensed his intentions as well. Otherwise, he would not have had Master Korin test his attitude.

The fact that Kami could see through his intentions meant his strength was no trivial matter. Even in his twilight years, he was still Earth's Kami, a being with a divine rank.

When the two men and one cat arrived at the Lookout, someone who looked like a lump of black coal was already standing before them. Mr. Popo, the attendant who had served generations of Kami. He was called an attendant, but he was likely a subordinate deity whose true realm was unfathomable.

After all, Mr. Popo had existed since who knew which generation of Kami.

"Master Korin, you should return first. Leave the rest to me."

"Then I'll leave them in your care."

Judging by their ages, it was hard to say whether Mr. Popo or Master Korin had lived longer. But one thing was certain: both had reached extremely high realms in martial arts!

After Master Korin left, Mr. Popo handed a bell to each of Goku and Li Ming.

"Tie this to your ankle, then catch me without making a sound if you can."

Goku froze for a moment, then said eagerly, "Is this new training? All right, I'll definitely catch you."

Li Ming could not figure out Mr. Popo's methods, but this was good. What he lacked most right now was precisely this: an understanding of ki and a higher martial arts realm.

Honestly, this so-called martial arts realm might seem insignificant before universe-level powerhouses, but for Saiyans, it was absolutely a cheat!

Not because it was overwhelmingly powerful, but because it suited them.

The further Saiyans progressed, the more difficult it became to control their emotions as they raised the intensity of their transformations. Yet to control stronger power, they had to keep their emotions steady.

A martial arts realm was the key to raising the ceiling of Saiyan bloodlines!

After one month, Goku was the first to complete the initial stage of training, gaining greater control over his ki. Meanwhile, Li Ming sat cross-legged at the edge of Kami's Lookout, meditating with his eyes closed.

"Come with me. Kami wants to see you."

Li Ming opened his eyes. He had been troubled because he could not make sense of his training, and perhaps Kami would have a solution.

Kami looked almost exactly like elderly Piccolo, with two antennae on his head. He was undoubtedly a Namekian.

"You wish to complete your ki training. I have two methods, though I don't know whether you are willing to try them."

"Please, tell me." Li Ming nodded. Kami had separated away his evil half, leaving only his kind side, so he was principled and would not set him up.

"First, cut off your tail. I can sense that, like Goku's, your tail contains tremendous hidden power. But that power cannot be effectively controlled, which is why you have been unable to complete your training."

Taking a deep breath, Li Ming frowned at his tail. He hesitated for only a second before looking back at Kami.

"Please tell me the second method."

"The second method may be slower. You will also need to master ki training as much as possible on your own. I will have Mr. Popo assist you."

As he spoke, Kami raised a hand and used magic to create a dark weighted training outfit. "This can help suppress your strength. Take it."

Li Ming thanked him and accepted the clothing, then immediately frowned. "Can it be heavier?"

"Uh, yes. How heavy do you want it? This weighs forty jin."

Kami was visibly taken aback. This kind of training seemed simple, but it was actually extremely painful, especially for a Saiyan.

He had to restrain his strength and suppress the emotional fluctuations brought on by long, tedious training. Adding weight would only make it more agonizing.

"Make it fifty kilograms."

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I'm sure."

Kami looked seriously at Li Ming. He did not know whether this was right or wrong, but in the end, he still increased the weight for him. The training continued for another two months, during which Li Ming went through three weighted outfits.

One was destroyed when Li Ming lost control, while the other two were replaced as the weight increased. Gradually, Li Ming finally learned to sense ki.

Only then did he understand why he had been unable to master ki before. It was control over one's own energy—the stronger one was, the harder it became to control.

The moment he succeeded, Li Ming realized that Kami was not all that strong in his eyes.

The Saiyan bloodline grew far too quickly after adulthood, practically changing by the day, especially when paired with Mr. Popo's training.

"You're leaving?"

"Yeah." Looking at Kami and Mr. Popo, Li Ming said, "Tell Goku that I'll wait for him at the World Martial Arts Tournament when he comes out. Thanks for taking care of me during this time."

"Mm. I have nothing more to teach you. Trying to forge your own path is what you should do now."

Li Ming nodded, then leaped off Kami's Lookout. His figure swiftly turned into a streak of white light and vanished into the distance.

Kami silently watched ahead and murmured, "Mr. Popo, do you think he will become Earth's next disaster?"

"Kami, haven't you already acknowledged him?"

"Yes. Like Goku, though we do not know where they came from, I believe they will protect this world's future."

Below Kami's Lookout, at Korin Tower, Master Korin and Yajirobe were sunbathing. They had somehow acquired two pairs of sunglasses and reclining chairs, looking utterly carefree.

"Huh? Meow!"

"Master Korin, I've come to get some Senzu Beans."

At the sight of Li Ming suddenly appearing, Master Korin was so startled that he shot straight out of his reclining chair.

"You really don't stand on ceremony, do you? Meow!" Master Korin licked his paw, though he was no longer as resistant to Li Ming as before.

"This is for you." Li Ming tossed out a Hoi-Poi Capsule, and a huge basket full of frozen seafood appeared on the ground. Master Korin's eyes went wide.

"Yajirobe!"

"Nani, nani!? Was that an earthquake?"

Master Korin's shout knocked Yajirobe straight to the ground. He looked utterly confused, but soon noticed Li Ming.

Master Korin smacked him awake with his staff and told him to get Senzu Beans for Li Ming. Using those things as meals was simply too wasteful for them.

Li Ming took the jar. There were another thousand or so beans inside!

Including what he had taken over the past few months, it should be enough to last until the end of the story... probably.