A Clear Mind Boosts Strength, West City's Storm Begins to Brew

After leaving that estate, Lin Xuan

traveled like the most ordinary wanderer.

Measuring the land beneath his feet, he continued on his journey.

The mountain paths were rugged, and a gentle breeze brushed across his face.

Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, scattering speckles of light across the ground.

His heart had never been so calm.

He began tallying the gains from his two recent experiences.

Purging the base had earned him 168 merit points, along with a tremendous surge in combat power.

That was "eliminating evil."

Decisive thunderbolt measures—sweeping subtraction with a heavy hand.

Though exhilarating, the explosive increase in power had also left a faint trace of restlessness in his state of mind.

Guiding Li Yuan, on the other hand, had only earned him thirty merit points, without changing his combat power.

This was "promoting good."

Addition like spring rain—nourishing all things without a sound.

Lin Xuan understood completely.

Tension and relaxation, hardness and softness.

That was the true principle of cultivation.

"Tempering the heart amid the mortal world truly is a broad and open path."

Lin Xuan stopped and slowly exhaled a long breath of stale air.

With his thoughts unobstructed, he felt his soul and body reach an unprecedented harmony and unity.

His combat power, which had previously surged to 666, had been like an untamed wild horse.

It was powerful, yet it had always carried a faint, almost imperceptible sense of sluggishness.

Now, he had completely subdued that wild horse, turning it into an extension of his limbs.

Wherever his will went, his power followed as naturally as an arm or finger, without the slightest delay.

"Panel."

He murmured inwardly.

A translucent panel unfolded before him.

The combat power values in the lower-left corner quietly changed the instant his state of mind reached completion.

[Spiritual Soul Combat Power: 750]

[Physical Body Combat Power: 75]

Looking at the new numbers, Lin Xuan felt no wild joy—only understanding.

He knew this was not power gained from nothing.

It was simply the true strength he could now wield after fully mastering his original 666 combat power and perfectly integrating the Daoist insights and techniques he had comprehended over the past few days.

Before, he had been wildly hacking about with a precious blade sharp enough to cut iron like mud.

Now, he had become a grandmaster who truly understood the art of the blade.

The blade was still the same blade, but the destruction it could cause was no longer comparable.

Only now could his foundation be considered truly stable.

Lin Xuan dismissed the panel and continued forward.

His mood grew lighter and lighter.

He began looking forward to the rest of his journey.

His next stop would be West City.

He wanted to see the most prosperous metropolis in the Dragon Ball world.

While he was there, he would visit Bulma, adjust his condition, and wait for the World Martial Arts Tournament to begin.

Previously, his view of the tournament had remained limited to "testing his strength" and "witnessing the plot."

But now, he had a new idea.

The World Martial Arts Tournament gathered strong fighters, spectators, merchants... people from every walk of life, from all over the world.

Everyone carried their own desires, obsessions, pride, and dreams.

Wasn't that small arena the truest reflection of the mortal world?

A battlefield of fame and profit, a field of slaughter.

And, even more so, an excellent training ground for tempering the heart.

Observing the myriad faces of life, watching them struggle between desire and reality, tempered one's Dao heart far more than secluded cultivation ever could.

Lin Xuan smiled.

For the first time, he felt a strong interest in the upcoming martial arts tournament.

After walking for who knew how long and crossing countless mountain peaks, his view suddenly opened up.

In the distance, an enormous city brimming with futuristic technology appeared at the end of the horizon.

Countless oddly shaped aircraft streaked through the skies above the city, forming torrents of glittering steel.

A massive glass dome reflected dazzling sunlight, like a mirror abandoned in the mortal world by the gods.

That was West City.

Bulma, Capsule Corporation, and an even broader, more complicated stage were waiting for him ahead.

Lin Xuan quickened his pace.

But just as he was about to step into West City's boundaries—

His soul, honed to extraordinary sharpness, suddenly caught a trace of an extremely faint yet utterly familiar aura.

An aura of "sin."

It was unlike Violet's base, so blatant and intense, filled with brutality and greed.

This aura was more concealed, more sinister and chilling, like a venomous snake lurking in a gutter—silent, yet just as deadly.

Lin Xuan came to an abrupt halt.

His brow furrowed.

"This feeling... is it the Red Ribbon Army?"

He closed his eyes and extended his soul power along that trace of aura, sensing into the city.

Very quickly, he locked onto a source in some corner within his range of perception.

Though faint, that sinful power from the same origin could not possibly be mistaken.

A playful expression appeared on Lin Xuan's face.

Was merit already waiting for him?