Piccolo Was Stunned

The Time Machine slowly closed, and Trunks vanished into a dazzling light. Holding the life-saving medicine in his hand, Son Goku stood on the desolate plain, letting the evening breeze stir his orange gi. In the distance, the setting sun dyed the clouds blood-red, as though foreshadowing the brutal battle three years from now.

"So the future world... is really that cruel?" Son Goku murmured. The bottle in his hand glimmered faintly beneath the sunset. He recalled the apocalyptic future Trunks had described: cities reduced to ruins, companions falling one after another, and the savage laughter of the Androids echoing through empty streets.

Meanwhile, at the highest point of Kami's Lookout—

"Whoosh—"

A figure appeared in the center of the temple without warning, the gust it brought whipping up dust from the ground. Kami, who had been meditating, abruptly opened his eyes, nearly dropping the staff in his hand. Piccolo instantly assumed a fighting stance, his green muscles tensed and his white cape fluttering without wind.

"It's you!" Piccolo's voice carried barely concealed tension, and a bead of cold sweat formed at his temple. He vividly remembered the miserable outcome of his last fight with Tang Yangbing—he had been sent flying before he could even withstand a single move.

Tang Yangbing looked around the temple floating above the clouds. His gaze swept over the stone pillars carved with ancient runes before finally settling on Piccolo. His long black hair drifted gently in the breeze, and his eyes held a hint of casual indifference.

"Relax." Tang Yangbing's voice was as cold as ice. "I only came here to use the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for training. With your current strength, you're not even qualified to make me lift a hand."

Piccolo's fists clenched with a crackle, and his green face flushed faintly with rage. He could feel the terrifying aura emanating from Tang Yangbing, like a volcano that could erupt at any moment. The air around the temple seemed to freeze, and even the clouds drifting in the distance appeared to have stopped moving.

"You..." Piccolo gritted his teeth and forcibly suppressed the urge to attack immediately. He remembered how Tang Yangbing had casually destroyed half a mountain with a wave of his hand last time. That world-ending power still haunted him.

Kami stepped forward, leaning on his staff, his aged face full of concern. "Mr. Tang Yangbing, you may indeed use the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, but please be extremely careful. Time passes differently inside. Once you exceed the limit..."

Tang Yangbing waved a hand and walked straight toward the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Each of his steps caused the temple floor to tremble faintly, while the force field around him made even the dust in the air scatter aside.

"Just wait!" Piccolo growled at Tang Yangbing's retreating back. "One day, I'll make you pay for your arrogance today!"

Tang Yangbing did not turn around. He merely raised a hand, and a ball of energy glowing with an eerie blue light condensed at his fingertips. Though it was only the size of a marble, the temperature across the entire temple suddenly dropped, and even the air began to distort.

"I look forward to that day," Tang Yangbing said calmly. "But before then, you should first find a way to surpass Super Saiyan."

The energy ball dispersed from his fingertips, leaving Piccolo standing there in a daze as unprecedented humiliation and determination surged within him. The sun finally sank beyond the horizon, its last ray of light falling upon Tang Yangbing's departing figure, as though drawing back the curtain on the coming storm.

The temple floated above the clouds like a celestial palace carved from white jade, surrounded by swirling mist and flowing sunset light. Inside, the vaulted ceiling towered overhead, strewn with stars as if it contained the entire universe. Kami sat upon his throne, his gaze profound, as though it could pierce through layers of cloud and perceive all things beneath heaven. He knew clearly that no movement on Earth could escape his sight.

Yet at this moment, he felt pressure unlike anything he had ever known. Tang Yangbing stood before him with a calm expression, but his eyes seemed capable of seeing through everything. Kami did not dare show the slightest negligence, because he knew that this young man was no ordinary person. Even an unruly powerhouse like Son Goku was no more than an ant before him, every bone in his body shattered without even a sliver of room to resist. If someone like this acted carelessly, the entire Earth might be reduced to dust in an instant.

"Kami, there's no need to be so nervous." Tang Yangbing's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable force. "I merely wish to stay at Kami's Lookout for a while and train here while I'm at it."

He smiled faintly, trying to ease Kami's fear. Tang Yangbing did not wish to become someone others feared. He understood that strength was not meant to bully the weak, but to protect and maintain balance. Slowly raising his hand, he gathered a gentle glow in his palm, as though showing Kami his goodwill.

"If you make things convenient for me, then if you need anything in the future, I can lend you a hand as well," Tang Yangbing continued, a trace of sincerity in his tone.

Hearing this, Kami felt somewhat reassured. He had lived for centuries and seen countless powerful beings. He knew that an exchange of interests was far more reliable than simple threats. The terms Tang Yangbing proposed were undoubtedly a mutually beneficial partnership. Kami's Lookout would provide him with a place to train, while he would promise to protect Earth's peace. Such a deal was the best choice for both sides.

"If that is the case, then we shall do as you say." Kami nodded, his expression gradually relaxing. "Kami's Lookout welcomes you."

However, Piccolo, standing nearby, was utterly baffled. He frowned, his gaze shifting back and forth between Tang Yangbing and Kami, his heart full of doubts. Tang Yangbing's strength had already reached such a terrifying level, so why did he still choose to train in a place like Kami's Lookout? Could there be some secret here that he had failed to notice?

Though Piccolo said nothing, deep down he was intensely curious about Tang Yangbing's training methods. He secretly hid behind a temple pillar, his eyes fixed on Tang Yangbing's every move, hoping to learn some method of rapidly increasing his strength. However, he was quickly disappointed. Tang Yangbing's training appeared extremely simple, even dull. At times he sat in meditation, and at others he threw slow punches, as if endlessly repeating the most basic movements imaginable.

"This... how is that possible?" Piccolo muttered under his breath. "Is he just putting on an act?"

However, as he continued observing, Piccolo gradually noticed something unusual. Every movement Tang Yangbing made contained an indescribable rhythm, as though he had merged with the energy between heaven and earth. His punches appeared simple, yet they could erupt with astonishing power in an instant; his breathing seemed steady, yet it appeared capable of drawing the surrounding energy into motion.

"No, this movement still isn't pure enough." Tang Yangbing suddenly stopped and muttered to himself. "My punches need to be more decisive, and my use of ki needs to be more restrained."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as though sensing the flow of the surrounding energy. Then he slowly raised his hands, palms facing each other, as an invisible force gathered between them. His body leaned forward slightly, his feet shifting lightly, as though he were performing a silent dance.

"The heart must be calm, the body must be steady. The body moves, the ki must flow..." Tang Yangbing recited softly, each word seeming to contain some profound principle.

Piccolo became absorbed in watching. Without realizing it, he began imitating Tang Yangbing's movements as well. Yet no matter how hard he tried, he could never reach that natural, flawless state. Only then did he understand that Tang Yangbing's training was not as simple as it appeared on the surface, but rather a deep comprehension of the essence of power.

Kami stood to one side, silently watching it all. He knew that Tang Yangbing's arrival might bring unprecedented changes to Kami's Lookout. And all of this had only just begun...

Popo stood quietly nearby, his gaze focused on Tang Yangbing's every movement. Beneath the temple's gentle light, his figure seemed especially composed, like an ancient guardian. Whenever Tang Yangbing's movements showed the slightest deviation, Popo would gently raise a hand and offer a few pointers in a mild yet firm tone. His voice was like a breeze brushing across the temple's ancient stone pillars, carrying indescribable wisdom and calm.

Tang Yangbing understood immediately, enlightenment glinting in his eyes. He continuously adjusted his posture, his breathing gradually becoming steady and deep, as though blending into the energy around him. His movements went from initially stiff to increasingly fluid. Every raised hand and every turn carried an effortless calm, as though he were conversing with the power between heaven and earth. His state of mind also gradually settled, like a still pool without a ripple, tranquil yet containing boundless strength.

The sight left Piccolo utterly confused. Standing some distance away, he furrowed his brows, his green face full of bewilderment. He could not help muttering inwardly, Could this guy really not even know the basics? How is that possible? The combat skill Tang Yangbing had displayed was clearly so exquisite. Every move was full of strength and agility, as though he and Son Goku had come from the same mold. The more Piccolo thought about it, the more unbelievable it seemed. He even began doubting his own judgment. In his understanding, how could such a powerful fighter possibly fail to grasp the basics?

Tang Yangbing gave Piccolo a tremendous headache. Whenever Tang Yangbing displayed astonishing progress during training, Piccolo felt like an idiot who could not understand the mystery behind it no matter what he did. He tried to find flaws in Tang Yangbing's movements, only to discover that every improvement Tang Yangbing made seemed to mock his ignorance. The feeling left Piccolo both helpless and irritated, and he even began to wonder whether he truly understood what real strength was.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a year passed. Tang Yangbing's growth rate was staggering. Every day, he broke through his own limits, as though there were no end to it. On this day, he wore an orange-red weighted training suit and floated cross-legged in the air. A faint layer of light enveloped his body, and the energy around him seemed drawn by his power, forming rings of transparent ripples. Like ripples spreading across water, they slowly expanded, causing slight distortions throughout the space, dreamlike and mysterious as a mirage.

Suddenly, a powerful force erupted from within Tang Yangbing. White waves of ki swept through the surroundings like a raging tide. A biting gale stirred up floating dust, while the pressure radiating from him formed a spiraling whirlwind. The power seemed capable of tearing space apart. Even though Tang Yangbing consciously restrained his aura, some of it still escaped beyond his control, shrouding all of Kami's Lookout in a heavy and powerful atmosphere.

Not far away, Popo, Kami, and Piccolo stood quietly, their expressions blank yet calm. They had already grown accustomed to Tang Yangbing's miraculous displays. There was a trace of gratification in Popo's eyes, as though he were watching a student gradually mature; a faint smile appeared on Kami's face, as if he were pleased by Tang Yangbing's progress; and though Piccolo remained confused, there was now a barely perceptible hint of respect in his gaze.

After a long while, Tang Yangbing exhaled softly and slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was clear and profound, as though it could see through all things in the world. He opened his heart and felt the entirely new power within him, as though he resonated with heaven and earth. As his aura gradually subsided, the oppressive feeling that had filled Kami's Lookout began to fade as well. Everything returned to calm, leaving only the gentle breeze brushing across the temple's ancient stone pillars with a faint lingering echo.

Above the temple, sunlight streamed through the clouds, making the entire sky as translucent as glazed crystal. Tang Yangbing stood in the center of the temple, his eyes slightly closed as he sensed the endlessly surging power within his body. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning, as though it could pierce the void. With a thought, a pale blue screen unfolded before him, displaying several clear lines of text.

text
[Name: Tang Yangbing]

[Gender: Male]

[Age: 18]

[Battle Power: 620 million (Base Form) -- 62 billion (Super Saiyan 2 Full Power)]

[Bloodline: Super Saiyan 2 (Awakened)]

[Superpower: Telekinesis (Psychic Manipulation)]

[Skills: Ki Sensing, Flight, Afterimage Fist, Kamehameha, Demon Flash, Instant Transmission, Death Beam, Death Energy Ball, Kaio-ken (20x), Spirit Bomb (Not Fully Mastered)]

Tang Yangbing lightly ran a fingertip across the screen, a satisfied curve rising at the corner of his lips. A faint golden aura flickered around his body, his hair moving without wind as arcs of electricity occasionally flashed through it. Though he had failed to break through to the legendary Super Saiyan 3, he could now perfectly wield all of Super Saiyan 2's power, controlling every bit of energy as easily as moving his own limbs.

"I've finally mastered it completely..." he murmured, his voice carrying a sense of relief. During his training just now, he had nearly lost control. The violent energy had been like a wild horse breaking free of its reins, almost leveling the entire temple to the ground.

Not far away, Mr. Popo slumped on the ground, his dark skin beaded with sweat. Trembling, he raised a hand and wiped his forehead with his sleeve, letting out a long breath. "That was terrifying... For a moment just now, I thought the Lookout was about to vanish from the human world." His voice still quivered slightly as his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the edge of the Lookout—where several floor tiles had developed faint cracks.

Leaning on his staff, Kami slowly approached, his white robe gently swaying in the breeze. He shook his head with a wry smile, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes seeming deeper than before. "Tang Yangbing, if you want to test your strength next time, the Hyperbolic Time Chamber would be more appropriate. The energy fluctuations erupting from your body just now even sent ripples through the Lookout's protective barrier."

Tang Yangbing scratched his head as the golden aura gradually subsided, revealing a somewhat apologetic smile. "I'm truly sorry. I got carried away for a moment and nearly caused a disaster." He recalled the scene when his power had erupted—golden waves of energy spreading outward from him, the air warping under the intense heat, even the clouds in the sky being scattered apart. If he had not reined in his power at the last moment, the entire Lookout might truly have been reduced to ruins.

Mr. Popo got to his feet and dusted himself off. Still shaken, he said, "Your strength now has far surpassed anything ordinary people could imagine. Back when Demon King Piccolo ran rampant, he only destroyed a few cities at most..."

Kami nodded gently, tapping his staff lightly against the ground. "Still, seeing you grow to such a level brings me great comfort. But..." He paused, his tone turning solemn. "Remember this well: the greater the power, the greater the responsibility. If this power were to go out of control, the consequences would be unimaginable."

Tang Yangbing nodded gravely, his gaze resolute. "I understand. I'll be much more careful about controlling my strength from now on." He looked into the distance, where the sea of clouds churned beneath his feet. Along with the joy of wielding such power came a deeper reverence for it.

A breeze swept past, carrying a trace of chill. The three of them fell silent for a moment. Only the lingering energy at the center of the Lookout continued to emit a faint glow, as though recounting the heart-stopping scene from moments ago.

Mo stood to the side, his face ashen and fine beads of cold sweat seeping from his forehead. His fists were clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, while his eyes remained fixed on the figure ahead. An indescribable fear welled up within him. This guy was simply too terrifying. Just a single glance had made him feel as though he had fallen into an icy abyss, as if an invisible force had seized him by the throat.

Kami stood some distance away, repeatedly wiping the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart, yet he could still feel his heart pounding violently in his chest. He secretly prayed that nothing like this would ever happen again. After all, he still wanted to live a few more years; he did not want to be worn down by such harrowing scenes.

After undergoing Mr. Popo's systematic and rigorous training, Tang Yangbing's combat power had not increased significantly in numerical terms, but his actual combat ability had improved by a full two or three times. His movements had become smoother, and his use of power more precise. He was like a finely honed blade, its edge restrained yet impossible to withstand.

"Has Son Goku come out of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber?" Tang Yangbing asked, his voice calm but carrying an authority that could not be ignored.

Ever since Tang Yangbing had defeated him with overwhelming superiority last time, Son Goku had become exceptionally diligent in his training. No longer content with ordinary methods, he had chosen to enter seclusion at Kami's Lookout, agreeing with Tang Yangbing that he would issue another challenge once he emerged. That refusal to admit defeat made even Tang Yangbing see him in a new light.

Mr. Popo looked up at the sky and pondered for a moment before saying, "By my reckoning, it should be about time." There was a hint of anticipation in his tone; clearly, he had great faith in Son Goku's growth. In his view, Son Goku's talent and perseverance were enough to let him make astonishing progress in a short time, perhaps even defeat Tang Yangbing in a future showdown.

Tang Yangbing nodded slightly and, after thinking for a moment, said, "I'll go get some Senzu Beans." As soon as he spoke, his figure flashed, turning into a streak of light as he flew straight toward the roof of the temple below.

As a miraculous healing item in the world of Dragon Ball, the effects of Senzu Beans were practically heaven-defying. Even Son Goku and Vegeta in their later deep-blue forms could instantly recover completely from exhaustion with just one bean. This miraculous item could not only heal injuries but also rapidly restore stamina, making it the ultimate safeguard in battle.

Previously, Tang Yangbing had been too occupied with cultivation to ask Korin for Senzu Beans. However, they were one of the indispensable goals of this journey. He knew well that in the battles to come, this miraculous item would play a crucial role.