The Grand Elder

The next second, they shot into the sky like arrows loosed from a bow, and the tundra beneath their feet rapidly shrank into a patch of green specks. The gale howled past their ears, but the barrier Tang Yangbing formed with his ki protected everyone completely; even Bulma's long hair was not disturbed. "Whoosh—!" They tore through the sky at several times the speed of sound. To Nison, the scenery before his eyes blurred into a stream of flowing colors, and the intense force pressing him back nearly left him unable to breathe. He had never experienced such astonishing speed before and could not help shouting excitedly, "Amazing! Mr. Tang Yangbing, this speed is simply unbelievable!"

The corner of Tang Yangbing's mouth lifted slightly, his gaze fixed on the direction Nison had indicated. Before long, a towering building appeared in sight. It was a circular hall built from white stone, its roof spiraling upward to a point, its surface covered in ancient Namekian script. A jade-green lake surrounded the hall, its waters reflecting the pale violet sky. Several dragonfly-like creatures lightly skimmed the surface, sending ripples spreading outward. Tang Yangbing slowly descended onto the stone steps before the hall, his footsteps as light as a falling leaf.

He released Nison's arm and looked toward the enormous stone door carved with intricate totems. A warm glow faintly seeped through the gap in the doors. Mo stood before that ancient wooden door and slowly closed his eyes, extending his senses across the entire Namekian village. A breeze drifted by, carrying the scent of grass and damp soil. In the distance, several domed buildings gleamed softly beneath the sunlight. He could clearly sense that the auras of the surrounding Namekians were as faint as fireflies, with most possessing battle powers of only a few thousand.

Yet within this seemingly ordinary house, a calm and powerful aura surged like an undercurrent—around one hundred thousand in battle power, condensed and restrained. "The Grand Elder is inside, isn't he?" Tang Yangbing opened his eyes, the corner of his mouth curling upward. He noticed a tall Namekian standing at the entrance, his skin dark green and his eyes sharp as an eagle's. His arms were crossed over his chest, muscles taut, clearly alert at all times. This should be the Grand Elder's personal bodyguard. Tang Yangbing thought to himself that although this Grand Elder had succeeded the position later on, he had already cultivated such a loyal guard.

As for the previous Grand Elder, that legendary sage had long since passed peacefully into the river of time, leaving behind only memories and a legacy upon this land. "Yes, Mr. Tang Yangbing, you're incredible!" Nison eagerly stepped closer, his eyes sparkling and his face filled with pure admiration. He gestured animatedly, as though Tang Yangbing's sensing ability just now had been some earth-shattering feat. "You could sense the Grand Elder's aura from so far away! I couldn't even see the lights inside the house clearly yet!" Tang Yangbing could not help chuckling and shaking his head.

This guy's innocence was like an uncut piece of jade, making Tang Yangbing find him both amusing and a little helpless. He raised a hand and ruffled Nison's head, the casual gesture carrying a trace of barely perceptible gentleness. "Is something this minor really worth getting so excited over?" Future Android 18 rolled her eyes from the side, her arms crossed over her chest, a mocking look appearing on her cool, beautiful face. She lightly tapped Tang Yangbing's shoulder with a fingertip and lowered her voice. "Does picking on a kid make you feel accomplished? He genuinely admires you. Can't you at least give him a slightly more serious response?"

Tang Yangbing shrugged without arguing, then stepped forward and pushed open the somewhat heavy wooden door. The hinges let out a soft creak, as if recounting the traces of time. The lighting within was gentle. Several Namekian fluorescent stone lamps hung along the walls, casting warm halos of light. A faint scent of sandalwood permeated the air, calming the mind. The Grand Elder sat upright in a broad stone chair, draped in a dark green robe embroidered with mysterious runes. Though elderly, his back remained straight. His eyes were as deep as ancient wells, as if they could see through the human heart.

The moment Tang Yangbing entered, he sensed an unusual aura—not the pressure of battle power, but a gentle strength originating from the source of life itself, like a spring breeze brushing over a lake and stirring layer upon layer of ripples. This must have been the unique fluctuation emitted by the Namekians' ability to create Dragon Balls. "Grand Elder, my name is Tang Yangbing. I'm Son Goku's friend." Without exchanging any pleasantries, Tang Yangbing got straight to the point, his voice clear and firm. He bowed slightly in a simple gesture of respect, yet his gaze never left the Grand Elder's face. "We came here hoping the Divine Dragon could help us with something."

The Grand Elder slowly raised his head, and a gentle smile appeared on his aged face. He nodded lightly, his voice low and magnetic, as though it could soothe away all restlessness. "You are Son Goku's friends, so of course there's no problem." He turned to the young Namekian waiting nearby and beckoned. "Dende, take Mr. Tang Yangbing and the others to summon the Divine Dragon." Dende quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully. He looked young and full of vitality, with curiosity and reverence in his eyes.

Tang Yangbing noticed that Dende held an exquisite wooden staff, its tip set with a gemstone that emitted a faint glow—clearly the key tool for summoning the Divine Dragon. "Please follow me, Mr. Tang Yangbing." Dende's voice was bright and enthusiastic as he turned and led everyone outside. Tang Yangbing took a deep breath, feeling the solidity of the earth beneath his feet, and thought to himself: This trip to Namek might uncover even more unknown mysteries. Namekians had always been known for their simplicity and kindness. As long as one did not harbor evil intentions, they would never hesitate to lend a hand.

At this moment, the Grand Elder sat upon his stone seat, his wrinkled fingers gently stroking his staff. Though his battle power was not particularly impressive, he possessed a special ability to perceive people's hearts. He gazed at Tang Yangbing before him. Those deep eyes reflected not the slightest trace of evil, only clarity. Dende, standing at the Grand Elder's side, was still a boy whose childishness had not yet faded, about as tall as Son Gohan. He rarely saw visitors from beyond Namek, and when he heard that the Grand Elder was entrusting him with the important task of summoning the Divine Dragon, joy immediately spread across his face. The little fellow excitedly clenched his fists, and even his voice trembled with delight. "Great!

Leave this task to me. Mr. Tang Yangbing, please follow me." Tang Yangbing nodded slightly and steadily carried the unconscious Future Android 18 over his shoulder. The girl's soft golden hair swayed gently with his steps, glimmering beneath Namek's three suns. They passed through winding rocky paths, with strange fluorescent plants swaying softly in the breeze on either side and scattering specks of phosphorescent light. Dende moved expertly across the vast grasslands and swiftly gathered all seven enormous Dragon Balls. The orange-red spheres gave off a mellow glow upon the grass, while the star patterns on their surfaces seemed to slowly drift.

The boy took a deep breath, formed hand seals before his chest, and began chanting an ancient incantation. At times, his voice rang out like thunder; at others, it was low as a whisper. Every syllable contained mysterious power. As the chant continued, the seven Dragon Balls suddenly erupted with dazzling golden radiance. At first, the light was merely like a thin mist shrouding the Dragon Balls' surfaces, but it soon surged like a tidal wave and finally transformed into a golden pillar of light piercing heaven and earth. Countless ancient runes could vaguely be seen flowing and leaping within the pillar, dyeing the entire sky a brilliant gold.

Future Android 18 had awakened at some point. She leaned against Tang Yangbing's side, her azure eyes filled with shock. Beneath their gazes, the golden pillar began to twist and deform, gradually gathering into an enormous outline. When the light faded, a completely emerald-green Divine Dragon appeared before them. Its bumpy skin gleamed with an oily sheen beneath the sun, its massive head nearly touching the clouds, while its short limbs formed a comical contrast with its immense body. "It really is this guy! He's so fat!" Tang Yangbing could not help blurting out, the corner of his eye twitching uncontrollably.