Divine Arts from Signing In at Kami's Lookout, Honing Combat Skills in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber

"Sign in."

With a slight stir of Qi Tian's thoughts, the system prompt immediately sounded.

[Ding! Sign-in complete. Rewards issued.]

[1. Permanent power level +900. Current base power level: 11,900.]

[2. Divine Essence Perception: Can perceive the trails of divine-level auras, see through low-level energy disguises and illusions, and increases the accuracy of sensing demonic energy and malicious intent severalfold.]

[3. Exclusive access to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber: May enter independently twice per year, with a maximum stay of 48 hours per visit (equivalent to two days outside).]

[4. Divine-tier Basic Body Tempering Art: Optimizes the body's efficiency in absorbing energy, permanently increasing normal cultivation speed by 30%.]

A warm, pure current spread through his limbs and bones. Unlike the violent sensations brought by his previous sign-in rewards, this power carried the unique serenity of divine essence, silently tempering his flesh and meridians. Qi Tian could clearly feel his control over the energy around him becoming even more refined. He could even perceive the faint traces of divine aura drifting through the air with perfect clarity.

He raised his eyes toward Kami across from him. The divine aura that had once been blurry around the man was now clearly discernible—his power level was a little over twenty thousand. Its strength lay in its purity and enduring quality, carrying a faint pressure on the level of natural laws. Ordinary demons would not even be able to approach him. But in terms of sheer destructive power, he was far inferior to Qi Tian in his transformed state.

"It was nothing." Qi Tian withdrew his gaze, his tone calm. "Though Piccolo is dead, the demonic seed remains. You sensed it too, didn't you, Kami?"

Kami's gaze darkened slightly, and he let out a soft sigh. "That is correct. Piccolo and I were once one being, born as two halves. His evil thoughts became demonkind, while my righteous thoughts became divine. Though his body has perished, he had already expelled a demonic egg to pass on his bloodline. As long as the demonic seed exists, I will not die. Yet the hidden danger posed by demons in this world is far from over."

Goku, who had been listening in confusion, scratched his head and cut in. "Demonic seed? You mean that egg Piccolo flew away with? Then shouldn't we hurry up, find it, and smash it?"

"That egg conceals its energy extremely well, and it vanished into the vast mountains. By now, it has likely disappeared without a trace." Kami shook his head, looking at Goku with a measure of approval. "You must be Son Goku. Korin has mentioned you to me before. He said you possess exceptional natural talent and are a rare cultivation prodigy seen once in a century."

Goku's eyes lit up. "You know Korin? Then are you even stronger than him? Can you teach me how to train? I want to become stronger!"

He was straightforward by nature, saying whatever came to mind. His eyes brimmed with a desire to grow stronger.

Kami smiled at that. "If you are willing, you may remain at Kami's Lookout to train. Mr. Popo will teach you the basics of divine-energy body tempering. With the spiritual energy of the Lookout, your progress will far surpass anything possible in the mortal world. But cultivation is harsh and lonely. Can you endure that solitude?"

"Of course I can!" Goku nodded without hesitation. "As long as I can get stronger, I don't care how long it takes!"

Qi Tian was not surprised. In the original story, Goku would indeed train at Kami's Lookout in preparation for the next World Martial Arts Tournament. He turned to Kami and asked, "I heard there is a Hyperbolic Time Chamber at Kami's Lookout, where time flows differently from the outside world. Is that true?"

A trace of surprise appeared on Kami's face. The Hyperbolic Time Chamber was a forbidden ground of the Lookout. Aside from successive Kamis and their attendants, almost no one in the mortal world knew of it. Yet this young man had named it outright?

Though suspicious, Kami did not press the matter. He merely nodded. "There is indeed such a place. A year inside is only one day outside. Spiritual energy is sparse, while gravity is immense. It is an excellent place for arduous training. But ordinary people cannot endure more than a few months before suffering a mental breakdown, and each person may enter for no more than two years in their lifetime. Any longer, and the space itself will reject them."

"You killed Piccolo and rendered a great service to Earth. If you wish to train inside, naturally, there is no issue."

"Thank you." Qi Tian gave his thanks.

He had originally been wondering how to bring it up, but Kami had agreed so readily. With the time difference in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, he could use this period to hone his combat skills, gain more thorough control over the power of the Myriad-Transformation Black-Gold Great Ape, and absorb the benefits of the Divine-tier Body Tempering Art along the way.

"Can I go in now?" Goku leaned over, his face full of anticipation.

"Not yet." Mr. Popo stepped forward, his voice low. "Your body is not yet strong enough to withstand the gravity and spatial pressure inside the Time Chamber. You must first train in basic body tempering at the Lookout for three months and build a firm foundation before you may enter."

Goku looked a little disappointed, but he obediently nodded. "All right, then I'll train with you first!"

It was settled then and there. Goku would remain at the Lookout to train under Mr. Popo, while Master Roshi and the others would temporarily return to Turtle Hermit Island. Kami sent Mr. Popo to deliver word to the mortal world, informing everyone that they were safe. He also mentioned the restoration of the Dragon Balls—Shenron's divine soul had been damaged and would need to be nourished by divine essence for roughly half a year before it could gather again. At that time, the seven Dragon Balls would regain their divine power and scatter across the world once more.

When Bulma and the others learned that the Dragon Balls could be restored, they were overjoyed. The weight in their hearts finally lifted completely.

Once everything had been arranged, the Lookout returned to its tranquility.

Qi Tian stood before the stone doors of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, studying the ancient divine patterns carved upon them as he exerted a little force through his fingertips. The doors slowly slid apart, and a dry, icy wind rushed toward him. Beyond lay an endless expanse of white void. Beneath his feet was hard grayish-white ground, while everything in the distance was shrouded in gray haze, with no end in sight.

The gravity was roughly ten times that of Earth. Energy in the air was exceedingly sparse, and even when he spread out his spiritual senses, he could only perceive a few hundred meters. It truly was an excellent place to temper one's will and body.

"I'll stay inside for two days. I'll come out two days from now." Qi Tian said this to Kami over his shoulder, then stepped inside.

The stone doors slowly shut behind him, sealing away every sound from the outside world.

Qi Tian drew a deep breath as the energy around his body began to circulate slowly. Under ten times gravity, even raising a hand felt several degrees heavier than usual. The sparse spiritual energy made every attempt at absorption yield little, forcing one to squeeze every last drop of potential from oneself.

"Perfect. Let's test my control over power under a sevenfold amplification."

A black-gold gleam flashed through his eyes. Rather than transforming directly into his Great Ape form, he remained in human shape and gradually released the power of his transformation. Starting with a single-fold amplification, he slowly layered it higher, carefully sensing the path of every strand of power flowing through his meridians as he refined the speed of his punches, the angles of his exertion, and the compression of his energy.

His power level had risen too quickly before. Most of it had come from sign-ins and transformation amplifications. Though Flaw Insight had strengthened the foundation of his combat techniques, he still lacked the tempering of countless battles and trials. These two years in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber were just what he needed to make up for that weakness.

Punch after punch flew forth. At first, they still howled through the air. Later, his fist force became increasingly condensed, until his punches made no sound at all. Only delicate ripples appeared in the air wherever his fists passed. Black-gold currents flickered across his knuckles, changing from their initial disorder into something as obedient as his own limbs, freely released and withdrawn at will.

Time quietly passed within the deathly silent space.

When he was hungry, he wrapped himself in energy to temporarily suppress it. When he was tired, he sat cross-legged to meditate and regulate his breathing, contemplating the mysteries of the Divine-tier Body Tempering Art. Day after day, Qi Tian repeatedly moved across the empty white ground. Fists, palms, fingers, and legs—every part of his body became a weapon of attack. His techniques gradually shed their complexity and returned to simplicity, but their power only grew more terrifying.

Two days outside. Two years inside.

When the stone doors slowly opened once more and dazzling daylight spilled in, a figure walked out at an unhurried pace.

The youth's appearance had not changed, but his aura was several times steadier than it had been two days earlier. The energy around him was perfectly restrained, without a single flaw. Even his eyes were calm as a deep pool. Only the occasional flash of black-gold sharpness within them revealed the terrifying power concealed beneath.

[Ding! The host has completed the first training session in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Base power level has steadily increased. Current base power level: 12,800.]

[Myriad-Transformation Black-Gold Great Ape transformation control has risen to the "microscopic" level. Transformation energy consumption reduced by 20%. Duration increased by 50%.]

Qi Tian clenched his fist, sensing the increasingly pure power within his body, and the corner of his mouth lifted.

This trip had not been in vain.

On the platform of Kami's Lookout, Kami stared at the Qi Tian emerging from the chamber, his eyes filled with shock.

In only two short days, this youth's aura had become so much more condensed? That was the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Ordinary people would enter and suffer endlessly, yet he had managed to improve steadily?

How could Kami know that Qi Tian not only had the system assisting him, but also the Divine-tier Body Tempering Art? His training efficiency had always far surpassed that of ordinary people, so after two years of arduous cultivation, his gains were naturally tremendous.

"Did your training go well?" Kami suppressed the storm in his heart and asked.

"Not bad." Qi Tian nodded slightly, sweeping his gaze around. "Where's Goku?"

"He's in the rear hall training aura control with Mr. Popo. His progress has been extremely fast." As Kami spoke, his tone suddenly shifted. "Actually, aside from thanking you and discussing the Dragon Balls, there is another reason I invited you to the heavenly realm."

Qi Tian looked up at him. "Go on."

"In a few months, it will be the World Martial Arts Tournament." Kami's tone turned solemn. "I foresee that the demonic seed will hatch and grow far faster than reason would allow. That little Demon King may very well appear in the mortal world through the tournament. When that happens, I will need you to act and bring the threat of the demons to a complete end."

Qi Tian's eyes flickered.

Piccolo Jr. would be born early?

Interesting.