Qi Core Fission, Cultivation Advances Again; Demonic Flames Suppress the Island, Piccolo Arrives

Three days had passed since the battle with Android 9. Training on Turtle Hermit Island had not slowed; instead, it had intensified another level. A sixfold gravity field covered the entire beach, and even the force of the waves crashing against the shore seemed heavier. Four figures moved back and forth amid the gravity and surf, every motion carrying immense force.

After that battle, Goku and the other two had all clearly felt their own bottlenecks. Infusing ki into the bones was powerful, but its energy density was ultimately limited. Against an Android in Berserk Mode, physical strength alone was no longer enough. Based on this, Qi Tian adjusted their training plan, shifting the focus from "body tempering" to "ki condensation," directly targeting the second compression of their ki cores.

"A ki core is the source of all the power in your body. Your ki cores may have condensed now, but they are still solid masses." Standing atop a wave, Qi Tian condensed a tiny point of light from the black-gold energy at his fingertips. "If you can shatter and re-form their internal structure, compressing them layer by layer like fission, then at the same volume, their power can increase severalfold."

Goku's eyes lit up. He immediately sat cross-legged, pressing both hands over his lower abdomen as he pushed the ki within him inward with all his strength. The pale-blue ki core in his dantian spun rapidly and continually collapsed inward. Yet whenever it was compressed to the limit, it would shake violently, always on the verge of dispersing. He tried more than a dozen times, failing at the final moment every time. In the worst attempt, the rebounding ki left his blood and energy churning.

"It's not brute-force compression. It's layered nesting." With a flick of his finger, Qi Tian sent a thread of black-gold energy into Goku's body, guiding his ki into several thin membranes that wrapped around one another. "Condense one layer, then condense the next. Take it steadily."

With the divine essence guiding him, Goku understood at once. He calmed his mind, and his ki wound around itself layer by layer, like unraveling silk from a cocoon. The ki core that had once been the size of a fist gradually shrank, while its color became increasingly deep. Half a day later, he suddenly opened his eyes and brought his palms together at his waist. A deep-blue sphere of light the size of a thumb formed between them. It was several times smaller than the condensed-core version, yet its aura was several times more terrifying.

Kamehameha: Fission!

The sphere shot from his hands, so fast that it left behind only a streak of blue light as it plunged straight into the distant sea. A few moments later, the ocean first sank inward before exploding with a roar. A hundred-meter column of water surged into the sky, and the shockwave swept outward, even blasting several reef rocks off the beach.

"It's more than twice as powerful as the condensed-core version!" Goku pumped his fist excitedly, leaping several meters high even under six times gravity.

Not far away, Krillin had also made a breakthrough. The Destructo Disc at his fingertips was no longer a single disc. It split into three small ki blades arranged in a triangular formation. As they spun at high speed, they drew one another in, forming a strangling chain. The three ki blades flew out in unison. They could strike three separate targets or converge to shred a single one, their versatility far surpassing before.

Destructo Disc: Three-Star Strangle!

The ki blades swept through a cluster of reef rocks, instantly grinding several thick stone pillars into rubble. The cuts were staggered and orderly, while both their piercing and cutting power soared. Krillin withdrew his ki and caught his breath. "I always thought the bigger I made the Destructo Disc, the better. Turns out, the smaller and more condensed it is, the stronger its killing power becomes."

Yamcha, meanwhile, had taken another step forward in combining movement techniques with fist force. He fused the Afterimage Technique with penetrating ki. When he threw a punch, both his afterimages and real body unleashed fist force at the same time, concealing deadly attacks amid illusion and reality. With one Wolf Fang Fist, several streams of fist force overlapped at the same point, unleashing penetration powerful enough to punch straight through a half-meter-thick reef rock.

Wolf Fang Fist: Heart-Piercing Form!

As the fist force receded, Yamcha landed atop a reef rock. His breathing was slightly ragged, but his gaze was sharp. Compared with the overwhelming barrage of fist shadows he had used before, he now understood how to concentrate all his strength at a single point. His killing power was no longer what it had once been.

In just three days, the three of them had risen another level in strength. In their normal states, they could now steadily suppress a single Android 9 in Berserk Mode. If the three joined forces, even if five came at once, they could defeat them without Qi Tian needing to intervene.

At the top of the cliff, black-gold divine essence slowly circulated around Qi Tian, while the golden protective aura covering his body had grown even more condensed than before. Over the past few days, he had not hurried to break through to the fifth level of the body-tempering technique. Instead, he repeatedly refined Divine Essence Binding and his aura protection, making his control increasingly precise. He could form divine essence locks as thin as hairs to precisely seal a single enemy meridian, or make his protective aura defend only a few inches of space and concentrate its force-dispersing effect to the utmost limit.

[Ding! Detected that the host has continuously refined control over divine essence. Daily check-in triggered.]

[Check in?]

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

[1. Permanent battle power +1200. Current normal battle power: 20200.]

[2. Divine-tier Body-Tempering Technique, Fifth Level Initiation: Aura Projection. Can form a defensive field three feet beyond the body. Self-healing ability rises another tier.]

[3. Divine Essence Perception Enhancement: Can penetrate energy barriers and rock layers, precisely detecting hidden auras.]

A warm current spread through his meridians, and the golden aura unconsciously expanded outward, forming a faint golden curtain three feet thick around him. Wherever the curtain extended, even dust in the air was repelled, and not even the sea breeze could approach him. Qi Tian could clearly feel that the vitality of his body had grown richer still. Even if his bones were broken, they could heal completely within half a day.

At the same time, his divine essence perception spread out, piercing through seawater and rock layers. Every aura within a thousand miles fell into his awareness.

In the mountains to the west, Piccolo's aura was no longer lying dormant. It was rising ceaselessly like boiling magma, as cold and violent demonic flames shot into the sky. He was rapidly approaching Turtle Hermit Island.

Beneath the desert, the energy fluctuations in Dr. Gero's laboratory had become chaotic. Within Android 17 and Android 18's incubation chambers, two powerful auras were rapidly taking shape. Mixed within them was even a faint trace of divine essence's properties—clearly, Dr. Gero had deciphered part of the mysteries of divine essence from the data Android 9 had transmitted back and forcibly integrated it into the Androids' bodies.

And in the depths of space, those two Saiyan auras had drawn closer once again, their oppressive presence growing clearer.

Only six and a half months remained until they reached Earth.

"Piccolo is coming."

Qi Tian spoke softly, his voice carried by the sea breeze to the beach. The three who had been training stopped at the same time and looked toward the western horizon. Master Roshi walked to the edge of the cliff with his pipe in his mouth, narrowing his cloudy eyes. "That demon aura... it's several times stronger than before. Looks like his secluded training paid off, and now he's come knocking."

Before he finished speaking, the western sky suddenly darkened.

Rolling black clouds swept in, carrying cold demonic flames that blotted out the sky. Within the clouds stood a dark-green figure in proud defiance, the demonic markings on his forehead flickering. Dark-purple Demonic Essence Armor covered his body, and crimson eyes overlooked the entire Turtle Hermit Island. His killing intent was almost tangible.

It was none other than King Piccolo.

After two months, his aura had changed beyond recognition. With Demonic Essence Surge circulating through him, black energy churned around his body, corroding even the surrounding air with sizzling sounds. Compared with his condition during the battle in the town, King Piccolo's battle power had increased by at least three times.

"Qi Tian, come out and die!"

Piccolo's voice exploded like thunder, rolling demonic sound sending waves surging across the sea. His gaze swept over Goku and the other two on the beach. Surprise flashed in his eyes before turning into a cold sneer. "After more than two months, a few insects have actually improved quite a bit. Unfortunately, before absolute power, all your bitter training is futile."

Goku clenched his fists as pale-blue energy flared around him. "You sure talk big! You got away last time, but it won't be so easy this time!"

"Just you?" Piccolo scoffed, flicking his finger to fire a streak of black demonic light at astonishing speed. Goku's expression changed, and just as he was about to dodge, a wall of golden aura appeared before him.

Bang!

The demonic light struck the aura wall and instantly scattered, barely raising even a ripple.

Qi Tian slowly descended from the cliff, black-gold divine essence churning around him and a golden aura extending three feet around his body. He faced Piccolo's demonic flames from afar.

"Your Demonic Essence Armor has reached mastery, and you've even mastered Demonic Essence Surge. No wonder you dared to storm Turtle Hermit Island alone." His tone was calm as his gaze swept across Piccolo's armor. "But with just that much skill, it's still not enough."

"Whether it's enough or not, we'll find out after we fight!"

A fierce gleam surged in Piccolo's eyes as he abruptly brought his hands together. Dark-purple demonic energy frantically gathered in his palms, its energy fluctuations far exceeding anything from before.

Demonic Essence Surge Cannon!

A thick dark-purple beam shot straight toward Qi Tian with world-destroying force. Wherever it passed, the air was torn apart with a piercing shriek, while a deep trench was carved through the sea.

Qi Tian neither dodged nor evaded. He slowly raised his right palm as golden aura and black-gold divine essence intertwined within it.

"Aura Palm."

With a casual palm strike, a black-and-gold palm imprint met the Demonic Essence Surge Cannon. The instant the two collided, there was no earth-shattering explosion—only terrifying energy ripples spreading in every direction. The sand and stones on the beach were instantly flattened, while the waves were forcibly shoved back a hundred meters.

Piccolo's pupils constricted. He felt as though his full-powered strike had slammed into the deep sea, its force dispersed layer by layer until it finally vanished without a trace.

"How is that possible?!" he cried out. After two months of frenzied training, coupled with Dr. Gero's biological modifications, he had believed his strength had changed beyond recognition. Yet before Qi Tian, he was still this powerless?

"Your Demonic Essence Surge is still far too crude." Qi Tian stood with his hands behind his back, his black robes unmoving amid the turbulent energy. "Demonic power is not built through brute force. You have only learned the surface of it."

"Bullshit!"

Piccolo was shocked and enraged. The demonic flames around him surged several times stronger as his body abruptly vanished from its original position, turning into a streak of black light that shot straight at Qi Tian. His fists, wrapped in demonic essence, cast countless overlapping shadows, sealing off every possible direction of escape. Empowered by Demonic Essence Armor, every punch carried the might to split mountains and shatter rocks. Even reefs were reduced to dust by the force of his blows.

Qi Tian shifted slightly, golden aura protecting his body. He allowed the barrage of fists to land upon him, producing only repeated metallic clangs. He did not retreat even half a step. Now and then, he lightly tapped with his fingertips, black-and-gold divine essence threading through the air like silk and continuously dispersing the force of the punches.

"Your strength is sufficient. Your speed is lacking, though, and your techniques have far too many openings."

His tone was calm, as though he were instructing a junior. Piccolo burned with rage at his words, yet he had no choice but to admit that the other man's defense was like an impenetrable wall. Even with his all-out assault, he could not so much as touch the hem of Qi Tian's robes.

Goku and the other two watched in stunned disbelief from the side. They knew full well how powerful Piccolo was now. If it had been them, they likely would not have lasted ten moves. Yet Qi Tian remained so calm and effortless. The gap between the two was so immense that it was deeply shocking.

"Piccolo has gotten so much stronger, but he still can't beat Brother Qi Tian." Goku muttered, though an even fiercer fighting spirit ignited in his eyes. "I have to become this strong too!"

At the center of the battlefield, Piccolo had attacked for so long without success that his breathing gradually became uneven. Demonic Essence Surge consumed an enormous amount of power. He could not sustain such full-force output for long.

"Damn it..." He gritted his teeth and retreated, staring fixedly at Qi Tian. "Do you only know how to dodge?!"

Qi Tian raised his eyes as black-and-gold divine essence abruptly condensed.

"Since you want to test my attacks, then I shall grant your wish."

He raised a hand and clenched it. Divine essence gathered in his palm, forming a black-and-gold longsword. Golden aura flowed along its edge, its sharp presence making everyone's skin sting.

Piccolo's expression changed drastically. Instinctively, he pushed Demonic Essence Armor to its limit. Black energy churned around his body, and the armor's thickness increased severalfold. He could sense that the sword contained power capable of effortlessly tearing through his defenses.

Just as Qi Tian was about to strike, he suddenly frowned and turned his gaze toward the desert.

Within his divine essence perception, two auras far surpassing Android 9 were rapidly rising from beneath the desert, heading toward Turtle Hermit Island.

Android 17 and Android 18?

No, their auras aren't that strong yet. Are they prototypes?

Dr. Gero actually chose this moment to act, intending to reap the rewards without lifting a finger.

Piccolo also sensed the energy fluctuations in the distance, and his expression shifted slightly. He instantly understood Dr. Gero's scheme—use him to exhaust Qi Tian, then release the androids to take advantage of the situation.

"You old bastard, you dare scheme against me!" Piccolo roared, but he also knew that now was not the time to settle scores. He shot Qi Tian a vicious glare. "I'll let you off for today. Next time, I'll flatten Turtle Hermit Island!"

With that, the demonic flames around him swept up, turning him into a streak of black light as he retreated toward the deep mountains. He was arrogant, but not foolish. Being caught between enemies was hardly a wise choice.

Qi Tian did not pursue him. He withdrew the divine essence sword and looked toward the desert horizon, where two silver-gray figures were rapidly approaching.

Dr. Gero had ultimately failed to restrain himself and released the incomplete Android 17 and Android 18 ahead of schedule.

"Just sent one away, and now two more are coming." Goku rolled his wrists, his fighting spirit undiminished. "Perfect. Let's test ourselves against them together!"

Master Roshi tapped his pipe and said gravely, "Be careful. Those two auras are far stronger than Android 9's."

Qi Tian nodded slightly.

He could sense that these two androids had fused demonic genes with partially analyzed divine essence traits. Their combat strength far surpassed Android 9's mass-produced model. Though they were not complete forms, they were more than enough to present Goku and the other two with a true test of life and death.

The two silver-gray figures arrived in an instant, hovering above Turtle Hermit Island. One man and one woman, they looked no different from ordinary people, lacking Android 9's heavy mechanical appearance. Only the faint red glimmer in their pupils revealed their identities as androids.

They were the still-incomplete Android 17 and Android 18.

"Targets confirmed. Execute collection and elimination directive."

Android 17 spoke flatly and moved first. With a flicker, he was even faster than Android 9 in berserk mode, charging straight at Goku. Android 18 followed close behind, targeting Krillin and Yamcha.

The battle erupted once more.

And this time, it was far more difficult than the siege by Android 9.