Immortality Elixir

"Mm-hm, not bad. You handled things pretty reliably, kid. I'm very satisfied." After storing all the seafood in the Crystal Ball with great satisfaction, Korin winked mysteriously at Mu Yang. "Seeing as you've got decent potential, I can give you a promise."

"What promise?" Mu Yang asked curiously.

"Haha, this promise of mine is no small matter..." Korin narrowed his eyes and said leisurely, "If you continue training diligently and persistently, then when I think the time is right, I'll take you somewhere even more advanced. Let me tell you, even Master Roshi isn't qualified to go there. Interested?"

"Oh, right. The Master Roshi I mentioned is Master Mutian. Down below, you call him the God of Martial Arts." Afraid Mu Yang did not know who Master Roshi was, Korin explained further.

"Master Mutian!"

Mu Yang fell silent. How could he not understand that the mysterious place Korin spoke of was the Sacred Temple?

"That's him. Even he isn't qualified to go there. For martial artists, that place is the true holy land. Do you want to go? As long as you earn my approval, I can let you go!" Korin patted Mu Yang on the shoulder, clearly holding him in high regard.

"If such a place truly exists, then of course I want to go!"

Since Korin had taken the initiative to mention the Sacred Temple, Mu Yang did not beat around the bush. He flashed a bright grin and stated his position directly. If there was one place on Earth best suited for increasing one's strength, the Sacred Temple was unquestionably number one.

Korin, meanwhile, had also figured out Mu Yang's intentions and could not help smiling. From Mu Yang's perspective, he hoped Korin would recommend him to ascend to the Sacred Temple someday. Korin, likewise, had been considering recommending talented people to the Sacred Temple. Several hundred years ago, he had believed Master Roshi possessed those qualifications, but unfortunately, it had never happened.

Earth had gone a very long time without anyone ascending to the Sacred Temple. It truly was a pity.

"Karin the Immortal, when do you think I'll reach a level that earns your approval?" Mu Yang asked.

"That's hard to say. It depends on how much effort you put in from now on!"

"Hehe, I don't think that day is too far off," Mu Yang said with a smile.

"You're quite confident." Korin looked at Mu Yang.

"Shouldn't cultivators be full of confidence in themselves?"

He had the air of someone saying, I'm showing off—why should I explain myself to you?

Korin paused, then nodded. "That's right. Striving to advance is a good thing. I hope you won't keep me waiting too long." Korin had personally witnessed Mu Yang's monstrous training speed. If there was anyone on Earth who could earn his approval, Mu Yang was certainly one of them.

Korin turned and returned to the bottom floor of Karin Tower. In a corner, he lit a bonfire and set several sea fish over it, intending to make himself a lavish meal as a reward. Before long, the fishy smell gradually faded in the flames, replaced by an enticing aroma.

Breathing in the fragrance, Korin blissfully narrowed his eyes. He grabbed one of the fish and swallowed it in just a few bites.

"Delicious!"

With the lingering flavor still on his lips, Korin licked his palm and grabbed another fish.

"Karin the Immortal, I heard that Master Mutian is called the 'God of Martial Arts' not only because his martial arts are exceptionally powerful, but also because there are rumors that he has lived for over two hundred years. Can humans really live that long?"

Mu Yang sat on the ground eating grilled fish as well, asking curiously between bites. In truth, he had also been thinking about how to extend his lifespan.

With grilled fish in his mouth, Korin replied indistinctly, "That guy Master Roshi has indeed lived a little too long, but ordinary humans can't live to that age."

"Then why has Master Roshi lived so long?"

It was not only those first two hundred years. Mu Yang knew Master Roshi could live even longer. Even after the entire Dragon Ball story ended, when Bulma in the original work had already developed wrinkles, Master Roshi still looked like a frail old man. He appeared as though he could be buried at any moment, but his body was actually incredibly robust. Mu Yang suspected that even if all the Dragon Ball warriors died, Master Roshi would still be alive and well.

There had to be a reason for his longevity. Korin set down the fish in his hand and said, "That's because Master Roshi ate an Immortality Elixir."

"Immortality Elixirs really exist in this world?" Mu Yang asked in surprise. He had thought the rumors of such elixirs were complete nonsense, yet Master Roshi had actually taken one.

"They existed in the past. I've taken them too. They're divine medicines specially prepared for the immortals guarding Karin Tower. One pill can extend a person's lifespan by four hundred years. Back then, Master Roshi stayed atop Karin Tower and shamelessly begged me for them. In the end, I couldn't stand it anymore and gave him four pills, leaving me with no stock at all."

As he said this, Korin seemed faintly regretful.

Back then, he should not have been so generous as to give Master Roshi four pills. Immortality Elixirs were extremely difficult to make and required a particularly special herb. However, that herb was exceedingly rare, so Korin could not produce another batch anytime soon.

After hearing Korin's explanation, Mu Yang could not help twitching at the corner of his mouth. Just how wasteful was this Korin? Senzu Beans, Immortality Elixirs, the Power Pole, the Flying Nimbus—he had a habit of giving away every kind of treasure.

But now, many things finally made sense.

After Master Roshi obtained the Immortality Elixirs, he had surely split them evenly with Master Shen. At that time, Master Roshi and Master Shen had not yet fallen out. The two fellow disciples each received two pills. Master Roshi kept one for himself and gave the other to his older sister, Fortune Teller Baba. Master Shen also gave one of his pills to Tien Shinhan.

That was why Master Roshi, Master Shen, Fortune Teller Baba, and Tien Shinhan had each lived for so many years—each of them had taken one pill.

"Karin the Immortal, how are these Immortality Elixirs made?" Mu Yang asked.

Perhaps seeing Mu Yang's keen interest in the Immortality Elixirs, Korin continued, "Although these Immortality Elixirs can extend one's lifespan and seem very tempting, they have a huge flaw. After taking one, the body's potential is completely drained away, and it becomes basically impossible to improve one's strength any further."

"You're still young, Mu Yang, and your potential is quite good. There's no need for you to consider such things. Besides, even if you wanted one, I don't have any left here."

Immortality Elixirs were ultimately prepared for immortals, and their level was not particularly high. Korin hoped Mu Yang would focus his mind on martial arts instead. Perhaps he could reach an even higher level in the future.

Mu Yang nodded after hearing this, gaining a clearer understanding of the elixir's effects.

Much like Super Divine Water, which squeezed out one's potential in exchange for powerful strength, the Immortality Elixir traded away the latent power within the body for a long lifespan. Taking one did not mean one's power could never grow again, only that compared to before, making progress became extraordinarily difficult.

Based on that, Master Roshi and the others probably had not taken the elixirs immediately after obtaining them. They had likely waited until their bodies began to age before taking them.

Mu Yang understood Korin's advice well. He smiled and said, "Karin the Immortal is right. These aren't things I need to consider."

Before unlocking Acceleration Space, Mu Yang might have coveted the effects of an Immortality Elixir. But now that he had Acceleration Space and a far grander future before him, he would have to be crazy to throw away the watermelon to pick up sesame seeds.