After several long days of waiting, those precious fruits finally ripened.
During this time, Wumu spared no effort in training Ganazi, repeatedly pushing him to the brink of death before using Senzu Beans to pull him back to the edge of life, sending Ganazi's power level soaring to seven hundred thousand. Although they also tried to increase his strength through his passive skill, this method was clearly becoming unsustainable.
When Wumu carefully picked the ripe fruits and found that there were only six, he felt some regret, but could only accept the fact.
"Nazi, this fruit is for you." As Wumu spoke, he tossed Ganazi a fruit from the Tree of Might.
In truth, Wumu had considered keeping all the fruits for himself. After all, apart from these fruits, he had no other cheat to rely on, unlike Ganazi, who possessed a passive skill he could grind endlessly. In the end, however, considering Ganazi's loyalty and companionship, he decided to give him one.
Ganazi swallowed the fruit without hesitation. He had already learned of its miraculous effects from Wumu and knew that these fruits were precisely why Wumu had come to this planet.
Boom!
The instant he ate the fruit, the energy within Ganazi erupted violently like a wild horse freed from its reins, sending powerful fluctuations radiating outward.
"This... my power level has actually surpassed nine hundred thousand. Just a few days ago, it was only twelve thousand. This is unbelievable." Ganazi stared at his hands in shock, unable to believe any of it.
"This is your first time eating one, and your own talent is quite good, so the effect is especially pronounced. But the effects won't be this astonishing afterward," Wumu explained with a smile. He then swallowed the remaining five fruits himself, and his power level leaped to three million.
It feels as though I've touched some kind of limit. It seems difficult to make another breakthrough in the short term. A power level of three million is strong, but it still doesn't seem to meet my expectations. If I could break through to Dan Jin now, my power level might reach twenty-four million, but that would still be far short of my goal.
Wumu thought no more about it and decided to leave the planet with Ganazi, heading to Planet Yardrat to continue their training.
Looking at Wumu, who had grown stronger yet again, Ganazi nodded, and the two boarded the spaceship together.
After several months of traveling through space, they finally reached Planet Yardrat. During this time, they explored two more uninhabited planets and obtained sixteen precious fruits. Wumu tried eating one, only to discover that his power level did not increase at all. He therefore gave three to Ganazi and decided to save the remaining twelve until he broke through to Dan Jin.
When the spaceship landed and Wumu and Ganazi stepped out, a blue-skinned Yardratian came forward to greet them.
"Hello, guests from afar. My name is Pybara, and I am an elder of Planet Yardrat. May I ask what brings our honored guests here?"
Pybara resembled a catfish from the deep sea, and his gaze was filled with curiosity.
In the original story, Son Goku had also said that the Yardratians were all very friendly.
"I am Wumu, from Earth, and this is Ganazi. We came here to learn and train," Wumu replied politely.
"Oh, so you've come to train. We Yardratians have always advocated peace and gladly share techniques for learning and development. Please follow me!" As Pybara spoke, he led them toward the Yardratian settlement.
After they entered a spacious hall and took their seats, Elder Pybara began, "To use ki, you must reach into the depths of your spirit. Merely pursuing explosive power will not allow you to comprehend the further mysteries of ki."
"I can sense that your spirit seems to have undergone training before, but it has yet to merge perfectly with the energy within your body. As for your companion, a faint current of violent ki flows within him. This evil stems from an untrained spirit. You should first temper your hearts and minds before discussing other training."
Hearing this, Wumu and Ganazi exchanged glances, then nodded and answered together, "All right, Elder Pybara."
Thus, in the days that followed, they followed Elder Pybara and devoted themselves to cultivating spiritual power.
Wumu knew full well that in the world of Dragon Ball, many people neglected spiritual cultivation. For him, however, spiritual power was especially crucial to breakthroughs in the realms of National Martial Arts. His rapid growth in strength during this period had nearly made him forget this.
Just as Son Goku had never abandoned spiritual training in the original story, every one of his teachers had emphasized the importance of spiritual learning.
Under Elder Pybara's guidance, Wumu and Ganazi began to value and cultivate spiritual power.
Planet Yardrat's surroundings were tranquil and peaceful, encircled by a lush green forest, with the delicate fragrance of flowers filling the air. It seemed cut off from the world, making it an ideal place to train.
The elder led them to a secluded valley, a secret place where the Yardratians cultivated spiritual power.
At the center of the valley lay a crystal-clear lake, its waters transparent to the bottom. A massive platform stood in the middle of the lake, carved with intricate patterns that gave off a faint glow.
"This is our sacred site for cultivating spiritual power, called Spirit Heart Lake," Elder Pybara explained. "By training here, you can not only cleanse your spirits but also gain insight into deeper levels of power."
Following his instructions, Wumu and Ganazi sat on the platform, closed their eyes, and began trying to sense everything around them.
At first, they could sense only the energy within their own bodies. As time passed, they gradually became able to perceive the subtle changes in the natural world around them, including the sound of the flowing lake water, the rustling of wind through the leaves, and even the breathing of distant animals.
Wumu discovered that through spiritual cultivation, he could perceive the flow of ki within his body more deeply, and could even sense the subtle changes in the natural world around him.
This feeling was unlike anything he had experienced before. He began to understand that improving his strength was not merely a matter of increasing his power level; more important was the harmonious resonance between his spirit and nature.
As his training deepened, Wumu's state of mind began to change. The things that had once troubled and distracted him gradually faded, replaced by an unprecedented tranquility and peace. He felt as though his spirit had been washed clean, becoming purer.
The changes in Ganazi were even more apparent. Over this period of training, the violent ki originally within him was gradually worn away, replaced by a gentle yet steadfast power. His gaze also grew deeper, as though he could see through people's hearts.
A month passed in the blink of an eye. Under Elder Pybara's guidance, Wumu and Ganazi not only cultivated spiritual power but also learned how to combine it with their own ki to produce more powerful effects.
It's been two years since I left Earth. The 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament should have begun by now. I have no way of knowing how Uncle Malo and the others are doing. Next comes King Piccolo's appearance, and the historic moment when he is ultimately defeated by Son Goku.
In another three years, the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament will begin, followed immediately by Son Goku and Chi-Chi's wedding. Five years after that, Raditz will arrive on Earth, and at that moment, the plot will officially unfold. If I'm strong enough by then, perhaps I can defeat Frieza myself before Son Goku transforms.