"Since Tien Shinhan decided to go up to Kami's Lookout first, I'll wait until we come back before trying the Ultra Divine Water!"
When Kid Goku heard Tien Shinhan's choice, he immediately said he wanted to go up to Kami's Lookout first too.
"Yes, that's a wise choice."
Master Korin nodded, then pointed upward.
"Goku, all you need to do is extend the Power Pole upward from the middle of the hall, and it'll connect to Kami's Lookout above."
Master Korin then told the two of them how to reach Kami's Lookout.
Neither of them set off right away, though.
Chiaotzu had started climbing the tower right behind them, so they needed to wait for him first.
While Chiaotzu was still on his way up, Tien Shinhan turned to Master Korin.
"Goku has already trained under you, Master Korin. I wonder if I could receive some guidance too before going to Kami's Lookout?"
Since he had nothing else to do, Tien Shinhan wanted to take this opportunity to learn from Master Korin.
Master Korin might have looked like nothing more than a big, fat white cat.
But in fact, he was at least eight hundred years old.
An existence that ancient was bound to have his own mysteries, even if his power level wasn't necessarily all that high.
Tien Shinhan had already trained by climbing the tower once, and doing it again wouldn't be as effective as the first time.
Master Korin's guidance, on the other hand, was something he had yet to receive.
"The fact that you and Goku could defeat King Piccolo means your power levels are already no lower than mine.
I wouldn't call it guidance. I don't actually know all that much, but I can exchange a few pointers with you on coordination and agility."
Master Korin gave an objective account of his abilities.
He might already have fallen behind Tien Shinhan in power level, but agility and coordination were his specialties.
Naturally, he wouldn't turn down Tien Shinhan's enthusiasm for exchanging pointers.
Especially since Tien Shinhan had just defeated King Piccolo, resolving a major crisis on Earth for immortals like them and Kami.
And so, Master Korin took out the Ultra Divine Water jug from before and hung it on his staff.
Seeing this familiar scene, Goku grew interested too.
"Snatching the Ultra Divine Water? I want in too! Master Korin, I want in too!"
Kid Goku still remembered spending a full three days trying to snatch the Ultra Divine Water from Master Korin.
This time, he wanted to see how much he could shorten that time.
Although he already knew the Ultra Divine Water was just ordinary tap water with no special effects, Kid Goku was still very interested in this kind of training.
"Both of you at once? That puts quite a bit of pressure on me.
Looks like I'll lose seven or eight jin of this flab after today's exchange."
When Master Korin heard that Goku wanted to join in too, his gaze swept over the faces of the two poised challengers, and beads of sweat couldn't help forming on his forehead.
Facing two challengers this strong put quite a bit of pressure on him as an immortal.
If he performed poorly and had the Ultra Divine Water snatched away right at the start, he couldn't bear the embarrassment.
So, as the challenge began, he took it more seriously than ever before.
Whoosh-
Tien Shinhan lunged at Master Korin like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey.
What had seemed like a sure catch struck nothing but an afterimage.
The real Master Korin appeared somewhat hastily two meters ahead, the Ultra Divine Water jug swaying on his staff.
Master Korin was nowhere near as calm and composed as he had been when testing Kid Goku.
Still, he had at least successfully evaded Tien Shinhan's first attempt.
But before he could catch his breath, Goku shot in from the other side like a human cannonball, hurtling toward the spot where he had just appeared.
Compared to Tien Shinhan's tiger-like pounce, Kid Goku was even wilder. He wasn't even trying to grab the Ultra Divine Water with his hands.
Instead, he intended to knock the Ultra Divine Water off the staff with his head.
This frenzied attempt put immense pressure on Master Korin as well, despite his initial assumption that facing Goku would be a little easier.
Interesting. Master Korin's raw speed should clearly be lower than mine.
Yet he can narrowly dodge just as I'm about to touch the Ultra Divine Water jug.
Is this the combination of Ki perception and physical agility?
After missing his first attempt, Tien Shinhan immediately noticed the subtleties involved.
Sensing and using Ki was the key to reaching higher realms as an Earth martial artist.
Clearly, the wonders of Ki perception involved in Master Korin's challenge formed the foundation for the more specific applications of Ki taught at Kami's Lookout.
Once he understood this, Tien Shinhan became even more interested in the training challenge before him.
And as he devoted himself body and mind to this challenge, the effects of Tien Shinhan's trait, having broken his Human Limiter, grew stronger once again.
Half a day later, Tien Shinhan and Son Goku had successfully secured the Ultra Divine Water jug.
Beside them, Master Korin slumped on the floor in exhaustion, panting heavily, his white fur completely soaked with sweat. There was nothing immortal-like about him anymore.
He looked exactly like an ordinary cat that had accidentally fallen into the water and then been fished out.
After this half-day exchange, the layer of fat on his body had shrunk considerably as well.
Compared to his previous potbellied appearance, he now looked much more agile.
"Sigh... I really can't do this kind of challenge again. You two little fellows nearly wore me into the ground..."
Master Korin panted heavily and waved his hands repeatedly.
Goku also lay faceup with his limbs spread out, basking in the satisfaction of a thorough workout.
Tien Shinhan was likewise drenched in sweat after half a day of training, having gotten a thorough workout.
But even more delightful than his current physical and mental satisfaction was the improvement in strength this training had brought him.
After half a day of trying to snatch the Ultra Divine Water, his power level had actually increased even more than it had during the tower climb.
Measured in power level, Tien Shinhan estimated that he had now reached 300.
With that kind of power, never mind the aged King Piccolo-even if King Piccolo gathered the Dragon Balls and wished himself young again, Tien Shinhan would still be capable of putting up a fight!
Yet, according to his memories, his original self in the story had taken a full three years to reach this level, only doing so by the start of the next World Martial Arts Tournament.
Sure enough, different choices led to completely different developments.
He had already reached a power level of 300 more than three years ahead of time.
This meant Tien Shinhan had successfully changed his fate and was drawing closer to his first small goal, step by step!
He had reached a power level of 300!
Could 3,000, 30,000, and 30 million still be far away?
Perhaps they were far away for ordinary Earth martial artists.
But for Tien Shinhan, who had already broken his Human Limiter, this was entirely possible!
"Brother Tien, whew, I finally... made it up!"
Just then, Chiaotzu, who had set out shortly after him and Goku, finally climbed to the top of Korin Tower.
Climbing up alongside Chiaotzu was the tank-build Yasuo, Yajirobe.
Seeing Yajirobe arrive at Korin Tower, Tien Shinhan suddenly remembered something. After greeting Chiaotzu, he immediately turned to Master Korin.
"Master Korin, could I take most of your stock of Senzu Beans?"
Rather than let Yajirobe squander them, Tien Shinhan hurriedly asked Master Korin to hand most of the Senzu Beans over to him for safekeeping ahead of time.