After Kami's explanation, Goku and Chiaotzu finally understood his relationship with King Piccolo.
It turned out that King Piccolo was the evil part Kami had deliberately cast out while becoming Earth's god.
In other words, Kami and King Piccolo had originally been one person, forcibly separated into good and evil halves.
If either one died completely, the other would die at the same time.
"Good thing we didn't break that egg King Piccolo spat out back then. Otherwise, Kami might have died on the spot."
Having understood their relationship, Goku thought back to the demon egg and patted his chest, feeling somewhat relieved.
Kami said nothing.
He had watched that entire battle and had actually been prepared to die alongside King Piccolo at any moment.
What surprised him was that after defeating King Piccolo, Tien Shinhan should clearly have had enough strength left to destroy that demon egg, yet he had not done so.
Had Tien Shinhan known something beforehand?
Kami could not quite see through Tien Shinhan.
But there was one thing he could be certain of: Tien Shinhan was not an evil being who committed wicked deeds.
And for him, confirming that was actually enough.
With Kami joining in, the training Tien Shinhan and the other two underwent rose another level in difficulty.
Their mastery of Ki sensing and manipulation techniques also became increasingly systematic and complete.
Three months passed in the blink of an eye as they devoted themselves wholeheartedly to training.
Whether Goku, Chiaotzu, or Tien Shinhan, all three had fully mastered the essential skills of Earth's martial arts, including Ki sensing, during this training.
Goku's and Chiaotzu's power levels both increased in the process.
Goku's power level rose to around 400, while Chiaotzu's increased from under 100 to around 150.
If Tien Shinhan had not wished for Shenron to break his human limiter, perhaps his original talent would have put his strength on par with Kid Goku's at this point, likewise at around 400.
After all, Kid Goku's Saiyan ability to grow stronger after near-death experiences had not activated during these three months.
In terms of martial arts talent alone, there was not much difference between Tien Shinhan and Goku.
This time, however, before Goku could activate his Saiyan physique's cheat, Tien Shinhan had gotten a head start with a cheat of his own.
With his human limiter broken, Tien Shinhan not only grew a little stronger automatically every day.
Through sufficient training and combat, his ability to grow stronger by breaking through his limits came into even fuller play.
After these three months of grueling training, Tien Shinhan had easily crossed the threshold of a power level of 1,000!
Without a Scouter, Tien Shinhan could not see his exact power level.
But using his initial power level of 180 as a unit of measurement, Tien Shinhan calculated that his current power level had reached at least around six times its original value.
A power level of nearly 1,100!
With this power level, even if my Earthling physique isn't as naturally suited to combat as Goku's Saiyan physique, my physical and mental strength should be more than enough for the Ultra Divine Water challenge.
But to be safe, before challenging the Ultra Divine Water, I should find the Fountain of Youth first and replenish the life force I lost when my lifespan was halved.
For an Earthling martial artist, fully mastering the essence of Ki techniques already meant reaching the level of a martial arts grandmaster.
Yet Tien Shinhan showed no sign of letting it go to his head.
Knowing the Dragon Ball plot, he felt that his current status as a so-called grandmaster of Earth's martial arts was actually no more than having just taken his first steps.
A master could show the way, but cultivation depended on the individual.
In Tien Shinhan's plan to become strong, the training at Korin Tower and Kami's Lookout was the most basic foundation of all.
Now that his foundation was solid, it was time for the next step!
An opportunity like the Ultra Divine Water could not be missed.
But to avoid the danger within that opportunity, Tien Shinhan had long since thought of a way to handle it: the Fountain of Youth.
As far as Tien Shinhan knew, the reason Master Roshi and Master Shen had lived so long as Earthlings was that they had drunk from the Fountain of Youth.
That meant the Fountain of Youth definitely contained powerful life force, enough to let people live for so many additional years!
"Tien Shinhan, I never thought we'd finish our training so quickly.
"Training together really is faster than training alone!"
Goku spoke to Tien Shinhan with some feeling. He had originally thought he might have to train here for three whole years, until the next World Martial Arts Tournament began, before he could master Ki sensing.
He had never expected it to take only three months.
Hearing this, Tien Shinhan came back from his plans and felt somewhat surprised by Goku's observation as well.
In the original plot, Kid Goku had indeed trained here at Korin Tower for three whole years, only going back to meet everyone when the next World Martial Arts Tournament began.
He had never expected Goku's training to progress so much faster now that he was training alongside him and Chiaotzu.
Sure enough, competition could also draw out greater potential.
"Are we going straight to the Ultra Divine Water challenge next? After all, Kami and Mr. Popo also suggested we could put our training on hold for now."
Goku asked curiously.
After all, before coming to Kami's Lookout, they had already agreed to challenge the Ultra Divine Water after visiting it.
He had originally thought that "after" would mean just a few days, never expecting three months to pass instead.
At those words, Tien Shinhan glanced at Kid Goku.
Kid Goku was now much stronger than he had been when he drank the Ultra Divine Water in the original plot.
Kid Goku had drunk the Ultra Divine Water without incident when he was nearly half as strong, so naturally, drinking it now would not put Goku's life in danger either.
But as for himself, it was better to be fully prepared.
Knowing he had no protagonist halo, Tien Shinhan considered for a moment before answering seriously.
"Master Korin said that challenging the Ultra Divine Water requires powerful life force in addition to physical and mental strength.
"My lifespan was cut in half, so I want to find the Fountain of Youth and drink from it first, then take the challenge after replenishing my life force.
"What do you say, Goku? Want to come find the Fountain of Youth with me?"
Tien Shinhan did not mind having another person drink from the Fountain of Youth.
But Goku shook his head at that.
"I haven't lost any of my lifespan, so I don't need to drink from the Fountain of Youth. Besides, I heard Grandpa Master Roshi drank from it, and didn't he still end up that old?
"If you're going to spend some time looking for the Fountain of Youth, Tien Shinhan, I'll use that time to head back to Kame House.
"Krillin's been training alone at Kame House. I want to see how much progress he's made."
It had to be said that Krillin was still Goku's best friend.
Feeling that he had gained a great deal from his training at Kami's Lookout, and now having a little free time, Goku immediately thought of Krillin, who was quietly working to catch up far away at Kame House.
If he could give Krillin a helping hand, Goku certainly would not be stingy.
The days he had spent training with Krillin at Kame House as a child would always be the most cherished memories of Kid Goku's life!
"All right. You really don't need the Fountain of Youth for now, Goku, so let's each do our own thing."
Tien Shinhan did not insist that Goku search for the Fountain of Youth.
If Goku had wanted to drink from it, he would have done so long ago with all the time available in the Dragon Ball story.
Since Goku himself felt no need for it, Tien Shinhan would not force him.
His own current condition, on the other hand, meant he was determined to obtain the Fountain of Youth.
With their respective plans for what came next, the two said goodbye to Kami and Mr. Popo, then stopped in the hall of Korin Tower to say farewell to Master Korin before returning straight to the ground.
"Brother Tien, where are we going to find the Fountain of Youth?
"Kami and Mr. Popo don't know, and Master Roshi said before that he couldn't remember where it was either.
"Are we going to ask Master?"
After returning to the ground, Chiaotzu immediately spoke up, somewhat at a loss.
The master he mentioned at the end was, naturally, their original master, Master Shen.
Like Master Roshi, Master Shen had also drunk from the Fountain of Youth.
"Ask him? He probably can't remember where it is either. After all, the Fountain of Youth might not even be on Earth.
"But don't worry, Chiaotzu. There aren't just two people who've drunk from the Fountain of Youth.
"There's a third person who's drunk from it, and she definitely knows where it is!"
A faint smile rested on Tien Shinhan's face. He had already decided whom to ask about the Fountain of Youth.
"Oh? Brother Tien, who's this third person who drank from the Fountain of Youth?"
Chiaotzu looked surprised. He had not expected someone besides Master Roshi and Master Shen to have drunk from the Fountain of Youth.
"Heh, to be precise, she was the first person to drink from the Fountain of Youth, long before Master Roshi and Master Shen.
"She's Master Roshi's older sister-Fortuneteller Baba!
"When it comes to matters on Earth, whether in the world of the living or the dead, there probably isn't anything she doesn't know, is there?"
Tien Shinhan had anticipated that wishing on the Dragon Balls to break his human limiter would shorten his lifespan.
And asking Fortuneteller Baba where to find the Fountain of Youth was the very plan Tien Shinhan had devised to deal with that cost before he even made his wish on the Dragon Balls!