Qin Yan flew westward, heading straight for Korin Tower. How was he so certain of its location?
It was because he had already sensed two powerful Kis, with Power Levels of approximately 300 and 280. At this moment, these were the strongest Kis on Earth. They could only belong to Mr. Popo and Kami on the Lookout.
Qin Yan felt a lingering curiosity regarding Mr. Popo. In daily life, he appeared harmless and didn't radiate much strength, but in the original work, the martial arts concepts he displayed while teaching Goku were incredibly powerful and far ahead of their time.
From his various performances in the original Dragon Ball, it was clear his strength was not as simple as it appeared; he was undoubtedly hiding his true power.
This trip to the Lookout would be a perfect opportunity to exchange insights with Mr. Popo. Additionally, he needed to ask Kami for the location of Bulma's house.
Then there was Korin Tower itself. Qin Yan had decided to seize the majority of the Senzu Beans from Korin, leaving him just a small stash so the cat wouldn't go hungry. Although Qin Yan already had plenty of Senzu Beans,
who would ever complain about having too many of such a miraculous item? Such treasures should be used where they mattered most, rather than being left there to be wasted by Yajirobe in the future.
In a vast expanse of the Earth's great plains stood a stone pillar-like tower that pierced the heavens. This was the legendary sacred land of martial arts, Korin Tower. As a holy site of martial arts, it had been guarded for generations by a tribe living at its base the Karinga Tribe.
Legend had it that Korin Tower was the birthplace of Earth's martial arts. It was said that anyone who climbed from the bottom of the tower to the summit using only their own strength would meet an immortal at the peak. If they drank the sacred water bestowed by that immortal, their strength would increase several times over.
Since ancient times, countless martial artists had come to challenge Korin Tower, yet the vast majority met with failure. Some climbed for days before losing their strength due to a lack of food and falling.
Those who were lucky suffered crippling injuries; those who were not simply perished. Others had tried to reach the top by plane, but they never succeeded. Rumor had it that if one did not climb using their own strength, they would never see the summit.
The immortal at the top was known as Korin. In truth, he was a fat, white cat immortal who could speak the human tongue and was over 800 years old.
The water at the top was also called the Ultra Holy Water. While legends claimed it increased a person's strength several times over, it was actually just ordinary water. In reality, it was Korin's special training that enhanced a warrior's power.
There were several stone jars filled with water at the summit. Through these jars, one could see the world's present, past, and future. Korin often used them to observe the human world. Additionally, one jar served as a portal to the Ice Labyrinth, which Goku had entered by chance in the original story.
The summit also held the miraculous Senzu Beans. Eating just one could keep a person full for ten days and instantly restore an injured body to health. These were the same beans Qin Yan often ate, making them an essential item for long-term closed-door cultivation.
If one inserted the Power Pole into the top of the tower and extended it, they could reach the Lookout situated directly above.
In the last 300 years, it seemed only the world-renowned martial arts master, Master Roshi, had ever climbed to the top. It had taken him three years to snatch the Ultra Holy Water from Korin's hands. In the original Dragon Ball, Goku had climbed the tower in a single day to defeat the world's top assassin, Mercenary Tao. It then took him only three days to snatch the Ultra Holy Water from Korin.
This showed just how rapidly Goku's strength could grow. Furthermore, Goku's martial arts talent was terrifying; he could learn many techniques after seeing them only once. This extraordinary talent allowed him to stay one step ahead of Vegeta at every turn.
One had to remember that Vegeta was the prince of the Saiyans, a genius warrior born with a Power Level of 1,000. His natural talent was truly formidable, yet he was always a step slower than Goku. Perhaps it was because Goku's innate understanding of martial arts allowed him to reach deeper realms of enlightenment first.
Later, Mercenary Tao also climbed to the top of the tower in an attempt to defeat Goku. However, Korin saw that his heart was too evil and simply tricked him into leaving.
Later still, after Goku was defeated by the aged King Piccolo, Yajirobe carried Goku to the top of the tower just so he could have a feast. From that point on, the once-plentiful supply of Senzu Beans began to dwindle rapidly, to the point that a single bean became hard to find in later chapters, significantly increasing the stakes of the story.
Eventually, Yamcha, Krillin, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu also climbed Korin Tower together.
At this moment, Korin was peering into the water jar to observe the human world as he usually did. However, his brow was furrowed, and his expression was grave. The water jar revealed someone flying toward the tower Qin Yan and Artoria. Strangely, the water jar only showed Artoria's figure, while Qin Yan was nowhere to be seen.
The reason for Korin's solemnity was the sheer power of the approaching Kis. They were powerful beyond precedent, beyond everything, and beyond all reason. What was even more terrifying was that he clearly sensed two powerful presences, yet the water showed only one person.
"Strange... how strange... where did such terrifying monsters come from? Their Kis are many times stronger than King Piccolo from 300 years ago. Is this a blessing or a curse?"
Korin spoke with a heavy heart, his eyes clouded with worry.
Directly above Korin Tower sat the hemispherical Lookout, a sacred structure defined by its vibrant red architecture.
At this moment, two figures one tall and one short stood at the edge of the Lookout. They stared fixedly at the human world below, their faces bearing the same serious and grave expressions as Korin. From the Lookout, Kami and Mr. Popo could observe every movement on the ground with the naked eye.
They saw Qin Yan and Artoria speeding toward Korin Tower, and they felt the overwhelming pressure radiating from them.
"Lord Kami!"
The jet-black Mr. Popo called out to the deity beside him, his voice trembling with uncertainty. Cold sweat beaded on his face as he looked toward Kami, unsure of what to do.
However, Kami seemed not to hear him. He did not answer, but simply watched Qin Yan and Artoria in silence, his face etched with worry. With every inch Qin Yan and his companion drew closer, the furrow in Kami's brow deepened.
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access 400+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).