In Dragon Ball: A brutal beating of Frieza at the start

Page 106

Vegeta's pupils contracted sharply. In the instant he was thrown back by the shockwave, his mind didn't flash back to how to revert to Super Saiyan Blue; instead, it went back to the basic punches and kicks he practiced as a child on Planet Vegeta. Back then, he didn't possess such immense power; every punch required calculating angle and force, every dodge demanding the activation of every muscle in his body. Those fighting instincts, concealed by his divine power, were now sprouting like seeds, growing wildly throughout his body, coursing through his veins.

"Bulma, throw me the spare gravity controller!" he suddenly shouted, his voice carrying an unquestionable command. The moment he caught the controller, he switched it to fifty times gravity, the metal knob clicking crisply. The sudden, sharp pain of sinking made him groan, his forehead instantly covered in cold sweat, but it also miraculously stabilized his chaotic aura, like raging water finally finding its course. "Leave Frieza's scum to me, you guys go to Namek."

"Are you crazy? Fifty times gravity..." Bulma's voice rose eight octaves. She knew exactly what fifty times gravity meant to Vegeta right now—it was equivalent to fighting while carrying several mountains on his back.

“Shut up, woman.” Vegeta ripped off his torn gloves, his knuckles white from the force, revealing palms covered in calluses and new wounds. “Without the power of a god, it’s good time to practice how to fight tough battles again.” He turned and walked towards the laboratory exit, each step on the metal floor making a dull thud, like drumming for the impending battle. “Tell Kakarot that after I’ve dealt with these scum, I’ll go to Mount Paozu and give him a good fight—in the most primitive way.”

Lin Ye watched his figure disappear into the dust. Vegeta's steps, though heavy, were unusually firm. He suddenly noticed a new point of light on the scanner, rapidly approaching from the direction of the Supreme Kai's realm at an astonishing speed. It carried familiar destructive energy, but was purer than ever before; devoid of divine pressure, only the most essential power remained.

"Looks like someone woke up earlier than expected." Whis chuckled. In the projection, Beerus's sleeping divine body was glowing, a pale purple light seeping from his furry form, illuminating the surrounding divine nest. The sleeping God of Destruction's eyelashes fluttered, as if about to awaken from a long dream. "You're not the only ones who have lost your divine power; this lord seems to be stretching his muscles as well."

Bulma suddenly pointed to the corner of the screen, where the data stream was reorganizing, countless 0s and 1s intertwining and spinning to form a distorted line of text: 【Clearing abnormal variables in progress...】 The text flickered, as if it might collapse at any moment, yet at any moment it would become clearer.

"The system is still operating." Lin Ye clenched his fist, the sweat on his palms nearly causing the bottle of repair serum to slip from his hand; the icy touch made him even more alert. "It's not afraid of us regaining our power, but rather..."

"It's about you finding your own way of fighting again after losing everything." Weiss's figure began to become transparent, as if trying to merge into the surrounding data stream. "Good luck, after all... even the angels are starting to look forward to this show." His voice faded into the distance, finally disappearing as a wisp of light.

Another explosion echoed from afar, this time accompanied by an unusual whistling sound—the muffled thud of fists and feet striking flesh. Lin Ye looked towards the ruins of West Capital. Under fifty times gravity, Vegeta had kicked the cockpit of a fighter jet, the metal shell dented and deformed like paper. The setting sun cast a sharp silhouette on his dust-covered face, sweat dripping from his jawline, splashing onto the ground. That was no longer the radiance of a Super Saiyan God, but the primal edge of a warrior, more dazzling than any other light.

On the scanner, Sun Wukong's red light suddenly surged, like a flame being ignited. Beerus's purple light responded in kind, the two beams of light echoing each other on the screen, growing brighter and brighter. The three points of light jumped simultaneously at different coordinates, like three stars rekindling, illuminating this gray universe.

"Lin Ye, the repair pod is ready!" Bulma's voice drew his attention. She had already changed into a combat suit for ease of movement and was holding two energy detectors. "We need to get to Namek quickly. The stone sculptures in Porunga are starting to crack! Any later and they might shatter completely!"

Lin Ye glanced one last time at the abnormal variable notification on the screen; the text was still flashing, as if issuing a warning. He turned and grabbed his backpack, which contained repair kits and some basic weapons. "Tell Goku to leave two of Frieza's henchmen for me." He paused, a smile playing on his lips, identical to Vegeta's, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "After all... it's not just the Saiyans who have lost their power."

Sun Wukong's hearty laughter came through the communicator, mixed with the muffled thuds of colliding energy and the screams of the enemy. "No problem! I'll save it for you!"

Lin Ye pulled Bulma into the aircraft. With a roar of the engines starting, the aircraft slowly ascended. Through the porthole during takeoff, he saw Vegeta standing atop the wreckage of the fighter jet. Fifty times the force of gravity pressed down on him, his knees slightly bent, his legs trembling, yet his spine remained straight amidst the raging flames. His fist lashed out, slamming a charging soldier to the ground with a swift, powerful punch, as if releasing all the pent-up frustration of the past years.

The scanner's alarm continued, but around the red dots signifying crisis, more and more faint lights were quietly appearing. Like stars finally emerging one by one after a storm, faint yet full of hope. Lin Ye knew that this battle had only just begun; having lost their power, they were using the most primal methods to reclaim their own universe. And that mysterious system probably hadn't yet realized that it had only taken away the outward appearance of power, awakening the true strength dormant within them.

The spacecraft pierced through the clouds, heading towards Namek. Outside the window lay a vast, gray universe, but a fire ignited within Lin Ye's heart. He could feel the power within his body slowly awakening—not through the system, not through divine grace, but through the instincts he had accumulated through countless battles. He clenched his fist, feeling the warmth of his palm, awaiting the impending battle.

Chapter 257 Mortal Body

When the heatwave from the energy cannon burned his face, Lin Ye truly realized the weight of the words "mortal body." The moment he lunged forward to block the entrance to the air-raid shelter, his back felt like it had been branded with a red-hot iron; excruciating pain exploded down his spine, and everything went black. The dull thud of his knees hitting the concrete floor made his teeth ache; he clenched his teeth tightly to keep from crying out, but tasted the metallic flavor of blood at the corner of his mouth.

"Idiot!" Number 18's roar, accompanied by the whooshing sound, rang out. She spun around and kicked away three soldiers wielding energy guns, the crisp sound of her metal boot shattering the last man's throat bone ringing out clearly. "What's the point of playing the hero now?" She bent down to help Lin Ye up, but suddenly her mechanical joints emitted a screeching grinding sound, and wisps of white smoke rose from her elbow. Damn it.

Number 17 ripped open his torn combat suit, revealing the core device inside his chest cavity, which was flashing red. The energy reactor, which should have been running eternally, was now covered with spiderweb-like cracks, and the pale blue energy flow was intermittent, like the dying heartbeat. My infinite energy reactor... has gone out. He raised his hand and pressed it against the core; the icy touch from his fingertips made his pupils shrink sharply. Even the backup battery had failed.

But her fighting skills were still there! Suddenly, Number 18 side-kicked away the flying military dagger, the movement so fast it was a blur. She shook her smoking arm, the wires beneath her metallic skin faintly visible. "Don't forget how we fought our way out of Dr. Gallo's lab! Fighting in the most primitive way!" Before the words were even finished, she had already ducked to dodge a sweeping gun butt, her elbow slamming into her opponent's ribs, a smirk playing on her lips as she heard the dull thud.

Vegeta's gunshot suddenly rang out from the left, the energy bullet precisely piercing the cockpit of the Qiu Yi's specially designed spacecraft. The purple alien's scream abruptly ceased, and the spacecraft crashed into the rubble and exploded. Even without breath, Saiyans are still a warrior race! He tossed aside the scorching energy pistol, casually picking up an alloy tube from the ground. As he turned, the old wound on his neck was aggravated, causing it to bleed—the crescent-shaped scar was left from his childhood combat training on Planet Vegeta, closer to the essence of battle than any divine power.

Lin Ye charged forward through the hail of bullets, each step feeling like walking on a knife's edge. The burns on his back prevented him from bending over, forcing him to endure the stinging pain of stray bullets grazing his arms. When his fist slammed into Captain Ginyu's face, the long-lost cracking sound and the pain in his knuckles made him momentarily disoriented. The data stream on the system's combat interface disappeared, but the instincts honed from countless battles remained—he could even accurately predict the angle of his opponent's raised arm to block, twisting his body to strike the old wound under his armpit with his elbow.

Tsk tsk, isn't this Lin Ye who can always cheat? Ginyu grinned maliciously, covering his bleeding nose, his scarlet tongue licking the blood from the corner of his mouth. Without those fancy abilities, you're not even as good as a stray dog! He suddenly drew a high-frequency vibrating knife from his waist, the blade buzzing as he slashed towards Lin Ye's throat.

When the blade was only three inches from his skin, Lin Ye jerked his head back, his vision flashing across a map showing the weaknesses of all the generals in Frieza's army—knowledge forcibly instilled when the system was still around, now as clear as if etched onto his retina. Using the momentum of his backward lean, he kicked Ginyu in the knee, and as he heard the other's scream, he suddenly remembered the red mark on the data panel of his old left knee injury when he first scanned this guy with the system.

"Host," Alice's voice came through the wristwatch, accompanied by static from electrical interference. "Neural synaptic remodeling detected. You are adapting to a systemless state. Pain threshold increased by 17%, combat reflex speed remains at 63%."

Speak like a human. Lin Ye snatched the vibrating knife from his hand, the stinging pain of the blade cutting his palm jolting him awake.

You are becoming stronger through your own efforts.

As night fell, the group huddled in a corner of the bomb shelter. Bulma used the last of her alcohol swabs to wipe the blood from Lin Ye's face; he instinctively flinched when the swab touched his wound. What to do next? Her voice was soft as her gaze swept over the people haphazardly leaning against the wall—Android 17 was securing her mechanical arm with wire, Android 18 was closing her eyes and adjusting her breathing, and Vegeta was practicing straight punches against the wall, his knuckles bleeding.

Lin Ye gazed at the starry sky outside the cave entrance. The Super Dragon Balls, which should have shone brightly, were now dull and lifeless, like a few abandoned glass beads. He needed to rediscover the true path of cultivation. He tore off the blood-soaked clothes from his back; the stinging pain of the wound against the cold air made his mind exceptionally clear. The system had taken away his power, not what he had learned.

"Easy for you to say." Vegeta suddenly stopped, blood dripping from his fist and spreading on the ground. "You think it's easy to train back to Super Saiyan form? There's no 100x gravity chamber, no Senzu Beans, and you can't even get a decent meal."

"Let's start with push-ups." Goku's voice came from the cave entrance. He carried in the unconscious Frieza soldier, his blue martial arts uniform covered in dust, but the light in his eyes shone through. "I just tried it. Even without the Kaioken, doing a thousand push-ups every day will gradually make me stronger." He threw the prisoner on the ground, then suddenly scratched his head and laughed. "Fighting like this seems more fun, like when I was a kid fighting with Chi-Chi over sweet potatoes."

Android 17 suddenly chuckled, pausing his bandaging hand: "You Saiyans are all lunatics." But his gaze softened, and he lowered his head to continue securing the joint with wire, his movements much gentler than before.

Bulma rummaged through her backpack for compressed biscuits, then suddenly exclaimed in surprise as she distributed them to the group. Holding an energy detector, she approached the soldier who had been knocked unconscious by Goku. The fluctuating numbers on the screen made her frown: this guy's energy reading... was ten times higher than a normal soldier's. She abruptly ripped open the soldier's collar, revealing a black chip on his neck—a man-made enhancement chip! Frieza was mass-producing enhancements for his subordinates!

Lin Ye's gaze fell on the chip, and he suddenly remembered the last code that flashed before the system disappeared—[Abnormal Variable: Bio-modification Technology]. He touched his wristwatch, and Alice's voice sounded at the right moment: Similar chip signals detected, 37 kilometers away, approximately 500 in number.

500? Number 18 crushed the compressed biscuit in his hand, powder leaking through his fingers. "In our current state?"

"Or do you want to wait to be turned into a specimen?" Vegeta picked up the energy gun from the ground, his movements as he checked the magazine were surprisingly practiced for a prince. "The West Capital's underground armory should still have some stock. I hid a batch of armor-piercing rounds when I fought Buu with Goku." He suddenly looked at Lin Ye, raising an eyebrow and a smirk playing on his lips. "Dare to come with me to get them?"

Are you sure you're not just looking for an excuse to fight? Lin Ye smiled and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. The burning pain in his back seemed less unbearable. 37 kilometers, just the right time to test whether our legs can still be used when we run out of energy.

As night deepened, the campfire in the air-raid shelter crackled. Goku leaned against the rock wall doing push-ups, sweat dripping onto the ground and forming small puddles, but the counting grew louder and louder. Androids 17 and 18 were repairing weapons they had salvaged, occasionally arguing about how to install a part, but their tone was much gentler than during the day. Bulma was drawing a map of the armory, with Vegeta squatting beside her, pointing out the route; unusually, the two didn't bicker.

Lin Ye gazed at the starry sky above the cave entrance; the location of the Super Dragon Ball remained shrouded in darkness. But he suddenly noticed that the stars, previously obscured by the Dragon Ball's light, were now exceptionally bright. Alice's voice, crackling with electricity, rang out: "Your heart rate is stable, and your adrenaline levels are decreasing. Rest is recommended. There are 4 hours and 17 minutes until the operation."

"Understood." Lin Ye closed his eyes, and what flashed through his mind was not the system panel, but the scenes of fighting side by side over the years—Vegeta's awkward expression when he first said "Kakarot, you bastard," Android 18's profile as he secretly bandaged the injured puppy, and Goku's serious look before each battle as he said, "I'm going to fight!"

These images, like sparks, quietly ignited a brighter fire in the cold night, when divine power had been lost.

At three in the morning, the operation began. The five split into two groups and traversed the ruins. Vegeta and Lin Ye were responsible for drawing the patrol, while the remaining three headed straight for the armory. When the first armor-piercing round pierced the chest of the enhanced soldier, Lin Ye suddenly understood the meaning of Whis's words—those who had lost their divine power were rediscovering their way of fighting as humans.

When Vegeta's alloy tube broke the leg bone of the fifth soldier, he suddenly turned around and shouted: Hey! Where did you learn that move from?

"It's none of your business!" Lin Ye laughed as he dodged the energy beam, then rolled behind the enemy, striking the chip with his elbow. Hearing the scream, he suddenly felt that this kind of battle was more interesting than simply waving his hand and destroying the world.

When the armory's iron gate was blown open, Bulma stared in disbelief at the mountain of weapons piled up—in a corner tucked away was a dusty training recorder, its screen still displaying training data from years ago: [Vegeta: 10000 push-ups, 10000 sit-ups...]

"What are you looking at?" Vegeta's face suddenly turned red. He grabbed the recorder and tried to smash it, but Goku held his hand down.

Wow! Vegeta, you're amazing! Goku's eyes are sparkling. When we're recovered, shall we have a contest?

Vegeta looked at his pure smile, suddenly snorted and turned his head away, but did not resist anymore.

Lin Ye leaned against the ammunition box, panting, the wound on his back starting to bleed again. He gazed at the sky outside the window, just as dawn was breaking, and suddenly noticed the signal detector on his wristwatch flashing—500 signal points were moving, all pointing directly at their location. Further away, a faint purple light appeared in the direction of Beerus's Nest, as if in response to something.

Looks like someone doesn't want us to level up in peace. He grabbed an armor-piercing round from the ground and chambered it with practiced ease—was he ready for the next wave?

The only response he received was the crisp sound of guns being cocked. Sunlight streamed through the cracks in the ruins, casting golden outlines on everyone's faces; the scars and sweat shimmered in the morning light, shining brighter than a Super Saiyan God.

High above, unseen by them, a transparent figure chuckled softly, holding a teacup. Weiss looked down at the people fighting tenaciously like ants, ripples spreading across the teacup between his fingers—the system message "[Failed to clear abnormal variables]" was fading from his palm, replaced by a new line of text: "[Evolutionary Path: Unknown]".

Chapter 258 The Origin of the Turtle Hermit School

The deafening roar of the collapsing Temple shook the very earth. The pale purple divine domain shattered like broken glass, the massive structure crashing to the ground, billowing dust that blotted out the sun. Mr. Popo, carrying the unconscious Dandy on his back, crawled out of the ruins. His black robes were covered in dust, and his usually meticulously styled hair was a mess. He wiped the grime from his face, his eyes filled with shock—the sacred pillar that had supported them for centuries was now twisted and contorted like a pretzel.

"The connection with the gods... has been severed." Master Roshi removed his sunglasses and looked up at the direction where the divine throne had once hovered. Only an empty sky remained; even the last trace of divine power had vanished. He pulled a crumpled gourd from his robes, took a large gulp, and the liquid dripped down his chin onto his white beard. "I never imagined I'd live to see such a cataclysmic change."

"Let's start from the beginning!" Sun Wukong's voice suddenly came from the smoke and dust, carrying his familiar, hearty tone. He appeared, carrying his broken golden cudgel, blood still seeping from the scratches on his red wristbands. Behind him followed Xiaofang, Orb, and the other new generation of warriors. Xiaofang had her hair tied in a high ponytail and carried the same Turtle Hermit's Pouch as her grandfather, with half a sleeve of her training uniform peeking out. Orb clutched a polished training stone, the one he used when training with Goku as a child.

"Grandpa!" Xiaofang ran to Master Roshi, her face covered in dust but beaming with a bright smile. "We found many surviving warriors in the west, and they all want to train with you again!" She suddenly pointed behind her, where a group of people in various costumes emerged from the dust. There were former martial arts tournament participants, ordinary office workers, and even a few deserters from Frieza's army, each carrying some kind of training equipment.

Master Roshi, looking at the vast procession, suddenly coughed, choking on his sake. "Cough cough... Do you know how tiring the basic techniques of the Turtle School are?" He deliberately put on a stern face, but couldn't help secretly curling his lips into a smile. "They get up at four every morning to fetch water, and they even massage this old man's back and legs..."

"No problem!" Orb suddenly shouted, his dark face full of seriousness. "As long as I can become stronger, I'd do anything, even wash your socks, let alone carry water!"

As the laughter mingled with the dust and smoke dissipated, Krillin was already busy at the site of the old Master Roshi's House on Mount Paozu. He climbed a ladder and re-hung a plaque bearing the words "Martial Arts" on the crooked doorframe. The plaque was somewhat damaged at the edges, and the last stroke of the character "武" (martial arts) was missing a corner—a result of the energy blast he suffered during his fight with Cell.

"Master, is this alright?" Krillin turned to Master Roshi, beads of sweat sliding down his scar. Behind him, Gohan was helping to erect the wooden scaffolding for the training ground, his hammer pounding away. Piccolo stood a short distance away, seemingly lost in thought, but actually using his remaining strength to reinforce the ground to prevent it from collapsing during training.

Master Roshi stroked his chin, examining the signboard for a while, then suddenly kicked it: "It's crooked! Half an inch higher on the left! Back when I was practicing with your master, this signboard was hung straighter than a ruler could measure!"

As the first rays of sunlight touched the faded "turtle" character, hundreds of Earth warriors simultaneously assumed the starting stance of the Turtle School martial arts. Their knees bent at the exact same angle, their arms raised to the same height in perfect unison, even their breathing gradually synchronized. Xiao Fang, standing at the front of the line, secretly glanced at Orb beside her and noticed the veins bulging on his forehead. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself, then quickly composed herself and earnestly adjusted her posture.

“This energy isn’t a gift from the system.” Master Roshi walked to the front of the group, a faint blue light slowly gathering in his palm. The light was very faint, even less powerful than the basic energy wave of an ordinary warrior, yet it carried a steady strength, like a quietly flowing mountain stream. “This is our response to what we’ve demanded from the world!” he suddenly shouted, pushing his palm forward. The blue light spread with the movement, brushing against everyone’s cheeks, carrying a refreshing scent.

Lin Ye followed suit, throwing a punch, and the trajectory of the Kamehameha from his muscle memory suddenly became clear. He remembered the first time he learned this move from Goku, when Master Roshi hit his back countless times with his cane, muttering, "Too much force," and "If the mind isn't calm, the energy won't flow smoothly." Back then, he always thought these old sayings were tedious, but now, without the system's assistance, he understood their profound meaning.

"Whoosh—Ha!" everyone shouted in unison, the wind whipped up by their fists rustling the leaves around them. Lin Ye followed suit, throwing and retracting his punches, unconsciously entering a state of complete absorption. He felt as if he were back on that sunny afternoon, with Goku practicing his drunken fist style beside him, Master Roshi lounging on a deck chair drinking, and Krillin secretly passing a love letter to Android 18 nearby.

The instant he unconsciously pushed his palm forward, a pale blue vortex suddenly burst forth from his palm, shooting out like a mischievous child, instantly uprooting the entire coconut grove. Coconuts crashed to the ground, rolling everywhere.

"Wow! Uncle Lin Ye is amazing!" Xiao Fang clapped her hands and cheered, her eyes sparkling.

Lin Ye himself was stunned, looking down at his still slightly numb palm. The power of that vortex wasn't strong, yet it made his heart pound more than any energy wave enhanced by a system. This was power entirely his own, without code, without data, only the memory of his muscles and the guidance of his heart.

[Physical Energy Level Breakthrough! Hidden Attribute Unlocked: Martial Arts Origin] The wristwatch suddenly lit up, and Alice's voice carried a subtle fluctuation, "Pure martial arts energy detected, 98% match with 'Turtle Hermit Style' in the system database."

"The essence of martial arts?" Lin Ye murmured to himself, suddenly realizing something. The system could drain power, but it couldn't take away what was etched into his bones—the breathing techniques Master Roshi taught him, the power generation techniques Goku demonstrated, the defensive points Krillin reminded him of; these accumulated details were the true essence.

"Looks like you've finally figured it out, kid." Master Roshi walked over and gently tapped Lin Ye's leg with his cane. "I told you before, fancy stuff is useless; basic skills are key." He suddenly lowered his voice, leaning close to Lin Ye's ear, "That move just now had about 30% of my style from when I was young. Not bad, not bad."

"Master, please stop bragging." Krillin walked over with a smile, holding a rag and wiping the "Martial Arts" plaque. "Back when you first used the Kamehameha, you blew up half the island. You're nothing compared to how humble you are now."

Master Roshi's face instantly turned red. He snatched the rag from Krillin's hand and smacked him on the head: "What do you know, brat! I deliberately held back!"

Laughter echoed across Baozi Mountain, sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting dappled shadows on the ground. Ou Bu was teaching a few children a horse stance, while Xiao Fang corrected their posture, muttering, "Don't let your knees go past your toes," and "Keep your back straight," her earnest expression making her look every bit like a little teacher.

"Wukong, look over there." Lin Ye nudged Sun Wukong's arm and pointed to the western sky. Several dark figures were approaching rapidly, carrying a familiar malice.

Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes and gripped his golden cudgel tightly. "They're Frieza's men. Looks like they don't like us training peacefully here." He suddenly grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth. "Perfect! Let them see the power of the Turtle School!"

"Grandpa, I want to go too!" Xiaofang raised her fist, her eyes gleaming with a fighting spirit.

"No way!" Goku immediately straightened his face. "You're still too young. Stay here and practice your basics with your Master Roshi. Once you can run fifty laps around Mount Paozu in one go, then you can fight with us."

Xiao Fang pouted, but still obediently nodded: "Okay...then you guys be careful!"

Master Roshi put his sunglasses back on and straightened his clothes. "You guys go ahead, I'll keep an eye on things here." He suddenly raised his voice and shouted to the group practicing their horse stance, "Pay attention, everyone! When they come back from their fight, I'm going to check how well you've got your stances!"

The crowd responded in unison, their voices so loud they startled the birds in the trees.

Lin Ye followed Goku, Krillin, and Piccolo towards the western shadows, the sound of Master Roshi teaching the new students breathing techniques still ringing in his ears. He suddenly realized that even without the power of the gods and the system's assistance, there was nothing to fear. Because some things were stronger than any power—the beliefs passed down through generations, the most original and solid foundation of the Turtle School.

The battle quickly commenced. Frieza's henchmen had clearly been enhanced, moving much more agilely than before, and their energy guns were also more powerful. But this time, Lin Ye and his companions didn't rely on any superpowers, fighting back only with basic fists, feet, and weapons.

Krillin's Destructo Disc, though smaller, is more precise, always slicing through enemy weapons at the most crucial moments; Piccolo no longer uses devastating energy blasts, but instead employs rapid teleportation and exquisite physical techniques to maneuver, each strike perfectly timed; Goku wields his broken staff, his moves bearing the hallmarks of the Turtle School, yet imbued with his own unique insights.

Lin Ye fought alongside them, feeling a greater sense of security with each punch. He could clearly feel the energy within his body flowing in a completely new way, no longer following the system's predetermined path, but rather moving naturally along the contours of his muscles and meridians.

As the last enemy fell, the setting sun painted half the sky crimson. The group sat on the ground, panting, all wounded, yet laughing with extraordinary joy.

"See? I told you, the fundamentals are the most effective." Goku wiped the sweat from his face and handed Lin Ye a Senzu Bean—one he'd "borrowed" from Vegeta earlier.

Lin Ye took the Senzu Bean, popped it into his mouth, and chewed it. A refreshing energy flowed through his body, instantly easing the pain in his wounds. "Yes," he said, gazing towards Baozi Mountain, where he could faintly hear unified shouts, "it seems we...have found the true path of cultivation."

[Martial Arts Origin Attribute Activating...] The wristwatch lit up again. This time, Lin Ye didn't feel any aversion; instead, he felt like he had gained a companion.

As night fell, they returned to Master Roshi's house. The new trainees were still practicing, while Master Roshi sat in a recliner, drinking and giving instructions. Seeing them return, everyone stopped what they were doing and shouted in unison, "Welcome back!"

Looking at the lively scene, Lin Ye suddenly understood that "the origin of the Turtle Hermit School" didn't just refer to this place, but also to a mindset—the courage to start from scratch and be grounded.

Unseen by them, a faint golden light flashed across the "Martial Arts" plaque, as if in response to something. In the distance, amidst the ruins of the once-fallen Temple of Gods, a pebble suddenly stirred, revealing a pale green light beneath.

Chapter 259 The Tragedy of the Saiyans

Cosmic dust floated in the absolute zero void, each grain like a poisoned shard of ice, tearing and stinging as it scraped against exposed skin. The acrid smell of molten metal filled the nostrils, mingled with an overwhelming, pungent stench of rust—the congealed blood of tens of thousands of Saiyans, so strong it made one's throat spasm and stomach churn. The remnants of Planet Vegeta spun slowly in the dark energy flow. The surface, once covered in black basalt, now cracked open with spiderweb-like fissures, revealing fragments of the mantle shimmering with molten metal. The fractured continental plates resembled broken biscuits, the largest piece suspended in the center, its remaining gravitational field causing countless fragments to swirl around it like a black garland adorning this dead planet.