Goku was led by Taro and involuntarily unleashed a Dragon Fist . Gohan didn't dare take it lightly. Although Goku's power was still temporarily below his own, this punch was effectively delivered by his master Taro.
Who was his master? No matter if the strength borrowed was from Goku, Tien, Krillin, or even Chiaotzu, this punch was something Gohan dared not underestimate.
So, instinctively, he used the Muken fist to defend.
But even so, the forest behind Gohan was shattered by Goku's punch, leaving a trench dozens of meters long. The ground looked plowed, massive trees were uprooted and broken, a total ruin.
"What kind of fist is that…" Krillin was shocked as he climbed to his feet.
"Incredible... Goku's power hasn't suddenly increased, but the destructive force of that punch is astounding… This kind of fist, it's terrifying..." Tien came back to his senses from pondering how the Muken and Crane fists could be compatible and muttered as he looked at the aftermath behind Gohan.
Taro asked Goku, "Well, remember it?"
Goku was lost in his own world at first, savoring the moment. Hearing Taro speak, he smiled brightly: "Remembered! I'll practice hard… This is way harder than Muten! Such a headache!"
Though he said "headache," there was no trouble on his face. Receiving such a terrifying fighting intent made Goku very happy.
Taro fought with great pleasure, not because Goku and the others could really make him use even one ten-thousandth of his strength, but because he was genuinely pleased with the progress of his disciples. As their master, this brought him simple joy.
Then he gestured to Gohan and said, "Come on, Gohan, spar with your master. Let me see if you've been slacking these years!"
Gohan's face turned bitter. He was truly Taro's first genuine disciple in the proper sense (when Taro accepted Aragon and later Gohan, his own power and realm were incomparable). So whenever Taro sparred with or taught him, it was never gentle.
Sure enough, in front of Goku and the other junior disciples, Taro unleashed a fierce and overwhelming attack. Gohan was put in a miserable state. But Taro would never deliberately toy with his disciple — he wanted Gohan to exert his full strength before giving further instruction.
"Wrong, wrong, wrong! So many years and you've become this dull?" Taro's voice roared like thunder, like a mountain flood, an earthquake, a hurricane, and a blazing sun, clearing the sky in Gohan's heart.
He spoke bluntly and directly. At Gohan's level, there could be no problem with his moves, as no technique remained unmastered. What Taro pointed out was a higher realm of martial arts.
Taro had cultivated his vital spirit and divine nature for countless years, gradually transforming himself. When he spoke of realms, his words carried a heavenly majesty that purified Gohan's soul.
He slapped out a palm strike, the energy shooting through space, layered and evolving in countless ways… This energy force pierced space and shifted constantly — sometimes like a dragon, sometimes a tsunami, sometimes flowing fire — even reflecting the majesty of heaven and earth.
Gohan was fully alert, eyes wide, concentrating on sensing the energy of the strike from his master. He felt as if facing not a palm strike but a miniaturized mountain river and the universe itself… Ultimately, he gritted his teeth and took the blow directly, spitting blood.
When it finally settled, Gohan rubbed his chest. The subtle mysteries of the strike truly remained in his body; the aftereffects lingered. His white beard stained with blood, he bitterly smiled and said, "Master is so straightforward, but this disciple feels miserable… Sigh, losing face in front of these kids like Goku!"
But looking at Goku and the three others watching, all were dazzled, seemingly still immersed in the sparring between Taro and Gohan, unable to come back to themselves. As for Taro, he was beyond the ordinary. Gohan, as his true disciple, was now arguably the only other martial arts grandmaster on Earth below Taro.
Their sparring, every move, every technique, was filled with hidden martial principles that shocked Tien and the others, making them painfully aware of their own shallowness.
Three years had passed, and all considered themselves top-tier masters. Yet now, not only were they far from reaching even a shred of the Muken realm, but they were also far behind Gohan.
Though Gohan was in a sorry state, Tien and the others thought it natural. Gohan knew this too and spoke in jest. Countless people in the world would dream of being struck once by a Muken master and benefiting from it for life.
Taro retracted his palm and returned to his usual calm expression, glancing at Gohan: "So, unhappy being instructed by your master?"
"Of course I'm happy. Every sparring with you brings tons of insights… but it's also the source of my troubles." Gohan chuckled. "Your realm is too profound. Whenever I behold it, I feel a helpless sigh of inadequacy."
"All right, that's enough for today. Let's go eat," Taro said. He was used to Gohan's occasional flattering poses and was now immune. At this moment, the phoenix also flew down from the sky and returned to his shoulder.
Even during the sparring with Goku and the others, not a trace of energy disturbed the phoenix, which remained calm. More than that, with Taro's godlike martial power, even placing a cup of water on his shoulder during the fight would not cause a single drop to spill.
Compared to a martial grandmaster like Gohan, however, the phoenix was still intimidated and flew up into the sky. Gohan's full burst of the Muken fist at over thirty-three times strength pushed his battle power to a very high level. Even Vegeta, who at the first visit to Namek could defeat a normal Saibaman, would be crushed before this Gohan.
Krillin gathered the Dragon Balls, and Goku and the others followed Taro back.
---
For the next four or five days, everyone rested on the island.
Gohan, the old man, hadn't seen his little grandson Goku for a long time and didn't plan to return to Mount Paozu so soon. Besides, the profound principles in the strike his master Taro had given him required painstaking meditation.
Bulma stunned everyone, especially Krillin — a mundane and unruly novice monk — who thought Bulma was not only dazzlingly beautiful but had the fresh purity and charm of a young girl. She was truly the top rich and beautiful lady on Earth.
But showing this to Goku was like throwing flirting eyes at a blind man. Bulma noticed that after three years without seeing Goku, he only smiled and greeted briefly before sinking back into the cycle of throwing punches, retracting them, and watching his fists — nothing could call his attention except meals.
Tien also resumed efforts to fuse the Muken and Tsuken, trying to find his own path.
Compared to Goku and Tien, Krillin's mind was most distracted. Not only was his power gradually falling behind, but even his martial realm was slipping further behind. Goku's spirit was pure, true and sincere, while Tien was extremely passionate about martial arts — with great persistence, determination, and endurance. Krillin often envied the two.
It was from this little bald guy that Bulma and the others heard about their experiences over the past three years.
"You met Yamcha?"
Bulma held a basin of barbecue, about to bring it to Goku by the lake as he stubbornly drilled the Dragon Fist Burst. Hearing Krillin mention it, she was surprised.