After nearly a full year of rigorous training, Jiang Xi had finally completed her path as a trainee Kaiōshin. With her preparation complete, Jiang Chen was ready to bid farewell to the Old Kaiōshin.
"Whoosh!"
A surge of divine energy swept through the air, and with it, Jiang Chen and Jiang Xi vanished from that timeline.
City of Time
"Buzz!"
The River of Time shimmered into view, and in the next instant, two figures emerged within the City of Time.
"So this is the City of Time?" Jiang Xi's eyes sparkled with awe, her gaze scanning the vast space infused with the sacred essence of temporal energy.
"Indeed." Jiang Chen nodded gently. "This is where you'll undergo your next phase of training, Xiaoxi."
"When you're ready, you'll officially become a Time and Space Patrol member." As he spoke, Jiang Chen extended his hand, and a glowing emblem appeared on Jiang Xi's forehead, a radiant mark pulsing with temporal energy.
"Huh? What's this?" Jiang Xi asked, puzzled, sensing the tranquil power residing in the mark.
"It's the insignia of a Time and Space Patrol member," Jiang Chen explained softly. "Once you've grasped its power, you'll be able to move freely through Time and Space."
As his younger sister, Jiang Xi naturally received certain privileges. This mark, a token of authority and responsibility, was one Jiang Chen had granted her personally, ahead of others.
"Travel through Time and Space?" Jiang Xi's eyes lit up, her excitement unmistakable.
"Exactly," Jiang Chen nodded. "The mark holds the essence of time itself. Comprehend it well. If you can unlock its secrets, it will enhance your divine path significantly."
"I understand!" she responded quickly. "Thanks, brother!"
After a firm nod from her, Jiang Chen led Jiang Xi to the Watchtower of Chronos, the central training ground for temporal warriors.
"Xiaoxi, this will be your training ground moving forward," he said. "If anything confuses you, just reach out to me through the Time and Space mark. I've got other matters to attend to now, I can't stay by your side."
"It's alright," Jiang Xi replied without hesitation. "Go ahead and do what you need to. Don't worry about me!"
Looking around the sacred tower, she felt this place was perfectly suited for her next step. Deep inside, she believed that with effort, she might one day stand shoulder to shoulder with her brother.
After watching Jiang Xi begin her solitary training, Jiang Chen turned back and opened the Chrono Codex, the sacred Book of Time. Now that he had set the search for new Time and Space patrol members in motion, Jiang Chen was determined to complete the task in one sweep. There was no room for hesitation.
"Whoosh!"
Ripples of space-time spread outward, and image after image began to emerge within the book's shimmering pages.
Jiang Chen began to scan them with focus.
Time flowed quietly and more than an hour passed.
"There!" He whispered, eyes gleaming with clarity.
New scenes unfolded.
But this time, they weren't from the multiverse governed by Zen'ō himself, they originated from a parallel timeline still under Zen'ō's jurisdiction, one touched by the divine will of Dragon God Zalama.
"Whoosh!"
Without delay, Jiang Chen stepped forward, and the celestial tides of time surged around him. Beneath his feet, temporal currents flowed like rivers of stars. He pierced through layer after layer of dimensional boundaries until he finally emerged in a vast, unfamiliar cosmos.
The realm resembled Universe Seven... but something was off.
Here, there was no Planet of the God of Destruction, only a solitary Kaiō God Realm. The entire universe was significantly smaller in scale.
"Whoosh!"
Space twisted around him. Temporal strands wrapped together like threads of fate. Jiang Chen extended his divine perception outward, scanning the entire cosmos in an instant.
"Swish!"
In the next second, he vanished from the void.
Planet Plant
"Boom! Rumble!"
A ferocious battle was underway. Bathed in golden light, Son Goku had taken on the form of Super Saiyan 3, unleashing a mighty aura that enveloped the entire battlefield.
But even so, he was being overwhelmed; his opponent was none other than Baby, having completely overtaken Vegeta's body.
Kaiō God Realm
From afar, the Old Kaiōshin and Kibito watched the fight unfold, tension written all over their faces.
"Ancestor, Goku is going to lose!" Kibito cried, anxiety thick in his voice. "Has that hidden power still not awakened?"
The Old Kaiōshin furrowed his brow. "We moved too fast with this. I'm not sure Goku can access it in time…"
Back on Planet Plant:
"SON GOKU! DIE, YOU DAMNED SAIYAN WRETCHES!" Baby roared with rage, his power flaring like a star about to implode.
The hatred of the Tuffle race, suppressed for generations, was finally erupting through him.
"BOOM! RUMBLE!"
Explosions rocked the planet. Baby was ecstatic as his strength now surged beyond anything he'd felt before.
By contrast, Goku was in terrible shape. Although in his Super Saiyan 3 state, his body was smaller, his childlike form couldn't withstand the full output of his power.
Blood streamed from the corners of his mouth. Blow after blow sent him crashing to the ground.
His energy was fading fast.
At that moment, neither Baby nor Son Goku nor the watching Old Kaiōshin and Kibito noticed the arrival of a mysterious figure floating high above the battlefield.
"So this is the Son Goku from the GT timeline? What incredible power..." Jiang Chen muttered to himself, his expression etched with astonishment.
Even though he knew that GT Goku's strength had diminished somewhat due to his transformation into a child, the raw intensity of his Super Saiyan 3 form still left Jiang Chen in awe.
Yet despite his shock, Jiang Chen made no move to intervene.
After sensing the fierce clash between Baby and Son Goku, he realized this was a turning point, the critical moment in Goku's journey. Whether Goku could ascend to Super Saiyan 4 would hinge entirely on what happened next.
Miss this chance, and that transformation might never come.
Boom!
A fierce surge of energy tore through the air. In mid-air, Goku's form was blasted backward, his transformation breaking as he reverted to his base state. His energy dropped rapidly, his aura flickering like a dying flame.
"Hahaha! Die, you filthy wild monkey!" Baby shouted triumphantly, energy crackling around him.
Meanwhile, Goku's strength continued to fade.
His gaze lifted slowly toward the far-off Earth hanging in the sky.
"Earth…" Goku murmured, his pupils beginning to dilate as a strange light returned to his eyes.
His energy started to shift, wild and unstable.
"No! Damn it, he's... he's seeing Earth as the moon?!" Baby's victorious grin vanished in an instant, replaced by panic.
(To Be Continued…)
This novel is finished and I have posted all the advanced chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395