Su Ming didn't hesitate he did have a wish he wanted to make.
After being enhanced by the improved version of the super serum, his body was far beyond that of a normal human. While he might not be stronger than Master Roshi, who had cultivated martial arts for centuries, his body was not only younger, but also significantly more powerful.
But the shortcomings were clear. Even though he had a bit of foresight and a basic understanding of ki, it was still shallow knowledge. Sure, he could easily release ki blasts now, but that was something anyone who could control ki could do.
When it came to the path of ki, he still knew very little.
Not only that, he also lacked the martial arts training and knowledge to refine himself.
The reason he could defeat the Ox-King and young Goku was purely because of his overwhelming physical strength. If they had all started on equal footing, he wouldn't have stood a chance.
After all, he hadn't truly trained in martial arts. His power came from the serum.
"Shenron, I wish to receive the most complete techniques and methods for manipulating ki."
Shenron hovered high above, his deep voice echoing.
"I can only grant you all the ki-related techniques that have appeared on Earth up to now."
"That's enough."
Su Ming didn't ask for more. Maybe Bulma and the others thought Shenron was omnipotent and could grant any wish, but he knew Shenron had limits a lot of them.
Being able to get this much was already incredible.
On this planet, humans were physically inferior to aliens, and those capable of cultivating ki were extremely rare. Their ki reserves were tiny.
But for that same reason, Earthlings were extremely meticulous in how they used their ki, surpassing even aliens in ki mastery.
Take Vegeta, for example despite having a power level of 18,000, he couldn't even hide his ki or sense his opponent's strength. He had to rely on a scouter to gauge power levels.
"As you wish."
Shenron's eyes glowed red.
In the next moment…
Su Ming felt his mind go heavy, suddenly flooded with new memories.
The wish was granted.
Shenron vanished in a flash of golden light. The dark clouds dispersed, and all signs of the summoning disappeared.
Up in the sky, the Dragon Balls turned to stone.
Whoosh!
Quick on his feet, Su Ming leapt into the air and caught the now stone-transformed Four-Star Ball.
"Goku, this is for you."
Su Ming hadn't forgotten the promise he made back on Mount Paozu he handed the Four-Star Ball to Goku.
"Hmm? Why did it turn to stone?"
Goku flipped the ball back and forth in confusion, jumping around anxiously.
Su Ming interrupted, "Relax, Goku. Once the Dragon Balls grant a wish, they need a year before they can be used again. During that time, they turn to stone. Just wait a year. The Four-Star Ball will return to normal."
Goku, being the cheerful type, didn't dwell on it. Once he understood, he tucked the stone ball into his pouch with a grin.
"Kintoun!"
Goku called out and then turned to Su Ming and Bulma.
"Big bro Su Ming, Bulma! I'm off to train under Grandpa Master Roshi!"
Bulma looked a bit reluctant. Despite being a genius, she was still a young girl and hadn't experienced separation before.
Even though they hadn't known each other long, the adventure they shared had slowly nurtured a bond.
"It's just a short parting. Goku's going to train under Master Roshi. If you miss him, I'll take you to visit."
Bulma gave a soft "Mm," and her feelings of separation eased.
Young Goku left.
Su Ming's gaze fell on the tail behind him. Thanks to Su Ming's involvement, the Dragon Balls had been collected much faster this time around. The full moon was just a few days away, and Goku's tail was still intact.
"Let's head back too."
Bulma beamed and playfully jumped onto Su Ming's back, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I don't want to ride the plane home. Carry me, okay~?"
Su Ming could only shake his head helplessly. How could he refuse?
Back in West City
Su Ming landed on the lawn outside their home. Bulma hopped off easily, her face glowing with joy.
"Bulma, Su Ming, you're back! Want some coffee?"
Mrs. Brief stepped out with two cups in hand. She didn't seem the least bit surprised to see them.
"No thanks, I need a bath. I'm covered in dust from the road."
Bulma refused politely. Right now, all she wanted was to soak in her luxurious bathtub and unwind.
Mrs. Brief didn't mind. Her gaze turned to Su Ming.
"Auntie, I'm a little tired too. I'll rest for now."
Su Ming wasn't actually tired. What he really wanted was to explore the ki techniques he had just received.
Oddly enough, those memories granted by Shenron would only surface when he deliberately focused on them. The rest of the time, it was like they didn't even exist.
In His Room
Not long after, Su Ming's excited voice rang out.
What a surprise what a huge surprise!
His mind was now filled with an ocean of ki techniques. Not only the Kamehameha and Thunder Shock Surprise from Master Roshi, but also the Flight Technique and Dodon Ray from Crane Hermit.
Even Mutaito's Evil Containment Wave was included, along with various other ki-manipulation methods.
It was like having a massive encyclopedia in his brain, solving his biggest weakness his lack of ki knowledge.
Of course, he still had to train hard to truly master them. It wasn't like he had instantly learned them all.
Dinner Time
Dr. Brief and his wife sat on one side of the table, while Su Ming and Bulma sat together.
Bulma suddenly remembered the wish Su Ming made and asked,
"Su Ming, if your goal was to grow stronger and study martial arts, why didn't you just ask Shenron to make you the strongest in the world? Wouldn't that be better than just getting techniques?"
Su Ming shook his head.
"Instead of receiving power from Shenron, I'd rather grow through my own training. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Something as powerful as the Dragon Balls might come with risks we can't even see yet."
Shenron's power was limited he couldn't exceed that of his creator. So it was impossible for Shenron to grant him invincibility.
Even in his original world before crossing over, Su Ming knew that in Dragon Ball GT, the overuse of Shenron's power led to the creation of the Shadow Dragons.
Dr. Brief agreed.
"There's no such thing as free rewards in this world. If we can avoid using the Dragon Balls again, let's not rely on them."
Bulma didn't really mind. She hadn't wanted anything from them anyway. She glanced at Su Ming and mentally noted something.
Su Ming's 15th birthday was coming up.
As his older sister figure, she had to start planning something special.
Days Later
Su Ming devoted himself to researching ki usage, working hard to fully integrate the techniques in his mind. He believed that once he did, his strength would rise dramatically.
Bulma, surprisingly, locked herself in the lab, refusing to let anyone disturb her.
Especially Su Ming.
November 24, 11:59 PM.
In one minute, Su Ming would turn 15 years old.