Chapter 15: Training

After donning the magical weighted clothing, Xavier found himself enveloped in an extraordinary gravitational field. He had to exert more effort to counteract the gravity that bore down on each cell of his body, making it challenging to freely harness his own power. Consequently, his evident combat strength diminished significantly.

Much like Frieza, who suppressed his unrestrained power by transforming, Xavier found that after shedding most of his energy, only a minuscule amount remained under his control. Managing this energy became considerably easier than before.

Observing Xavier and Celine, who, despite their struggles, maintained formidable fighting spirit, Kami was visibly moved, his deep eyes betraying a flicker of astonishment.

He had never considered exploiting their vulnerability by attacking them while their power was reduced due to the weighted clothing. He knew it was impossible — their strength hadn't vanished; it had merely retreated deeper within their bodies. Furthermore, Kami's moral integrity as Earth's Guardian wouldn't allow such a dishonorable act.

"Let this be a good deed for Earth. Perhaps one day, Earth will require their assistance..." Kami mused to himself. Leaning on his staff, his voice floated over softly, "My guests, Popo and Korin will now train you. I hope it proves beneficial."

"Just call me Xavier, and this little one here is Celine. We appreciate your guidance," Xavier responded politely, nodding at Popo and Master Korin with a confident smile on his youthful face.

Although the power inside him had reduced, the lesser quantity meant it could be controlled more easily.

"No trouble at all!" Master Korin licked his paw and stroked his whiskers, pondering internally, "What race could these youngsters be? To withstand 15 times gravity is extraordinary; it’s been centuries since I’ve seen such characters."

At that moment, Popo, who had been quietly standing by, stepped forward. His impassive eyes fixed on Xavier and Celine as he spoke, "You will train with Korin initially. Once you have a grasp of your internal energy and understand what Ki is, I will take over your training!"

"Okay!"

"Mm."

"Korin, I leave them in your care now." Kami, supporting himself with his staff, showed a wrinkled yet smiling face as he bid farewell to Xavier and the others before returning to the inner sanctum of the temple.

After Kami departed, Master Korin eyed the two seemingly youthful but undeniably powerful children before him, contemplating how to commence their training.

It wasn’t long before Master Korin mysteriously produced two bells and secured them onto Xavier and Celine. He then took out a water bottle and hung it on his staff.

Having arranged everything, Master Korin, stroking his fur seriously, explained, "Your task is to seize this water bottle hanging from my staff. You may try while I'm asleep or distracted; any method is acceptable as long as you manage to take the bottle from me."

"However, there is one rule: you must keep these bells tied to you at all times, and they must not make any sound. If they do, you fail."

Xavier nodded in understanding after hearing the instructions. This training method was akin to the one Master Korin used with Goku in the original story, but with a stricter twist — the addition of the tiny bells significantly increased the difficulty of the task.

To move without causing the bells to sound even slightly, they would need to attain a state of profound calm, akin to still water or a serene sky — a truly challenging feat.

Such training subtly instills mastery over the essence of Ki.

Xavier himself had attempted similar training but had always struggled to control the bells, which would sound off at the slightest movement. It seemed that only a master of Ki could provide the guidance necessary to succeed.

Ki represents a form of energy, a power inherent within living beings, yet most are unaware of its true nature and use it crudely. Master Korin’s seemingly simple training method contained profound lessons, reflecting why Earthlings might surpass other cosmic races in certain aspects.

This was precisely the wisdom Xavier had come to Earth to acquire.

"Master Korin, let's begin!"

Xavier nodded to Master Korin and, together with Celine, they began their concerted effort to seize the water bottle.

Although Master Korin's training seemed straightforward, its complexity became apparent once Xavier and Celine actually began. Each attempt by Xavier either missed its mark or caused the bells to ring out with a clear "ting-a-ling."

To keep the bells silent, they had to meticulously control their body movements, and combined with the thin air and the heavy weight they bore in the high-altitude temple, it wasn't long before both were breathless with exhaustion.

After a brief rest to regain their strength, the two resumed their efforts to snatch the water bottle hanging from Master Korin's staff. Yet, they continued to fumble, sometimes coming tantalizingly close to success before a slight movement from Master Korin made them lose their grip.

Days turned into a week, and life in the temple was monotonous and dull. However, Xavier and Celine, both possessing great patience, did not grow frustrated.

Over these days, they absorbed the martial arts philosophies taught by Master Korin like sponges, reshaping their understanding and control of power.

Their method of power control, initially instinctual and broad, gradually became more refined and precise.

By the ninth day, they were still striving to grab the water bottle, but their progress was evident as they could now effectively prevent the bells from making any noise.

Master Korin watched in amazement. Faced with their almost superhuman progress, even he, a seasoned martial artist, felt a bit outclassed. He knew that his training method was significantly more challenging than before.

Normally, those who climbed Korin's Tower and underwent the water bottle training needed two to three years to pass.

However, adding the restriction of "keeping the bells silent" was a first for him, a challenge typically reserved for divine challengers in the heavenly realms.

"This won't do. You need to learn to adjust your breathing. Once your breathing becomes erratic, your rhythm is off, and your movements will show flaws," Master Korin advised, shaking the water bottle while his eyes narrowed into slits.

"For instance, like this..."

Suddenly, Master Korin launched an attack on Xavier and Celine. His soft paws landed on them with a series of crisp "pitter-patter" sounds, sending two figures flying back more than ten meters before they skidded several more across the ground.

"Learning to regulate your breathing begins with calming your mind," Master Korin advised as he ambled over, his portly figure supported by his staff. Miraculously, the water bottle atop the staff remained perfectly still, not spilling a single drop.

Xavier, deep in thought, stood still for a moment before a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. Ignoring the beads of sweat on his face, he called out with renewed vigor, "Again!"