Chapter 84: Summoning Shenron
Hearing what Franklin said, the sincere emotion in his words made Bulma's heart warm. At least those years of waiting hadn't been in vain. A smile unconsciously bloomed on her face.
"Hmph, then you're still a heartless man."
Six Dragon Balls were carried over on a tray and placed before Franklin. He pulled the only missing Four-Star Ball from his waist pouch and set it in the center of the other six. As the seven Dragon Balls gathered together, golden light began to flash continuously.
Feeling the curious gazes around him, Franklin took a deep breath. "Come out, Shenron!!!"
In an instant, black clouds rolled across the sky. Within seconds, several kilometers in every direction were shrouded in darkness. Lightning flashed within the clouds.
The seven Dragon Balls released an unknown energy. As the power converged completely, a golden dragon of light spiraled upward into the heavens. When the golden glow faded, a colossal green dragon appeared, its body blotting out the sun.
It was the first time Lala, Zastin, and the others had ever witnessed such a scene. Their eyes were wide with shock. As the dragon's massive head slowly lowered, its presence grew even more imposing.
"No matter what your wish is, I will grant it. Speak your wish."
Before Franklin could reply, a red gleam flashed through Shenron's eyes. In an instant, the dragon seemed more spirited.
"It's you again. My powers are limited—I can only grant certain wishes. So don't think about flying straight to the top. Make it something practical."
Hearing Shenron speak so casually, Franklin's only thought was, Damn. After calming himself down, he cleared away the distractions in his mind.
"This time, I don't know if you can grant this wish, but I have a feeling you should be able to.
I'm about to break through to the Core Formation Stage. My body will also break through to the Wandering Realm. Doing that will bring down Heavenly Tribulation. I want you to keep me alive under the thunder tribulation."
As Franklin's wish was spoken, Zastin, who knew a bit of the truth behind such things, instantly grew solemn. Shenron also fell silent for a long moment.
"I'm sorry. That wish is beyond my power. Tribulation is Heaven's trial for cultivators. Either you pass it and your life undergoes a transformation, or you die and your cultivation returns to the world.
Lightning Tribulation isn't just for destruction—it's a test. If you can endure it, Heaven will bestow its grace. That is the sign of a cultivator successfully passing their tribulation."
Hearing Shenron's explanation, Franklin let out a long breath. "Then what can you do to help increase my chances of surviving the tribulation?"
Again, silence. Shenron said nothing for a long time. Just as Franklin was ready to give up, the dragon finally spoke again.
"I can restore your body to its peak condition at the critical moment. Completely, absolutely, to its state at the peak right before the tribulation."
Hearing Shenron's words, Franklin exhaled deeply. "That's fine. It's enough."
Seeing the worried looks on everyone's faces, Franklin smiled. "Don't worry. It's just a trial. I have confidence I'll get through it."
Bulma, Son Goku, and Krillin understood Shenron's abilities all too well. If even Shenron couldn't offer real help, then no matter how casually Franklin spoke, the reality wouldn't change.
Bulma walked up to him and hesitated before asking, "Can't you not break through?"
Franklin smiled and shook his head. "I have to. I still need to find my missing parents in the future. I can't back down now."
As he spoke, Franklin stepped away from the crowd. Seeing Lala's confused eyes, he smiled and waved at her.
"Wait here for me. Once I succeed, I don't care if it's Sparkly Star People or whatever alien they are—I'll beat them so hard they won't know which way is north."
Hearing Franklin's vow, Lala's eyes sparkled. "Lin, I believe in you. You can do it."
Looking at her innocent, sincere smile, Franklin felt his body and mind relax. He pushed off the ground, and in a flash, he was several kilometers away in a forest.
He flipped open the Dimensional Heavenly Tome to a page of Dimensional Space and directly chose to enter. Dozens of top-grade spirit stones were thrown out. As they shattered, the controllable power of space and the power of heaven and earth appeared around him.
An illusionary Franklin emerged. With him playing both roles, space power and heaven-and-earth power continuously poured into his body.
Activating the Space Overlord Art, spiritual energy surged into him. Under the influence of the technique, the power of heaven and earth stabilized his cultivation.
Inside Franklin's qi sea, the spiritual energy had already liquefied. The golden spiritual liquid completely filled the sea. As more energy flooded in, a swelling pain spread from within.
Sensing the right moment, Franklin let out a low shout. Under the influence of his technique, space power joined in compressing the spiritual liquid.
With the help of space power, what would normally take years was completed in just three hours.
Suspended in the center of his qi sea, a small golden core shone faintly. Franklin exhaled deeply—he had successfully formed his core.
His divine sense spread throughout his body, his entire physical state appearing clearly in his mind. The power of space and heaven and earth surged into him again.
Under the control of his illusionary self, space power and heaven-and-earth power enveloped his body evenly.
He circulated his technique, and his cells—under the effect of space power—kept shrinking, stabilizing, dividing, and refining toward an even more microscopic level.
When the Dimensional Heavenly Tome's basic page showed a change in his physical cultivation, Franklin immediately stopped.
[Spiritual Energy Cultivation: Pseudo Core Formation (Spiritual Energy Liquefaction, Spiritual Liquid Formed Core, tribulation not yet crossed, cultivation is Pseudo Core Formation)]
[Physical Body Cultivation: First Origin Realm Peak Great Perfection (Average Cell Diameter: 999 picometers, tribulation not yet crossed, physical body remains at First Origin Realm)]
Combat Power: 999–1050 → 1000–1100
Seeing the change in his combat power, Franklin exhaled slowly. He had thought the tribulation would just be a formality. He hadn't expected that whether or not he crossed it would be so closely tied to his power.
When he stepped out of the dimensional space, the dark clouds summoned earlier by Shenron quickly dispersed.
A strange, oppressive feeling spread outward from Franklin's position. Black clouds suddenly formed again and began to expand. Crackling sounds echoed across the outskirts.
"Captain Zastin, where are you? Unidentified energy detected above Cainan City. Dark clouds appeared out of nowhere and are rapidly expanding.
The entire city and the surrounding areas are now covered. The clouds keep spreading. Our power detectors are maxing out, and the main ship is starting to lose control."
Looking at the projection flashing on his wrist, Zastin's expression grew even darker. "Pull the main ship back—get it away from Blue Star. This is just the beginning. The real show hasn't even started yet…"
Before he could finish, the electric device on his wrist was completely fried by the lightning tribulation.
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