The three men's comments shocked everyone present.
The difference was far too noticeable.
Especially for Vegeta, who was now starting to doubt his entire existence.
He had been so confident earlier, firmly believing that Earthlings could never surpass him.
But now, just hearing what the others said was a slap to his face.
Only Lin Chuan accepted it all naturally.
Truth be told, while Saiyans had always pushed themselves to improve through intense training, Krillin and Tien Shinhan had also been grinding day and night, steadily accumulating their strength.
As the saying goes, "thick accumulation leads to explosive growth."
That's exactly what had happened.
And now, after arriving in the Supreme Kai Realm and being exposed to a broader world, they gained new insights, allowing their cultivation to rise naturally.
What they lacked now was just that final spark, a breakthrough moment.
Taking a deep breath, Vegeta calmed himself and steadied his resolve.
He and Piccolo, snapping back to focus, turned their gazes toward the Elder Supreme Kai.
[He doesn't look like anything special…] Vegeta began to doubt.
[Is that old man really the Elder Supreme Kai that Lin mentioned?] Piccolo wondered silently.
At first glance, Piccolo instinctively tried to see through him.
But the Elder Supreme Kai gave off the impression of a completely ordinary, withered old man. Nothing stood out.
In the end, Piccolo had no choice but to remind himself, Don't judge a book by its cover.
Lin Chuan had emphasized the Elder Kai's capabilities earlier, otherwise, who would ever believe such a plain old man could wield such terrifying power?
"Lin boy, you've brought quite the crew to the Supreme Kai Realm this time.
Besides that Goku and Raditz, I'd say pretty much all of Earth's fighters are here, right?"
The Elder Kai said with hands behind his back, eyes squinting.
"Are you planning to make this old man work overtime, unlocking everyone's potential?"
With his sharp insight, the Elder Kai guessed immediately that this was the only benefit he could offer Lin Chuan and the others.
"You never fail to impress, Elder Supreme Kai.
Since you already figured it out, I won't bother explaining,"
Lin Chuan said with a smile, keeping the conversation brief.
Despite not meeting hundreds of times, Lin Chuan and the Elder Kai had developed a silent understanding.
A single glance between them was enough.
"You're really not worried I'll drop dead from overusing my powers?"
The Elder Kai said in mock frustration, though his acting was flawless.
"I'll bring supplies afterward, magazines, DVDs, and the latest Earthly goodies,"
Lin Chuan offered the bribe openly.
Hearing that, the Elder Kai nodded in satisfaction, his eyes showing a "you're a good kid" look.
"Since you've said that, then fine.
Unlocking their potential will benefit Universe 7 anyway,"
the Elder Kai said, putting on his usual air of a noble hermit, doing good for the sake of the universe.
Some people wouldn't fall for that persona, but many did.
A lot of people think they're smart, but once they're caught in a web, they don't even realize their judgment is flawed.
Lin Chuan nodded and glanced at the others, then turned to the Elder Kai,
"No time like the present. Since you've agreed, let's begin."
The Elder Kai nodded.
Meanwhile, East Supreme Kai Shin and Kibito began to panic a little.
They knew the Elder Kai could unlock people's potential, but this was moving too fast.
Shouldn't they take time to plan things out?
There was no imminent enemy, so was there really a need to rush?
But neither of them could understand the desperate desire to grow stronger that lived in a warrior's heart.
Only after the Elder Kai signaled them not to worry did the two calm down.
"So, who's going first?" the Elder Kai asked calmly.
"Gohan, you go. Success or failure hinges on this."
Lin Chuan made the call.
As the leader, his word was final.
No one, not even Vegeta, could change that.
And by now, no one would question Lin Chuan's decisions.
Maybe in the past, but not anymore. He had long become the core of the Z Fighters.
Hearing Lin Chuan, Gohan obediently stepped forward.
At fifteen, he looked like a young adult.
"Nice to meet you, Elder Supreme Kai. I'm Gohan.
And thank you for helping me unlock my potential."
The Elder Kai smiled approvingly at his polite greeting.
"Too early for thanks. Wait until we're done, thank me if you're satisfied."
He stroked his chin and studied Gohan carefully.
He stared at him for so long that Gohan started feeling awkward,
"Not bad, not bad! You Saiyans really are something else.
First you, and now this kid, young as he is, not only is his power already impressive,
but his hidden potential is so vast, even I can't see the bottom."
"Honestly, even without my help, it's only a matter of time before he draws out this power on his own."
Upon hearing the Elder Kai's evaluation, Lin Chuan and Piccolo both nodded instinctively.
As Gohan's closest mentors, they knew full well how vast his potential was.
Vegeta, Tien, Krillin, and Chiaotzu, however, were all shocked and stunned.
[This kid?! Are you kidding me?!]
Vegeta kept a straight face, but inside, a storm of emotions was raging.
[No wonder Gohan's power grew so fast. He really is Goku's son…]
Krillin thought, feeling proud of both Gohan and Goku.
[I wonder how strong Gohan will become after the unlock?
Could he match the future Gohan who once traveled back in time?]
Tien thought of the Gohan from the future.
[Amazing… He's already so strong at such a young age.
He might even surpass Goku in the future.]
Chiaotzu reminisced about the first time they met Goku,
even back then, Goku had shown terrifying potential.
"Do I really… have that much potential?"
Even Gohan found it hard to believe.
After all, just a few days ago, he'd spent three full years training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Based on what Uncle Lin Chuan said, shouldn't all that potential have been used up?
"Never doubt yourself so easily, kid.
You want to get stronger, but you still lack firm belief."
"Come now, let this old man give you a push."
The Elder Kai said, gesturing for Gohan to follow him.
Gohan hesitated, but after confirming Lin Chuan's encouraging look, he stepped forward.
Soon, the two reached a scenic grassy hill nearby.
"Unlocking your potential might take some time.
So not just you, everyone else should be patient."
"Now sit."
Following the Elder Kai's instructions, Gohan sat cross-legged on the ground.
And thus, the ritual to unlock Gohan's potential began.
The Elder Kai's strange dance drew the attention of everyone watching.
For the Z Fighters who hadn't seen it before, their expressions darkened.
If it weren't for Lin Chuan vouching for him, who would believe this nonsense?
Without that assurance, they'd definitely suspect the Elder Kai was just a scam artist.
On the surface, nothing looked out of the ordinary.
Only through divine or high-level spiritual perception could anyone notice the finer details.
As time passed, Gohan's hidden power was gradually unearthed,
And his combat strength began to transform at a mysterious pace.
After sighing to himself, the Elder Supreme Kai looked over at Gohan, who had already fallen asleep. Stretching his stiff old back, he called out,
"Hey, kid! The potential-unlocking ritual is over. Wake up!"
"Huh? Ah?! It's already finished?"
Still groggy, Gohan opened his blurry eyes. Once he fully processed what was going on, he quickly stood up and said,
"Th-thank you very much, Elder Supreme Kai!"
Despite some numbness in his legs from sitting cross-legged so long, his Saiyan physique quickly shook off the discomfort.
Now that the ritual was complete, Gohan couldn't wait to test his strength.
Deep down, though, he still doubted, Had his power really increased?
The Elder Kai's potential-unlocking was holistic, but Gohan hadn't been actively sensing it during the process.
So he had no idea that his strength was now on an entirely different level from before.
"Hey! Hey!! Hold it, you little brat! Wai, beep beep beep!!"
The Elder Kai shouted as he realized something was off.
He immediately recalled how Lin Chuan had also acted this recklessly back then.
He tried to stop Gohan, but it was already too late, he could only curse under his breath.
"Haaaaaaaahhhh!!"
With a deafening roar, Gohan's power erupted.
BOOM!!
A blinding, pale-white aura exploded outward like a tornado, sweeping across the entire Supreme Kai Realm.
Just from that initial blast, the Elder Kai was sent flying, completely overwhelmed.
Thankfully, Lin Chuan had anticipated this, and used his own power to catch the Elder Kai in time.
Gohan's energy was surging upward like an unrelenting wave, as if it had no limits, leaving everyone present in utter shock.
His ki had become so dense, it seemed to ignite the air itself, manifesting as flames burning in the sky.
An overwhelming pressure shot skyward, shaking both the heavens and earth.
The grassy hill where Gohan had been sitting had long since been torn apart and flattened by the sheer force of his aura.
The entire Supreme Kai Realm trembled under the impact of his unleashed strength.
In the distance, East Supreme Kai Shin was drenched in sweat, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his face and mask his fear.
It was simply terrifying, too terrifying for him to process.
Kibito's eyes twitched uncontrollably. Though he already knew Saiyans were monsters…
To see a fifteen-year-old child erupt with power at this level, it was something beyond comprehension.
"Th-this ki… it really came from Gohan?!
This is what potential unlocking does?!"
Krillin exclaimed, both thrilled and shaken, his body trembling.
"Unbelievable…
Gohan's hidden power was this terrifying?!
The Elder Kai's ritual really did bring out all of it…"
Tien gasped, then immediately felt a surge of desire.
He couldn't wait to undergo the potential unlocking himself.
How far could he go?
He had been accumulating energy for so long!
Meanwhile, Piccolo said nothing, but his mind was racing.
This old man's potential unlocking… it's unbelievably effective!
The Gohan before and after are like two different people!
If he were to transform into a Super Saiyan now… how strong would he be?!
Back when Lin Chuan described it, Piccolo had thought the Elder Kai's ability was similar to Guru's on Namek.
But now, he realized he had completely underestimated this unassuming old man.
He might look like a useless codger, but he was truly a hidden powerhouse.
The results of his full potential unlocking were astonishing, boosting power far beyond expectations.
Now even Piccolo began to wonder, If I underwent the ritual, how far would my power climb?
That old guy's ability… it's stronger than I thought.
Gohan's completely transformed…
Vegeta stood with arms crossed, his face calm, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of emotion.
As the Prince of Saiyans, the third-strongest among them behind only Lin Chuan and Broly, Vegeta could not accept being surpassed by anyone.
Yet now, he felt threatened by Gohan's new power.
Yes, threatened.
He had always known Gohan's potential was vast, and that the Elder Kai's ritual would give him a huge boost.
But never, never, did he expect it to be this outrageous.
Compared to six hours ago, Gohan was now in another dimension altogether.
Could it be… that he, Prince Vegeta, was no longer stronger than this kid?
That realization made Vegeta even more frustrated.
But the worst part?
From what he could sense now, Gohan's current power level had already surpassed his own base form by dozens, maybe even hundreds, of times!
That invisible pressure was already weighing heavily on him.
What Vegeta didn't know was that Gohan wasn't just powered up, he had undergone a true transformation into a Ultimate Form.
Only Lin Chuan and the Elder Kai could see the difference.
Vegeta was lucky, lucky he hadn't undergone the ritual yet, and lucky Gohan hadn't unlocked Super Saiyan 4.
That much, Vegeta could only infer from what he sensed.
Strangely enough, if it had been Goku or Raditz powering up, Vegeta wouldn't have cared as much.
He would have thought that normal, expected, even.
To not see them grow stronger would have been far more unsettling.
Because the path to strength without rivals, was a very lonely road.
As royalty, possessing the purest Saiyan blood, and having always prided himself on being the most gifted of all Saiyans,
To now be overtaken by a half-human hybrid from Earth, it was…
Just wait! Once this prince unlocks his potential,
I'll far surpass you!
I refuse to believe everything Lin Chuan said is true…
Vegeta steadied himself internally and made a quiet vow.
He had his pride. He had his conviction.
He didn't believe he was inferior to anyone.
He would challenge the truth behind Lin Chuan's predictions.
As Gohan's energy burst finally came to a close, he slowly stopped releasing his power.
Though his appearance hadn't visibly changed, his expression and demeanor were noticeably different.
"So… this is my power now?
It feels completely different than before…
And I… I feel a sense of total confidence.
Like I can do anything."
Gohan closed his eyes, taking a moment to feel the changes in his body.
After being unlocked by the Elder Kai, he could now sense the complete awakening of his energy.
Every cell in his body was brimming with immense power.
Compared to his fight with "Uncle Vegeta" before, he might even be stronger.
At this moment, he felt like he could handle anyone.
Except for Uncle Lin Chuan, maybe even Piccolo, Vegeta, his dad, or his uncle Raditz… it didn't matter!
But this excessive confidence started to warp his sense of reality.
Just as it began to take hold, Gohan felt a jolt in his heart, and immediately snapped out of it.
He gasped sharply.
He had almost lost himself in the intoxicating surge of strength.
Taking a few deep breaths, Gohan calmed the imbalance in his heart.
Not long after, Lin Chuan slowly walked toward him.
He looked Gohan up and down, observing the Ultimate state carefully.
Even though it was the second time he had seen it, it still felt unbelievable.
The first time, it was the future Gohan, viewed only through Whis's projection…