"What... just... happened?"
Master Roshi stared blankly at the wreckage before him.
The powerful explosion had left his face charred black, with small sparks still flickering in the tips of his beard. He looked at the detonated television, the motorcycle that had appeared out of nowhere, and the massive hole in his wall. He stood there, completely lost, unable to comprehend what had just transpired.
"I'm so sorry! So sorry!"
A voice rang out, accompanied by an apologetic laugh.
Roshi turned his head toward the gaping hole in the wall and saw two children standing on the beach, smiling sheepishly at him.
It was Qin Yan and Liya.
Qin Yan had an awkward grin plastered on his face. When he had tried to park, he must have hit the wrong control, causing the motorcycle to spin out of control and smash through Master Roshi's house. He swore it wasn't intentional.
"Who are you...?"
Roshi, looking rather disheveled, crawled out through the hole. He scrutinized Qin Yan and Liya, his brow furrowed with gravity and confusion. He didn't fly into a rage over his ruined home. Instead, he studied the two children. From them, he could sense a remarkably powerful aura.
"You must be Muten Roshi!"
With the thick white beard, the sunglasses, and the heavy purple turtle shell on his back, the old man's iconic look made it impossible for Qin Yan to be mistaken. He knew this was the world's greatest martial artist, the man hailed as the "God of Martial Arts." Qin Yan straightened his clothes and spoke with formal respect.
"Mmm... that I am."
Roshi replied, his voice deep and serious. He didn't deny it, straightforwardly admitting his identity as Muten Roshi. He was slightly surprised, however. He didn't understand how Qin Yan and his companion knew who he was.
His mind raced with theories about their origins and purpose, but he couldn't make sense of it. He could tell Qin Yan and Liya were no ordinary kids. "What brings you here?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"We've come from the far-off West City, passing through Mount Paozu along the way," Qin Yan explained slowly, revealing his purpose. He made a point to mention Mount Paozu. "We heard that the world's greatest martial artist, the legendary Muten Roshi, was living in seclusion here, so we took the liberty of visiting. Please excuse the intrusion!"
"Oh? Mount Paozu? You've come a long way. It must have been a grueling journey! As for being the world's greatest or a 'God of Martial Arts,' those are just rumors. I'm nothing more than an old man who loves life and stays active!" Hearing Mount Paozu, Roshi blinked. He secretly wondered if his eldest disciple had told these children where to find him, though he couldn't fathom why.
Roshi remained humble and natural, acting as if the grand titles meant nothing to him.
"Not at all! It was no trouble. But we really are sorry for wrecking your house the moment we arrived," Qin Yan apologized again, sincere in his regret for the motorcycle accident. "We will provide compensation."
Seeing Roshi's casual, indifferent attitude toward his legendary status, Qin Yan felt a wave of admiration for the master's temperament. He knew that Muten Roshi truly deserved the title of God of Martial Arts. He was the pinnacle of his era, yet he remained incredibly modest. His martial spirit had long since transcended the secular world.
Muten Roshi was the founder of the Turtle School and the father of the Kamehameha. He was the prize pupil of the grandmaster Mutaito, who was the world's strongest fighter over three hundred years ago.
In this world, Muten Roshi was recognized as the strongest. In the original story, he appeared to be a lecherous old man, but in reality, he was a great warrior willing to sacrifice his life to eradicate evil.
During the King Piccolo Saga, for instance, King Piccolowho had pushed the world to the brink of death three centuries prior before being sealed by Mutaitowas released by Emperor Pilaf's gang to rule once more. King Piccolo's minions stole the Four-Star Dragon Ball, killed Krillin, and wounded Goku.
Roshi then led Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu on a quest to gather the Dragon Balls and ask Shenron to destroy the demon king. However, King Piccolo killed Shenron before they had a chance. Master Roshi changed his plan, intending to face the demon king alone.
He attempted to use the Evil Containment Wave to seal him, but the shot missed. Exhausted and having spent every drop of his life force, Roshi died. Later, Goku successfully defeated King Piccolo and used the Dragon Balls to resurrect everyone killed by the demon king, including Master Roshi.
Roshi's martial arts expertise was at the absolute peak, with many formidable skills. The most iconic was the Kamehameha, a lethal ultimate move for energy clashes. He also possessed the Afterimage Technique, the Multi-Afterimage Technique, Drunken Fist, and the Thunder Shock Surprise.
The Thunder Shock Surprise was particularly noteworthy. By clasping his hands together to build energy, he converted his entire essence into tens of thousands of watts of electricity, shooting it at his opponent. It trapped the foe, leaving them unable to move while the current continuously assaulted them.
Even Goku was once pushed to a desperate, agonizing brink by this move. Master Roshi had only used this move against his eldest disciple, Grandpa Gohan, and Goku. According to Master Roshi himself, the power was so great that the target likely wouldn't survive.
It wasn't until the Dragon Ball Super storyline that Master Roshi used the Thunder Shock Surprise again, shining brilliantly during the Tournament of Power hosted by Zeno.
Beyond those, Master Roshi had an even more heaven-defying technique: a form of autonomous evasion. This technique was something that could only be felt, not described.
This evasion skill was born from his centuries of combat experience. It allowed him to use a technique similar to Ultra Instinct, though not quite as advanced. Roshi could instinctively predict an enemy's tactics and attack patterns. Even blindfolded, this Autonomous Evasion allowed him to dodge damage seamlessly.
At the Tournament of Power, Muten Roshi used this very skill to dodge Jiren's attacks multiple times, shocking everyone present. Jiren was the strongest warrior in Universe 11, with power levels countless dimensions above Master Roshi's. He had likely already surpassed Belmod, the God of Destruction of Universe 11. Whis once noted that the principle was identical to Ultra Instinct. It was a terrifying feat.
Of course, Master Roshi could only use this evasion when his mind was perfectly clear and calm, which underscored the importance of mental cultivation in martial arts. Thus, Master Roshi's title as the God of Martial Arts was no empty claim; he was entirely deserving of it.
"Hahaha! It's no big deal. As long as no one is hurt, it's fine," Master Roshi laughed. He really didn't care about the damage to his house. His smile was simple and honest, reflecting a man satisfied with life and indifferent to its ups and downs.
"Brother Qin Yan, look! He has a giant turtle shell on his back too! It looks just like the ones we used for training! Does he cultivate the same way we do?" Liya whispered into Qin Yan's ear, her eyes filled with curiosity as she peeked at Roshi.
"Haha! Naturally. That's because the cultivation method I taught you both originated from the many styles of this old gentleman," Qin Yan smiled and whispered back, explaining it to her slowly.
"Wh-what? It really came from him?" Liya was stunned. She looked at Roshi with disbelief, unable to fathom that her training regimen had come from this unremarkable-looking old man.
"I have long heard that your martial arts have reached the level of the gods. I've come specifically to seek your guidance and exchange insights on the Way. I wonder if you would be willing to point out a thing or two?"
Seeing that Roshi wasn't going to press them for the accident, Qin Yan suddenly changed the subject to a request for a duel. He stepped forward slowly, facing the sea. He looked out over the vast, endless blue ocean, his eyes as calm as an ancient well.
Qin Yan extended his small, youthful arm and pointed toward the horizon.
"Aha!"
Qin Yan let out a sharp shout. An invisible force erupted from his hand, striking the ocean directly.
BOOM!
The seawater was instantly pushed aside by the invisible power. Following the direction of Qin Yan's finger, the waves scattered to both sides. The sea was instantly sliced open, the rift racing toward the distant horizon. The entire surface looked as if it had been cleaved in two. A long, straight trench appeared on the water, exposing the seabed below.
Looking down at the Earth from outer space, it looked as if the planet was being cut in halflike a young man had just combed his long hair into a perfect middle part.
The ocean had been given a middle part by the sheer force of Qin Yan's power.
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