"Confirmed!"
Facing Master Roshi's question, Rhode nodded seriously, then released a faint trace of aura that far surpassed Aira's. Even though it was just a flicker, the old master sensed it immediately. His eyes widened in shock, and beads of sweat appeared along his temples:
"You… you are so strong!"
Rhode's lips curled into a faint smile. "We are naturally powerful in combat, but we have not yet learned cultivation. That's why we came to you—to learn how to harness our power properly."
Master Roshi opened his mouth to respond, but for a moment his mind went blank. The words coming from a child's body, yet with an adult's calm tone, were disorienting. Realizing his lapse, he smacked his lips, adjusted his posture, and adopted a more composed demeanor. Calmly, he said,
"Learning cultivation isn't a problem, but…"
He winked at Rhode, signaling him to step aside for a private conversation.
"Aira, don't move. I'll speak with Master Roshi," Rhode instructed, reading the old man's intent clearly.
Aira crossed her arms and huffed, her Saiyan pride clearly on display. "Got it! Hurry up—I don't have all day!"
Rhode gave a slight nod. "It won't take long."
Stepping aside, he turned to Master Roshi. "Please speak directly, old man. I won't be offended or distracted by anything you say."
Master Roshi studied Rhode carefully, sensing the aura in and around him. Then, without hesitation, he spoke bluntly:
"I can sense that your aura, though carrying a trace of coldness, is fundamentally upright and peaceful. That means your nature is not bad. Teaching you cultivation isn't a problem.
"But that little girl… her aura is very different. She is young, yet it is cold, sharp, almost evil. She isn't someone I can teach recklessly. Are you sure you are together?"
Rhode's eyes lit up. Though he had practiced crude cultivation methods for months and had some theoretical understanding of aura sensing, he had never been able to clearly distinguish between good and evil. Master Roshi's insight was remarkable—despite being older and less physically powerful, he had clarity of perception that even Rhode respected.
"So you'll only teach me, not Aira?" Rhode asked, immediately understanding the old man's intention.
Master Roshi shivered slightly at the direct question, then frowned, speaking with a tone of righteous indignation:
"How could I be unreasonable? Cough… I mean, she seems to listen to you very well. My concern is: can you guarantee she won't cause destruction on Earth?"
Ah… so this was the old man's approach. Shrewd, careful, and experienced—Master Roshi had lived long enough to see many disasters, yet he balanced fairness with caution. Rhode understood immediately.
"You can rest assured, Master Roshi," Rhode said calmly. "Aira won't have a chance to cause destruction. I will control her if necessary."
The tension in Master Roshi's shoulders eased visibly. With hands clasped behind his back, he returned to Aira, who was stamping her small foot impatiently, and spoke with authority:
"Since you've sincerely come to learn, I will teach you everything I know. How much you will absorb, however, depends entirely on your own ability and dedication."
Aira's eyes narrowed as she looked at him. Her Saiyan pride flared instantly. "Old man, you're so weak. Can you really teach us to get stronger?"
Master Roshi's mouth twitched at her bluntness. He straightened, retorting stubbornly yet with patience:
"A master does not have to be stronger than his disciple, and a disciple does not have to be inferior to his master. In martial arts, strength is important, yes—but even more important is self-cultivation, understanding your own limits, and refining the mind."
Rhode's gaze softened slightly. He understood fully that Master Roshi's words, though delivered stubbornly, carried immense wisdom. True mastery didn't just come from brute strength—it came from controlling oneself, harnessing energy efficiently, and cultivating the mind alongside the body. Divine techniques like Ultra Instinct were, in essence, an extension of this philosophy.
Aira snorted, arms crossed and cheeks puffed out, clearly unconvinced. "Hmph. Mind all you want. I don't care about your philosophical mumbo-jumbo. I want results! If you can't make me stronger, I'll find someone who can."
Master Roshi's eyes twitched, but he held his ground. "Discipline is more than just results, little girl. You may have immense raw power, but without control, without refinement, that power is wasted. You could destroy everything around you before even learning to use it properly. That is why your training will be… difficult."
Aira's eyes sparkled with defiance. "Difficult? Good! I don't like easy. If it's hard, that's even better! I'll surpass everyone, no matter what it takes!"
Rhode smiled faintly at her response, recognizing the familiar Saiyan fire in her eyes. He turned slightly to Master Roshi and whispered, "Her determination is unmatched, but her recklessness is dangerous. I'll manage that."
Master Roshi nodded slowly, a subtle smile on his lips. "Very well. Then we will start immediately. You two came here with purpose. I will teach you, but know this—the road will be grueling, and your limits will be tested. Only by pushing beyond them can you reach your true potential."
Aira's small fists clenched, her aura already beginning to flicker with energy, like a tiny sun ready to erupt. Rhode could feel her raw power surging, and despite her youth, it was already dangerous.
"Good," Rhode said softly, almost to himself. "Then let's begin."
Master Roshi's old, wrinkled face broke into a faint grin. "Then let the training of these… extraordinary children… commence."
And with that, Aira and Rhode's journey toward mastery, refinement, and unimaginable strength officially began on Earth.
"Stop talking nonsense, old man! Quickly teach me that cultivation method for aura—don't waste time on all this irrelevant stuff!"
Master Roshi's words seemed to fall on deaf ears. Aira wanted a simple, direct method to improve her combat power, not a lecture on profound martial arts. Yet the old master remained unflustered.
"Alright, alright, let's agree first: I can teach you cultivation, but I don't provide meals here!" he said.
Aira's attitude was brash, but considering her terrifying power, Master Roshi saw no reason to argue. Denying meals was his last bit of stubbornness, and he could not compromise on that. As for Rhode, he didn't object either. With the limited resources in the area, even Master Roshi could not provide enough food for Saiyans, whose appetites were enormous.
"Aura is a type of energy that exists within all living beings. We usually…"
Once the agreement was settled, Master Roshi wasted no time. He immediately began teaching the cultivation method to the two Saiyan children. Aira, who had previously looked down on the old man as weak and unimpressive, now focused intently, her entire demeanor serious and sharp.
Rhode's rapid increase in combat power had long been a thorn in her pride, and her desire to surpass him fueled her determination. Aira was a year older than Rhode and had joined the Saiyan squad first. Initially, she had been stronger, but after numerous battles, Rhode had caught up and even surpassed her.
As a Saiyan, Aira's pride made her incapable of accepting defeat. She constantly competed with Rhode, pushing both of them to grow rapidly. By the time they were seven or eight, their combat powers had already exceeded two thousand points.
Putting the past aside, Master Roshi now held nothing back. Both children absorbed every lesson with extraordinary focus. Over time, the old master's astonishment grew. Rhode, calm and gentle, and Aira, hot-tempered and relentless, could grasp every concept in record time and even propose their own improvements.
In Master Roshi's eyes, these two children were no ordinary beings. They were not human—they were completely otherworldly, little monsters brimming with power and potential.