Chapter 75: Consciousness Training

On the desolate planet, a month had passed uneventfully, and Planet Vegeta remained unscathed. Adriel and the others could finally relax a bit, though as a precaution, Xavier decided not to return to Planet Vegeta or visit Planet Red Mountain but to stay in the gravity training room for routine workouts.

This incident had made it clear to Adriel and his comrades that their power was far less than that of the true elites of the universe. Consequently, they devoted themselves entirely to training, recognizing the importance of improving their capabilities.

As seasoned Saiyan warriors familiar with the concept of "Ki", they understood that training should be a balanced mix of intensity and relaxation, progressing step by step. Pushing oneself too hard could sometimes backfire.

Appropriate rest was necessary. They weren't like Shakda and the other youths in their prime growth years, whose cells were bursting with vitality, enjoying the golden age of strength development. Even then, it was crucial to gauge their efforts and not overstrain.

Inside Gravity Chamber Three, members of Adriel's squad were gathered on the floor, eating and chatting, with several dishes laid out beside them.

"I'll tell you, Adriel, ever since we got access to the gravity chamber, your power level has skyrocketed!" Paradis, a rugged middle-aged man, commented as he sat cross-legged, heartily enjoying his meal.

The team captain was already the strongest among them, and his strength had surged even more after training in the gravity chamber. Paradis couldn't help but feel envious of Adriel's rapid progress.

"Hahaha, that's because I work harder than you all. If you trained as hard as I do, your strength would increase just as quickly."

Adriel laughed heartily, popping a bean into his mouth, feeling quite pleased with himself. His power level had reached 15,200, making him one of the strongest on Planet Vegeta—a thought that would have been unimaginable in the past. Now, not only had it become a reality, but he was also confident that he would become even stronger.

However, he had recently noticed that his rate of improvement was slowing, which sobered him up from his initial excitement.

"Come on, that's because you have Xavier to guide you. If I had the chance to spar with Xavier all day like you, I’d have surpassed you long ago!"

Paradis skeptically pursed his lips, envy hidden behind his dismissive expression as he thought about how fortunate Adriel was to have Xavier as a mentor. The captain's power level had surpassed theirs by thousands.

So far, aside from Adriel and Rebecca, the rest of Adriel's team had their power levels hovering around 12,000. The strongest among them, Belruk, was close to reaching 13,000, but there was still a significant gap between him and the captain—a gap that continued to widen.

Even though the recent growth in Adriel’s power had slowed, it was still enviably faster compared to the rest of them.

Adriel laughed heartily, acknowledging that his rapid improvement was partly due to the gravity chamber, but also significantly helped by sparring with Xavier.

After the laughter, Adriel's expression turned serious as he addressed the team, "As of now, there are nearly three thousand Saiyans on Planet Red Mountain. Xavier told me that when Planet Vegeta is destroyed, another fifteen thousand will be relocated there."

"Discounting some who may perish during the destruction of Planet Vegeta, conservatively, the Saiyan population on Planet Red Mountain could reach over twelve thousand!"

"Twelve thousand, that's not too few."

"Yeah, it’s indeed not a small number..."

Everyone murmured in awe before falling into silence. Over ten thousand surviving Saiyans was significant, yet it paled in comparison to the peak population of millions. Soon, Saiyans would truly become a rare race.

There was a persistent belief among them—they could not let the Saiyan race decline into obscurity.

"By the way, I think King Vegeta might have noticed our actions," Adriel suddenly changed the topic.

"Really? If King Vegeta knew we were secretly relocating people, wouldn’t there be some reaction from him?" Paradis expressed his surprise with a puzzled look.

Belruk smirked coldly. "King Vegeta is playing dumb on purpose!"

"What's the advantage for him?" one of the teammates asked.

"One possibility is that he's also preparing something crucial and can't afford any mishaps right now. An internal conflict at this stage would not benefit him," Adriel explained.

With all six members of Adriel's team boasting power levels above 10,000, causing a civil war over a mere three thousand lower-class warriors would significantly weaken the Saiyan race—a scenario King Vegeta would want to avoid.

"Is he planning to settle scores later?" Alice asked, furrowing her brows. Among everyone, she was the youngest and usually the most lively.

"Perhaps that's his plan, but that's only if he defeats Frieza. If he fails, all these considerations become moot. I think King Vegeta might also want to ensure a fallback for the Saiyan race," Adriel speculated.

His words made everyone fall silent. They were adults, considering issues more comprehensively.

King Vegeta's decision to let them recruit without interference might reflect a strategic move. The saying about not putting all eggs in one basket was universally understood, and it was unlikely that King Vegeta was unaware of this. Perhaps he was preparing for the worst.

Could King Vegeta consider abandoning the confrontation with Frieza?

They dismissed the thought quickly, knowing the pride of the Saiyans would never allow them to crumble as Frieza’s subordinates. Whether it was a foolhardy courage or not, King Vegeta could never endure seeing his people kneeling subserviently before Frieza.

Moreover, a significant reason for their speculation was King Vegeta's possible underestimation of Frieza's terror. If he truly understood the threat Frieza posed, perhaps he would have been less inclined to confront him directly.

Like how he had to bow before the Destroyer, acknowledging a power far superior to his own didn’t necessarily mean losing dignity—it could even bring some comfort, at least internally.

"But it's too late to discuss this now. Even if King Vegeta doesn’t rebel, Frieza won’t spare the Saiyans," Liz’s hoarse voice interjected.

Events were unfolding beyond their control, and all they could do now was lead the Saiyans on Planet Red Mountain well.

After a moment of silence, the group resumed their lighter conversation and laughter.

Meanwhile, the younger generation like Shakda, in their prime for power growth, were pushing their limits in the gravity training chambers. With their extensive experience, Adriel and his team occasionally provided guidance.　

……

Inside Gravity Chamber One, the room was unusually quiet with the gravity device and other training equipment turned off.

In the center of the chamber, Xavier and Celine sat cross-legged facing each other, as still as ancient monks in deep meditation. On closer inspection, both of them had furrowed brows and their bodies were trembling slightly, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.

They were engaged in consciousness training.

In the ethereal space of their minds, dimensions didn't correspond to physical reality. Here, they engaged in a fierce battle that defied the normal constraints of space and time. Their forms intertwined, clashing from the ground to the sky and back again, filling the area with the sounds of their intense combat—echoes, booms, and explosions were relentless.

Suddenly, countless illusory figures of Celine materialized. These figures, each mirroring her appearance, moved swiftly, quickly filling the space. With a flash in her eyes and a subtle lift of her hand, these apparitions launched a fierce assault on Xavier.

Crack! Xavier blocked Celine’s punch precisely, then his form blurred, moving like an arrow, weaving through attacks. Each of his strikes, seemingly effortless, packed a suffocating, explosive force.

One by one, the illusions shattered.

Boom! The mental space shattered abruptly, sending Xavier and Celine into physical tremors before they gasped for air. After a moment to recover, their breathing steadied.

Consciousness training is a profoundly advanced method of cultivation, evolved from the practice of harnessing "Ki". Unlike the physical and energetic conditioning involved in Ki training, consciousness training focuses intensely on refining the spirit and awareness, enhancing instinctual combat skills.

In the original Dragon Ball series, Gohan and Krillin practiced this form of training during their journey to Planet Namek.

Consciousness training transcends simple energy cultivation. It somewhat resembles the Daoist concepts of pre-modern Earth in Xavier's past life, where a degree of spiritual enlightenment is achieved. This approach offers distinct advantages in developing unique abilities and transcending physical limitations.

Through their sessions of consciousness training, Xavier and Celine had significantly honed their combat experience. This period of intensive training allowed them to master greater control over their energies, reflecting noticeable