Immortal Phoenix is an unseen pet bird kept by Master Roshi, allegedly capable of granting immortality (which curiously is one of the leading causes for why many villains in the series seek the seven Dragon Balls). Initially, Roshi proposes the Phoenix bestow a young Goku with immortality as a reward for escorting Turtle to the sea, but this is cut short by Turtle's reminder to Roshi that the Immortal Phoenix ironically died from being fed "tainted bird seed".(meaning one who can grant immortality can still die itself )[1]Master Roshi instead gives him the Flying Nimbus as a gift for his philanthropy.
References
- ↑ Dragon Ball chapter 4, "They Call Him...the Turtle Hermit!"