The Unspoken Secret

After more than ten hours of deep sleep, Su Xiao was woken by hunger.

If not for the uncomfortable burning sensation of stomach acid against his stomach lining, he would have slept longer.

Before stepping out of his empty Exclusive Room, Su Xiao frowned. It was far too barren here—not even a bed. It seemed he would need to spend some Paradise Coins to spruce it up.

Reincarnation Paradise only provided the function to expand the exclusive space; it didn't offer furniture for exchange. That was something Su Xiao would have to procure himself.

"What a hassle. I'll get this sorted today as soon as possible."

Finding a restaurant run by a Worker, Su Xiao had a full meal for just 3 Paradise Coins.

The food tasted good, and the Worker owner was very warm.

From that warm attitude, it was clear that Workers didn't have an easy time surviving in Reincarnation Paradise either.

After eating, Su Xiao searched the stalls lining the streets.

Acquiring daily furniture wasn't difficult. A Worker had once invented a compression capsule, compressing all kinds of furniture to the size of a finger, making them very easy to carry.

After paying 200 Paradise Coins, Su Xiao purchased the furniture he needed for daily life.

With food and lodging settled, Su Xiao headed straight for the central area of Reincarnation Paradise, arriving before the [Training Ground].

He had two days left to stay in Reincarnation Paradise, and during those two days, he had to adapt to his suddenly strengthened body.

[Welcome, Hunter. Please select a mode.]

[Assistance Mode / Combat Mode]

Su Xiao pondered for a moment, then chose Assistance Mode.

[Assistance Mode selected. Please choose the summoned mirror image tier.]

Three options appeared before Su Xiao: Low-Tier Mirror Image, Mid-Tier Mirror Image, and High-Tier Mirror Image.

Prices were listed below each option: Low-Tier Mirror Image cost 100 Paradise Coins per hour, Mid-Tier cost 1,000 Paradise Coins per hour, and High-Tier cost 10,000 Paradise Coins per hour.

After hesitating for a while, Su Xiao chose the Mid-Tier Mirror Image.

Earlier, he had observed Reincarnation Paradise for a long time. The equipment sold by those Contractors was mostly white-tier with very low ratings.

The only green-tier firearm he'd seen was priced at 4,000 Paradise Coins, and it was highly sought after by many Contractors.

And that green equipment's stats couldn't compare to the Dragon Slayer Flash at Su Xiao's waist.

Items sold by Contractors might have good finds, but they weren't easy to come by—it required some luck.

Rather than buying equipment, Su Xiao preferred to enhance his own strength. Inner power was true power.

After Su Xiao paid 1,000 Paradise Coins to summon a one-hour Mid-Tier Mirror Image, a milky white light appeared before him. As the light faded, a middle-aged man holding a blade and wearing white training clothes emerged.

The surrounding scene also changed, transforming into the dojo of a sword school.

[Summoned: Koshiro Image, from the One Piece World.]

Seeing the prompt from Reincarnation Paradise, Su Xiao felt a secret delight.

He didn't know how strong Koshiro was in combat, but when it came to teaching ability, Koshiro was undoubtedly excellent—Zoro was a living example.

Though Koshiro hadn't taught Zoro any specific techniques, he had laid the foundation for Zoro to become a strong warrior.

"Hello, I am Koshiro. Time is short, so let's begin now."

Koshiro appeared with a natural demeanor. This wasn't the real Koshiro, only a mirror image.

Koshiro glanced at the Dragon Slayer Flash at Su Xiao's waist and nodded.

"A weapon similar to mine? That simplifies things. Strike at me with all your strength."

Su Xiao didn't waste words. The summoning cost of 1,000 Paradise Coins per hour stung, so he slashed at Koshiro with his blade.

With Su Xiao's current stats, this strike was both fast and fierce, with a very tricky angle aimed straight at Koshiro's head.

What surprised Su Xiao was that Koshiro didn't even draw his weapon. He simply blocked with the scabbard, then adjusted its angle.

Su Xiao felt his longsword uncontrollably veer to the side. Because he had put too much force into the strike, he stumbled a couple of steps sideways.

Having his attack so easily deflected left Su Xiao unwilling to accept it, but he had no choice.

The real world he came from and the One Piece World where Koshiro lived were on completely different levels of martial power.

The swordsmanship he had painstakingly trained in the real world was nothing in Koshiro's eyes.

The real world might have had advanced swordsmanship, but the rapid progress of technology had left those techniques with no place to shine, and they had been lost over time.

"That's enough. Your understanding of swordsmanship is lower than I expected."

What Koshiro called swordsmanship was essentially the same as blade techniques—just a different term for the same thing.

Su Xiao was filled with a sense of defeat. The swordsmanship he had trained so hard in was worthless in another's eyes, and he had no room to argue. Compared to Koshiro, it truly was the case.

Being inferior wasn't shameful; catching up was what mattered. Being inferior but stubbornly refusing to admit it—that was the most shameful thing.

"What do I need to do? Practice the basics?"

Su Xiao casually swung a few times, and several white lines flashed through the air.

"No. Your foundation is excellent—far better than most. Very few people are willing to spend years practicing a simple and grueling motion like slashing."

"Answer me one question: how do you see the blade in your hand?"

Koshiro, dressed in a white training uniform, sat cross-legged on the ground, smiling at Su Xiao. With the glasses on his nose, he gave off a gentle impression.

"How do I see the blade in my hand? Hmm... a tool for killing."

Su Xiao's answer made Koshiro shake his head repeatedly.

"If you keep holding that view, even if you train hard for a hundred years, you'll only be 'swinging a stick'—it won't count as swordsmanship at all."

Su Xiao glanced at the [Dragon Slayer Flash] in his hand and said nothing.

"Perceive the blade in your hand. Make it an extension of your body. If you can't even do that, then I have nothing to teach you."

Koshiro's words made Su Xiao's face darken.

He had spent 1000 Paradise Coins to summon Koshiro, and now the man was telling him to feel it himself.

Su Xiao immediately contacted Reincarnation Paradise, wanting to pause the training until he could perceive the blade in his hand, then resume.

Unfortunately, Reincarnation Paradise gave a prompt: training could not be paused. He could leave the [Training Ground] now, but the spent Paradise Coins would not be refunded, and Koshiro would disappear.

Left with no choice, Su Xiao also sat cross-legged on the ground, placed the [Dragon Slayer Flash] on his knees, and began to perceive.

"Don't imagine your weapon in your mind. Perceive it. Perceive its sharpness, its feel, and its unique aura."

Koshiro was no waste of a summon. As Su Xiao perceived the blade in his hand, Koshiro began guiding him in detail from the side, imparting some insights.

These insights, Koshiro would only teach to disciples he favored, like Zoro. But now, Koshiro was a mirror image summoned by Su Xiao, so he passed on this precious knowledge without holding anything back.

Time ticked by, minute by minute. Half an hour later, Su Xiao faintly perceived the [Dragon Slayer Flash] on his legs.

He instinctively picked up the [Dragon Slayer Flash] and slashed out. The air let out a screech.

Koshiro nodded in satisfaction and continued guiding Su Xiao.

An hour later, Koshiro dissipated into the air, but Su Xiao still sat cross-legged on the ground, occasionally slashing out.

He felt a door gradually opening to him. The sword techniques he had practiced before were nothing but swinging a stick—besides mastering the basic slashing stance, they had little use.

Draw the blade, sheathe it. Su Xiao was immersed in his own world, not even noticing Koshiro's disappearance.

To persist for three years practicing a single chopping motion showed Su Xiao's obsession with swordsmanship.

As the saying goes, a single thought can reach the divine. After three years of hard training, Su Xiao's efforts began to sublimate with Koshiro's guidance.