Menkyo Kaiden: Part I

After the small interlude with the Earth Crystal Bear, Wang Chuan and his companion devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the great cause of physical refinement.

As for hunting soul beasts to sell for money?

How could making money be more important than strengthening oneself!

And so, over the course of several years, the vast majority of soul beasts—aside from those traded for necessary seasonings—essentially ended up in the stomachs of the two.

Because of this, their physical strength skyrocketed, and Zhao Wuji also grew to the level where he could contend with some ten-thousand-year soul beasts using a combination of his martial arts and soul skills.

One day, while Wang Chuan was asleep.

It was the familiar Marine Elite Training Camp.

Standing before him was the prime Zephyr, wearing the Marine coat of justice but bare-chested, his arms perfectly intact.

"You're here, kid. Let's begin. I hope you don't disappoint me today."

Zephyr said with a smile, and immediately, his arms were coated in a metallic-textured black Armament Haki.

Wang Chuan took a deep breath.

Without wasting words—he had already experienced this scene for thousands of days and nights—he coated his own arms in Armament Haki as well.

However, compared to Zephyr's pure black, reflective Armament Haki, Wang Chuan's Haki had a faint golden sheen within the reflection, somewhat reminiscent of the red-tinted Haki of the protagonist Luffy.

In the next instant, both of them vanished from where they stood.

When they reappeared, they were already throwing punches in unison.

Black Arm Style: Shotgun Barrage X2

Yura yura yura!!!

Both of their fists moved with such density that not even a drop of water could pass through.

Moreover, every single punch collided perfectly, sparking a massive amount of black and red lightning that surged in all directions, the momentum appearing incredibly terrifying.

However, it was clear that as the founder of the Black Arm Style, Zephyr's mastery of the technique was superior to Wang Chuan's.

Gradually, the intensity of Wang Chuan's punches began to fail to keep up with Zephyr's speed, and he was struck by several heavy blows.

Fortunately, Shotgun Barrage was not a particularly high-damage technique.

Coupled with the fact that Wang Chuan had preemptively wrapped his upper body in a thin layer of Haki, he was not directly incapacitated.

Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, Wang Chuan stopped, crossed his arms over his chest, and immediately hardened his upper body with Armament Haki, allowing himself to be blasted away by Zephyr's heavy punch to gain a moment to catch his breath.

"Don't think you can run!"

Zephyr growled, then hurriedly gave chase, his right fist tensed as he prepared to launch a Sett's Haymaker, looking as if he intended to take Wang Chuan's life.

Wang Chuan had long since grown accustomed to this level of combat intensity.

Because the only way for Haki to become stronger and harder was through head-on collisions, and since he wouldn't actually die in this space, Zephyr naturally held nothing back.

However, strengthening Armament Haki was not a task for a single day, and Wang Chuan did not want to end things so hastily.

Thus, long ago, he had utilized his super-intelligence to employ various "weakling" tactics to extend the duration of this Haki training as much as possible.

And now was the time for Wang Chuan's efforts to truly bear fruit.

Wang Chuan's shoulder-length black hair began to grow rapidly, then formed a sphere, protecting him from behind.

Six Styles Secret Technique: Life Return!

Zephyr threw a punch, slamming it heavily into the sphere made of hair, sending Wang Chuan flying over a hundred meters like a balloon.

But this time, after Zephyr chased after him, he did not press the attack.

Because from beginning to end, Zephyr was not a battle-maniac, but a teacher.

Watching Wang Chuan retract his hair and strike a preparatory pose, Zephyr said with gratification.

"You have already cultivated Life Return to the realm of freely controlling your hair.

This is something only the legendary immortals of old could achieve; you are truly worthy of being my disciple."

"I just used some small tricks to assist in my cultivation," Wang Chuan said calmly.

Over the past few years, under the pressure of Zhao Wuji's Gravity Control, Wang Chuan had deepened his understanding of his own body by familiarizing himself with the sensations of his internal organs, naturally mastering the Life Return technique used to assist digestion.

Then, Wang Chuan added.

"But Zephyr-sensei, is it really okay for you to be so relaxed? My technique is about to be completed."

Zephyr chuckled, and then his entire right arm was instantly covered in Armament Haki.

"What kind of foolish talk is that, you brat!

Isn't this technique something you learned from me in the first place! Don't get cocky!"

As his voice fell, the Armament Haki covering Zephyr's entire wrist quickly retreated toward his fist like flowing water.

At this moment, black and red arcs of electricity—which usually only appeared during the collision of high-level Armament Haki—began to spark on Zephyr's fist.

It looked as if Zephyr were using Conqueror's Haki Infusion.

One had to know, Zephyr did not possess Conqueror's Haki.

Seeing this, Wang Chuan's eyes ignited with fighting spirit.

At the same time, he couldn't help but marvel; it was no wonder this man could become an Admiral on par with Buddha Sengoku despite lacking Conqueror's Haki.

It was no surprise he had been chosen as the teacher for the Strongest Haki Inheritance to instruct him in Armament Haki.

Based on this level of mastery over Armament Haki alone, if not for the series of devastating blows that crushed his spirit and the typical tropes of the movie adaptations, the final fate of such a powerhouse would not have been so lamentable.

Yet, Zephyr within this inheritance had not experienced any of those tragedies; he was currently at his absolute peak.

The two men exchanged silent glances, then moved in perfect unison!

Black Arm Style: Secret Technique: Justice! Blast! X2!!!

Both men threw their punches with ferocious intensity.

Then, a terrifying scene unfolded!

Their fists did not make contact at all!

In the space between them, a meter apart from the center of their fists, violent black and red lightning began to ravage the surroundings.

In an instant, the earth tore apart!

Even the sky seemed to split open, a deep abyss appearing as a result of their collision!

This was Zephyr's strongest strike!

It was infused with the very Justice he had upheld when he first joined the Navy!

It was a secret technique that allowed him to contend with those who possessed Conqueror's Haki infusion, even without having it himself!

By using absolute willpower to compress Armament Haki and then setting it into motion, he turned it into a long-range strike.

If the opponent were weak and unable to counter with a strike of their own, they would be instantly injected with Armament Haki, causing them to be torn apart as if hit by the impact of a cannonball.

If the opponent were strong, it would produce this special effect similar to the clash of Conqueror's Haki.

That was why, after suffering this move the first time, Wang Chuan realized something.

The idea that Conqueror's Haki was the only "meta" was wrong.

As long as you train yourself to be black enough! Hard enough!

Armament Haki can just as easily crush Conqueror's Haki! Devil Fruit abilities would also become a joke!

This was what it meant for Haki to transcend all else!

But clearly, within this space, Wang Chuan, appearing to be only thirty years old, was far from being a match for Zephyr in his prime.

Wang Chuan's fist began to be pushed back.

The black and red lightning surged toward him, lashing against his body like whips.

Yet, Wang Chuan paid no mind to these injuries, pouring his entire will into his fist with everything he had.

Because only by embracing a will that seeks life through death could Haki evolve step by step.

Until it became the strongest!

But reality was cruel; although Wang Chuan's Haki had grown slightly stronger, he was blasted away, crashing directly into and collapsing a small hill.

Yet, in the end, Wang Chuan smiled.

Because this time, he hadn't passed out!