Discussing Swordsmanship, the Eager-to-Learn Hawkeye

A smile curved Ye Yu's lips. Against someone like Hawkeye Mihawk, defeating him was the best approach!

At last, everything calmed down, and Ye Yu withdrew the Conqueror's Haki barrier surrounding Urouge.

Urouge was still deeply shaken. He could not help swallowing, his lips trembling.

"Good grief, was that a battle between the two strongest swordsmen...?"

Looking around, the entire island was covered in cracks and devastation. Most of the forest had been destroyed, leaving only bare stumps behind.

Especially that terrifying strike from Captain Ye Yu—it had actually cleaved the entire island in two...

In Urouge's mind, only gods could possibly possess such horrifying power!

Could Ye Yu before him be the reincarnation of a god?

Just as Urouge's infinitely reverent gaze fixed upon Ye Yu, Ye Yu curled his lips and began admiring his status panel.

"Congratulations, Host, for defeating the world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk. Reward: 400 Conqueror's Haki points! Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability upgraded to Advanced! Ice-Ice Fruit upgraded to Advanced!"

Host: Ye Yu

Conqueror's Haki Attribute Points: 6806

Devil Fruit Abilities: Tremor Ability (Advanced), Magma Ability (Advanced), Search Ability (Intermediate), Glint Ability (Advanced), Ice Ability (Advanced), Appearance Ability (Intermediate)

Devil Fruits: Tanuki-Tanuki Fruit, three artificial Devil Fruits, African Hyena-Hyena Fruit

Skills: Blink (100 meters), Conqueror's Haki Passive Defense Barrier, Almighty Push (Self-Created)

Items: Healing Medicine, Ham, Hamburgers, Cola, Red Wine, Turkey Meat, Salad...

I... got stronger again!

My Conqueror's Haki was about to break through seven thousand, and the strongest Paramecia-type ability had been upgraded as well!

I had also upgraded all three Admirals' Devil Fruit abilities to Advanced!

I... am even stronger now!

Facing Hawkeye Mihawk's swordsman etiquette, Ye Yu spoke with a smile.

"Mihawk, forget all this empty formality. Do you have any good wine and meat? I'm starving."

Hawkeye Mihawk was stunned for a moment before smiling.

"Fortunately, my castle is quite far from here and has proper protective measures. It should not have been damaged. There is some excellent red wine inside."

"Perfect. I have been very much looking forward to discussing swordsmanship with Mr. Ye Yu." When Hawkeye Mihawk mentioned swordsmanship, his eyes shone brightly.

After arriving inside Hawkeye Mihawk's castle, the two each held a glass of red wine, savoring the liquor as they sat across from one another and began discussing the way of the sword.

As a transmigrator, how could Ye Yu possibly understand swordsmanship?

He simply started making things up, telling Hawkeye Mihawk all about the martial arts techniques he had read about in his previous life, such as Dugu Nine Swords, Myriad Swords Return to the Source, Sword Twenty-Three, Six Meridian Divine Sword...

Upon hearing Ye Yu describe the sword techniques of that martial arts world, Hawkeye Mihawk immediately became engrossed, his eyes sparkling brilliantly.

With an ecstatic expression, he sat upright and listened solemnly as Ye Yu spun his nonsense.

Nearby, Urouge perked up his ears to listen, but he soon realized that the conversation between Hawkeye Mihawk and Captain Ye Yu was simply too profound...

It was like listening to a heavenly scripture. He could not understand a single word!

Urouge felt utterly crushed. He had not even touched the threshold of a true powerhouse's realm!

Perona, who had been secretly peeking from the bedroom, wore an expression of shock.

Perona's eyes widened round, and her mouth fell open.

When had Hawkeye Mihawk, that arrogant fellow, become so humble?

He was actually seriously listening to a young man talk at length?

The normally silent Hawkeye Mihawk had completely shed his usual proud image and was even enthusiastically conversing with this young man?

Could the violent shaking that had swept across the island earlier have been caused by this young man?

If that terrifying tremor had not been a natural disaster but man-made, why did it feel... even more terrifying than Hawkeye Mihawk's slashes?

"Mihawk, you understand now, right? This is the essence of swordsmanship!"

"Having no technique is superior to having a technique! No sword is needed, only intent!"

"Freely controlling your sword intent at will—that is the highest realm of swordsmanship."

"At that level, swordsmanship has already transcended the realm of technique and risen directly to the realm of the Dao!" Ye Yu said as he sipped his fine grape wine, continuing to make things up.

Hawkeye Mihawk's eyes shone brilliantly.

He had gained far too much today!

After listening to Ye Yu's explanation of swordsmanship, Hawkeye Mihawk finally realized how insignificant he was.

In terms of knowledge about swordsmanship, facing Ye Yu was like an infant facing a giant.

Previously, when his swordsmanship could no longer improve, he had attributed it to reaching the end of the sword path. Looking at it now, how ignorant he had been...

Only after meeting Ye Yu today did he learn that he was still very, very far from the end of the sword path!

He still had room to improve!

"What you said is absolutely right! There are truly too few swordsmen like you nowadays, willing to share all their ultimate swordsmanship secrets without reservation!"

Hawkeye Mihawk said excitedly.

As a great swordsman, he had encountered countless swordsmanship experts.

Even the most worthless sword techniques were guarded like treasures, yet there were hardly any swordsmen like Ye Yu, who would directly reveal the secrets of their strongest sword intent to others!

Seeing Hawkeye Mihawk's reaction, Ye Yu nodded in satisfaction and secretly laughed inwardly.

Looks like all those martial arts novels I read were not for nothing. I have completely fooled this sword-crazed Mihawk!

What sword techniques did he know? He had merely used Conqueror's Haki Manifestation to form a sword, then relied on his immense Conqueror's Haki to forcefully attack.

"It is nothing. After all, I came here to recruit you."

"There is nothing wrong with discussing the way of the sword." Ye Yu waved his hand and spoke indifferently.

Hawkeye Mihawk stood up with a solemn expression. Even if Ye Yu had been trying to recruit him, as a swordsman, Ye Yu's willingness to share his understanding of the sword path was truly admirable.

Walking over to Ye Yu, Hawkeye Mihawk directly handed him the Seven Warlords summons issued by the Marines.

Holding Hawkeye Mihawk's summons, Ye Yu narrowed his eyes.

The Marines, those cunning fellows, had gathered every force they possibly could for this war!

Unlike Jinbe's summons, Hawkeye Mihawk's did not bear the words "mandatory summons."

Hawkeye Mihawk retained the right to choose, and even the Marine Government had issued the summons to him in a half-requesting tone.

Because of Hawkeye Mihawk's immense strength and special status, unlike ordinary Seven Warlords, he did not even have a bounty and possessed his own freedom in the pirate world.

Whether he went to aid the Marines depended entirely on Hawkeye Mihawk's mood!

Even if he refused the summons, the Marines would not make things difficult for Mihawk.

"Do you think I should accept this summons or not?" Hawkeye Mihawk asked carefully.

If he accepted, he could betray the Marines. If he did not, that would be even more straightforward—he would directly join Ye Yu's side and join forces with the Whitebeard Pirates against the Marines!

As the world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk did not analyze the situation like Heavenly Yaksha Donquixote Doflamingo. Mihawk acted entirely according to his mood and had always been that way!

Ye Yu swirled his wineglass, took a sip of red wine, and smiled faintly.

"Of course, join the Marines. Then turn against them once the war begins. Wouldn't that be more exciting?" Ye Yu said with a smile.

Ye Yu could already imagine the wonderful expression Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku would wear during the coming Marineford War when more than half of the Seven Warlords he had worked so hard to gather suddenly turned against him!

Hawkeye Mihawk smiled upon hearing this.

Since Ye Yu wanted him to suddenly turn against the Marines during the war, he would do exactly as Ye Yu said!

The young man before him had helped him break through the swordsmanship bottleneck that had plagued him for more than ten years. What was there to fear about fighting the entire Marine force for him?

Hawkeye Mihawk looked at the young man before him, his heart stirring. It seemed the seas ahead would only become more and more interesting!