Li Yuan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Li Yuan (黎渊)
Alias(es)	Decapitation Sword Master; Limitless Great Swordsman; World's Greatest Swordsman; World's Strongest Man; Supreme Great Swordsman
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Limitless Sword Hall (formerly); Rocks Pirates (formerly); Limitless Pirates
Occupation/Role	Swordsman; pirate captain; territorial ruler
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Swordsman	1	Reached the Swordsman realm within one month of joining the Limitless Sword Hall; became Louis's sole personal disciple.
Observation Haki awakened	1	His strong soul awakens Observation Haki, allowing him to sense goodwill, malice, and incoming attacks.
First layer of Sword God Body Tempering Technique mastered	3	Gains exceptional recovery, fatigue removal, and enhanced swordsmanship talent and comprehension.
Conqueror's Haki	7	Demonstrates Conqueror's Haki while freeing slaves and taking control of a pirate ship.
Advanced Soru and Shigan	13	Uses the techniques to swiftly kill Marine Rear Admiral Geno.
Sword Master	53	Remains one step short of Great Swordsman after three months of sparring and training against the Golden Lion.
High-level Observation Haki / Mind Reading	53	Observation Haki advances and unlocks Mind Reading, enabling him to anticipate opponents' thoughts and actions.
Great Swordsman	69	Subdues the Seven Star Sword after comprehending its Sword Intent; possesses two major Sword Intents.
Three Sword Intents integrated	83	Refines and combines three Sword Intents and sword styles through an all-day battle with Redfield.
World's Greatest Swordsman	230	Defeats Roger after a battle lasting more than a week; Roger concedes because of stamina exhaustion.
Mythical Zoan: Vampire Form	236	Consumes the Vampire Devil Fruit and begins developing its powers through training.
Sword Soul	476	Breaks through from Sword Intent to Sword Soul, a higher realm of swordsmanship.
Seven Star Sword awakening	480	The sword's Blood-Blood Fruit awakens, granting an effectively endless blood supply.

Background

Li Yuan transmigrated from Earth into the world of One Piece as a thirteen-year-old boy. Before the opening events, his parents died during island unrest, leaving him with severe insecurity. He used the family savings to join the Limitless Sword Hall, where his exceptional talent took him from novice to Swordsman in one month and earned him recognition as Louis's sole personal disciple 1.

Fengmang Sword Hall, the Limitless Sword Hall's rival, sent three swordsmen to murder him before his talent could develop further. Li Yuan killed Gil, Huanyu, and their leader Cole, relying on his newly awakened Observation Haki and basic swordsmanship 1 2. He then moved into the Limitless Sword Hall for protection and began cultivating the Sword God Body Tempering Technique 2.

He spent years building a foundation through physical conditioning, basic sword techniques, and increasingly punishing body-tempering exercises. His goal was to become the World's Greatest Swordsman, but he also came to value physical strength as necessary support for swordsmanship 3 4. He later went to sea with Lazuli, Kano, and Karu after killing Rear Admiral Geno and surpassing Louis's Swordsman realm 13.

Li Yuan became a Rocks Pirates officer and developed his strength through combat, including extended sparring with the Golden Lion 51 53. He eventually formed and led the Limitless Pirates, expanded territories, trained officers, and established control over parts of Wano and affiliated nations 130 151 170 210.

Personality

Li Yuan is intensely ambitious and views strength as the foundation of freedom, survival, and authority. From childhood, he trains obsessively, repeatedly pushing his body beyond ordinary limits and seeking stronger opponents as whetstones for his own growth 3 23 53 477.

He is practical, calculating, and often ruthless. He orders the execution of captured pirates, uses hostile subordinates as cannon fodder, and is willing to exploit political conflict to remove enemies 7 116 361. His reputation for mass killing led pirates to call him the Decapitation Sword Master 29 37.

Despite this brutality, he rewards competence and loyalty. He guides his officers' training, gives defeated enemies opportunities to join him, and supports the development of his crew's medical, industrial, and military capabilities 130 151 170 212. He also shows protective concern toward his family, notably confronting Zephyr after his daughter Esdeath is injured 317.

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship

Li Yuan is a swordsmanship prodigy who builds his style on basic techniques before incorporating multiple Sword Intents and styles.

• Mastered fundamental sword actions—including thrusting, chopping, blocking, slashing, sweeping, and hooking—to build his foundation 3.
• Learns from high-level opponents, including the Golden Lion, Redfield, Roger, and Im 53 83 229 477.
• Fuses three sword styles into a seamless whole with no apparent flaws 171.
• Progresses from Sword Intent to Sword Soul, with the latter able to harm Im's soul through a Blood Moon Slash 476.
• Uses named techniques including Blood Slaughter: Avici Three Blades, Three Origins United Secret Art: Conqueror's Coating: Blood Moon Soaring, and Three Origins United Secret Art: Conqueror's Coating: God Slayer 83 205 230.

Haki

Li Yuan possesses all three forms of Haki and applies them extensively in combat.

• Observation Haki — senses intent and hostility, reads attacks, and later develops Mind Reading 1 53.
• Observation Killing — deceives opponents' perception; successfully misleads Im twice 481.
• Conqueror's Haki — incapacitates large groups, including 15,000 Wano samurai and everyone on Kamtsin Island 135 317.
• Conqueror's Coating — integrates Conqueror's Haki into his sword techniques 205 230.
• Armament Haki — used alongside swordsmanship and body-tempering; he studies Im's advanced application during their battle 52 477.

Sword God Body Tempering Technique

A cultivation method that strengthens both Li Yuan's body and his understanding of the sword path.

• Its first layer provides rapid injury recovery and removes training fatigue 3.
• Enhances swordsmanship comprehension while active, allowing him to identify flaws in techniques from both lives 3.
• Its third layer resembles an alternative form of Life Return by enabling full-body control 3.
• Li Yuan later simplifies the method into a Haki Body Tempering technique for his officers 212.

Life Return

Li Yuan uses Life Return to regulate and strengthen his body in battle.

• Maintains strength over prolonged combat, including his week-long battle against Roger 230.
• Enhances his entire body during his outburst against four opponents 404.
• Sustains enhanced states through the Seven Star Sword's blood supply 478.

Mythical Zoan: Vampire Form

Li Yuan consumes a Mythical Zoan Vampire Devil Fruit to further increase his power 236.

• Uses a Human-Beast Form and Ultrasonic Waves against Zephyr 317.
• Creates blood bats, Blood Armor, Blood Shadow Clones, and blood-based attacks 404 479.
• Can poison opponents through his Devil Fruit power 404.
• Uses Ultrasonic Shatter and Ultrasonic Blade against Im's Dark Power 481.

Physical Strength and Martial Arts

Li Yuan's physical power supplements his swordsmanship rather than replacing it.

• Takes subordinates' full-power attacks without Haki or Tekkai during training 38.
• Lifts a two-thousand-ton boulder for endurance and aerial-mobility training 38.
• Defeats Chinjao with a single punch without drawing his sword 210.
• Learns the King's Fist in a few hours and produces a shockwave that splits the ocean and depresses the seabed 330.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Seven Star Sword — a cursed Demon Sword subdued by Li Yuan; merges into his body, absorbs blood, restores stamina, and possesses seven star-shaped blood slots 69 70.
• Futsu-no-Mitama — Supreme Grade Sword wielded by Li Yuan; used to channel his Limitless Sword Intent 116 130.
• Seastone weapons and ammunition — used strategically with sniper support against powerful enemies, including Army Generals and CP0 Deputy Chief Robertson 204 205.
• Castle Bracelet — stores items such as wine and food 420.

Relationships

• Louis — master at the Limitless Sword Hall and Li Yuan's first major mentor; gifts him a sword and encourages him to spread the Limitless Sword Style when he sets sail 3 13.
• Kano — senior disciple brother and trusted subordinate; accompanies Li Yuan from the sword hall and carries out difficult orders 2 7.
• Karu — junior disciple and crew member; sails with Li Yuan and assists him in expeditions and recruitment 13 67 151.
• Lazuli — rescued former slave, doctor, swordswoman, and close companion; treats Li Yuan's injuries and develops the Longevity Potion 7 76 179.
• Shakky — close companion and intelligence specialist; provides training notes, intelligence, and administrative support 36 170.
• Yadina — witch associated with the Seven Star Sword; initially opposes Li Yuan's acquisition of the sword, later travels with him and manages territory affairs 67 70 170.
• Golden Lion — sparring partner and fellow swordsman; their repeated battles accelerate Li Yuan's development 51 53.
• Redfield — rival swordsman who becomes friendly with Li Yuan after losing their match 83 84.
• Asura Doji — defeated bandit leader recruited by Li Yuan; becomes a loyal officer after receiving the Great Grade Sword Earth Destruction 130.
• Roger — rival swordsman defeated by Li Yuan in the battle that establishes his title as World's Greatest Swordsman 230.
• Esdeath — Li Yuan's daughter; her injury in battle with Zephyr prompts Li Yuan to personally confront the Admiral 317.
• Im — one of Li Yuan's greatest opponents; their battle at Mary Geoise tests Li Yuan's Sword Soul, blood powers, and combat adaptability 476 481.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Life and Limitless Sword Hall

• Survives Fengmang Sword Hall's assassination attempt by killing the three attackers 1 2.
• Becomes Louis's personal disciple and develops the Sword God Body Tempering Technique 1 3.
• Leaves the island with fellow disciples after defeating Rear Admiral Geno 13.

Rocks Era

• Joins the Rocks Pirates and earns the feared Decapitation Sword Master reputation through mass slaughter in battle 29 37.
• Studies swordsmanship, Haki, and physical techniques with materials supplied by Shakky 36.
• Spars with the Golden Lion for three months, reaching the threshold of Great Swordsman 53.
• Subdues the Seven Star Sword and reaches Great Swordsman 69.

Rise of the Limitless Pirates

• Defeats Redfield and encourages him to challenge the New World's great swordsmen 83 84.
• Subdues Asura Doji, recruits his bandits, and begins consolidating Kuri 130.
• Defeats Oden Kozuki and the four daimyo after knocking out 15,000 samurai with Conqueror's Haki 135.
• Expands territories, develops weapon factories, and trains officers in swordsmanship and body-tempering 151 170 212.

World's Greatest Swordsman

• Fights Roger for more than a week and wins when Roger's stamina fails 230.
• Receives recognition as the World's Greatest Swordsman, attracting challengers worldwide 230.

World's Strongest Man

• Gains the Mythical Zoan Vampire Form and develops its powers through intensive training 236.
• Learns the King's Fist and considers combining it with Hakoku 330.
• Gains the title of World's Strongest Man after a victory reported worldwide by Morgans; the Navy orders personnel to flee from him 346.
• Defeats the Five Elders and further strengthens his blood through the Seven Star Sword 364.

War at Mary Geoise

• Faces Im in a prolonged battle above Mary Geoise 476 477.
• Breaks through to Sword Soul, allowing his attacks to damage Im's soul 476.
• Uses Blood Shadow Clones, Observation Killing, ultrasonic attacks, and Blood Burn to contend with Im's Dark Power 479 481.
• Benefits from the Seven Star Sword's Blood-Blood Fruit awakening, which provides an endless blood supply 480.