An overwhelming Conqueror's Haki swept towards them from afar, causing their hearts to sink.
"What... what is this?"
Sanji felt the pressure on his body, and a layer of cold sweat involuntarily seeped out from his forehead. His voice stammered slightly.
He had never felt such a powerful Conqueror's Haki before, which made his heart tremble slightly.
Luffy on the other side also had a solemn expression. This was the first time he had ever felt such a powerful Conqueror's Haki, which was much stronger than his own!
In that instant, an idea simultaneously appeared in Luffy and Sanji's minds, and then, as if by telepathy, they said it word by word in unison:
Xia Chen!
That's right. In their view, there's no other person besides Xia Chen who could possess such a high level of Conqueror's Haki.
"That's right, this Conqueror's Haki undoubtedly belongs to Xia Chen. I didn't expect that in just half a year, his Conqueror's Haki would become so much stronger!"
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, his expression serious.
He shared the same thought as Luffy and the others: such a strong Conqueror's Haki could not possibly belong to anyone other than Xia Chen.
Six months ago, before he met Xia Chen, the strongest Conqueror's Haki he had ever seen was Shanks '. After Xia Chen unleashed a wave of Conqueror's Haki in the Sabaody Archipelago, another person became the strongest.
At that time, Xia Chen's Conqueror's Haki was roughly the same strength as Shanks ', and Shanks ' was even slightly stronger.
But this current Conqueror's Haki...
He's even stronger than Shanks, Rayleigh doesn't believe Shanks ' progress is that fast. So the only possible candidate is Xia Chen.
The three exchanged a glance, and without the slightest hesitation, rushed towards the direction from which the Conqueror's Haki was released.
On the other side, Zoro and the others also sensed this Conqueror's Haki, and their faces showed expressions of horror.
"This is... Conqueror's Haki?" Zoro's expression was solemn, and his voice was low.
Usopp and Brook, on the other hand, both let out a muffled groan and were lost in thought for several breaths.
When they came to their senses, they were all covered in a cold sweat.
Usopp asked with extreme fear, "Who possesses such a powerful Conqueror's Haki's Haki? I almost lost consciousness just now!"
Brook didn't speak, but his gaping skull face revealed just how turbulent his mind was.
A silence fell between the three of them; no one spoke, and their gazes all turned towards the direction from which the Conqueror's Haki was emanating.
After a long pause, Zoro seemed to have figured something out. A slight smile appeared on his lips as he said:
"I think... I know who released that Conqueror's Haki! This guy seems to be trying to lure us over here!"
"Interesting. Let me see what progress this kid has made in the past six months!"
After saying that, Zoro sped off in that direction without another word, leaving the two still a little confused.
At this moment, Brook and Usopp first glanced at Zoro's back, then looked at each other simultaneously. Then they both turned to look at Zoro.
The next moment...
"Wait for us!"
--
At this moment, on an open space somewhere on the island.
Xia Chen lay on a super comfortable-looking leather sofa, with a stone table in front of him. On the stone table was a complete tea set.
Xia Chen took a sip of his tea, placed it on the stone table, closed his eyes, and felt the gentle breeze – it was so pleasant!
He's waiting, waiting for Luffy others to come find him!
When he first arrived on the island, he planned to go straight to them, but then he discovered a problem.
That means they weren't together; one was on this side, and the other was on the other.
So here's the question... How can Xia Chen find both groups of people at the same time?
The final answer was simply to have them come to him, wouldn't that allow him to meet with both of them at the same time?
So Xia Chen chose a spot about halfway between them, unleashed a burst of Conqueror's Haki, and then leisurely enjoyed his tea there.
Thinking this, Xia Chen picked up the tea on the table and took another sip.
However, just as he raised his hand, he seemed to sense something, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a smile appeared on his lips.
"You arrived pretty quickly!"
The moment Xia Chen finished speaking, an enormous blade of light suddenly shot out from the forest to his left.
Wherever it passed, large swathes of trees were instantly cut down as if they were being ravaged.
"Wow, your strength has improved quite a bit!" Looking at the blade light that carried a powerful pressure, and then at the green light floating in the distance, Xia Chen said with a faint smile.
Then, Xia Chen gently waved his right hand. It seemed like nothing happened, but the blade light that was rushing towards Xia Chen instantly dissipated into starlight.
"It would be impolite not to reciprocate! Since you've given me such a generous gift upon our first meeting, it wouldn't be right for me not to return the favor!"
As Xia Chen spoke, he crossed his index finger and thumb together and then flicked them lightly.
A colorless burst of energy instantly shot out from Xia Chen's fingertips, hurtling towards the direction from which the blade light had just flown.
Furthermore, this energy gradually grew larger as it traveled, and soon it transformed into a colorless energy wave with a diameter of nearly three meters.
" The Three-Sword Style Secret Technique..."
As a faint voice came from afar, Xia Chen's burst of energy was sliced in two, landing on the ground on either side.
"Boom!"
Violent explosions occurred on both sides of the ground, sending plumes of smoke and dust billowing into the sky.
Immediately afterwards, a figure slowly emerged from the smoke and dust, and said in a calm tone:
"What, Xia Chen, do you look down on me? You think you can deal with me with this kind of attack? Don't you think you're taking me too seriously?"
"I'm not the same person I was six months ago. Show me what you've got, Xia Chen!"
Upon hearing this, Xia Chen's lips curled up slightly, and he slowly stood up. At the same time, the sofa he was sitting on and the stone table next to him disappeared.
" Zoro, it's been half a year, and you've become quite bold. You actually dare to speak to me so arrogantly!" Xia Chen said to Zoro with a faint smile.
"Ha! I haven't been playing around these past six months. My improved strength gives me the confidence to talk to you like this!"
Zoro looked at Xia Chen with a smile, but the smile seemed to carry a provocative undertone.
Xia Chen raised an eyebrow upon seeing this. Just as he was about to say something, a group of people darted out from another direction in the forest.
" Xia Chen!! I miss you so much!"
Luffy's voice carried from a great distance, filled with excitement.
Hearing Luffy's words, Xia Chen smiled and was about to turn around to greet him when he saw Zoro charging towards him from not far away, simultaneously assuming a starting stance for a move.
" Three-Sword Style..."
At the same time, two different voices came from behind.
" Gomu Gomu..."
" Diable Jambe..."
Xia Chen:...