Chapter 160: The Shock of the Nika Fruit, Hangcheng

Zhang Tian figured the Crimson Bureau had given him a Devil Fruit of value comparable to an Animal-Type Ancient Species.

Though powerful, it wasn’t uniquely exceptional compared to the top-tier Natural or Paramecia fruits—perfect for this trade.

He thought the Dragon-Dragon Fruit: Ancient Species: Pteranodon Form, Dragon-Dragon Fruit: Ancient Species: Allosaurus Form, Dragon-Dragon Fruit: Ancient Species: Spinosaurus Form, Dragon-Dragon Fruit: Ancient Species: Pachycephalosaurus Form, and Dragon-Dragon Fruit: Ancient Species: Triceratops Form were all fine.

What? Why not mention other Ancient Species? Among them, he preferred dragons.

As for the Rare Mythical Species fruits, he hadn’t even considered them—he still believed the egg he offered wasn’t worth as much as a Mythical Species Devil Fruit.

Unless it was a divine beast’s egg, but that was far too unlikely—he simply didn’t believe it possible.

As he was lost in thought, the door opened and Su Mengyao walked in carrying a sealed box.

“You’re here early. Were you waiting?”

She raised an eyebrow at Zhang Tian, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Zhang Tian shot to his feet, eyes fixed intently on the box in Su Mengyao’s hands.

“Take it.”

Su Mengyao handed the sealed box to Zhang Tian, who immediately opened it—the fruit inside lay still, its surface covered in spiral patterns, exactly as he’d imagined: a Devil Fruit. But though it looked familiar, he couldn’t immediately recall which one it was.

Still, elemental types could be ruled out.

“Nika Fruit.”

Seeing Zhang Tian’s puzzled expression, Su Mengyao smiled and revealed the answer.

“What?!”

Zhang Tian snapped his head up, his voice cracking.

Had he misheard? But he’d clearly heard that name.

“Human-Human Fruit: Mythical Species: Nika Form—the Devil Fruit of Monkey D. Luffy, the Sun God Nika.”

Su Mengyao repeated it, confirming he hadn’t misheard, then added:

“But it’s said to house the will of Joy Boy—whether that—”

“I don’t care about any of that!”

Zhang Tian cut her off, ecstatic, clutching the fruit to his chest.

Not only was it a Mythical Species—he’d never imagined it—but it was Nika, the very fruit of Luffy, the protagonist of the Pirate World!

This was, in some ways, the most precious and powerful fruit in One Piece—its awakened form possessed abilities unlike anything the world had ever seen.

As for Joy Boy’s will?

He could debate it online, but now the real thing was right before him—he wasn’t an idiot; he wasn’t going to pass this up.

Su Mengyao stared at his treasure-hoarding expression, stunned for a moment, then laughed and shook her head.

“Glad you’re satisfied.”

“Then I wish you breakthrough to Third Stage soon.”

“Nika Fruit’s potential isn’t inferior to Gu Che’s Azure Dragon Fruit—it far surpasses Lu Jing’s Mera Mera Fruit. If they can do it, so can you.”

“Maybe next time the Top Exalted list won’t have Gu Che in third place—it’ll be you.”

What?

You’re saying Gu Che is officially ranked third on the Exalted List, but actually fourth?

That doesn’t matter—Zhong Lao and Ye Xuan are tied for first.

Here, she added with quiet emphasis:

“Besides, Hangcheng still doesn’t have a single Third Stage powerhouse.”

That was true.

Ye Xuan’s normal state was Fifth Stage power, let alone with the Flame Dragon Armor’s enhancement—even under the full release of Ryūjin Jakka, his threat level exceeded Fifth Stage.

Hearing this, Zhang Tian tightened his grip on the fruit, his eyes blazing with determination.

He wouldn’t think about surpassing Gu Che yet—but if he couldn’t awaken Nika Fruit later, he’d challenge Gu Che himself.

Didn’t Gu Che use a spiked club too? Maybe three swings from him would trigger my awakening?

In the Pirate World, the Azure Dragon Fruit user Kuma, the King of Beasts, used three swings to trigger Luffy’s Nika Fruit awakening—Sakura, Haki, and Fruit Awakening.

In the real world, the Azure Dragon Fruit user Gu Che uses three swings to trigger my Nika Fruit awakening.

This is legacy!

The will of “Hundred-Handed Kuma” is destined to shine again in this world!

Hangcheng’s first Third Stage?

That title—I’m taking it.

Even Jesus can’t stop me—I said so!

“Ding-ding-ding”

Su Mengyao’s phone suddenly rang. She picked it up, saw it was Ye Xuan, and answered without bothering to hide it from Zhang Tian.

“Hello, Ye Xuan, what is it?”

Ye Shen?!

Zhang Tian’s ears snapped upright, his whole body tensing.

That was Ye Shen—the universally recognized strongest person in Great Xia, no, the entire world!

He’d never even imagined meeting him in person—now he was hearing his voice?

But didn’t people at this level avoid phone calls? What if there was classified information?

The thought had barely formed when Su Mengyao’s next words confirmed it.

“You extracted the Thunder-Thunder Fruit? You want me to come pick it up now?”

“Then why didn’t you say so when I was there? I’ve already arrived at the Crimson Bureau!”

“What do you mean, ‘it was a trivial matter I forgot after confirming the guess’?”

“Is the Devil Fruit really that unimportant to you?”

“That’s the Thunder-Thunder Fruit!”

“If you don’t want it, let Gu Che or Lin Ruoxi come get it?”

“I want it! Of course I want it! How could I not?!”

“Even if I can’t keep it, there’s still a chance!”

After hanging up, Su Mengyao sighed.

She hadn’t known the mutated monkey’s heart had been taken by Ye Xuan—Wang Shouguo must have known, but probably never believed Ye Xuan had that capability.

So no one had told her—she only learned now, from Ye Xuan’s call.

To be fair, she’d forgotten to report it last time, mostly because the shock had been too great to notice.

Compared to those celestial treasures, the news wasn’t that significant.

But Ye Xuan said the mutated monkey was killed by Gu Che and the other two—and told her to inform them?

Could she say that?

If she did, would the Thunder-Thunder Fruit even stay in Hangcheng? It’d be snatched away on the spot!

Then the Crimson Bureaus of the Capital, Jinling, and Pengcheng would fight over it—where would Hangcheng stand?

But she couldn’t stay silent either.

Su Mengyao narrowed her eyes, a sudden idea flashing through her mind—perhaps she could steer the conversation toward: “The Science Academy couldn’t do it, but Ye Xuan did? If he truly can, then you don’t need to hand over the Thunder-Thunder Fruit—you can keep it.”

After all, Wang Shouguo didn’t know Ye Xuan had this ability—the chance of success was still high.

(End of Chapter)