Chapter 41: Soaring Experience Points

Gao Wen was slightly taken aback.

The numbers for Swordsmanship and Physique were still normal.

After all, with Xiang Keluo and Ajin Heavy severely injured and unable to move normally, the only source of experience was the pirates in the pirate crew whose potential had not yet reached its limit.

At most a dozen points a day, at most a few points; it could only be said to be better than nothing, and the overall trend was actually decreasing.

However, this was all within Gao Wen's expectations; what truly surprised him was Observation Haki.

"Currently, only two people in the pirate crew have awakened Observation Haki. Ajin Heavy's injuries are more severe, so it must be Xiang Keluo, who has recovered better."

"However."

"Xiang Keluo can provide 33 points of Observation Haki experience in a single day?"

"And this is while he is still injured and his body is inconvenient; once he fully recovers, the experience he provides will only be greater."

Saying this, Gao Wen opened the system panel:

【Host - Gao Wen】

【Age - 24】

【Identity - Captain of the Gao Wen Pirate Crew】

【Skills:

Swordsmanship - LV-5: 1171/1600 (Divine Speed)

Physique - LV-5: 381/1600 (Balanced)

Navigation - LV-1: 13/100

Scythe Death - LV-1: 3/200

Observation Haki - LV-0: 33/500

】

【Badges:

Captain's Wrath - Subordinates' physical recovery speed +20%

Rising Fame - View latent potential

】

【Rating - Bronze: Across the Four Seas and even the Grand Line, you are considered a figure, but in the New World, please keep your tail tucked.】

During this period, those who returned to Para Island had obviously not given up on cultivation; all in all, Swordsmanship and Physique had each grown by over a hundred points of experience.

This was within Gao Wen's expectations; what truly made him feel surprised was Observation Haki.

"The experience required to reach Level 1 exceeds the experience needed to raise Physique to Level 4?"

"It seems that even among abilities, there are differences in hierarchy?"

Gao Wen frowned slightly; although he still did not fully understand, this was the only reasonable explanation he could think of.

After all, the widespread use of Haki would only occur after reaching the New World, where the strong gather.

And in the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line, the Paradise, there were not few people cultivating Swordsmanship, Body Techniques, or even developing Devil Fruits, but those who truly mastered Haki were few and far between.

"Looking at it this way, the experience required for Armament Haki and even Conqueror's Haki later on will only be greater."

"However."

"Even at Xiang Keluo's current speed, it will take me less than half a month to grow to LV-1; by then, I will be able to truly apply it in actual combat."

"Once the two recover, the Physique and Scythe Death skills will also begin to improve again."

"And Armament Haki must also be arranged; otherwise, facing a Logia-type user is far too passive."

Reviewing the battle with Smoker, Gao Wen felt nothing but frustration.

In terms of pure hard power, he was undoubtedly superior to Smoker, but Smoker's Logia elementalization ability directly nullified his slashes.

He could only rely on super-high-speed thrusts to shatter Smoker again and again, barely managing to suppress him.

If the next opponent was a Mera Mera no Mi or Magu Magu no Mi user with direct lethal power, Gao Wen would probably be left with only one option: running away.

"Haki is the manifestation of the heart; everyone possesses Haki within their bodies, but not everyone can awaken it."

"Since Observation Haki is already present, can Armament Haki be grasped by analogy?"

With such thoughts in mind.

The next day.

After Gao Wen entrusted the pirate crew's affairs to Zango, and had the Cat Brothers lead a group of recovered brothers to the waters near Raven Port to exterminate pirates and maintain the safety of the shipping routes as promised,

he began to attempt to awaken the Armament Haki within his body.

Saying it is one thing, but doing it is another matter entirely.

After several consecutive days, Gao Wen had not achieved nothing, but he was completely at a loss.

A blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse, pure luck; having that happen once was enough.

Without guidance, Gao Wen's concept of Haki was limited to a few posts he had read in his previous life.

Such things could not be said to be wrong, but ultimately they were just rash theories; correct but useless, unable to provide any help to the current Gao Wen.

However.

While there was no progress on the Haki front, Ajin Heavy and Xiang Keluo on the other end were gradually beginning to exert themselves.

With the support of Gao Wen's badge ability, Ajin Heavy's injuries recovered far faster than expected.

Just seven days later, he removed the bandages from his body; although a layer of scabs still covered many wounds, it no longer affected normal movement.

Under the influence of Gao Wen and Xiang Keluo's environment, Ajin Heavy also gradually began to cultivate.

At this moment.

In the port, the sun descended from overhead, scorching the earth into intense heat; the air at the surface even visibly twisted, and the cicada chirps all around made the heart and mind restless.

All the pirates had returned to the shade to escape the sun, except for Zeff, who kept punching a derelict pirate ship.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

His bloody fist left pit after pit on the hull.

Under the stimulation of intense pain, Zeff's mind became unusually clear.

During this time,

as Zeff learned more and more about Gao Wen's pirate crew, he felt an ever-deeper empathy for Gao Wen's past experiences.

"The most benevolent captain, who treated his crew best, was betrayed by his subordinates in a time of crisis, and was forced to draw his sword against them, changing his nature ever since?"

"No wonder Captain Gao Wen could set aside his prejudices and save me, even though I was an enemy."

"Only those of us with similar experiences can truly understand each other."

Time passed slowly; no one knew how long had gone by.

Bang!

As the final punch landed, Zeff finally noticed that the distant sun had already withdrawn its last ray of afterglow.

The pain in his fist made him clearly realize that his body had reached its limit.

Continuing further might cause more hidden injuries; it would not be worth the cost.

"Hah~!"

Zeff let out a long breath and turned to leave.

Thinking of Gao Wen's fried rice, his heart was filled with something he had never felt before.

Night fell.

Gao Wen, having failed to awaken his own Haki, returned to his room. Just as he was feeling depressed, the system's familiar prompt sounded in his mind:

"Physique Experience +127!"

"Swordsmanship Experience +8!"

"Squatting Death Experience +22"

"Observation Haki Experience +44!"

Gao Wen froze; after reacting, his eyes went wide:

"Physique Experience increased by 127?!"

"According to recent rates, the experience other pirates can provide is only a fraction of this."

"That means Zeff and Xiang Keluo together provided nearly 120 points of Physique Experience?!"

"Not to mention the Squatting Death and Observation Haki!"

"Just the efficiency of these two alone rivals a large pirate crew of hundreds, and even lasts longer!"

"At this rate, within at most a month, my Physique could rise two levels to reach LV-7? Or even within half a year, I should be able to push to LV-10 and obtain the second trait."

"Indeed, a single crew member with great potential can provide as much experience as hundreds or even thousands of fodder."

"The gap in talent between individuals in this world is utterly unreasonable."

(End of this chapter)