Chapter 64: Involution Is the Basic Cultivation of Leeks

Early the next morning.

Xiang Keluo and A Jin, dragging bodies nearly drained of strength, limped out of the cultivation room.

The dark circles under their eyes and their constantly trembling legs testified to the ferocity of their cultivation last night.

"Heh, already out of energy?"

Xiang Keluo forced himself to stand, straightened his waist, and turned to look sideways at A Jin, who could barely crawl up, acting as if nothing were wrong.

The latter gritted his teeth and retorted:

"This level isn't even a warm-up for me!"

"If your legs weren't shaking while you spoke, that might have some persuasiveness. But now~"

"Tsk~"

Xiang Keluo pouted, not mentioning at all that his own body was incredibly sore and he lacked even the strength to lift his arm.

A Jin said disdainfully:

"You should worry about yourself first!"

"Oh, is that so?"

Xiang Keluo forcibly suppressed his constantly trembling legs and said calmly:

"Looks like you still have energy. Coincidentally, I suddenly want to go back and do two more sets of bench presses."

A Jin gave no ground:

"Come on then!"

Suddenly.

A familiar voice appeared beside the two of them:

"Senpai, is this the place on the ship dedicated to cultivation?"

Having rested the entire night and fully recovered his spirit, Zoro now looked full of energy.

Especially upon learning that such a small pirate ship had a room dedicated solely to cultivation, he was immensely delighted and rushed over immediately.

After all, for him who aspired to become the world's greatest swordsman, what could be more important than cultivation?

Looking at the newcomer before him and recalling the talent the latter had displayed last night, Xiang Keluo thought inwardly:

Bloodied by Gao Wen for a whole day and night, and you don't even rest or relax?

So hardworking...

Could it be that you're aiming at A Jin, or even at me?

Thinking this.

Xiang Keluo silently turned his head and exchanged a glance with A Jin beside him; both saw the wariness in each other's eyes:

We can't let this brat look down on us!

Immediately, Xiang Keluo feigned a relaxed posture and said to Zoro:

"This is the place. However, young people must pay attention to balancing work and rest, and not harm your foundation—!"

Clang!

Hearing the sound, Xiang Keluo turned his head and saw that Zoro had already loaded a thirty-kilogram weight plate onto one end of the barbell.

Zoro gripped the other end of the dumbbell with one hand, felt the weight, pouted slightly in dissatisfaction, and casually added another plate...

Clang!

Xiang Keluo's liver trembled.

Before he could react.

A Jin beside him had already silently returned to the cultivation room, picked up the sweat-stained barbell again, gritted his teeth, doubled the already exaggerated weight he was using, and started training as if his life depended on it, his face turning bright red.

For a moment.

Xiang Keluo's steps, originally prepared to leave, suddenly couldn't move forward.

A Jin is staring at my position, but alas, his innate talent is inferior to mine, so his growth rate naturally can't catch up to mine. But the key is this newcomer...

Xiang Keluo suddenly remembered what Gao Wen had said yesterday and felt a vague sense of foreboding.

If in a few years I'm truly ridden over by a newcomer, that would be a huge joke; I'd never be able to hold my head up in the pirate crew for the rest of my life.

With that bastard Gao Wen's vicious personality, he'd laugh at me for years over the last incident; if I get surpassed by a junior too, what then?

Thinking this.

Xiang Keluo sucked in a cold breath.

How can I let these bastards get stronger while I'm unaware?

Xiang Keluo bit his lip, returned to the cultivation room as well, silently picked up his own cultivation equipment, and doubled the weight as well!

"Ho?!"

Zoro raised an eyebrow.

He naturally sensed the strange atmosphere in the cultivation room.

Especially since Xiang Keluo and A Jin had cultivated all night and were clearly preparing to leave, but upon seeing him arrive, they returned to the cultivation room.

What is this?

A senior's opening intimidation?

Interesting!

But I'm not some soft persimmon!

The corners of his mouth gradually spread, and his eyes ignited once more.

On the barbell that was already perfectly weighted, he added two more thirty-kilogram weight plates; Zoro had to exert all the strength he could muster just to barely swing it.

Hah!

The barbell whistled, stirring up wind and waves in the cultivation chamber.

Veins bulged on Zoro's arms, trembling constantly, yet he maintained that air of nonchalance; he turned his head to look at Xiang Keluo and Kaku:

"Senior, since you're tired, go back and rest early. Pushing yourself too hard will only hurt your body, you know."

"After all."

"You aren't young anymore?"

The two's eyebrows twitched; they spoke word by word:

"Not... young... anymore???"

"Arrogant brat!"

Xiang Keluo's mouth twitched:

"I'll make you know the captain's deputy's dignity right now! Kaku, you don't want to be looked down upon by a newbie, do you?"

"This warm-up is enough; bring out your true strength!"

"Double the weight!"

Kaku's eyelid twitched; the original weight already made his body tremble, nearing his limit; adding more... would kill him!

But when he noticed Zoro's provoking gaze, he couldn't bring himself to say the word "give up."

After all, if this newbie really wanted to surpass someone, he should surpass me first, damn it!

"I'm in!"

"Heh~"

Zoro sneered coldly, thinking inwardly:

Has the battle to determine the ranking within the crew started so soon?

Indeed, even among comrades, there is competition; but before I defeat that guy, how can I lose to someone else?!

"I... am in too!"

Ten-plus minutes later.

The sounds of three men constipated echoed from the cultivation chamber, causing passing pirates to frequently look inside.

Nami was also attracted by the sounds from the cabin; seeing the three's outrageous weights, her mouth couldn't help but twitch:

"Men's competitive spirit shouldn't be used in such reckless places, right?"

"Big Sister Nami, you don't understand; this is the hot-bloodedness between men~"

Several pirates quietly gathered over, whispering in Nami's ear.

Nami raised her hand to support her forehead:

"This is too reckless,"

She had intended to go tell Gao Wen about this matter, but thinking of the three's already extraordinary constitutions, she abandoned the plan and turned directly toward the room.

Now, with Gao Wen's authorization, she had fully taken over the entire pirate crew's navigation work.

Not only this pirate crew, but the Cat Brothers guarding Raven Port and Jango would also come to consult her.

In just half a month.

Nami had already gained everyone's recognition; the comrades' trust was both motivation and a responsibility, urging her to constantly improve.

Looking at the sea chart on the table, Nami pushed open the porthole, letting the sea breeze blow in.

The windmill whirred.

Her heart was calmer than ever before; she raised her hand, plucked an orange from the orange tree Nojiko gave her, peeled it, and put it in her mouth.

Sweet.

Night fell.

On the ship, apart from the pirates responsible for night watch and navigation, most had already gone to sleep; even the three workaholics in the cultivation chamber were exhausted and collapsed on the spot.

Not long after.

Snoring sounds came one after another.

Nami passed the cultivation chamber, looking at the three sleeping men with a hint of disgust:

"Really~"

"Such grown-ups, still acting recklessly like children~"

Having said that.

Nami turned, took out three blankets, draped them over the three men respectively, quietly closed the door, and left.

(End of this chapter)