Chapter 191

Oh no?

The reward for this Sword Master's Swordsmanship isn't bad, but it went to Sima Di...

Probably only useful for showing off inside the "Magic-Nullifying Field."

Too bad,

Neither心灵链接 nor 心灵感应 can share "insight"-type abilities; otherwise, giving it to Zoro would've boosted him immensely.

By the way...

Platonic love?

Abandoning physical pleasure, pursuing only spiritual purity through soul connection?

Uh...

Lei Li and Xia Qi... haven't they... done it yet...?

Or is Lei Li just incapable?

He seemed to catch a whiff of gossip, grinning at Lei Li.

Lei Li found it odd, activated Kenbunshoku Haki to scan himself.

Nothing's wrong!

"Great! Let's set sail!" Luffy waved his hand.

Thus,

After the Straw Hat Pirates caused an "earthquake" on the Sabaody Archipelago, and the numerous New Generation pirates were kicked by Akainu, the culprits themselves dove beneath the Golden Merry, heading toward the ten-thousand-meter-deep seabed.

The crew also got to see the roots of the Tree Island—thicker at the base, stretching endlessly into the deep seabed.

Sunlight refracted at the sea surface shimmered with dreamlike rainbow hues, pouring through the roots to illuminate the dark seabed like a rainbow corridor guiding their way.

Kamy, who had been silent until now, spoke up: "Follow these roots downward—you'll find the rootstock of Yang Tree Xia Wa; descend along her rootstock to ten thousand meters beneath the sea, and you'll reach Fish-Man Island."

Oh?

So this is the correct way to reach Fish-Man Island.

Unlike the original story,

the Straw Hat Pirates went through a grand adventure, fighting monsters all the way until they reached Fish-Man Island.

This time, with Kamy as our local guide, it became a relaxed sightseeing trip.

It fully proves the importance of "knowing someone."

But while searching for "Yang Tree Xia Wa," they ran into trouble—a bold sea beast targeted them.

Its fate?

The freezer, neglected due to hasty departure, was now filled with new ingredients.

"Wait, let me ask for directions."

Kamy called out to the sea, and soon several ugly deep-sea fish swam over—probably because it was so dark no one could see anyone else, so they all just grew randomly.

Kamy communicated with them,

and the deep-sea fish swam sideways, glancing back occasionally.

"Follow them," Kamy urged.

"No problem," Merry replied.

Though these deep-sea fish looked random, they knew the terrain and powerful entities of this region well, leading the Straw Hat Pirates through winding paths until they reached a "wall."

"This is the rootstock of Yang Tree Xia Wa," Kamy smiled. "Now just follow her downward, and you'll safely reach Fish-Man Island."

Rootstock?

The Straw Hat Pirates stared at the "wall" before them—this is called a rootstock?

Robin explained: "Yang Tree Xia Wa is a tree growing on the Red Line. Legend says... her canopy absorbs sunlight, then releases it through roots beneath the sea, providing light and warmth to Fish-Man Island."

"Growing on the Red Line?" Usopp exclaimed: "The Red Line is ten thousand meters high, Fish-Man Island is ten thousand meters under the sea... this tree is twenty thousand meters long? Twice as long as Laboon!"

Others also looked astonished.

How can a tree grow that long?

And...

What kind of tree absorbs sunlight in its canopy and glows from its roots?

"Could this... also be one of the Great Kingdom's creations?" Sima Di speculated.

It voiced everyone's thought.

"Who knows? Maybe only finding the hundred-year history will reveal the truth," Lei Li shook his head.

Speaking of which...

Crocky suddenly remembered something, murmuring mysteriously: "Lei Li, when we passed through the Little Garden, did you notice anything strange?"

"Strange?" Lei Li recalled: "You mean... the two giants from the Giant Pirates? Are they still fighting there?"

"Tsk! They almost didn't recognize me," Crocky shook his head. "Did you know? Beneath that erupting volcano, there's a Great Kingdom ruin—we even obtained a Devil Fruit Separation Elixir there, capable of stripping others of their Devil Fruits!"

Lei Li's eyes widened!

What?

He could understand a Great Kingdom ruin.

But a Devil Fruit Separation Elixir?

Sounds like you're pulling my leg.

"It's true," Nami raised her hand, releasing lightning: "My Goro Goro no Mi was taken from an arrogant guy."

"And my dream—the Mero Mero no Mi too!" Sanji vanished, leaving only his head floating in midair.

Honestly,

Pretty intimidating, it gave Chopper quite a scare.

This made Lei Li instinctively scratch his head.

"Ah, this... we actually missed something this interesting back then?" Lei Li said, a little regretful.

Don't want to......

"And that's not all." Crocus said with a grin: "There's also Alabasta. Near Rainbase there's a historical original, and buried there is the Pluton's power core, which is now installed on this very ship."

"And on Sky Island, there's also some private research lab from the Great Kingdom. That's where Vivi's hammer was discovered."

"Vivi, let him try your hammer."

Vivi, like everyone else, wore a look of eager anticipation as she handed Lei Shenzhichui to Lei Li.

Lei Li, whose eyes had gone wide at Crocus's words, took Lei Shenzhichui on reflex.

Casually......

"Bam!"

Lei Li was slammed straight into the ground by Lei Shenzhichui, the back of his hand pinned beneath it, and no matter how hard he strained, he couldn't pull it free.

It completely dumbfounded him!

What the heck is this thing?

He, Pluton Lei Li, might be old, but he wasn't useless!

How could he suddenly not be able to lift it?

". ～ I just refuse to believe it!"

"Whoosh—"

A gleaming black surge of Armament Haki erupted. Lei Li threw every ounce of strength he had, the Adam-wood deck beneath his feet groaning under the strain, yet still he couldn't budge Lei Shenzhichui a single inch.

This left Lei Li a bit dumbfounded.

Could it be......

He really couldn't lift it anymore?

Watching Lei Li's existential-crisis expression, everyone burst out laughing.

"Lei Li, so this is your day too!" Crocus roared with laughter: "Don't doubt it. This hammer must have eaten a special Devil Fruit; only a specific person can lift it. Clearly, you're not that person."

Vivi crooked a finger at just the right moment, and Lei Shenzhichui obediently flew into her palm.

Lei Li stood up, rubbing his hand, his face still bearing a look of shock.

"Old friend, I thought this second trip with the Hanglu Society would be boring, but who would have thought... it's actually even more interesting than our original journey!" Lei Li sighed.

To be honest,

This adventure of "digging up hidden maps from old maps" had stirred a bit of excitement in him too.

Unfortunately,