Chapter 27: I Congratulate You on Getting Rich

Bar Kicking the Bamboo, Second Floor.

"So, you've become the God of the Sky Island now?"

Lei Li was somewhat stunned; two years ago, Saint Saint Saiwen had been a fleeting flash, then quickly vanished, and he had thought the young man had fallen into the hands of the World Government.

Never in a million years did he expect that he would go to the Sky Island to subdue the Sky Island people and the Shandians, and in one stroke be crowned as God.

"Are these gold coins from that giant pillar in the Golden Country? The one over 10 meters in diameter and more than 60 meters tall?"

"Saint Saint Saiwen, I congratulate you on getting rich!"

Ignoring Lei Li's starry-eyed, envious, and jealous expression, Saint Saint Saiwen looked at Xia Qi, who was dumbfounded.

"Xia Yi, you've worked hard."

Xia Qi nodded only after a long while: "Little one, once this deal is done, I can rest for at least half a year."

After settling the commission and transaction details, Xia Qi walked aside and began contacting the buyer using a Den Den Mushi.

Seeing this, Lei Li quickly lowered his voice.

"Saint Saint Saiwen, lend me some Berries later; I still have some gambling debts outside that aren't paid off."

"No problem, but—"

Saint Saint Saiwen grinned: "Uncle, I just happen to need to build a ship to set sail. How about this? I'll give you all these gold coins."

Lei Li's expression immediately tightened.

Then he heard Saint Saint Saiwen continue: "You just need to tell me where the Golden Jackson is anchored."

"How about that?"

Two years ago, Saint Saint Saiwen would absolutely not have dared to sail the Golden Jackson openly, because that would inevitably draw the attention of the Marines and the World Government.

What do you want to do??

The Marines just executed the Pirate King, and you're sailing the Pirate King's ship; what exactly do you want to do?

Now? Who's afraid of anything?

Lei Li stared at Saint Saint Saiwen for a very, very long time, finally turning into a sigh.

"Better not, Saint Saint Saiwen."

"You know the principle that 'the gun shoots the bird that sticks its head out'; once the Golden Jackson returns to the sea, the Marines and the World Government will absolutely launch a Buster Call."

"Besides, such a huge ship, you can't sail it alone!"

Saint Saint Saiwen did not press further; if he could learn the whereabouts of the Golden Jackson, he would certainly sail it away. If Vice Captain Lei Li was unwilling to say, then it could be discussed later.

After all, the Morning Star Pirates currently had only a captain and a vice captain; the crew was indeed a bit small.

"Is two hundred million Berries enough?"

Upon hearing this, Lei Li was so happy he instinctively reached out to pat Saint Saint Saiwen's shoulder, but as soon as he extended his hand, he suddenly awkwardly realized: he couldn't reach anymore.

Lei Li's height of 1.88 meters, in front of Saint Saint Saiwen's 2.6-meter height, was like that of a child.

"You... you've grown taller."

Saint Saint Saiwen turned the tables, reaching out to pat Lei Li's shoulder: "I'm only seventeen, I'll keep growing; this year I might even exceed 3 meters."

Having said that, Saint Saint Saiwen bent his knees into a half-squat: "Here, Uncle Lei Li, one last chance for you."

Successfully patting Saint Saint Saiwen's shoulder, Lei Li smiled with relief: "You brat, you really are different from before. Find a place and spar a few moves?"

So what if you're tall?

Kid, there are plenty of big fools in the New World.

Today, this old man will make you know that even if you're taller than me, your Uncle Lei Li will always be your uncle.

"Fine." Saint Saint Saiwen smiled brilliantly.

"I remember there's a deserted island east of the Sabaody Archipelago; shall we two go there and spar a few moves?"

With the strength of Saint Saint Saiwen and Lei Li, if they sparred in the Sabaody Archipelago, it would inevitably draw the attention of the Marines and the World Government.

Saint Saint Saiwen didn't mind; he didn't stay in the Sabaody Archipelago often, but for Uncle Lei Li's retirement life, going to a deserted island was undoubtedly the best choice.

"A deserted island? Is that necessary?"

"Three hundred million Berries." Saint Saint Saiwen held up three fingers.

Lei Li casually picked up a double-bladed sword; on one hand to repay his gambling debts, and on the other, his hand was itchy, wanting to casually teach the brats on the ship a lesson.

When fighting kids, you have to do it early.

As soon as the two walked out of the bar, Saint Saint Saiwen lifted Lei Li like a chick, then shot straight up into the sky, flying at extreme speed toward the deserted island.

Mid-air, Lei Li looked helpless: "Saint Saint Saiwen kid, I could actually swim over."

Explanation is the final stubbornness.

After flying for a while, Lei Li finally realized belatedly: "This isn't elementalization?"

Saint Saint Saiwen smiled without speaking.

Of course it wasn't elementalization; with the Flying Cape, saving a bit of stamina is saving a bit.

After all, at this point in time, Lei Li was just 56, not yet entered old age, still at the tail end of his prime; a three-color Haki Great Swordsman, he is an excellent opponent.

East of the Sabaody Archipelago, a nameless deserted island.

Silbaz Lei Li held his double-bladed sword, just about to ask a question, but saw Saint Saint Saiwen standing with one hand before him, pulling a purple-glowing longsword out of the air.

Lei Li frowned: "This blade... even Observation Haki can't get close?"

"Uncle, be careful now."

The words had barely fallen when Saint Saint Saiwen, wielding his named sword Mengxiang Yixin, rushed forward at extreme speed, afterimages even appearing behind him.

Lei Li raised his double-bladed sword covered in Armament Haki and casually blocked the attack.

It looked incredibly easy, but in reality, the tremendous force transmitted by the purple longsword made his arm numb.

"Your strength... is truly immense."

Clang~ Clang~ Clang~

In an instant, Lei Li blocked three attacks, each one shocking him more than the last, causing him to involuntarily recall a phrase Saint Saint Saiwen had spoken on the ship many years ago.

Great strength produces miracles.

Leaping back using the momentum, Lei Li shook his numb arm: "Truly, great strength produces miracles, kid. Uncle is going to get serious."

After covering the blade with Armament Haki, the red-black Haki coiling around Lei Li's wrist rapidly spread to the blade—Conqueror's Haki Coating.

Although this is somewhat bullying the weak, Saint Saint Saiwen's unreasonable strength is indeed... unbearable.

Lei Li really wanted to ask: What have you been eating these past two years? How has your strength become so great? It's one thing for your height to shoot up, but for your strength to be this huge!

However, the next second.

When he saw the purple katana in Saint Saint Saiwen's hand, its hilt and blade entirely wrapped in red-black Haki, Lei Li's chin nearly hit the ground, and his usually wise and calm eyes widened to an enormous size.

"Truly a monster!"

Seventeen years old, Conqueror's Haki Coating.

Even that fellow Luo Jie had never reached such a realm at Saint Saint Saiwen's age.

Back when they were on Luo Jie's ship together, Lei Li knew Saint Saint Saiwen had already awakened Conqueror's Haki, but never imagined this power would be so overwhelmingly strong.

It even vaguely surpassed his own!

Lei Li tore off his cape behind him, his fighting spirit rising even higher, and gripped his double-bladed sword with one hand, launching a fierce attack.

The two blades wrapped in Conqueror's Haki clashed with a boom, and though they were already inches apart, an invisible immense force held them fast, preventing them from advancing a single inch.

Visible red-black ripples spread out layer by layer.

Wherever they passed, exposed rocks instantly crumbled into dust, and cracks like a spiderweb spread crazily across the ground from the point of impact, deep and bottomless.

Centered on the twin swords, dazzling energy spots surged wildly, like a neutron star on the verge of exploding.

The sky suddenly lost its color, the originally clear dome torn apart by black-red Haki.

The pressure from the collision of Conqueror's Haki enveloped the entire island like a solid substance, even halting the sea breeze, with only those two earth-shaking auras echoing between heaven and earth.

The seabirds, lizards, and other animals on the island, the news birds passing overhead, and even the fish in the waters near the barren island were all knocked unconscious.

Even Sea Kings could not escape.

Facing Lei Li's increasingly fierce assault, Saint Saint Saiwen still had not used Observation Kill.

It's just a spar, not a life-or-death struggle.

Besides, of course, the ultimate move is saved for enemies.

During the few hours of sparring with Vice Captain Lei Li, Saint Saint Saiwen's experience in cultivating Mengxiang Yixin within his mind, the fusion progress, finally broke through the critical point of twenty-six percent.

26%

The only thought remaining in Saint Saint Saiwen's mind was to release the sword intent condensed within his body, and with Mengxiang Yixin, strike a Wu Xiang Yi Dao.

Using the momentum to leap back into the air, Saint Saint Saiwen took a deep breath.

"Uncle Lei Li, this move has a name."

The two had been fighting for several hours without ever shouting out a single name for a technique; to explain it using Mi Sang's logic—I don't shout the name, so it's a normal attack.

"Strike, Saint Saint Saiwen!"