Chapter 63: Donghai Dihuang Returns to the East Sea

After leaving the South Sea, following the Reverse Mountain current, the Donghai Dihuang entered the East Sea waters for the first time.

At the bow, Saint Saint Saiwen stood with hands in his pockets, his cape billowing behind him in the wind; while gazing at the calm sea ahead, he recalled the two battles from not long ago.

"In swordsmanship and Armament Haki, Mihawk is stronger."

"In Conqueror's Haki, Observation Haki, and physique, I am stronger."

"Black-haired Garp is indeed formidable."

"However, being able to wound Garp and draw his blood means I have now at least reached the level of Axe Emperor Moqua; yes, a steady Emperor-level powerhouse."

As for whether an Emperor of the Sea or an Admiral of the Marines is stronger—

this question is just like asking: who is stronger, Whitebeard or Akainu; it is truly not easy to answer.

Whenever these two questions arise, one can foresee with near certainty: the dispute has begun.

As the two best hook questions for deceiving others in his past life, even after Saint Saint Saiwen transmigrated to the Pirate World, he still found it difficult to give a precise judgment on them.

But if the question were changed, for example: who is stronger, Rocks or Whitebeard?

then it would be very easy to answer.

From this, it is not hard to see that Emperors of the Sea and Admirals of the Marines are likely at the same tier of combat power.

Parenthetical disclaimer: it is likely.

In battles at the Admiral-Emperor tier, it is extremely difficult to determine a winner in a short time, unless one can reach Rocks' level of strength, killing an Admiral of the Marines with a casual slash.

Rocks, after all, has a verifiable record of achievements.

Even a staff Admiral is still an Admiral!

However, even the peak Rocks, despite having Luo Jie, Garp, Whitebeard, Charlotte Lingling, and Kaido present, still could not do anything to Imu, who was possessed by Saturn Saint.

In the end, dominated by Imu's black transformation, he ended up demonized, then was defeated by the combined efforts of Luo Jie and Garp, and finished off by a speed bump and Garin Saint.

In other words, Saint Saint Saiwen currently still does not possess sufficient strength to face Imu directly.

If he had enough points to purchase every item sold directly in the Shangcheng system, and fully merged the experience of the No-Thought One-Slash, he should be sufficient to face Imu.

【Fruit Awakening: 100,000 points】

【Conqueror's Haki Defense: 100,000 points】

【Observation Haki Future Sight: 50,000 points】

【Observation Haki Telepathy: 20,000 points】

【Armament Haki Internal Destruction: 20,000 points】

Merely strengthening the three types of Haki requires nearly 200,000 points; adding Fruit Awakening, it comes to nearly 300,000 points.

300,000 points is equivalent to selling five and a half powerful Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruits on the trading platform.

If selling Sky Island Berries, provided prices do not crash and the quantity of Sky Island Berries is sufficient, it would take a full fifteen years to gather 300,000 points.

Of course, this is only the theoretical maximum time.

For the higher realms of the three types of Haki, Saint Saint Saiwen can completely cultivate a portion of them on his own.

And on the trading platform, besides consigning Devil Fruits and Sky Island Berries, one can also complete commissions; Momonosuke, wanted by Warhammer Brother, and the Escape Soldier King, can contribute a full 20,000 points for Saint Saint Saiwen.

With this, surpassing Imu in terms of combat power is 100% no problem; it is just a matter of spending a bit more time.

It is precisely because of the time issue that Saint Saint Saiwen suddenly felt an extremely absurd sensation:

it seems the protagonist group's cheat is even more fierce?

The Straw Hat Kid became a Yonko in two years at sea; according to Saint Saint Saiwen's progress before transmigrating, he would become the Pirate King in at most three years, then face Imu?

"Damn, I seem to have activated a fake cheat."

Those with cheats cannot compare to the protagonist group; the old generation of pirates need not be mentioned.

Kaido, known as the strongest creature on land, sea, and air, started as an intern in the Rocks Pirates, used every scheme and stratagem, and after years of bitter cultivation, occupied Wano Country.

The result: the Straw Hat Kid, who had been at sea for two years, did a few sit-ups, and his rubber turned into Nika Nika.

Kaido had just shouted that Haki transcends everything, only to be defeated by Nika Nika Luffy moments later.

Who in the hell can one appeal to for justice in this?

Despite the complaints, Saint Saint Saiwen still sincerely and from the bottom of his heart thanked the System; otherwise, how could his strength have advanced so dramatically within two years?

"Captain, Captain, big news!"

Jin Ni, holding six freshly bought newspapers in her arms, opened a door beside Saint Saint Saiwen.

"Captain, the Great Pirate Golden Lion has escaped from Impel Down, the underwater Great Prison."

Saint Saint Saiwen took the newspaper from Jin Ni's hands.

【The first pirate in history to escape Impel Down, the underwater Great Prison; the user of the Float-Float Fruit, captain of the Flying Pirates, the legendary Great Pirate Golden Lion...】

"Tsk tsk tsk, with the Great Ship's Helm on his head and both legs severed, Shi Ji is a ruthless man."

The Golden Lion of the past was on par with Luo Jie and Whitebeard, collectively known as the three legendary pirates.

The Golden Lion of now is a battle-damaged version.

The Great Ship's Helm originated from the encounter between the Luo Jie Pirates and the Flying Pirates; when Captain Luo Jie refused the cooperation invitation launched by Golden Lion, both sides engaged in a naval battle, and just as Golden Lion was about to secure victory—

a sudden storm drove most of the Flying Pirates' fleet into the depths, and a ship's helm falling from the sky precisely impaled itself on Golden Lion's head.

Because rashly pulling out the helm would be life-threatening, the helm has since become part of Golden Lion.

Now, to escape from Impel Down, Golden Lion severed his own legs again...

His strength is most likely no longer what it once was.

To be honest, the Float-Float Fruit eaten by Golden Lion is something Saint Saint Saiwen really wants to obtain, but there is no method that guarantees 100% acquisition.

The Chimpanzee Fruit incident two years ago could only be described as good luck; Saint Saint Saiwen stumbled upon great fortune.

But just because there is no way now does not mean there will be no way later; after marking Golden Lion in his mind, Saint Saint Saiwen took a compass from his pocket, glanced at it, and shouted to Mihawk, who was steering the ship.

"Mihawk, let us go to Loguetown first."

Mihawk nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Two years ago, it was in Loguetown that countless people, including Saint Saint Saiwen and Mihawk, witnessed the execution of the Pirate King Luo Jie, thereby opening the Great Pirate Era.

And this journey returns to the East Blue.

Saint Saint Saiwen's primary objective is to dig out Ace, Captain Luo Jie's sword; his secondary objective is to recruit some apprentice crew members while taking Kuma on a tour of the East Blue.

Convenient for when Kuma slaps him back later.

As the weakest of the Four Seas, the East Blue has actually produced quite a few famous figures, including but not limited to—

Captain Luo Jie, Garp, Dragon, the grandfather and grandson trio of Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and the father and son pair of Yassop and Usopp.

The King of Arrogance Van Augur and Axe Emperor Morgan.

Blade God Joseph and Sword Saint Johnny.

Blade God and Sword Saint.

And there is the legendary Pirate King Sig, who, with his own strength alone, wiped out over fifty Marine Admirals.

Counting Saint Saint Saiwen, one could say it is a gathering of talents.

However, the point in time Saint Saint Saiwen transmigrated to falls exactly between the post-Loki era and the Great Pirate Era; most of the young ones of the New Era have not yet been born.

The King of Arrogance Van Augur is only five years old at this moment.

What could a five-year-old brat do on a ship? Even waving flags and cheering, Saint Saint Saiwen would find his voice too weak.

Just like Little Robin, the sole apprentice crew member of the Morning Star Pirates, who currently spends most of her time on the ship accompanying her mother in studying.

Sometimes, Saint Saint Saiwen cannot even imagine.

How utterly helpless eight-year-old Little Robin must have been in the original timeline, evading the World Government's pursuit all by herself.

When Saint Saint Saiwen was eight, although he was already running a fish-ball stall in Back Sand Town, at the very least he did not have to live every day in the fear of arrest.

Being surrounded by hooligans and being pursued by the World Government are completely on different levels.

And this is merely the most trivial of the crimes committed by the World Government.

After two years of separation, returning to Loguetown once again, Saint Saint Saiwen felt a deep sense of change in circumstances while people remain the same.

Of course, it was not only Saint Saint Saiwen who felt this sentiment.

Former CP9 agent Lu Bianyi, upon hearing that the newly crowned Marine Admiral Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen had arrived in Loguetown aboard the East Blue Emperor, stood dazed at the bar counter, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

"Barzab..."