[Cultivation Point Balance: 457300]
Luo Chen looked at the over four hundred and fifty thousand cultivation points and decided to improve his Armament Haki first.
After introductory Armament Haki was the advanced level.
The main effect of advanced Armament Haki was "emission," allowing for ranged attacks.
Learning it required eighty thousand cultivation points, which was eight hundred million Berries.
After the advanced level was the top-tier Armament Haki.
Its main effect was "internal destruction," which ignored external defenses and directly caused massive internal damage. It was particularly effective against those with special, tough physiques like Kaido and Big Mom.
Learning it required two hundred thousand cultivation points.
"To raise my Armament Haki to the top level, it would cost a total of two hundred and eighty thousand cultivation points. I wouldn't have enough for Observation Haki then..."
Luo Chen hesitated slightly.
But immediately, the line of text for [Cultivation Points] flickered, and the balance behind it changed.
[Cultivation Point Balance: 657300]
Luo Chen rubbed his eyes.
It had indeed increased by two hundred thousand cultivation points.
'Where did it come from?'
A thought flashed through his mind, and Luo Chen remembered the fifteen hundred million Berries that Dragon still owed him.
Right now, he only had two Wood Clones that could make remote deposits.
One was selling intelligence in Loguetown.
The other was the Wood Clone that had just entered Water 7.
It was certain that this two billion Berries' worth of cultivation points had come from the former.
"Has Dragon finished his investigation of Wano Country? And he paid an extra five hundred million Berries. Did he buy other intelligence? Or was it an additional payment?"
Luo Chen was a little puzzled, but he quickly put it out of his mind.
He had enough cultivation points now.
Upgrading Observation Haki to the top level cost the same as Armament Haki, two hundred and eighty thousand cultivation points each.
For both types of Haki, it was a total of five hundred and sixty thousand cultivation points.
He would still have ninety thousand points left.
"Ninety thousand... I'll learn some swordsmanship."
Luo Chen looked at the cumulative deposit ninjutsu rewards from the system.
The seventy billion cumulative deposit reward was Susanoo.
The one hundred and twenty billion cumulative deposit reward was Tengai Shinsei.
After the eighty billion deposit from Hancock, he had reached the two hundred billion cumulative mark, and the reward was Shinra Tensei.
He was still over sixty billion short of the three hundred billion cumulative deposit reward.
Luo Chen was learning swordsmanship in preparation for using "Susanoo."
Susanoo, in essence, was the summoning of a giant god of war materialized from energy to arm oneself. He could control the Susanoo to attack. But the Susanoo was too tall, at least several hundred meters. Bending down to punch people on the ground with its fists would look too ridiculous.
The strongest weapon was still a sword.
A hundred-meter-long greatsword could easily slice a mountain peak flat.
'Looking cool is a lifelong pursuit. Forcing the Susanoo to bend over and hammer people with its fists... I'd rather not use it at all.'
Luo Chen muttered.
His consciousness entered the [Skill Training Space].
The master tutor for Armament Haki was still Garp.
Luo Chen studied diligently. Several hours later, the Wood Clone returned from Water 7.
"I've scouted it out. The good news is that Nami is fine. When I saw her from a distance, she was shopping with Carina."
The Wood Clone smiled. "But someone was watching them in secret, so I didn't approach Nami rashly."
Hearing this, Luo Chen nodded. "For now, let's not alert the Marines or the World Government."
Before he had a clear picture of the number and strength of the enemies in Water 7, he could not act rashly.
His current strength was not enough to run rampant.
"What's your plan next?" the Wood Clone asked.
Luo Chen pondered for a moment and said, "You should go back to Water 7 and protect Nami in secret. Don't reveal yourself unless she's in danger."
"I'll continue to train on the back of the Wood Dragon. There's still a lot of room for improvement."
"Also," Luo Chen paused, "I'm preparing to send another Wood Clone to the sky island where Enel is."
A glint flashed in the Wood Clone's eyes. He understood. "Are you going for the gold?"
"Yes. The gold on the sky island is a huge fortune, far greater than the Heavenly Tribute."
"If the operation goes smoothly, I will definitely be able to enter the Admiral/Emperor tier."
Luo Chen was not planning to meet up with Nami and the others for the time being.
The Marines and the World Government were surrounding them but not capturing them, which clearly meant they were waiting for him to show up.
There might be a Marine Admiral lurking in the shadows.
If Kizaru was there, he wouldn't be able to escape even with the Flying Thunder God.
Therefore, the top priority was to continue to increase his strength while ensuring Nami's safety.
The Wood Clone helped him think it over and slowly nodded. "For now, this is the only way."
"Then I'll head back."
"Alright." Luo Chen watched as the Wood Clone returned to Water 7 again.
Nami had his Flying Thunder God mark on her. As long as she was within his sensory range, he could find her.
Before training his skills, Luo Chen summoned another Wood Clone and arranged for it to go to the sky island.
"Go to the sky island above Jaya. If Enel is there, take him down and gain ownership of the golden city."
The Wood Clone nodded and said, "Aren't we going to establish a Yonko crew? We can't have no one under us. What do you think of Enel?"
Luo Chen's eyes narrowed. "You're saying we should recruit him as a subordinate? His strength is sufficient, but... it won't be easy, will it?"
Enel, who had declared himself a god on the sky island, was arrogant and self-important.
It would be very difficult to make such a person submit.
The Wood Clone smiled. "We'll beat him until he agrees. Death or submission, I believe he will choose the latter. This guy wants to become a god and go to the moon, doesn't he? He definitely won't be willing to die in the Blue Sea."
Luo Chen also smiled. "Alright, let's do that. Based on my observations, Luffy and the others probably haven't gone to the sky island, so Enel is most likely still there."
"I'm off." The Wood Clone leaped into the sky, and another Wood Dragon condensed beneath its feet, flying off into the distance.
Jaya was not far from Water 7. Whether by asking for directions or buying a Log Pose, he would be able to find it.
"Then I'll continue my training."
He had sent clones to both Nami and the sky island.
What Luo Chen's main body had to do was train, and learn Haki and swordsmanship.
On the other side of the room, Robin sat quietly on the bed reading a book, oblivious to the outside world.
...
Water 7, inside a closed cafe.
Aokiji, wearing a dark green overcoat, was holding several photographs.
The photos showed Nami, Luffy, and the others.
There were scenes of Nami and Carina shopping, Luffy buying meat on the street, and Sanji fawning over a strange beautiful woman.
Nearby stood several men and women.
"Luo Chen's trace was not found near the Galley-La Company."
The speaker was a grim-looking man in a shipwright's uniform, with a white pigeon perched on his shoulder.
It was none other than the agent of the World Government's CP9 department, Rob Lucci.
Beside him, Blueno, whose hairstyle was like two bull's horns, reported, "In the few streets near the bar I was responsible for, I didn't see Luo Chen."
Kalifa, with long golden hair and wearing a black secretary's uniform, also shook her head. "As Mayor Iceburg's secretary, I sent people to search for Luo Chen, but they didn't find him either."
A faint, cold aura emanated from Aokiji. "Keep looking. I believe he will definitely appear. Also, under no circumstances should you let the Straw Hat crew, especially 'Cat Burglar' Nami, leave Water 7."
Rob Lucci nodded slightly. "The Straw Hat kid came to repair his ship. We have already intentionally delayed the process."
"Good. The moment you find Luo Chen, contact me and Kizaru immediately. We absolutely cannot let this person escape again," Aokiji said coldly.
Rob Lucci, Kalifa, and Blueno left one after another, returning to the outside world to continue their undercover roles.
In a corner of the cafe, a tall figure had his legs propped up on a round table, leisurely trimming his fingernails.
"Kuzan, my friend, you look terrifying right now."
A faint light shone through the cracks of the blinds, falling on this person.
He looked middle-aged to old, with many wrinkles on his face. He wore a yellow and white striped suit and sunglasses.
Aokiji glanced at him and asked slowly, "Kizaru, how long has it been since the two of us carried out a mission together?"
"Hmm..." Kizaru hummed, thinking as he trimmed his nails. "Not since we became Admirals, I think."
"For the two of us to be mobilized together, unless one of the Four Emperors has come to the first half of the Grand Line."
Aokiji's voice was heavy. "So, don't underestimate this person, Luo Chen. I have already failed once. This is a painful lesson."
Kizaru's nail-trimming stopped. He looked down at Kuzan through his sunglasses and shook his head with a smile.
"For you to have regained your drive from twenty years ago... this kid Luo Chen really is terrifying. We will catch him."
Twenty years ago, during the Ohara Incident, the Marines had bombarded the civilian ships.
Witnessing this, Aokiji had begun to doubt the Marines' justice and had become lost. He no longer took his work seriously and had gradually become lazy.
Now, because of Luo Chen, Kizaru was actually seeing the expression and attitude he had had many years ago.
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