Chapter 160: The First Officer of the Infinity Pirates

The Conqueror's Haki, which had pressed them to the ground, was now being forcibly compressed onto Li Yuan's sword. Just a glance would cause a mental backlash, forcing them to avert their eyes.

"Infinite Blood Slaughter: Blood Dragon Sky Slash!!"

Once Li Yuan concentrated all his power onto the sword, he slashed toward the sea.

In the next moment, a massive kilometer-long blood-red slash was unleashed by the Seven Stars Sword.

The slash, like a blood-red sword dragon, charged toward the sea, causing the entire ocean to tremble.

The moment Li Yuan swung his sword, the over 30,000 pirates felt the threat of death. If that slash had been aimed at them, they feared none would survive!

Fortunately, the slash was directed at the sea.

In their view, the enormous blood-red slash cleaved the vast, unfathomable ocean!

Looking down, a giant sword scar like an abyss appeared on the sea, and they could clearly see the seabed thousands of meters deep, where the ground was also torn apart.

The continuous sword scar on the seabed seemed to slice the ocean in two.

Countless seawater poured into the sword scar abyss, and under their watchful eyes, it took the entire sea five minutes to calm and fill the abyss.

"Is this really a slash that a person can withstand?"

Once the sword scar abyss was completely filled by the sea, all the pirates couldn't help but swallow hard.

Even Ashura Doji couldn't help but shiver. Under such a slash, forget about withstanding it; even a graze felt like it would be fatal!

"This is my full-strength slash. Anyone who can withstand it and still stand will be the core officer of my Infinity Pirates!"

Li Yuan was very pleased with the dumbfounded expressions of the crowd.

To become a regular officer, one only needed to withstand a slash at the level of a regular admiral, like Green Bull's full-strength attack. Those who could withstand it were about the level of an admiral candidate.

A core officer, however, was truly central and could withstand a full-strength attack without relying on Life Return.

Such individuals might not match a Navy Admiral but would have strength comparable to the CP0 Vice Chief he had previously defeated.

"I will definitely become a core officer!!"

Although initially startled, Ashura Doji was still full of determination after regaining his composure. He still had much untapped potential.

He believed that once he fully developed his potential, he would definitely become a core officer.

"Everyone, to celebrate Ashura Doji becoming the first officer of the Infinity Pirates, let's have a banquet!!"

Once the shock had passed, Li Yuan suddenly shouted loudly.

"Whoa!!!"

"A banquet!!!"

"Great, I love banquets!!"

With Li Yuan's announcement, all the pirates cheered excitedly.

Banquets were a favorite form of celebration for pirates, and no pirate would refuse a banquet.

Many spies planted within the Infinity Pirates transmitted their intelligence back.

Li Yuan didn't bother to eliminate these spies because he knew they could never be completely eradicated.

He only removed those deeply hidden spies, leaving the rest to be monitored by Shakky.

These spies couldn't access critical information or the base of the Infinity Pirates; they only hovered on the fringes and sometimes helped transmit false information to enemy forces.

**Infinity Pirates Bounty List:**

- "Captain Li Yuan of the Infinity Pirates, the world's greatest swordsman, bounty of 2.834 billion Berries, wanted dead or alive for extreme crimes!"

- "Officer Ashura Doji, swordsman, Ancient Zoan Emperor Crocodile Devil Fruit user, bounty of 555 million Berries, wanted dead or alive for extreme crimes!"

- "Main Captain Karu, swordsman, Ancient Zoan Swordwing Tiger Devil Fruit user, bounty of 333 million Berries, wanted dead or alive for extreme crimes!"

- "Main Captain Kano, swordsman, Paramecia Slash-Slash Fruit user, bounty of 355 million Berries, wanted dead or alive for extreme crimes!"

- "Main Captain Barrett, Mythical Zoan Titan Devil Fruit user, bounty of 311 million Berries, wanted dead or alive for extreme crimes!"

- "Main Captain Mari, Paramecia Feather Devil Fruit user, bounty of 288 million Berries, wanted dead or alive for extreme crimes!"

- "Main Captain Nepal, sniper, Paramecia Stealth-Stealth Fruit user, bounty of 233 million Berries, wanted dead or alive for extreme crimes!"

- "Main Captain Kuma, Mink Tribe, Paramecia Hair-Hair Fruit user, bounty of 211 million Berries, wanted dead or alive for extreme crimes!"

- "Main Captain Jerar, Fish-Man, bounty of 111 million Berries, wanted dead or alive for extreme crimes!"

- "Main Captain Rufil, common Zoan Giant Python Fruit user, bounty of 110 million Berries, wanted dead or alive for extreme crimes!"

- "."

The Navy quickly updated the bounties for the Infinity Pirates based on the intelligence provided by their spies.

Particularly Li Yuan's bounty skyrocketed due to his destruction of World Government member nations.

"The Infinity Swordsman is even recognized by the Navy as the world's greatest swordsman, so it must be true!"

"Damn it, I won't acknowledge this title. I will challenge him!"

"The world's greatest swordsman is the highest achievement for a swordsman. I want to learn swordsmanship and become the world's greatest swordsman too!"

With the Navy's release of the new bounties for the Infinity Pirates, Li Yuan's reputation soared again.

The title of the world's greatest swordsman rightfully belonged to Li Yuan, and anyone wanting to claim it would have to defeat him.

"The world's greatest swordsman, you've really done it. Now, my master's wishes are completely fulfilled, and I can die in peace."

Louis, Li Yuan's master living in seclusion on Ster Island, looked at Li Yuan's bounty, tears unknowingly falling from his eyes.

"It seems the Navy wants to elevate me and then have other great swordsmen come after me."

Li Yuan merely glanced at the bounties and paid them no further attention.

The Navy's blatant bestowal of the world's greatest swordsman title was undoubtedly meant to incite resentment against him.

However, this animosity mattered little to Li Yuan; instead, it elevated his fame among swordsmen, making him exceptionally renowned.

So Li Yuan didn't bother further and planned to visit the laboratory established by the Infinity Pirates.

Li Yuan walked to a remote suburb outside the Flower Capital of Wano, a crucial area for the Infinity Pirates, inaccessible to ordinary people.

It was constantly being expanded, almost like a new city.

"Captain!!"

"General!!"

Li Yuan's arrival prompted respectful greetings from the personnel on duty.

These were individuals Li Yuan had carefully selected, absolutely loyal to him.

Some were former pirates, some were samurai from Wano loyal to Li Yuan, and some were slaves who followed him after being rescued.

"Mm!"

Li Yuan nodded and walked into a large laboratory.

This laboratory began construction a year ago after establishing relations with the Sea Transport King Umit, and much of the experimental equipment was acquired through Umit's channels.

Inside the laboratory, many personnel busied themselves, though they mostly assisted with tasks.

Li Yuan went straight to the lab's core, where scientist Yuma was busy with experiments and was the only researcher there.

Since the lab's establishment, Yuma had given up his position as a captain in the Infinity Pirates to join the lab as a researcher.

His Merge-Merge Fruit allowed him to merge various materials, creating new ones for technological advancements.

"Captain, you're here!"

Seeing Li Yuan, Yuma put down his experiment.

"Yes, I'm here to see how the experiments I asked you to conduct are going."

Li Yuan asked.

Due to material issues, the weapons factory couldn't produce more quality swords.

His territory had many ores, but mining took time.

He had also asked Sea Transport King Umit to procure some, but such ores were scarce everywhere, and only a small amount was procured.

Only 10 quality swords had been produced so far.

So Li Yuan asked Yuma to see if he could use his ability to merge different ores, enhancing their quality, and then use them for forging quality swords.

"Captain, the experiment is complete. If I merge two ores close to forging quality swords, they can meet the standard."

"However, my fruit ability has a limitation; materials can only be merged once, not a second time."

Yuma explained.

"That's enough."

Li Yuan nodded, having anticipated this limitation of the Merge-Merge Fruit.

If unlimited merging were possible, it would be too overpowered, which was obviously not feasible.

"Captain, the comparative test you asked for earlier is also done. Here are the results!"

Yuma handed over two quality swords.

These swords were superior in quality and heavier than others.

Li Yuan inspected the swords closely.

Previously, he had inspected these swords, but now they were much stronger.

Firstly, the swords were 50% more durable and much sharper, with blades broader by a finger and double the weight.

One sword was made by merging another quality sword using Yuma's Merge-Merge Fruit.

The other was formed by merging an ore sufficient to forge a quality sword.

"The quality of both swords is similar, regardless of whether the merged material was ore or another sword."

"In essence, if the materials merged are the same, the final product is similar."

Li Yuan commented.

"Yes, Captain, my fruit ability essentially merges materials, enhancing the object's quality by integrating the characteristics and essence of the merged materials."

Yuma explained.

"Conduct more such experiments to ensure the conclusion is definite, not probabilistic."

Li Yuan instructed.

Yuma's fruit ability made Li Yuan think of enhancing his Seven Stars Sword.

If it could merge with another supreme-grade sword or ore capable of forging one, his Seven Stars Sword would become even more powerful!

No swordsman would dislike their sword becoming stronger, and Li Yuan was no exception.

Besides the Seven Stars Sword, he also had two supreme-grade swords and an ore capable of forging one.

Once Yuma's ability was sufficiently developed, he could merge one of the supreme-grade swords or ore with the Seven Stars Sword.

As for whether to merge another supreme-grade sword or ore, he hadn't decided yet.

His initial thought was to merge everything, but Yuma's Merge-Merge Fruit had limitations. Otherwise, his Seven Stars Sword would surpass the supreme-grade level.

"By the way, Yuma, since you can merge quality swords, when will you be able to merge supreme-grade swords?"

Li Yuan inquired.

His Seven Stars Sword was of supreme-grade, and he wondered how long it would take for Yuma to enhance it.

"Uh, Captain, I'm not sure!"

Yuma replied helplessly, as his fruit's development couldn't yet handle supreme-grade materials.

"I'll leave this supreme-grade sword, Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, in your lab. Try it out occasionally!"

"Although you're no longer a combat member, don't neglect physical training. The foundation of Devil Fruit use is physical strength."

"Your main task is to develop your Devil Fruit ability to merge supreme-grade materials. This is your priority."

"Other experiments can be delayed; this task takes precedence."

"Of course, as long as it doesn't harm the Infinity Pirates' interests, your other experiments will be supported!"

Li Yuan patted Yuma's shoulder.

"Rest assured, Captain, I'll work hard to develop my Devil Fruit ability!"

Yuma gratefully replied, moved by Li Yuan's trust.

Yuma had been a slave, and without the Infinity Pirates' rescue and generous treatment, he might have been long dead!

-Support me on Ko-Fi for 35+ advance chapters there.

https://ko-fi.com/zxc1015

Thanks!

Ps: If you love One Piece Fanfic,You can also try reading my other work. Here's the title

One Piece:I am King Luffy

Here's the link in Webnovel 

https://www.webnovel.com/book/31092364600210805