Chapter 171: The Visit from the Red Count

The pirate crews of the New World had just finished dividing the territories and seizing lands from member nations. Now was a time for consolidation, and the pirate captains knew better than to start conflicts. Even with World Government spies trying to stir up trouble, it wasn't enough to ignite wars among the major pirate crews.

To accelerate the growth of the Infinity Pirates' captains, Li Yuan changed his evaluations from every six months to every two months. This made the captains and officers both excited and anxious. They were eager for Li Yuan's guidance and the chance to spar with him, yet dreaded the aftermath of being battered and having to soak in medicinal baths.

Time flew by, and another year passed, bringing them to the year 1487 of the Sea Calendar.

Li Yuan boarded the ship with trusted members of the Infinity Pirates, including Shakky, Lazuli, and Yadina.

"Let's go. I'm taking you to witness one of the world's greatest battles, but you must stay on the ship and watch from afar!" Li Yuan told them seriously.

"Don't worry, Captain, we won't cause any trouble," Ashura Doji assured, a hint of excitement in his voice. He knew this would be a battle involving Li Yuan and another great swordsman—the renowned Red Count, Ledfield.

Since his emergence, Ledfield had challenged captains of various major pirate crews in the New World, often defeating them. Now, he had come for Li Yuan. The crew had absolute faith in their captain, confident he would emerge victorious! They were eager to see what a top-tier battle looked like and to witness the full extent of their captain's strength.

"Li Yuan, be careful," Yadina said, worried but trusting in Li Yuan's abilities.

"Don't worry, I'll win!" Li Yuan replied confidently. The Red Count was formidable, but Li Yuan was stronger! If he could defeat him once, he could do it again. Li Yuan never feared being surpassed by those he had previously bested. His growth outpaced everyone else's (except Monkey D. Luffy).

Upon reaching the agreed-upon deserted island, Li Yuan disembarked alone, heading towards the island's center where Red Count Ledfield awaited.

"Led, long time no see!" Li Yuan greeted with a smile upon seeing the familiar noble figure of the Red Count. At the same time, his blood-red Conqueror's Haki surged like a thousand-meter tidal wave towards Ledfield.

Scarlet lightning crackled as three sword intents perfectly fused into his Conqueror's Haki, slicing through the surrounding trees and grass, leaving even the ground marked with countless sword slashes.

"Li Yuan, long time no see!" Ledfield smiled back. Their first encounter felt like yesterday, a battle he lost, albeit by choice. But he remembered his defeat clearly. Now, he intended to reclaim victory!

As they exchanged greetings, Ledfield's dark red Conqueror's Haki soared, meeting Li Yuan's head-on. He too infused his sword intent into his Haki, but even so, his Conqueror's Haki couldn't match Li Yuan's, just as during their first encounter, where he was already a step behind in aura.

"It's astonishing. No matter how many times I see it, Conqueror's Haki is so irrational and defies logic!" Ashura Doji and the others watched as the two Haki clashed, flattening the island's trees and grass, cracking the earth, and dispersing the clouds.

Even from their vantage point, the pressure from the Haki clash was immense, let alone facing it directly!

"Indeed, Conqueror's Haki is the hallmark of kings!" Howard remarked, appreciating its power. In the face of such Haki, numbers were irrelevant; even tens of thousands of soldiers would be knocked unconscious by a single wave.

"It seems that even with three sword intents, your Conqueror's Haki is stronger than mine!" Ledfield acknowledged, retracting his Haki. "In the New World, I've only encountered one person whose Conqueror's Haki surpasses yours."

"Oh? You must be talking about Roger," Li Yuan guessed. During the God Valley incident, he had felt Roger's top-tier Conqueror's Haki, stronger than his own advanced level Haki.

"Yes, Roger's Haki is indeed formidable! But today, I'm here to challenge you. I won't acknowledge your title as the world's greatest swordsman until you defeat me!" Ledfield declared, gripping his umbrella-sword firmly. As a great swordsman, he had his pride and would only concede if defeated.

"Hahaha, Led, that title is mine!" Li Yuan laughed, summoning his Seven Stars Sword. The three sword intents erupted, wrapping around his blade. After a year of practice, he could wield them perfectly and fluidly.

"As expected, you can use three sword intents simultaneously!" Ledfield said gravely. Historically, even two sword intents had never been mastered by a single swordsman, let alone three as Li Yuan had.

Only a great swordsman could appreciate the immense advantage sword intent provided. With one intent, a swordsman could evolve into a great swordsman, but three intents combined? The power boost was unimaginable, beyond Ledfield's experience as he couldn't achieve it himself.

"Led, let's fight!"

"Infinite Blood Slaughter Abyss Trinary Unification: God Slayer!!"

Li Yuan unleashed his ultimate slash without using Conqueror's or Armament Haki, relying solely on his prowess as a great swordsman. The kilometer-long slash tore through the earth and air as if to cleave the entire island in two.

"Horizontal Slash!!"

Seeing this, Ledfield also refrained from using Haki, relying on his swordsmanship for his strongest counter. The two strikes collided with an ear-splitting screech, sharp sword energy splintering into the surroundings, carving deep gashes from the impact point.

"Crack!!!"

In less than a second, Li Yuan's slash overpowered Ledfield's, continuing its path towards him.

"Clang!!!"

Just as the massive slash neared, Ledfield intercepted it with his umbrella-sword. As he held the strike at bay, Li Yuan charged in, swinging his Seven Stars Sword at Ledfield's waist.

Ledfield's Observation Haki sensed the trajectory, and he raised his umbrella-sword defensively.

"Bang!!!"

He hadn't anticipated the weight of Li Yuan's swing, its force numbing his wrist and sending him flying hundreds of meters. Seizing the advantage, Li Yuan quickly unleashed three more kilometer-long slashes at Ledfield.

Ledfield evaded with ghostly speed, dodging the attacks before countering with his own strike.

Li Yuan parried with the Seven Stars Sword, shifting his body and twisting the hilt to aim for Ledfield's heart.

Ledfield sidestepped, returning the favor with a thrust towards Li Yuan's throat.

Li Yuan dodged, converting his thrust into a sweeping slash, aiming to tear through Ledfield.

Ledfield, seeming to anticipate the move, retreated several steps, avoiding the blade's edge.

The two exchanged over thirty lethal blows in less than ten seconds, both exhibiting top-tier swordsmanship.

Li Yuan's technique seamlessly merged three distinct styles into a cohesive whole, as if they were naturally one, leaving no trace of dissonance.

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