chapter 44

"Stop!" Rayleigh abruptly halted Mu Feng, his expression turning serious. Rayleigh knew that Roger might have spared a child's life. The aggressive arrests by the World Government in the South China Sea back then couldn't hide their true intentions.

Rayleigh had also searched for the child, but to no avail.

Hearing Rayleigh's voice, Mu Feng immediately stopped.

"What? Senior Rayleigh changed his mind?" Mu Feng asked with a smile.

"How do I know if what you're saying is true?" Rayleigh stared directly into Mu Feng's eyes and spoke slowly.

"Portcas D. Lujiu," Mu Feng uttered a name.

Upon hearing this name, Rayleigh could no longer contain his composure.

Lu Jiu... he had heard Roger mention that name. Roger had once said that he met the most beautiful girl in the world named Lu Jiu. Of course, Rayleigh had mocked Roger at the time. Based on his appearance, no girl would like him.

Roger had never disclosed this matter to anyone except himself.

"Where is Roger's child now!?" Rayleigh asked.

"After Roger turned himself in, he told Garp that he had a child and asked Garp to help raise him. Now this child is called Boscart D. Ace and is living in the Windmill Village of the Goa Kingdom in the East China Sea. I believe it won't be long before he sets sail," Mu Feng said with a smile, not afraid of Rayleigh rejecting him after hearing the news.

"Leave it to Garp to raise him..." Rayleigh was clearly taken aback.

But then he burst into laughter. After a while, he looked at Mu Feng and said, "If you say Roger left the child to be raised by someone else, I might investigate it. But leaving it to Garp... that's just like Roger, the bastard."

"Okay, kid... I can join the hunter guild you mentioned. But at least let this old man see your strength," Rayleigh said.

"I'd be honored," Mu Feng looked at Rayleigh and smiled faintly.

......…

"Boy, are you sure you're ready? Although I'm old, my swordsmanship hasn't declined," Mu Feng and Rayleigh faced each other, neither wielding a weapon nor covering their bodies with Armament Haki. They exchanged smiles.

"Facing the renowned Pluto, I dare not be the slightest bit careless," Mu Feng smiled.

"Pay attention, young one," Rayleigh said lightly, as he swung his sword, creating a nearly tangible sword energy that blasted towards Mu Feng without leaving his hand.

"Wood Style·Wooden Blooming Wall!" Rows of wooden pillars emerged from the ground, forming an arch that protected Mu Feng. Rayleigh's sword exploded upon hitting the wooden wall, cutting through it but failing to penetrate it.

"What solid wood!" Rayleigh raised an eyebrow.

As he spoke, his figure moved rapidly, launching an even more formidable sword aura!

And the angle was incredibly tricky.

To Rayleigh's surprise, Mu Feng stood his ground and didn't evade!

He let the sword energy explode upon him! Bang bang bang... the sword gas collided with Mu Feng's body, but the sounds were muffled.

These sounds... weren't the sounds of sword energy colliding with flesh.

Rayleigh instantly reacted, but at that moment, Mu Feng's voice suddenly sounded from behind him: "Wood Style·Cutting Technique!"

Upon hearing the sound from behind, Rayleigh instinctively activated Observation Haki! His heightened Observation Haki instantly detected the sharp mallet coming from behind. With a few swift movements of his long knife, he severed the attacking mallet.

"A powerful Devil Fruit, but it's not enough," Rayleigh chuckled.

Mu Feng raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Really? In that case, I'll have to show you my true skills. How else could I be the vice president?"

"Wood Style·Birthday of the Tree World!"

The battle between Mu Feng and Rayleigh took place on a rocky island.

Although there was no vegetation, when Mu Feng shouted the words "Birth of the Tree World," gigantic trees sprouted from the rocks, growing rapidly and covering the entire island.

The lush foliage obstructed Rayleigh's vision.

Rayleigh's expression changed slightly, and he swung his sword, releasing an even more powerful sword aura.

The sharp sword energy severed numerous giant trees, but as soon as they were cut down, even thicker trees sprouted from the ground, seemingly endless.

"Amazing... has he reached the level of 'awakening'? When did such a powerful individual emerge on the sea?" Rayleigh sighed. However, his speed and agility were not hindered, moving swiftly like a rabbit.

The purpose of the Tree World was to alter the terrain, making it more favorable for Mu Feng to unleash his Wood Style Ninjutsu.

"Wood Style·Wood Dragon Technique!"

Upon Mu Feng's voice, a colossal wooden dragon suddenly materialized within the Tree World. It possessed a long, curved snout and was covered in sharp wooden thorns, aiming to bite Rayleigh.

Faced with the enormous wooden dragon, Rayleigh's expression finally turned serious.

He took a deep breath, as if invigorating his entire being.

With a swift slash, his pale sword energy cut through the air, striking the dragon's head. In an instant, more than half of the wooden dragon's head was severed.

However, within the environment of the Tree World, the wooden dragon quickly regenerated.

At this point, even Rayleigh's expression became grim... anyone would be frustrated when dealing with a creature capable of infinite regeneration. Rayleigh, fixated on the wooden dragon, suddenly narrowed his pupils, and an intense burst of Conqueror's Haki erupted!

The pressure stunned the wooden dragon, freezing its movements and causing cracks to appear on its body.

.........................

get us to 50 stones for another release