Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Chapter 294 The Seven Warlords of the Sea System

Seeing that the ice wall blocked his sword technique, Hawkeye stopped attacking.

He and Xia Zuo had already sparred four times, and he knew that the ice wall created by the freezing air was not just ice, but also contained Xia Zuo's powerful Armament Haki.

Such an ice wall is far harder than Aokiji Kuzan's. Mihawk's concentrated flying slash can cut through Kuzan's iceberg, but can only leave a sword mark a few meters deep on Shazor's ice wall.

Whenever Xia Zuo unleashes his ever-renewing ice wall, their contest pauses.

Since Mihawk couldn't break through Shazo's ice wall, and Shazo couldn't get out of his own ice wall, continuing to spar was pointless under these circumstances where neither could touch the other.

Sure enough, after Hawkeye Mihawk stopped attacking, Shazo quickly dispelled the ice wall.

He laughed and said, "That was a brilliant move, Mihawk. You managed to force me to use my Ice Wall right from the start."

Hawkeye sheathed his greatsword and said regretfully, "But in the end, I was unable to break through your defense, or even take you down before you could use your ice wall."

Xia Zuo shook his head and said, "You said it yourself, I'm also improving, even faster than you. So, would I only focus on training my strength and domineering aura while neglecting my skills?"

He raised his hands, showing Hawkeye the ring-shaped lines on his wrists.

Then he said, "Ten months ago, I dropped a boulder into the ocean, which will soon unleash a tsunami powerful enough to overthrow the old world."

"I don't know how many people's fundamental interests I'm stirring up will be destroyed. They will definitely want me dead. I can't help but worry about my own life."

"So, I developed the [Ice Wall] into a passively triggered combat skill. Each ring engraved on my wrist is a [Ice Wall] that is triggered once. With both hands combined, there are a total of ten times, which is enough for me to avoid sudden assassination attempts."

Hawkeye's eyes were filled with helplessness and contempt: "You, you're already so powerful, why are you still so afraid of dying?"

Xia Zuo said dismissively, "Who says that being strong means you have to be reckless? I have a bright future ahead of me, how can I be like an ignorant pirate, taking meaningless adventures?"

Hawkeye took a deep breath and asked, "Then what about our sparring? With you wearing such a thick shell, what's the difference between our sparring and me going to chop down a mountain?"

Xia Zuo had already thought about this problem, so he immediately replied, "It's simple. As long as you can trigger my [Ice Wall] like you did before, I'll consider it a loss."

Hawkeye's eyes suddenly lit up, and he asked, "You lose once, and I'll ask you one question?"

Xia Zuo nodded: "Okay, that was already a question."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Hawkeye raised his black sword high above his head, assuming an upper stance, and said excitedly, "Let's start sparring right now!"

Xia Zuo also raised his hands simultaneously, his fingers bare, but ten giant swords of different shapes had already materialized in the air ten meters above him.

In the next instant, Hawkeye Mihawk stepped forward, his long sword slashing along a mysterious trajectory toward Xia Zuo's hands that were blocking his way.

He had witnessed several of Xia Zuo's passive combat techniques, which were quite poor in terms of controllability. No matter which part of the body was attacked, the combat technique could be activated.

Therefore, as long as Xia Zuo's finger is cut, the [Ice Wall] should be activated, which would naturally count as a win for him.

Xia Zuo ignored Hawkeye's little tricks and did not retract his hands. Instead, he flicked his fingers repeatedly, controlling the condensed giant sword to slash down.

Each of the ten giant swords has its own unique characteristics.

The giant sword, controlled by the thumb, is broad and steady. Its attacks are like a giant axe capable of splitting the heavens and the earth, while its defenses are like Mount Tai, which stands firm and unyielding.

The greatsword controlled by the index finger is long, swift, agile, and unpredictable, standing in front of the other greatswords and specializing in attack.

The greatsword controlled by the middle finger possesses boundless power, and when it attacks, it is like a spear or halberd, advancing relentlessly and invincible.

The greatsword controlled by the ring finger was somewhat clumsy, but it moved in close coordination with the other greatswords, constantly making up for any weaknesses.

The greatsword controlled by the little finger is just as nimble as the index finger, and is very inconspicuous, like an assassin within a greatsword, always launching attacks from unexpected angles.

Overall, the five greatswords in the left hand are slightly less agile and faster than those in the right hand, but their power is no less.

The ten giant swords attacked in three waves, one in front and one behind, like an army, launching an attack on Hawkeye.

This wasn't the first time Mihawk had been attacked by a greatsword imbued with sword energy, and he knew he couldn't simply defend passively, nor could he afford to do nothing.

A full-scale defense will inevitably be suppressed by continuous waves of attacks, ultimately leaving one helpless and surrounded to death.

However, not defending is not an option either. Xia Zuo's greatsword of sword energy is actually a flying slash, but it is unknown how he can completely control the violent sword energy and reshape it.

Being hit by such a giant sword of sword energy is essentially the same as taking a flying slash head-on, which is not easy to withstand.

Since meeting Xia Zuo, Hawkeye has realized the importance of Armament Haki and has devoted more time and energy to training in Haki, making great progress.

However, he is ultimately a great swordsman, not a pure fighter like Garp the Iron Fist. He cannot possibly hone his Armament Haki to its limit, which would affect his sword speed and agility.

Without extremely powerful Armament Haki, one cannot withstand Xia Zuo's sword aura with their own body.

Therefore, Hawkeye must defend, using flight of equal intensity to defend and retaliate.

This requires him to make timely and accurate balances between attack and defense based on the current situation.

After being defeated by Xia Zuo's Ten Swords Technique once, Hawkeye developed his own unique sword skills, which allowed him to unleash multiple flying slashes simultaneously with a giant sword.

Eagle Eye twirled his longsword, and with each tremor, a flying slash was unleashed. Four of these sword energies, intersecting to form a rhombus, attacked Xia Zuo.

Xia Zuo laughed and said, "This time, we've chosen a balance between offense and defense."

"That's right. We've only just begun our battle, so we can't easily give up the initiative. Focusing on attacking would make us vulnerable to my traps. This choice is definitely not wrong."

As he spoke, Xia Zuo manipulated the fastest finger sword to collide with the defensive flying slash first, and then created two more finger swords to achieve a return speed that was even faster than the flying sword aura.

However, the two giant swords wielded by sword energy were insufficient to withstand the four flying slashes, forcing Xia Zuo to move at high speed to dodge them.

On the other side, Hawkeye was also unable to block Xia Zuo's eight sword qi giants with just four flying slashes. He also took two long strides and quickly dodged and destroyed the giants that followed the flying slashes.

The two moved swiftly, constantly attacking each other while defending against powerful attacks.

The sword energy, capable of easily cleaving through warships, sliced ​​open shocking sword marks on the island. Immediately afterward, large amounts of steam, mud, or magma would erupt from the sword marks, quickly sealing them back together.

This island is extremely young, and the entire island is an active volcano. The cutting-type destructive force of the sword energy will not destroy the island. On the contrary, it will continuously relieve the pressure inside the volcanic island, which is more conducive to the stability of the island.

This is also why the two chose this newly formed island as the place for them to meet and spar.

If it were an ordinary island, they might just disappear into the sea if they put in a serious fight.

Just like that small island outside the port of the 77th branch, where Garp and Shazor fought three times, the entire island was left with only a pile of rocks.

After their last performance together, things have become a complete disaster.

After that, every time Garp came to find Shazo, Shazo had to freeze the sea first to create an ice field that could not be damaged before he could fight with peace of mind.

But Garp always complained that it was unfair, because the Icefield was Shaza's home ground, where he could gain a considerable boost, while Garp was frozen and his strength was somewhat diminished.

The sword energy of the two top swordsmen is not restricted by the island. Every now and then, towering sword energy will cut through the sea, creating huge sword marks that cannot be healed for a long time.

As they fought with all their might, they misjudged the situation, causing their powerful flying slashes to miss each other. As a result, a massive sword aura shot into the sky, even tearing the sky apart and leaving terrifying sword marks in the air.

Two hours later, Xia Zuo looked at the sword marks on the sea and sky and laughed loudly, "So you've also reached the limit of a great swordsman. No wonder your progress has slowed down, and you've turned to seeking breakthroughs in technique instead."

Hawkeye Mihawk lay on the scorching ground, panting heavily.

Now his appearance has become terrible; not only has his fancy hat disappeared, but his upper body clothes are also tattered.

Hearing Xia Zuo's words, he asked, "Xia Zuo, it seems you've found a way to refine the white blade?"

Xia Zuo waved his hand and replied, "White blade is not a realm above black blade. That is just a way for great swordsmen with Conqueror's Haki to take advantage of it."

"As a swordsman, after reaching the pinnacle of becoming a great swordsman, one should seek a higher level of breakthrough and achieve the realm of a sword saint."

Hawkeye Mihawk was overjoyed: "Beyond the Great Swordsman's Sea-Slaying skill, there's a Sword Saint realm? What are the characteristics of this realm?"

Xia Zuo chuckled and said, "Is this one of your questions?"

In the battle just now, Hawkeye Mihawk completed two kills, triggering Shazo's passive skill [Ice Wall]. According to the agreement, he won the battle twice and can ask two questions.

Mihawk nodded without hesitation and said, "Yes, that is a question. Please tell me the answer."

Xia Zuo nodded and said, "Swordsmen use swords, swordsmen master domineering aura, sword masters can cut through anything, and great sword masters can cut through the sea with their sword energy. These are the four levels of swordsmen on the sea."

"There are two more realms above: Sword Saint and Sword God."

"I once said that the realm of 'no sword is better than having a sword' is actually about completely integrating swordsmanship with oneself, where everything in the world can become a sword."

"Not only steel can be a sword, but grass and trees can be swords, enemies can be swords, even masts and warships can be swords, even the invisible air can be a sword. Everything I can see can be my sword, used to defeat the enemy."

"When a sword saint reaches the pinnacle of their skill, they can command the heavens and the sea."

Hawkeye's face lit up with anticipation as he smiled and said, "So that's how it is. Just as I thought. The time when I can lay down the black sword 'Night' will be the time for me to become a Sword Saint."

"I believe I will definitely become a sword saint."

After closing his eyes and thinking for a long time, Hawkeye finally regained his composure and asked seriously, "And above the Sword Saint?"

Xia Zuo replied, "If you continue to cultivate from the pinnacle of Sword Saint, you will reach the realm of Sword God."

"I am currently unable to accurately describe this level of understanding in words."

"If I had to describe it, it would be that the invisible laws governing the world, such as time and space, would become the invincible divine sword of the Sword God."

"When the Sword God unleashed his sword, day and night changed, heaven and earth were reversed, and the sea surged into the sky, forming a reverse-flowing waterfall."

"Or perhaps the Sword God could cleave upstream in the river of time with a single sword strike, erasing the enemy from the past and making the enemy die decades or even hundreds of years ago."

Eagle Eye was completely bewildered. Having never experienced the baptism of the big internet era, never witnessed the actual top-level power of high-level martial arts and high-level magic, and lacking high-dimensional knowledge, he had no idea what Xia Zuo meant.

But not understanding it doesn't prevent him from appreciating the power of the Sword God.

The feeling of being impressed but not understanding is something anyone would experience when facing the unknown.

Xia Zuo concluded with a smile: "The above descriptions of the realms of Sword Saint and Sword God are merely my personal opinions."

"I hope to provide you with some assistance as you move forward."

Hawkeye said gratefully, "No, no, no, I've already seen the direction I should take, and that's more helpful to me than any other kind of help."

"Thank you for your generosity."

"Before asking the last question, let me tell you some important information."

Hawkeye pointed to his own nose and said, "Your past guesses were all correct. I've met with the Five Elders of the Celestial Dragons, negotiated all the terms with them, and become the first Shichibukai."

Xia Zuo was taken aback, then said with relief, "So this plan has already begun. The Seven Warlords of the Sea."

He then asked with a smile, "Do you know who recommended you to the Five Elders?"

Mihawk sighed, "If nothing unexpected happens, it's Shanks."

"Following your advice, I haven't left any pirates alive in my recent battles. Apart from you and him, no one knows my true strength."

Xia Zuo nodded and said, "I have absolutely no way of contacting the Five Elders. Even if I were to recommend you, I could only recommend you to Marshal Sengoku."

"And as you know, the Navy, from top to bottom, opposes the plan to appoint the Seven Warlords of the Sea," the only difference being the intensity of that opposition.

"I reluctantly recommended you to the Marshal, but Marshal Sengoku will only pretend not to know and will definitely not recommend you to the Five Elders."

The two nodded in unison: "Shanks' relationship with the Celestial Dragons is very close."