Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
With their course set for Shells Town to find the infamous pirate hunter, Roronoa Zoro, the crew prepared to sail at dawn. Bai Ye understood the importance of following the current of fate; by aligning their actions with the story he knew, he could better leverage his knowledge of the future.
The night passed quietly. The next morning, Bai Ye gathered the captive pirates on deck. The same smile that had once terrified them now returned, but this time it held a different quality.
"There's no need to be nervous," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "I've called you here to ask for a favor." He paused, letting his words sink in. "My captain wishes to travel to the nearest Marine base. I need you to sail this ship and take us there."
The pirates, still bound and deeply intimidated, nodded eagerly.
"Of course, Master Bai Ye! We'll get you there as fast as we can!" one stammered.
"You can trust us, sir! Leave the ship to us!" another chimed in.
Satisfied, Bai Ye waved a hand, and the ropes binding them fell away. A wave of relief washed over the men, but it was short-lived.
"By the way," Bai Ye added, his tone deceptively casual. "One last thing. When we arrive, I need you to follow this young man, Koby, and turn yourselves in to the Marines."
The pirates stared, their faces a mixture of shock and utter confusion. They had been fooled again by his calm demeanor. This man wasn't just a fighter; he was a devil, his cunning as sharp and unpredictable as any blade.
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Later, as Bai Ye prepared to rest, Luffy approached him, his curiosity piqued. "Hey, Bai Ye, are you going to sleep again?"
Bai Ye decided to explain the nature of his unique training. "It isn't sleep, Luffy. It's practice. It may look like I'm sleeping, but my spirit travels to another place—a place where I can train and grow stronger much faster. The golden light you've seen me use… that is the result of my time there."
Luffy's eyes widened. "Whoa! A place like that really exists?" He was less interested in the method and more in the mystical training ground itself. "Hey, can I go there too?" he asked eagerly.
"Not right now," Bai Ye replied. "But in the future? It's hard to say."
"What's it look like? Is it big?" Luffy pressed, his excitement growing.
Bai Ye chuckled. "If I wanted it to be, it could be as vast as the ocean. The space changes according to my will."
"AMAZING!" Luffy was completely captivated, his eyes sparkling. "I want to go even more now!"
Koby, who had been listening nearby, chimed in, "Me too, Bai Ye! I want to go!"
Bai Ye laughed, pushing Luffy away playfully. "Hey, don't just grab onto me!"
"I get it!" Luffy said with determination. "When it's possible, you have to let me be the first one to go inside!"
"Get off me, you oaf," Bai Ye sighed, finally shoving him away.
After his exchange with the crew, Bai Ye returned to his room and, for the second time, entered the inner world of the Taoist Jilu.
In the language of his art, this "inner scene" was an independent spatial world, intrinsically linked to reality. As a practitioner, Bai Ye was its sole master. Here, his understanding of Qimen translated directly into his control over the environment.
The first and most significant feature of this realm was its time dilation. Time within flowed roughly ten times slower than in the outside world—a monumental advantage for training.
The second feature was spatial manipulation. Bai Ye sensed he could store inanimate objects within the realm; his initial estimate suggested it was vast enough to house an entire Marine warship. While he had no immediate use for such a power, its future potential was immense.
Third, the realm was saturated with an incredibly dense spiritual energy, more than ten times richer than the outside world, making it the ideal crucible for cultivation.
But the aspect Bai Ye valued most was the boost it gave to his comprehension. Within this sanctum, his ability to understand and master his arts was amplified to its absolute peak. In here, he had a full-level comprehension buff. With such an advantage, he had no excuse for failure.
With renewed determination, Bai Ye began to select the techniques he would focus on. In a world of myths and legends from his past life, a blessed land like this would have been a battlefield, coveted by countless powerful beings. Here, it was his alone. He would not squander this gift.
He saw himself as standing at the very threshold of his journey as a Qi practitioner, with a long road ahead. He identified two critical areas for improvement:
Energy Foundation: Innate qi was the bedrock of a practitioner's power. To cultivate it faster and in greater quantities, he needed a supreme cultivation method. His choice was clear: the Pure Yang Infinite Art, created by his sect's legendary ancestor, Zhang Sanfeng. As the only known master to have achieved immortality, Zhang Sanfeng had designed the art to be the ultimate method for qi cultivation. Bai Ye's own martial foundation was rooted in the same Wudang principles, making this art a perfect fit.
Mastery of Daoist Techniques: His martial arts prowess was formidable, but he was sorely lacking in the mystical arts—the true power of a Daoist. To not even know the fundamental Five Element spells would be an embarrassment. The arts recorded in the Records were of a higher order than mere martial skill, and he had every reason to master them.
With these goals set, Bai Ye delved into the ancient text, carefully considering the myriad of techniques it contained. His path was clear, and his journey to become a formidable power in this new world had truly begun.