Thunderstorm seemed to be breathing, constantly pouring out Internal Energy to condense into a blade shape before retracting back into the blade body.
Taro stood dazed for a long while.
"System, what is going on?"
The System probably didn't understand what Taro was specifically asking, as it didn't answer for a long time.
Taro thought for a moment and asked again,
"I'm asking, what is a Minor Heavenly Cycle?"
[Internal Energy rising along the Governing Vessel and descending along the Conception Vessel is a Minor Heavenly Cycle; continuing to disperse into the 'Twelve Meridians' of the limbs and bones after descending along the Conception Vessel is a Major Heavenly Cycle.]
"In other words, this blade is automatically circulating Internal Energy? Just like me?"
[The host's Internal Energy circulation is a Major Heavenly Cycle circulation.]
Oh, so that means this blade doesn't have the 'Twelve Meridians'!
Damn! But a blade doesn't have the 'Two Vessels of Ren and Du' either!
How does it circulate Internal Energy?
"Where are the blade's Ren and Du vessels?"
[Please inject Internal Energy and immerse your consciousness, Host.]
Taro was stunned for a moment. It actually has them?
Applying a slight force with his hand, Internal Energy surged out. He concentrated his mind, and his consciousness entered the blade body once again.
From the tip of the blade to the end of the hilt, eight nodes lit up in sequence, and the System's voice rang out simultaneously.
[Tip, Edge, Point, Blade, Guard, Spine, Hilt, Pommel—these eight points are the Meridians of the blade body.]
Only then did Taro notice that the Internal Energy within the blade was flowing along fixed paths, just like the Meridians of a human body.
Holy crap, thunderstorm has become a sword that can automatically Cultivate Internal Skill?
He gripped thunderstorm and channeled Internal Energy according to his usual habit.
"Buzz~"
Majestic Internal Energy suddenly erupted from the blade, and the cyan-white Internal Energy condensed into the shape of a sword.
Ever seen a forty-meter-long greatsword?
This was it now!
He quickly stopped channeling Internal Energy, and the sword shape retracted, leaving only thunderstorm's own Internal Energy still overflowing and contracting like breathing.
"Armament Hardening."
Internal Energy surged from the blade, and a cyan-white air vortex surrounded the blade body.
"Vibration Energy Infusion."
Internal Energy surged from the blade again, compressing into an atmospheric pressure shield.
"Mihawk Slash."
Taro delivered a casual Slash.
The air suddenly shook as a massive cyan Sword Qi slashed toward the horizon.
The light seemed to be swallowed, and the sky darkened for a moment as the thick cloud layer was split in two.
"Rumble~"
A roar of thunder sounded, and the vibration power exploding high in the sky dispersed the floating clouds!
Taro stood dazed for a long time before coming back to his senses.
No need to consume his own Internal Energy—a free lunch?
Then, he quickly took out Vegapunk's letter.
"Being able to see this means that fruit has already been 'eaten'."
"It succeeded! Ohahaha, you've provided me with a new train of thought! Taro!"
"This will be an alternative plan!"
These two sentences left Taro bewildered. What "train of thought," what "alternative plan"?
He pondered for a long time before a glimmer of understanding dawned in his heart.
Even though Vegapunk wasn't here, the excitement and fanaticism revealed in those two sentences were still clearly conveyed.
During his previous meeting with Vegapunk, that miraculous scientist had also shown this kind of emotion when mentioning his "ideas" and "career."
Did my ability and thunderstorm 'eating' a Devil Fruit provide a new train of thought for Vegapunk's 'ideas and career'?
What exactly is Vegapunk trying to do?
Taro became increasingly puzzled. He finally experienced how painful it was for a poor student to be unable to keep up with a top student's train of thought.
"Now, let's make another deal!"
"I know you care a lot about a certain person's ambition. Look at what's in front of you; this is my hint to you!"
"In exchange, at some point in the future, you will have to do me a small favor!"
"Don't refuse, it's a deal!"
The letter ended there. When he tried to read it again, no new content appeared, and even the previous content could no longer be seen.
Taro scratched his hair in frustration. What did this Old Man even say?
The highly ambitious person I care about refers to Blackbeard, right?
Look at what's in front of me?
He looked up in front of him: the sky, white clouds, the Red Line, and Marijoa in the distance!
He looked down again: thunderstorm in his hand, the three-layered nesting boxes on the ground, and the glass cover.
Is he insane? What the hell can I see from this?
Taro complained in his heart. In the world of One Piece, does everyone have the same habit as the author, liking to dig holes?
His gaze swept back and forth over these things, finally landing on that three-layered nesting box.
After the items inside were removed, the shape memory alloy had returned to the form of a sealed box.
Wapolmetal, Wapol, Drum Kingdom?
What secret does Blackbeard have hidden in the Drum Kingdom?
Taro realized belatedly, his eyes suddenly widening as he thought of this.
He remembered that while Blackbeard was evading Ace's pursuit, he had specifically gone to destroy the Drum Kingdom.
It was precisely because of this 'nation-destroying action' that Ace obtained information on Blackbeard and chased after him shortly after!
Holy crap! The existing information is all connected!
Vegapunk definitely knows more!
Thinking of this, Taro no longer hesitated. He packed his things and leaped down from the Red Line.
He hovered at the place where he had entered Vegapunk's laboratory last time and reached out to probe.
It was hard rock!
The ripples from last time did not appear, and the intelligent voice that 'detected visitors' did not sound either.
Taro fumbled along the rock wall for a long time, unwilling to give up, but failed to trigger the 'door' to enter.
He frowned deeply, pondering for a long time before taking flight. After searching the sea surface for a while, he flew away quickly.
Shortly after Taro left, a tall and burly figure appeared at his previous location.
The newcomer had the face of a strikingly handsome middle-aged man. He looked up at the sky, his hair fluttering. He chewed twice.
"Rahahaha, this flavor... is not pure. It doesn't taste good!"
..."Ah, Vice Admiral Taro, why did you come from behind?"
Seeing Taro land on the deck, Sentomaru was somewhat surprised.
Taro waved his hand dismissively, his expression somewhat grave.
"Vice Admiral Sentomaru, why can't I enter Dr. Vegapunk's laboratory anymore?"
Sentomaru gave a careless laugh.
"You're asking about that? The entrance isn't fixed in the first place. It's a 'door', so of course it can be opened anywhere!"
Taro remembered that he had initially thought that passage was very similar to that bull-headed guy from CP9's 'Door-Door Fruit' ability. He nodded.
"Sentomaru, I want to see Dr. Vegapunk. Do you have a way?"
"The Doctor already said he doesn't want to see you, and he can't see you!" Sentomaru rubbed his large hand over his belly and shook his head like a rattle, refusing flatly.
Taro's expression froze. "Did something happen to the Doctor?"
Sentomaru shook his head again.
"No! A research project the Doctor is currently conducting has reached its most critical moment. He won't be seeing anyone for a long time!"
Then, he leaned in closer and lowered his voice.
"Taro, what exactly did the Doctor give you? Let me have a look!"
"Don't worry, I'm the world's most tight-lipped..."
Taro directly stuffed the box in his hand into Sentomaru's arms.
"It's yours!"
"Ah?" Sentomaru let out a surprised cry. Just as he was about to ask for details, Taro had already flown away.
With a bewildered expression, he opened the nesting box and pulled out the seamless Wapolmetal box. He looked at it for a while and even shook it by his ear.
"What is this?"
"Hmm... I'll take it to the Old Man to have a look!"
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