Chapitre 223: Chapter 223: Crafting the Elixir of Longevity
"Kyahaha! Li Yuan, what's the reason you've called us here?" Shiki asked with a grin.
"Yohohoho! Li Yuan, you're not planning to take our Millennial Dragon bones, are you?" John quipped, watching Li Yuan with a smile. After all, they had paid an astronomical price for these bones and weren't keen on giving them up.
"You may have the Millennial Dragon bones, but without the recipe for the Elixir of Longevity, they're useless," Li Yuan replied, amused by their suspicion.
"You're saying you have the formula?" John's eyes glinted with intrigue.
"Of course, or why else would I have invited you?" Li Yuan said, his smile widening.
"What's your price?" John quickly caught on—Li Yuan clearly had this planned out.
"Heh, I'll help you make the elixir, but in return, I want one dose of the Longevity Elixir as payment," Li Yuan stated plainly.
"How many doses can our dragon wings produce?" John asked, eyeing Li Yuan.
Each of their dragon wings was purchased jointly by five people—John, Wang Zhi, Silver Axe, Branton, and Walde—each contributing 100 billion Beli.
"With standard processing, six doses. With enhanced processing, three doses," Li Yuan replied smoothly.
"What's the difference between the standard and enhanced versions?" Shiki asked, curious.
"Well, it's simple: since this is a longevity elixir, the enhanced version extends lifespan further," Li Yuan explained.
"Li Yuan, you didn't specify earlier if you wanted the standard or enhanced version for your share," Shiki added slyly.
"Of course, I want a standard dose," Li Yuan replied, knowing Shiki was looking out for the others. Since he held the key to the recipe, they'd have to cooperate if they wanted their dragon bones to be of any use.
"Kyahaha, fine by me! Make two enhanced doses and two standard ones for me," Shiki agreed.
"Yohohoho! And make six standard doses for me," John said, resigned to his fate, since he couldn't secure the wing alone and had to split it.
"No problem. Bring everything and follow me," Li Yuan instructed, leading them to a medical facility just outside the Combat Pyramid, where all the necessary equipment and Lazuli awaited.
"Lazuli, here's your task. From these two dragon wings, make two enhanced doses and eight standard ones," Li Yuan instructed her.
"Understood," Lazuli replied, taking the dragon wings and beginning her work. She was the only one trusted with crafting the elixir.
"Kahaha! Li Yuan, you had this all planned out, didn't you?" Shiki chuckled, watching Lazuli work.
"I never leave things to chance," Li Yuan replied. "With the Expo as my event, I prepared everything as soon as I saw the Millennial Dragon on the list."
"How long will it take to craft the elixir?" Wang Zhi asked, not wanting to leave the valuable materials unattended.
"With so many doses, it'll take around three days. Food will be delivered in the meantime," Li Yuan assured them.
"Kyahaha, three days is nothing. I'll wait here then! Say, Li Yuan, where'd you get this recipe anyway?" Shiki asked, intrigued.
"Where else but God Valley? Among the treasures I took, I found this recipe," Li Yuan said with a shrug.
"Yohohoho! Lucky for you. I can't believe I missed out on that!" John remarked wistfully.
"Well, back then, we were all after Devil Fruits, remember? When we saw that pile of treasure, we each went off to chase down fleeing Celestial Dragons," Li Yuan recalled. "By the time we returned, a good chunk of it was gone."
"Yohohoho! I wasn't interested in the Devil Fruits, so I just took the treasure," John said with a grin, openly admitting it.
As they waited, they passed the time with idle chatter and food brought in by the attendants, keeping an eye on Lazuli's work, unwilling to miss any step.
Meanwhile, inside the Combat Pyramid, Whitebeard and Roger were drinking together with Barrett standing guard.
"Where do you think Li Yuan, Shiki, and John vanished off to?" Roger wondered aloud.
"Gurarara! Easy. They all won parts of the Millennial Dragon, so they're probably working together on that," Whitebeard replied casually. "Since we didn't secure any, it makes sense they'd leave us out."
Pirates, after all, were notoriously self-serving. To keep Whitebeard and the others satisfied, Li Yuan had offered to cover all their expenses in the Combat Pyramid—they only needed to focus on drinking and feasting.
"An Elixir of Immortality, huh?" Roger mused. "Honestly, living forever doesn't appeal to me. I'd rather live my life to the fullest, chasing my dreams, and then die in peace when it's my time."
"Gurarara! Couldn't agree more," Whitebeard said, his dreams centered on building a family and spending time happily with them.
Outside the Pyramid's gates, a line of swordsmen eagerly awaited registration.
"Listen up! Anyone can apply to join, but not everyone will get in," the attendant announced. "Only those who pass the test set by Infinite Pirates will compete. To qualify, you must cut through this piece of steel."
He held up a metal rod, about the thickness of a thumb, clamped in place.
"What? A test to qualify? I thought any swordsman could enter!" shouted a disgruntled voice from the crowd.
"Yeah! This isn't fair!"
"You're just messing with us, Infinite Pirates!"
The attendant's announcement sparked discontent, with some even accusing the Infinite Pirates of false advertising.
"Hmph! Silence, all of you!" A voice boomed as Asura Doji, radiating a menacing aura, stepped forward. "Anyone who can't cut through this steel has no business in the World Swordsmanship Tournament. This tournament aims to find the strongest swordsman in the world, not weaklings like you!"
He scanned the crowd with an intimidating gaze, and the complaints quickly subsided.
"Furthermore, if any Grandmasters wish to enter, they may skip the qualifiers and proceed directly to the Top 64," Asura Doji added.
"And how do you determine if someone is a Grandmaster?" came a respectful question from Dwight Roberts, mentor to a young Mihawk.
"Only our captain, Li Yuan, has the authority to make that judgment," Asura Doji replied, eyeing Roberts warily.
"If I may, could my apprentice join me?" Roberts requested, gesturing to Mihawk in the crowd.
"No problem. Follow me," Asura Doji replied, leading Roberts and Mihawk toward Lazuli's lab, where Li Yuan emerged to greet them.
"Captain, I've brought them as requested," Asura Doji announced.
Li Yuan nodded. "May I have your name, sir?" he inquired, addressing Roberts.
Li Yuan carefully studied Roberts standing before him. Sensing the aura of swordsmanship emanating from the man, he nodded, then turned his gaze to Mihawk at Roberts' side.
"Those eyes… Could this young one be the 'Hawkeye Mihawk' from the original story?" Li Yuan mused internally.
"I am Dwight Roberts, master of a sword dojo in the West Blue, and this is my apprentice, Mihawk. Greetings, Lord Li Yuan," Roberts said with a respectful bow.
Thirteen-year-old Mihawk fixed his gaze on Li Yuan, his eyes filled with admiration. He had grown up hearing tales of Li Yuan, the man renowned as the world's greatest swordsman. Mihawk, who aspired to claim that title himself someday, knew that this man before him was the one he would have to surpass.
"Asura Doji, escort Mr. Roberts to receive his number for the Top 64 bracket," Li Yuan instructed. "Mr. Roberts, someone will explain the rules in detail. Just bring your number to the Top 64 match when the time comes."
"Thank you, Lord Li Yuan!" Roberts smiled and, with Mihawk and Asura Doji, left the area.
Over the next few days, other swordsmasters from remote regions who had never before surfaced in the public eye were brought to meet Li Yuan. He hadn't expected that the tournament would draw out so many sword grandmasters he'd never even heard of before.
Three days later, the Longevity Elixir was ready.
"Each dose of the elixir, whether standard or enhanced, is effective only once per person. A second dose won't have any effect," Lazuli explained as she handed over the elixirs.
"Wonderful!" Shiki said with excitement, uncorking the vial. Just from the scent, he felt a surge of energy, as though his body had been infused with new vitality.
"Keep today's events confidential," Li Yuan advised. "If word leaks out, the World Government might come looking for you individually."
"Yohohoho, don't worry; we're not that foolish," John replied with a grin.
They held onto the elixir without immediately drinking it, planning to return and conduct their own experiments first. Though they trusted Li Yuan wasn't trying to harm them, pirates were, by nature, distrustful.
"Thank you, Lazuli. You've worked hard," Li Yuan said gently, helping the exhausted Lazuli as the others left.
"A little rest will do the trick," she murmured, her head resting on his shoulder. After three days and nights of work, she quickly fell asleep in his arms.
After settling her in, Li Yuan returned to the Combat Pyramid to oversee the proceedings. With so many powerful figures present, he couldn't leave Barrett to handle everything alone, as the risk of chaos was too great.
Seven days later, registration for the tournament officially closed, and 1,086 swordsmen had qualified to participate. Li Yuan found the number remarkable; so many capable of slicing through steel had gathered for this event! Even within the Infinite Pirates, seventy or eighty members had passed the trial, so it made sense that there were over a thousand worldwide.
"The World Swordsmanship Tournament is about to begin!" announced a young and lively hostess standing in the spotlight. "All 1,086 contestants, please look at the screen to see your assigned number and matchup information. Be sure to arrive at the designated arena on time."
Each contestant was assigned a trained guide from the Infinite Pirates to assist with rules and directions. These guides were especially helpful for participants who might otherwise lose their way or misunderstand the schedule.
The tournament followed a points-based system. The 1,086 swordsmen would be matched randomly, with each contestant competing in 15 rounds. Each win earned a point, while each loss deducted a point. At the end of the preliminary matches, the top 45 swordsmen by points would advance to the Top 64 bracket.
And why only 45? Because there were already 19 grandmasters automatically advancing to the Top 64.
Under the Infinite Pirates' arrangements, the 1,086 contestants began their matchups, resulting in fiercely intense battles. Spectators flocked to each duel, and every fight was broadcast worldwide, allowing people everywhere to witness the action.
For many, it was a rare spectacle—a thrilling display of swordsmanship, especially for ordinary people who had never even seen a grandmaster, let alone the clash of two swordsmen of such caliber.
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone