Thud, thud.
Amidst the continuous tremors of the ground, Shano came to a giant tree over ten meters high.
Raising his eyes to the treetop, he suddenly stretched out his hands, his ten fingers digging into the trunk, and his muscular back suddenly bulged, and there came a series of muffled sounds of roots breaking from the ground.
It was not pulling, but a roar of the entire layer of soil being turned over!
The giant tree, weighing at least three to four tons, carrying a cascade of soil, lifted off the ground and was firmly held in his hands.
Then he turned his head, looking at the mountain peak on the opposite side.
From his current position, it was about three to four hundred meters away.
After a brief aim, Shano said nothing, concentrated all his strength, and suddenly hurled the giant tree from his shoulder.
Whoosh—!
The giant tree shot towards the opposite mountain peak like a spear, while Shano lifted his heel, gathered a little strength, and suddenly stepped off.
"Soru!"
His figure flickered and blurred, and in the next instant, he suddenly appeared above the giant tree, causing the trunk to sink down quite a bit, slowing its speed slightly.
But it still maintained its original momentum, flying towards the mountain peak.
The north wind howled against his face, trees, and streams sped by beneath his feet, Shano slightly squinted his eyes, looking at the mountain peak he was about to reach.
Like the mountain just now, both mountains had long been contracted, becoming his exclusive training grounds.
However, compared to the devastation of the previous mountain, this one was much better, with just the mountain peak being completely flattened, leaving a huge open platform.
At the edge of the platform, Scar, Skinny Monkey, and the other two were already waiting here, and seeing the giant tree flying towards them from the sky, they hurriedly retreated further back.
Rumble!
The giant tree crashed in the center of the platform, Shano jumped down, landing steadily on the ground, hooked the trunk with one foot, then casually kicked it, causing it to roll down the mountainside.
Thud—
Even after months of being accustomed to the various visual shocks brought by Shano, Scar and the others instinctively swallowed hard at this scene.
"Did you bring the guns?"
Shano asked casually.
"We brought them all, Boss." Scar immediately pulled out a flintlock gun from behind, and the other three followed suit.
"As I said yesterday, aim at my head and shoot quickly."
Shano finished speaking and then remembered something, looking at Skinny Monkey, "You don't need to, aim at my feet."
"Uh." Skinny Monkey blushed, "Boss, my shooting has improved a lot, I feel aiming at your knees would be just right."
"...As you wish."
Shano shook his head, standing against the wind in the middle of the platform with his hands behind his back.
The other four positioned themselves at the northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest corners, then closed the distance, raised their gun barrels, and aimed at Shano's head.
"Fire!"
Scar waved his hand, giving the order.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The not-so-dense sound of gunfire shattered the mountain's silence, as four trails of orange-red gunfire spewed out in turn, quickly being reloaded for another round.
Clang! Clang! Shano remained motionless, allowing bullets to strike his head.
No matter the angle they shot from, it was instantly deflected, ringing out with a clear clang like metal hitting stone.
Even when the bullets struck the fleshier cheek, it only caused slight ripples, quickly restoring back to form.
This was the effect brought by the "Copper Head" reaching Great Success, even without intentionally using Tekkai to accelerate blood flow, he could still completely ignore the impact of bullets.
Whizz—!
A bullet shot straight at him from the front, precisely entering his eye.
"Not good!"
Scar noticed this, showing panic, and hurriedly signaled the others to stop, "Hey, stop shooting for now! Boss, are you alright?"
The gunfire abruptly stopped, and everyone could see that the bullet did not immediately deflect but instead eerily stalled in front of the eyeball as if stuck in asphalt.
"I'm fine, no need to worry."
Shano spoke calmly, suddenly rolled his eye upward, wedging the bullet beneath his upper eyelid.
Everyone heard a teeth-gnashing crunch, and in the next moment, the bullet wedged behind the eyelid was ground into countless fine lead shavings, slowly sliding down Shano's nose bridge.
"..."
Silence fell all around.
"Looks pretty effective."
Shano nodded in satisfaction, smiling at the stunned Scar and the others around him, "Alright, that's enough for today, go back to your own matters."
"Yes, Boss."
Scar and the others took a while to regain their composure, bidding farewell, and as they left the open platform, they looked back repeatedly, still unable to hide the shock within their hearts.
Shano was not at all surprised by this.
The "Copper Head" description was very clear: mastering it enhances all parts above the neck, naturally including the eyeballs, nasal cavity, and other seemingly fragile organs or tissues.
Even his tongue, which could keep its softness, could also become as tough as steel, resembling a dagger when extended, capable of easily piercing through someone else's chest.
He came to the southernmost part of the open platform.
Shano gazed into the distance; from here, he could see Cocoyashi Village's only port dock.
The dock was empty and desolate, with only a few inconspicuous small fishing boats moored there.
"Ah Long..."
Shano murmured softly, "Spring has come and gone, when exactly are you coming?"
In these five months, he only slept for four hours a day, dedicating all the rest of his time to hellish training.
Soru reached minor success four months ago, great success two months ago, then Tekkai reached great success, and Copper Head swiftly followed suit!
His body, tempered through countless trials, gradually grew unrivaled in strength, far surpassing his previous state, and his overall power skyrocketed, surged, and exploded!
To deal with the Ar Long Pirates, he already possessed full confidence and strength, even his muscles and beating heart were yearning for battle, longing to tear apart strong enemies!
But unfortunately, there are twelve months in a year.
It's only early March now; the probability of Ah Long arriving in Cocoyashi Village in the first two months is ultimately too low.
"I hope you don't come too late."
Shano licked his somewhat chapped lips and muttered to himself, "If you can't keep up with my level of intensity, I will be very disappointed..."
A gust of wind suddenly blew, swallowing his words.
Just like human emotions, whether excitement and anticipation or repeated disappointment, ultimately can't withstand the relentless passage of time.
In the blink of an eye, April arrived.
The trading market refreshed the Rokushiki Manual again, and Shano bought it, opening the blind box to find "Moonwalk" and "Finger Gun," and began training.
May.
The Ar Long Pirates were still nowhere to be seen, and the island's toughest mountain finally completely collapsed.
Shano spent a few more days, flattening it with punches and kicks, turning it into the best spot for villagers to gather, celebrate, and hold festival activities.
June.
"Moonwalk" and "Finger Gun" both reached great success.
Shano took on another mountain, and during his Finger Gun training, he perforated everything above the mountainside, creating a wondrous scene where sunlight cast shadows upon the ground.
However, when his silhouette stood at the edge of the mountaintop, staring intently at the dock every day like an empty-nester.
From afar below, he seemed somewhat lonely.
July.
Nami and Nojiko birthday celebrations ensued, with Shano preparing a giant cake and inviting Scar and his gang for a grand celebration.
Unfortunately, while pushing the cake cart, he didn't control the force well and twisted the steel frame into a pretzel, causing the cake to fall and making Nami cry loudly.
August.
The trading market finally refreshed the "Blood and Flesh Melting Furnace Technique," this time the third segment named "Iron Bone."
The training method was surprisingly similar to Tekkai.
Thus, Scar and others had an additional task, every day carrying a meter-high Wolf Fang Club, they relentlessly pummeled Shano's bone joints.
Previously, two people alternated, but now it was six people working simultaneously.
September.
Shano's height soared to 1.93 meters and his weight reached 140 kilograms.
His black costumes increased in weight, repeatedly bursting through the ceiling, reaching a terrifying 2.1 tons.
One night.
Nami groggily got up for a midnight bathroom trip, passing Shano's room and vaguely hearing his sleep talk:
"Come on, Ah Long, come on, Ah Long..."
"Why, why aren't you coming yet..."
Who is Ah Long?
Do girls have such names?
Nami became wary and planned to inquire with the villagers first thing in the morning.
However, a child's memory during a midnight wake-up is practically zero, and by the next morning while brushing her teeth, she had completely forgotten the events of the previous night.
October.
Entering mid-month, Shano's "Iron Bone" reached great success.
The orange grove also entered the harvest season, with the workshop already constructed, producing orange preserves and orange jam, which thrilled Belle-Mere to no end, keeping her busy from morning till night.
...
Meanwhile.
In a village somewhere on a nearby sea area.
Under the terrified gaze of people, a group of tall Fishmen laughed heartily, leaving with bags full of money.
"Looks like everyone on this island is a coward, chumi~"
The Kissing Fishman twisted his neck, unsatisfied, "Not a single one resisted; the last island was more interesting, I wanted to turn this one into ruins too."
"Humans are weak and ignorant, short and cowardly, truly a naturally lowly, contemptible race."
The purple Fishman sneered, "What's the next island called?"
"Hmm, let me see, it seems to be called Cocoyashi Village."
The Six-Blade Swordsman drunkenly put down his Wine Gourd, unfolded the Nautical Chart, and took a glance, "Not a big village, should be the easiest to conquer."
"Is that so?"
The purple Fishman turned his head back, opening his mouth to reveal fangs and a reckless grin beneath his shark-saw-like nose.
"Sha-ha-ha-ha-ha—! That really is boring, just wonder if the humans there have enough money, how much can we squeeze out of them..."