One Piece: The True Codex

In the history of William's previous life in Japan, during the early Tokugawa Shogunate, Zen master Takuan Soho authored The Unfettered Mind, elaborating on the concept of "the unity of mind and sword" and "Zen and swordsmanship as one." He integrated Zen philosophy with sword techniques, emphasizing the role of the "mind" in swordsmanship and strategy.

The renowned "Sword Saint" Miyamoto Musashi also stressed the importance of mental adjustment alongside physical sword skills in his book, The Book of Five Rings.

It could be said that historical swordmasters not only excelled in swordsmanship but also mastered Zen principles, often practicing meditation to refine not only their physical skills but also their mental and spiritual states.

That was in William's past life, where there were no supernatural powers. In this world, the cultivation of the mind and spirit is even more critical. At Koushirou's dojo, named the Isshin Dojo, the swordsmanship style practiced is called the Isshin Style, which places greater emphasis on the cultivation of the "mind" compared to other schools of swordsmanship.

The steady rain falling in the distance seemed to cast a veil over the courtyard of the Isshin Dojo, giving the scene a soft, dreamlike quality. Normally bustling with activity, the dojo was much quieter today. However, the central hall of the courtyard was an exception, where a group of young disciples had gathered. At first, they chatted casually, but it soon devolved into playful scuffling and laughter.

The once-quiet hall became noisy and chaotic until Koushirou entered through a side door. At Pattinson's loud command, the disciples obediently knelt in their designated spots.

Since it was raining today, Koushirou decided to gather all the disciples in the main hall for a lecture. William, having participated in such lessons multiple times, was already familiar with the format. However, unlike William, who carried the soul of an adult, the other young disciples weren't particularly fond of the abstract and philosophical discussions about swordsmanship. They much preferred practicing their sword techniques.

Koushirou held his famous blade, the Wado Ichimonji, in his hand—a sword so well-known in the dojo that nearly everyone recognized it. Much like Koushirou himself, the Wado Ichimonji appeared unremarkable at first glance, deceptively simple in its appearance. Only when unsheathed did its extraordinary sharpness, capable of slicing through steel like butter, become evident.

Edmond stared intently at the Wado Ichimonji, his gaze akin to that of a lecherous man eyeing a stunning beauty. Every time Koushirou brought out the Wado Ichimonji, Edmond would act this way, leading William to suspect that Edmond might have a fetish for objects.

As usual, William and his small group—including Aramis—were seated together. Aramis leaned in and whispered, "Do you think he's skipping the 'philosophical stuff' today? Why else would Koushirou-sensei bring out his sword?"

"How would I know?" William replied without even turning his head.

Fortunately, Koushirou soon answered Aramis's question after delivering a brief lecture on swordsmanship theory.

He unsheathed the Wado Ichimonji, its gleaming blade gradually revealed from the plain scabbard, catching the attention of everyone present. Edmond's expression grew even more entranced.

Noticing Edmond's gaze, Koushirou turned his head, smiled at him, and beckoned him forward.

When the carefree Edmond approached, Koushirou extended the Wado Ichimonji toward him and, with his signature gentle smile, asked, "Do you like it?"

Edmond nodded enthusiastically, like a chicken pecking at grain. Seeing this, Koushirou moved the sword closer to him and encouraged, "Take it."

In disbelief, Edmond grabbed the Wado Ichimonji, one of the 21 Great Grade Blades renowned even beyond the East Blue. He stood there grinning foolishly for a moment before turning to Koushirou, waiting to see what he would be asked to do next.

The dojo had several bundles of bamboo mats tied together, used by the disciples for sword practice. These mats were one of the dojo's most frequently consumed resources, and a few were currently set up in the hall.

"Cut through that bundle of bamboo mats," Koushirou instructed, pointing at one of the bundles. Suppressing his excitement, Edmond quickly walked over to the mats.

Though usually a bit careless, Edmond understood the gravity of the moment. He composed himself, took a step forward, and executed a clean diagonal slash. The bundle was effortlessly sliced in two.

Such a feat, while impressive in William's previous world, was not extraordinary in this one, especially at the Isshin Dojo. Moreover, Edmond was wielding a renowned blade, so the other disciples didn't find it particularly remarkable. Only Edmond, who had personally wielded the sword, truly appreciated its quality. He finally understood why the 21 Great Grade Blades were so highly regarded. As he swung the Wado Ichimonji, he felt no resistance, as if the blade were slicing through air. Cutting through the bamboo mats felt as easy as a hot knife through butter.

This sensation made Edmond's gaze toward the Wado Ichimonji even more fervent.

Koushirou nodded slightly at Edmond's performance. He wasn't assessing the results but rather observing Edmond's form and the way he applied force during the swing. Edmond's fundamentals, it seemed, were solid.

However, Koushirou soon retrieved the Wado Ichimonji from Edmond, sheathed it, and placed it gently on the ground. From somewhere, he produced a much plainer-looking katana and handed it to Edmond.

Pointing at another bundle of bamboo mats, Koushirou repeated the same instruction: "Cut through that bundle of bamboo mats."

Edmond unsheathed the new sword to inspect it, only for his expression to sour further. The other disciples, upon seeing the blade, let out a few muffled chuckles.

The katana was extremely worn, its blade covered in nicks and even rust. It was clearly a neglected weapon of considerable age. If any of the disciples had been caught with such a sword, they would have been scolded harshly by Koushirou or Pattinson.

Nevertheless, Edmond wasn't deterred. He approached the bamboo mats again, took a deep breath, and repeated the same motion—a step forward followed by a diagonal slash.

The bundle was once again cleanly sliced in two. However, this time, not only Koushirou but also the other disciples noticed a subtle difference.

When Edmond had used the Wado Ichimonji, slicing the bamboo mats felt no different from swinging the sword through empty air. His form, posture, and movements were flawless from start to finish. But with the dull and damaged katana, the resistance was palpable. Edmond, worried about the blade breaking, had adjusted his movements, making them slightly less fluid than before.

Many students assumed Koushirou's lesson was merely to emphasize the importance of maintaining and caring for one's sword.

Aramis pouted. "I get why Edmond is so obsessed with the Wado Ichimonji now."

"It's not that simple," William replied.

As soon as William finished speaking, Koushirou turned to the bamboo mats, pointed at them, and, with the same tone and words, said, "Cut through that bundle of bamboo mats!"

The hall fell silent. This time, Koushirou wasn't addressing Edmond but the Wado Ichimonji itself, as if it were a living being.

~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~

Weekly Stable Updates with 30+ Chapters Always Available. High-Quality and Consistent Translations Are the Channel's Top Priority.

Current Books:

Naruto: Deidara's Struggle

God-Tier Kazekage: Building the Ultimate Hidden Sand Village 

Naruto: The Ōtsutsuki Bloodline Development Manual

One Piece:The True Codex

One Piece: Rising to Fleet Admiral Through a Coup

👉patreon.com/GoldenLong