With Ope Ope no Mi in Hunter x Hunter

"Montian truly is impressive. In just a few days, he's already reorganized the Pyongyang Heavy Armored Army," Daniel Davis thought to himself as he leaned against a nearby railing, watching the soldiers in the plaza resume their training. He couldn't help but admire Montian's capabilities.

The repercussions of Wang Yi's rebellion were extensive, and the Pyongyang Heavy Armored Army was hit the hardest. Many of the officers within the army, even those unaware of the rebellion, were implicated simply because they were part of Wang Yi's faction. Numerous officers were arrested, and it was only because Ying Zheng personally intervened, with Montian's support, that a full-blown mutiny was avoided.

As these thoughts passed through Daniel's mind, he glanced around and saw Montian approaching from the direction of the stables. When Montian got closer, Daniel greeted him quietly, "General Montian, you've worked hard."

After Wang Yi's death, his entire faction within the army was purged, and Montian was appointed the highest-ranking officer of the Pyongyang Heavy Armored Army. Despite this, Montian didn't abandon his previous duties as a Thousand Commander. He continued his routine inspections of the camp, checking the soldiers, horses, and supplies every day.

"Serving the King, I dare not speak of hardship," Montian replied with a respectful salute. After a moment's hesitation, Montian bowed deeply to Daniel and said, "Thank you for speaking on my behalf to the King. I am deeply grateful."

Montian's gratitude was straightforward. Those implicated by Wang Yi's rebellion were originally sentenced to death by Ying Zheng, a typical outcome in this era. Although Montian felt pity for them, as he had worked closely with these men and knew they were innocent, he was unable to plead for their lives. Even Gai Nie wouldn't intervene in such matters. Ultimately, it was Daniel who couldn't bear the injustice. While he couldn't save Wang Yi's family or his three clans, he managed to spare the lives of many soldiers, though they were still demoted to slave status.

This outcome was already more than Montian had expected, given that under normal circumstances, these men wouldn't have survived in any other state.

"Don't let me interrupt your inspection, General," Daniel said as he noticed Gai Nie approaching from a distance. Excusing himself, Daniel left Montian and walked towards Gai Nie.

During the time Ying Zheng spent recuperating at the military camp, Daniel took the opportunity to consult Gai Nie about internal energy cultivation.

Gai Nie proved to be an excellent teacher, explaining the intricacies of internal energy cultivation in detail, including the taboos and best practices. He even passed on the Guigu Breathing Technique to Daniel. This technique was the foundational internal energy cultivation method of the Guigu School. For most people, obtaining such a method would be extremely difficult, but for someone of Daniel's status, Gai Nie willingly offered it.

In fact, for the various schools of thought, acquiring their internal cultivation methods wasn't too difficult for the kings and nobles of the Warring States. Whether it was from the Daoists, Confucians, Yin-Yang School, Mohists, or the Agriculturalists, as long as they desired these techniques, they could obtain them with relative ease.

For Daniel, these cultivation methods were precious, but for individuals like Gai Nie, they were common knowledge. Gai Nie had no qualms about teaching the Guigu Breathing Technique to Tianming, and for someone like Daniel, who had presented something of great value to the entire Central Plains, Gai Nie had even less hesitation. Ying Zheng's agreement not to execute those soldiers was also due to Daniel's contributions.

Compared to what Daniel had offered, the Guigu internal cultivation methods were trivial. If Daniel wanted, Gai Nie would have gladly taught him all the Guigu techniques, including the Baibu Feijian (Hundred-Step Flying Sword). Even though the Baibu Feijian was a treasured skill, it couldn't compare to saving countless lives.

Gai Nie was a true hero, someone who cared deeply about the world. The only person who could be compared to him in this regard was Han Fei. Even the legendary strategist Zhang Liang fell short of these two. As for Ying Zheng, he was unique as the first Emperor of China.

"Master Gai, do you have a moment?" Daniel asked as he approached Gai Nie. He wanted to spar with Gai Nie, knowing that while his overall strength far surpassed Gai Nie's, his mastery of swordsmanship and inner cultivation was lacking.

In martial arts, the concept of "realm" might not matter much to ordinary fighters, but for those at the peak, it was crucial. Daniel understood this and wanted to improve his own understanding.

Gai Nie nodded slightly, understanding Daniel's request and indicating that he was free at the moment.

Once Gai Nie explained that practicing different internal energy techniques wouldn't cause conflict, Daniel began training in the Guigu Breathing Technique under Gai Nie's guidance. Given his existing strength and understanding, Daniel's progress was rapid, advancing by leaps and bounds.

"I wonder if I should seek out Yan Lu and acquire the Han Guang Sword," Daniel mused as he rested in his tent after training with Gai Nie. He already possessed two famous swords—Hei Bai Xuan Jian and the Red-White Twin Swords from the Blood-Clothed Marquis—but his true desire was for the Han Guang Sword.

Not for its power, but for its sheer coolness.

Of course, even though he wanted it, Daniel wouldn't forcefully take it. At most, he'd consider a fair exchange.

After another day or two, Ying Zheng finally prepared to set off again. This time, the group was vastly different from before. Instead of just one carriage, a few guards, and Gai Nie, there was now an escort of sixty Pyongyang Heavy Armored Soldiers and six carriages heading toward Xianyang.

"Qin's geographical position is truly remarkable," Daniel thought as they progressed through a narrow canyon flanked by steep mountain ridges. The terrain was naturally defensible, and Daniel couldn't help but be impressed.

From an aerial view, this canyon seemed as if it had been carved out from the surrounding mountains, and at the end of the canyon lay the famous Hangu Pass.

Back in the day, this pass had enabled Qin to fend off the allied forces of the Six States. In this era, it was the only way to invade Qin. As long as Qin held Hangu Pass, it was impregnable—a true one-man stand against ten thousand.

While other routes to Qin existed, they weren't suitable for regular troops, only experts could traverse them. Even if a few elites made it through, they couldn't influence the overall situation.

This advantageous terrain meant Qin could attack others without fear of being attacked themselves, a stark contrast to Korea, which was surrounded on three sides.

Han Fei's ambitions were noble, but he underestimated one crucial factor: whether the other six states would allow Korea to grow strong. When Korea's statesman Shen Buhai implemented reforms that strengthened Korea, other states immediately attacked. Combined with the backlash from Korea's domestic nobility, Shen Buhai's reforms ultimately failed.

Similarly, when Qin's Shang Yang strengthened the state through reforms, the Six States formed an alliance against Qin. Like Korea, Qin faced external threats and internal resistance from nobles who lost privileges due to the reforms. If not for the natural defense of Hangu Pass, Qin might have followed in Korea's footsteps.

"I have to admit, this canyon is the perfect spot for an ambush," Daniel thought as they entered the narrowest point of the canyon. The steep cliffs on either side were ideal for concealing enemies, making it nearly impossible to defend against an ambush.

Thus, the group moved forward cautiously, with Gai Nie and the Pyongyang Heavy Armored Soldiers on high alert.

"There's quite a number of them. It seems they're determined to kill Ying Zheng," Daniel thought as they reached a bend in the canyon, the narrowest point. His heightened senses immediately detected a large number of enemies hidden on the surrounding peaks.

Under normal circumstances, even in the world of pirates, those with heightened senses didn't keep them active all the time. Daniel was no different, but after noticing the treacherous terrain, he kept his awareness up.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the group passed the halfway point of the canyon, the enemies revealed themselves. Massive boulders were rolled down from above, crashing toward them with lethal force. In such a confined space, the ambush was devastating.

Along with the boulders, volleys of arrows and even a few siege crossbows were launched. It was clear that the enemy was well-prepared.

"Protect the King!" Gai Nie and the Pyongyang Heavy Armored Soldiers immediately surrounded Ying Zheng, raising their shields to protect his carriage. Gai Nie drew his sword, ready for battle, while the soldiers braced themselves, hoping their shields would hold against the onslaught.

"Room, Command Stick." Just as the boulders and arrows were about to hit, Daniel stepped forward, activating his Ope Ope no Mi powers. Instantly, the falling boulders and flying arrows froze in midair. This sight stunned Gai Nie, the soldiers, and even the hidden assassins above.

"Go!" With a wave of his hand, Daniel redirected the boulders and arrows, sending them hurtling back toward the mountainsides.

The power of the Ope Ope no Mi was vast, and with Daniel's current strength, he could even cut through a mountain and use the debris to crush enemies.

The mountaintops erupted in chaos as the assassins were caught off guard by their own traps. Some were

 impaled by arrows, while others were crushed by boulders.

This was the first time Daniel had attempted to control so many objects at once. Even someone like Law, who also possessed the Ope Ope no Mi, wouldn't be able to achieve this feat.

It wasn't just a matter of physical strength; controlling such a large number of objects required immense mental power.

"They're at it again," Daniel muttered as he saw another round of boulders, this time aimed directly at Ying Zheng's carriage. It seemed the earlier attack was a way to confirm Ying Zheng's location.

But for Daniel, it was just a matter of a flick of his hand. He sent the boulders flying back once more, and this time, the assassins fell silent.

"Charge!" After a moment of silence, the assassins abandoned their traps and charged down the mountainsides. Despite the heavy losses from Daniel's earlier attack, they still outnumbered Ying Zheng's forces.

Among them were several figures whose movements alone revealed their formidable skills.

"I can handle this," Daniel said calmly as Gai Nie turned back toward him. With that assurance, Gai Nie nodded and rushed forward, focusing on eliminating the enemies without worrying about Ying Zheng's safety.

The Pyongyang Heavy Armored Soldiers, leaving only a few to guard Ying Zheng's carriage, also charged forward to meet the attackers.

As the battle commenced, Ying Zheng emerged from his carriage, standing proudly atop it as he surveyed the battlefield with a calm demeanor.

"Ying Zheng!" One of the assassins spotted him and shouted, charging with a look of deep hatred.

But before he could get close, he collapsed mid-charge, a copper coin embedded in his forehead. The same fate befell every assassin who tried to approach Ying Zheng, each falling ten meters away, unable to get any closer.

"With you by my side, how can I not succeed in my grand ambitions?" Ying Zheng said, seemingly unfazed by the chaos around him.

"Your Majesty is destined by fate. These people can't harm you," Daniel replied, casually flicking copper coins every now and then. His heightened senses allowed him to monitor the entire battlefield, ensuring that none of Ying Zheng's men were harmed.

This display of overwhelming power left the remaining assassins hidden on the mountainsides with grim expressions. Before the attack, they had considered all the variables, including the potential presence of hidden experts. But they had not anticipated the emergence of someone as terrifyingly powerful as Daniel.

They realized that this individual, who could disrupt the battle so effortlessly, should have been a renowned figure. Yet, they didn't know who he was.

While the assassins were still contemplating Daniel's identity, he increased the speed of his attacks. Moments later, the canyon was littered with the bodies of black-clad assassins.

At the same time, Gai Nie had also finished off the four skilled assassins who had engaged him. Although these four were strong, Gai Nie's job was made easier by the fact that the other assassins were falling in such bizarre ways, which distracted his opponents.

After dealing with the assassins, Gai Nie and the Pyongyang Heavy Armored Soldiers quickly regrouped around the carriage.

"If you don't come out now, we'll be leaving," Daniel called out loudly, looking up at the left side of the mountain. The black-clad assassins had been nothing more than an appetizer; none of them were top-tier fighters. With their level of skill, trying to assassinate Ying Zheng was a joke.

As Daniel spoke, four figures emerged from the mountaintop. Two of them wore standard Qin military uniforms, while the other two were dressed in ordinary clothes.

"That outfit… is that Yanyu? And the other one, could he be from the Zhu family?" Daniel wondered as he observed one of the figures—a stocky man wearing an oily face mask.

___________________

Read Ahead

[email protected]/Mutter