One Piece:Becoming the King of the World from the Rocks Era

"Hahaha, King of the Land of Flowers, are you trying to make a show of strength against me?" Li Yuan laughed, feeling elated after his single punch flattened Chinjao. His Conqueror's Haki surged, red lightning crackling across the sky, bearing down on King Xia Deqing and his entourage like a storm.

Thud! Thud! Thud! The terrifying Haki overwhelmed Xia Deqing's loyal followers, and in an instant, most of them collapsed unconscious, leaving only a few still standing.

"My apologies, Lord Li Yuan. It was a misunderstanding on the part of the Land of Flowers. I offer our sincerest apologies. Chinjao had no hostile intentions—he merely wished to test his skills against you," King Xia Deqing said respectfully as he regained his composure.

As a wise and experienced ruler, Xia Deqing could tell that, despite the overwhelming show of power, Li Yuan wasn't truly intent on destroying the Land of Flowers.

"Hahaha, you're a perceptive king, much better than those other rulers I've crushed in the past," Li Yuan said, retracting his Haki with a smile.

His purpose here was not to destroy the Land of Flowers, and Chinjao's challenge had provided the perfect opportunity to make an example of their power. In truth, he even felt somewhat grateful for Chinjao's foolhardy bravery.

King Xia Deqing offered no further reply but internally breathed a sigh of relief. Had Li Yuan truly intended to harm the Land of Flowers, their country would have had little chance of survival, even with the general by his side.

"The Land of Flowers indeed lives up to its reputation as a West Blue powerhouse," Li Yuan noted, casting a glance at the general beside Xia Deqing. Under his Observation Haki, he could sense that this man's strength surpassed Chinjao's, putting him on the level of top-tier combatants—perhaps equivalent to the CP0 Vice Director he'd once defeated. Only a real fight would reveal the full extent of his power.

"You flatter us, Lord Li Yuan. Compared to the Infinite Pirates, we're insignificant," Xia Deqing replied with a forced smile.

"No need for pleasantries. I came here because the Land of Flowers is one of the West Blue's strongest nations. Soon, our merchant fleet from the Infinite Pirates will conduct trade here in the West Blue. When that time comes, the Land of Flowers can choose to trade with us," Li Yuan explained. "However, you'll need to provide cover for us. After all, we don't exactly get along with the World Government and the Navy."

Li Yuan's visit to the West Blue aimed to establish trade relations. This was, after all, one of the Four Seas, unlike the New World, where government influence was weaker.

In the West Blue, governed by the Navy and World Government, the Infinite Pirates couldn't openly conduct trade without risking their cargo being seized. To avoid such losses, they needed to collaborate with local powers like the Land of Flowers to provide cover.

Over time, once the Infinite Pirates had built reliable supply chains, established trading posts, and secured stable routes, they could form their own merchant fleet to handle transactions independently. Eventually, they might even use underworld contacts as intermediaries to facilitate trade without needing direct involvement.

Though he currently collaborated with Umit, the "Shipping King," Li Yuan wasn't ready to trust him completely, so he wouldn't hand over all trade responsibilities to him just yet.

"It would be our honor to trade with the Infinite Pirates," Xia Deqing replied, beaming. "The Land of Flowers has many goods that would be popular in the New World, though we've lacked the channels to sell them."

Trade with the Infinite Pirates wasn't a problem for Xia Deqing. In the West Blue, especially within the Land of Flowers, his influence was substantial, and evading the Navy and World Government wasn't an issue. Additionally, many dark forces in the West Blue were under the control of these powerful nations, with the Land of Flowers having its reach in various underworld factions.

Even if the World Government and Navy discovered their dealings, they could easily deflect blame onto lower-ranking individuals or scapegoats. The World Government and Navy would hardly penalize allied nations over such matters.

"Hahaha, in that case, someone will come to coordinate with your representatives soon. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to stay here in the Land of Flowers for a few days and take in the sights," Li Yuan said with a grin as he moved forward.

"Of course, not a problem at all!" Xia Deqing replied, feigning casual ease.

"Oh, and when Chinjao wakes up, tell him that if he wants his pointed head restored, he can come to me. I can help him get it back to normal," Li Yuan said, glancing at the unconscious Chinjao as he was carried away.

Chinjao possessed Conqueror's Haki, and his pointed head had once given even Garp a hard time. He would be a valuable addition to the crew.

"Understood. I'll let him know as soon as he regains consciousness."

As he led Li Yuan into the Land of Flowers, Xia Deqing remained close by, under the guise of offering a tour. In reality, he stayed close to prevent any hotheaded locals, like Chinjao, from accidentally offending Li Yuan again. Once was already risky enough.

"Oh, King Xia Deqing, I imagine the Land of Flowers has quite a few martial arts techniques like the Eight Impact Fist. Why don't you make copies of these techniques, along with your swordsmanship teachings, and pass them along to me?" Li Yuan said casually as they walked.

"As you know, I'm the world's greatest swordsman. I've hit a bottleneck and wish to broaden my knowledge with various martial arts," he added with a smirk.

"Certainly, I'll have all the records copied and delivered to you, and I'll ask Chinjao to provide a copy of the Eight Impact Fist once he's awake," Xia Deqing replied with a smile, though inwardly he couldn't help but scoff.

"If you wanted our martial arts techniques, just ask directly. Pretending you need martial arts to overcome a swordsmanship bottleneck? What nonsense."

"Hm?" Li Yuan's eyes flashed with a cold glint as he glanced at Xia Deqing, who had unwittingly let his true thoughts slip.

"Is something wrong, Lord Li Yuan?" Xia Deqing asked, genuinely puzzled, unaware that Li Yuan had picked up on his thoughts. Were it not for his ability to read minds, he might have been fooled by Xia Deqing's feigned innocence.

"Nothing," Li Yuan replied, shrugging as they continued their tour.

As he explored the Land of Flowers, Li Yuan found it to be a true powerhouse of the West Blue. It was peaceful, prosperous, and seemingly unaffected by the turmoil of the Pirate Age. The flourishing commerce and bustling streets were impressive.

A few hours later, Chinjao finally awoke with the help of a doctor.

"My head… my pointed head… it's flat!" Chinjao reached up, his hand trembling as he felt his now-flat head. Tears streamed down his face as he mourned his treasured head shape.

"My pointed head! My treasures!" He cried so sorrowfully that it would tug at anyone's heart.

"Lord Chinjao, the king asked me to inform you that Lord Li Yuan can restore your head if you ask him," a subordinate from the Happo Navy said cautiously.

"Li Yuan? He flattened my head, and now he can supposedly fix it?" Chinjao's despair shifted into resolve. "Fine, I'll go right now. I must have my pointed head restored!"

Getting to his feet, he rushed to the palace. Without his pointed head, he would lose not only his pride but also the ability to access the wealth the Happo Navy had amassed over twelve generations.

"Your Majesty, Lord Li Yuan!" Chinjao arrived at the palace and, upon seeing Li Yuan, held back his usual impulsiveness.

"Chinjao, I admire you. How about joining the Infinite Pirates as an officer?" Li Yuan asked directly, seeing Chinjao's potential.

"Joining the Infinite Pirates… would that restore my pointed head?" Chinjao asked, stunned.

"Hahaha, of course. And if you join, I can teach you advanced techniques for using Conqueror's Haki, making you even stronger!" Li Yuan laughed. "The world is vast, Chinjao, and the New World is where you truly belong. Staying here in the West Blue only wastes your potential."

After a moment's thought, Chinjao agreed, "Very well, I'll join the Infinite Pirates!"

He was already a pirate and had long dreamed of exploring the New World. The chance to regain his pointed head, learn Haki techniques, and gain strength was irresistible.

"Welcome to the crew, Chinjao! From now on, you're one of us, and there are plenty of perks to being an officer in the Infinite Pirates. You'll see!" Li Yuan said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Now, let's go restore that pointed head of yours."

Li Yuan's mood brightened with the addition of another strong officer to the crew. Restoring Chinjao's head would be a simple matter—one punch would do.

King Xia Deqing watched the exchange, pleased by the outcome. With Chinjao in the Infinite Pirates, the Land of Flowers would benefit from the crew's friendship, bolstering both trade and the kingdom's strength.

"Chinjao, come at me with your full strength!" Li Yuan said as they moved to an open area, where Chinjao stood ready, though slightly tense.

"Captain,I'm coming!" Chinjao responded, gathering his strength.

"Eight Impact Fist Ultimate Technique: Drilling Dragon Spike!" Chinjao braced his feet on the ground, charging with all his might. His now-flat head was coated in pitch-black Armament Haki as he unleashed his most powerful headbutt.

"One Serious Punch!" Li Yuan focused his Observation Haki on Chinjao's head, pinpointing the perfect spot for his strike. Both his Armament and Conqueror's Haki surged into his right fist, creating a tremendous force as he launched his punch.

Boom!

As fist met head, Chinjao felt a shockwave ripple through his body, his head reshaping in response to Li Yuan's impact. His flattened head returned to its original pointed shape, and the sheer force of Li Yuan's punch knocked him unconscious once more.

"Not bad. Even without my sword, few can withstand my full-force punch and survive," Li Yuan said, looking at Chinjao with approval. Although Chinjao was already 46 years old, he still had untapped potential.

With the right guidance—whether through mastering Conqueror's Haki or perhaps receiving an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit from Li Yuan—Chinjao's strength could advance significantly. He might even become a top-tier fighter in the future.

"Splash!"

This time, Li Yuan didn't wait for hours. He had Barrett bring over a bucket of cold water, pouring it over Chinjao to wake him immediately.

"Hahaha! My pointed head—it's back! It's finally back!" Chinjao, coming to his senses, touched his head and found it restored. He was overcome with joy, tears streaming down his face as he hugged Li Yuan's leg.

"Thank you, Captain! Thank you!" Chinjao's gratitude poured out as he clung to Li Yuan. The loss of his pointed head had filled him with dread, as it symbolized not only his strength but also his legacy. Now, with it restored, he felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Enough, Chinjao," Li Yuan chuckled, "Tell me, have you ever used Haki to temper your head?"

Chinjao looked confused. "Haki can strengthen my head?"

"Yes," Li Yuan explained. "Armament Haki can harden any part of your body, but it requires specific techniques. I'll teach you a method to harden your head with Haki. Once your head is fully tempered, no one will be able to flatten it again."

Having achieved mastery of the Sword God Body Refinement Technique, a top-tier method for tempering with Haki, Li Yuan had already considered teaching parts of it to his trusted crew. He recognized that sharing these techniques would make his officers significantly stronger.

"Thank you, Captain!" Chinjao exclaimed, determination gleaming in his eyes. He would not only have his head strengthened but also learn to wield Haki to his advantage.

With Chinjao joining the crew, Li Yuan felta deep sense of satisfaction. The Infinite Pirates had gained another skilled officer, and their strength continued to grow.

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