Chapter 8

Nami shook her head: "I'm going to map the world—how can I skip the most important starting point?"

The others' words made Abis exhale in relief.

What if she just flew straight to the Grand Line? What would become of her?

And these answers caused not the slightest surprise in Sima Di.

He immediately guided the Golden Merry toward the East Blue, then instinctively rubbed his throat.

This minor drain was no big deal—just an automatic reaction.

"Here."

Sanji handed him a jelly pudding, topped with a generous heap of mint leaves—no one knew when he'd made it.

Even though Sima Di was in good condition now, who could refuse Sanji's cooking?

"Thanks."

Sima Di took the jelly pudding and savored a bite.

Refreshing!

Luffy also glowed brightly: "What about mine! Sanji! Where's mine!"

"You?" Sanji glared at Luffy sideways: "Given your behavior just now—no!"

"Huh? No way! Sanji! I want jelly! I want pudding!"

Luffy clung to Sanji.

Nami, meanwhile, checked the direction and ordered Usopp and Zoro to head toward Ship Island.

Just a few dozen minutes later,

they spotted Ship Island emerging from thick fog—it truly resembled a supermassive warship, but up close they realized it was only the island's silhouette that looked like one.

After boarding Ship Island,

the villagers, hostile toward them as pirates, refused to let them stay—even Abis's explanations couldn't change their minds.

In the end, Abis's grandfather intervened, letting them spend the night and preparing delicious pork buns.

Sima Di had little interest in any of this; he made an excuse and went to take an afternoon nap.

When he woke again,

it was Nami who woke him, calling everyone to gather in a cave at the back of the mountain, where they met an ancient thousand-year-old dragon—Long Ye!

Hmm...

A dragon with long hair was one thing—but a balding one too...

【Ding! Congratulations on signing in at the iconic scene "The Nine-Hundred-Ninety-Nine-Year-Old Long Ye!"—Reward Received: 《...... 》!】

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Please vote for reviews! This concerns the survival of this book!

7. Scythe Fruit's Debuff! Killing you and breaking your spirit!

【Ding! Congratulations on signing in at the iconic scene "The Nine-Hundred-Ninety-Nine-Year-Old Long Ye!"—Reward Received: 《Long Wei of the City's Thousand-Year Dragon》!】

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《Long Wei of the City's Thousand-Year Dragon》: A Seven-Star Monster formed by the fusion of "Time Magician" and "Precious Dragon"—its mere dragon aura is enough to terrify the wicked!;

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Hmm...

Could this balding, long-haired dragon really trigger a sign-in iconic scene?

Sima Di never expected this.

It wasn't that he discriminated against Long Ye,

but as a descendant of dragons, this thousand-year-old dragon's appearance simply clashed with his aesthetic.

Judging by the description of Long Wei,

It seemed similar to Conqueror's Haki—perhaps he could test it out later.

"Hey hey hey? Help!" came Usopp's terrified cry.

Sima Di looked over,

and saw Usopp's upper body swallowed halfway into Long Ye's mouth, as if the old dragon meant to swallow him alive.

No wonder he was so terrified.

"He's just holding him—won't actually eat you," Luffy said with experience.

"What are you doing?! He's not a puppy!" Usopp kept yelling.

Seeing this amusing scene,

Sima Di couldn't help saying: "I think this dragon's hungry—why don't you just cut off your head and feed it?"

"Sima! Don't say that!" Usopp nearly wet himself.

Others saying that might just be teasing him...

But Sima Di had the Devil Fruit ability "Words Become Law"!

Fortunately,

Sanji spoke up: "Don't eat him—risk of food poisoning."

Usopp: "!!!"

Thank you!

I was genuinely moved!

It was Abis who finally made Long Ye release his mouth.

After the commotion,

Nami also explained the reason she had called everyone together — it was precisely to help the Thousand-Year Dragon find Zhidao, so that before it died it could take one last look at its homeland and let its soul return home.

This, however, piqued his interest.

Although he knew that Zhidao was actually the Warship Island right beneath their feet, it only revealed its full appearance during the Great Low Tide that came once every thousand years.

But the adventure of finding that Zhidao is also quite an interesting journey!

Especially that dreamlike Barrier that can cut off the outside world — that should count as a famous scene, right?

No sooner said than done.

The others had no other plan, so Sima Di used his telekinesis to lift Long Ye up, and they prepared to head straight down the mountain and return to the Going Merry.

But just as they emerged from the cave mouth,

they discovered the place was already surrounded by a large number of Marines, and the one leading them was not a Marine officer, but a non-mainstream-styled man in sunglasses.

"That girl really is connected to the Thousand-Year Dragon!" the non-mainstream man said. "Go! Kill everyone except the Thousand-Year Dragon!"

Those Marines actually obeyed the order and opened fire, a volley that swept everyone into its range!

Luffy stepped forward, inhaled air and swelled into a ball; the lead bullets of the shot had no harm to speak of against his rubber body, and after a brief pause they were all sent bouncing back.

The Marine ranks were thrown into utter chaos!

Sanji and Zoro seized the chance to charge out, and in a few swift moves they had taken care of these grunts.

This left that non-mainstream man very displeased.

"As expected, they're all useless — really can't be relied on." The non-mainstream man muttered to himself. "I am Whirlwind Eric, and now I'll give you one chance..."

"Cut the crap! Rubber—"

Luffy rudely cut off Eric mid-sentence, which left him quite annoyed.

He immediately waved his hand and summoned a translucent wind blade, slicing a long wound across Luffy's arm — blood spurted out!

"Heh heh heh, you're a Devil Fruit user too? But I'm a Sickle-Sickle Fruit user — the wind I swing is as sharp as a famous blade!"

Saying so,

Eric was about to swing his arm again; humiliated into fury, he prepared to wipe out everyone before him in one fell swoop!

However—

How could Sima Di, this "Devil Fruit user bane," possibly not stir up trouble?

He had to slap a debuff on him!

【You will dislocate your shoulder whenever you use the Sickle-Sickle Fruit!】

At the same time,

Eric also swung his arm down, but all that was heard was a crisp "Crack!" — the left arm he had swung dropped limply to his side.