Bitter Cultivation on a Deserted Island

The next morning, Julian began his training on the deserted island. The first step was to increase his strength. Julian chose to run while carrying sandbags filled with dirt. The second step was to improve his speed. As the saying goes, "Of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is the best." If you can't win, just run away. For example, someone like Ai Mazi, who clearly couldn't defeat Akainu but insisted on being stubborn. If you can't beat him now, you can get revenge later. Julian commented, "What a fool."

Julian said with a serious expression, "When in doubt, the best strategy is to run. Blackbeard is a good example. When he saw the situation was unfavorable and the battle was unclear, he just ran away. Face isn't important; life is. Julian decisively picked up the dirt-filled sandbags and started running, shouting as he went, "I am the king of escape in the Pirate World! I will be the last one standing! If I decide to run, even Jesus can't stop me!"

By noon, Julian stopped, panting heavily. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and sat on the ground to rest. Julian said with a helpless expression, "I'm starving." He took out the leftover large crab from last time and started eating. After a few bites, Julian found it tasteless and said, "It tasted so good yesterday, but it's not good today. Seafood shouldn't be eaten overnight!" After sleeping for a while, Julian resumed developing his Devil Fruit ability in the afternoon.

In the evening, Julian began practicing boxing again. Julian recalled Garp training his Fist Bone, hitting sandbags with his bare fists without Armament Haki or Devil Fruit abilities. Later, he would hit battleships. The fists had to make a "thump-thump-thump" sound for the Fist Bone to be perfected.

Julian also practiced hitting sandbags made of trees with his bare fists, without using his Devil Fruit ability. At first, Julian's fists couldn't withstand the recoil from hitting the trees, and his mouth twitched in pain. However, Julian thought that if he couldn't even get past the first step, he would only be a "yes-man" in the future. Julian gritted his teeth and said with a determined expression, "I can't be a yes-man! I still have my dreams to fulfill!" Julian gritted his teeth and began training, punching the large trees repeatedly, not caring about his fists or the recoil. "I'm doing this, Julian!"

A month later, Julian went to the beach to hunt for food. The tide had receded that day. After a week of training, Julian could feel his strength increasing. He could run much faster, and his strength had also grown. Julian was very satisfied with his progress. However, Julian still decided to endure a period of arduous training and loneliness.

Julian saw several large crabs foraging on the beach. Without a word, Julian activated his Swamp-Swamp Fruit ability. Mud bullets shot out, and his body turned into a large mud sandbag, which shot out and collided with a large crab, instantly taking care of one. The other crabs tried to attack Julian, but Julian shouted, "Mud Machine Gun!" Julian formed his hands into a gun shape, and mud bullets shot from his index fingers, like a machine gun, instantly killing several crabs. Julian said with a smile, "This will allow me to train for a long time."

Julian took these crabs back to his mud hut. Julian said, "Heat up the pot and oil. It smells so good. Seafood like this is delicious even without salt." After eating his fill, Julian prepared to develop his Devil Fruit ability again. He ran to the swamp in the center of the island and began controlling the swamp mud, shaping it into whatever he wanted. Julian said with a smile, "My Swamp-Swamp Fruit, also my Earth-Earth Fruit, my Earth-Earth Fruit! I can control all dirt. I am the strongest king of dirt!"

Julian transformed his right hand into a mud giant dragon, twenty meters long and five meters wide, which danced in the air. Julian said, "Mud Dragon Giant Soldier!" The mud dragon on his right hand continuously attacked the trees in front of him, instantly felling a tree five meters thick.

Julian said with delight, "The power is not bad. This is my imitation of Impel Down Warden Magellan's Poison Dragon Giant Soldier. His Poison Dragon Giant Soldier is indeed a good skill. He can control several poison dragons for long-range attacks and keep his hands free. It's hard to fight multiple opponents with just two fists. As long as I have enough Mud Dragons, enemies of similar strength to me can be worn down and killed."

Two months later, Julian said, "I've been here for three months, and no pirates or Marines have passed by. I'm so unlucky." Julian said with a helpless expression, "With my Earth-Earth Fruit ability, I'm going to live and die alone on this deserted island. A genius like me is destined to be unable to integrate into the sea." Julian said, "Why hasn't anyone come yet? Whether you're a pirate or a Marine, a pirate hunter, or an adventurous explorer who likes to court death, come on!"

Julian hesitated and said, "I don't have a compass, and I don't know where to sail on this raft. If I drift to some unknown place, I'll die. I haven't even gotten married yet. My father hopes I'll have descendants and pass on the family name. I'll just endure it a bit longer." Julian thought about it. Pirates are most interested in treasure, and Marines are most interested in pirates. Julian went to the highest mountain on the island and used black mud to write "There is treasure on the island" on the summit. Julian looked at his writing and said, "Now I just have to wait for someone to come."

Julian activated his Mud Dragon Giant Soldier, and two giant mud dragons emerged from his back, resembling Tian from Wugeng Ji. Julian leaped from the mountaintop to the ground. When Julian reached the ground, the mud dragons behind him propped him up, creating a huge crater and kicking up dust.

Julian said excitedly, "I've truly mastered the Mud Dragon Giant Soldier! Magellan's Poison Dragon Giant Soldier has high attack power, but Magellan, who ate the Poison-Poison Fruit, has diarrhea for twenty-three hours a day, meaning he can only attack from the toilet. I have no side effects. My Mud Dragon Giant Soldier is far superior!"

Julian casually ate his fill that night and began practicing his Fist Bone. Julian said with a determined expression, "As long as I train hard, I won't be lonely." Thus, Julian began his crazy training again. After three months of training, Julian's Fist Bone had become very hard. Even when hitting the large trees, there was no recoil, and the sound was a clear "thump-thump-thump."

The next morning, Julian walked to the beach again and looked out at the sea, watching the turbulent waves.

Julian said expectantly, "I'm willing to trade 500 years of Momonosuke's lifespan for a pirate ship, or a Navy ship. If 500 years isn't enough, I'll add 500 years of the brave hero's lifespan." Julian saw a ship's silhouette slowly appearing on the sea. Julian exclaimed with joy, "This is too effective! I must have found the secret code of this world. Amazing!" Julian said seriously, "I need to probe their strength first, in case I accidentally kick a steel plate and get crippled. I'll follow the principle of joining them if I can't beat them, and recruiting them if I can."

The ship got closer. Julian saw it was a pirate ship. There were more than a dozen pirates on the deck. At the forefront was a lecherous pirate captain with a full beard, wearing a hat, looking to be in his thirties. He stared menacingly at Julian and said, "Kid, there's treasure on this island." Julian said obsequiously, "Sir, what's your bounty as a pirate?" The ferocious pirate captain laughed heartily and said, "Listen carefully... your grandpa is a great pirate with a bounty of 5 million! Quick-Blade Nedup! I'm the strongest pirate in the South Blue! Hahaha!"

Julian also laughed heartily, saying with confusion, "You 'yes-man,' you dare call yourself a great pirate with a bounty of 5 million? I thought you were a Yonko. You've got no shame! Do you dare to bet? I'll kill you, grandpa!" Hearing Julian's mockery, Nedup's face turned red with anger. He roared, "You brat! I'll slash you to death!"

Nedup jumped directly from the bow of the ship, his face contorted with rage, his sloppy beard flying. Nedup drew his tachi and shouted, "Gale Style Swordsmanship, Quick Blade Slash!" He swung directly at Julian's head. Julian chuckled and activated his Elementalization. His head split into two.

Nedup looked on in horror and said, "Devil Fruit user!" Julian's mud head instantly reformed. His right hand transformed into the Mud Dragon Giant Soldier, a twenty-meter mud dragon, which opened its mud maw and bit off Nedup's head. The members of the Quick-Blade Pirates on the ship, who had been cheering for Nedup, were now in a state of shock. In less than a minute, Nedup's head was gone.

Julian jumped onto the deck, activating his Mud Dragon Giant Mode. Three giant mud dragons coiled behind him, looking extremely powerful and imposing.

All the underlings looked at Julian with even greater fear. Julian said fiercely, "Does anyone want to join him in the afterlife? Anyone who wants revenge can come!" Julian scanned the crowd, but no one dared to step forward for revenge. An older middle-aged man said pleadingly, "Sir, please spare our lives. We were all forced. That scoundrel Nedup threatened to kill us if we didn't become pirates."

Julian said with a serious expression, "I don't kill innocent people. I only punish the ringleaders." Several underlings begged for mercy, saying, "Sir, spare our lives! We'll never be pirates again!" Julian saw that the effect of establishing his authority had been achieved and retracted his Mud Dragon Giant Soldier. He said with a smile, "If you're not pirates, what do you want to be?" A lecherous-looking man said, "Anything is fine. We can even be dogs, as long as we can live."

Julian thought to himself, "They're even more afraid of death than Momonosuke. They're simply useless." Julian said sternly, "I am going to establish my own pirate crew. Those who betray me will be rewarded 5 million Belly. Those who are loyal to me will receive at least 1 billion in the future."

All the members of the Quick-Blade Pirates said with admiration, "Really, sir? If we're loyal, we'll get 1 billion?" Julian said with a smile, "Money is just paper to me. What I want are loyal companions." Everyone was excited by Julian's words and said, "Sir, we want to join your pirate crew! Sir, give me a chance!"

Julian asked curiously, "What about your previous officers?" The lecherous man's face darkened and he said, "Only we are left. We were pursued by the Marines. We had three ships, and only this one remains."