Famous Across the Seas

"We've already given you what you wanted. You can release him now, right?" Sengoku stared grimly at the smiling Nangong Yan, wishing he could transform into a giant Buddha and crush him with a single palm.

"What's the hurry? There are so many of you standing so close to me, you're scaring me half to death. Now all of you, get back three li." Nangong Yan rolled his eyes and put on a frightened expression. It angered even Kizaru, the laid-back admiral, so much that veins bulged on his forehead as he wished he could poke Nangong Yan to death with one finger.

"You... don't push your luck!" Sengoku clenched his fists, a terrifying aura erupting from him like a collapsing mountain and a raging tsunami.

Crack... A crisp sound of bones breaking rang out, followed by an earth-shaking scream. The onlookers beside them shuddered inwardly, thinking that although this kid was young, his methods were truly ruthless.

Nangong Yan smiled at the Celestial Dragon, whose face had twisted in pain and was drenched in cold sweat, and sowed discord. "Don't blame me. My words don't carry much weight. If you want to blame someone, blame those three. If they had obediently retreated three li, you wouldn't have suffered so much."

"You bastards, you idiots! Get back already! If I suffer any more pain, once I'm free, you'll all get a taste of what I've endured!" The Celestial Dragon's face was savage, his eyes bloodshot as he cursed furiously.

He was utterly speechless at his companions' intelligence. How had these people attained their current positions? They were stupid as pigs. Couldn't they see that the great Celestial Dragon had been taken hostage? How dared they refuse to listen to the kidnapper and get both his hands broken because of it!

Putting aside the Celestial Dragon's inner thoughts, Sengoku and the others could only unwillingly order everyone to retreat three li after hearing his words. They no longer dared to make any rash moves.

Once everyone had retreated three li, Nangong Yan used his Mangekyo Sharingan to scan the surroundings. After confirming that the barrier covering the Sabaody Archipelago had vanished, he unhesitatingly threw the Celestial Dragon from the building and activated Kamui. His body was swiftly swallowed by a spatial vortex.

"Ah..." The Celestial Dragon let out an earth-shaking scream as he fell through the air. Kizaru, three li away, could no longer spare any thought for stopping Nangong Yan from leaving. He transformed into a golden beam of light, crossed the distance in an instant, and rescued the Celestial Dragon.

Although the Celestial Dragon had ultimately been saved, no one could be happy. The World Government had lost one billion Beli, the cultivation methods for two types of Haki, a large piece of Seastone, one of the Supreme Grade Blades, and the technique for fusing objects with Devil Fruits. Their losses were immense.

Moreover, such a precedent could not be allowed. If Nangong Yan were permitted to roam free, countless fearless pirates would likely try to become rich by kidnapping Celestial Dragons and extorting the World Government.

Thus, amid the furious rage of the Navy's admirals and the World Government's Five Elders, intelligence agencies and networks affiliated with the Navy and World Government frantically searched for Nangong Yan's whereabouts. Bounty notices and newspapers spread throughout the entire New World alongside news birds.

New World, Whitebeard Grand Fleet.

On a majestic ship flying a pirate flag bearing Whitebeard's emblem, a burly middle-aged man with a snow-white crescent-shaped beard sat in a broad chair. After taking a deep drink from a wine jar nearly as large as a person, he looked down at the newspaper in his hand.

"Gurararara... What a bold little brat. He actually dared to kidnap a Celestial Dragon and extort such enormous wealth from the World Government. He's got guts! Hahahaha!" A deep, powerful voice rang out, filled with a heroic grandeur that seemed capable of swallowing mountains and rivers.

New World, a majestic palace. Beside it, a lion as large as a mountain raised its head and roared. On the throne within the palace sat a middle-aged man with long golden hair, a cigar clenched between his teeth, twin swords at his waist, and an overwhelming pressure and domineering aura radiating from his body. He was the current world's greatest swordsman and the New World's greatest overlord, Golden Lion Shiki!

In this era, Roger had yet to become the Pirate King. Golden Lion possessed the greatest power in the New World, surpassing even Whitebeard and Roger in influence, and occupied the largest territory in the New World.

Beasts Kaido and BIG were currently only struggling to survive in the cracks beneath the forces of Golden Lion, Whitebeard, and Roger. They were still far from becoming the enormous powers that would later rule the New World, though they had managed to gain a foothold.

"Jihahahaha! What a bold little brat. He has the bearing I had in my youth! Send out the order: have our men keep an eye out for him. Once you find him, tell him to hand over that Supreme Grade Blade. I, Golden Lion, will guarantee his safety!" A wild, confident, even arrogant voice rang through the grand hall, causing the subordinates within to lower their heads in submission.

New World, somewhere at sea. The sky was dark and gloomy, thick clouds hanging overhead as a majestic pirate ship sailed through towering waves. A middle-aged man wearing a pirate hat, with two small black mustaches at the corners of his mouth and a gentle smile on his face, looked at the newspaper in his hand and laughed heartily. "Ahahaha... Rayleigh, come take a look! A bold kid with great courage has made the World Government lose all face."

Along with his laughter, an incomparably powerful, tyrannical Conqueror's Haki erupted. Invisible ripples instantly spread across the ocean and sky. The giant waves were suppressed, the sea became calm, and storm clouds stretching for dozens of li were forcibly blasted apart, revealing a clear sky.

New World, an unnamed island. Torrential rain poured down, while the roars of all kinds of strange beasts rose and fell across the island. From time to time, massive beasts like mountains could be seen battling on land and in the sky.

An elegant middle-aged man in a blood-red cloak walked through the air. He had handsome features, a vivid blue rose blooming on his chest, and an air of nobility about him. He opened the blood-red umbrella in his hand, and the torrential rain was repelled. An earth-shaking Conqueror's Haki spread forth, dispersing the clouds and rain. The endless beastly roars fell silent, and the sky grew still!

As the clear sky emerged, a news bird passed overhead and dropped a newspaper. The middle-aged man stopped atop a towering tree, glanced at the paper, and smiled faintly. "Interesting." His voice was barely audible. Then, stepping on the air, he turned into a black speck and vanished.

At the same time, countless people in the New World, the Grand Line, the Four Blues, and the Red Line received the newspapers. The name Nangong Yan became thoroughly known throughout the world!

Countless people were tempted by the vast wealth Nangong Yan possessed. Countless others were shocked by his audacity. Countless people, openly or secretly, coveted Nangong Yan. No matter what, the name Nangong Yan had become famous across the seas!

Since Nangong Yan was the first person in history to dare kidnap and harm a Celestial Dragon, then use one to extort and threaten the World Government, the Navy and World Government's tolerance for him was exceedingly low. This could be seen from Nangong Yan's bounty notice.

Bounty Notice: Nangong Yan, born in the West Blue. For kidnapping and harming a Celestial Dragon, extorting the World Government, and committing unforgivable crimes, a bounty of one billion Beli is hereby offered. Anyone, regardless of race, may participate. Dead or alive!

This bounty notice completely thrust Nangong Yan into the eye of the storm. Whether weak or strong, pirate or bounty hunter, Navy soldier or otherwise, anyone who wanted to capture Nangong Yan or claim his head was now after him.

What was Nangong Yan, the man at the center of the storm, doing at this moment?

At this moment, Nangong Yan was happily counting his spoils in the Kamui Dimension. He had already anticipated the turmoil outside. From the moment he decided to act, he had been mentally prepared for it.

So what if there were countless enemies in the open and in the shadows? As long as he remained careful and cautious, with his abilities, even if he couldn't win, couldn't he still escape? You cooked as much rice as the pot could hold. Since his ability to preserve his own life was first-rate, he naturally had to act more boldly and extremely. Otherwise, wouldn't he be wasting the ability heaven had bestowed upon him?

Nangong Yan paid no attention to the Beli. If this were Earth, it would surely be the most important thing—one billion was enough to last several lifetimes. But in the world of One Piece, Beli was not that important. Strength was what mattered most. With strength, countless forces would take the initiative to offer money. He would never lack funds.

What Nangong Yan valued were the cultivation methods for Observation Haki and Armament Haki, the technique for fusing objects with Devil Fruits, the Supreme Grade Blade, and, secondarily, the Seastone.

Among all these treasures, the Beli was the least valuable. Seastone, Supreme Grade Blades, and Haki cultivation methods were not things that could be acquired merely with money.

Nangong Yan carefully studied the cultivation methods for the two types of Haki and found that they should be workable. The World Government and Navy had probably not deceived him.

As for the Supreme Grade Blade provided by the World Government, its hilt was black, embedded with five blood-red diamond-shaped gems. The blade was three chi and five cun long and two fingers wide. Its blade was pale as snow, gleaming with a cold, dazzling light.

It looked only slightly better than a Great Grade Blade, seemingly somewhat unworthy of being called a Supreme Grade Blade. It was not until Nangong Yan intended to test its sharpness outside that he discovered the blade's secret.

When the blade reflected sunlight, an illustration of countless beasts in different postures emerged upon its snow-white surface. Lions, tigers, leopards, wolves, elephants, snakes, and other animals bared their fangs and claws upon the blade, rendered with lifelike detail. A fierce, razor-sharp aura rushed toward him.

Unfortunately, Nangong Yan's knowledge was limited, and he could not identify this Supreme Grade Blade's name or origin.