Outer perimeter of the Valley of the Gods:
As Rocks charged into the Valley of the Gods, the other officers followed closely. This time, the Rocks Pirates came out in full force, including several female officers among the usual male combatants.
However, Li Yuan was unfamiliar with these women. Having only joined the Rocks Pirates three years ago, he had spent most of his time training or traveling, leaving little interest in mingling with female crew members.
"The treasure is mine!!"
When the pirates entered the Valley of the Gods and saw the scattered treasures, they rushed forward to seize them, leading to considerable infighting. These treasures were deliberately placed by the Celestial Dragons to slow the pirates down.
However, these treasures could only hinder ordinary pirates. Rocks and the officers aimed for the most valuable prize: the Devil Fruits.
"Rocks, how dare you appear here!!"
As Rocks and his crew neared the center of the Valley, they were blocked by Five Elder Saturn Saint.
Beside Saturn Saint stood two CP0 Deputy Chiefs, Karlo the Pteranodon and Segun the Mercury Logia.
Additionally, there was Galin Saint leading the Knights of God.
To Li Yuan's surprise, Garp was also present.
Garp, believing Roger had come to the Valley of the Gods, abandoned his ship and used Moonwalk to get there. Upon arrival, he discovered Roger wasn't there but encountered Saturn Saint, so he joined the defense against the Rocks Pirates.
"Wa hahaha, isn't this Saturn Saint of the Five Elders?"
"Why am I here? Why wouldn't I be here?"
"Aren't you Celestial Dragons holding a ceremony? Of course, I'm here to attend and claim the rewards!"
Seeing Saturn Saint, Rocks laughed heartily.
Now he was certain the intelligence was accurate; this was indeed the location of the Celestial Dragons' grand ceremony.
Having previously doubted the information, Rocks was thrilled and excited to find it true.
This meant the rumored life-extension formula was likely real!
"Rocks, leave now, and I'll pretend this never happened."
"Otherwise, if you anger the Celestial Dragons, we'll show you why they're the world's rulers!"
Saturn Saint said angrily.
"Wa hahaha, then let's see what makes the Celestial Dragons worthy of ruling the world!"
"Today, I, Rocks, will slaughter you all!"
"And I, Rocks, will replace the Celestial Dragons as the new ruler of this world!"
"Officers, attack!!"
Rocks declared madly.
"Infinite Crescent Moon!!"
As Rocks' words fell, Li Yuan swiftly targeted a Knight of God, sensing a vice-admiral level strength, with a powerful crescent-shaped slash.
The knight, seeing the attack, instinctively raised his sword in defense.
In the next moment, the knight was sent flying, and Li Yuan seized the opportunity to pursue.
Seeing Li Yuan take action, the other officers also engaged, consciously avoiding Saturn Saint, leaving him for Rocks.
"Ze hahaha, die!!"
Like Li Yuan, the Golden Lion targeted a vice-admiral level Knight of God, slashing him away and pursuing him out of Rocks' sight.
"Gurararara!!"
Whitebeard, for once showing wisdom, avoided the admiral-level CP0 Deputy Chiefs and Galin Saint, choosing a vice-admiral level Knight of God.
Among the Knights of God, only Galin Saint barely held admiral-level power, while the others were around vice-admiral level.
Each Knight of God was formidable.
Such a powerful and numerous force would be dominant anywhere, yet it was still insufficient against the Rocks Pirates.
The quick responders chose their opponents and moved to separate battlefields.
Only the slower Wald and Violent King Branton were left, facing Saturn Saint, Garp, and the two CP0 Deputy Chiefs.
Wald and Branton cursed internally, having missed the chance to pick weaker opponents.
They reluctantly targeted the CP0 Deputy Chiefs, as they were weaker compared to Garp and Saturn Saint.
"Wa hahaha, Monkey D. Garp, you're of the D clan. Why serve as a Celestial Dragon's lapdog?"
"Join me, kill the Five Elders and Celestial Dragons, and rule the world together!!"
Rocks invited Garp with a laugh.
"Rocks, you don't get to rule this world. If you did, it would be a disaster. As a Marine, I must stop you!"
Garp replied disdainfully.
"Wa hahaha, then I'll have to kill you!"
"Asura Slash!!"
Rocks drew the Asura Sword, infusing it with his dark-red Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, and the devouring power of the Dark-Dark Fruit.
"Bone Fist: Galaxy Impact!"
Garp likewise imbued his punch with all his strength, Armament Haki, and martial arts.
As sword met fist, they didn't touch, but the collision's shockwave tore the ground and the sky.
"Bang!!!"
Yet even Garp's full-power punch was shattered by Rocks, sending him flying hundreds of meters.
As Garp attacked, Saturn Saint began to transform.
Saturn Saint's Devil Fruit was the Mythical Zoan Bull Demon, with a bull's head and spider body, possessing fierce eyes and venom.
"Venom Surge!!!"
Saturn Saint spewed venom, aiming to corrode Rocks.
"Wa hahaha, I'm a Dark-Dark Fruit user; Devil Fruit powers don't work on me!"
"Dark Vortex!!!"
Seeing the attack, Rocks laughed, conjuring a dark vortex with his left hand, consuming all the venom.
"Devil Fruit users are powerless against me!"
Rocks declared as the dark power engulfed Saturn Saint.
Transformed into the Bull Demon, Saturn Saint's Devil Fruit power was suppressed, forcing him back to human form.
"Asura Slash!!!"
Rocks swung at Saturn Saint.
With his powers suppressed, Saturn Saint could only coat his fists in Armament and Conqueror's Haki to block the slash.
"Boom!!!"
But without his abilities, Saturn Saint was weaker than Garp, spitting blood as Rocks' strike sent him flying like Garp.
"Rocks!!!"
As Rocks aimed to finish them, Garp charged back.
"Asura Slash!!"
But against the mighty Rocks, Garp was helpless, once again sent flying.
Rocks alone dominated Garp and Saturn Saint, poised to kill them both!
"Damn, I'm one of the Five El..."
Rising from the ground, Saturn Saint's anger was cut short as Rocks struck him back down.
Without the Mythical Zoan's life-enhancing power, Saturn Saint struggled to stand.
Saturn Saint regretted not summoning the other Five Elders with his powers sooner.
Suppressed by Rocks' Dark-Dark Fruit, he couldn't use his powers to call for help!
"I want you..."
Furious, Saturn Saint stood again, refusing to be looked down upon.
"Boom!!!"
But as he rose, Garp was sent flying by Rocks, crashing into Saturn Saint and knocking him down again.
How could a Five Elder endure such humiliation?
Yet Saturn Saint's power was so weak against Rocks, like an indestructible cockroach being constantly humiliated!
"A lowly pirate dares defy the noble Knight of God Hollen!"
Knocked down by Li Yuan, Hollen Saint rose, glaring at the approaching Li Yuan.
"Oh? Noble? To me, you're just an ant, ready to be crushed!"
Originally searching for Devil Fruits with Observation Haki, Li Yuan's attention was drawn back to Hollen Saint.
He was curious about what gave this Celestial Dragon the confidence to defy him.
Li Yuan had casually struck, using the opportunity to slip away from Rocks' sight and search for top-tier Devil Fruits in the Valley.
He didn't expect this fool to underestimate him.
Seeing Li Yuan's contemptuous gaze, one he reserved for slaves, Hollen Saint was enraged.
"Pirate, die!"
Hollen Saint, born noble, never imagined being viewed as a slave.
Enraged, he vowed to kill Li Yuan to quell his anger!
"Explosive Shave!!"
"Holy Cut!!!"
Hollen Saint's steps cracked the ground as he rushed at Li Yuan, wielding a silver sword like a holy light.
"Infinite Crescent Moon!!"
Seeing Hollen Saint's charge, Li Yuan sneered, using the same crescent slash but even more powerful!
Against the unparalleled crescent slash, Hollen Saint's attack crumbled, easily shattered.
"Impossible!!!"
As the crescent slash struck Hollen Saint, blood spurted and his body was hurled away, unable to believe his defeat!
"Nothing's impossible; you're simply too weak!"
Li Yuan dashed forward, unwilling to waste time on Hollen, eager to find Devil Fruits in the Valley.
"I'm a noble Knight of God!!!"
Suppressing his injuries, Hollen Saint steadied himself, still arrogantly facing Li Yuan.
For such a fool, Li Yuan said nothing more, leaping into the sky.
In the next moment, Li Yuan descended like a meteor.
"Infinite Conqueror's Slash: Mountain Splitting Strike!"
The Seven Star Sword unleashed concentrated power.
"Roar!!!"
Hollen Saint roared like a beast, transforming into a giant 20-meter tall black iron elephant.
This was his Devil Fruit power, the Ancient Zoan Iron Elephant.
He roared, raising his curved white tusks to meet Li Yuan's attack.
Yet even so, Hollen Saint felt as if an indestructible diamond mountain was crushing down.
Despite his supposedly indestructible tusks, the overwhelming force and pressure were too much.
The Conqueror's Haki-infused attack was widespread, his tusks blocking only a fraction, the rest striking his body.
"Ah!!!!!"
In a single encounter, Hollen Saint was ruthlessly crushed, his body driven into the ground, creating a 50-meter deep crater.
Even his iron elephant form was heavily damaged under Li Yuan's blow.
The agony in his tusks was unbearable, his iron elephant body offering no defense against Li Yuan.
"A mere pirate dares harm me!!"
Standing and reverting to hybrid form, Hollen Saint grabbed his great sword, Armament Haki covering it, eyes filled with murderous intent.
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