Chapter 1

In the world of the Pirate King, on an island near the Calm Belt of the East Sea, there is an island called Ring Tree Island, or simply Ring Island.

At the top of the island, on the only outward protruding rock, Qingya, Luo Han woke up in a gentle breeze.

He rubbed his eyes and stared at the clear blue sky, lost in thought. In the blink of an eye, it had been ten years since he came to the world of the Pirate King, and Luo Han still couldn't forget his past life.

In his previous life, although the real world was full of pressure, he only earned 6,000 yuan after three years of working since graduating from university in 2017. But it was, after all, a peaceful world, and he lived in the social environment of Greater China. In his spare time, he could immerse himself in books and anime, enjoying the wonders of the world, without ever worrying about being attacked by pirates. Who would have thought that one day he would wake up as a baby with small arms and legs. Sigh...

"Xiao Han, come back quickly. The fish-scale fruits are ripe this year, and we're waiting for you." Thump! Thump! Below Qingya, Grandma Mo tapped the ground with her cane, her bright eyes slightly squinting as she walked over and said.

Right, almost forgot. Today is the island's once-every-four-years Fish-Scale Fruit Festival.

It's probably around two in the afternoon now.

Fish-scale fruits can only be enjoyed by those between 10 and 18 years old on the island. After 18, their effects are not as significant. This is because the fish-scale fruits are produced by a giant divine tree on the island, which contains energy that can transform one's physical constitution, and it only bears fruit every four years.

Returning to his thoughts...

"Okay, Grandma!" Luo Han stretched his back, flipped over, and replied.

"I've told you not to sleep on Qingya. It's very deep and dangerous below." Grandma Mo looked at Luo Han with affection and repeated her warning.

"Don't worry, Grandma Mo. How many times have you told me? Let's go, I'll help you!"

As they walked to the inner edge of Ring Tree Island, the massive size of the divine tree was still as awe-inspiring as ever, even after ten years.

One can't help but marvel at the wonders of nature, where all sorts of incredible geological formations can occur. Ring Tree Island is circular in shape, with the entire island made of rock, about 200 meters high, and both the inner and outer sides are perpendicular to the sea, like a giant circular stone pillar resting on the sea surface. In the center is a deep, freshwater lake.

At the bottom of the lake, there are water tunnels connecting to the sea, through which seawater flows in.

The divine tree is rooted in the center of the lake, its top as high as the island, not visible from the outside. The divine tree is magical because it can desalinate seawater like a desalination plant, providing the island with fresh water.

The roots of the divine tree also intertwine with the island, forming a network of roads. In addition to the spiral stone stairs, the islanders can also move around using the roads formed by the tree roots. The islanders' houses are caves dug into the rock of the island, with a total of nine levels according to the layers formed by the tree roots.

While lost in thought, Luo Han and Grandma Mo arrived at the square on the ninth level formed by the tree roots. The roots of the divine tree become denser as they approach the main trunk, eventually forming a square of about two square kilometers.

On the square, all the islanders had gathered. The fish-scale fruits had all been picked and placed on long tables in the square.

"Xiao Han, you were sleeping on Qingya again, weren't you?"

"Of course, ever since Xiao Han could walk, he would run to Qingya every day."

"Is sleeping on Qingya more comfortable than sleeping in a woman's bed? Hahaha!"

"What are you talking about! You old fool!"

Hearing the teasing from the islanders, Luo Han rolled his eyes, maintaining a calm and innocent expression, as if he didn't understand anything.

"Alright, Luo Han, come over here and line up." At this moment, the rough voice of the island's hunting team leader, Uncle Kite, echoed.

Standing at five meters tall, with bulging muscles and dark skin, Uncle Kite, with his black gorilla-like face, was quite intimidating.

The hunting team is a specialized unit on the island that hunts near the sea. Only men who are 18 years old and have passed the selection can join the hunting team. The strongest among them is Uncle Kite, who has the combat strength of a vice-admiral in the navy, after all, this is the New World.

Luo Han quickly ran over and stood at the end of the small team, which consisted of about forty people, all between 10 and 18 years old.

The island's population is about 20,000, and every four years, about forty people can eat the fish-scale fruits.

"Brother Han, do you think I can beat my dad after eating the fish-scale fruit this time?" The little chubby boy in front of Luo Han turned around and asked excitedly.

The little chubby boy is named Phil Cole, the same age as Luo Han, both ten years old. He likes to follow Luo Han around and is a foodie, never refusing any food.

Of course, Luo Han knew about the little chubby's question.

Luo Han: "What are you thinking! Well... after a few more times, it should be about right!"

Little Chubby: "I don't want to wait!"

Luo Han: "Why?"

Little Chubby: "At night, my dad always hits my mom, making a lot of noise. I tell my dad not to hit my mom, but he always says it's for exercise. I don't believe it!"

Luo Han: "Hmm... you're very excellent!" So you want to beat your dad so he won't hit your mom, huh? How naive! Life is about movement, well... I digress...

Uncle Kite: "Alright, start from the front, one by one, come and take the fish-scale fruits. After eating them, you will be the new men of the island, or women, if you prefer! Ha ha!"

The little chubby quickly turned around, looking at Uncle Kite with anticipation. Luo Han didn't say anything either; he was also very excited.

Then the distribution of the fish-scale fruits began.

As the people in front took their fruits one by one, the little chubby in front of Luo Han also took his. Finally, it was Luo Han's turn.

Since he was five years old, Luo Han had accidentally overheard the island's elders talking about the navy, pirates, and the world government. He knew he had come to the world of the Pirate King, a world where only strength can dominate life.

So Luo Han needed strength, and the fish-scale fruit was the foundation for his upward journey. After all, not everyone has the talent of a certain someone.

Luo Han: "Uncle Kite, this fish-scale fruit seems different from the others!"

The fish-scale fruit, as its name suggests, has a skin that looks like fish scales, and its overall color is green.

However, Luo Han's fruit had a smooth surface with intricate kaleidoscope-like patterns, and its color was also kaleidoscopic, with all sorts of colors. It didn't look like a fish-scale fruit at all!

Uncle Kite: "Hmm! Xiao Han, your fish-scale fruit is a bit special, but I guarantee it is definitely picked from the divine tree. I picked it myself."

"But it doesn't look like it," Luo Han muttered.

"Little Luo Han, the fruits of the divine tree should not be wasted. We should be grateful. Perhaps your fish-scale fruit has a very good effect!" Uncle Kite suddenly looked at Luo Han with a serious expression.

"Alright!" With that, Luo Han took the different fish-scale fruit and walked to the side, preparing to cut it and eat it.

At this moment, everyone else also started cutting and eating their fruits. The effects of the fish-scale fruits take time to manifest, and they enhance the individual based on their talent, with the physical talent reaching its maximum potential through training over three years.

Sigh! Luo Han looked at everyone else's fish-scale fruits and then at his own, frowning.

However, this fish-scale fruit looked a bit like a Devil Fruit! In his previous life, he had learned that when a Devil Fruit user dies, the Devil Fruit's power can randomly reappear on another fruit.

Could this different fish-scale fruit have come from such a process? If so, then... he was a bit excited! Ah!