Novels by Lily Monroe

Jasper Emerson tipped his head back and let out a long, helpless sigh. What on earth were they supposed to do?“Let me try.”William Lane spoke up, and Jasper Emerson nodded at once.“All right. As long as there’s even the slightest chance, we can’t give up.”William Lane took out his roll of needles. Ever since Adrian had taught him the art of acupuncture, he had practiced with relentless discipline almost every single day.Now that the moment had finally come when those skills might truly matter, he drew a slow breath and steadied himself.His eyes settled on the child in the gravest condition, and he walked over with calm determination.Holding the needle with utmost concentration, he inserted the first one into the child’s body, then the second, then the third...A fine sheen of sweat had already spread across William Lane’s forehead, yet he did not dare relax for even a second.By the time he placed the fifth needle, the child’s condition finally began to improve.“Incredible—the

Adrian smiled. “I refined them myself, so there’s no need to stand on ceremony. If you don’t wish to take them yourselves, you may sell them instead—they should fetch an excellent price. Rebuilding your sects will require funds, after all.”Hearing that Adrian was even thinking ahead for the reconstruction of their sects, Levi Nelson and the others were moved beyond words.Their sects had indeed suffered a severe blow this time and were in great need of a substantial sum.And a single Prime Essence Pill, if brought to market, could command an astonishing price.A moment later, the three of them finally realized what was so extraordinary.Levi Nelson swallowed hard.“Mr. Doyle… are you saying you can refine pills as well?”Ralph Gallagher and Curtis Turner could no longer find their voices. In the span of only a short while, they had been dealt one shock after another.Adrian nodded and accepted it with an easy smile.Emptiness spread his hands and looked at Iris Lloyd.“This monk knew

Seeing that Adrian truly had no intention of pursuing the matter, Michael Mercer and the others prepared to take their leave.After all, this was a banquet the three sect masters had arranged for an honored guest; it would hardly be appropriate for them to remain.“Many thanks to our benefactor and the three masters for your mercy. We will take these disgraceful children home and discipline them strictly.”Once Michael Mercer and his group had gone, the three sect masters finally took their seats.“The three great families of Mistfield City are, in truth, helping us manage certain business interests. The patriarchs know this, but the rest of their households may not.”Having said that, Levi Nelson raised his glass.“Our thanks once again to Mr. Doyle for saving our lives, as well as the lives of our disciples.”Adrian waved a hand and lifted his own glass.“It was nothing more than a matter of convenience. The three masters are too courteous.”“Deeds matter more than intentions.”Levi

Valerie Vance and Gavin Hayes were growing uneasy as well, as though Levi Nelson’s next slap might land on them at any moment.“They’re not afraid of us at all. I’m calling my father too.”Hands trembling, Valerie Vance pulled out her phone and immediately placed the call.Seeing this, Gavin Hayes nodded repeatedly and dialed one as well.The three great families of Mistfield City were on excellent terms, and the younger generation of each household had always gotten along.The three patriarchs happened to be relaxing together at a hot spring resort when, one after another, they received frantic calls for help from their children.Naturally, Lucian Mercer did not mention that he had tried to steal someone else’s private room. He merely exaggerated the part about being struck.The moment he heard his son had been slapped so hard, Michael Mercer shot to his feet.“What? In Mistfield City, someone actually dares lay a hand on my son?”The three patriarchs abandoned the hot springs at onc

The laughter died on their lips, but Adrian and Iris Lloyd were having the time of their lives.“The monk is amazing—hit them! Yes, that one, beat him!”“Monks really are the best. They beat people without even crying out in pain!”“Master! You are the true master in my eyes!”“Go, monk! I’m rooting for you!”With nothing better to do, Adrian and Iris Lloyd wholeheartedly embraced the role of spectators, cheering Emptiness on with wild enthusiasm.In less than a minute, after putting down more than a dozen bodyguards, Emptiness turned around wearing a deeply aggrieved expression.The sort that could not possibly be soothed.The two of them had enjoyed themselves thoroughly, while the monk had nearly been provoked into a heart attack.“Benefactors, what grievance have I ever committed against you?”Adrian and Iris Lloyd exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.Emptiness shook his head and could only choose magnanimity, if only because he could not beat either of them.As for the thr

This time, Adrian did not make a move. He merely stood to one side and watched in silence.Halfway through the fighting, Emptiness looked up and saw Adrian standing above them like an undefeated general, surveying everything from on high.The next moment, Emptiness was already at Adrian’s side.“Mr. Doyle, aren’t you going to take revenge with your own hands?”Adrian nodded. “I already have.”Emptiness looked at him suspiciously. Adrian was the sort to return injury tenfold—since when had he become so merciful?Adrian grinned.“I didn’t want to dirty my clothes.”Judging by how far he had retreated earlier for fear that Oscar might explode where he stood, Adrian was plainly telling the truth.The elders of Xavier Temple had long since been gravely wounded by Adrian, and Iris Lloyd dispatched them beneath her blade with effortless ease.As for the rest, they were left utterly unable to fight back under the assault of the disciples and sect masters of the three sects—especially after Gr

A tidal blaze unfurled between heaven and earth, and within the flames—“Holy Emperor…”The warriors of the Solar Kingdom froze.This moment—This was the end.Their power swelled, vast and violent.From all directions the distant onlookers—those who had kept their distance—felt their hearts lurch.The Holy Emperor had fallen.The great factions witnessing it didn’t even dare show their faces.“Kill!”“Kill that brat!”The Solar Kingdom’s elites were enraged.At once they broke into furious curses.In an instant, the crowd drowned in wrath.The strong of the Solar Kingdom were terrified.No one hesitated.All of them lunged to kill Dragon-Slayer and Anthony.“You really want to die together?”The next moment—Anthony struck once.A swath of top-tier experts exploded, their bodies smashed to pieces.Squelch!Some heads spun off into the air.Dead.The Holy Emperor had been killed.But they… were powerless.They could not keep fighting. If they did, the entire Solar Kingdom might be gro

Dragon-Slayer grunted, swallowed the pain in his seams, and rose into it, the sword-edge cutting a white arc.Beside them, Thirteen Smith muttered a curse. “Stupid kid.” The Holy Emperor only sneered, eyes full of scorn.Dragon-Slayer didn’t answer, his grip biting down. “Hnh. I’ll carve you up.”He fought with everything, every stroke meant to kill. Anthony watched, his gaze shifting—he seemed to read the intent, and held his tongue.Boom—the air rolled like a tide swallowing the field. The Holy Emperor’s rampage had passed understanding; each strike was huge and ruthless.A heartbeat later, the gale rose again. His offense poured like a rain-screen, fists and palms crossing, killing intent spearing the clouds. He was a hammer overfilled with thunderfire—blow after blow grinding down.Dragon-Slayer braced in a flash—swordlight fierce—meeting edge with edge.Boom! He staggered back several steps, heart pounding, a flicker of disbelief breaking through his eyes. Why? What in hell did h

Dragon-Slayer dropped lightly to the ground; a tap of the heel, dust settled. He raised his eyes to the figure standing high above, gaze cold, voice low but heavy enough to hold the field.Though his chest still heaved, he ground out each word: “I’m not afraid of you.”“Today, I’ll defeat you—and kill you.”“The Solar Kingdom will never be a match for Ardenia.”“Your warriors are garbage.”The Holy Emperor laughed softly, a rasp like a blade dragging over stone. “You’re sure? Sure you’re not afraid? Then today, I’ll cut you to pieces.”Dragon-Slayer stepped in instead of back, a short drive of the foot, his body tipping forward, killing intent sliding free like a naked edge. He lifted his head and met the sword-hard gaze above, unflinching.The cold in his eyes cut sharper than steel. “To me, you’re—nothing.”“Today, you die.”“I will kill you.”“You think that boy can really keep you safe?” His words fell like a war banner rammed into open ground, snapping in the gale. Wind licked hi

“Y-you—why are you this strong…”Anthony’s mouth pulled into a cold curve. “It’s not that I’m strong. It’s that you’re useless.”Before the last syllable faded, he surged upward, a raptor cutting through knives of wind and sleet, and stooped.Boom!Explosions flowered across the sky, force scattering like invisible hammers pounding the void. Killing intent poured down like a tangible blaze.He raised another fist. Before it even landed, the gale at its edge flayed the dust to air.Bang!The Holy Emperor’s chest was punched straight through. Blood burst like a flower. His armor shattered; a hideous hole tore open across his front. He was blasted backward, blood running in a steady ribbon from his lips, his eyes wide with a terror that couldn’t focus—grasping at reality’s edge and finding nothing.The rim of the armor writhed, trying to stitch itself—futile against the gaping wound.He lifted his gaze in disbelief, and for the first time, true fear flooded his eyes—the primal dread of t

He pulled a breath, dragging his sight back from the dark. He looked up into the Ardenian youth’s face—indifferent, eyes like a winter lake, unruffled.“Your strength isn’t bad,” Anthony said, mild, with a flat contempt folded into it. “Unfortunately for you, you’re facing me. Which makes everything you do useless.”He tipped his chin, the cold at his eye’s corner cutting sharper. “So this is the Solar Kingdom’s best? No more than this.”Contempt, complete and entire.“In all martial ways, speed breaks all.” He sheathed in one clean motion, his pace itself a declaration. The Holy Emperor was fast—unquestionably. But he was facing Anthony. That alone sealed his tragedy.In a handful of exchanges, Anthony had hammered the Holy Emperor’s confidence to splinters. He had never imagined the man before him could be this absurdly strong. Terror—there was no other word in the minds of those watching.To Anthony, it was nothing. His gaze stayed cold; his killing will drew tighter.The Holy Empe

The heaving air over the four quarters suddenly sank. A darkened silhouette dragged itself out of the heights of the sky, like a deeper thread of night within the night, easing toward them. It had no sound, no scent; even the grain of its aura felt sanded smooth—more secret than a ghost, like a frost-sheathed dagger settling wordlessly to the throat.A heartbeat later, a figure fell from the heights. He touched down without a sound, yet his presence tore the silence around him. It was a tyranny that needed no words; with just an inch of ground underfoot, hearts clenched.“Holy Emperor!!”“The Holy Emperor is here!”“Lord Holy Emperor, a god forever…”“Lord Holy Emperor, mighty and unyielding!”“We can kill these Ardenians now…”“We must kill them…”The boiling shouts surged like oil set alight, raising the temperature of every throat at once. The Holy Emperor revealed himself—a man in his middle years, features unassuming, but a severity honed to lethal stillness. When his gaze droppe