Novels by Camellia

Though Albert and the others were sheltered by the Golden‑Scale Dragon Cloud Array, before such a grand cosmic wonder, they were no different from ants standing on a riverbank gazing up at a raging flood.It took Albert quite a while to snap out of his awe‑struck daze. Then he noticed five enormous golden lotus platforms floating high above the golden dais. Each hovered in mid‑air, large enough to hold ten thousand people.“Those are the Starfall Platforms.”Beside him, Tamara kept explaining with a smile. “Every cultivation session at the Boundary‑River Starfall Platform has two phases: ‘Star‑Gathering’ and ‘Star‑Refining’.” She pointed toward the mighty Boundary‑River high above the great array. “When the time comes, the Golden‑Scale Dragon Cloud Array will siphon a portion of water from the Boundary‑River. Each drop of this water weighs thousands of jin. Massed together, it plummets from the sky almost like a falling meteor, carrying terrifying destructive force.”“Even ordinary Go

At the Dragon‑Tooth Garrison, upon the Giant‑Stone Plaza, ten‑thousand figures stood in precise formation. Streams of mighty soul‑power rose and wove together above the square. Though no battle formation had been activated, long‑term coordination had forged profound harmony among these soul‑powers. Even without any control, they showed faint signs of blending, coalescing into a thin mist of energy hanging overhead.Buried within this energy mist lurked an extremely sharp ripple, as if Heavenly Dragon fangs sliced through the void to tear apart all creation.Upon the plaza’s stone steps stood Vance, hands clasped behind his back. Clad in the Dragon‑Tooth Armor, his towering frame radiated overwhelming pressure.Beneath him stood Timothy and Emily, the two Dragon‑Tooth Envoys.Further down were the four Grand Commanders and several unassigned Dragon‑Pavilion Scholars, including Nathan and Watt, whose positions had been taken by Emily and Albert.Every single one of the ten‑thousand full

Vance shook his head and said, “Empty talk won’t get you anywhere. You are currently at six thousand meters within the Perfected High‑level Heavenly Spirit Realm. Over the next half‑month, you have to push it to seven thousand meters and boost your strength as much as you can.That’s why I suggest you go somewhere to temper and cultivate.”“What place?” Albert asked curiously.Vance glanced at him.“The Boundary‑River Starfall Platform.”“The Boundary‑River Starfall Platform? What is that?” Albert’s curious voice followed right away.“It is a training ground exclusive to the Five Heavenly Dragon Guards. Think of it as the Demon‑Blight Cave of the 20th Legion.”Vance gestured toward the sky. “You’ve seen the Boundary River running through the Boundary‑River Domain, haven’t you? Vast energy surges within it. Its power is so immense even Holy Spirit‑rank experts shrink back in fear.At Heavenly Dragon Ridge, we use the Golden‑Scale Dragon Array to draw in a portion of the Boundary River’

As Tina finished speaking, many onlookers gasped in secret shock, stunned by the enormous sum. It was an amount most Commanders could not amass over several years!Rupert could not help but let out a faint amused laugh and fixed Tina with a teasing stare. “Do you truly believe you are worth eighty‑thousand Dragon Essence?”Tina seemed oblivious to the mockery in his tone and replied calmly, “I may not be worth eighty‑thousand Dragon Essence on my own merits. Yet for every single day I stay within the Dragon‑Fang Guard, certain people from your Dragon‑Blood Guard will be deeply unsettled. That is where the extra value lies.”“Some may think it is not worth it, but others might consider it an excellent bargain.”As she spoke, Tina’s gaze locked directly onto Frith, whose face had turned dark. A faint, taunting smile tugged at the corner of her lips.Frith clenched her fists so hard her knuckles whitened. Tina was right. Every day Tina remained in the Dragon‑Fang Guard was another day of

“Commander Albert, you are truly high‑minded. Yet from what I hear, you are still on credit for the Divine‑Realm Art you just exchanged,” Rupert said, sounding somewhat surprised.Albert let out a short laugh. “Forget forty‑thousand Dragon Essence. Even if you offered four‑hundred‑thousand, I would still reject your wager.”“I gave Senior Tina my word that I would bring her to the Dragon‑Fang Guard to fulfill her wish. If I accept this bet, would I not be betraying her?”“Does Guardian Lord Rupert believe my promise is worth merely forty‑thousand Dragon Essence?”His words drew looks of surprise from the onlookers. Their gazes toward Albert shifted subtly. His speech marked him as a man of loyalty and integrity.“This Albert is someone you can trust,” Nessa, Grand Commander of the Dragon‑Scale Clan, nodded approvingly and whispered to Laura.Laura nodded slightly as well and replied softly, “Albert indeed has a fine character. He is a partner worth befriending and trusting. Back in th

“Who knows,” Nessa sighed. With this woman joining the Dragon‑Fang Guard, the faction was bound to rise. If she could advance further along the Peerless Path, she might even lead the Dragon‑Fang Guard back to its former glory.After all, the Ten‑Pillar Golden Platform was overwhelmingly powerful.As the two women talked, Frith, just as Nessa had predicted, grew infuriated by Emily’s unyielding, aggressive attitude. Her chest heaved and her face turned livid.Vast soul‑power began surging inside Frith, yet she forced it back under control. She ground her teeth and asked, “You must be Emily?”She had already heard the news of Emily defeating Nathan. If even Nathan had lost, her own Upper‑Two‑Star strength would likely not stand against Emily. A real fight would end badly for her.Facing Frith’s icy, furious stare, Emily spoke in a calm, flat tone. “If you seek trouble from now on, come straight for me. I will take on any trick you throw at me.”Nessa’s eyes lit up. She whispered in admi

The sheriff then turned toward Cruz and held out his hand in greeting. Cruz wore a blank expression, his gaze icy and sidelong. He did not move an inch. Instead, he silently pulled out his phone and stood sideways, radiating frigid hostility.Looking slightly embarrassed, the sheriff could only offer an awkward smile and wave. He turned and led his team to escort the prisoner into their vehicle.As the car slowly pulled away, the window rolled down. With a cigarette dangling from his lips, Silas glanced over at Kane beside the car, his tone brash and taunting. “Buddy, thanks for looking after me all this time! Come visit Southspire sometime, and I’ll give you a proper welcome!”Kane stood rooted to the spot, staring at the man’s arrogant, triumphant face. A crushing sense of powerlessness washed over him.The convoy faded from view, and the dust settled.“Let’s go.” Kane spoke in a low, heavy voice.Inside their car, Hagen burned with rage and could not hold back a curse. “What a mess

“Understood.” Stuart bowed to acknowledge the order and left.## Interrogation Room, Detention HospitalSix o’clock in the evening, at the police‑affiliated detention hospital.Kane walked into the interrogation room with Cruz, Hagen and the rest of the team. On the metal restraint chair, Oliver sat with his head lolling and shoulders drooping, sound asleep without a single care. His slouched, insolent posture showed zero sense of peril despite being in custody for criminal involvement.“Some nerve.” Hagen stared in disbelief. “He can sleep that soundly even after everything that’s happened.”Cruz stepped forward and gave the chair leg a light kick, barking sharply. “Wake up! Quit sleeping!”Oliver jolted awake, snapping upright. His eyes darted blankly around the room before he finally registered where he was. He instinctively raised a hand to wipe the drool from his mouth, but as his arms lifted, the handcuffs on his wrists pulled taut, screeching with harsh metal friction.Fully aw

Oakley let out a bitter laugh, his voice hoarse and dry, voicing the ultimate question that had haunted him his whole life. "Kane, tell me. Back then, I saved lives in the hospital. I worked hard and played by the rules, yet I made no money, lost all my dignity, and got pushed around by everyone. But once I threw away my morals, resorted to any means necessary, and got my hands bloody, I got rich. I gained power. People even looked up to me and praised me.""You are a high‑ranking law‑enforcement officer. Tell me, why is that?"Kane stared at the emptiness and confusion in his eyes. For a moment, he fell silent, unable to give an answer.Seeing this, the last glimmer of light died out in Oakley’s gaze. He lowered his head, overcome with disappointment. "Even you have no answer, do you?"Kane stood up and walked slowly toward him. His tone was steady yet sharp, cutting straight to the root of the problem. "The world can be unfair, but human greed and malice are the real disease. You bl

“Go ahead.” Kane pulled out a cigarette and gestured for his team to stand by at ease. Hagen and the others took their seats. Pens, paper and recording cameras were all set up to preserve a full record of everything said.Oakley held out his hand. “Give me one.”Kane hesitated for a moment before handing him a cigarette and leaning forward to light it for him.Wrapped in wispy smoke, Oakley took a deep drag, tamping down the emotions churning inside him, and spoke first. “When exactly did Joren switch over to your side for good? Back when Finnegan died? Or when I lied to him and set up that scheme?”Kane lit his own cigarette, exhaled smoke, and fell silent for a short while. His voice came out hoarse yet firm. “It was today.”Oakley’s pupils narrowed in shock. “Today? That means he was never truly on your side before this?”“That’s right.” Kane replied.“That can’t be.” Oakley shook his head at once, thoroughly confused. “I could clearly tell he kept stalling my plans and hiding your

The boy’s head slammed hard against the cold wall, producing a dull thud. Tears welled up in his eyes as he stared at Oakley, his voice thin and trembling. “Mister, I’ll behave. Please don’t hurt my dad.”Oakley’s ferocious expression froze abruptly.His hands were stained with countless lives. Decades of evil had hardened his heart into stone. Yet, faced with the child’s pure, terrified gaze, the twisted will to die burning inside him wavered for a fleeting moment.“My dad and I don’t have money for medicine. The doctor said… he won’t live much longer.” The little boy choked back sobs, his palm clamped tight around the deadly grenade.Oakley’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He knitted his brows tightly, shoving the strange twinge in his chest aside, and barked sharply. “Keep moving down. Hurry!”Holding the grenade that could detonate at any second, the little boy stumbled down the steps, shaking with every step.The middle‑aged man lying injured on the floor dragged himself forward desperatel

Out on the street outside the shop, Kain led his unit to close in rapidly. He pressed his radio, his voice cold and crisp. “Confirm the target is inside.”“Confirmed!” An outer‑perimeter officer replied in a low tone.Kain’s gaze locked onto the shop entrance. He gave a sharp order. “All units move in. Two shield teams take point. He’s trapped. Prepare to breach.”【Shop Second Floor · Doomed Standoff】At the top‑floor stair landing, Oakley slid down to sit with his back against the cold wall, gasping for breath. Sweat mixed with blood dripped non‑stop from his jaw.After barely half a minute’s rest, heavy footsteps from downstairs drew steadily closer.Oakley lifted his head slowly. A sick, twisted smirk tugged at his lips. He ejected the empty magazine and reloaded with smooth, unnervingly calm movements.“Hiding in there solves nothing, Oakley.” Kain’s voice carried up from downstairs, calm and utterly domineering. “You cannot escape.”Oakley pulled two grenades from his chest pouch

Ito Keiko also stood up quickly and knelt down right behind her aunt. "Allen‑kun, please accept my bow of gratitude!" she said sincerely.Allen let out a soft sigh and spoke earnestly, "Please both of you get up. There is really no need for this. By chance, I lent the Ito family some help, but in the end, it is the Ito family’s own good fortune that allowed you to survive this disaster."Only then did Ito Emi and Keiko rise to their feet.Ito Emi turned to Ito Takehiko. "Brother, Mr. Allen is right. Beyond his help, our family has truly met with rare good fortune. We can absorb the market shares left behind by the Takahashi and Matsumoto clans. With the Takahashi family badly weakened, we can push forward our partnership talks with the Bruce family. At this point, the Bruce family will have no other choice but us.""No!" Ito Takehiko replied without the slightest hesitation. "From now on, we will not enter into any form of cooperation with the Bruce family."Ito Emi could not hide her

Allen told him the truth, "I was originally in Osaka to take over Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s production lines there. I heard Miss Keiko was staying in Kyoto, and since it was only a forty‑minute drive from Osaka to Kyoto, I decided to go visit her. I never expected to arrive just as the Fujibayashi clan’s ninjas were attacking her, so I stepped in."He sighed as he spoke, "It was pure luck. Had I shown up any later, there would have been nothing I could do."Ito Takehiko nodded, filled with lingering fear. "We truly owe everything to you, Mr. Allen."Anger welled up inside him, and he said coldly, "The Fujibayashi ninjas served Takahashi Machi. I cannot for the life of me figure out why he would target me. We were both competing for a partnership with the Bruce family. Even with past frictions and bad blood between us, there was no reason to send assassins after my daughter!"Allen’s brows drew tight at once. "What did you say? The Bruce family? Which Bruce family?!"Ito Takehiko expl

After the double‑leg amputation, the doctors had put him on a pain pump, so he barely felt any physical agony. Still, constant worry over Ito Keiko, who was far away in Kyoto, kept him from sleeping soundly.He had just dreamed that Keiko had met with misfortune in Kyoto. The nightmare jolted him awake at once, and he intended to tell his younger sister Ito Emi to send people to bring Keiko back to Tokyo without delay.Yet what he had never dreamed of was that when the ward door swung open, his beloved precious daughter Ito Keiko walked in together with his sister Ito Emi."Keiko?!" Ito Takehiko blurted out in shock. "What are you doing here?"Seeing her father lying pale and bloodless on the hospital bed, with thick bandages wrapped around his knees and everything below gone forever, Ito Keiko burst into tears and cried out, "Oto‑san!"She rushed over to the bedside, grabbed Ito Takehiko’s hand, and wept bitterly.It took Ito Takehiko a moment to collect himself. Relieved and deeply

Sitting in the passenger seat, Ito Keiko stayed tense throughout the whole ride. Even though Ito Takehiko had said over the phone that he was out of danger, Keiko still harbored quiet worries.A little over three hours later, Allen pulled into Tokyo and stopped at the gate of the University of Tokyo Hospital, the top‑rated medical facility in the city.This hospital boasted Japan’s highest global ranking and represented the nation’s pinnacle of medical care.Once the car came to a full stop, Keiko could not wait to push open the door and get out. Before stepping out, however, she turned to Allen and asked, "Allen‑kun, will you come upstairs with me?"Allen looked slightly awkward. "Your father might not want to see me."Keiko said earnestly, "Allen‑kun, you saved my life. No matter how big the misunderstandings or grudges between you two are, I believe Father will no longer hold them against you!"Allen thought for a brief moment and replied, "Very well, I will go with you."His reaso

Allen couldn’t help laughing and said, “If your dad heard that, he’d probably be furious.”Ito Keiko stuck out her tongue. She was about to speak when her phone suddenly vibrated.She looked confused. “Who would be calling this late? Could the servants have noticed we snuck out?”She quickly pulled out her phone and gasped in surprise. “Oh no, it’s Father!”She never expected her father to call her so late at night.She said nervously to Allen, “Allen‑kun, I need to take this call from my father…”Allen nodded with a smile. “Go ahead.”Keiko quickly answered the phone and asked cautiously, “Father, why are you calling me so late? Is something wrong?”Ito Takehiko’s weak voice came over the line. “Keiko, I’ve had an accident. I’m calling to make sure you’re safe. Is everything all right over in Kyoto?”Keiko asked anxiously, “Father! What happened to you? Are you badly hurt?”Takehiko replied, “Tanaka and I were hunted down by attackers. We barely managed to escape. But I’m afraid they

Upon hearing those words, Matsumoto Yoshito completely broke down. He lifted his head and shouted hysterically, “Why! Why wipe out my entire Matsumoto clan?! Why push for total extermination?!”The woman let out a cold laugh. “This is the price you pay for provoking the Bruce family!”Tears instantly streamed down Matsumoto Yoshito’s face. Mixed with blood, they made his whole look utterly gruesome.All will to live had deserted him. He mumbled, “Kill me. Kill me right now.”The woman nodded and pulled out a sunflower‑seed‑shaped carving of white jade from her pocket. “Matsumoto Yoshito, before you die, I want you to remember my name. I’m Suzie.”With a flick of her wrist, the jade sunflower seed shot forward at high speed.The next instant, a tiny bloody hole appeared in the center of Matsumoto Yoshito’s forehead. All life drained from his body, and he crashed to the ground, dead.Meanwhile, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.The police chief finally breathed a sigh of reli