Novels by Camellia

“Rupert is getting serious. He’s about to cast the Great Dragon‑Infant Art!” Timothy cried out in shock upon spotting the luminous spirit wrapped in dragon patterns.“The Great Dragon‑Infant Art?!”Albert froze at the name, then stared in surprise at the luminous spirit. He was no stranger to this technique; he had set his eyes on it back at the Heavenly‑Dragon Treasury.The quasi‑high‑rank Great Dragon‑Infant Art.Its effect was to boost any dragon‑soul below Lower‑Nine‑Star by half a star.“Rupert possesses a Pseudo‑Nine‑Star Frost‑Dragon Soul and a Lower‑Nine‑Star Ice‑Element Soul,” Timothy explained. “This Great Dragon‑Infant Art was made specifically for his Frost‑Dragon Soul.”Albert’s expression shifted. If so, Rupert would gain a Lower‑Nine‑Star Ice‑Element Soul alongside his Pseudo‑Nine‑Star Frost‑Dragon Soul enhanced by half a star.Though that half‑star increment sounded peculiar, there was no denying it would massively amplify Rupert’s combat power.Timothy’s tone turned g

Emily stretched out her jade‑like finger, sending a wisp of light‑attribute soul‑power surging into the Boundary‑River Meteor and triggering its internal reaction. Violent energy ripples burst outward, and countless cracks spread rapidly across the meteor’s surface.Within mere breaths, the meteor reached its breaking point. Under the gaze of tens of thousands of onlookers, it suddenly shattered.Countless star‑lights showered down across the sky.Each streak of light contained a glowing orb about the size of an infant’s fist. Brilliant starlight swirled across the orbs’ surfaces, dazzling and magnificent.Emily lifted her palm. Her light‑attribute soul‑power gathered all the scattered star‑lights and drew them together before her.“Envoy Emily, how many Star Orbs are there?” Timothy asked eagerly.Emily sensed the count briefly. Facing all those expectant stares, her red lips parted, and a joy‑inducing voice rang out.“Thirteen thousand five hundred.”The moment Emily’s clear, crisp

This was a size no one had ever seen before.Over the past hundred years, the most highly refined Boundary‑River Meteor on record had only shrunk to a little over forty meters. Yet now, Emily and Albert had forcibly raised that record all the way to thirty meters.The shock this dealt to everyone present was beyond comparison.How many Star Orbs could such a refined Boundary‑River Meteor produce? Surely at least ten thousand.At the very thought, the Dragon‑Tooth Guards felt light‑headed, almost breathless. Ten thousand Star Orbs from a single meteor? Such a harvest had once been unthinkable.And now, that dazzling Boundary‑River Meteor hung right before their eyes.“All hail Envoy Emily!”“All hail Commander Albert!”Thunderous, earth‑shaking cheers erupted among the Dragon‑Tooth Guards. Every face shone with wild joy. Nobody had expected that Emily and Albert working together could refine a Boundary‑River Meteor down to thirty meters.Timothy, the Left Dragon‑Tooth Envoy, wiped his

Frith frowned and said, “Brother Odin, I know this will be difficult, yet we cannot let the Dragon‑Tooth Guards steal the spotlight. I do not ask you to outperform her forever. I only hope you can overshadow her on her very first attempt, so she does not gain too much momentum right off the bat.”Odin hesitated. Seeing the displeasure on Frith’s face, he finally nodded. “I shall give it a try later. But this method can only be used occasionally; otherwise, it will harm my own foundation.”Only then did Frith break into a smile. “The honor of our Dragon‑Blood Guards rests entirely on you, Brother Odin.”Odin shook his head with a soft laugh while sighing inwardly. He knew full well this stemmed from Frith’s personal motives, yet he could not turn her down. If he wanted to advance within the Dragon‑Blood lineage, he needed support from Frith’s faction. Without it, he might never secure an important high‑ranking position once he left the Dragon‑Blood Guards years from now. With their bac

“Odin is Rupert’s most valued right‑hand man. Though he bears a different clan name, Rupert holds him in high regard and showers him with abundant resources. Every time Odin purifies and refines a Boundary‑River Meteor, he can condense it down to around seventy meters, yielding over six thousand Star Orbs. We can only envy such gains.” Tamara made no attempt to hide her envy. If one meteor alone produced six thousand orbs, Odin could refine tens of thousands of Star Orbs by himself in total. Just how many warriors could cultivate off that supply?Albert nodded. Boundary‑River Meteors governed the Five Guards’ cultivation progress, and Odin’s skill was truly enviable.As the two conversed, quiet cheers suddenly rose from the Dragon‑Tooth Guards.Albert looked over. Timothy had refined his Boundary‑River Meteor to below one hundred meters. Roughly estimating, it stood at ninety‑eight meters.A faint smile played across Timothy’s face; he was plainly satisfied with his performance. He cl

“It’s time for Star‑Gathering!” Inside the Dragon‑Tooth Guards, Grand Commander Tamara caught sight of the scene and turned to Albert with a smile. “This phase depends entirely on how capable each Commander‑Supreme is. Only those with formidable power can seize more Boundary‑River Meteors.”Albert’s eyes sharpened. He looked over and saw Vance, Rupert and the other three Commander‑Supremes let out earth‑shaking roars. They unleashed the tremendous power of their respective guards, and towering God‑Realm Platforms rose behind them, drawing in and expelling cosmic energy.Albert noticed that among the five leaders, Vance, Wheeler, Yvonne and Yates were all at the Four‑Star God‑Realm. Only Rupert had reached the Five‑Star God‑Realm.Yet that hardly mattered. As the five Commander‑Supremes took command of their grand formations, their energy surges skyrocketed wildly, instantly rivaling the might of an Eight‑Star God‑Realm expert.Vast beams of energy sliced through the void, morphing int

Ash extended an invitation right away. “Are you free tonight? Let’s meet up and talk some serious business.”Recalling Ingram’s reminder, Kane thought it over briefly and agreed. “Sure, I’m free this evening.”“I’ll send a car to pick you up.”“No need.” Kane declined politely. “Just send me the address. I’ll get there on my own.”“Alright, see you tonight.”After hanging up, Cruz glanced over and asked, “Was that Ash?”“Yeah. We’re discussing the partnership tonight.” Kane looked at him. “Want to come along?”Cruz touched the scratches on his face and shook his head helplessly. “I’m in no shape to show my face like this. I might lose my temper and stir up gossip. Take Pierce and Hartley instead.”“Fair enough.” Kane nodded. “Tell Hartley to get the car ready.”......At six in the evening, daylight faded into dusk.Dressed in plain‑clothes, Hartley drove Kane toward Slag Street.Dask had recently been promoted and swamped with official duties, so he could not tag along. Nowadays, whe

Meanwhile, Novara First Penitentiary.Harsh white fluorescent light filled the cell. A man in his mid‑thirties sat on the bunk, leaning against the wall, staring blankly into space, wide awake. His aura was restrained, yet dormant ambition smoldered in his eyes.A young inmate on guard duty glanced over and asked, “Sir, why aren’t you asleep this late?”A faint smile tugged at the man’s lips, and he spoke softly. “I’m getting out soon. Can’t sleep.”【Early Morning · Hotel Guest Room】At half‑past seven in the morning, daylight streamed bright.Two soft knocks rapped on the hotel room door. Still hung‑over and groggy, Kane yawned and got up to open it.Hartley stood in the doorway holding breakfast, his demeanor steady. “Sir, time to get up. Work starts soon.”“What time is it?” Kane rubbed his throbbing temples and stepped aside to let him in.“Seven‑thirty. The rest of us have already eaten.” Hartley set the breakfast on the table and twisted open two bottles of mineral water.Kane p

Moments later, a seasoned middle‑aged man was the first to speak up in agreement. “Captain Kane’s three rules are fair and sensible. With clear boundaries and bottom lines, we can all earn money and stay safe. That’s far better than the old days of constant bloodshed, never knowing if we’d live to see tomorrow. I’m the first to back this.”The rest nodded one after another, unanimous in their response.Kane filled a glass with strong liquor, looked straight at everyone, and spoke in a solemn tone. “These are not suggestions, nor drunken ramblings. They are the hard‑and‑fast rules for the Black District moving forward. Thank you all for cooperating with the precinct.”With that, he tossed back the entire drink in one smooth motion.Watching his decisive bearing, none of the men dared to crack casual jokes anymore.Kane set down his glass, wiped liquor from the corner of his mouth, and went on. “I lay down these rules, yet I also leave you a way to survive. I understand every one of you

Kane let out a snort and spoke bluntly. “I have no need to schmooze and build connections with a bunch of strangers.”“Alright, sit down first,” Joren quickly stepped in to smooth things over.Just then, Pierce pushed the door open and got straight to the point. “Why couldn’t I get through to you on the phone?”“Must be signal‑blocking inside the room. What’s going on?” Kane looked up and asked.Pierce wore a grave expression and gestured with his hand. “Kane, Joren, Cruz, come with me.”......The four stepped out of the private room and stood at the quiet end of the hallway.Pierce lowered his voice and spoke urgently. “Devin just passed word. The new top boss for Black Street has shown up out of nowhere tonight. He came with people from headquarters.”The other three froze on the spot.Surprise flickered across Kane’s eyes. “Cole didn’t tip us off about this at all.”“He must have only just arrived,” Pierce rushed on. “I booked the whole floor tonight. These higher‑ups demanded a p

“Cole has secured his position as Chief Councilor of Southmound and holds the clout to liaise with higher‑ups. We will run into restrictions everywhere in this region from now on,” Wade analyzed the overall situation in a low voice. “After Ingram’s transfer, the new director for Black Street is a neutral appointee sent over by headquarters. He will definitely not side with any local factions in the short term. On top of that, Joren has forged deep ties with Pierce, and that alliance is already solidified.”He lifted his eyes toward Weston, every word sharp and lucid. “Do the math. If we keep fighting for control over Black Street, we will have to go up against Kane, who is watching our every move, and Pierce, whose strength matches ours. Stretched thin on two fronts, we stand zero chance of winning.”“I get it,” Weston nodded slowly.“Greed brings ruin,” Wade lowered his gaze, his tone resolute. “We no longer hold absolute dominance over Black Street. Forcing a two‑front operation wil

The gate to the old residential compound creaked open. The landlady stepped inside carrying a grain sack and spotted Kane on the steps. She spoke in a familiar tone, “Haven’t seen you around for days.”“Work’s been piling up at the unit. I couldn’t get away,” Kane replied, his gaze soft. “Did you go out shopping?”“Picked up some old grain.” The landlady shifted topics, sounding confused. “Hey, where’s Raven? Haven’t laid eyes on her in ages. Water pooled in her room and froze solid. Tell her to swing by sometime. If the heating pipes crack from the frost, we’ll be in big trouble.”Kane stiffened slightly. His fingers tightened unconsciously. After a long pause, he forced a faint smile. “I forgot to mention. She won’t be coming back for now.”The landlady blinked, looking regretful. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I could’ve rented it out. It’s such a waste leaving it empty.”“Don’t rent this place out. Leave everything inside untouched.” Kane’s eyes drifted toward Raven’s vacant room

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