Chapter 153: Project Shoot-the-Sun Exterminate-the-Pests (Part 1)

Gazing at the first snowflake of winter falling, Robert felt a tumult of mixed emotions.

Having suffered a defeat beneath the walls of Gaeta, he had retreated to the Castle of Aversa to establish winter quarters alongside the remaining Normans.

The Castle of Aversa occupied a crucially strategic position.

It firmly commanded a vital thoroughfare, connecting Benevento to the east and Naples to the west, while also serving as the cradle from which the southern Normans had risen. Its profound importance went without saying.

Destiny awoke. Due to both physical and psychological exhaustion, Destiny had slept for three full days. Throughout this period, Long Yifan had arranged for nutrient solutions to be administered to sustain his normal bodily functions, leaving Destiny no longer feeling quite so weak. Yet, how he wished he had never awakened, so deeply did he yearn for the warmth of his mother's embrace.

With a flick of Nangong Qian's wrist, seven flying swords of various shapes and imbued with ice-attribute properties were instantly summoned. Guided by the infusion of true elemental energy and the control of her spiritual consciousness, the seven swords began to dance gracefully through the air.

Wherever she passed, absolute stillness followed; the once-boisterous assembly hall fell utterly silent as everyone stood mesmerized, appreciating this flawless "work of art"—a magnificent gift from nature.

"Shadow Transformation!" Accompanied by Su Yi's furious roar, he unleashed a flurry of speartirads that blotted out the sky, brandishing his weapon with frantic intensity.

Having spoken those words, Lin Tian felt a profound wave of relief. That old fossil Nangong Ao fancied himself an invincible Grand Marshal, yet he had succumbed to a flaw shared by many: supreme arrogance.

Zejin suddenly felt all discomfort in his left hand completely vanish. He stared at his left hand in disbelief, shook it vigorously, and realized it was truly healed—completely healed. He looked at Jim in utter astonishment.

Just as Saturnan finished speaking, Elrn, the head gardener, reappeared. He now wore a trace of delicate makeup that lent him a somewhat bewitching air. "My lords, please follow me," he said, before leading the way toward the hall's entrance.

Hou Zhenshan and Du Meng had received divine enlightenment from the Black Grandmother at the Eight Treasures Cloud-Light Cave within the Nine-Peak Iron-Railing Mountain—the sacred headquarters of the spirit-medium sects—resulting in a qualitative leap in both of their cultivations. Hou Zhenshan, in particular, had finally begun to perceive the threshold of his millennium-long cultivation, striding forward with indomitable vigor and displaying immense potential.

Zejin simply could not comprehend how a soul could possess subjective consciousness if it was entirely blank. Recalling his teacher's expression moments earlier, he finally understood that this matter was far more complex than he had initially thought; Reverse Scale had been underestimated by everyone, as they still commanded powers beyond ordinary human comprehension.

Watching him press his stubborn, thin lips together, remaining obstinate and unmoved, Deng Kai felt a pang of sorrow so sharp it brought tears to his eyes.

He could not. He could never let his son find out what he had done to Xia Nian back then in order to tear them apart.

The comical, incredulous expressions on the faces of the Soul-Breaking Sect members of the Wang family provoked gales of laughter, while Wang Tao's twisted visage—so contorted it seemed capable of crushing a camel's skull—imprinted the name Blue Sea into everyone's memory once more.

He was smiling, but that smile was bone-chillingly terrifying, a deep-seated coldness that was nearly impossible to suppress.

Ji Man had been wondering what the Old Lady was up to, but the moment she caught sight of Ning Errong, everything finally became clear.

Hearing the mention of Drunk Flower Brocade, Du Zhong's expression grew somewhat unnatural. Zhao Shinan had already spoken to him numerous times about acquiring the formula, and now that his younger sister was bringing it up as well, a flicker of displeasure crossed his face.

Zhu Yurun giggled again, glancing to the left and right before blushing and saying, "I don't know his name, nor do I know where his home is."

The diurnal temperature range in Bordeaux was vast, and coupled with the biting chill of December, the outdoors was exceptionally freezing. A single breath instantly condensed into mist in the frosty air.

My constitution is rather robust, meaning my body quickly builds a tolerance to alcohol once I've consumed it. Having passed out from drunkenness once before, medicinal wine had evidently lost its efficacy on me this time. I drank an entire bottle with zero effect. Aside from the occasional hiccup, there was practically no reaction whatsoever.