Simmons' spiritual ability burst forth, and he charged straight in. In an instant, the world changed color, and lightning struck towards Simmons. In fact, the moment he stepped in, Simmons forgot everything, fully immersing himself. His body's sensitivity was maxed out, and he frantically twisted his body to evade the lightning's attacks.

Li Xin's performance last week provided some insight. This time, Simmons was clearly well-prepared. During the day, he practiced specific dodging techniques, and at night, he conducted simulations in his mind. Though Simmons appeared modest, he actually had some confidence in his heart.

Simmons advanced under the terrifying lightning strikes. Outside, Celestia was indeed sweating nervously. Without armor, the interference from the lightning would continuously increase. Simmons' body movements were truly fierce, his spiritual ability resilience was full, and his eyes were a fiery red as he moved frantically, getting faster and faster. However, the power of the lightning was beyond imagination, and with the addition of hovering lightning balls, the difficulty suddenly increased several times over.

Although the lightning strikes were swift, they had a rhythm. As long as one grasped it precisely, the body could keep up. However, the floating, elusive lightning balls were the most troubling, as their changes in direction while hovering and vibrating could shift the center of gravity. How to judge this sway was the hurdle Simmons faced.

He managed to dodge one round, but his rhythm was completely off, and his footwork became hasty. It's like walking a tightrope; once it gets chaotic, it only gets more chaotic, and balance is completely lost.

A bolt of lightning hit him squarely, and Simmons' hair stood on end. Once hit, the body stiffens, and movements slow down significantly, unable to keep up with the frequency of the stone bridge's attacks, leading to death. There wasn't even time to use the Divine Flash. Before Simmons could muster his will, the second bolt struck, disrupting his spellcasting. Simmons thought he was finished when suddenly his body was swiftly pulled away by a force; when he opened his eyes, he was back at the starting point.

"Master Simmons, well done, there's progress. Catch your breath properly, and we'll continue," Li Xin said.

Simmons nodded, reminded of his time at the Secret Castle. Ever since he left there, he had indeed lived too comfortably these years.

Two lightning strikes were still manageable. Simmons was preoccupied with thoughts of the floating lightning balls, "Brother Li, is there any way to avoid the lightning balls?"

"Sure, dodge them. If you're fast, they'll be slow; if you're slow, they'll be fast."

"That's like saying nothing." Simmons smiled bitterly, then charged back in again, as with Li Xin's flexible rope, he had no worries and could let loose to try.

But this attempt was even worse than the first; he was struck by horizontal lightning before even reaching the lightning ball stage and was pulled back by Li Xin again.

Li Xin didn't say anything, and neither did Simmons, who sat on the ground gasping for air but soon got up again.

Practice more if you're weak.

Simmons was indeed a ruthless person, charging straight back in. On the ninth attempt, Simmons' spiritual ability was almost depleted, and his physical strength was nearing exhaustion. His body was battered beyond recognition, covered in soot, feeling as though his bones were tingling numb.

Once again, he was pulled back by Li Xin, lying on the ground with nothing left but heavy breathing, "Brother Li, that should be enough for today, right?"

"Like an eagle, Master Simmons, you must be joking. We're just getting started. Come, let's drink this all-healing magic potion, rest a bit, and we can continue. This is it, right? I remember you saying this helps spiritual ability recover quickly. All good stuff." Li Xin pulled out a bottle, removed the stopper, looked at the expensive liquid inside, then poured it into Simmons' mouth.

Simmons sat up, mobilizing his spiritual ability to accelerate the potion's digestion, and soon stood up. It seemed he still had plenty of strength.

Li Xin certainly wasn't trying to push Simmons to death; it's just that this guy was used to saving half and using half. He thought he was giving his all, but he was far from it; perhaps it was a family trait. It was the same at the Secret Castle.

Idealism is plump, but experience is bony. Simmons' dodging was indeed thrilling, while Li Xin on the other side was shouting, "Master, keep going!"

"Master Simmons, hold on, you're the best, you can do it!"

Simmons was miserable, fraught with danger, and still forced to listen to the embarrassing encouragement. He definitely didn't want to be pulled back by Li Xin again. This time was somewhat better; he got about halfway before being pulled back.

Li Xin looked at the panting Simmons, "You rest for a bit, I'm going to take a stroll."

Saying this, Li Xin stepped towards the stone bridge. This time, the rhythm was different from the last. Li Xin didn't rush through; previously, he didn't know what was inside or any unknown changes. Having gone through once, it was a completely different state for Li Xin as he sensed the connection between the Divine Relic and the Holy Land. As he advanced, the lightning danced. In Simmons' eyes, Li Xin didn't seem fast; he casually strolled amid the lightning. Whether it was lightning or lightning balls, the crisscrossing chaotic attacks, accompanied by the paralyzing effects of dense lightning, seemed to have no effect on Li Xin.

Then Li Xin strolled to the opposite side, the lightning dispersed, and then strolled back. But when he returned, it was just casual strolling, even taking time to observe the texture of the stone bridge. The two sides appeared quite dangerous under the shroud of mist, but even concentrating his gaze couldn't penetrate the barrier of the mist.

Li Xin returned, and it was Master Simmons' turn again. However, as soon as he stepped in, there was a flash of lightning, and it felt like the stone bridge was angry.

Celestia, watching from the outside, mainly wanted the Princess and Simmons to get to know each other. Estella, however, was watching with great interest. Filled with curiosity about the Holy Land and Hidden Power, she could watch anything for a long time. After all, who knew when she would be able to come out again next time.

"What exactly is the relationship between the two? Why does one call the other master and the other Brother Li? It's so strange," Estella was also a bit puzzled. Could it be that Li Xin is from the George Family?

"I don't understand either. Probably just the quirky friendship between men," Celestia laughed, while Li Xin… made Simmons seem a bit silly, which she had overlooked.

"The process of gaining power is indeed full of thorns; Simmons is very resilient," Estella still offered her affirmation. Watching through the crystal ball wasn't very clear, but one could feel that every lightning strike was by no means easy; Simmons definitely had a robust body and spiritual ability defense, quite solid, only the fierce atmosphere was disrupted by someone else.

As for the other, wasn't it only natural?

"I can't stay at the monastery for too long. After going back tonight, the Knight Order will come to take me back to the Royal Palace early tomorrow morning. I don't know when we'll meet next time." Estella was still a bit reluctant. She had only been out twice, mainly to pave the way, and she hadn't done what she truly wanted to do yet.

Upon hearing that she would return to the Royal Palace tomorrow, Celestia also felt a bit regretful. "Next time you come out, you must find me. I'll prepare in advance."

"It's very hard for me to get out. You can come to the palace to find me." Estella said, "Especially if the new chapter of 'Utopia Mountain Grudge' comes out, remember to bring it to me."

The Hex Bird Report, Estella could find a way to get hold of it, but the contents entering the Royal Palace were all censored. Popular novels like this sure fell into the category of filtered content.

"I need a good excuse." Celestia said. Even as a companion reader, it wasn't easy for her to enter the palace and meet the Princess.

"Learn it! The academy hosted by Grandmaster Vladimir; you can definitely come. I know you don't want to listen to their bragging, but this is our best chance." Estella didn't dare to ask her father for requests. Whenever she made a request, her father would first doubt, then question, and finally drop it altogether.

Celestia giggled, "I thought I was the only one who found it boring. Every time, watching them strive to outdo each other like they had too much energy, I didn't know what to say. Amosa's worse, charging at everyone like a bull."

Among the girls in the academy, Princess's status was undoubtedly the most noble, but her restrictions were also the greatest. Next in rank was Princess Amosa, who not only had a high status but also seniority. Due to some old matters, the King was lenient with her, which fueled her reckless behavior.

"We won't bother recognizing her antics."

In the Holy Land, Simmons was pulled out again. This time, Li Xin made a gesture, indicating that Celestia should help them leave the Holy Land.

As the Gate of Truth opened, the two returned from the Holy Land to the Canon Law School's base. Simmons had lost his mobility, his body charred and still smoking, the actual situation was worse than they had imagined. Celestia was startled, instantly giving Li Xin a disapproving look. Li Xin waved his hand, "Don't worry, he's fine, let him recover on his own."

Celestia saw Simmons nod, then finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, Simmons looked quite tragic, blood covering his face. Listening to their playful banter from within, she originally thought he was just a bit charred, not knowing what to say looking at Li Xin's nonchalant demeanor.

Simmons couldn't move an inch, for a moment feeling like he was back in that dark, terrifying Secret Castle. With mindless courage, he braved there, bearing the responsibility to revitalize his family, but experienced inhumane torture. It was there that he learned how to survive. Seeing the calm in Li Xin's eyes, he seemed to have returned, his gaze resembling that of the Immortal.

The severely injured body hadn't dried up, surely injured, but as an Awakened, especially one possessing a Divine Relic and having activated the Second Life Star, his body's potential was formidable. Once dried up, the power would flow like a creek, permeating the body, each instance making him stronger, more adaptable.

This was the dumbest method but also the most straightforward and effective. Given his prowess, passing the stone bridge was impossible in the short term. If it took a decade or so, it would lose its meaning. First letting the body adapt to Thunder Power would provide room to exert.

At this moment, Simmons had understood Li Xin's plan, it was the quickest and most effective.

Simmons stopped letting his imagination run wild, instead focusing his limited Spiritual Ability on his body, helping it recover. Through this process, he understood his condition better, a skills usage method learned in the Secret Castle. People there all knew it, otherwise, under such cruel torture, the body would soon collapse, and elimination was only a matter of time.

Seeing Simmons regain his composure, Li Xin then noticed the other two were already gone.

Celestia and Estella had already boarded the carriage.

"I'm so envious of them." Estella said, "Simmons surely trusts Li Xin greatly, he's very lucky."

"Huh?"

"He can entrust his back to Li Xin, a bond that only extraordinary experiences can establish. He trusts Li Xin's abilities greatly. Celestia, this year's Saint Grace Canon Law School is worth looking forward to. I'll tell my brother about it."

"Arthur, isn't it a bit early? I don't think those two can hold on."

"I can lay the groundwork first," Estella smiled slightly, "Don't you think striving for one's goal is a joyful and exhilarating thing? Simmons will definitely persevere."

Though covered in scars and looking miserable, Simmons' eyes were filled with fulfillment and a hint of smile, something she could feel.

"If Simmons knew who complimented him, he probably wouldn't be able to sleep with happiness." Celestia laughed, "Just kidding, I won't tell anyone."

Both Celestia, and Simmons and Li Xin, led very interesting, vibrant lives.

Culinary arts, novels, Canon Law School, Holy Land, friends, speaking openly, everything was the kind of real life Estella yearned for.

But it was already evening, and she had to return to the monastery. Suddenly, she somewhat understood why that senior sister she'd never met refused to return, the world outside was more exciting.

Mr. Gemini, very interesting.

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