historical

While the massacre happened just below the peak point, Owner Bu was sitting in lotus position, meditating. The looming tribulation above his head was still there and it looked like it was gathering enough power to crush Owner Bu.

Owner Bu had no time for distracting thoughts or else he might really die here. He circulated all his qi in his heart in a soft and mild manner to protect it in case a calamity were to fall upon him.

"Kshhh!" Loud and violent thunderclaps could now be heard as it echoed in all directions.

It's here! It's coming! Owner Bu thought. He braced himself.

"Kaaash! Boom!" True enough, a violent blue-colored thunder crashed towards him and made a loud explosion. The land that surrounded him made a pit with webcracks all around.

"Grug!" Owner Bu spat a mouthful of blood after experiencing the first strike. He knew that a Dao Tribulation was strong, but he never expected it was this strong!

There were total of three strikes during a Dao Tribulation. And the more strikes, the more it was getting stronger. And all of these three needed to be overcame by the cultivator in order to fully enter a new realm of power.

Now, it was just the first strike yet he was already in this state. However, it's too late to turn back now. It's now or never! He equipped all his defensive treasures that he accumulated all these years.

Even if he were to die here, maybe it was okay. After all, his death will bring him the relief and regret at the same time. And it might not be too bad at all, right?

"Ksssh!" The second strike was now getting ready to crash down. The thunderclaps got more aggressive and aggressive as it pierced the void with rampaging thunders.

"Kssssahhhhh!" Soon enough, the second strike finally descended with a greater power and momentum!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The second strike destroyed many trees around as it created a massive wind destruction all around the entire vicinity of the mountain.

"Thump! Grug!" Owner Bu lied down in powerlessness as he vomited another mouthful of blood. His eyes were getting lifeless and dark spots have appeared below his eyes.

He was losing a great amount of blood in a fast pace. If this continued, he would die.

"Dammit." Owner Bu cursed inside. He was already in a very bad state that he didn't know if he could move. All he could do right now was stare at the dark clouds with thunderclaps above him.

"Shit." Again, he cursed. He was now having a difficulty to breathe as if the oxygen was very thin here. He kept chasing his breath as to stabilize himself but it was useless. He was severely injured that even his breathing was affected.

"Kssssh!" And the signal of the third and last strike came. The dark clouds spun faster and faster until it created a whirlpool made of clouds. The thunderclaps became faster and more aggressive than the previous two strikes.

It looked like a catastrophe descending the Starlight Higher World.

"I'm doomed." Owner Bu laughed weakly in despair. He knew himself that he wouldn't survive this last strike. He was thinking of asking for help to the World-Destroying Sword. But he shook this notion off. With how prideful that sword was, he knew it would just mock him for being like this.

"So this is it huh..." After a minute, Owner Bu sighed in powerlessness and helplessness. In the end, he wasn't able to do anything for those he cared. He wanted to say at least thank you to Jin Rou before dying but...

"Ksaaaaaaaaaaaaaash!" The last strike of the Dao Tribulation had descended towards him.

"Booom!" And a very loud and large explosion was made. The wind scattered in all directions as it annihilated everything in its path. The violent winds soon turned into whirlwind as it descended down the mountain, razing everything to the ground.

—

"How..." Owner Bu was surprised. He knew that he would be killed by that last strike yet he was still fine and breathing. After snapping back to reality, he could see a sword-like figure amidst of the thick smoke.

It was his World-Destroying Sword.

"Did you protect me?" Owner Bu asked unmoving sword in front of him, "Thank you."

Though it was nonsensical to talk with a sword, the fact remained that it saved him. Besides, the sword has its own sentience. So, it felt like it was a person for Owner Bu.

"Hmph. You owe me this one." The sword snorted in disdain and said, "This Dao Tribulation is an abnormal one. I have seen countless tribulations of this kind but this Dao Tribulation was almost as deadly as Heavenly Tribulation. Thus, though I don't want to help you, I was moved by my conscience and decided to help you once."

What the sword said was indeed true. The Dao Tribulation usually had no power to kill a cultivator. At most, it would cripple one. And rare cases were there that people were killed because of this.

This part was true. But the latter part of what it said wasn't. Truthfully, it was because of Jin Rou.

As the sword has its own sentience, Jin Rou could send telepathic message towards it. And he just said a few words of threat so that the sword will do according to his bidding.

And of course, though the sword was mighty, arrogant, and prideful, what could he do against the Celestial King himself? So it obeyed.

In fact, Jin Rou didn't need to threat it at all as the sword would be very happy to serve him. If it's only a dog, it might already wagged its tail in joy.

"Still, thank you." Owner Bu wasn't aware of the real reason but still thanked it. After all, now, he had became a full-fledged Heavenly Saint and his chances of winning had officially went higher.

He didn't spare any time as he immediately sat down and meditate to stabilize his newfound strength.