21 Situation Couldn't Get Any Worse!

The imperial capital of Skyrise Empire is divided into nine circular zones. The Imperial Palace is located in the first and inner-most zone. The first zone has hundreds of mountains in it along with spirit stone mines, herb garden, lakes, etc. Just the first zone of the city has an area of 20,000 sq mi.

The concept of a city for cultivators is different from those of mortals. Cultivators need essence springs and spiritual energy which is usually rich in mountainous regions. The imperial capital of Skyrise Empire is located in the core of a divine rank spiritual vein.

The imperial island where the heart of spiritual vein located houses the imperial palace.

At least that's how it used to be.

Currently, the entire first zone was wiped out. There is no sign of imperial island much less imperial palace. Not a single sign of life can be seen in the first zone. Even second and third zones were full of destruction. Most markets were full of debris and corpses. It seemed as if a massive earthquake has hit the area. An 'earthquake' so powerful that even Divine Manifestation realm cultivators died of shock waves!

The only people who survived were those who were located in the latter zones. People in the outer zones were usually jealous of those in inner zones since inner zones are very high in spiritual energy.

Today was the day that inner zone people envied the people from outer zones! Those who have access to the best spiritual energy died first!

The second zone used to have a population of more than a million! Now all of them were dead! They were someone who has a large influence throughout the empire just by the virtue of being a noble or having the blood of imperial family.

It didn't mean the outer zones didn't suffer any damages. In fact, the outer zones, including the ninth zone which was the outermost zone, were full of fallen buildings and corpses. The only advantage they had is that more people survived as the shock waves were less powerful.

Shi Xiong gave a loud sigh after he reached the ninth zone. His body was full of blood stains and even one of his arm was severed. His cultivation base has degraded as well with him being now only at the initial stage of Divine Manifestation while an hour ago he was at peak stage!

"At least I survived," Shi Xiong thought as if trying to console himself. He couldn't help but feel fear when he thought of the events from last thirty minutes.

He has run away from the imperial palace island when the Celestial Tribulation attacked Skyrise Emperor, Blood Witch, and Wang Xixi. All forms of spatial magics were restricted in the first zone after the arrival of Celestial Tribulation.

He has seen Blood Witch absorbing the flesh and blood of Ying Xiu and others. Shi Xiong thought he was lucky that he ran away. When he reached the second zone, he even gave a sigh of relief as there were no dark clouds in the second zone. He was even able to use spatial magic.

Shi Xiong didn't leave the second zone though as he thought it was safe since he was able to use spatial magic. He gazed towards the first zone to understand the events in the first zone but the disturbance caused by tribulation clouds made it difficult to see clearly. Many Divine Manifestation and Divine King realm cultivators in the second zone tried but failed.

Then suddenly Shi Xiong and others faced a heaven-shaking pressure engulfing them. The Celestial Tribulation only applied pressure in the first zone but the new pressure was everywhere in the capital. Shi Xiong's eyes almost popped out when he saw a massive tree in the first zone. The tree was so large that it occupied the entire heaven and earth.

Shi Xiong was thousands of miles away from the tree, but yet he the pressure from the tree made him fell on his knees. His entire body started sweating heavily and many of his blood vessels ruptured. He was coughing blood nonstop.

Not only him, but other experts were in the same situation. It seemed as if this world and its people couldn't handle the presence of the tree. More than half a million people in the second zone died of this invisible pressure.

A moment later, Shi Xiong noticed the tribulation clouds from second zone disappearing thought the invisible pressure was as strong as ever. He regretted not leaving the second zone when he had the chance. The situation couldn't get any worse, he thought.

Alas, it seemed the heavens has formed a habit of proving Shi Xiong wrong when it comes to 'worse'. He previously thought nothing could be worse than his grandson being raped by beasts. To prove him wrong, his grandson was almost sent for experimentation by the Emperor. He thought that was the worst thing but then the Celestial Tribulation arrived.

The heavens did the same thing now. He thought nothing can be worse than the pressure from the tree. But to prove him wrong, four columns of gray lights arrived in the first zone and turned into a giant gray sword. Even the tribulation clouds arrived again this time with an extra meteorite shower. The pressure from the gray sword was as strong as the tree. The combined pressure killed almost everyone who survived in the second and third zone.

Shi Xiong and other experts survived but their cultivation base started degrading. Then the situation even got worse when the tree and sword started clashing releasing powerful shock waves. One of the shock waves sliced off Shi Xiong's arm.

Perhaps because this time he didn't think 'situation couldn't get any worse', there didn't come anything worse. In fact, seconds later the gray sword disappeared along with the tribulation clouds and meteorites. The heavens were so generous that after few moments even the tree disappeared.

Shi Xiong was barely able to stand. Even though the crisis has completely disappeared, Shi Xiong didn't dare take any chances.

Once bitten, twice shy.

He used his full powers to teleport away and this is how he finally reached the ninth zone. He was completely exhausted.

Shi Xiong gave a sigh of relief thinking he has survived the worst.

" Not like the situation could get any worse," Shi Xiong mumbled thinking about the current crisis of Empire and his own body.

FUCK!

He instantly regretted his words! After his recent experience, he started believing that heavens like to prove him wrong with his idea of worse!

Shi Xiong cursed himself for being speaking those unlucky words.

How could I still say these unlucky words?

He took out all his remaining treasure talismans waiting for the impending disaster. His entire body started trembling thinking about the upcoming disaster the heavens would send.

"Uncle Shi!"

"Grandpa Shi!"

Shi Xiong almost got a heart attack when he heard the voices!

The danger sent by the heavens know my name? They are even greeting me as uncle and grandpa?

Shi Xiong slowly turned back to see what danger the heavens have sent. He was shocked to see the voices belonged to Lin Li and Zhen Han.

"Uncle Shi, why are you aiming the talismans at us?" Lin Li asked.

Shi Xiong: "........."