Shi Lang was pushed inside the water after the lightning hit him head-on. OB-One did not react, he stood there at the shore, watching the scene unfold in front of him. During his entire life, which was not known to any of the Terran people, he has seen this seen countless times.

The youngsters from his old master’s civilization would face the tribulations to ascend their cultivation level, however, the impact was too strong compared to Shi Lang’s tribulation. OB-One was equipped with the technology to detect the density of the spiritual energy in the void, but he had no knowledge about heaven’s profound secrets.

Shi Lang swam his way up to the surface again and using the spirit energy to cover his body, he was able to stand over the surface of the ocean. The clouds were rumbling and another lightning snake could be spotted burrowing among them. As soon as, Shi Lang stood up the lightning bold charged right toward him.

The young man channeled the spirit energy outside the body and formed a shield in front of him. The lightning bolt hit the shield and Shi Lang was flung away. He was not strong enough to absorb the lightning from the heavens to get stronger. That was bull**, his body was not strong enough and this was the main reason.

If he was to absorb the lightning, the volatile nature of the lightning will shatter his newly condensed core, and that was the second reason. Shi Lang did not want to take chances. He was told by the predecessor from the civilization on the Frontier, that he must not be greedy for strength.

0)ᴠʟ Today he again realized the cost one might have to pay for being greedy. The second lightning bold was dealt with but his organs were shocked already and a minuscule amount of the lightning had already penetrated deep inside his bones and organs. This was not harmful to him but nourishing, however, the third lightning bolt was something that he needed to deal with.

Thinking about this, he transferred his consciousness to the spirit tattoo on his chest. From inside the tattoo, he retrieved a pink pill. He mumbled, “I wonder of you as a heavenly pill can tolerate the heavenly lightning.”.

That said, when he came to the surface and found the third lightning bolt diving at his visage, he threw away the pill in his hand to meet the heavenly lightning directly. The scene was nothing but stupidity however, unexpectedly, it worked. The pill was hit with heavenly lightning and made the blue color of the streak turn golden.

Shi Lang almost cursed out loud but he knew that his rage will only make the tribulation even more intense. He controlled his emotions and entered a state of calm. He could enter deep meditation in a blink. As he entered meditation, showing nothing to the lightning bolt coming toward him, a ship entered the atmosphere, tearing apart the dark clouds, Nexalia and the rest have arrived and they were heading towards Shi Lang to check on his condition.

Kar-te was also bought along with them. However, they met a blockade. OB-One stood at the shore, and he could tell that someone was approaching, due to his knowledge about the heavenly tribulation, he knew how dangerous it was to approach someone at this critical juncture, so he hacked inside the ship’s mainframe and then made it stop.

Nexalia frowned and asked the people to check up on what was going on. At this moment, the communication hub was activated and an indifferent voice sounded, “Do not approach my master, you will not be able to afford the price of disturbing him.”

The people inside the ship were surprised, and when Nexalia was about to order an air strike. Amelia asked, “OB-One, is that you?”

The bot replied, “Affirmative.”

Amelia asked, “What is happening to Lang?”

“I can only tell you that he is in a very good position and he will overcome this incident.”, replied the bot.

Amelia nodded and the connection was disrupted. Nexalia asked, “Colonel Amelia, is this okay?”

This young lady was Shi Lang’s breath. If there was someone who could call shots about Shi Lang’s life, then, that person was Amelia. Nexalia nodded and the ship landed on the spot. The people than all decided to walk, to reach OB-One. That was where they thought it would be safest.

OB-One did not say anything and kept gazing at the scene in front of him. Shi Lang was hit by the third lightning streak. His body was flung up in the air and then covered in a golden cocoon. Inside the cocoon, Shi Lang was experiencing something unexplainable. His body was emitting a lot of impurities.

It was like he was shedding a layer of skin and growing a new one. That was not all, but even his organs were secreting some impurities that were being sucked away by an invisible force. Shi Lang felt really relaxed and his body even curled up like it a baby inside the womb.

The heavenly lightning was not enraged by the heavenly pill, but it was taken as a sacrifice. Shi Lang realized this after the cocoon has covered him.

…

Amelia and the others could not see as far as OB-One, so they used their equipment when they saw the scene of a golden ball floating above the water, they were surprised, and even more, they could see Shi Lang inside, as if he was sleeping.

Amelia recalled something and she smiled. She said, “I see, so this is what’s going on here.”

General Edward asked, “Shed some light, young lady.”

“Shi Lang is breaking through another level of spiritual cultivation and he seemed to have passed the final level. He told me earlier that one of the things that come when you break through another level is not only the strength but also the tribulation that tests your foundation and can leave you alive being a cripple. If you are lucky then keep on moving, however, if you are unlucky, then someone can pick you up in an urn. That is basically what happens most of the time.”, replied Amelia.

The people were surprised and Hayley asked, “OB-One, how many lightning streaks did he face?”

OB-One replied, “Three, Madam.”

OB-One was completely immersed in his character as the butler. Hayley nodded and said, “Do you know what will the effects of this process will be?”

The bot nodded and said, “His meridians will be healed completely. His strength will be ten times what it was in the past. These are just the basic information, the gains and losses are different from people to people.”

The people were shocked they did not expect things to be so cool, however, before they even had the chance to let their imagination run wild. OB-One said, “I would kindly like to remind you all that this sort of chance is not all gains, there is always a certain degree of death risk involved. Most of the time when people do not have a firm foundation, they are reduced to a charred pile of bones. The lightning you face is not blunt, but it is a force that carries the most destructive points of heavenly strength.”

The people sighed, Jenkins said, “OB-One, do you know any method that could help us lower the risk factor?”

The bot shook his head and said, “I do not know any such method sir. One tip that might help you in facing the heavens is never to be arrogant. A lot of people who think they are very strong and can defy the heavens, end up as cripples. That outcome is worse than death. No matter how strong a person is, they will always stay under the heavens and never be apart from it. This is a fact that should be accepted by cultivators.”

Jenkins replied, “Shi Lang said that cultivation is a path that defies the heavens. Then how can we cultivate and stay in line with heaven.”

The bot replied, “You are against the shackles of heavens, you want to defy fate and be extraordinary. The heavens are not a monolith, Sir. It does allow you to move around if you are diligent and true to your goals. You do not defy the heavens, you just ask for its acknowledgment. Defiance has a different meaning for different people.”

…

While OB-One was preaching to the padawans about the secrets of the force. Shi Lang was nearing the completion of shedding his shackled body and rising anew. His constitution has changed terrifyingly. The muscles were profound but lean, and even more, his senses has improved. His blood had become purer. This was going to give him so much leverage that if he was put in the dire situation of an ambush again, he will not be in a bind.

The cocoon became to dim slowly and Shi Lang woke up from his sleep. He stretched his body and the joints emitted crackling sounds. He smiled at the sky and let out a loud roar.