There were many scholars that studied tribulations. It was one of the few areas that both wicked and righteous powers had strong vested interests in. It had happened on more than one occasion that an expert making progress on such research was spared during invasions of powers.
Even all their research materials were carefully escorted outside the battles! It made for some awkward events but it showed how much cultivators valued such experts that even hostilities could be set aside if something critical could be harvested from them.
The reason such events ever occurred was usually for the same reason cultivation powers attacked each other. A leader or prominent person needed critical resources, security, or any advantage they could get.
