Chapter 2402: Waking Up

The power of the heavenly thunder was like an enraged lion, growing ever fiercer; each bolt resembled a giant axe that would tear apart heaven and earth, smashing down with a world-destroying momentum onto the courtyard where Ye Zhangqing was.

However, facing this terrifying heavenly tribulation, the golden light shield enveloping the courtyard was like an impregnable fortress, as stable as Mount Tai; no matter how the heavenly thunder bombarded, it remained utterly unmoved, showing no sign of being broken.

This sight left the many Heavenly Family Elders present gaping in astonishment; they couldn't help recalling their own heavenly tribulation when they broke through to the Ancient Immortal Realm back then—though that tribulation had also been amazingly powerful, compared to this terrifying scene it was merely a petty witch seeing a great witch.

Yet, although this golden light shield looked utterly impregnable, everyone's brows remained tightly furrowed, for they simply could not fathom what was going on.

What is the origin of this golden light shield? How can it so easily withstand such a mighty heavenly tribulation?

Not to mention the Heavenly Family Head and the many Elders, even Huang Lao and the Heavenly Family Ancestor, who had arrived early and merely hidden in the dark to observe, were now completely bewildered, utterly at a loss.

Huang Lao was no stranger to Ye Zhangqing, for he had personally witnessed Ye Zhangqing's breakthrough.

But now, this kid's way of undergoing the heavenly tribulation was so bizarre that even someone as experienced as him could not understand it.

"We're not going to intervene?"

The Heavenly Family Ancestor looked at Huang Lao with a face full of doubt, seemingly unable to comprehend his decision.

The two had rushed over, expecting a fierce battle, but instead they saw this scene before them.

Faced with this situation, were they really just going to stand by and do nothing?

Huang Lao fell silent for a moment, a hint of helplessness appearing on his face, then he slowly replied.

"Let's wait and see."

Actually, he himself didn't know how to respond; the current situation left him somewhat at a loss.

Ye Zhangqing appeared to be in no great danger, and the golden light shield could still hold off the heavenly thunder's attacks—for now.

If they rashly intervened, possibly triggering an increase in the heavenly thunder's power, that golden light shield might not be able to withstand it.

By then they would not only be useless, they might even make things worse, turning good intentions into bad outcomes.

Therefore, Huang Lao felt the best course now was to observe first and see whether the situation would change.

Upon hearing Huang Lao's words, the Heavenly Family Ancestor gave a slight nod, indicating agreement.

He also understood Huang Lao's concerns, for in this situation any mistaken decision could lead to serious consequences.

Under the gaze of the Heavenly Family powerhouses, the heavenly thunder struck down bolt after bolt with increasing speed, as if utterly enraged by the golden light shield.

What exactly is this golden light shield?

How dare it offend the heavenly might, provoking the already mighty heavenly thunder to become even more uncontrollably furious.

Yet, despite the heavenly thunder's roar, after a succession of attacks against that golden light shield, it was all thunder and little rain.

The heavenly thunder kept striking down, as if it wanted to tear the whole world apart, but astonishingly, that golden light shield remained like an impregnable fortress, impervious to any damage no matter how fiercely the heavenly thunder bombarded it.

However, just as people thought the golden light shield would continue passively enduring the heavenly thunder's attacks, something unexpected happened.

After enduring round after round of heavenly thunder bombardment, the golden light shield seemed utterly enraged, beginning to emit a blinding light, like a ignited powder keg.

Immediately after withstanding another heavenly thunder strike, the golden light shield suddenly burst forth with intense golden light, so dazzling that people could hardly look at it.

Even more shocking, this golden light was not confined to protecting Ye Zhangqing as before; instead, like an arrow released from a bow, it shot straight up toward the thunderclouds above.

Upon seeing this, the Heavenly Family Elders present could not help but cry out in astonishment.

"What is it going to do?"

Originally, the fact that this golden light shield could steadily protect Ye Zhangqing was already astonishing, but now it displayed such an astonishing change—this was truly beyond expectation.

Could it be that this golden light is not just for defense, but actually intends to launch an active counterattack against the heavenly thunder?

This is utterly absurd—could it really have the power to blast apart that fearsome heavenly thunder?

Watching the golden light's counteroffensive, the Heavenly Family powerhouses all furrowed their brows.

Yet, under the astonished gaze of everyone, that golden light shot straight into the heavenly tribulation in the sky like a meteor.

In an instant, it seemed as if the whole world trembled—earth shook, mountains swayed, space split apart, as if the apocalypse had descended.

That heavenly tribulation also seemed provoked by the sudden golden light, letting out a roar and desperately fighting back.

Bolts of purple lightning roared like giant dragons, attempting to tear the golden light apart.

Yet the golden light showed no fear, advancing with an unstoppable momentum as it engaged the heavenly tribulation in a heart‑pounding showdown.

In this fierce clash, the golden light displayed great power, continually striking the heavenly tribulation and weakening it bit by bit.

Eventually, the heavenly tribulation's strength waned, beginning to show signs of fatigue.

Meanwhile, the golden light grew ever bolder in battle, like an invincible sword that shattered the heavenly thunder outright.

Watching the heavenly thunder gradually dissipate, the Heavenly Family powerhouses were stunned, their eyes wide as bells, faces full of disbelief as they stared fixedly at the sky.

"Is… this really done?"

"The heavenly tribulation was actually shattered?"

Although they were all seasoned experts, faced with this unimaginable sight they still found it hard to accept.

The heavenly tribulation was smashed to pieces like this—so was this tribulation crossing a success or a failure?

Originally, the Ancient Immortal Realm's heavenly tribulation should have lasted days, even half a month, yet it was forcibly shattered by that golden light in just about one night.

Such a method of crossing the tribulation was something none of them had ever seen before.

As the heavenly thunder dissipated, the sky also showed a hint of fish‑belly white.

Dawn arrived, and sunlight fell gently.

Although that night's time has passed, it still left the Heavenly Family powerhouses feeling mentally shaken.

That brief night truly left a vivid memory for everyone.

Can a tribulation crossing really be like this?

Meanwhile, Ye Zhangqing in the room had slept extraordinarily soundly.

As the sky grew lighter, Ye Zhangqing stretched lazily before slowly waking up.

But the next second, as if sensing something amiss, Ye Zhangqing let out a soft 'eh'.

"Eh, my cultivation...."