Chapter 570: Have You Ever Felt Despair?

Everyone's gaze deepened at this moment, their eyes unblinking fixed on Ye Qingran.

When she placed both feet on the thirteenth Stone Step, everyone's gaze froze.

Ye Qingran, you succeeded!

Moreover, Ye Qingran standing on the thirteenth Stone Step did not sway like Qin Zixie, but was as steady as a mountain, so composed that one couldn't help but wonder whether the sculpted valley had no effect on her.

Qin Zixie's eyes flickered.

He could hardly believe that Ye Qingran had so easily stepped onto the thirteenth Stone Step.

"There's not as much pressure up there as you said, it shouldn't make you sway, right?"

Qin Zixie felt utterly ashamed.

However, he was powerless to refute it.

Ye Qingran strolled leisurely on the thirteenth Stone Step for a while.

Carved into the cliffs on both sides were the Academy's successive deans and legendary figures.

Above the thirteenth Stone Step, there was actually a platform.

The platform was small, rising a little over a zhàng above the thirteenth Stone Step.

On that platform stood a three‑dimensional sculpture.

Ye Qingran guessed that this figure must be the first dean of the Shenzhou Academy and its founder.

Two ordinary stairways were built on either side of the platform.

Ye Qingran took one of the stairways and walked toward the platform.

"Heavens, what is she doing?"

"That's the Ancestor!"

This scene was unexpected by everyone.

Ye Qingran not only stepped onto the thirteenth Stone Step, she even intended to climb onto the Ancestor's sculpture pedestal!

No one had ever thought of or dared to do this before.

Ye Qingran was the first!

Yet no one stopped her, because the Academy had never prohibited stepping onto the Ancestor's sculpture pedestal.

Ye Qingran easily reached the platform.

Before the massive sculpture, she appeared tiny.

And at the instant she stepped onto the platform, the sculpture suddenly emitted a powerful aura, and Source-less Wind rose.

The vast aura was heavy and ethereal, as if it had traversed tens of thousands of years.

A great wind rose, and everyone's robes fluttered, their dark hair soaring.

Especially Ye Qingran beneath the sculpture, she seemed about to ride the wind away, to transcend and become immortal.

Imperial Will!

Ye Qingran felt it!

It was as heavy as a mountain, as long as a river.

Great Emperor!

In this world of the Great Emperor's supreme technique, this Imperial Will inspired boundless reverence.

Ye Qingran couldn't help but sit cross‑legged, bathing in the Imperial Will, tempering her body and spirit.

The Imperial Will outside the valley was not as strong as on the platform, yet it still existed; other disciples, seeing this, likewise imitated Ye Qingran, sitting cross‑legged on the ground to begin cultivation.

When Wu Shushan and the Academy Elders arrived, this was the scene they beheld.

Wu Shushan's eyes flashed with an unusual light.

"I never expected the Ancestor's sculpture to contain Imperial Will! All these years, out of respect for the Ancestor we dared not set foot on the pedestal, never realizing we missed such a fine cultivation opportunity!"

The Ancestor's Imperial Will is undoubtedly a precious treasure for future cultivators.

Soon after, Ye Qingran emerged from meditation, stood up.

Though the Imperial Will is beneficial, it is not suitable to remain immersed in it forever; proper use can temper one's spirit and body, but overuse will damage the Dao.

Thus, after standing, Ye Qingran walked toward the valley's exit.

"Instructor Ye, on behalf of the Academy I thank you!"

Wu Shushan stepped forward, his face full of gratitude.

"If it weren't for you, we would still not know that the Ancestor's sculpture hides a mystery!"

Wu Shushan shook his head lightly, full of emotion.

All these years, generation after generation of the Academy have missed the Ancestor's Imperial Will; it is truly a pity.

But it is not too late.

"Dean Wu, you are being modest; this is what I, as Instructor, should do."

Ye Qingran replied lightly.

She said, turning her gaze to Qin Zixie beside her, "Qin Zixie, how did you find my demonstration just now?"

Qin Zixie's face flushed with shame, so embarrassed he could not speak.

Ye Qingran ascended the thirteenth Stone Step in an even shorter time, steady throughout. Moreover, she uncovered the Ancestor's secret, becoming a benefactor to all the Academy's disciples!

Compared with her, he had no brilliance at all!

He was indignant!

His exceptionally strong willpower had always been his pride.

Yet it was crushed by Ye Qingran.

"Instructor Ye, I have another question to ask!"

"Qin Zixie, that's enough!" Hong Wu couldn't help but scold.

"Hong Wu, mind your own business!" Qin Zixie glared at her, his tone very unfriendly.

"But asking is fine."

Qin Zixie said nothing this time and went straight to the war drum area.

He inhaled deeply, then picked up the drumstick beside him and struck forcefully on the first drum.

The first strike, the second strike, the third strike.

A full ten strikes!

The second drum vibrated, emitting a huge roar.

The third drum did the same.

When Qin Zixie's tenth strike finished, more than twenty drums were already vibrating and sounding.

Thirty-six, thirty-seven, thirty-eight...

Soon, the number of vibrating drums rose to forty.

Drum after drum vibrated and sounded, as if dozens of people were beating drums simultaneously.

The drum sounds were deafening, gathering into an incomparably massive momentum, like a mountain collapsing and the earth cracking.

"Dong dong dong~"

One after another, dense as a sudden Ji Feng rain, as if striking the tip of every person's heart.

Forty-three, forty-four, forty-five...

Not until the last drum vibrated and sounded did a hint of ease finally appear in Qin Zixie's eyes.

He succeeded!

His ability to resonate with the world's spiritual Qi is strong, so when he struck one drum, the other forty‑eight drums simultaneously vibrated and sounded.

"All forty‑nine drums sounded! Qin Zixie is so powerful!"

"It seems the people who can sound forty‑nine drums are even fewer than those who have climbed to the thirteenth level Stone Steps!"

"Qin Zixie truly is a peerless genius!"

The Academy disciples looked at Qin Zixie with envious eyes.

Among the many disciples present, the vast majority could resonate with the world's spiritual power to sound between thirty and forty drums.

Only top geniuses can reach forty.

For those at the pinnacle like Qin Zixie, there are one or two each term.

"Instructor Ye, please guide me again!"

"You want me to strike once as well?"

"So what?"

Qin Zixie looked at Ye Qingran with a provocative gaze.

This time, he would absolutely not give Ye Qingran another chance to humiliate him!

Ye Qingran gently shook her head, thinking that Qin Zixie truly never backs down once he starts.

Since that's the case, she decided to let him have it.

"Qin Zixie, have you ever experienced despair?"