Painting of the Nine Immortals

Translator: _Tat_ Editor: Rundi

The night was dark like ink; eerily cold and silent.

Especially after the Leader of Cultivation unleashed his killer's intent, this place turned more like an icy hell that sent chills down everyone's spine.

Despite this person's cold killer's intent, Ling Xian was unaffected.

His expression was calm as he said slowly, "That will depend on if you have the skills or not."

"I know you are very capable, but there is a limit to your abilities. As an original leveled cultivator of the intermediate stage, killing you will be easy." The cultivation leader grinned a cold grin.

"If you were confident that you could kill me, you wouldn't have waited until now." Ling Xian squinted his eyes as he manipulated his golden Dan in preparation for unleashing his best self.

Remember that the cultivation leader is a powerhouse at the intermediate stage of the original level. Out of all the leaders, he is the most powerful one!

One can make the claim that in the entire Shang Qing Sect, other than the two fifth level cultivators and Ji Qian Bai, he is the strongest!

Therefore, why shouldn't Ling Xian treat this situation seriously? After all, his capabilities today allows him to kill at most, an original leveled cultivator at the beginning stage. Against an original leveled cultivator of the intermediate stage, he was a little powerless.

Therefore, he must dial up his energy to 120% to face the life and death trial that is coming up next.

"You are wrong. The reason why I am only coming out now is because the Shang Qing Sect treats the other Houses as our enemies. We wanted to borrow your might to kill those people."

The leader spoke slowly. Like a God who rides above the nine heavens, he was peeking at Ling Xian with a cold stare.

"That's not the only reason. More than that, it's because you were somewhat afraid of me. Or else why would you hide with your original leveled cultivation?"

Ling Xian's expression was cold as well, "You are trying to drain my energy. Because then, your success rate would increase."

Hearing this, the leader frowned but did not respond.

"Your silence means you agree."

Ling Xian teased, "As a great leader of the cultivation path, as the fourth most powerful of the Shang Qing Sect, you are afraid of me? Someone at the completion level?"

"Less bull$hit! I am going to take your life!"

Ling Xian stabbed him where it hurt, which angered the leader and he once again unleashed a gush of chilling energy that swept across the entire area.

HOMMMM!

Tree branches quivered and wind blew angrily. The entire forest became unsettled!

The leader of cultivation was number four of the Shang Qing Sect after all. His Qi alone was terrifying enough to cause Ling Xian much discomfort.

But since things have unfolded in such a manner, Ling Xian had to face him head on and there was no other way out. Therefore, his wrist snapped and sword rays shone through!

WHOOOSH!

The moment his sword appeared, the lake and mountains lost their colors. The space before him crumbled!

Sadly, the peak leader was far too powerful. One mere flap of his sleeve crushed Zi Yao's sword rays.

"Ling Xian, you truly are a talented one who can surpass your own cultivation level. Pity is that today, you are destined to die in my hand!"

The peak leader erupted into laughter, "The feeling of killing a Heaven's Favorite must be wonderful!"

After he spoke those words, his fist inched closer to Ling Xian, causing the entire space to shake and startle everyone in all directions.

"Then let us fight. I want to kill you anyways!"

Ling Xian's eyes turned cold as he unleashed the Disorder Conquering Fists that clashed against the Leader's attack!

BANG!

After an earth shattering rumble, terrifying vibrations swept across the entire area.

The peak leader did not move an inch. It was Ling Xian who stumbled back several steps. After all, his capabilities only equaled those of the beginning stage of the original level and still lacked behind the peak leader.

However, he remained fearless. Once again swinging his fists, he whipped out his sword as well!

"You sure do not know your limits. Hand that Turns Clouds!"

The leader of cultivation shouted and his right hand enlarged to the size of a mountain. It was large enough to slap away clouds and shield himself from the rain!

"Break!"

Ling Xian remained unfazed. Once again summoning the Disorder Conquering Fists, he fought head on against the peak leader.

The result was that he was the one who had to step back several steps.

It wasn't that the Disorder Conquering Fists weren't powerful. It was that his cultivation was weak. After all, he was merely a completion leveled cultivator. To be able to fight against the peak leader was already something astonishing.

Remember that he was number four in the Shang Qing Sect!

In the entire Yuezhou, he was considered a prominent powerhouse with insane capabilities!

Also, don't forget, Ling Xian's cultivation and this person's were separated by two whole levels. If this was anyone else, they would have given up by now.

All because of the giant gap in cultivation between them!

"Ling Xian, give it up. I am not the Leader of Alchemy who can so easily be killed by an ant of the completion level!"

The leader continued to laugh out loud and his laughter echoed back and forth - it was full of exhilaration and carelessness.

Originally, he was a little bit cautious towards Ling Xian. After all, back at the Shang Qing Sect, Ling Xian did something heaven-defying and killed an original level cultivator. Anyone would be cautious against him.

But now that he had forced Ling Xian to step back twice, the leader of cultivation was no longer afraid. Instead, he turned arrogant.

He laughed without worry and continued to attack ruthlessly. The way he moved turned more and more aggressive.

"You are being too happy too soon. We don't know who is going to win yet."

Ling Xian spoke slowly. Though he was at a disadvantage right now, he wasn't flustered and continued to face the enemy.

HOMMM, HOMMM, HOMMM!

Against the ear splitting rumbles, Ling Xian remained graceful and at ease. He defended against the attacker without showing signs of fear.

On the contrary, his enemy was attacking like a ferocious tiger. Every move shook up the space around him and it was full of violence!

One has to admit that he was truly powerful. Because as time went on, he was winning against Ling Xian!

However, Ling Xian was still unfazed. Using his techniques skillfully and strategically, he went against this person's attacks.

At once, all six transformative qualities of the Sword of Extinction were unleashed. The heavenly energy poured out of him and engulfed the entire place.

However, the cultivation leader was far too powerful with his level being two levels higher than Ling Xian's and his capabilities at least 10 folds Ling Xian's!

For Ling Xian to be able to fight him face on was already shocking because normally there was no way he could fend. After all, not only were the six transformative qualities useless against the enemy, the enemy was destroying them easily.

However, Ling Xian predicted that this would happen, thus his expression was still as calm as ever.

"I hate the collected way you are acting. It's as if the entire world is within your control."

The peak leader was furious. After he slammed his palm, his capabilities all came rushing out and crumbled down the area.

Ling Xian was forced to step back once again and blood appeared by his lips.

However, his expression was as composed as ever - it was as if the one wounded wasn't him.

This infuriated the cultivation leader. He once again formed fists that slammed towards Ling Xian.

There was no surprise. Ling Xian once again stumbled back and the redness by his lips deepened. Despite that, his expression remained unchanged.

Because he knew very well that with his capabilities right now, there was no way he would be an opponent of the leader's - even if he burns his ancient majestic blood.

What could he do? The peak leader was far too powerful. Every single move he makes affects the heaven and the earth!

Therefore, ever since the beginning of the fight, Ling Xian had made a decision. Killing this person here was the only way for him to achieve glory once again!

"You still have that expression on. I sure want to see how long your calmness will last!" The peak leader snickered and his arms moved forward like dragons, shaking up all nine level of heaven!

At this, Ling Xian placed his swords before his chest to defend against these scary fists. However, the leader was far too capable and Zi Yao was nothing to him. He flung Ling Xian out right away.

Retch!

Even after a mouthful of blood, Ling Xian's expression was still calm and quiet. If someone was beside him, they would hear him whispering,

"Quicker, be quicker."

"I don't believe you can remain this way when death is at your front door!" The peak leader once again cried out and in a flash, appeared before Ling Xian. Then, his foot dropped and caused the same amount of destruction as a mountain falling!

The terror of it all pierced through space!

This made Ling Xian frown and the Winged Blitz materialized and helped him dodge this foot. However, the terrifying vibrations made him stumble back once again.

"You sure are the Leader of Cultivation. You are very strong."

Ling Xian exclaimed. This was the first time he has been so defeated. But this was normal. The cultivation level of the leader was two levels ahead of him!

That gap was the same as the gap between a cultivator and a mortal. The raise of an arm could kill. To have endured until now was already extremely heaven0defying. Nobody would laugh at him if they heard what happened.

All of them would be in awe.

"You don't need to tell me that. My capability is something everyone in Yuezhou knows about." The peak leader had looks of taunting, "Your appearance sure is pitiful. You are not who I remembered you to be."

"Pitiful? Just you wait. You will soon find out who is truly pitiful." Ling Xian spoek slowly. He then summoned the Armor of Royal Spirits and the Aurora Light to form a double layer shield.

His body language signaled that he wasn't planning on attacking; only defending.

"Haha, so you have recognized the situation and have decided to hide like a turtle?" The leader laughed out loud. His fist once again punched through space.

Then, Ling Xian turned into a punching bag that the cultivation leader hit against crazily and continuously.

Every punch he swung would make Ling Xian puke blood. Ling Xian's breathing had weakened to the extreme.

This made the leader very happy but also very careless. He mocked, "Aren't you powerful? Aren't you calm? Let me see how long you can endure!"

Then, after another round of storm like attack, Ling Xian's face turned white and he puked out blood in gushes!

However, there was not a trace of panic on his face. Instead, he looked certain that he would win.

Yes, he was certain that he would win!

"Even now you are still looking this way. I don't know if I should call you arrogant or stupid!"

The leader smiled in disdain. He summoned one technique after another that shook up the space and changed the color of the sky!

Against this attack, Ling Xian remained in his defensive stance. He didn't attack and didn't hide.

Therefore, naturally he couldn't get away. In a second, he was flunked out by meters and he hit a tree.

Retch!

Puking out another mouthful of blood, Ling Xian's body was bruised and rotten. He was struggling to even stand up. This was also under the circumstance that he had the double barrier of the Aurora Light and the Armor of Royal Spirits. If he didn't have those. He would've died.

This proved how powerful the cultivation leader was.

"Finally, it's almost here. I hope I can make it in time." Ling Xian continued to puke blood. His expression was full of anticipation and happiness.

This made the leader's expression darken. Ruthlessly, he attacked again like an angry God!

This attack however, did not achieve the result he wanted. Because Ling Xian's arms were now emitting much light and were exploding with a stream of undefeatable strength!

Like an awakened God or a dragon, his Qi washed over 3,000 miles and shot up through nine levels of sky!

"Are you done? It's my turn."

The corner of Ling Xian's lips curled up as he straightened his body. At once, the two Immortal Bones bared themselves and immediately smashed the area into an infinite number of pieces!