Painting of the Nine Immortals
chapter-220

In the sky, the phoenix stood tall. Its giant wings slowly extended elegantly and classily.

At the same time, however, they were bathed in its killer’s instinct!

Flames filled the air, scorching heat extended for miles and burned between the sky and ground.

A fatal attack!

Zi Dong Lai’s face was pale as his body shook slightly. He has been hurt and can no longer defend himself against the phoenix’s attack.

At the most crucial moment, two shadows sliced across the sky and speedily dashed towards the ready-to-attack phoenix.

One was the Demonic Fairy.

The other was Ling Xian.

The two foundational Heaven’s Favorites were the first to discover that Zi Dong Lai was in crisis and ran to the phoenix together.

The Demonic Fairy was already floating in the air and was closer to the battleground. The moment she saw Zi Dong Lai displaying his weakness, she made her move, fast like the wind, striking like thunder.

However, she was not the first to arrive.

Ling Xian surpassed her from behind. Like a shooting star, his lightning speed made the Demonic Fairy fall far behind.

His expression was stern as he raced forward and summoned a technique.

Instantly, the sky darkened.

A giant hovering hand appeared and covered half the Sun!

Hoooooommmm.

A boundless amount of flames shot through the cloud. The energy the flames emitted was deathly!

Luckily, Ling Xian has been quietly training for three years, and his capabilities were the strongest they’ve ever been. It was only because of the past three years and the fact that he used the strongest guiding law, was he able to block this attack.

The phoenix was a completion leveled beast after all. This one move drained all the color from Ling Xian’s face and pained his chest.

"Please, Headmaster, rest for a bit. Let me buy you some time."

Ling Xian frowned as he shielded Zi Dong Lai and fixated his gaze onto the phoenix before him.

When he was observing the battle from afar, he simply thought the phoenix was strong but didn’t have a clear idea as to just how strong. However, now that he was within close proximity, Ling Xian could clearly feel the phoenix’s completion leveled training. What rose out of this realization was his undefeatable mentality.

This mentality was very quickly replaced by a desire for battle!

"Okay. But Ling Xian, please be careful. I will order someone to activate the array my ancestor set centuries ago. Just hold on for a little longer," Zi Dong Lai knew Ling Xian’s capabilities well, and he knew that stopping the phoenix by himself was unrealistic. However, buying some time for the House was doable.

In a flash, he descended from the sky and gathered all the Elders in preparation for setting the array.

"A foundational ant dares to challenge me? You sure do not recognize your own limitations." The phoenix remained standing tall as its red feathers fluttered slightly. The lovely movements raised the temperature again.

"Do I not know my own limitations or do I have a basis for my confidence? You won’t know until you fight me." Ling Xian hid a smile. He stood in the air with his hands behind his back, looking very sage-like.

The phoenix finally expanded both of its wings. Staring at Ling Xian with its red pupils, it sneered, "Since you desire death, I will grant you your wish."

As soon as it finished speaking, it flapped its wings to attack!

"You cannot take my life."

Ling Xian chuckled. Summoning his spiritual energy to defend against the extremely high heat, he formed a fist and punched!

He wanted to fight the phoenix head on!

Regardless of whether or not he could win against the phoenix, his courage of defying against the phoenix was not something all ordinary people had!

Remember that the phoenix was one of the most ferocious beasts in the mortal world. With its ancient majestic blood and steel-like flesh, it exceeded human cultivators of the same cultivation level. Based on the fact that Zi Dong Lai lost the battle within a few hundred moves, one could tell just how horrifying this phoenix’s abilities were!

With Ling Xian’s current capabilities, he probably cannot handle even 50 rebuttals. However, not only was he fearless, he embraced the high he felt from a potential war.

BOOOOOOM!

The flames covered the sky as the great battle commenced!

Ling Xian’s body slithered like a swimming dragon. With all the energy he could muster, he thrusted both fists forward and forced himself through the heated air and cloud!

Fighting against a completion level opponent required him to swallow the sky with his grandeur!

Last time, he used the four transformative qualities of his Eyes of Execution to become the first to fight against a completion leveled cultivator!

After three peaceful years, both his flesh and his Qi have improved greatly. Without the use of his Eyes of Execution, he could still battle against the phoenix.

"A cockroach tries to block a moving vehicle, you sure do not know what death is."

The phoenix began its attacks by fluttering its wings. The flames in the sky spread and scorched everything in sight!

Boom, boom, boom!

Ling Xian moved around in intense movements. Despite the sweat that was beginning to form on his forehead, he maintained his courageous aggression!

In the blink of an eye, the two opponents have exchanged many rebuttals. Every single time they crossed paths, the river and the land shook, the Sun and the moon quivered, even the caves around the place was blurring.

This result astonished everyone!

Everyone’s gaze was concentrated on the white-robed silhouette. Their eyes were full of disbelief.

If this result were caused by the fight between the phoenix and Zi Dong Lai, nobody would be this surprised. However, since the one fighting was a foundational cultivator, it was simply unbelievable.

Remembering that it is next to impossible for a foundational to challenge a completion. This was an agreed-upon iron law in the community!

Before their eyes, however, Ling Xian was distorting this law with a pair of fists made out of flesh!

The impact of this on everyone’s mind was not hard to imagine.

"My god, have I gone blind? Since when did a foundational begin to fight against a completion?"

"Unbelievable. Who is this person? Such horrifying abilities!"

"I’m pretty certain he is the Honorable Guest from a while ago. I heard that he defeated the Demonic Fairy. How competent!"

"He sure is strong! I did not believe it when people said someone defeated the Demonic Fairy. But now, I believe what they have said."

"I believe it too now. He can knock off everyone on the List of Hidden Dragons at this rate."

Chatters began to surge, full of awe.

All the cultivators in the Zi Yang House have heard of an Honorable Guest who defeated the Demonic Fairy. However, none of them have met Ling Xian and were not aware of his capabilities.

Today’s battle has stunned everyone!

Even the Demonic Fairy and Zi Dong Lai, the two most prestigious figures in the House, were petrified at this result.

To the people on Shi Ao Island, Ling Xian was merely a nameless cultivator. However, after today, the entire Zi Yang House will know of his name!

"Haha, how satisfying. You sure are the legendary phoenix. Very capable!" Ling Xian’s jet black hair danced in the wind as he continued his atrocious attacks. His god-like ambiance was borderless!

Though he was feeling a tinge of fatigue, his bravery remained. Every punch he threw made the place shake.

The phoenix was graceful and divine. Seeing that it was not getting the upper hand, it became truly angry. Flapping its wings once, a sea of fire rolled out of its wings and curled outwards.

Immediately, Ling Xian found himself in a sea of fire. His body was bright red and the pressure he felt on his chest multiplied.

He was a foundational cultivator after all and cannot defend against the phoenix. To have done this much was already heaven-defying!

After another 10 rebuttals with the phoenix, the boiling blood in Ling Xian’s chest was beginning to simmer down. His weakness was starting to show.

"He is done. It’s my turn," the Demonic Fairy’s natural arrogance rose out of her. Seeing how Ling Xian was getting all the attention made her feel somewhat annoyed.

Now that she saw Ling Xian getting tired, her beautiful eyes flooded with passion. She was ready to take Ling Xian’s place.

However, before she could make a move, Zi Dong Lai stopped her, "The Demonic Fairy, don’t go."

"Why? You think I can’t suppress that phoenix?" The Demonic Fairy raised an eyebrow, her stare threatening.

"No, that’s not what I meant," Zi Dong Lai bitterly chuckled, "I don’t think there’ll be a need. Even if you buy us a few more minutes, it won’t be enough to stop it. You are injured after all and cannot unleash all your power. Let me summon the array and imprison it."

The Demonic Fairy frowned, not wanting to resign, "Let me fight it for a little while before you activate the array. What do you say?"

Zi Dong Lai shook his head with a soft laughter. "I know you are competitive and do not want Ling Xian to get all the attention. But in just half a month, it will be time for your final battle with him. When that day comes, you can fight to your heart’s desire. Isn’t that better?"

"That’s okay I guess. You can make your move," the Demonic Fairy agreed in a low voice.

Zi Dong Lai nodded and retracted his smile. He ordered loudly, "Ling Xian, retreat!"

"Okay!"

Ling Xian, hearing that Zi Dong Lai is now prepared, suddenly became more energized.

Honestly speaking, with his level of training, fighting against this beast really was a little out of his capabilities. If the battle dragged on any longer, he would’ve died in the claws of the phoenix.

Therefore, he waved around his arm to brush away the flames and descended from the sky.

"Ling Xian, thank you for your help." Zi Dong Lai smiled genuinely before his expression turned rigid again. "I will take care of the rest."

Ling Xian nodded with a concealed grin. It was obvious that he was happy with the battle he just fought.

To have been able to last 50 rebuttals with the phoenix without using the Eyes of Execution really was heaven-defying.

Including the Demonic Fairy and Zi Dong Lai, everyone was shocked to their core regarding this result. Every gaze shifted onto Ling Xian, full of admiration and fear.

Famous after one battle!

After today, everyone in the Zi Yang House, regardless of ranking, will know of Ling Xian’s name!

"Headmaster, please make your move. I sure want to see the array the Zi Yang House created to protect this mountain," Ling Xian beamed, curious.

If he didn’t receive the Immortal of Array’s inheritance, he would not have been very interested in ancient arrays. However, now that he has dipped his feet into this field, he was very interested in seeing just how powerful this famous array was.

"Haha, you will not be disappointed."

Zi Dong Lai laughed brightly before ascending into the sky with a shout, "Elders, take your mark!"

"Yes!"

All the Elders answered in unison before shooting up to the sky and organizing themselves based on their initial plan.

"The ancestral array, activate!" Zi Dong Lai’s expression was serious. His hands moved up and down and finally activated the array.

Seeing that the Headmaster has made his move, the other Elders all formed hand seals to support him. In the next moment, both the Heaven and the Earth quaked, and giant pieces of cloud emerged from the sky. In the blink of an eye, the purple clouds covered the entire sky and blurred everyone’s visions.

The purple misty fog dissipated, though looking soft and gentle, they were hidden with killer instincts!

It was the Array of Purple Clouds from years ago that once threw all islands into a state of shock!

During that period of time, when the Zi Yang House was falling into an abyss of failures, this array defended the House against opponents from all directions. It was because of this ancestral array, was the Zi Yang House able to survive.

In other words, without this array, the Zi Yang House would not exist today.

It was apparent how powerful this array was.

"Phoenix, before the purple clouds fully release their dominance, I recommend you back off. If not, you will die without a proper grave!" Zi Dong Lai yelled out.

"If this was the Purple Cloud Array from ten thousand years ago, I would leave without uttering another word. However, after the war that changed everything, how much dominance is left in the Purple Cloud Array?" The phoenix snickered, "Less bullsh*t. I sure want to see if the legendary ancestral array can stop me!"

As soon as those words were spoken, the phoenix stretched out its wings like a phoenix Immortal. Its grace and divinity was out of this world!

Immediately, a thousand-miles-wide sea of fire emerged out of thin air and torched the earth until all was barren!