Painting of the Nine Immortals
chapter-456

The music produced by the zither sounded just like clashes between blades. It revealed killer's intent and mimicked a giant tall wave. The terrifying invisible sound waves transformed into violent amounts of energy that swept across and suppressed the opponents!

The Turtle Snake Elder was truly capable and prominent. Within this group of people, he was considered to be the best. However, against the Song of the Crouching Dragon, he merely lasted a few minutes before he began to bleed from the vibration and became defeated.

This scene shocked everyone!

All eyes were now on Ling Xian. They were all filled with disbelief.

Everyone knew how strong the Turtle Snake Elder was. Yet under the sound of the zither, he only lasted a few minutes. How could they not feel shocked?

What really astounded them was not the defeat of the Turtle Snake Elder, it was the ancient zither before them and the song they were hearing.

With their status and identity, they of course have heard of the Zither of the Crouching Dragon. Linking that to the rumors about Ling Xian's Eyes of Execution, if they still do not realize the song is the Crouching Dragon, then they do not deserve to be of the completion level.

"The Song of the Crouching Dragon hasn't appeared for 120,000 years. I cannot believe it is here again!"

"The Song of the Petrifying Sound Waves and the Song of the Crouching Dragon. I cannot believe I have the fortune to personally witness the legendary Zither of the Crouching Dragon."

"It is no wonder the Turtle Snake Elder lost so quickly. The Song of the Crouching Dragon is impossible to defend. Losing is not a shame."

Everyone chattered as they stared at Ling Xian with shock and awe.

It was obvious that Ling Xian's action of playing the Song of the Crouching Dragon and knocking out the Turtle Snake Elder had shocked everyone.

"Ehem… Ehem…. No wonder this song is legendary. It sure is powerful."

After puking out blood, the elderly's wrinkled face was downing in failure. The arrogant and proud look from before has long disappeared. He knew very well that against someone whose capability equaled his and who had the Zither of the Crouching Dragon, he had nothing to be embarrassed about.

He also knew that for Ling Xian to spare his life was already a kind action. Thus, as he puked out blood, he stepped back and this signaled his attitude.

Seeing this, an arrogant smile crawled onto Ling Xian's lips. He thought, [This person knows what's up. He realized I was being nice by not killing him.] After that, he scanned around the arena and made a statement that was insanely arrogant.

"Next."

Instantly, the entire area silenced. A needle drop could be heard.

Everyone was silent as their fists tightened at the humiliation they felt.

Next.

Such a simple word expressed how little he cared and how he didn't fear anyone. It was obvious that he didn't think much of the completion levelled cultivators here.

How could they not feel humiliated?

Realize that everyone here was a powerhouse of their generation. They've always looked down others. Nobody has treated them badly.

Without a doubt, this statement angered the powerhouses.

One by one, their expressions darkened and killer's intent began to exude out of them and shoot through the cloud!

Sensing everyone's killer's intent, Ling Xian's expression grew cold. He had no hatred towards these people, but they decided to cause him trouble. Their cocky expressions revealed how they thought they could easily defeat him.

Who wouldn't be angered by this?

"No more bullshit. You want to give my head to the emperor? Then come at me. I sure want to see if you have the ability to!"

A cold grin was hanging off Ling Xian's lips. After summoning the Zither of the Crouching Dragon, he decided to let himself go and vowed that he will make these people bow down to him!

"What a Heaven's Favorite. Sadly, you are not good enough yet." An old woman with a cane spoke.

"In the eyes of seniors who are more capable than me, I sure am not good enough." Ling Xian glared at him, "But, I am good enough to defeat you."

"How dare you! Die!"

After a loud shout, the old man climbed onto the battle ring. Using the cane in hand, she smashed towards Ling Xian using enough energy to push open the sea!

The amount of energy was true shocking. Everyone's expression changed as they recognized who this woman was.

Without a doubt. She too, was a prominent powerhouse. However, compared to Ling Xian, who had the support of the Zither of the Crouching Dragon, she was lacking a little.

Ding… Ding…

Ling Xian plucked at the zither as his black hair fluttered in the wind. The terrifying sound turned into a giant wave into the sky and washed over the powerhouse before him!

Dong, dong, dong….

The sound of the zither was unforgiving. It emitted enough energy to tame a dragon and split open half of the battle ring.

"Dammit, why's he so powerful?"

The elderly woman showed fear for a split second. Under this pressuring sound, she could barely defend. Just like a leaf floating on top of an ocean that encountered a tornado, she didn't have the energy to even counter attack.

"Go away now."

After a shout, all 10 of Ling Xian's fingers landed on top of the Zither. The speed of his plucking multiplied and the song created was a song of killing!

Hooommmmm!

The wind blew and the clouds dispersed. Heaven and Earth changed colors as the Song of the Crouching Dragon knocked out the old woman!

Then, an arrogant statement rose.

"Who's next?"

These simple words represented how little he thought of everyone here and displayed how confident he was.

Everyone who watching was now red faced. Other than those who had already lost, everyone else felt greatly humiliated.

"Don't you dare be arrogant. Watch me squish you into crumbs!"

A healthy man hopped onto the ring. Without another word, he punched!

Without a doubt, everyone who still dared to step up was powerhouse of the advanced stage. His punch was without a doubt, very dominating.

HOMMMMM!

This punch of his roared with unstoppable energy that shocked all beings within miles!

However, against this punch, Ling Xian stopped his composition. He too, lifted his fist and pushed forward with enough power to split open the sky!

HOMMMMM!

The fists clashed in midair and extremely powerhouse waves rolled out and made the entire area vibrate.

Everyone below the ring felt the earthquake but ignored it. All their eyes were on the two men in midair. They anticipated for the moment Ling Xian showed a moment of weakness.

Sadly, these people were disappointed.

After a few moments of stalemate, Ling Xian's fist finally exploded with an increase in power. It straight up broke the man's right arm and sent him flying!

Everyone was once against astounded. They did not expect Ling Xian's physical body to be this strong!

However, by this point, they realized that there was no way for them to kill Ling Xian and hand the emperor his head. Now, it was about saving their faces. If they all lost, then what did they do with their pride?

Thus, after the stocky man was knocked out, another completion levelled powerhouse hopped onto the ring. He displayed his best technique!

The sky darkened very quickly and thousands of swords appeared. Like a storm, the swords stabbed down towards Ling Xian.

The demeanor of this attack changed everyone's expression as they exclaimed at its power.

However, Ling Xian did not move. His fingers continued to play the zither. Then, his index finger plucked at one string.

Ding….

After a long noise, music began to rush into everyone's ears like unending waves that were washing over earth!

The powerful crashes of the sound waves were created by aggressive music notes. Each note greeted a single sword blade.

Hommmm… hommmm… hommm….

After a series of noises, the blades, though sharp and could pierce through clouds, could not defend against the Song of the Crouching Dragon. After a few minutes, the blades that covered the sky dispersed. The sky turned back bright.

Then, the completion levelled cultivator of the advanced stage began to cough blood after being hit by the vibrations of the zither. He fell down the ring.

"This is the fourth man. Do you want to continue?"

Ling Xian suspended in midair like both an immortal who just descended into the world of mortal and a celestial being who controlled all.

Everyone was silent as they stared at Ling Xian with shock, fear, and some admiration.

Just like Ling Xian said, that was the fourth. Remember, these people here were not random cultivators, they were powerhouse completion levelled cultivators of the advanced stage!

Everyone here had history and capabilities. In the entire Zhou Dynasty, they were prominent and powerful.

Yet none of the people here could defend against Ling Xian. Instead, they were all knocked out by him within a few moves. How dominating was this?

How could these people not be fearful?

"What is it? What happened to your arrogant ways? Why are you all retreating?" Ling Xian carried a cold and sarcastic smile with him.

He had no hatred against these people, yet they, to seek emperor's approval, came to cause trouble with him. Who wouldn't be angry? However, right now, his anger had evaporated.

This was because everyone here had admitted their loss.

Every single one of them had lowered their heads. Other than bitterness, all they felt was fear towards Ling Xian. Of course, they had realized that with their capabilities, they posed no threat against Ling Xian.

This made them realize that their arrogance in the beginning was a joke!

A nation wide joke!

"It seems like nobody else is going to jump out."

Ling Xian had a calm expression as he scanned across the field in the same manner a God peered down at his creations!

Hearing this, everyone turned quiet. Against a god-like Ling Xian, why would they rush up?

Everyone had looks of respect as they stood on the ground, unmoving. As if it was the emperor before them, they lowered their heads and didn't even breathe heavily.

Seeing this, the Seventh Princess' eyes sparkled with light. She found it hard to conceal her fascination as she mumbled.

"A man and a zither changed the color of the sky and earned the bows from all cultivators. What a heaven-defying Heaven's Favorite."