Painting of the Nine Immortals - Chapter 158

Chapter 158
"This woman is now under my protection . "


The weight of the words and the killer instinct behind them echoed through the deafening silence . The trio of pursuers froze in their tracks .
Black on white, Ling Xian’s dark hair fell loosely around his shoulders against the backdrop of his pure-white cloak . He examined the trio with a glare of death .
Why?
This woman was none other than Lin Qing Yi .
The woman who captured his heart by resting her blade against his neck inside that freezing cave .
The woman of his dreams was being pursued and humiliated . Of course, he was enraged .
"Ling Xian, it’s you . "
The sight of the white-cloaked youth brought tears down her cheeks . The maiden with a will of steel was no more . She was in deep pain . The humiliation of the past few days flooded back across her mind . Tears the size of stones rained down her face .
Ling Xian felt sickened by the sight of her physical wound . He was now completely consumed by a desire to kill .
Ling Xian had grown up a gentleman . He was not easily angered . But this moment, he had the desire to slaughter everyone in sight .
His rage had been taken to a place he never knew existed .


"Don’t say a word . We’ll resume after I’ve killed them . "
Ling Xian signaled for her to step aside . He was now looking directly at the three men who pursued her, his eyes glowing with darkness .
The trio’s faces darkened in response . A middle-aged man stepped up and tested the waters with him . "Stranger, are you sure you wish to protect her?"
"No, I misspoke . "
Ling Xian shook his head as his glare turned even icier and continued, "Not that I wish to protect her, I wish to kill the three of you . "
"Ha ha, what an arrogant kid, looks like you’re determined to challenge us . " The middle-aged man sniggered . "You look young but powerful . Your future is bright . Don’t waste it on a woman . "
"Cut your bullsh*t!"
Ling Xian extended his gaze to all three men and sternly declared, "I don’t care who you are or what your story is . Today, you die!"
"Arrogant bastard!"
The middle-aged man had intended to reason Ling Xian out of a fight . He could tell Ling Xian was not a weakling and didn’t want to create an unnecessary spectacle . But Ling Xian’s threats had completely angered him . He had to kill him, even though that wasn’t his order .
"Get him!"
His two companions charged on command . The foundational powers from both sent rocks and debris flying through the air, covering the entire street under a cloud of dust .


"Good heavens! A joint attack from two foundational levels! That’s unbeatable! This youth is in deep trouble!"

"Right, I don’t even want to see what happens next . This kid looks like he’s only 15 or 16, how can he overpower these two?"
"This kid is dumb as a rock . He must’ve read too many novels growing up, too many stories of heroes saving their women . What a dumbass . Don’t know how pretty this girl is . But three foundational level cultivators together? This battle is done!"
Most of the voices from the crowd expressed concern, some expressed amazement, others mockery .
"Ling Xian, be careful!"
Lin Qing Yi turned pale . She knew how strong the three men were . Seeing two of them charging at Ling Xian together, she became worried sick . But just as she stepped up and tried to help, an arm pushed her back, followed by a voice .
"Don’t you worry, these mid-range foundational levels can’t hurt me . "
Ling Xian smirked at her . Then, without moving an inch or releasing an ounce of Qi, he held out his hand and struck .
However, this casual strike of a hand turned the challengers’ faces purple . They could feel that this was no ordinary strike . They were being confronted with the forces of two colliding mountains .
Impenetrable . Unstoppable . Unbeatable .
Hommm!
Ling Xian had injected extra force in this strike . His anger had to be released somehow . The strike hit both targets square on their chests . Instantly, their bodies flew backward . As they landed on the cold, hard ground, life had already escaped them .
One strike!
Two instant casualties!
This ending shocked every spectator to the core .
"My heavens, am I blind? Unbelievable, one strike just killed two foundational level fighters!"
"What did I just see? Those two were of the foundational level! Who is this?"
"Impossible! Just impossible! Is he immortal? He’s so young . How could he possibly be this strong?!"
Those in the crowd who had doubted him only seconds ago instantly fell silent .
"It’s only been a year . How has he become this strong . . . "
Lin Qing Yi gazed at him, stunned . The skinny youth had suddenly become grander, bulkier, braver . He had become someone she could rely on and give her life to .
He gave her a feeling of security .
"He’s too powerful!"
The pupils of the middle-aged man contracted . He was a cultivator of the advanced phase of the foundational level . Of course, he could see clearly that Ling Xian had not used an ounce of Qi . He accomplished what he did using only pure strength .
He defied the laws of nature!
As he threw the youth one more glance, paralyzing fear came over him .
As a cultivator of the advanced phase foundational level, he could have easily defeated either one of his foundational level companions . Even if they joined forces, he could still secure a victory, but not nearly as easily as Ling Xian had done .
One strike to kill two foundational level cultivators, how much depth does he have to accomplish such a feat?
"Goddammit, why did we have to encounter someone like him?"
The middle-aged man was not shy about hiding his fear of Ling Xian . In this moment, standing before him was not an adolescent youth, but a beast, an evil sorcerer!
"Like I said, today, you die," Ling Xian shouted . He looked and sounded as if an immortal of unspeakable powers had taken over his soul .
Dong, dong, dong!
Ling Xian returned the middle-aged man’s gaze and began to inch closer . Each step he took fell heavily on top of the ancient cobblestoned streets . Each step sounded and felt like death was descending upon the city .
"Speak, how would you like to die?"