If Zhang Xuan didn't pay close attention to the painting, it would seem as if he was looking at the scenery outside his window. Despite the distance, he was able to see it clearly. Through the Eye of Insight, he was able to see every single detail of the mountain clearly. In fact, he was even able to see the veins of every single leaf.
"It's just like the real deal!"
Zhang Xuan was shocked.
Even if it was him, when he looked closely, the painting still looked like it was real. It was simply too terrifying. If it was hung on a wall, he definitely wouldn't think that it was a painting, but a real window.
"But this painting … isn't sealed?"
Scanning the painting with his Eye of Insight, Zhang Xuan frowned.
The other party had said that there was a seal on it, but even after activating the Eye of Insight, he was still unable to see where it was.
"Looks like my strength is still too low. Seeing through a painting of the seventh level isn't a problem, but the eighth level … is still difficult!"
He shook his head.
Even though his Eye of Insight had undergone the fourth acknowledgement of a Celestial Master Teacher, his cultivation was still too weak, only at Saint 2-dan.
An eighth level painting harnessed the power of a Leaving Aperture realm expert's soul energy. Even with the unique Eye of Insight, Zhang Xuan was still unable to discern anything from it.
"This painting has a seal?"
"It's so lifelike, and it already contains the true essence of being both real and illusory. If there's really a seal … what would it seal?"
"I don't know. However, since the other party took out such a valuable painting and came to ask about it, he must have discovered something!"
…
Not only did Zhang Xuan fail to notice it, but everyone else in the room also frowned and whispered among themselves, as if none of them had noticed it either.
"Can I take a closer look?"
Perplexed, Guild Leader Mu stood up and asked.
"Do as you wish!" the copper-masked figure replied.
"Thank you!"
Without any hesitation, Guild Leader Mu walked up to Zhang Xuan and took out a magnifying crystal ball to take a closer look.
He was the most formidable appraiser present. Upon seeing him observing, everyone held their breaths, fearing that they might disturb him.
After a while.
Guild Leader Mu looked at Zhang Xuan doubtfully and asked, "Friend, can you tell me where the seal is located and what form it takes? This way, we won't have to keep guessing and think of a way to crack it! "
"Even Guild Leader Mu couldn't tell?"
A hint of disappointment could be heard in the voice of the copper-masked figure.
If he couldn't even see through the seal, how could he break it?
"Let me take a look!"
The head of the Painter Guild also stood up and walked forward to take a closer look.
The appraisal method of a painter was different from that of an appraiser. Instead of taking out a crystal ball, he took out a dry brush and waved it in the air, as if he was painting in midair.
Seeing that Zhang Xuan was perplexed by the situation, Wu Shi sent a telepathic message over to Zhang Xuan. "He's trying to discern the painter's emotions by analyzing the painting style."
"En!" Zhang Xuan nodded.
In fact, this was somewhat similar to copying.
After copying for a long time, one would naturally know the painstaking efforts of the creator. If there really was a seal, one should be able to discover it.
A moment later, the frown on the head of the Painter Guild's forehead grew deeper and deeper. "This painting is so fluid that there isn't the slightest hindrance to it. I don't think that there's any seal on it either … but if there is, there's no way it could have been done so smoothly …"
"If there's no seal on it, I wouldn't have paid such a heavy price to look for you all. Do you think that I am just bored out of my mind or that I am here to amuse myself?"
Hearing the head of the Painter Guild saying the same thing, the copper-masked figure flung his arm in displeasure.
He had thought that those present were the top figures of Qingyuan City, so they would be able to tell that there was something extraordinary about the painting, but from the looks of it, it seemed like he had been overthinking things.
An eighth level painting was already beyond the comprehension of the Qingyuan Empire.
"Allow me!"
Wu shi stood up and walked over to Zhang Xuan.
Not too long later, he shook his head and returned to his original spot.
Even with his eye of discernment, he could only tell that the painting was extraordinary, but he was unable to tell where the seal was located.
Soon, the crowd had taken a look at the painting, and they shook their heads in disappointment.
"That friend over there, stop trying to keep us in suspense. We might not be able to tell where the seal is, but with the combined strength of so many of us, it should still be possible for us to break it open. Just tell us what kind of seal it is and where it is located! "
Seeing the dejected looks on the faces of the crowd, Guild Leader Mu waved his hand.
It would take a very long time before they could find any clues regarding the seal. Rather than wasting their time, it would be better for the other party to reveal the location of the seal. This way, they would be able to figure it out in time.
"Alright then."
Seeing that no one was able to tell what the seal was, the disappointment in the copper-masked figure's eyes deepened. However, it seemed like there was no other way around it. Thus, he nodded and pointed to the mist shrouding the mountain.
"The seal is hidden within the mist. If I'm not mistaken, there should be a painting beneath the mist, and it seems to be related to some kind of secret manual. However, it's a pity that I can't see it or get rid of it, "the copper-masked figure said.
"Mist?" The crowd turned their gazes over.
The mountain range in the painting towered into the clouds, and halfway up the mountain, there was a cluster of white clouds shrouding the entire mountain range. It was extremely lifelike, as if it was flowing on its own. They had thought that it was just a decoration, but it turned out to be a seal?
Zhang Xuan also took a look at the painting in bewilderment. Through his Eye of Insight, he could see that the white clouds on the painting were flowing slowly, as if they were formed naturally. It felt as if they were nourished by water vapor, but there was nothing special about it at all.
"How can you be so sure that the white clouds are the seal?"
The head of the Painter Guild couldn't help but ask.
The crowd also turned their gazes over.
"Bring a torch over!"
The copper-masked figure instructed.
The appraiser standing by the entrance nodded before backing out of the room. Not too long later, he returned with a torch in his hands.
Grabbing the torch, the copper-masked figure brought it over to the painting and placed it on the ground. Under the illumination of the torch, the entire mountain range immediately changed color, turning from a lush green to a deep gray. Only the white clouds remained unchanged.
"This …"
The head of the Painter Guild narrowed his eyes in astonishment. "The fact that the white clouds haven't changed means that … it isn't a painting that was created at the same time. There is at least a gap of thirty years between the two.
Under normal circumstances, if the painting was completed in one go, the entire painting should have changed color. However, the fact that the white clouds had not changed at all meant that it was indeed painted after the painting was completed, so it was likely that it was a seal.
"To be able to blend the two perfectly with one another, it's likely that they were painted by the same person. Furthermore, when painting the white clouds, the strength of the strokes must have been enhanced once more. That's why it's so compatible with the painting, making it difficult for anyone to notice …"
Guild Leader Mu interjected.
The crowd nodded in agreement.
Only a painting by the same person would be able to escape the notice of a group of experts.
"But … even if we know what the seal is, there's no way we can undo it …"
The crowd fell silent.
Knowing that the white clouds were added after the painting was completed, there was a good chance that they were part of the seal. However, the perfect blend of the two made it impossible for them to undo it.
"Sigh, it seems like I have overestimated the Qingyuan Empire …"
The copper-masked figure shook his head and sighed deeply. Just as he was about to put the painting away, a calm voice suddenly sounded in the air. "What do you think? What do you think?"
"May I take a look?"
Raising his head, he saw a young man walking over.
It was Zhang Xuan.
He was a little perplexed by the painting as well. Since no one was able to tell what it was, he wanted to verify it.
"You are just a 5-star appraiser. What can you possibly see? Let me do it! "
Before the copper-masked figure could reach the painting, a voice suddenly sounded behind him. Zhang Jiuxiao walked over with a haughty look on his face.
Walking up to the painting, Zhang Jiuxiao flicked his finger lightly on the painting and said, "I have seen this eighth level painting before, so I know how to use the seal."
"You have seen it before? If you are able to undo it, I'm willing to give you a generous gift! "
Seeing how confident Zhang Jiuxiao was, the copper-masked figure halted his footsteps and turned around.
"This seal is known as the Cloud Sealing Button. It's a method of filling in the ink to conceal the upper layer of the painting without harming the core. If I'm not mistaken, there's a spirit infused into it. Otherwise, it would have fused together with the painting over time … "
Zhang Jiuxiao said proudly.
"Cloud Sealing Button?"
The copper-masked figure and the crowd turned to look at Zhang Jiuxiao in bewilderment.
Clearly, no one had heard of such a name before.
"Back in my clan, I have seen someone undoing this seal with my own eyes, so I know how to solve it!"
Zhang Jiuxiao placed his hands behind his back with a proud look on his face.
"Clan?"
"You don't know? The number one genius of Qingyuan City is actually a descendant of the Zhang Clan! "
"Sage Zhang Clan?"
"It's no wonder. Even though he's from the side lineage, he's still far more knowledgeable than us!"
…
Hearing that Zhang Jiuxiao had a solution to the seal, a huge commotion broke out amidst the crowd.
"How do you intend to solve it?"
Upon hearing that Zhang Xuan was from the Zhang family, the copper-masked figure clasped his fist and asked grimly.
"Simple. In order to break the seal, I'll have to find a person who specializes in soul arts and use his soul as a springboard to draw out the spirit contained within the seal …"
"Someone skilled in souls?"
The bronze-masked figure was perplexed.
"That's right. Once the soul reaches into it, the spirit within will be extracted. Without the cushion, the seal will naturally dissipate …"
Zhang Jiuxiao said.
Hearing those words, the copper-masked figure hesitated for a moment before asking, "May I know what level the soul expert you spoke of is at?"
"It requires a soul, and the control must be as precise as a hair. Furthermore, it can't be too strong, or else it will damage the painting, turning an eighth level painting into a useless piece of trash. Of course, the most important thing is that the person must know where the spirituality lies, and have a deep understanding of painting and calligraphy!"
"This …" The copper-masked figure was taken aback for a moment before a frown appeared on his forehead. "Where can we find such a person?"
While the other party's request was not much, there was probably no one in the entire Qingyuan City who could fulfill it.
"There's no need to keep the change …"
Zhang Jiuxiao chuckled softly as he straightened his back, reminiscent of a spear. His back was as straight as a spear, exuding a dignified aura.
"I might be untalented, but I happen to fit the bill!"
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