"No! If the Sage Clans were to make a move, they would have crushed me openly. There's no need for them to act so discreetly … "
Recovering from his shock, the copper-masked figure frowned.
The Zhang clan was known as the number one Sage Clan on the Master Teacher Continent, and there were countless experts in their clan. If they had learned of the secret behind the painting, they would have long sought him out and killed him with a single slap.
Even though Mingshi Tang was around, and most things were governed by rules, but … in the face of true strength, rules and whatnot would still be crushed.
The Zhang family possessed the strength to crush everything.
"Anyway, what I saw was a beauty coming out of the bath …"
Seeing that the other party didn't believe him, Zhang Xuan shook his head and said, "If you don't believe me, you can ask around. I, Zhang Xuan, have always had a good reputation …"
"Enough! I called you over to restore this painting! "
The copper-masked figure harrumphed coldly. Knowing that he would only end up wasting a lot of time if he were to continue dwelling on this matter, he knew that he would only end up wasting a lot of time.
Even though someone had added new content to the previous painting, as long as the painter was skilled enough, it was still possible to restore it.
After all, the era of the Ink Blots was different. As long as one's level was up to par, it should not be difficult.
The fact that the young man before him was able to break the seal easily and accomplish something that even he and Guild Leader Meng Chong were unable to do meant that he had already reached the pinnacle of the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion in the field of painting. In fact, he was even on par with the Sorrowless Old Man from back then. If the young man were to make a move, there was a high chance that he would succeed.
Zhang Xuan continued to shake his head, "It's not that I don't want to, but I can't do it …"
"Can't do it?"
The copper-masked man sneered, his eyes filled with killing intent. "It seems like you still don't understand your situation. What I've captured is your soul … In other words … your physical body is already dead. You're a dead man now! "
The copper-masked man said.
"Dead?" Zhang Xuan was horrified. "I'm dead?"
Lowering his head to take a look, he saw his body fading away. His vision darkened as he fainted from fright.
"…" Seeing Zhang Xuan's actions, the copper-masked figure scratched his head in frenzy.
He had used a secret art to extract the other party's soul. As long as the other party wasn't retarded, he would definitely know!
The moment he said it, he pretended to be surprised and even fainted... Big Brother, you are a soul, can you really faint?
His Primordial Spirit had been sealed, unable to escape or dissipate, and his physical body was dead as well … Under normal circumstances, shouldn't he be terrified and obediently obeying his orders?
What's with this attitude?
"There's no need to put on an act. Putting aside fainting, you won't even be able to die on this altar!"
The copper-masked figure was so infuriated that he wanted nothing more than to rush forward and slap the young man before him to death.
"I can't faint …" Zhang Xuan sat up again with regret. "Then forget it. I won't faint for now. However, I really can't do what you said!"
The image of Kong Shi hidden in the painting was concealed by the Bathing Beauty Painting. It was destined that it would be impossible to reveal it, let alone restore it.
Seeing that Zhang Xuan was indeed feigning unconsciousness, the copper-masked figure was so furious that he could explode. However, he still suppressed his rage and spoke with a cold and sinister voice, "Don't think that I can't teach you a lesson just because you are a soul! Since I was able to capture you from another location and bring you here, I know some formidable secret arts that can make you wish you were dead! "
Raising his eyelids, Zhang Xuan remarked lazily, "Since I'm going to die anyway, it's best if you just kill me!"
"You …" The copper-masked figure's chest heaved up and down, and it was hard to tell whether it was due to anger or suffocation. "Since you don't know what's good for you, I'll just have to use a Soul Search on you. Once I'm done, your soul will dissipate, and you will die!"
Huala!
After saying those words, without waiting for Zhang Xuan's reply, the copper-masked figure raised his hand, and a powerful force immediately crushed down on Zhang Xuan.
"This is … the means of a soul oracle!"
Seeing the copper-masked figure's actions, a glint flashed across Zhang Xuan's eyes.
The reason why he had willingly allowed himself to be captured by the copper-masked figure was because he wanted to see who he was and what he was up to. Who could have thought that the other party would use the means of a soul oracle?
Tzzzzz!
Despite his astonishment, Zhang Xuan did not resist the other party's attack. Instead, he allowed it to enter his mind.
This was because he could tell that the other party was not using a Soul Search Art but a Soul Peering Art.
The Soul Peering Art was a relatively violent art. While it would allow one to obtain the information stored in the other party's mind, it would also damage the other party's soul, resulting in the dissipation of the other party's soul or even death. On the other hand, the Soul Peering Art allowed one to uncover the secrets one wanted to know without harming the other party.
It seemed like the copper-masked figure was still hoping that Zhang Xuan would help him restore the painting.
"I would like to see what you know!"
With a cold harrumph, the copper-masked figure's consciousness began wandering around Zhang Xuan's mind, and it did not take long for him to glean some information.
"To think that you really don't know the secret behind the seal …"
The more Zhang Xuan read, the deeper the frown on his forehead grew.
Through his Soul Peering, he could tell that the other party was indeed unaware of the contents of the seal. In other words, the painting of a bathing beauty had nothing to do with him!
Furthermore, through his investigations, he could tell that the other party was an upright and talented master teacher. Putting aside the fact that the other party had a great reputation, he was also an upright and talented master teacher.
"It seems like I have guessed wrongly …"
After reading through all of that, the copper-masked figure retreated from Zhang Xuan's mind.
He had thought that the other party was the one who had altered the painting, but from the looks of it, that was indeed not the case. However … since he had already captured the other party, he would have to find a way to restore the contents of the painting. Otherwise, all of his efforts over the years would go down the drain.
"As expected of a soul oracle, and he seems to have a close relationship with Tian Qing and the others …"
As the copper-masked figure's consciousness entered Zhang Xuan's mind, Zhang Xuan was also discreetly probing the other party.
However, this sliver of consciousness was too small, and it didn't contain much information. Otherwise, Zhang Xuan would have been able to see through the other party's intentions.
Zhang Xuan's understanding of souls far surpassed that of the other party, so it wasn't too difficult for him to set up an illusion to deceive the other party.
Through his investigation, he realized that Zhong Qingwang and Tian Qing had some kind of close relationship with him. This was also the reason why Tian Qing had taken the risk to lure Wu Shi and the others while he hid here to capture Zhang Xuan's soul.
"I was intending to Soul Search you, but if I were to do so, you would surely die. There would be nothing left of you … So, I'll give you two options!"
Knowing that Zhang Xuan was indeed clueless, the copper-masked figure harrumphed coldly. "First, help me restore the painting. If you succeed, not only will I spare your life, I'll even bring you back to life, making you even stronger than you are now!
"Second, Soul Search, and you'll vanish from the world! To be honest, even though you have a deep understanding of painting, there are many painters on the Master Teacher Continent who have reached your level. Even if you don't agree to it, it's only a matter of time before I restore the contents of the painting! "
"Bring me back to life?" Zhang Xuan was perplexed.
"That's right!" The copper-masked figure flicked his wrist, and a physical body appeared before Zhang Xuan. "This is a Soulless Metal Humanoid. As long as you agree to the first condition, I'll allow your soul to reside in it temporarily. That way, you'll be able to live like a normal person!"
"Soulless Metal Humanoid …"
The other party's Soulless Metal Humanoid was of a much higher tier than the ones that Zhang Xuan had seen before. Most likely, it was forged using the physical body of a Primordial Spirit realm pinnacle expert. Not only so, the craftsmanship was exquisite as well, making it look exactly like a real person.
It could be said that if one's soul were to enter the Soulless Metal Humanoid, it would be hard for even a Seven Star master teacher to notice it.
"As a master teacher, even if you don't know much about the soul oracles, you should have at least heard of the Soulless Metal Humanoid, right? Not only will it allow you to grow stronger, it will also allow you to change your identity and become an authoritative figure! "
The copper-masked figure sneered coldly.
"Become an authoritative figure? Could it be that … Tian Qing and Zhong Qingwang are both Soulless Metal Humanoids? "
Upon recalling a matter, Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed in astonishment.
Since Tian Qing was able to become the vice head of Mingshi Tang, there was no doubt that he had a clean past. Could it be that he had been forged into a Soulless Metal Humanoid and another soul was forcefully added into it?
And Zhong Qingwang as well …
If that was really the case, it would be truly frightening.
For a powerful Soulless Metal Humanoid to be turned into a vice head without anyone noticing … More importantly, the two of them had only exposed themselves because they wanted to kill him … If that was the case, how many of them were still in the dark?
To be able to use a secret art to extract a soul and replace it with another soul …
It was no wonder why Mingshi Tang was so determined to eradicate the soul oracles back then. Just this ability alone was already frightening enough!
This was because once the secret art was used on a large scale, it was impossible to tell whether one was a friend or a foe.
"Zhong Qingwang isn't a Soulless Metal Humanoid. Soulless Metal Humanoids aren't that easy to forge!"
The copper-masked figure shook his head.
"He isn't?"
"He's just a toy loyal to me!" the copper-masked figure harrumphed coldly.
"Then … what about Tian Qing?"
Zhang Xuan continued asking.
"Tian Qing?"
The copper-masked figure sneered coldly. Instead of answering Zhang Xuan's question, he turned to Zhang Xuan and asked, "Do you want to know what I look like beneath my mask?"
"Un!" Zhang Xuan nodded. "If I can find out who you are, I might be able to believe your words and agree to your conditions. Otherwise, since I'm already dead, there's no need for me to help the person who killed me! "
He had always been curious about the copper-masked figure, but ever since the other party met him, he hadn't used any battle techniques. The Soul Detection Art that he had used previously was a technique unique to soul cultivators, so it couldn't be considered as a battle technique.
As such, he had never formed a book in his mind, and he had no idea who it was either.
It would be best if the other party could remove his mask.
"The reason why I concealed my appearance is so that others wouldn't notice me. You won't be able to escape at the moment, and your life and death are in my hands.
Since the other party's soul was under his control, it wouldn't hurt for him to show you his true appearance … "
The other party's soul was under his control, and his life and death were in his hands. He wasn't afraid of any resistance at all, so to him, showing his true appearance was nothing.
Seeing that the other party's soul was under his control, the other party's life and death were in his hands. There was no need for him to fear any resistance. Thus, it wasn't a big deal for him to show the other party his true appearance.
"H-how can it be you?"
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