Chapter 1184: Proud Zhang Jiuxiao

The painting before him, if not carefully examined, appeared to be a landscape standing at a distant, yet clearly visible, window. His Eye of Insight brought the view closer, revealing every minute detail on the peaks, down to the veins of each leaf.

"It's just like the real thing!"

Zhang Xuan was astonished.

Even he, upon careful inspection, found the painting to be just like the real thing. It was incredibly realistic. If hung on a wall, no one would mistake it for a painting; they would believe it was an actual window.

"But this painting... it doesn't have a seal?"

His Eye of Insight swept across the painting, and Zhang Xuan frowned.

The other party had said there was a seal on it, yet even with his Eye of Insight, he couldn't discern its location.

"It seems my cultivation is still too low. Seeing through a seventh-tier painting is no problem, but an eighth-tier one... that's still beyond my ability!"

He shook his head.

Although his Eye of Insight had advanced four times after successive promotions by Heaven's Recognition, his own cultivation was too weak, only at Saint 2-dan.

An eighth-tier painting involved soul power that only Ethereal Realm experts could wield. Even with his special Eye of Insight, he couldn't make sense of it.

"This painting has a seal?"

"So lifelike, it already contains the essence of both reality and illusion. If there really is a seal... what would it seal?"

"I don't know, but since the other party brought such a precious painting to ask about it, they must have discovered something!"

Zhang Xuan couldn't see it, and the others in the room also frowned, discussing in hushed tones, seemingly unable to discern anything either.

"May I approach and examine it?"

Somewhat perplexed, President Mu stood up and asked.

"Feel free!" The bronze-masked figure's voice remained unchanged.

"Thank you!"

Without further ado, he took two steps forward. President Mu took out a magnifying crystal ball and meticulously examined the painting.

Specialization is key, and he was the most skilled appraiser present. As he examined the painting, everyone held their breath, afraid to disturb him.

A moment passed.

President Mu looked over, a hint of confusion in his expression. "Friend," he said, "could you elaborate on where this so-called seal is and what form it takes? That way, we won't have to keep guessing and can directly figure out how to break it!"

"President Mu couldn't see it either?"

Hearing this, a hint of disappointment surfaced in the bronze-masked figure's voice.

If they couldn't even see the seal, how could they break it?

"Let me take a look!"

The President of the Painter and Calligrapher Guild, who had spoken earlier, also stood up, approached the painting, and looked down at it.

The method of identification for painters and calligraphers differed from that of appraisers. Instead of a crystal ball, he took out a dry brush and moved it through the air, as if painting or writing in mid-air.

"He's analyzing the painting style to deduce the artist's emotions..." Master Wu sent a telepathic message, seeing Zhang Xuan's confusion.

"Mm!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

This was actually somewhat similar to copying a painting.

After prolonged copying, one would naturally understand the effort the creator poured into it. If there truly was a seal, it should be discoverable this way.

After copying for a moment, the President of the Painter and Calligrapher Guild frowned more and more deeply, then looked over. "This painting flows smoothly, as if created in a single breath, without any hindrance," he said. "I also feel there's no seal... If there truly were one, it couldn't be so fluid..."

"If there were no seal, I wouldn't have gone to such lengths to seek you all out..." the bronze-masked figure snapped. "Do you think I'm bored, or intentionally trying to waste your time?"

Seeing the President of the Painter and Calligrapher Guild also say this, the bronze-masked figure flung an arm, his voice filled with displeasure.

He had thought everyone present was at the pinnacle of their respective professions in Qingyuan City, capable of discerning the painting's unusual nature at a glance. But now it seemed he had over-estimated them.

An eighth-tier painting was already beyond the comprehension of Qingyuan Empire.

"Let me try!"

Master Wu stood up and walked over.

It wasn't long before he shook his head and returned to his spot.

With his discerning eye, he could only see that the painting was extraordinarily precious, but he couldn't locate the so-called seal.

Soon, everyone present had taken a look, and all shook their heads.

"Alright, friend, stop holding back," President Mu said. "We can't see where the seal is, but with the combined strength of so many people, it might still be possible to break it! Just tell us what kind of seal it is and where it's located!"

Seeing the dejected expressions on everyone's faces, President Mu waved his hand.

This so-called seal might require extensive research to find any clues. Instead of wasting time, it was better to have the other party reveal it directly. That way, everyone could follow the instructions and avoid so much trouble.

"Alright..."

Seeing that no one had discerned it, the disappointment in the bronze-masked figure's eyes deepened. However, perhaps there truly was no other way. He nodded and pointed at the mist shrouding the mountainside.

"The seal is within this mist!" the bronze-masked figure declared, shaking his head. "If I'm not mistaken, there's still a painting beneath the mist, and it's related to some secret manual. Unfortunately, it's invisible and cannot be removed..."

"The mist?" Everyone looked over in unison.

The mountain range on the painting soared into the clouds. A mass of white clouds shrouded the mountainside, obscuring a small portion of the range. It was so lifelike, appearing to flow. They had thought it was just decoration; how could it be a seal?

Zhang Xuan also looked over, curious. Under the gaze of his Eye of Insight, the white clouds on the painting flowed slowly, appearing naturally formed and giving a sense of moistness as if containing water vapor. He couldn't see anything special about them.

"How can you be sure this white mist is a seal?"

After watching for a while, the President of the Painter and Calligrapher Guild couldn't help but ask.

Everyone else also looked over in unison.

"Bring a torch!"

Shaking his head, the bronze-masked figure turned and instructed.

An appraiser guarding the door nodded and stepped out. It wasn't long before he returned with a torch.

Taking it casually, the bronze-masked figure brought the torch to the painting and gently roasted it. Under the torchlight, the entire mountain range immediately changed color, from its previous vibrant green to dark gray. Only the white clouds remained unchanged.

"This..."

The President of the Painter and Calligrapher Guild's pupils contracted. "The white clouds didn't change, which indicates... they weren't painted at the same time," he stated. "There's at least a thirty-year difference between them... I actually didn't notice it just now..."

Under normal circumstances, if the painting was completed in a single session, the entire work should change color. The fact that the white clouds remained unchanged confirmed what the bronze-masked figure said: they were added later and should be a type of seal.

"The fact that they blend so seamlessly, making it indiscernible to us," President Mu interjected, "suggests it was painted by the same person, and... when painting the white clouds, the brushwork must have been further refined. Only then could it match the original painting so perfectly that no one could detect it..."

Everyone nodded.

Only if it was painted by the same person could it escape the notice of so many experts.

"But... even if we know it's a seal, we really have no way to unseal it..."

After their exclamations, everyone fell silent.

They knew the white clouds were added later and were very likely a seal, but the two blended so perfectly that it was impossible to undo.

"Sigh, it seems I still overestimated Qingyuan Empire..."

Seeing that everyone was at a loss even after the seal's location was revealed, the bronze-masked figure shook his head and sighed. Just as he was about to put away the painting, he heard a faint voice.

"May I take a look?"

Looking up, he saw a young man stand up and walk over.

It was Zhang Xuan.

He also found this painting somewhat unusual. Since no one else could discern it, he wanted to confirm it himself.

"You're just a 5-star appraiser, what could you possibly see? Let me do it!"

Before Zhang Xuan even reached the front, a voice sounded from behind him as Zhang Jiuxiao walked over, his face full of arrogance.

Upon arriving, Zhang Jiuxiao extended a finger and lightly traced the painting. "I've seen eighth-tier paintings like this before," he declared, "and know how this type of seal is used."

"You've seen it? Please elaborate," the bronze-masked figure said, stopping and turning around. "If you can unseal it, I'm willing to offer a generous gift!"

"This type of seal is called a 'Cloud Lock'!" Zhang Jiuxiao stated. "It uses an ink-filling method to obscure the upper layer without damaging the original. If I'm not mistaken, special spiritual energy has been added to it; otherwise, it would eventually completely merge over time..."

Zhang Jiuxiao lifted his head.

"Cloud Lock?"

The bronze-masked figure and the others all looked over in confusion.

Clearly, no one had ever heard of this term before.

"I have personally witnessed someone unseal this type of seal in my clan," he declared. "Therefore, I know how to resolve it!"

With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhang Jiuxiao wore an expression of arrogance.

"Your clan?"

"Don't you know? Our number one genius in Qingyuan City is actually a descendant of the Saint Clan, the Zhang Clan!"

"The Saint Clan, the Zhang Clan?"

"No wonder, with such a background, even if it's just a collateral branch, their knowledge is incomparable to ours..."

Hearing that he had a solution, a commotion erupted among the crowd, and expressions of admiration appeared on their faces.

"How is it resolved?"

Hearing that he was from the Saint Clan, the Zhang Clan, a solemn expression appeared on the bronze-masked figure's face, and he cupped his fists, asking.

"It's very simple," Zhang Jiuxiao replied. "To break this seal, you need to find someone skilled in soul cultivation, use their soul as a lever, and draw out the spiritual energy contained within..."

"Someone skilled in soul cultivation?"

The bronze-masked figure was puzzled.

"Exactly," Zhang Jiuxiao confirmed. "Let the soul permeate it and extract the spiritual energy at its core. Without that cushioning layer, the seal will naturally dissipate..."

The bronze-masked figure hesitated. "May I ask," he inquired, "what level of soul cultivation does this person you speak of need to achieve?"

"Their soul control needs to be as precise as a hair," Zhang Jiuxiao explained. "And it can't be too strong; otherwise, it will damage the painting, turning an eighth-tier artwork into scrap. Of course, most importantly, this person must know where the spiritual energy is located and have an extremely deep understanding of painting and calligraphy!"

"This..." The bronze-masked figure was momentarily stunned and frowned. "Where could one find such a person?"

Although the requirements he listed weren't many, there likely wasn't anyone in the entire Qingyuan City who could fulfill them.

"No need to look..."

With a light smile, Zhang Jiuxiao stood with his back straight, like a spear, exuding an air of purity and elegance, like a lotus flower untouched by the mud, and an arrogant aura that suggested he was second to none.

"This humble one," he declared, "happens to fit the description!"