Chapter 1186: Still Not Coming to Yan Mo

"Understanding the material and creation time is probably useless for breaking the seal, isn't it?" the Bronze Mask frowned, interrupting Zhang Xuan.

"It doesn't have a direct use, but from it, we can infer the painting's origin, analyze why the other party left the seal, and identify its weaknesses and flaws," Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.

"Just by knowing the painting's age, you can infer the seal's weaknesses and flaws... Isn't that a bit arrogant?" Zhang Jiuxiao, on one side, curled his tail and tilted his head. The durians on his head wobbled precariously from speaking too forcefully, looking as if they might fall off at any moment. Though the others remained silent, they largely agreed with him. Knowing a painting's precise age might indicate strong appraisal skills, but what did it have to do with a seal?

"Just because you don't understand doesn't mean I can't see it!" Zhang Xuan chuckled softly. Standing upright with a confident expression, he walked around the painting and suddenly looked at the President of the Calligraphy and Painting Guild nearby. "This must be the President of the Calligraphy and Painting Guild!"

"I am Meng Chong, the humble President of the Calligraphy and Painting Guild!" President Meng Chong stood up and cupped his fist.

"President Meng," Zhang Xuan began, "I'd like to trouble you to tell everyone what painting style was prevalent in our Qingyuan Empire's Calligraphy and Painting Guild two thousand one hundred and forty years ago? What kind of brushes and ink were they skilled at using?"

After a moment of surprise, President Meng Chong pondered and replied, "Over two thousand one hundred years ago in the Qingyuan Empire, the 'Fixed-Plate Painting Method' was popular! This means that, similar to printing, when painting, one would apply layers of ink according to a specific format and size. This method typically involved first applying a layer of ink to the paper, then coloring it layer by layer, with each layer striving for perfection and no flaws. Although it seems tedious, it ensured the painting was neat and flawless!"

Calligraphy and painting, like cultivation, evolve and undergo changes over time. Each era leaves distinct marks, completely different from other eras. This is precisely why appraisers can accurately identify the age of treasures without error. The Fixed-Plate Painting Method flourished between two thousand and two thousand five hundred years ago and was widely circulated. Among its most influential practitioners was the Elder Without Sorrow. Therefore, as soon as everyone saw the work, they knew it was left by him.

"Exactly, it's the Fixed-Plate Painting Method!" Hearing the detailed explanation, Zhang Xuan nodded. "While this method can make a work incredibly neat, like a print, it also has a significant flaw... All the ink must be applied with the same amount, making the entire painting as flat as if cut by a knife. Otherwise, it would be ridiculed by others as unconventional and indicative of poor skill..."

Zhang Xuan smiled. "Look at this painting: whether it's the landscapes, the sky, or the flora around it, the same thickness has been used..."

Everyone looked intently, their spiritual senses stirring. A moment later, they all nodded. It was indeed true. If Zhang Xuan hadn't pointed it out, they wouldn't have noticed.

"What if it's flat?" the Bronze Mask snorted. "All I care about is breaking the seal!"

"Don't rush, let me finish. To break the seal, you must understand these points!" Zhang Xuan continued, "As I mentioned earlier, this painting was completed in two stages, separated by a full thirty years! This means that thirty years ago, the painting was complete, and the surface would undoubtedly have been flat... Thirty years later, the Elder Without Sorrow intentionally added white clouds to it, presumably to conceal something! Since ink was added, the thickness should certainly be different. Now, everyone, look at the position of the white clouds. Can you discern anything?"

Everyone looked towards the white clouds again, and in the blink of an eye, they all frowned.

"It seems equally flat...""There's no change at all?" voices murmured.The area with the white clouds was just as flat as the rest of the painting; no problem could be discerned.

"It seems there's no need for me to say more; everyone can see it's flat! This implies... not only did he add ink, but he also shaved off a layer of the original pattern!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

Everyone's eyes widened, somewhat in disbelief. "Shaving off the original and then repainting something different... How could that be done?" President Meng Chong of the Calligraphy and Painting Guild couldn't help but ask. As a peak seven-star calligrapher and painter, he understood the difficulty. Regardless of the scroll's material, once ink touches it, it seeps in. To scrape off a layer and repaint a different pattern... could that truly be accomplished?

"It is very difficult, but... what if 'Void Calligraphy' was used?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"Using Void Calligraphy? Then... it would just fall off!" President Meng Chong continued. Void Calligraphy is akin to painting in the air; it cannot integrate with the painting itself. As soon as it moves, the two parts would surely separate... How could it be perfectly integrated as it is now?

"This is just as Master Zhang Jiuxiao said: special spiritual energy was added in between. If we compare the white clouds and the original painting to two sheets of paper... this spiritual energy acts as glue, perfectly fusing them without interfering with each other!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"I see..." Everyone suddenly understood. When Zhang Jiuxiao previously mentioned that there was spiritual energy within the seal, everyone was confused. Only after this explanation did they truly comprehend what it meant.

"After all that, isn't it still the same as my conclusion?" Zhang Jiuxiao pouted. He had thought this person would propose some astonishing theory, but it all circled back to the same conclusion he had reached.

"It's not the same!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "You know there's spiritual energy interspersed between the two paintings, but do you know *why* this situation occurred, or *how* to remove it?"

"I..." Zhang Jiuxiao's face flushed red, and he was speechless. He knew about these things because he had personally witnessed someone in his family break similar works... As for *why* it was done this way or *how* to break it, he was ignorant. Frankly, if he had truly known, his head wouldn't have been covered in durians, nor would his tail be thick and long.

"The spiritual energy integrates the two paintings, acting as a fixed bond. Under normal circumstances, it would be extremely difficult to separate them by any method. Forcing it would only ruin both paintings... It's like trying to separate two sheets of paper that have been glued together for thousands of years. Even if you succeed, are you sure the painting underneath would still be discernible?" Zhang Xuan stated, ignoring the self-important young master.

The Bronze Mask's face twitched. He lost his earlier arrogant demeanor and fell silent. His goal was to see what was sealed underneath. If he forcibly separated them, he wouldn't be able to see the lower part, and the upper part would also be destroyed... it would definitely be a loss.

"Master Zhang, do you have a method to ensure the painting underneath remains unharmed?" He hesitated, then looked over. The fact that this person could explain in such detail showed his complete understanding. Perhaps... what others found difficult, he could accomplish.

"Since I can explain this much, naturally I have confidence!" Zhang Xuan smiled faintly and nodded.

"Oh? Please enlighten me..." The Bronze Mask's eyes lit up, and he quickly cupped his fist.

"It's quite simple!" Nodding, Zhang Xuan explained, "If he had used other materials for the fusion, it would be very difficult to achieve. But... using spiritual energy makes it easier! The spiritual energy fusing the two paintings, like plant spiritual energy, will only grow or operate in a specific manner to fulfill certain tasks. It doesn't possess self-awareness! President Ruan, you must be very clear on this point."

"Indeed!" President Ruan nodded. Many plants also possess spiritual energy, controlling nutrient absorption and growth... but unlike animal spiritual energy, it doesn't have its own will, wander around, or instinctively seek good fortune and avoid misfortune.

"This spiritual energy's task is to fuse the two paintings together, never to separate. Now, if... I could make it transform into animal spiritual energy, possessing its own intelligence, do you think... it would still continue to fuse?" Zhang Xuan chuckled.

"If this spiritual energy gained intelligence, the white clouds on the painting would be like a painful festering sore on its body; it would certainly want to get rid of them!""That's true, but... imbuing this spiritual energy with intelligence might not be easy, right?""That much I don't know..."Everyone's eyes brightened, but at the same time, their gazes were puzzled. It was easy to imbue weapons with intelligence, but imbuing spiritual energy that had been dormant for thousands of years, giving it sentience, probably wouldn't be that simple!

"Indeed, this method of imbuing intelligence is not easy, but... I happen to be able to do it!" Zhang Xuan smiled.

"Master Zhang, please help... If you can accomplish this, I will certainly offer a generous reward..." The Bronze Mask bowed. Previously, he had looked down on everyone, believing the people of Qingyuan Empire were all talk and no substance. But after hearing Master Zhang's analysis, he was utterly impressed. To pinpoint the problem and find a true solution in such a short time, his insight and understanding far surpassed everyone else's.

"No need to rush. Even if I can do it, to ensure no damage to either painting, I need to confirm a few things first..." Zhang Xuan said.

"Yes!" The Bronze Mask nodded. "Master Zhang, what do you need? I will do my best to provide whatever you request..." It was easy to explain, but the actual execution would surely be complex. Otherwise, he wouldn't have possessed this item for so long without being able to resolve it.

"Not yet!" Zhang Xuan shook his head, then paused. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a writing brush. "This painting is a whole. To imbue it with sentience, I must either disrupt the painting's artistic concept or open a small opening to allow consciousness to enter. If this causes any damage to the painting, please forgive me!"

"No problem!" The Bronze Mask nodded. What he wanted was the item sealed underneath. Even if the painting was valuable, it would be worth it if he could truly see what was hidden below.

"Very well then..." Relieved, Zhang Xuan took the brush in hand. Just as he was about to dip it in ink, he suddenly frowned, looked at Zhang Jiuxiao nearby, and reprimanded him. "You're a seven-star master, how can you be so oblivious? Come here and grind the ink!"