Chapter 1167: Why Not Come Grind the Ink

"Knowing the material and the time of creation is useless for breaking the seal, right?"

The bronze mask frowned, interrupting Zhang Xuan.

"It has no direct effect, but based on this, we can infer the painting's origin, analyze why the other party left the seal, and find its weaknesses and flaws."

Zhang Xuan smiled lightly.

"Just from the painting's age, you can deduce the seal's weaknesses and flaws... That's a bit arrogant!" The tail curled, and Zhang Jiuxiao on one side looked up, his durian wobbling violently from the force of his speech, as if it might fall off at any moment.

Although the crowd didn't speak, they mostly agreed with his view. The painting's age, examined carefully down to the exact year, at most showed your skill in appraising treasures—what did it have to do with the seal?

"Just because you don't understand doesn't mean I can't see it!"

With a light laugh, Zhang Xuan stood straight, his face full of confidence. He circled the painting, then suddenly looked at the nearby Painting and Calligraphy Guild president. "You must be the Painting and Calligraphy Guild president!"

"I am Meng Chong, unworthily serving as the Painting and Calligraphy Guild president."

President Meng Chong stood up and cupped his fists.

"President Meng, I'd like to trouble you to tell everyone what painting style was popular in our Qingyuan Empire two thousand one hundred and forty years ago, and what kind of ink and brush were commonly used?"

Zhang Xuan said.

"This..."

Startled, President Meng Chong thought for a moment and said, "Over two thousand one hundred years ago in the Qingyuan Empire, the 'Fixed-Plate Painting Method' was popular. That is, like printing and publishing, when painting, one followed a specific format, specific size, and applied layers in a fixed order. This method usually involved first applying a layer of ink on the paper, then layering colors one by one, each layer striving for perfection without flaws... Although it seemed tedious, it made the painting neat and flawless!"

Painting and calligraphy, like cultivation, evolve over time. Each era leaves distinct traces, completely different from another era.

For this reason, appraisers can accurately identify the age of treasures without error.

The Fixed-Plate Painting flourished between two thousand and two thousand five hundred years ago, spreading widely, with the most influential figure being this Elder Wubei.

Thus, as soon as everyone saw the work, they knew it was left by this person.

"Correct, it is the Fixed-Plate Painting Method!"

Hearing the detailed explanation, Zhang Xuan nodded. "This painting method, while making the work extremely neat, almost like a print, also has a major flaw—that is, all ink must be used in the same amount, and the entire painting must be as flat as if cut by a knife; otherwise, one would be ridiculed for being heretical and lacking skill..."

Zhang Xuan smiled. "Look at this painting—whether it's the landscape or the surrounding sky, flowers, and grass, they all have the same thickness..."

Everyone looked together, their divine senses probing.

After a moment, they all nodded.

Indeed, it was so.

If he hadn't pointed it out, they wouldn't have noticed.

"So what if it's flat?" the bronze mask snorted. "I just want to break the seal!"

"Don't rush. Let me finish. To break the seal, you must know these things."

Zhang Xuan continued, "As I said earlier, this painting was completed in two different periods, thirty years apart. That is, thirty years ago, the painting was complete, and the surface must have been flat... Thirty years later, Elder Wubei deliberately added white clouds on top to conceal something. Since ink was added, the thickness must differ. Now, look at the position of the white clouds—can you see anything?"

Everyone looked again at the white clouds, and in an instant, they all frowned.

"It seems equally flat..."

"No change at all?"

Voices arose.

The area of the white clouds was as flat as the rest, showing no problem at all.

"It seems, without further explanation, you all see it—it's flat! That means... he not only added ink on top but also shaved off a layer of the original pattern!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"This..." Everyone's eyes widened, all somewhat incredulous.

"Shaving off the original and then repainting something different... How is that possible?" President Meng Chong of the Painting and Calligraphy Guild couldn't help saying.

As a七星 peak painting and calligraphy master, he knew the difficulty.

No matter the material of the painting, once ink touches it, it penetrates. Scraping off a layer and repainting a different pattern... Could that really be done?

"It is difficult, but... what if he used 'Void Proximity Writing'?" Zhang Xuan said.

"Using Void Proximity Writing? That... would fall off!"

President Meng Chong added.

Void Proximity Writing is like painting in the air; it cannot fuse with the painting itself. If moved, the two would definitely separate... How could it be perfectly fused like now?

"This is as Master Zhang Jiuxiao said—special spirituality was added in between. If we compare the white clouds and the original painting to two sheets of paper, this spirituality is the glue that makes them perfectly fuse without interfering with each other!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"So that's it..."

Everyone suddenly understood.

Earlier, when Zhang Jiuxiao said there was spirituality in the seal, everyone was puzzled. After this explanation, they understood what it meant.

"After all this talk, isn't it the same as my result?" Zhang Jiuxiao curled his lips.

He had thought this guy would come out with some astonishing theory, but in the end, after all that rambling, it was the same conclusion he had reached.

"It's different!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "You know there's a spiritual impurity between the two paintings, but do you know why this happens, and how to eliminate it?"

"I..."

His face flushed red, Zhang Jiuxiao was speechless.

The reason he knew these things was because he had seen someone in his clan crack a similar work... As for why it was done and how to crack it, he had no idea.

To be honest, if he really knew, he wouldn't have a head full of durians and a thick, long tail.

"The spiritual impurity fuses the two paintings, acting as a fixative. Under normal circumstances, no method can easily separate them. Forcing it would ruin both paintings... It's like trying to separate two sheets of paper glued together for thousands of years. Even if you succeed, are you sure the painting underneath can still be recognized?"

No longer paying attention to this self-righteous young master, Zhang Xuan said.

"This..."

His face twitched, the bronze mask no longer had its previous arrogant attitude, but fell silent.

His purpose was to see what was sealed underneath. If forced apart, the underneath would be invisible, and the top would be destroyed... it would definitely not be worth the loss.

"May I ask, Master Zhang, if there is a way to ensure the underneath remains intact?"

After a moment's hesitation, he looked over.

This person before him could speak so detailedly, showing he knew it like the back of his hand. Perhaps... what others found difficult, he could accomplish.

"Since I can say so much, naturally I have confidence!"

With a slight smile, Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Oh? Please enlighten me..."

His eyes lit up, the bronze mask quickly cupped his fists.

"Very simple!"

Nodding, Zhang Xuan said: "If he had used something else to fuse, it would be hard to accomplish, but... using spiritual impurity actually makes it easier! The spiritual impurity that fuses the two paintings, like plant spiritual impurity, only grows or operates in a specific way, aiming to complete certain tasks, without self-awareness! This, President Ruan must be very clear."

"Mm."

President Ruan nodded.

Many plants also have spiritual impurity, controlling the absorption of nutrients, growing themselves... but unlike animal spiritual impurity, they do not have self-awareness, running around, seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster.

"The task of this spiritual impurity is to fuse the two paintings together, never to separate. If... I could turn it into animal spiritual impurity, giving it self-awareness, do you think... it would still continue to fuse?"

Zhang Xuan laughed.

"This..."

"If this spiritual impurity gains intelligence, the white clouds on the painting would be like a malignant sore on the body, extremely uncomfortable, and it would definitely get rid of them!"

"Indeed, but... giving intelligence to this spiritual impurity probably isn't easy, right?"

"That I don't know..."

...

Everyone's eyes lit up, but also showed doubt.

Giving intelligence to a weapon is easy, but giving intelligence to this spiritual impurity that has lain dormant for thousands of years, making it self-aware, probably isn't that simple!

"This method of giving intelligence is indeed not easy, but... I happen to be able to do it!"

Zhang Xuan laughed.

"Please, Master Zhang, help... If it can be done, I will surely offer a generous reward..."

The bronze mask bowed.

Previously, he looked down on everyone, thinking the people of Qingyuan Empire were undeserving of their reputation. After hearing this Master Zhang's analysis, he was filled with admiration.

To find the crux of the problem in such a short time and truly find a solution, both in insight and knowledge, he far surpassed everyone else.

"Don't rush. Even if I can do it, to ensure no damage to the two paintings, I must first confirm some things..."

Zhang Xuan said.

"Yes!" The bronze mask nodded. "May I ask, Master Zhang, what do you need? Whatever you ask, I will find a way to satisfy..."

Explaining was easy, but actually doing it was certainly not simple. Otherwise, he wouldn't have had this thing for so long without being able to solve it.

"Not needed for now."

Zhang Xuan shook his head, paused, and with a flick of his wrist, took out a brush. "This painting is a whole. To give it intelligence, I must either break the painting's artistic conception or open a gap for consciousness to enter. If this damages the painting, please forgive me."

"No matter!" The bronze mask nodded.

What he wanted was what was sealed underneath. Even if the painting was precious, if he could truly see what was underneath, it would be worth it.

"That's good..."

Relieved, holding the brush in his hand, Zhang Xuan was about to dip it in ink when he suddenly frowned, looked at Zhang Jiuxiao not far away, and scolded.

"And you call yourself a Seven Star Master Teacher? Don't you have any sense? Why aren't you here to grind the ink?"