Old Harden, can you handle having your vision-shifting abilities on all the time?

The two walked and talked, and before they knew it, they had arrived at an exhibition area on the west side of the hall.

This exhibition area mainly displays calligraphy and painting works. The walls are covered with various hanging scrolls, horizontal scrolls, and album leaves, including literati paintings from the Ming and Qing dynasties as well as works by modern masters.

Xu Xing's gaze swept over the calligraphy and painting works, and suddenly stopped on a hanging scroll in the corner.

It was a landscape painting depicting a secluded retreat amidst bamboo groves. The composition was sparse, with a few slender bamboos concealing a thatched pavilion where a lone figure sat. In the distance, the mountains were shrouded in mist and clouds, creating a serene and distant atmosphere.

In the upper right corner of the painting, there is a line of small characters in running script: "Written by Zhu Yunming of Zhishan at his residence in Jinling in the autumn of the Renwu year of the Jiajing reign."

The inscription bears two seals: one in red ink reading "Zhu Yunming's Seal" and the other in white ink reading "Zhishan".

Zhu Zhishan.

One of the Four Great Talents of the Ming Dynasty, he was as famous as Tang Bohu, Wen Zhengming, and Xu Zhenqing.

His calligraphy skills were extremely high, especially his running and cursive scripts, which were hailed as "the best in the Ming Dynasty".

However, very few of his paintings have survived to this day, and every painting by Zhu Zhishan circulating in the market is a rare treasure.

Xu Xing stopped in front of the hanging scroll and carefully examined the painting.

Zhou Zhihai also came over, glanced at the painting, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Zhu Zhishan's paintings are indeed rare. This painting, 'Hermitage in the Bamboo Grove,' has a sparse brushwork and a profound artistic conception. It is a rare masterpiece."

He glanced at the information plaque next to him and read: "Zhu Yunming, 'Recluse in Bamboo Grove,' Ming Dynasty, ink and color on silk, dimensions: 120 cm in height, 52 cm in width, estimated price: 12 million."

"Twelve million, that price is reasonable."

Zhou Zhihai nodded. "Zhu Zhishan's paintings do indeed fetch this price on the market."

Xu Xing remained silent, his gaze still fixed on the painting.

But at this moment, his X-ray vision was fully activated.

The gaze penetrates the surface of the silk, through the layers of pigment, and reaches the internal structure of the painting.

Then his pupils contracted slightly.

Inside this silk painting, "Hermitage in the Bamboo Grove," there is another hidden layer of the picture!

It was a portrait painting.

The person in the painting, with a tall hat and wide belt, a lean face and a free and easy demeanor, is exactly the image of Zhu Zhishan himself.

In the lower left corner of the portrait, there is a line of tiny characters, the handwriting is elegant and graceful, clearly the work of a master.

Xu Xing focused his attention and carefully examined the text, deciphering the contents of the small characters:

"Brother Zhishan invited me to paint his portrait, saying that after his death he would live in seclusion among mountains, rivers and bamboo forests. I am the only painter in the world who can capture both form and spirit in his paintings. In the winter of the Xin Si year of Zhengde, Tang Yin of Wumen respectfully inscribed this."

Liuru Jushi was Tang Bohu's pen name.

Xu Xing's heart skipped a beat.

Inside this painting, "Recluse in the Bamboo Grove," by Zhu Zhishan, there is a portrait of Zhu Zhishan painted by Tang Bohu!

Moreover, judging from the content of the inscription, this was a portrait of Zhu Zhishan that he specially invited Tang Bohu to paint for his funeral in his later years.

Zhu Zhishan said that after his death he wanted to live in seclusion among mountains, rivers and bamboo forests, and Tang Bohu's paintings were the most lifelike, so he asked him to paint this portrait.

This portrait was cleverly hidden inside the silk scroll of "Hermit in the Bamboo Grove," forming a painting within a painting.

Another dramatic turn of events is that Tang Bohu passed away two years after completing this painting, before Zhu Zhishan.

Xu Xing took a deep breath to suppress his excitement.

He glanced at the label below the information plaque, which stated that the owner of the painting was Gu Bai.

Xu Xing's lips curled up slightly.

It's an ancient cypress tree again.

This vice president of the Chang'an Cultural Relics Association really made a significant contribution today.

He turned to Zhou Zhihai and asked casually, "Mr. Zhou, what do you think of this painting?"

"very nice."

Zhou Zhihai commented earnestly, "Zhu Zhishan's paintings are rare. This painting, 'Hermitage in the Bamboo Grove,' is a masterpiece in terms of composition, brushwork, and artistic conception. Although the estimated price of 12 million is a bit high, it is still reasonable."

Xu Xing nodded, then walked to the service desk next to the display case and said to the staff, "Hello, I'd like to take this painting, 'Recluse in a Bamboo Grove,' by Zhu Zhishan."

The staff member paused for a moment, then quickly opened the register: "Sir, are you sure you want to buy this painting?"

"Sure."

"Okay, please wait a moment while I contact the owner of this painting."

The staff member picked up the phone and dialed a number.

About five minutes later, a middle-aged man in a gray suit walked over quickly.

He looked to be in his early forties, slightly overweight, with a professional smile on his face: "Hello, I'm the agent for this painting. Are you looking to purchase this 'Recluse in a Bamboo Grove' painting?"

"it's me."

Xu Xing nodded.

"Yes, sir. The price tag for this painting is twelve million. If you are sure you want to buy it, we need to sign a purchase agreement first, and then you can pay the full amount and we can complete the handover."

"no problem."

Xu Xing signed the agreement decisively and paid by card.

The whole process took less than ten minutes, and twelve million was transferred from his account.

With a beaming smile, Agent Wang carefully rolled up the hanging scroll, placed it in a special painting tube, and presented it with both hands: "Mr. Xu, the painting has been packaged for you. Please keep it safe."

Xu Xing took the painting tube and nodded.

Standing to the side, watching Xu Xing casually spend twelve million to buy a painting, Zhou Zhihai couldn't help but exclaim, "Engineer Xu, the speed at which you spend money is truly astonishing."

"When you come across something good, seize the opportunity."

Xu Xing laughed and said, "Zhu Zhishan's paintings are indeed rare; you won't find another like them if you miss this opportunity."

He didn't say much about the secret of the painting within a painting.

The fewer people who know about this, the better.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the meeting room of the Chang'an Cultural Relics Association was so heavy it seemed like water was about to drip from it.

Chairman Sun Guoliang sat at the head of the conference table, his face ashen, his teacup clenched so tightly it made a cracking sound.

A cell phone was placed in front of him, with a conference call interface displayed on the screen.

The meeting was attended by the association's seven directors and several core members.

On the other end of the phone, someone had already given a detailed report of what happened at the antique exchange meeting today.

When Sun Guoliang heard that Xu Xing had smashed the tempered glass display case with a single punch and shattered the Yongle blue and white porcelain chicken heart bowl in front of everyone, his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

When Sun Guoliang heard Zhou Zhihai personally assert that Gu Bai and the Cultural Relics Association had both failed in their duties, he finally slammed the teacup in his hand onto the table.