After leaving the Sect Law Hall, Qi Nansheng went into seclusion at Taihua Mountain. It is said that the old master might be able to break through to the cultivation of a Tier Seven Grand Pharmacist.

However, such rumors might not be very reliable, as the breakthrough in cultivation is not a continuous process but a critical state; certain barriers cannot be crossed, and once crossed, the result remains unknown.

For example, Jiang Daozhen did indeed take that step back then, seemingly on the verge of breaking through at any moment, yet he waited for twenty-three years. Only in that critical state can one say he has the potential to break through to Tier Seven.

Mei Guyu might be in a similar state, but Qi Nansheng probably may not... This is not the main point, just idle chatter by the old man Jiang during the recounting of events.

Seclusion doesn't mean hiding in a cave unseen; rather, it means staying in a villa with a serene mountain environment.

The villa project was developed by the Alchemy Sect and designed by Magic Sect disciples, integrating with the mountain and water environment, but the location is not remote. Not only can packages be delivered directly, but one can also order takeout; it just requires a transfer through the service desk.

During the Spring Festival this year, Wan Zhongle visited the senior Qi Nansheng for a new year's greeting, and aside from the customary gifts, he also brought along the "Tan Xian's Walking Stick Painting" taken from Zhang Yanfei.

This painting was of course not a gift for Qi Nansheng; it belonged to the Sect, and once it was retrieved, it was stored in the Immortal Pot Grotto Heaven.

However, in the latter half of last year, Qi Yuan stirred things up, revealing many matters that needed reevaluation... Just as He Kao expected, the higher-ups of the Alchemy Sect suspect the painting retrieved was not the genuine article.

By rights, such a painting carries the weight of symbolic value, considering it was created by the Ancestral Master, and the figure in the painting was also one of the most significant Ancestral Masters in the Alchemy Sect's history, said to have ascended to heaven — Tan Jun.

Yet after all this time with the painting back, the Alchemy Sect's higher-ups have failed to discover any other mysteries within it? It seems to be merely an artifact showcasing high skill in painting, leaving everyone feeling it should not be so.

Once this item is placed in the Sect Ancestral Hall, it cannot be taken out easily again. Wan Zhongle used the pretext of asking seniors to authenticate it to take the painting to Qi Nansheng.

Qi Nansheng examined the painting carefully for half a day and concluded it was a forgery, not the original work.

According to Qi Nansheng, there has indeed been such a painting handed down through generations by the Alchemy Sect. This painting can be regarded as a Divine Artifact, so what mystical use does it have? It is said that "seeing the painting is like seeing Tan the Immortal himself."

The image of Tan the Immortal in the painting they possess appears lifelike but certainly does not match the "like seeing the person" depiction spoken of by successive Ancestral Masters.

Actually, Mei Guyu had also seen this painting before and merely remarked at the time, "So there really is such an item, but alas, it falls short of the rumors."

Why did she say this? Because for a millennia, no one in the Alchemy Sect had ever seen this painting, merely heard rumors about it.

The gossip circulating through the village was probably already distorted beyond recognition, let alone stories passed down for a thousand years? Thus, the discrepancy between rumor and fact is the most normal of occurrences.

Just like how He Kao never received a whole box of gold bars.

Yet, regardless, the painting still holds commemorative significance, hence should be kept in the Ancestral Hall for future generations to observe... Mei Guyu's seclusion in the Immortal Pot Grotto Heaven is solely for cultivation, and she has little interest in dwelling on this matter.

But when it came to Qi Nansheng, this former Elder had a different perspective. He first determined the painting was a forgery, then suggested that there must exist an original, and further speculated that the original might indeed have the mystical qualities described by the legends.

The old master explained for a while.

Rustic rumors are inherently unreliable, but the tales surrounding "Tan Xian's Walking Stick Painting" have been handed down from generation to generation in the Alchemy Sect, some sayings known only to successive Elders.

This cannot simply be regarded as mere legend; it is a kind of knowing inheritance.

Seeing the forgery implies there must be an original, because although this painting is a reproduction, the content within it is not fabricated, nor could a copyist have invented it.

Since an original exists, the original is very likely to have the mystical qualities mentioned in legends — seeing the painting is like seeing Tan the Immortal!

Qi Nansheng did not convey this message to Wan Zhongle but spoke these words to his close disciple, Yu Pingzhou, after Wan Zhongle left.

Yu Pingzhou is Qi Nansheng's direct disciple. When Qi Nansheng served as Elder of the Sect Law Hall, he was a steward of the Alchemy Sect, helping his master manage Sect affairs.

Some matters only required Qi Nansheng's brief instruction; Yu Pingzhou would find a way to accomplish them without needing specific directives on how to proceed.

After Qi Nansheng stepped down, Yu Pingzhou also resigned from his stewardship position to follow his master and pursue focused cultivation at Taihua Mountain, while also attending to his master's daily needs.

Yu Pingzhou is a Tier Five Charming Person, but breaking through to Tier Six Pharmacist cultivation remains very challenging.

On the other hand, Qi Nansheng has been a Tier Six Pharmacist for many years yet has been unable to break through to a Tier Seven Grand Pharmacist. He seems to almost see a glimpse of the path, but constantly feels that if he truly took that step forward, his lifetime of cultivation might turn to ashes.

He has also heard about Jiang Daozhen's situation; Elder Jiang remains in that profoundly critical state, trapped for twenty-three years, quite a perilous circumstance...

But Elder Jiang has recently achieved perfect merit and conduct, breaking through to Tier Seven, which has had a profound impact and further stimulation on Qi Nansheng.

Qi Nansheng is nearly a hundred years old; though he looks young and has no health issues, his lifespan is running low... He also seeks to achieve eternal life and ascend to heaven.

In ancient times, among the Eight Great Technique Sects, especially the Alchemy Sect's ancestors, the aim of cultivation was to pursue eternal life and ascend to heaven. Even if they ultimately could not fulfill their wish, to glimpse the views along the path was still worthwhile for a lifetime.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.