Mortal: Starting with the Seven Mysterious Sects, I proved my Dao through sacrifice.

Inside the courtyard, Murong Fan practiced the moves of the Sunset Sword Technique over and over again. When he held his sword and assumed the stance, he repeated the movements of assuming the stance, swinging the sword, and retracting the stance again and again. At first, his movements were still somewhat clumsy, and the circulation of his internal energy was also a little sluggish. After all, the realm of a first-class martial artist was still new to him, and he could not fully control the enormous power for a while.

But he possessed extraordinary perseverance and comprehension. With each swing of his sword, he subtly adjusted his breathing, the flow of his internal energy, and the coordination of his body. Sweat quickly soaked his clothes, trickling down his forehead and dripping onto the dry bluestone slab, leaving a small, dark mark.

Outside the courtyard wall, a series of steady footsteps suddenly sounded. "Young Sect Master! Young Sect Master!" The voice arrived before the person. Murong Fan heard someone calling him, but he didn't stop immediately. Instead, he continued practicing his swordsmanship.

"Young Master! What excellent swordsmanship!" Li Feiyu shouted in admiration.

"Li Feiyu of the Seven Absolutes Hall pays respects to the Young Master." What comes into view is a boy of fifteen or sixteen years old. He is handsome and aloof, yet he exudes a clever and unconventional temperament.

"Ahem! You audacious Li Feiyu, if you dare utter the words 'Young Sect Master' again, I'll cut out your tongue!" Murong Fan feigned anger.

"Then how should I address him properly? Please give me your guidance, 'Senior Brother, the disciple of the sect leader.'" Li Feiyu said, adhering to the principle that "flattery will never fail."

"Damn it, the Seven Absolutes Hall only taught you this kind of thing. The way you address me might ruin me in the future!" Murong Fan cursed inwardly.

"From now on, just call me Senior Brother Murong. If we get along well, you can call me Brother Fan in private too." At this moment, Murong Fan wasn't thinking about the vanity of being the "Young Sect Master," but rather he wanted to deliberately maintain that low profile.

"Yes, Senior Brother Murong!" Li Feiyu immediately became serious, abandoning his carefree attitude.

"Senior Brother Murong, how is your injury healing? Everyone came to congratulate you that day. I originally planned to come too, but unfortunately I had important matters to attend to and was unable to congratulate you in time. This is the wound medicine I just received; please use it first."

The familiar porcelain bottle sent a warm feeling through Murong Fan's heart, but he quickly declined, saying, "Junior Brother Li, you're too kind. My injuries have already healed."

"Completely healed? Rumors within the sect say your injuries were extremely severe, even damaging your meridians, yet you've recovered in just a few days. What kind of miraculous medicine did you use?" Li Feiyu looked at Murong Fan with a face full of doubt.

"There are no magic pills or remedies; it's all thanks to the proper care from the physicians within the sect," Murong Fan replied with a smile.

"Indeed, there are indeed many skilled physicians in the sect, and the medical skills of Shenshou Valley are unparalleled. The saying 'Divine Hands in the Medical World, Mo Renju of Lanzhou' is undoubtedly the highest praise for Doctor Mo. His apprentice, Han Li, is my good brother," Li Feiyu said with a smug look.

"Han Li?" Murong Fan's heart skipped a beat, but it didn't cause him much of a stir. He simply echoed Li Feiyu's words, saying, "Junior Brother Li has a wide circle of friends; his reputation is truly well-deserved!"

Li Feiyu waved his hand and said, "Senior Brother Murong, you're too kind. By the way, besides visiting you, I have another matter to ask you today. I've heard that your cultivation has improved greatly recently. I wonder if you could give me some pointers?" His eyes gleamed with sincere longing and a hint of challenge that was barely perceptible.

Murong Fan looked at the slightly younger boy before him, and the boy's sharp and frank eyes evoked a sense of goodwill in him. He smiled slightly and said, "It's not about giving guidance, just mutual learning and improvement. What would you like to learn from each other?"

Upon hearing this, Li Feiyu was overjoyed. The coldness on his face was instantly replaced by excitement. He took two steps back, clasped his hands, and said, "Senior Brother Murong, you speak your mind! I am not very skilled, but I practice the sect's 'Thunderbolt Saber Technique.' I would like to ask Senior Brother for a few sword techniques!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he stomped his foot, and the bluestone slab made a slight cracking sound. His figure was as fast as lightning. He drew his sword and leaped forward, rushing straight for Murong Fan's face.

This slash was swift and powerful, carrying an unstoppable momentum; it was clearly one of Li Feiyu's masterpieces. Murong Fan's pupils constricted slightly, and he secretly praised, "Such fast swordsmanship! The Seven Absolutes Hall truly lives up to its reputation. Li Feiyu's strength is indeed much stronger than that of ordinary inner disciples. No wonder he was quite famous within the sect before."

Faced with this sudden, lightning-fast swordsmanship, Murong Fan remained calm and composed. He was now a first-rate martial artist, his inner strength, insight, and reaction time far surpassing what he had once possessed. With a slight flick of his wrist, the longsword in his hand emitted a clear, resonant hum, its blade seemingly transforming into a flowing moonlight, neither dodging nor evading, precisely meeting Li Feiyu's blade.

With a crisp "clang!", the swords clashed. Li Feiyu felt an immense force coming from the hilt of his sword, as if he had struck not a sword, but a mountain. He groaned and involuntarily staggered back three steps before barely regaining his balance. His eyes, looking at Murong Fan, were filled with shock and horror.

"This...how is this possible?" Li Feiyu muttered to himself. He could clearly feel that with that last strike, the opponent's internal energy was not only powerful but also flowed smoothly and effortlessly, as if it were nothing. His full-force attack had been effortlessly neutralized by the opponent. Such strength was far beyond that of an ordinary first-rate martial artist!

Murong Fan sheathed his sword and stood still, the tip pointing diagonally at the ground. He said calmly, "How about it? Want to continue?" He neither pressed his advantage nor showed any intention of showing off. He simply stared at Li Feiyu calmly.

Li Feiyu took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and clasped his hands in a fist salute again, saying, "Senior Brother Murong's swordsmanship is exquisite, and his inner strength is profound. I am completely convinced!" The arrogance on his face vanished, replaced by heartfelt respect. That attack just now made him fully understand the gap between them—it was as vast as heaven and earth.

"Your Thunderclap Blade Technique is also quite good, powerful and fierce, but a little too hasty. If you could be more composed, its power would be even greater," Murong Fan commented objectively. He could see that Li Feiyu was a promising talent, but his temperament still needed to be honed.

Upon hearing this, Li Feiyu's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Murong! I have learned a lot!" He knew in his heart that Murong Fan's words were all heartfelt advice.

Because Li Feiyu was so engrossed in her sparring with Murong Fan, she was completely unaware that a porcelain bottle she was carrying had accidentally fallen from her arms during the match. The bottle rolled several feet before finally coming to rest at Murong Fan's feet.

The words "Marrow Extraction Pill" caught Murong Fan's eye. Murong Fan picked it up casually and handed it to Li Feiyu.

"Junior Brother Li, you've always been known for your diligence and extraordinary talent in cultivation within the sect. Is this what you've relied on?"

The moment the words left her lips, the relaxed atmosphere in the courtyard instantly turned tense. The smile on Li Feiyu's face vanished in an instant, replaced by astonishment, fear, and resentment.

Li Feiyu remained silent, standing there dumbfounded as if his soul had been drained away.

"Junior Brother Li, you are already aware of the dangers of this Marrow Extraction Pill. If the sect leader, elders, and sect master find out that you achieved your current success by using this 'forbidden drug' that drains your life force, then all your current reputation and status will vanish, and you may even be expelled from the Seven Mysteries Sect." Upon hearing Murong Fan's words, Li Feiyu collapsed to the ground.

"Of course, Junior Brother Li, you don't need to panic. Since we are fellow disciples, I would never expose you." Upon hearing this, Li Feiyu's expression softened slightly, but he remained wary.

"Even if I promise to keep quiet about the Marrow Extraction Pill, you probably won't believe me easily. So, the best solution is for us to take the pill together. Also, you have to take me to see Han Li!" Murong Fan looked at Li Feiyu with sincere eyes.

"Senior Brother Murong, is this really true? You are well aware of the dangers of the Marrow Extraction Pill, so you should consider this carefully! Taking you to see Han Li is no problem at all." Li Feiyu looked at Murong Fan with a sincere expression.

At this moment, Li Feiyu was completely dumbfounded. He had no idea what his senior brother Murong was up to. No matter what Murong Fan said, he could only obediently agree—firstly, because he was in the wrong, and secondly, because he really couldn't beat him. Thinking of this, Murong Fan was overjoyed: "Having gotten such a big scoop on Li Feiyu today, won't I be able to manipulate him at will in the future?"

"Life is short. Rather than living a mediocre and wretched life, it is better to live a glorious and famous life. Even a brief moment of glory, like a fleeting flower, is far better than a long period of doing nothing." Murong Fan sighed with deep emotion.

The two looked at each other and smiled; indeed, great minds think alike.