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

P.S.: To be honest, I hesitated a lot when I was outlining the story, wondering if I should go for this niche approach. The initial premise of the protagonist possessing a celestial spiritual root didn't provide readers with a satisfying, exhilarating experience; instead, it attracted considerable attention and backlash (and some criticism, of course). I sincerely apologize for this! In fact, there are many talented people who feel they haven't found their place in the world, but no matter when or where, as long as you maintain a positive attitude and persevere with a long-term perspective, you can often truly break free from your cocoon and thrive!

May we, in our struggles, always remain true to our original aspirations, and withstand all kinds of tests, whether in our studies, careers, or relationships, like fine wine that shines even in the most obscure alleys, revealing our own unique brilliance. From this chapter onward, the protagonist will bring readers a thoroughly enjoyable and exhilarating experience.

Although Murong Fan possessed the Yellow Maple Valley token and could freely leave the valley, Hong Fu believed that for a rare cultivator with a Heavenly Spiritual Root in the valley, long-term cultivation outside was not a sustainable solution. Firstly, the valley worried that such a gifted talent would be poached by other sects; secondly, they feared he might encounter misfortune on his journey; and thirdly, Murong Fan's cultivation speed was truly astonishing, and the valley was always concerned that he might stray onto the path of evil cultivation and ultimately fall into demonic ways.

Hong Fu knew that Murong Fan was a once-in-a-million cultivation prodigy. If his training outside was delayed and he neglected to hone his foundation, or if he encountered unforeseen dangers, it would be a huge loss for Huangfeng Valley and even the entire cultivation world. Therefore, after Murong Fan returned to Huangfeng Valley, Hong Fu decided to personally guide him, making him understand that the path of cultivation was not simply about increasing cultivation level.

That day, Hongfu summoned Murong Fan to her quiet room. The room was elegant and serene, furnished only with a small table and a couch. A traditional Chinese ink painting of a landscape hung on the wall, its artistic conception profound and distant. Hongfu sat upright on the couch and, upon seeing Murong Fan enter, nodded slightly, gesturing for him to sit down.

"Fan'er, your cultivation has progressed rapidly, reaching the peak of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. I am very pleased with you." Hong Fu's voice was calm, but carried a hint of solemnity that was not easily detected. "But do you know that the path of cultivation is vast and boundless? While cultivation level is important, it is not the only factor."

Murong Fan's heart stirred, recalling the words of Pavilion Master Lin of the Thousand Machines Pavilion, and he respectfully said, "This disciple is dull-witted, please enlighten me, Master."

Hongfu picked up the cup of tea on the table, gently blew away the foam, and slowly said, "Your talent is exceptional, and your cultivation speed far surpasses that of ordinary people, which is a good thing. However, if you only bury yourself in hard work and neglect to explore other skills, your future achievements may be limited."

She put down her teacup and looked intently at Murong Fan: "Do you really think that those powerful cultivators who are renowned in their respective regions are only powerful because of their profound cultivation? Not at all. They often have a wide range of expertise in many areas, such as formations, elixirs, talismans, and weapon crafting, and may even be specialists in one or two of them. These skills are not unorthodox methods, but rather indispensable aids on the path of cultivation."

Murong Fan listened intently, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

Hong Fu continued, "Let's talk about formations first. Whether it's trapping enemies, defending, assisting cultivation, or concealing heavenly secrets, formations are indispensable. If you understand formations, you can set up a killing formation to trap your enemy in a deadly situation when fighting with others; when you go out to train, you can set up a defensive formation to protect yourself; and if you find a spiritual place, you can also set up a spirit-gathering formation to accelerate your cultivation. On the contrary, if you know nothing about formations, you may easily fall into the formations set up by others, and you may even die or perish."

"Let's talk about pills again. What cultivator doesn't need the aid of pills? Breaking through bottlenecks, healing injuries, prolonging life, and improving cultivation all require pills. If you know how to refine pills, you won't be subject to others' control. You can refine whatever pills you need, whenever you need them. Even if you can't find rare and precious materials, you can identify herbs and turn the rotten into the miraculous. If you don't know how to refine pills, you can only spend a lot of spirit stones to buy them, and you might even buy fake medicine, delaying your cultivation or even endangering your life."

"And then there are talismans. A high-level talisman can save your life in a critical moment, or it can be used to surprise your enemy and defeat them in battle. For example, the communication talisman I gave you is the most basic yet most practical type of talisman. If you can learn the way of talismans, you will have an extra layer of protection when you travel the world in the future."

"As for weapon crafting, it's even more so. A suitable magic weapon can greatly enhance your strength. You are currently cultivating the Azure Origin Sword Technique. If you can personally craft a spirit sword that suits your cultivation method in the future, its power will be far beyond that of ordinary magic weapons. Moreover, good magic weapons themselves contain the laws of heaven and earth, which can also inspire your cultivation."

"Of course, there are also spiritual plants, beast taming, medicine, treasure appraisal, divination/heavenly secrets... It would be best if you could dabble in all of these, but all-rounders are almost rare. Choose what interests you to learn, and you will naturally gain a lot."

Hong Fu spoke at length, her tone filled with earnest expectations for Murong Fan: "Fan'er, cultivating immortality is not just about cultivating magical power, but also about cultivating one's state of mind, knowledge, and methods. As the saying goes, 'A skill is never a burden.' Mastering more skills means having more paths and more confidence. You are exceptionally talented. If you can spare some energy to study these other skills in your spare time, your future achievements will be limitless."

Upon hearing this, Murong Fan suddenly understood. He had only kept Lin Pavilion Master's words in mind before, but now, after his master Hong Fu's meticulous analysis, he truly grasped their profound meaning. It turned out that cultivating immortality was indeed as Master Hong Fu had said—the "hundred arts" one had to learn, each potentially related to life and death, and to one's future potential. His previous focus solely on improving his cultivation level had been rather short-sighted.

"Disciple understands!" Murong Fan rose and bowed deeply to Hong Fu. "Thank you for your teachings, Master. I will remember them well. In the future, I will strive to learn more about array formations, alchemy, talismans, and weapon crafting, so as not to disappoint Master's high expectations!"

Seeing how quickly he grasped the concepts, Hong Fu smiled with satisfaction: "You're a promising student. It's good that you have the will. These skills are profound and complex, and cannot be mastered in a day. You don't need to rush; you can start with the basics and take it slowly. There are many books about these basic skills in the Yellow Maple Valley's library; you can borrow them with your token. If you have any questions, you can always come and ask me."

"Yes, disciple obeys!" Murong Fan was filled with gratitude and motivation. He knew that his master's words had opened a new door for him, giving him a more comprehensive and profound understanding of the path of cultivation.

"The Yellow Maple Valley Scripture Pavilion also has level restrictions. As my most outstanding disciple, you can naturally browse and cultivate any of the scriptures at level four and below," Hong Fu said patiently.

"Fan'er, there is something I must make clear to you: As a cultivator with a Heavenly Spiritual Root, you were initially neglected in the valley, not because the sect was narrow-minded and couldn't tolerate you, but because the sect had its own unspeakable difficulties. Two years ago, a demonic cultivator with a Heavenly Spiritual Root infiltrated the valley. The sect poured all its efforts into nurturing him, but it turned out to be a dangerous threat, almost plunging the sect into utter ruin. You are kind by nature, and I have been watching over you ever since you joined the valley. No matter how harsh the environment or how scarce the resources, you never complained, and you never became arrogant because you have a Heavenly Spiritual Root."

"This is the quality that the sect truly values. Talent is important, but character is the key to how far a cultivator can ultimately go. Those demonic cultivators, despite their extraordinary talent, were corrupt and ultimately fell into evil, turning against their masters. Therefore, the sect has high hopes for you, but we must also observe you carefully, lest you repeat the same mistake."

"Now it seems this truly shows the true nature of gold, and I was overthinking it. You, child, possess a calm and steady temperament, which is truly rare and precious." Hong Fu's gaze held a hint of relief and approval. "From now on, you need not have any more worries. Just focus on your cultivation in the valley. The sect will certainly not shortchange you on any resources you need, as long as they are within its power. But you must also remember that with great power comes great responsibility. In the future, you will need to contribute your strength to Huangfeng Valley and to the righteous path."

Upon hearing this, Murong Fan felt all his previous grievances dissipate. It turned out that the sect didn't disregard him; on the contrary, it was precisely because they valued him so much that they were so cautious. Master Hong Fu's frankness dispelled the last trace of doubt in his heart, replacing it with a sense of belonging to the sect and gratitude towards Hong Fu.

"Disciple understands!" Murong Fan bowed deeply again, his tone unwavering. "In this life, disciple will certainly live up to the sect's cultivation and the master's high expectations!"

Hong Fu nodded in satisfaction, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes: "Good, good, good. With your words, I am relieved. Alright, go ahead. You can arrange your own time to study the scriptures in the Scripture Pavilion. Remember, the path of cultivation requires balance; don't try to do too much at once and end up with something you can't handle. Start with the skill you are most interested in, lay a foundation, and then gradually expand upon it."

"Yes, disciple takes his leave." Murong Fan bowed respectfully, turned and left the quiet room.

Stepping out of the quiet room, the sunlight warmed him. Murong Fan felt a sense of clarity and relief. The urgency he had felt before in his pursuit of higher cultivation levels remained, but he now felt more at ease and had a greater sense of direction.

Master Hongfu's words were like a beacon, illuminating more possibilities for his path of cultivation.

"Formations, pills, talismans, weapon crafting..." Murong Fan muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He recalled the "Bewitching Array" and "Shocking Thorn" he had previously set up; although rudimentary, they had served their purpose, and he seemed to have a slight interest in formations.

As for elixirs, they are indispensable for cultivators' daily practice. Being able to refine them oneself would undoubtedly greatly improve cultivation efficiency. He had also witnessed the convenience and power of talismans. As for weapon crafting, the thought of forging his own spirit sword in the future made his heart race.

"Where should I begin?" Murong Fan stood in the courtyard, pondered for a moment, and then made a decision. "The Scripture Pavilion! I'll go to the Scripture Pavilion first, learn the basics of these techniques, and then make a final decision!"

With that thought, he no longer hesitated and walked briskly towards the Yellow Maple Valley Scripture Pavilion. He knew that a brand new cultivation journey was about to unfold before him. And the beginning of all this was Master Hongfu's earnest talk about the "Hundred Arts" today.

Leaving the Red Dust Quiet Room, Murong Fan felt enlightened. His previous obsession with improving his cultivation level faded considerably, replaced by a longing for a broader world of cultivation.