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

After leaving Yunxiao Pavilion, Murong Fan went to Qianji Pavilion to inquire about the Millennium Purple Osmanthus. However, Pavilion Master Lin bluntly told him, "This Millennium Purple Osmanthus is an ordinary osmanthus that, after a thousand years, absorbs the essence of the sun and moon, and with a one in ten thousand chance, mutates to bloom with purple flowers. It is a rare treasure in the world; without exceptional circumstances, it is almost impossible to encounter one!"

Upon hearing this, Murong Fan's heart sank. But then he thought, "Isn't there still the altar on my private plot? I must quickly summon it and exchange it for the Thousand-Year Purple Osmanthus! I absolutely cannot break my promise to Qi Yunxiao."

"Altar, appear!"

At this moment, the purple-blue light screen began to scroll with subtitles again:

[Resources available for sacrifice detected. Convert them into cultivation opportunities?]

"Yes," Murong Fan silently replied.

[Should a sacrifice be made?]

Slowly, Murong Fan snapped out of his reverie, took out 30 intermediary spirit stones, and activated his mental power. At that moment, the purple-blue light screen displayed:

[The value of the sacrificial offerings is being determined...]

[30 Mid-Tier Spirit Stones: Universal currency for cultivation, accelerating cultivation speed. Also provides "energy" and materials for formations and weapon crafting.]

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, the ancient altar suddenly appeared, more solid than before, its surface shimmering with a profound, eerie light. One by one, the sacrificial offerings vanished. A short while later, a voice rang out:

"Buzz—"

The altar trembled, and the purple-blue light screen displayed:

The sacrifice yielded a thousand-year-old spiritual material—a thousand-year-old purple osmanthus tree.

Murong Fan looked down at his storage bag. Now that he had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment and was about to break through to Core Formation, he had become a very wealthy cultivator in the cultivation world thanks to what he gained from hunting demons, exchanging sacrifices, trading in the market, and receiving rewards from his sect.

After Murong Fan obtained the Thousand-Year Purple Osmanthus Flower, an extremely pure spiritual energy surged forth from the core of the altar, flowing down along the light curtain and condensing into a spiritual plant about half a foot tall in front of him. The flower radiated a faint purple glow, its petals layered upon each other, its leaves swaying gracefully in the wind, emitting a refreshing medicinal fragrance. Just one breath made Murong Fan feel refreshed and invigorated, even feeling as if he were free from all illnesses.

Murong Fan hurriedly headed to Yunxiao Pavilion with the thousand-year-old spiritual herb in his hand. Qi Yunxiao was lost in thought, gazing at a portrait of a beautiful woman. He didn't notice Murong Fan approaching, and the three characters "Xin Ruyin" on the portrait stood out prominently.

"Sect Master Qi, not only is your mastery of formations unparalleled, but your painting skills are also first-rate! I wonder who this beauty Xin Ruyin in the portrait is, that she could evoke such deep affection in you, Sect Master Qi!" Murong Fan teased as he approached.

"Young Master Murong, you flatter me. It's just a pity she's a tragic figure. She was born with the Dragon Roar Physique—a constitution that constantly drains her vital energy and life force. She is the one I've pledged my life to. The thousand-year-old spiritual herb I sought—the purple osmanthus—was merely to prolong her life. Ruyin is the true master of formations; her skill in formations far surpasses mine. This formation was created by her, and I merely assisted her!" Qi Yunxiao's expression was downcast, and his voice trembled slightly.

"Sect Master Qi, there's no need to worry. I've already retrieved the Thousand-Year Purple Osmanthus. Please take a look and see if it suits your taste!" Murong Fan took out the Thousand-Year Spirit Herb from his storage bag, which was in a jade box, and placed it on the table.

Looking at Ruyin's portrait and then at the thousand-year-old spiritual herb, Qi Yunxiao was overwhelmed with emotion and thoughts. Scenes from the past flashed through his mind.

He and Ruyin were a master of formations and a genius of Qi cultivation, respectively. He was originally from the Qi family of the Yuanwu Kingdom. His grandfather had served as an elder of the Divine Weapon Sect, and in his childhood, he not only learned the art of weapon crafting but also became proficient in formations himself. Later, he joined the Tianxing Sect, thus beginning his path of cultivation. During a training trip in his youth, he met the woman he wanted to protect for the rest of his life—Xin Ruyin, a true master of formations.

Xin Ruyin possessed extraordinary talent in the research and creation of array formations, but unfortunately, "the rope always breaks at its thinnest point, and misfortune always finds its way to the unfortunate." While bestowing upon her exceptional talent in array formations, Heaven also cast a curse upon her.

She possessed the Dragon Roar Physique, a physique that was inherently masculine and feminine, a cultivation constitution coveted by men. Yet, this physique was born into her, a woman, causing her to suffer daily from the pain of her atrophied meridians, and her life was prematurely put on a countdown. Even though fate treated her so unfairly, she resolutely embarked on the path of cultivation, unwilling to settle for mediocrity, and spent her entire life pursuing the Dao of Arrays in her heart.

Like a flowing stream, true friendship is rare. Their meeting became a balm for each other's souls. Together they studied formations and explored weapon crafting, living a simple yet happy life.

Unfortunately, fate is cruel to the talented. Whenever Qi Yunxiao saw Ruyin suffering from illness, his heart ached. In order to find a way to save Ruyin, he opened a magic array shop, not seeking spirit stones or magic treasures, but only seeking thousand-year-old elixirs to prolong Ruyin's life.

Qi Yunxiao continued to reminisce about his time with Xin Ruyin. Realizing he had lost his composure, he said apologetically, "Brother Murong! You are a young talent and a man of your word. I truly admire you!" At this moment, Qi Yunxiao was deeply moved and immediately addressed the other as a brother.

"Brother Qi, you're too kind! Your deep and unwavering love for Xin Ruyin truly moves me! Brother Qi, please take this thousand-year-old herb and give it to Xin Ruyin to use in her medicine! I hope it will cure her illness!" Murong Fan said with a heavy heart, bowing deeply.

After Qi Yunxiao examined the thousand-year-old spiritual herb, Murong Fan quickly retrieved it.

"Brother Murong, please rest assured! I, Qi, will certainly live up to your kindness today and will complete my mission within a few months!"

Qi Yunxiao hurriedly invited Murong Fan into the house and took out Xin Ruyin's trump card formation—the Reversed Five Elements Formation. This formation could have served as a sect-protecting array, capable of withstanding attacks from Core Formation cultivators, but it was not yet fully completed. To seize the last hope of rescuing Ruyin, fearing Murong Fan might not believe him, he also shared his weapon-forging expertise as a guarantee, promising to complete the formation on schedule and agreeing to forge a magical artifact for Murong Fan.

Moved by Qi Yunxiao's deep affection for Xin Ruyin, Murong Fan said no more and solemnly handed the thousand-year-old purple osmanthus flower to Qi Yunxiao.

Qi Yunxiao accepted the spirit herb, his hands trembling slightly, his eyes filled with excitement and gratitude. He carefully placed it into a specially made jade box, as if holding the most precious treasure in the world.

"Brother Murong, I will never forget your great kindness! If Ruyin can be saved, you will be our savior!" He bowed deeply to Murong Fan, his tone filled with unprecedented solemnity and excitement.

Murong Fan quickly helped him up: "Brother Qi, you flatter me. It was nothing, just a small favor. I only hope that Miss Xin can recover soon." Qi Yunxiao nodded heavily, his eyes regaining their light of hope. His previous coldness and solemnity vanished, replaced by a sense of relief and warmth.

Without further delay, he hurriedly bid farewell to Murong Fan, then turned and entered the depths of the pavilion with the jade box, presumably to immediately refine a life-extending elixir for Xin Ruyin.

Murong Fan was left alone in the pavilion. The air seemed to still carry the heavy love and hope of Qi Yunxiao. He looked in the direction where Qi Yunxiao had disappeared and couldn't help but sigh. The path of cultivation is long and arduous. To have such a loving person by your side is a great blessing in life, even if you go through many hardships.

Life may never be perfect; everyone will have regrets and unfulfilled desires. But unwavering love is perhaps the warmest light in this cold world of cultivation. Murong Fan sighed softly, suppressing his feelings, and turned to leave Yunxiao Pavilion.

Murong Fan knew that Qi Yunxiao and Xin Ruyin's story was just a fleeting shooting star on the cold backdrop of the cultivation world, and that his own path of cultivation still had a long journey ahead of him.