[Two male leads, both virgins, 1v1, childhood friends, older man, unconventional cultivation, mildly angsty, young sect heir with a mutated fire spirit root, gong (Yun Yi) × childhood friend with an immortal wood spirit root / sword spirit, shou (Gui Haitang)]
On the day Yun Yi formed his Golden Core, his childhood friend disappeared.
He searched frantically for his little Haitang, only to discover that what seemed like a triumphant breakthrough to the Golden Core stage was a complete and utter deception.
The little Haitang he had sworn to protect for life had already merged with his sword, becoming its spirit.
Wood feeds fire. Every time he roamed the world with his sword, he was scorching little Haitang's soul.
Cradling the sword, he asked in a trembling voice, “Tang'er... does it hurt?”
The blade quivered faintly, but gave no answer.
He was the young heir of his sect, born with a mutated fire spirit root and destined to shine.
His childhood friend, born with an immortal wood spirit root, was always by his side. Their feelings blossomed in secret, and he loved him willingly.
He formed his Golden Core at seventeen, believing he could now protect his little Haitang. But on the day he completed his breakthrough, his childhood friend vanished.
Only later did he discover that his friend had become his sword spirit.
Wood feeds fire. Every time flames blazed along his sword, they scorched the soul of the one he loved.
The Guihai clan had been born to serve as “sacrifices” for the Yun family. And Gui Haitang's sincere love became a weapon used to manipulate him.
His father said, “He did it willingly. To let you make the most of your spirit root is an honor for him.”
I couldn't choose between the two versions of the synopsis, so I posted both.
