Chapter 511: Returning to the Ancestors, Heterogeneous Spirit Root (Combined Chapter)

Opening the letter in his hand, Feng Yangde frowned slightly. After pondering for a good while, he slowly spoke: "Senior Brother, this time, you and Ninth Junior Sister should go instead. Just say that my cultivation of the technique has reached a critical moment and it is inconvenient for me to leave."

"As for the matter of Mount Luoyun, no matter what the Ma family wants to do, as long as it is not too excessive, you two can make the decision. If you see Ma Hongshan, please offer an apology on my behalf!"

Seeing that Feng Yangde was somewhat worried, Liang Wenxu sighed and said: "It is fine for us to go in your stead, but you know that Ma Hongshan's temper has always been somewhat bad. I am also a bit afraid that you will offend him again like this!"

Feng Yangde shook his head with a bitter smile: "If we talk about offending, last time during the demon beast turmoil, our repeated delays in responding to the request for help from Iron Immortal Fortress had already offended the Ma family. Although Ma Hongshan now claims to let bygones be bygones and intends to repair our relationship, I always feel that this matter is somewhat strange."

"Master is gone, and Eighth Junior Brother has not yet formed a Jin Dan. Such a large foundation on Mount Tuoyun now rests on my shoulders alone, so I have to be cautious. I hope you and the others can understand."

"Very well, since you have already decided, I will not say anything more. Yuxia and I will make the trip to Mount Luoyun. Haha! Anyway, this old bone of mine won't live for many more years, so I'm not afraid of what the Ma family can do to me!"

"Then I thank you for your hard work, Senior Brother!" After Feng Yangde finished speaking, he bowed to Liang Wenxu.

Watching Liang Wenxu's departing back, Feng Yangde turned his gaze to look at Mount Tuoyun beneath his feet for a long time before walking back into his cave dwelling with his hands behind his back, somewhat reluctantly.

Deep in the Floating Yunshan range, on Mount Tianyu.

The red-clad Huo Feng was drinking tea and talking with the Demon Emperor Jin Yu in a cave dwelling.

"Uncle Jin Yu has been here for a thousand years, so he must have wanted to go back long ago. If I can obtain a stroke of luck in the tower this time, once I return, I think you won't have to stay here for too long, Third Uncle!" Huo Feng said with a slight smile at the corner of her mouth, then picked up the spiritual tea on the table and took a sip.

"Since Uncle Jin Yu likes this spiritual tea, I have some more here; I'll give it all to you. I have a friend who has plenty of this kind of spiritual tea. When I have time, I will go get you some more."

In the meeting hall of Mount Funiu, Song Qingming, sitting at the head, was carefully examining a few low-tier spiritual talismans in his hand, his expression appearing somewhat solemn.

Just as the two were talking, a Song family member walked quickly into the meeting hall and said to Song Qingming, who was sitting above: "Reporting to the Chen Chen Laozu, we have just verified the bloodline; this person is indeed a descendant of the Nineteenth Great-Uncle."

"Then wait for them to come over, and we will ask in detail!"

Song Yuanfang replied calmly: "According to the person who brought the child, they walked all the way from Mount Tuoyun. The child didn't know his own background at first and only learned of this matter from his mother half a year ago."

Back then, Song Xinhe had only gone out to travel after obtaining Song Qingming's consent. Unfortunately, he ended up falling outside, and in the end, even his remains could not be found. When Song Qingming learned of this at the time, he also felt somewhat uncomfortable.

"When the Nineteenth Great-Uncle left home back then, although I was still young, I had seen him. The child does indeed resemble him somewhat. I have already arranged for someone to take him to the Ancestral Hall to verify his bloodline, and there should be news immediately."

"You still intend to break into the Heaven-Reaching Tower?"

Not long ago, Song Qingming, who was in seclusion, suddenly received a sound transmission from Song Yuanfang, saying that a large and a small rogue cultivator had found their way to Mount Funiu with spiritual objects that used to belong to Song Xinhe, claiming to be Song Xinhe's descendants outside. Hearing this news, Song Qingming was also somewhat surprised and hurriedly walked out of his cave dwelling.

The Nineteenth Great-Uncle in Song Yuanfang's words was precisely a cultivator of the "Xin" generation who had left the family for several decades without returning, Song Xinhe.

After failing to compete for a Foundation Establishment Pill with Song Xintang back then, Song Xinhe left the family to travel and train. As a result, he had been missing for decades, and the name engraved on the family genealogy had also lost its luster over a decade ago.

"Since he is Xinhe's descendant, why did they only come looking after so many years? Yuanfang, what do you think of this?" Song Qingming asked Song Yuanfang softly, but his gaze remained fixed on the spiritual talismans in his hand.

"Haha! The spiritual tea brewed by human cultivators is indeed much better than that of our demon race, but it doesn't last long. I don't know if I will have the chance to drink these after you leave."

After learning that something had happened to Song Xinhe, Song Qingming had sent several family cultivators to search for news of Song Xinhe in Guiyun Market, Jin Shan Market, and other places. He heard in Guiyun Market that someone had indeed seen him decades ago, but Song Xinhe had left there long ago, and his whereabouts were unknown.

Although decades had passed, seeing the few low-tier spiritual talismans Song Yuanfang handed to him, Song Qingming quickly recognized that these spiritual talismans were indeed the ones he had given to Song Xinhe when he left home back then, and he could not help but feel a wave of emotion.

"This thing was sent by someone yesterday. I carefully compared it with the few spiritual talismans you gave me back then, and the patterns are indeed similar. Moreover, they also have a magic tool that the Nineteenth Great-Uncle used back then. I couldn't make the decision, so I had to ask you to come out." Seeing that Song Qingming's expression seemed somewhat unpleasant, Song Yuanfang hurriedly explained.

"The Heaven-Reaching Tower only opens once every three hundred years. When the time comes, it won't just be our demon race entering. Even I don't have much confidence in being able to protect you inside. You have already broken through to Nascent Soul and can leave; why must you risk getting involved in this muddy water?"

"Hmph! Your tone is always so arrogant. You truly are worthy of the bloodline of our Feather Clan. If you want to manage my affairs, you must first have the ability to do so."

Hearing what Huo Feng said, Demon Emperor Jin Yu was slightly stunned, then put down the teacup in his hand and smiled happily.

Huo Feng shook her head lightly upon hearing this: "Our Feather Clan has never needed weaklings who drift with the tide. Only the strong are qualified to swim against the current. This is the fate of our Feather Clan, and it is also my fate. Even if I can escape for a moment now, I will eventually be unable to escape for a lifetime."

"Let them in!"

After obtaining Song Qingming's permission, the Song family member hurriedly walked outside the meeting hall and led the large and small pair into the meeting hall.

"The juniors pay their respects to the two seniors!"

Standing before Song Qingming was a somewhat green youth of fifteen or sixteen. When he saw Song Qingming and Song Yuanfang sitting above with great majesty, although there was some fear of strangers in the youth's eyes, his expression was still calm, and he did not show any panic.

Not far from him stood a middle-aged man of older age. After entering, this person kept his head bowed respectfully, and his eyes looking at Song Qingming and the other were always filled with a trace of fear.

After staring at the youth for a while, Song Qingming asked slowly and calmly: "What is your name?"

"Song Yuanhao!"

"Did your father give you this name?"

"I don't know; Mother has never mentioned this matter."

"Where did you get these spiritual talismans? Tell me in detail!" Song Qingming asked again without changing his expression.

"My mother gave them to me, saying they were my father's relics, and told me to come to Qinghe County to find a Song-surname cultivation family. Uncle Chen and I walked for over half a year before finding this place." The youth's voice was somewhat soft, and there was clearly a trace of lack of confidence in his tone.

Song Yuanhao was born on Mount Tuoyun and had grown up with his mother since he was a child. Apart from a few relatives on his mother's side, he had never seen his father and rarely heard his mother mention him.

It was not until a year ago that his mother suddenly told him about his background and asked Song Yuanhao to go to Qinghe County, ten thousand miles away, to seek help from his father's family, whom he had never met.

After learning about his father's affairs, Song Yuanhao was somewhat at a loss for a time, and it was only after hesitating for a long time that he finally made up his mind to head to Qinghe County.

Concerning his own path and his mother's expectations, although Song Yuanhao was still young and had not traveled far, he still summoned the courage to follow one of his mother's relatives and find his way here.

From Mount Tuoyun to Qinghe County, there was a distance of ten thousand miles. Both were just ordinary Qi Refining cultivators. Song Yuanhao and the others encountered many dangers along the way, and it took them nearly half a year of stopping and going to finally arrive in Qinghe County.

Because he knew little about his father's affairs, when Song Yuanhao first heard his mother's description, he thought his father's family was just an ordinary cultivation family.

As a result, after the two arrived in Qinghe County, they inquired around and accidentally learned that there was only one cultivation family with the surname Song in the entire Qinghe County, which was the currently flourishing Jin Dan immortal clan, the Song family of Mount Funiu.

Song Xinhe was only a Qi Refining cultivator back then, and Song Yuanhao had not expected that the father he had never met would be from a prestigious Jin Dan immortal clan.

With a heart full of trepidation, after staying in Qinghe County for a few days, Song Yuanhao still summoned the courage to walk up Mount Funiu. In order to find his father's family, he had already traveled ten thousand miles and risked life and death to get here; no matter what the result would be, he had to try.

After Song Yuanhao and the other went up Mount Funiu, although they successfully met Song Yuanfang, the person in charge of the Song family, after a round of questioning and verification, the other party still had not expressed his stance, which made Song Yuanhao lose his confidence.

After hearing Song Yuanhao's answer, Song Qingming nodded slightly and said solemnly: "Your father's name is Song Xinhe, and he ranked nineteenth in the family's 'Xin' generation. According to your age, you should be ranked in the 'Chang' generation."

"However, since your father has already given you a name, there is no need to change it. From now on, you will be ranked in the 'Yuan' generation on the genealogy!"

"Yuanhao, hurry and thank the senior!" Hearing Song Qingming personally acknowledge Song Yuanhao's identity, the middle-aged man who had accompanied him was immediately overjoyed and hurriedly reminded Song Yuanhao to step forward and kowtow in thanks!

"Thank you, Chen Chen Laozu, for bestowing the name!"

Song Qingming waved his hand with a smile: "Get up, no need for such formalities."

"Yuanhao, how did your father die back then? Do you know about this?"

Hearing Song Qingming ask about his father, Song Yuanhao's expression sank, and he slowly told the truth about Song Xinhe's fall back then in front of everyone.

After Song Xinhe left the family back then, he first spent a few years in Guiyun Market. Not long after, during a process of going out to hunt demon beasts with others, he was fortunate enough to meet Song Yuanhao's mother, Chen Yanyun. The two fell in love at first sight and soon became Dao companions. Song Xinhe simply followed her to Mount Tuoyun.

After the two were together, Song Xinhe also revealed his identity to Chen Yanyun and asked if Chen Yanyun wanted to return to the Song family with him.

However, because Chen Yanyun was accustomed to the life of a rogue cultivator and could not let go of the several relatives and friends who had supported each other for many years on Mount Tuoyun, the two discussed it and decided to stay on Mount Tuoyun first.

Over a decade ago, Song Xinhe, who was already over sixty, was fortunate enough to obtain a Marrow-Cleansing Pill on Mount Tuoyun and decided to go into seclusion to impact the Foundation Establishment realm. Unexpectedly, Song Xinhe's desperate attempt to establish his foundation this time ultimately lacked the luck, and he failed to establish his foundation.

Not only that, but in the process of establishing his foundation, Song Xinhe suffered severe damage to several meridians in his body due to the backlash of spiritual energy. In the end, he could not even preserve his life and fell directly in the cave dwelling where he was in seclusion.

Chen Yanyun had become pregnant with Song Yuanhao before Song Xinhe went into seclusion. The two had originally agreed that regardless of whether Song Xinhe succeeded in establishing his foundation, they would bid farewell to their relatives and friends and return to Qinghe County to spend their later years together after the child was born. Unexpectedly, Song Xinhe suddenly fell in the cave dwelling.

The failure and tragic death of her Dao companion was a huge blow to Chen Yanyun. After giving birth to Song Yuanhao, apart from the name Song Xinhe had left behind, she rarely mentioned the past of his father, Song Xinhe, in front of Song Yuanhao.

Mother and son depended on each other for over a decade. They thought they would just spend their lives plainly on Mount Tuoyun like this. It was not until Song Yuanhao grew up and was suddenly discovered to have a spirit root in his body, embarking on the path of cultivation, that the change in fate allowed him to know his father Song Xinhe's identity again.

Although the probability of low-tier cultivators combining to give birth to children with spirit roots is higher than that of mortals, it is also very rare. Chen Yanyun did not expect that her only child, Song Yuanhao, would be someone with a spirit root. When she learned of this, she also felt a wave of joy in her heart.

Although Song Yuanhao had been tested for a spirit root several years ago, because Chen Yanyun was only a rogue cultivator and did not have a spirit-testing plate in her hand, she could not know Song Yuanhao's specific spirit root attributes. She could only judge his approximate spirit root attributes through the speed of his early cultivation techniques, just like most rogue cultivators.

She herself was just an ordinary rogue cultivator, and she had to support Song Yuanhao's cultivation, so the lives of mother and son were somewhat tight. Most of the spiritual objects Song Xinhe left behind were soon sold by Chen Yanyun and exchanged for spirit stones to supply Song Yuanhao's cultivation, leaving only the few low-tier spiritual talismans and a mid-grade flying sword he brought at the end.

In order not to delay Song Yuanhao's daily cultivation, Chen Yanyun had often taken risks to go out and hunt demon beasts with others in recent years. Unexpectedly, two years ago, Chen Yanyun was unfortunately seriously injured again during a hunt for demon beasts. Although she saved her life, it was very difficult for her to recover in a short period of time.

When Chen Yanyun was injured, Song Yuanhao was still young and his cultivation base was not high, so the mother and son suddenly lost their source of income. If it weren't for the help of several relatives and friends on Mount Tuoyun, their lives would have been difficult to continue, and there would be no extra spirit stones to supply Song Yuanhao's daily cultivation.

In desperation, Chen Yanyun had the idea to send the child back to the Song family in Qinghe County to seek help from his father's family, wanting him to have a better cultivation environment.

Besides this, there was another reason, which was that Song Yuanhao's personal cultivation talent was not low. Since entering the path of cultivation, Song Yuanhao had only practiced for less than five years and had already broken through to the third layer of Qi Refining, far exceeding the cultivation speed of ordinary rogue cultivators.

Although Chen Yanyun still did not know Song Yuanhao's specific spirit root, she could still guess that it was very likely that this child, like his father Song Xinhe, was also a three-spirit-root cultivator with good spirit root talent.

Becoming a rogue cultivator, although one can be happy and carefree for a lifetime, one can only end up lingering in the Qi Refining realm just like herself.

For the sake of Song Yuanhao's future path, although Chen Yanyun had ten thousand reluctances in her heart, she still gritted her teeth and decided to let Song Yuanhao return to his ancestors. Perhaps this child would have the opportunity to complete what his father Song Xinhe had not done back then.

Knowing that Song Xinhe had fallen because he had desperately forced a Foundation Establishment, Song Qingming was also full of surprise. He had not expected that Song Xinhe, who had been somewhat hesitant in front of him back then, would have such great courage to desperately impact the Foundation Establishment realm.

When Song Xinhe went down the mountain to train back then, Song Qingming had advised him not to give up on his path easily. He did not expect that he would actually choose to desperately impact the Foundation Establishment realm in the end.

Thinking of his own unintentional word of encouragement back then, which ultimately cost this family junior his life, Song Qingming sighed helplessly in his heart at this moment.

The path of cultivation is unpredictable, and there will be people who can successfully force a Foundation Establishment, but more ordinary cultivators do not have such good luck. The reality of the path of cultivation is ultimately so cruel, and those who can be favored by the Heavenly Dao are always just a small number of people.

Looking at Song Yuanhao, who somewhat resembled Song Xinhe, Song Qingming also had a few more traces of pity in his eyes. Although his path was not smooth and he eventually fell outside, the fact that Song Xinhe could still have descendants in this life could be considered another kind of favor from heaven for him.

"Yuanhao, since you are a member of my Song family, stay on the mountain and practice with peace of mind from now on. You will have all the treatment that Song family cultivators should have. Your father still left many merits in the family's Golden Treasury back then; you will inherit these directly."

"Today you can return to your ancestors, I think your father's spirit in heaven will certainly be comforted. I am also an elder who watched your father grow up. This mid-grade spirit stone is a gift for our first meeting. I hope you can complete your father's last wish in the future and become a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Seeing the bright spirit stone that Song Qingming sent to him with magic power, Song Yuanhao, who had never seen a mid-grade spirit stone, was also stunned on the spot for a moment before he excitedly stepped forward to take the spirit stone and kowtow in thanks.

"Seeing that you are also somewhat tired today, go down and rest first. In a few days, I will arrange for someone to accompany you to Mount Tuoyun to transport your father's remains back to Mount Funiu for reburial."

"After family cultivators pass away, they are all buried in the cultivator cemetery behind the mountain. You cannot always let your father stay outside alone; let him be with the family elders he is familiar with!"

Hearing Song Qingming's arrangement, Song Yuanhao nodded slightly, but then suddenly knelt down with a troubled expression.

"Chen Chen Laozu! I still want to ask you for one thing!"

"We are all family, no need to be so formal. If you have anything to say, get up and say it!"

Hearing Song Qingming's words, Song Yuanhao, who was kneeling on the ground, did not get up. With some trepidation in his heart, he said: "Mother's injuries have not yet healed, and I want to ask the Chen Chen Laozu to allow me to bring her back to the family for treatment."

"Hmm! It is rare for you to have such filial piety. You can rest assured about this. Since your mother married into the Song family, she is naturally a member of my Song family. Although your father is gone, Mount Funiu will always be a home for you."

"Your mother's injuries have not healed, and she might find it difficult to endure long-distance travel. Later, let Yuanfang take you to the Golden Treasury to receive some healing elixirs. When you get to Mount Tuoyun, discuss it well with your mother. As long as she is willing, you can bring her back together."

"Thank you, Chen Chen Laozu!" Hearing Song Qingming agree to his request, Song Yuanhao hurriedly kowtowed in thanks and stood up happily.

Because he was born as a bottom-tier rogue cultivator and had no father since he was a child, Song Yuanhao's feelings for his mother were also inseparable. He did not forget his mother, who had shared joys and sorrows with him, just because he had arrived at the Song family and enjoyed different treatment.

Seeing that Song Yuanhao always had filial piety in his heart, Song Qingming was also very satisfied. After knowing that Song Yuanhao was Song Xinhe's child, he had already secretly made up his mind to make up for the family's debt to Song Xinhe back then. As long as this child could successfully practice to the point suitable for Foundation Establishment in the future, Song Qingming would definitely find a way to support him.

When Song Xinhe was establishing his foundation back then, the Song family was not yet a Jin Dan immortal clan and had no way to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill. Now that Song Qingming had broken through to become a Jin Dan cultivator, wanting to support a junior in Foundation Establishment was no longer such a difficult thing for him to accomplish.

Learning that Song Xinhe had descendants, Song Qingming was also very happy. The next day, he even specially arranged for the family to hold an ascension ceremony for Song Yuanhao to celebrate him properly.

Learning that Song Xinhe had descendants who had returned to the family, those family members who had a good relationship with Song Xinhe back then also rushed to the family Ancestral Hall one after another to give Song Yuanhao a homecoming gift.

After the entry ceremony was held, seeing Song Yuanfang take Song Yuanhao to the back hall to test his spirit root, Song Qingming also followed him in, wanting to see what Song Yuanhao's spirit root aptitude was like.

Seeing the spirit-testing plate that Song Yuanfang had already driven with magic power in front of him, Song Yuanhao was also somewhat excited. Although his cultivation base had reached the third layer of Qi Refining, Song Yuanhao had not formally tested his spirit root and had always been practicing cultivation techniques according to his mother's guidance. He had always wanted to know his true spirit root attributes.

Song Yuanhao placed one hand on the spirit-testing plate for testing spirit roots, and soon a black spiritual light appeared on the spirit-testing plate.

"This... this is, a Heterogeneous Spirit Root!"

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 512 =====