Chapter 534: Accountability (Seeking Subscriptions)

This strike was Song Yuanhao's, a divine ability executed with full force after he had just infused the lightning technique he practiced within his body into his flying sword.

However, although this strike was quite powerful, the fact that it precisely hit the giant python's eye was indeed due to a bit of luck. Song Yuanhao had originally just wanted to help the "Heavenly Fire Roc" block the giant python, and he hadn't expected this strike to unexpectedly inflict heavy damage on the demonic beast before him.

The second-tier giant python, thoroughly enraged, threw out the flying sword stuck in its eye in its agony. After scanning the area fiercely with its other eye, it immediately spotted Song Yuanhao not far away, coiled its body, and moved rapidly toward him.

Song Yuanhao, who hadn't even had time to be happy, saw a black shadow strike from mid-air, and the giant python's head, still dripping with blood, was already before him.

Seeing this little human cultivator who had annoyed it, the second-tier giant python swept its tail over, directly knocking Song Yuanhao into mid-air. Immediately after, the giant python spat a glob of incredibly powerful green venom at him.

Just taking this tail strike from the giant python had caused Song Yuanhao to break several ribs on the spot. Now, flying in mid-air and facing the venom rapidly approaching, his face turned deathly pale.

Song Yuanfang, who had just set his mind at ease, was preparing to put away the letter in his hand and return to his cave to meditate and cultivate for a while, when he didn't expect a cultivator of the Song family's "Chang" generation to rush into the council hall.

Mount Funiu, in the Song family council hall.

After Song Yuanhao landed, he hurriedly rolled on the ground to crawl out of the white protective barrier, which soon shattered and disappeared under the corrosion of the venom.

The family's protection of Song Yuanhao over these years had indeed been a bit excessive, leading the child to yearn too much for going down the mountain to gain experience. However, having received some lessons this time, he should be able to settle down for a while.

By the time the "Heavenly Fire Roc" had finished off the remaining low-tier demonic beasts and this great battle ended, the sun had already set behind the western mountains and the sky was gradually darkening.

Song Yuanhao, worried that his clansmen had already discovered he had snuck out, simply tidied up the demonic beast corpses on the ground and, somewhat reluctantly, rode the "Heavenly Fire Roc" back to Mount Funiu.

Song Yuanfang, upon hearing this, turned to Song Yuanhao and rebuked him with a stern face:

"Seventh Great-Uncle strictly ordered you not to go down the mountain without permission. How did you get so bold as to dare take the Heavenly Fire Roc out to hunt demons, and even dare to find trouble with a second-tier demonic beast? You're so old now, haven't you ever thought about what consequences might happen if you do this?"

Precisely because of this, when the second-tier giant python wanted to escape just now, Song Yuanhao chose to take the great risk of helping the "Heavenly Fire Roc" block the opponent. Even though he was not lightly injured, seeing the "Heavenly Fire Roc" kill the second-tier giant python as it wished, Song Yuanhao still revealed a happy smile.

"Alright! Come back with me first to treat your injuries. We can talk about whatever you have to say later!"

Song Yuanhao, whose complexion was still not very good, heard Song Yuanfang's words and pursed his lips with a sense of grievance: "I originally just wanted to find a few first-tier demonic beasts to practice the technique I've been cultivating recently. I didn't expect to encounter a second-tier demonic beast later!"

Over these years, Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan had both been on Mount Tuoyun. After Song Qingyu returned from the Wu Kingdom last time, she had also moved her cave to Mount Tuoyun, which had better spiritual energy, preparing to attempt to break through to the Golden Core realm there.

Song Yuanhao had spent a lot of time with the "Heavenly Fire Roc" over the past few years. As one of the few members of the Song family who frequently came into contact with the "Heavenly Fire Roc," Song Yuanhao's relationship with it was now very good. Seeing this giant python injure Song Yuanhao in front of it, the "Heavenly Fire Roc" was now also somewhat angry, and bursts of blue light began to surge from its body.

"Sixteenth Brother! It's all my fault. I was the one who secretly asked the Heavenly Fire Roc to take me out. Please don't blame Ninth Uncle; he didn't know about this beforehand!" Just as Song Xintang finished speaking, Song Yuanhao, standing to the side, couldn't help but speak up again.

"Seventh Great-Uncle is not on the mountain now, and he handed you over to us. That is our responsibility. If something were to happen to you while you were out, how would we answer to him, and how would we answer to your mother?"

Song Qingming, who had just returned to Mount Tuoyun after attending Xu Ziyan's Core Formation celebration on Mount Guyang, hadn't even had time to rest for a few days when he unexpectedly received news of Song Yuanhao's accident. Upon learning of this, Song Qingming revealed a helpless, bitter smile.

Song Yuanhao's cultivation had now reached the seventh layer of Qi Condensation. In about five years, he should be able to cultivate to the ninth layer of Qi Condensation and attempt Foundation Establishment. Although Song Qingming sympathized greatly with Song Yuanhao, a younger member of the family, he did not want him to run into any problems at this time.

Song Yuanfang, who had just rushed over from his cave, saw Song Yuanhao, whose face was pale and who was bandaged in many places, and his face turned black on the spot.

Over the past dozen years, Song Yuanhao's performance on Mount Funiu had actually been quite good, and he had basically had no objections to the teachings of his elders. Song Yuanfang had never expected that Song Yuanhao would sneak down the mountain to hunt demonic beasts behind their backs.

Seeing that his strike had failed to kill Song Yuanhao, the second-tier giant python was still unwilling to give up. Just as it was about to pounce on Song Yuanhao again, a piercing cry from the "Heavenly Fire Roc" came from mid-air, and a green lightning bolt flew over, directly blocking the position where the giant python wanted to pounce.

After killing this second-tier giant python, the "Heavenly Fire Roc" directly tore open the giant python's belly with its sharp claws, found a black snake gall the size of a fist, and swallowed it in one gulp. Afterward, it let out a very satisfied cry on the spot.

As soon as the two arrived at the mountain peak and Song Yuanhao was put down, the "Heavenly Fire Roc" flew back to its cave impatiently.

Just after using a spell to block the second-tier giant python, the "Heavenly Fire Roc" had already flown in front of the giant python, and the sharp claws under its feet had directly grabbed onto the giant python, suppressing it on the ground as it tried to escape.

Seeing that the giant python's venom was about to engulf Song Yuanhao, at this critical moment, a white light suddenly lit up on Song Yuanhao's chest, followed by a semi-circular white protective barrier that appeared on his body, blocking most of the venom in front of him.

Having just finished with Song Yuanhao's affairs and not even having time to catch his breath, Song Yuanfang saw that something else had come to his door. He shook his head helplessly and followed the person to the back mountain.

"Sixteenth Uncle, it's already been several days, and there's still no movement from the back mountain. I put the elixir at the entrance today, but it didn't come out. Something is wrong!"

After receiving the family letter, Song Qingming did not specifically return to the family to question Song Yuanfang and the others, but only exhorted them to pay attention to such matters in the future.

Of the family's other Foundation Establishment elders, Song Yuanli had been stationed at Yin Feng Ridge, and Song Yuanxue had been cultivating on Mount Jingyuan and rarely returned. The only Foundation Establishment elders remaining on Mount Funiu were Song Yuanfang and Song Changze, who had just established his foundation not long ago.

Song Yuanhao, standing outside the "Heavenly Fire Roc's" cave, had just turned to leave when he immediately saw an aged figure appear before him.

After reprimanding him a few times and seeing that Song Yuanhao already knew where he was wrong, Song Yuanfang didn't say anything more and let Song Xintang send him back to his cave to heal his injuries first.

After carefully examining Song Yuanhao's injuries and confirming that there were no major problems, Song Yuanfang turned to Song Xintang, who was standing to the side, and asked:

"Ninth Uncle, how exactly did Yuanhao get down the mountain? Why didn't you keep a better eye on him? This time, even the protective jade talisman that Tenth Aunt gave him is gone. Even if we wanted to hide it, we can't anymore."

Seeing the "Heavenly Fire Roc" entangling it again, the second-tier giant python hurriedly called the remaining low-tier "Green Bamboo Pythons" around it to come and help break the siege, wanting to break free from the "Heavenly Fire Roc's" entanglement again and escape back into the cave.

The white protective barrier that had just blocked the fatal blow for him was a jade talisman that the family's Foundation Establishment ancestor, Song Qingyu, had given him for self-defense shortly after he arrived at Mount Funiu.

"Ninth Uncle, I..."

"I didn't expect that you would still dare to go out. Do you really think there's no danger outside? You were lucky to come back alive this time. What about next time? Can you guarantee that you'll have such good luck every time you go out?"

Song Yuanhao, seeing this, finally breathed a sigh of relief. From the moment the "Heavenly Fire Roc" came down and insisted on fighting this second-tier giant python, Song Yuanhao knew that the "Heavenly Fire Roc" had its eyes on something on this fellow.

This jade talisman could automatically release a barrier capable of resisting a strike from a Foundation Establishment cultivator when the wearer encountered a great crisis. It was an excellent life-saving spirit item for low-tier Qi Condensation cultivators.

Song Xintang sighed with a solemn expression: "This matter was indeed my negligence. Fortunately, Yuanhao's injuries are not serious and there is no major problem, otherwise I would truly have become a sinner of the family!"

The heavy burden of managing the family over these years had mostly fallen on Song Yuanfang's shoulders, which indeed kept him too busy and led to the neglect of many things.

However, this time the "Heavenly Fire Roc" did not give it many more opportunities. No matter how the low-tier demonic beasts on the side harassed it, it refused to loosen its sharp claws. Before long, the giant python, which was not lightly injured, was torn into two pieces by the "Heavenly Fire Roc," which was covered in lightning light.

Song Yuanfang, who had been worried for a long time, breathed a long sigh of relief after receiving Song Qingming's reply.

Hearing Song Yuanfang's successive questions of accountability, Song Yuanhao, his eyes slightly red, opened his mouth, but still made no sound, honestly lowering his head.

After taking a look and seeing that there was no movement from the elixir and food placed at the cave entrance, Song Yuanfang took the lead and walked into the cave with large strides, soon finding the Heavenly Fire Roc sleeping deep inside the cave.

"This... hehe, it seems to be breaking through its cultivation. Let's retreat first!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 535 =====