The moment the silver giant vessel crossed within a hundred li of the massive city, it was spotted by the sentries atop the walls.
A brief commotion broke out along one stretch of the ramparts, and a squad of demon-clan cultivators soared into the air, hurtling toward the tower ship.
"We welcome the Venerable Ancestor's return to the city!"
The demon cultivators were clad in battle armor of every hue, most at the Core Formation or Nascent Soul stage. They halted their light a full li away and dropped into deep, reverent kowtows, their faces filled with trepidation.
Clearly, every one of them recognized Ao Xiao's tower ship at a glance — hence this display.
"Rise. This old man will return to his cave abode first. Go about your duties." Ao Xiao's voice drifted from within the vessel, flat and unhurried, carrying a force that brooked no defiance whatsoever.
"As you command! We obey the Ancestor's decree!"
Ao Xiao had reigned over the demon clans for tens of thousands of years and was long regarded by ordinary demon cultivators as a living deity. The prostrating demons offered not the slightest resistance.
At once, the crowd parted to both sides, clearing a path. The silver tower ship hummed once more, then shot toward the inner city in a streak of silver light.
Moments later, layers of shimmering light rippled across the void ahead as one barrier after another parted of its own accord, allowing the vessel to fly straight into the uppermost tier of the city. It descended gradually over a heavily guarded plaza.
Almost simultaneously, a teleportation formation in the corner of the plaza flashed with light, and a white-haired elder materialized in silence. His gaze swept over the descending tower ship, and he smiled faintly before striding forward.
The elder's face was benevolent, his ears extraordinarily long, drooping nearly to his shoulders. Each seemingly effortless step covered more than a dozen zhang, and after just a few swaying strides he stood before the ship.
Only then did the various clan sentries standing guard nearby realize what had happened. They bowed low one after another, their manner toward the white-haired elder one of utter reverence.
"Heh heh — Ao Xiao, so you've finally deigned to return. You've been gone quite some time. If you hadn't come back soon, I'd have started wondering whether you'd left your old bones with the demon folk." The white-haired elder halted and let out a hearty laugh.
"Hmph. A few little demon brats — as if they could do anything to me. Though I suppose if I really hadn't returned, you'd be the one stamping your feet and cursing, wouldn't you, old ghost Mo?" A cold snort came from the tower ship, followed by Ao Xiao's cool reply.
Then the entire vessel blazed with silver radiance and shrank rapidly.
When the light subsided, the ship had vanished. In its place stood several figures.
The one at the fore had striking features and a cold, composed expression — it was Ao Xiao himself.
Behind him stood two men and two women: Han Li, Silver Moon, and the others.
The white-haired elder's heart twitched slightly at the sight of so many people, but his face betrayed no surprise. Instead, he smiled at Ao Xiao and said:
"Ao Xiao, our human and demon races have always stood together, advancing and retreating as one. In times like these, if your demon clans truly lacked your guiding hand, old Mo would find himself fighting alone."
"I'll grant that you mean what you say. But rest assured — even with my lifespan running short, I won't be sitting down to die just yet. I intend to see this demon tribulation through before anything else. By the way, Fellow Daoist Han — come pay your respects to old ghost Mo. His name will be no stranger to you; he's one of the great seniors of your human race." Ao Xiao answered flatly, then waved Han Li over with a gesture.
"I have long heard Senior Mo Jianli's name thundering through the realm. This junior Han Li greets Senior Mo." Han Li stepped forward with a flash and offered a respectful bow toward the white-haired elder.
Though Ao Xiao had not mentioned the elder's surname, a human cultivator named Mo at the Mahayana stage could only be one person — Mo Jianli.
"Han Li — could that be the human cultivator who advanced to the Fusion stage in barely over a thousand years? I heard you and that boy from the Long clan and several others had entered the Demon Realm. And now here you appear — you've just returned from the demon world, haven't you?" Mo Jianli froze for an instant upon hearing Han Li's name, then broke into a delighted smile. In just a few short sentences he had unraveled Han Li's whereabouts over the past years.
It was evident that this human Mahayana had long had his eye on the rising star of the human race.
Han Li was momentarily stunned, then answered with a rueful smile:
"I'm afraid Senior has gotten ahead of me — there's nothing left for this junior to add."