The journey from Traveler's Rest to the Asura Demon Clan's territory was a new and enjoyable experience for Wei Chen. As a core disciple, he was far from a sheltered novice; he had seen the world, undertaken dangerous missions, and was no stranger to the sect's own flying vessels.
But they were nothing compared to the Golden Voyage. The ship was a flying palace, and he was thoroughly enjoying traveling on the magnificent aircraft, the best he's ever been on. He acted as an informal guide, his talkative and cheerful personality making the journey pleasant. He was clearly comfortable and close with Li Yu, while a bit more reserved but still talkative with Cyra.
He pointed out landmarks as they passed over, telling them local legends and stories. They made small talk about current events in the area, discussing the new trade routes opening up in the north and the shifting political landscape now that the Radiant Dawn had established a presence. Wei Chen, for his part, was full of questions about Traveler's Rest, fascinated by the stories of a town where mortals and cultivators mingled so freely. The trip was a period of calm, a simple and enjoyable journey between three powerful cultivators.
After a bit of smooth travel, a vast, mountainous territory loomed on the horizon. The mountains were jagged and stark, a natural fortress of black stone. As the Golden Voyage approached the natural gate of black stone mountains, the ship slowed down coming to a halt before the entrance. It was the respectful thing to do, rather than flying directly into a major sect's sovereign territory unannounced.
Before Wei Chen could even send a signal, a voice, deep and powerful, boomed from within the mountain pass. It was not a shout, but a projection of immense spiritual energy. "Guest Elder Li has graced my humble clan with his presence! The gates are no place for honored guests. Please, come inside." The voice was that of the Clan Master, Mo Jian.
Following the voice, an elder in the clan's robes flew out to greet them. It was Elder Kaelen, the very same man who had come to request Li Yu's help the first time. He gave Li Yu a deep, respectful bow from the air. "Guest Elder Li, it is good to see you again. Please, follow me."
The Golden Voyage followed Elder Kaelen through the black stone gates and entered the true domain of the Asura Demon Clan. The sight was both terrifying and magnificent. The clan's main city was built into the caldera of a massive, dormant volcano.
Buildings of black, obsidian-like stone clung to the inner walls of the caldera, connected by a web of bridges and suspended walkways. A river of molten, red-hot magma flowed at the very bottom, casting a fiery, hellish glow upon the entire city. Disciples could be seen sparring on platforms suspended over the magma, their movements sharp and fierce, unafraid of the lethal drop below.
It was a place of stark, brutal beauty, a testament to a people who had carved a civilization out of the harshest of environments. Elder Kaelen guided the ship to a large, flattened peak near the top of the caldera, a space clearly designated for high-level flying vessels.
As the ramp of the Golden Voyage lowered, Li Yu saw a group of people waiting for them at the bottom. At their head was Clan Master Mo Jian himself, his powerful aura and imposing presence marking him as the undisputed leader. He had come to welcome Li Yu personally.
"Guest Elder Li," Mo Jian said with a genuine, booming laugh, his demeanor warm and welcoming. Much closer and friendly than Li Yu's first visit here but the clan leader had never treated him poorly. Li Yu gave a deep, respectful bow. Mo Jian did not know who Cyra was, his attention focused entirely on the young man who had saved his clan.
Mo Jian returned the bow with equal respect. "Clan Master Mo, you are too kind." He then gestured to Cyra. "This is my companion, Elder Cyra." Mo Jian gave Cyra a polite, acknowledging nod before turning his attention back to Li Yu. He could sense that Cyra was stronger than himself, he wasn't stunned by it since Li Yu had a bodyguard last time he was here too, though the bodyguard was hidden before.
Li Yu then presented the storage ring that Fat Pig had given him. "The Golden Shell Guild sends its congratulations for Young Miss Mo Ling's breakthrough. Please accept this humble gift."
Mo Jian accepted the ring, his eyes widening slightly as he briefly scanned its contents. It was a generous gift. "The Guild is too generous! Please, send them my deepest thanks." He then looked at Li Yu, his gaze filled with a sincere, profound gratitude. "And you, Guest Elder Li… I must thank you personally, again. If you had not been willing to pass on the Asura Inheritance, my daughter would never have advanced so quickly."
"It was her destiny to receive it," Li Yu replied humbly. "That is what your ancestor wanted. I just happened to be there at the trial. I was undeserving of it."
"You are too modest," Mo Jian said with a shake of his head. He then gestured towards the grand, central hall of the clan. "But we can speak more inside. You are an honored Guest Elder. You must stay for the celebrations, and for the marriage contest that will follow. It will be a lively event." He then gave Li Yu a playful, probing look. "Perhaps you would even be interested in joining the contest yourself, Guest Elder?"
Before Li Yu could even formulate an answer, Mo Jian laughed and waved a dismissive hand. "No, no, I am only joking. Someone like you would not be suitable for my daughter. She is, after all, already much older than you appear to be, and more importantly, our paths are… different." The implication was clear; Li Yu walked a righteous path, while they walked the demonic one.
It was this comment that spurred Li Yu to speak. He did not talk about the demons he had seen, he kept his new knowledge to himself. "Clan Master Mo," he said, his tone becoming serious, "forgive my impudence, but on that last point, I believe I must disagree. I do not like the use of the term 'demonic path' for your clan." Mo Jian raised an eyebrow, surprised.
Li Yu continued, his voice steady. Inwardly, he was thinking of the true demons he had witnessed, of Malek and Vorlag, and the corrupting, absolute evil of the Abyss. It was an alien power, a blight that sought to consume and defile all life. It was nothing like the path the Asura Demon Clan walked.
"To call your path 'demonic' is an insult to you, and it grants those true monsters a legitimacy they do not deserve. I believe a more fitting term would be the 'unorthodox path'. You may draw on darker, more intense emotions and energies, but your spirit, your will, is your own. You are not slaves to a foreign, corrupting power. Your paths do not seem so different from mine, after all. We both seek strength to protect what we care about."
Mo Jian was stunned into silence. He stared at the young man before him, his mind reeling. In all his centuries of life, not many from a 'righteous' sect had ever shown such respect for the path they have chosen. They were always dismissed as demonic, as evil, without a second thought.
But this young man had come back from his travels with a wisdom that belied his age. It was a perspective that elevated him from a powerful benefactor to a true friend who understood them on a fundamental level.
A slow, deep, genuine smile spread across Mo Jian's face. He clapped Li Yu on the shoulder, his earlier formality replaced by a warm, heartfelt camaraderie. "Well said, Li Yu! Very well said! The unorthodox path… I like the sound of that." He then laughed again. "With someone of your strength the contest winner would already be decided before starting."
Li Yu laughed along with the clan leader, understanding the Clan Master was letting him off the hook gracefully. "I am not worthy," he said with a smile. "But I would be honored to stay and watch."
Mo Jian informed them that Mo Ling was currently in seclusion, consolidating her new Core Formation breakthrough, and would not be out until a few days before the celebrations began. Until then, Li Yu and Cyra were to be treated as the clan's most honored guests, with unrestricted access to all but their most sacred ancestral grounds just like before.
Since learning of the true demons, Li Yu couldn't let the word demonic be used to describe a path of the dao that wasn't truly demonic. He wanted that to change and the first step was saying it to the one unorthodox clan that he was on the best terms with.