"Greetings, Ancestor!"
Before Shen Dongming, Shen Chuan and Princess Jingning bowed respectfully, shaken to their cores.
This ancestor of their household, the Heaven-Propping Jade Pillar of the Great Gan imperial family and a top-ten powerhouse on the Heavenly Human Ranking, had always lived in seclusion, spending long years in closed-door cultivation.
Even close descendants like them rarely had a chance to see him. They had never expected him to come out personally to welcome Huang Tian today. But on second thought, it made sense. A talent who possessed Heavenly Human combat strength while still at second rank, and who had come from the imperial court's Martial Guard, naturally deserved Shen Dongming's earnest attention.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Shen."
Since the man had addressed him as a fellow Daoist, Huang Tian returned the courtesy.
"Haha! Though I've long been in seclusion, I heard of your reputation ages ago, Fellow Daoist Huang. Now that we've met, you're every bit as spirited and extraordinary as they say."
Smiling, Shen Dongming introduced an elderly man in red robes behind him. "This is my grandnephew, the current emperor of Great Gan, Shen Yujing. You can simply call him by name."
The Gan emperor, Shen Yujing, did not mind in the least that Huang Tian was still nominally his subordinate. He bowed first, and Huang Tian returned the salute without a trace of arrogance.
Shen Dongming did not introduce the men and women behind him one by one. He merely said, "These are all my descendants."
"Greetings, Senior Huang!" The princes and princesses bowed together, their manners impeccable, without a hint of the haughtiness of imperial scions.
"No need for ceremony."
Huang Tian waved for everyone to rise.
"I've had a banquet prepared. Come with me, Fellow Daoist Huang, and wash away the dust of your journey."