"Did your master say how many people were in the patrol team? What was the captain's name? And who was it that was killed?"
The soap-robed cultivator wondered if it was truly such a coincidence that he had encountered this. He fired off a series of questions.
"The patrol team should have been ten people. I heard that more than half of them died, but my master didn't say exactly how many. The captain's name is Ding Yushan; I came here this time to find him.
"As for who was killed? That... that... I don't know. He only said it was a cultivator from a manor nearby."
The soap-robed cultivator and the other cultivators on duty here were, of course, well-informed about the incident involving Ding Yushan and the others. Otherwise, they wouldn't be standing guard here for no reason.
'It seems this kid really is the disciple of the Golden Core cultivator who acted. What he said is basically correct. It's just that this kid doesn't know that the ones killed were of the Demon Clan. His master must not have wanted him to know too much.'
As the soap-robed cultivator thought this, the expression on his face finally relaxed. He was basically certain of Li Yan's identity.
Of course, this was all part of Li Yan's plan. If he were to fully reveal his current cultivation, the other party would not only disbelieve that a Pseudo-Core realm cultivator could kill the cultivators at Griefspirit Manor, but they would also surely try to capture him at the first opportunity.
Of course, if Ding Yushan and the others were still here, everything would be much easier.
Li Yan had no idea that a major event had occurred in the cultivation world, so he still subconsciously acted according to his old habits, remaining wary of the Jingtu Sect, fearing that the Four Great Sects might use the opportunity to hunt down each other's low-level disciples.
Now, coming to borrow the formation, he could only invent a master. He figured the other party wouldn't go so far as to find Ding Yushan and the others to corroborate his story just for this matter.
"Where do you plan to go using the teleportation formation?" the soap-robed cultivator continued to ask.
Hearing this, Li Yan knew the other party had likely believed him. But it made sense. Ding Yushan and the others would certainly have reported everything that happened here upon their return.
And looking at the current situation, it was likely to ambush the Demon Clan. This matter was probably under a gag order to prevent leaks, but the cultivators on duty here would have been informed of what had happened.
So, the only ones who knew about this, besides Ding Yushan's group, were likely the cultivator who had saved them. Moreover, he had given a detailed enough account. With all the details matching up, it was impossible for the other party not to believe him at all.
"Oh, this junior plans to go to 'Daning City' to purchase some cultivation materials for my master. Because the distance is too great, my master told me there is a teleportation formation here and that I should come and try my luck," Li Yan said, smoothly giving the reason he had prepared long ago.
"Da... Daning City. That's quite a long way. No wonder you need to use the teleportation formation. Do you have your master's token or sect's credential?" the soap-robed cultivator asked with a nod. Although he had basically ruled out the possibility of Li Yan being connected to the Demon Clan, he was still diligent in his duties, just to be safe.
"A token? My sect only has three people: my master, my junior brother, and me. What need is there to make a special token? My master couldn't even be bothered to give our sect a name.
"Establishing a sect in this desolate place was done on a whim. Oh, that's right, Senior. Before I came out this time, my master was worried I might run into trouble I couldn't solve on the road, so he gave this junior a token from a friend of his. My master said that his friend is an eminent Buddha monk of the Jingtu Sect, and that this item should be of some use in case of trouble."
As he spoke, Li Yan slapped his Storage Pouch, and a Grey Copper Coin appeared in his hand. He then respectfully held it up with Spirit Power and sent it forward.
Hearing that Li Yan had no sect credential to prove his identity, the soap-robed cultivator's brow furrowed. But he also understood that there were many such cultivators in the cultivation world who liked to live in seclusion and possessed great magical power.
They were free-spirited by nature and disliked constraints. Such people could be both righteous and evil; everything was done according to their whim. Saving people and killing people had nothing to do with justice; it was all based on their own preferences and impulses.
Therefore, these types of cultivators were usually focused on seeking immortality and were often ascetic practitioners. They would often find a desolate place to bury their heads in cultivation, coming and going alone, not interacting with others.
Of course, some of these cultivators also liked to take on a few disciples, to have them handle daily chores while they focused on their own cultivation, and to pass on some immortal arts along the way.
Therefore, they placed no importance on so-called sects or legacies, let alone specially building a mountain gate.
Although Li Yan's identity as the disciple of the person who saved Ding Yushan was basically confirmed, to let him use the teleportation formation so easily... if he made a single mistake in judgment, and something happened in the future, the responsibility... would be...
But as Li Yan continued his explanation, the soap-robed cultivator was startled. He then saw Li Yan take out a Grey Copper Coin and send it over.
The soap-robed cultivator drew the Grey Copper Coin into his hand and examined it carefully. The coin was simple and old. Without even needing to probe it with Divine Sense, the coin itself already emitted a trace of grand and righteous Yang power. It was a Buddhist credential or magical treasure that could only be refined after cultivating a Buddhist Art to a certain level.
'Jingtu Sect! This is a Buddha's token!'
The soap-robed cultivator no longer had any doubts. He was under the jurisdiction of the Jingtu Sect and knew some of its internal affairs. Moreover, he had been to the Jingtu Sect to pay homage more than once.
He had a deep memory of the vast and profound righteous Yang power of the Buddhist Arts. This aura was not something that could be easily imitated by monks from other temples.
'This token is not something an ordinary person can easily obtain. To be a close friend of a Jingtu Sect Buddha, it's no wonder this person's master could kill two demon lords in one go. That should be a powerful existence of at least the late-stage Golden Core. Not to be provoked, not to be provoked.' The soap-robed cultivator had originally thought he might have a gain today and accumulate some merit when he returned to his sect, but it turned out to be a false hope. And it seemed to be a bit of trouble. He had to consider whether to let this person use the teleportation formation. What if it caused more complications?
With a flick of his hand, he sent the Grey Copper Coin back to Li Yan. After a moment's thought, he said faintly, "Seeing as your master has helped us before, you can certainly borrow the teleportation formation. However, the Spirit Stones required for the teleportation..."
At this point, the soap-robed cultivator paused, his gaze fixed intently on Li Yan.
Li Yan's face stiffened, a hint of struggle in his eyes, but he quickly said, "Rest assured, Senior. This junior understands the rules. I will naturally provide the required Spirit Stones. Thank you, Senior, for making this possible."
The soap-robed cultivator watched Li Yan's expression without missing a single detail, a scornful smile in his heart.
'An inexperienced person is an inexperienced person. He thought he could use the teleportation formation for free just because his master helped out once. Does he expect me to pay for the Spirit Stones?
'However, judging by his hesitation, his master probably already gave him the Spirit Stones for the teleportation. This kid just wants to pocket them for himself.'
But the soap-robed cultivator chuckled aloud, "Hehehe, with your master's prior assistance, the Spirit Stones for this teleportation could have been waived.
"However, Ding Yushan and the others have already left on orders, and I, Dong, was in a hurry when I came out and didn't bring many Spirit Stones. I hope you and your master can understand."
His words were extremely hypocritical, as he was unwilling to offend the master Li Yan spoke of. However, this was the cultivation world, where only interests mattered.
"Oh, this junior certainly understands. For Senior to allow me to use the teleportation formation, this junior is already endlessly grateful."
"Alright, Jiang Xing, take him over and arrange the teleportation."
The soap-robed cultivator had already lost interest and didn't want to stay any longer. He casually instructed a young cultivator behind him.
Then, without another glance at Li Yan, he turned to fly away. Li Yan and the others respectfully saw him off.
But the soap-robed cultivator had only gone a short distance when he stopped again, turning back to look at Li Yan. This left everyone, including Li Yan, wondering what had happened.
The soap-robed cultivator hesitated for a moment, then actually used a voice transmission to speak to Li Yan. "You and your master may have been out of touch with the world for some time. The Demon Clan has already invaded. I'm afraid your trip to Daning City will not be easy. With your cultivation, you may not even return.
"Moreover, the Four Great Sects have issued another summons, the 'Nascent Soul Summons,' requiring all Desolate Moon Continent cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage and above to participate in the war against the Demon Clan. No one is to disobey!"
Hearing this, Li Yan's expression changed several times, and his heart was filled with shock. This time, he was not feigning it; he was truly stunned by the soap-robed cultivator's words.
"Senior is talking about the Demon Clan? Weren't these demonic creatures already extinct? Vanished from this continent? How could they have invaded the Desolate Moon Continent? How is this possible?"
Li Yan's question was half-truth, half-lie. He had personally fought with the Demon Clan before, so he naturally knew they existed, yet he acted as if this was the first time he had heard of them.
But the soap-robed cultivator's subsequent news about the demon invasion was what truly shocked Li Yan into asking.
Although Li Yan had some suspicions, he couldn't believe that in just over two years, the Demon Clan had already broken through the Devil's Cliff Crevice. Did this mean that even the great formation at the Devil's Cliff Crevice, sealed by a Spirit Transformation cultivator, was unable to resist?
For a moment, tempestuous waves surged in Li Yan's heart. 'A Nascent Soul Summons. This was issued by the great Nascent Soul cultivators who usually don't meddle in worldly affairs. This is enough to show that a great change has occurred in the cultivation world.'
So how were the Four Great Sects resisting now?
How was the Malevolent Spirit Sect? What was the situation with Gong Chenying and the others?
Although there were many questions he wanted to know, he was unable to ask them all.
The moment the soap-robed cultivator sent the voice transmission, he had been paying close attention to Li Yan's reaction. Seeing Li Yan's face change drastically, he thought to himself.
'As expected, this child knows nothing at all. His reaction is enough to prove one thing: his powerful master is also unaware of what is happening in the outside world. Otherwise, he wouldn't have rashly sent a disciple of such cultivation on a long journey.'
But the soap-robed cultivator also knew that although the Four Great Sects required all cultivators in their jurisdiction, including rogue cultivators, to unconditionally obey their orders, this was easier said than done.
If a rogue cultivator or some reclusive sect really wanted to hide and not come out, would the Four Great Sects really spend time and effort to find them one by one?
Just like this small sect of only a master and two disciples, hiding in this place with pitifully scarce spiritual energy, as long as they didn't come out, who would know they were there?
The soap-robed cultivator was originally going to fly back to Griefspirit Manor, but he suddenly thought that if this kid teleported to the other end without knowing anything, the situation he encountered might be tragic. However, the reminder just now was not really for Li Yan's sake.