Of course, the security of the token was not absolute.
Cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage or above who had mastered the laws of space and time could still delay the token's usage time by controlling the speed at which the Divine Sense dissipated.
However, once one reached that realm and level of cultivation, there were far too many ways to enter the grand formation. Why would they need to go through such a time-consuming and laborious process?
When any Windy Cool Mountain cultivator entered the grand formation with their token, the guardian cultivator at the formation's core would know the location of entry.
Normally, out of trust in this grand formation, they wouldn't specifically go to investigate. But now that the great battle had started and the alert level was raised, Li Yan's entry would immediately attract the attention of the formation's core guardian.
They would immediately send a voice transmission to the nearby patrol cultivators. Li Yan was aware of this, so he wasn't surprised.
These patrol cultivators, of course, also knew the function of the token and could roughly guess that it was a cultivator who had gone out to battle or perform other tasks returning.
But it was their duty, so they still had to question him carefully.
Li Yan was also sizing up the patrol cultivators opposite him. Just from the increase in their numbers, he immediately felt the tense atmosphere here.
Previously, patrol teams were in groups of twelve, all composed of Foundation Establishment cultivators. This time, however, they were directly led by two Golden Core cultivators, with twenty members in the team.
"Li Yan of the Sixteenth Squad of Green, returning from a mission!"
Li Yan held up the token in his hand, allowing several Divine Senses to fall upon it.
"Hehehe, it's you. I saw you at 'Mutual Destruction Ridge' a few days ago. Were you out on a solo mission? The other members of your squad all came back long ago!"
After sweeping over the token, several Divine Senses turned to Li Yan himself. The token was naturally genuine, so they focused their attention on Li Yan.
Among these few Divine Senses, besides those of the two Golden Core cultivators, there were also many from the patrol members. Li Yan let them scan him as they pleased, showing no dissatisfaction on his face.
One of the Golden Core cultivator's Divine Senses had already sent a voice transmission as soon as it landed on Li Yan. He was one of the Golden Cores who had participated in the battle at "Mutual Destruction Ridge" four days ago and was now ordered to guard Windy Cool Mountain.
He had a deep impression of Li Yan. In that defensive battle at "Mutual Destruction Ridge," this kid had killed about ten cultivators of the same rank, and all of them were demonic cultivators.
So when he had been patrolling past the mountain peak of the Sixteenth Squad of Green, he had once swept it with his Divine Sense but had not found Li Yan.
At that time, he thought that with Li Yan's status, he might have been specially protected by Wei Zhongran.
He never thought that this kid would dare to go out on a mission during the great battle. This surprised him greatly. In the current situation outside, not even a Golden Core cultivator like him dared to venture out alone.
This kid had returned alone. It was hard to say if it was good luck or if the ignorant were fearless, but his luck was truly good to have returned to Windy Cool Mountain alive.
Li Yan naturally wouldn't know the thoughts of this Golden Core cultivator. Even if he did, besides a wry smile, he probably wouldn't have any other explanation.
This time, having been locked onto twice by Nascent Soul stage cultivators, he had skirted the gates of hell several times, with both feet almost stepping in.
After confirming Li Yan's identity, the two Golden Core cultivators led the twenty people to a stop thirty feet in front of Li Yan.
"Reporting to Seniors, three days ago, I did indeed receive a mission from my Master. It's just that after completing the mission, this place had already become a battlefield, so I waited until today to quietly return."
"The outside is already a stretch of scorched earth. Not knowing the situation inside the formation, I had to find a remote place to enter."
Li Yan bowed respectfully to the two Golden Core cultivators.
One of them had a thick, wiry beard and looked very imposing. At this moment, he was looking at Li Yan with a smile. He was also the one who had spoken just now.
Li Yan didn't notice that when he briefly mentioned the situation outside the grand formation, curiosity flashed in the eyes of many of the Foundation Establishment cultivators, but no one asked.
Beside the whiskered Golden Core cultivator was a stern-faced, white-robed cultivator with a sword casket on his back.
'A Sword Cultivator. Could the Ten-Pace Courtyard also be participating in the battle here?'
This was the first thought that rose in Li Yan's mind.
After hearing Li Yan's explanation, the whiskered Golden Core cultivator understood that Li Yan's choice to enter from here was out of caution.
With the core guardians of the grand formation present, Li Yan's action couldn't be considered sneaking in with ulterior motives. It was a precaution against outsiders, something well understood at Windy Cool Mountain.
If this place had been captured, either the grand formation would have already collapsed, or there would still be cultivators resisting inside.
With the methods of the Four Great Sects, they certainly wouldn't leave a grand formation capable of withstanding a Nascent Soul's attack in the hands of the enemy.
So, if this place had become a battlefield, Li Yan's infiltration would at least not be easily discovered by the enemy, which was also a form of self-protection.
At this moment, the whiskered Golden Core cultivator's lips moved slightly, but no sound was heard. Meanwhile, the white-robed sword cultivator at his side began to have a glint in his eyes.
He kept staring at Li Yan, and finally, a look of annoyance appeared in his eyes.
Li Yan felt a little uncomfortable with this. His identity had clearly been confirmed, so why was this white-robed sword cultivator looking at him like that? That gaze seemed to hold a hint of contempt and disgust.
Among the group of cultivators behind him, a few also smiled and nodded at Li Yan. Li Yan had seen those few in Windy Cool Mountain before; they were nodding acquaintances.
The rest were complete strangers, likely a new batch of conscripted cultivators.
When Li Yan had taken over the Sixteenth Squad of Green, the teleportation formation in the back mountains would flash with light every day, and large batches of conscripted cultivators would frequently be teleported over. It was normal not to know these people.
But after three or four breaths, they still showed no intention of letting Li Yan leave. Li Yan began to feel dissatisfied. He was just about to ask, "Is there anything else?"
At this moment, the white-robed sword cultivator spoke for the first time. His voice sounded like the clashing of metal and stone, somewhat grating to the ear.
"Since you're returning from a mission, you could have just used the formal entrance. Why be so sneaky?"
"I hear your killing methods follow an unorthodox path of clever tricks, not considered true skill. When faced with a truly strong peer, you might just die even faster."
"After you return, quickly report your mission, then stay obediently in your cave residence. Do not wander around randomly. Do you understand!"
After speaking, he added a bit more contempt to his gaze at Li Yan.
His words not only stunned Li Yan but also the whiskered Golden Core cultivator.
Just now, fearing this person didn't understand Li Yan's identity, he had briefly explained who Li Yan was and the methods he had displayed a few days ago. In his view, such a junior should naturally be treated differently.
He had never thought that this person beside him would say such words as soon as he opened his mouth, and that his gaze towards Li Yan was also not very friendly.
This was a great surprise to him. However, he was also a man of long experience. In a flash of thought, he had already come up with a reason.
'This sword cultivator from the outer court of the Ten-Pace Courtyard must have had some grudge with the Malevolent Spirit Sect!'
Although Li Yan was also stunned, he immediately thought of some reasons as well.
'He's looking for trouble with me. I don't even know him. He must be projecting his issues with the sect or some other reason onto me.'
But his face remained calm and serene. He still replied respectfully.
"Thank you for the reminder, Martial Uncle. This junior will naturally obey!"
He had no intention of getting into a verbal conflict with such a person. However, he was already sneering inwardly.
He dared to assassinate and kill even a Mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, let alone an Initial-stage Golden Core like this one. If he made a move against him, he wouldn't care about any rules of "defying a superior."
Li Yan still preferred to act directly. What was the use of gaining an advantage in words? It would only make himself a target of unnecessary attention.
'You have the Ten-Pace Courtyard to back you up, but don't I?'
Now was the time of the great war against the Demon Clan. This person clearly had an old grudge with the Malevolent Spirit Sect and had immediately started lecturing him. Li Yan no longer had any good feelings towards this person.
After speaking, Li Yan bowed to the whiskered Golden Core cultivator. "A few days ago, thank you, Senior, for your care on the battlefield. This junior will remember it in his heart."
"This junior still has a mission to report, so I won't delay Senior's patrol any longer. I will take my leave."
After speaking, Li Yan didn't spare the white-robed sword cultivator another glance and had already taken to the air, flying towards the mountain peak where Wei Zhongran's cave residence was located.
He had many things on his mind and had originally wanted to ask the whiskered Golden Core cultivator, but now it seemed he couldn't ask anymore.
He didn't know how his Master and the others were doing, or if they had returned. He should probably go and ask first.
The whiskered cultivator's lips moved, as if he wanted to say something to Li Yan, but glancing at the ashen-faced white-robed cultivator beside him, he could only let out a wry smile in his heart.
The accumulated resentment of the Four Great Sects had been passed down from generation to generation. It was best for a cultivator from a small sect like his to stay out of it.
The Foundation Establishment cultivators behind them didn't even dare to breathe loudly. They were all sharp-eyed people; how could they not see that the white-robed cultivator was very much at odds with a junior?
In this patrol team, whether due to the white-robed cultivator's pickiness or some other reason, there was not a single Malevolent Spirit Sect cultivator. Naturally, no one would feel injustice for the Malevolent Spirit Sect in their hearts.
The white-robed cultivator watched Li Yan's receding back. A faint sword cry emanated from the sword casket on his back. The junior's words had seemed polite, but anyone could see that he didn't take him seriously at all.
He had thought Li Yan would show a resentful expression but would only be able to suppress it due to his lower realm. Then he could take the opportunity to lecture him a few more times, which would make him feel somewhat better.
But the other party, while appearing respectful, was extremely disrespectful, causing his subsequent words to get stuck in his throat, like a fishbone, and a surge of hostility rose in his chest.
But in the end, he did not act to teach Li Yan a lesson. If this person were just an ordinary disciple of the Malevolent Spirit Sect, although he wouldn't kill him, he would definitely ensure he was punished.
However, the whiskered cultivator had just told him this person's background. This kid was likely a core disciple of the Malevolent Spirit Sect, and most importantly, the personal disciple of that madman Wei Zhongran.
Among the Golden Core cultivators of the Four Great Sects, a few were famous for being unprovokable, and this Wei Zhongran was one of the most difficult to deal with.
He was just an ordinary outer court Golden Core cultivator from the Ten-Pace Courtyard. He had heard of Wei Zhongran's name like a clap of thunder. That was someone even the likes of Sword King Xiahuà were unwilling to provoke lightly. He didn't dare to act openly.
Although he had an old grudge with the Malevolent Spirit Sect, after weighing the pros and cons, he still narrowed his eyes, and the sword casket on his back instantly quieted down. Seeing this, the whiskered Golden Core cultivator at his side finally let out a sigh of relief.
He was truly afraid that this person would act to teach Li Yan a lesson. He was equally worried about Li Yan's identity. He had heard of Wei Zhongran's name before; he was not someone to be provoked.
And now, he was even more unwilling to get involved. The impression that fierce man Wei Zhongran had left on him a few days ago was too terrifying. A ruthless man who could fight a Nascent Soul cultivator had already made him feel as if he had seen a god, filled with awe and reverence.
If this person from the Ten-Pace Courtyard had really acted, the whiskered Golden Core cultivator truly wouldn't have known whether to stop him or stand by and watch. At that point, he might have hated this person to the bone.
Who knew if Wei Zhongran would track down every cultivator present? He would have suffered an undeserved disaster. Now it seemed that this sword cultivator from the Ten-Pace Courtyard also didn't dare to provoke that fatty.