The system is the proficiency panel

The morning in Hongxia City comes later than usual, as if even time cannot bear to witness the scars of this city.

The morning light pierced through the thick smoke like a sharp sword, and the outline of Hongxia City gradually became clear on the scorched earth.

At the gap in the city wall, the monks were using earth magic to reshape the bricks and stones. The blue-grey spiritual power was entwining the cracks like vines, mending the broken battlements bit by bit.

"Carefully distinguish the bodies, burn those of the enemy directly, and collect those of our own separately."

Ye Youkong stood on the ruins and gave orders. Dark red blood clots were still condensed in the gaps of his armor, which looked particularly glaring in the morning light. He leaned over and picked up the half-broken bone blade that was stuck in the cracks of the bricks. It was the weapon of the Saint Church's death warriors. The edge of the blade glowed with a strange blue light, like the fangs of a poisonous snake.

"Be careful! These weapons are poisoned!"

He raised his voice to warn, his voice hoarse but powerful. Upon hearing this, several members of the Adventurer's Guild froze in their tracks, quickly wrapped their palms with cloth, and then dared to drag the stiff enemy corpses. Their faces were filled with fatigue and disgust, but no one complained.

Three incineration pits had been dug under the city. The raging flames devoured the piles of corpses like a giant beast. The black smoke twisted and rose to the sky, like countless unwilling souls, tearing out hideous traces in the air. The smell of burning and stinking filled the air, making people sick.

……

After the smoke cleared, the sky was still covered with a layer of gray mist. The sunlight struggled to penetrate the clouds, shining on the devastated streets, and coating the ruins with a layer of bleak gold.

The market in the east of the city has long lost its former bustle, replaced by sporadic whispers and suppressed sobs, as if even the sound of the wind has become cautious.

"I heard that tens of thousands of people died in the Holy Church..."

Old Wang, a tofu seller, squatted beside his stall, his fingers unconsciously picking at the dried blood on the wooden board - it was splashed by stray bullets that hit passers-by last night. His only son's right leg was unfortunately broken by the collapsed beam, and he was now lying in the hospital waiting for treatment.

Fortunately, the people above have issued a notice that the medical expenses for those injured in the war will be free of charge, and free food will be distributed to help them get through this period.

The lady boss next door clutched the crumpled list of casualties, her nails dug deep into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped blood marks. Her husband was a martial artist from the Adventurer's Guild, and his name was on the list.

"Didn't the cultivator say that he could protect Hongxia City?"

She suddenly tore up the list and cried hysterically, her voice so sharp that it seemed to pierce everyone's eardrums.

"Why are we the ones dying?"

The crowd dispersed in silence, no one answered. Only the wind blew up the scraps of paper, swirled them in the air, and then fell silently.

……

Lin Ji stood at the gap in the city wall, with a holographic projection of Hongxia City suspended in his palm. Countless golden threads flowed in the model, which was the direction of the ground veins before being destroyed by the Holy Church, like the blood vessels of the city. At his feet, three array masters were burying the green jade array plate into the foundation.

"The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Light Array is arranged with the Interstellar Teleportation Array as its center."

Lin Ji modified the projection as he spoke. The newly added blue lines extended like branches and gradually weaved into a huge net under his control.

"The seven auxiliary cities are the branches, and Hongxia is the main trunk."

His voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable authority.

When Yue Shanwu arrived, he saw Lin Ji pointing at the model. In an instant, the entire projection turned into a physical array diagram and rose into the air. The damaged array covering the sky above Hongxia City was reborn, and the mysterious red cloud pattern appeared on the light golden light curtain, like a gorgeous flower blooming on the sky.

He came to Lin Ji and said.

"Daozi, Ye Qingyu and the other three city lords are outside the city asking for a meeting."

Lin Ji chuckled when he heard this, his fingertips did not stop, and a hint of sneer flashed in his eyes.

"But with a white flag?"

"Not only the white flag, but also many remnants of the Holy Church were held captive. They said they were deceived by the Holy Church and were willing to surrender the city."

Yue Shanwu's mouth curled up in a sarcastic arc.

"Well, these three people have an old grudge against Zixin. Let Zixin, Ye Wanjun and Ouyang Yun go to meet them. If they find anything unusual, just kill them directly."

Lin Ji's tone was light, but it was chilling.

……

Three armored vehicles slowly stopped on the scorched earth outside the city. Ye Qingyu lifted the curtain of the car and his eyes swept across the newly cast light curtain on the city wall, his Adam's apple rolling unconsciously.

He reached out and touched the miniature communicator hidden in his sleeve. The cold metal touch reminded him of the warning given by the young Holy Church secret envoy Chen Chen before he left.

"Don't think about resisting. The things of the Holy Church are not so easy to take. Your bodies have long been poisoned. Don't worry, I can guarantee that your relatives will live well in the Holy Church. Go."

Thinking of this, Ye Qingyu's body trembled with anger. He hurriedly calmed himself down. He didn't want to come, but there was no other way.

Ye Qingyu knew that even if the three of them surrendered, they would not be able to survive, because they were the ones who indirectly killed Ye Zizhen's father. According to the news, Ye Zizhen is now the sister of the other leader, and is very much loved.

At this time, the armored vehicle arrived at the gate of Hongxia City. The three city lords left the armored vehicle under the supervision of the guards. As soon as they got off the car, they saw Ye Zizhen and the other two with unfriendly eyes in front of them.

"Miss Ye, how are you?"

When Ye Qingyu bowed, his eyes from under his eyelashes swept over Ouyang Yun and Ye Wanjun beside Ye Zizhen. He deliberately lowered his posture to reveal his neck that was burned by the fire.

"We have been bewitched by the Holy Church and are willing to offer our cities and captives, only begging for forgiveness, sir."

Ye Zizhen's knuckles turned white as she held the spear. She remembered this man. Three years ago, when the Ye family caravan was robbed, her father Ye Youxing had left a sword scar on his neck. Now the scar was covered by a new wound, but the hatred engraved in her memory could not be erased.

She still remembered the names that Mo Ranyan had told her before his death: Ye Qingyu, Yan Xuan, and Helian Teng. At this moment, these three people were in front of her, and murderous intent was boiling in her heart.

"Whether you forgive or not depends on your sincerity."

Ouyang Yun waved her wide sleeves lightly, and three bronze compasses spun and landed in front of the armored vehicle. Blood-colored lines appeared on the surface of the compasses, covering the entire area in a lie-detecting barrier.

The two city lords behind Ye Qingyu suddenly turned pale. One of the escorted "prisoners" suddenly jumped up, but his throat was strangled by the vines that suddenly appeared.

"What does it mean?"

Ye Qingyu forced a smile.

"Since we have come to surrender..."

Before he finished speaking, the communicator in his sleeve suddenly burst into a dazzling red light. Ye Wanjun's pupils shrank suddenly, and he drew his long knife and stabbed the opponent's throat, but he saw that Ye Qingyu and other classmates' necks lit up, wailing and expanding rapidly like balloons. Knowing that something was wrong, he quickly retreated.

"Be careful of the corpse explosion!"

Ouyang Yun stood in front of Ye Zizhen, and when she threw out the Bagua formation diagram, dozens of "captive" bodies exploded at the same time. The black mist, wrapped in blood, flesh and bones, crashed into the formation diagram, corroding spider-web-like cracks.