The system is the proficiency panel

The streets of Cuiying City are paved with blue-gray stone slabs, with tiny fluorescent mosses growing in the cracks, emitting a faint blue-green glow in the sunlight.

Lin Ji and his group passed through the city gate. The surrounding buildings gradually transitioned from elven-style vine-covered tree houses to human-style wood and stone structures. Bronze bells hung on the shops along the street, ringing softly in the breeze. The air was filled with the aroma of herbs, mead, and baked bread.

Daoyan walked at the flank of the team, her white robe spotless. Her ponytail was tied high, revealing her chiseled profile. Suddenly, she paused, a silver glint flashing in her dark pupils—her precognitive ability activated, and the scene from five seconds later flashed back in her mind:

After they crossed the street, an elf in a brown cloak cast a peeking glance at them from the second-floor window of the tavern.

"Someone is targeting us."

Daoyan used his spiritual sense to transmit the message, and at the same time naturally raised his hand to tuck a strand of hair behind his ear. This action just happened to point in the direction of the tavern.

"Is this a spy sent by Morning Dew City?"

Lin Ji's expression remained calm as he glanced at a three-story building on the street ahead with the sign of the Silver Moon Hotel hanging on it.

"Don't worry about them, just stay here first."

He responded briefly, then raised his voice to address the crowd.

"Rest in this hotel tonight."

……

The lobby of the Silver Moon Inn was carpeted in crimson. The flames in the fireplace cast shadows on the oak paneling. Behind the counter, the half-elf proprietress, with light blond curls and pointed ears, was wiping a glass with a velvet cloth.

"Seven guest rooms."

Lin Ji placed a few silver coins on the counter, and the metal and wooden countertop made a crisp sound when they collided.

The proprietress's eyes swept over everyone.

"Are the guests from the City of Morning Dew?"

She asked tentatively, her voice taking on the soft tone of a human-elf hybrid.

"Passing by."

Lin Ji smiled slightly, and this smile made his handsome face look particularly friendly, but the vigilance in his eyes did not diminish at all.

"I heard that the honey wine produced by Cuiying City is quite good?"

Lin Ji tried to change the subject, and the proprietress enthusiastically began recommending it. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Xiao Ningxue's consciousness spread like a ripple, exploring every corner of the inn. There were faint magical fluctuations in the easternmost room on the third floor, likely a temporary workshop for a mage. Three figures breathing steadily were hidden in the basement wine cellar, most likely the inn's bodyguards. And at the end of the second-floor corridor...

Her spiritual sense suddenly touched a barrier.

"There's a magic circle."

Xiao Ningxue reminded Lin Ji in her spiritual consciousness.

"It's on the south side of the second floor, and it's not something that ordinary travelers can arrange."

Lin Ji nodded imperceptibly and took the brass key handed to him by the proprietress.

"Thank you."

He said gently, and when he turned around, his eyes swept towards the stairs, and a sharp flash flashed in the depths of his pupils.

……

Late at night, Cuiying City fell silent, save for the faint sounds of a distant tavern. Lin Ji stood by the window, the moonlight casting a silver edge on his tall figure. In his hand, he toyed with a jade slip containing the list of supporters sent by True Lord Geng Qing.

"One Jindan, twenty Yijing Foundation Establishment cultivators, and one thousand Qi Training Late Stage..."

He whispered to himself.

"This size shouldn't be too noticeable."

There was a gentle knock on the door, and Xiao Ningxue walked in. Her white hair hung loosely on her shoulders, making her skin look white as snow. Dao Yan followed behind her.

"Husband, we have investigated thoroughly. The mage on the second floor is indeed a surveillance agent sent by Morning Dew City."

A water curtain image condensed at Xiao Ningxue's fingertips, showing a high elf with a sinister face.

"He left detection magic in every room."

Daoyan added.

"Not only that, there are three powerful elven rangers wandering around the inn. They are probably here to strengthen surveillance."

Lin Ji frowned slightly, turning the jade slip in his palm. He walked to the window and looked at the vague outline of the mountains outside the city.

"Tomorrow we'll leave the city under the pretext of gathering information about the Quicksand Forest and establish a temporary teleportation point in a secluded area."

Xiao Ningxue seemed to be thinking about something.

"We don't need so many people just to establish a stronghold. The two of us are enough. You can let Master Pu take Daoyan and the others to check the status of the Quicksand Forest."

Lin Ji nodded approvingly.

"That's it."

……

The next morning, Lin Ji asked the proprietress about the Quicksand Forest, deliberately raising his voice so the spies on the second floor could hear. Yun Shitian cooperated, yelling, "Just attack them directly," his golden armor clattering with his exaggerated movements.

Afterwards, the eight people left the city and flew towards the Quicksand Forest. Lin Ji and Xiao Ningxue used the cover of the water state of mind to leave halfway.

After separating, Lin Ji and Xiao Ningxue immediately accelerated, transforming into two streaks of light as they flew eastward. After flying for about ten minutes, a canyon shrouded in mist and trees appeared before them.

"It's nice here."

Lin Ji landed on a flat rock at the bottom of the valley. Surrounded by towering ancient trees and vines draped like curtains, it formed a perfect natural barrier.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ningxue also fell from the air. Her mental power lightly touched the small world bead, and a silver-white portal slowly opened in the open space.

The tuning fork was suspended in front of her. She formed seals with her hands, and the array patterns spread across the ground like ripples, starting to activate the portal.

The runes circulated, emitting stable spatial fluctuations. Xiao Ningxue's white hair rose slightly under the surge of spiritual energy, and her slender fingertips precisely controlled the direction of each array pattern.

"Be a little more stable..."

She whispered to herself, beads of sweat oozing from her forehead.

Lin Ji stood beside her, his spacetime consciousness quietly unfolding, helping to stabilize the transmission channel. He could clearly sense that the barrier between the two worlds was being penetrated—the coordinates of the Rift City side had been locked, and now all he needed to do was maintain this channel long enough.

Suddenly, the silver vortex in the center of the portal vibrated violently, and a figure flew out from it. It was a slightly plump middle-aged monk in a green robe, with a kind face and a friendly and easy-going appearance.

Lin Ji had met Pang Bin, the Golden Core Master of Lingtian Sect, once in the Rift City. He had some impression of him and believed that he was a cultivator who was proficient in forging skills.

"Master Pang!"

Lin Ji stepped forward and greeted him.

Pang Bin responded with a smile upon hearing this, without any of the arrogance of a Jindan Zhenren.

"Greetings, Lin Daozi. The True Lord has instructed me to follow your instructions here. Please take good care of me. This is the True Lord..."

Then Pang Bin quickly glanced around and sighed.

"Is this Aetheris? The concentration of spiritual energy here is indeed quite good, not inferior to Lingtian Sect's main peak."

As the two chatted, figures emerged from the portal one after another. Twenty cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage lined up in a neat formation, their auras calm and composed. A thousand disciples in the late Qi Condensation stage stood quietly behind them. These carefully selected cultivators possessed considerable strength and strict discipline.

Xiao Ningxue immediately retracted the portal upon seeing everyone present. Her face was slightly pale. It was obvious that maintaining the portal without spirit stones, relying solely on her internal spiritual energy, was quite draining.

Seeing this, Lin Ji handed over a bottle of Huiling Dan and said with concern.

"Let's take a rest."

"I am fine."

Xiao Ningxue quickly swallowed the pill, and Lin Ji turned around and looked at everyone.

"According to the plan, Master Pu has already led a team to explore the Quicksand Forest. We will first establish a simple base here."

Lin Ji pulled out a formation disk from his storage ring and poured his spiritual energy into it. The disk levitated, projecting a three-dimensional blueprint—the blueprint for the stronghold Xiao Ningxue had designed in advance.

After assigning their tasks, the cultivators immediately took action. Pang Bin took out the supplies he had brought from the Rift City and led the construction of fortifications. Xiao Ningxue personally carved the protective array pattern for the core area, each stroke precise and accurate.

Lin Ji stood on the central platform, gazing into the distance. From this vantage point, he had a wide view overlooking the entire canyon. With a flick of his fingertips, several streams of sword energy silently flew out, flattening several potential blind spots on the rock face.

He knew that the base would not be built so quickly, so he found a quiet place to start practicing.