The system is the proficiency panel

Time passed quietly in the strange atmosphere of the Quicksand Forest, and seven days passed in a flash.

For seven days, Daoyan, like a skilled puppeteer, lurked behind the scenes, leveraging Mo Ying's intelligence and precognitive abilities to precisely manipulate the already taut tensions between the various factions. She didn't intervene directly, but at crucial moments, she fueled the already simmering friction by spreading rumors, creating trivial coincidences, or using her foresight to evade patrols, thereby allowing the two opposing reconnaissance teams to unexpectedly encounter each other.

The effect is significant.

Driven by the fury of the wounded Tree and Harkon's strict orders, the Rotmaw's Embrace intensified their search. They responded harshly to any perceived provocation or concealment. Several small-scale smuggling operations by the Ash Merchants were disrupted, and the conflict escalated rapidly. Several bloody incidents erupted along several hidden routes, resulting in casualties on both sides.

The most tragic one was undoubtedly the Bloodthorn Mercenary Group.

Initially, Bloodthorn leader Butcher Balk was able to put up a strong fight against other forces, even leading his men to repel several Rotmaw raids. However, with the persistent surveillance and several precise interceptions by Jones family spies, who were in fact the work of Rotmaw, secretly guided by Ashes or Daoyan, and another small-scale robbery by the Ashes Merchant Corps, impersonating Bloodthorn, this time targeting a Rotmaw transport convoy, the situation completely spiraled out of control.

Embrace of the Rotmaw believed that Bloodthorn not only plundered and killed, misled the Jones family and framed them, but also continued to provoke them. With new and old grudges piling up, Harken finally transferred some of his anger towards the blasphemer to the hyena that was jumping the most happily.

An elite Rotmaw unit, led by a fanatical Fallen Elf, raided a crucial Bloodthorn Mercenary supply camp in the heart of the Quicksand Forest. The battle was brutal, and though the Bloodthorn Mercenaries proved valiant, they suffered heavy losses under the enemy's frenzied, fearless assault, and their camp was burned to the ground.

Soon after, the Jones family's spies seemed to have confirmed certain clues and began to target Bloodthorn more actively, ambushing Bloodthorn's outbound teams several times with brutal means, aiming to capture them alive and torture them.

In just seven days, the Bloodthorn Mercenary Group was attacked from all sides, losing most of their long-held territory and strongholds. Casualties soared, quickly exceeding a hundred, including several high-ranking warriors and mages. Many of the wounded were afflicted with an indelible curse of corruption, wailing in agony as they gradually degenerated, further damaging morale.

Panic and despair spread within the Bloodthorn Mercenary Group. These mercenaries, living on the edge of death, might not fear death, but this hopeless situation, with no way out, surrounded by multiple forces, and unable to even identify the enemy, was enough to break even the toughest nerves.

Mercenaries began deserting their ranks at night, attempting to escape the Quicksand Forest, a place that had suddenly become a meat-grinding ground. Deserters spread like a plague. No matter how Balk threatened and howled, even executing several deserters himself, he couldn't stem the tide of disintegration.

The Bloodthorn Mercenary Group, once a formidable force within the Quicksand Forest, withered and disintegrated at a visible pace, showing signs of decline. Leader Balk was consumed by anxiety, struggling to cope with the frenzied attacks from without while suppressing the panic and betrayal within. His eyes were bloodshot, his expression maddened. He might never understand, until his death, how the situation had deteriorated to such a degree in just a few days.

Inside the canyon stronghold, Lin Ji and the others watched the escalating chaos with cold eyes, relying on the intelligence sporadically sent back by Mo Ying and their own investigations.

"Bloodthorn can't hold on any longer."

Master Pang Bin looked at the marks representing the blood thorns on the sand table, which dimmed or disappeared one by one, and shook his head, not knowing whether he was sighing or feeling regretful.

"Dog bites dog, both get a mouthful of fur."

Yun Shitian crossed his arms and curled his lips, apparently happy to see it happen.

Lin Ji's eyes were calm, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the table. The collapse of Blood Thorn was slightly faster than he had anticipated. Dao Yan's operation and the accumulation of resentment from all sides acted as a catalyst.

"Once Bloodthorn falls, Rotmaw's next target will be more focused, and Ashes and the Jones family will lose an important buffer and target to attract firepower."

Xiao Ningxue said softly, pointing out the potential variables.

"Ah."

Lin Ji nodded, his gaze still fixed on the marks on the sand table that marked the last few points of resistance of the blood thorn. His fingertips unconsciously tapped the tabletop, making a rhythmic sound. He pondered for a moment, a cold flash in his eyes.

"Balke is a legendary warrior. Even if the mercenary group is destroyed, if he's determined to leave, there won't be many people in the Quicksand Forest who can keep him. Letting him escape unscathed, or even hiding with any remaining resentment, would be a significant threat to our subsequent cleanup of the Quicksand Forest and even our future control of this territory. A reckless legendary avenger, proficient in jungle combat, would be very troublesome."

Yun Shitian raised his eyebrows when he heard this.

"What else can we do? Should we try to stop him? Exposing our base for a stray dog ​​is not worth it."

"Of course we didn't do it ourselves."

Lin Ji shook his head slightly, a cold arc appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"We need to kill someone with a borrowed knife, or more accurately, to instigate a dog-eat-dog fight. Balk is like a trapped beast, and his heart must be filled with a raging hatred for Rotmaw, Ash, and even the Jones family. We just need to give him a chance, a chance he thinks can kill one of his enemies, or at least make him pay a heavy price."

His finger moved slowly across the sand table, finally touching a mark on the edge of the core area of ​​the Embrace of the Corrupted Maw.

"Halkon, the Heart-Eater of the Embrace of the Rotmaw, was one of the culprits who directly ordered the destruction of the Bloodthorn Camp, causing his hard work to go to waste. He holds the deepest hatred. Moreover, Harkon sits at the heart of the Rotmaw. If Harkon could be severely damaged or even... killed, it would undoubtedly be the ultimate revenge for Balk, and would also greatly damage the command system of the Embrace of the Rotmaw."

Master Pang Bin touched his chin, looking thoughtful.

"Michiko, what do you mean by that? Induce Balk to attack Harkon? But that's too difficult. No matter how angry Balk is, he should know that venturing into Rotmaw's lair alone is tantamount to suicide. Harkon must be surrounded by a large number of guards."

"There's no need for him to actually kill his way to the core."

A gleam of light flashed in Lin Ji's eyes.

"We need to create an illusion, one that will make Balk believe that Harken will temporarily leave his lair and appear in a relatively isolated location that is still worthy of his personal visit. For example, a place that has just been discovered and is said to contain important items that can repair the sacred tree or enhance the strength of legendary warriors."

His thoughts became clearer and clearer.

"This intelligence should be accidentally intercepted by Balk. When he learns that his enemy is about to be isolated, that the location isn't the invulnerable core lair, and that there are treasures that can enhance legendary strength, even if the flames of revenge don't overwhelm his reason, he might go and take a look. If he goes, what awaits him won't just be the isolated Harken, but a carefully laid trap. We can even let this secret accidentally get out to Carlos of Ashes or the Jones family..."

Xiao Ningxue immediately understood Lin Ji's intention.

"My husband, do you want to cause a conflict among the various Legendary factions over this important item? No matter who ultimately faces Balk, as long as a Legendary-level battle breaks out, our goal will be achieved."

"Yes."

Lin Ji nodded.

"The most crucial thing is that the bait must be deployed flawlessly, without raising any suspicion. Daoyan's foresight and Moying's stealth are key to this. Daoyan needs to ensure that the intelligence reaches Balk in an absolutely natural, seemingly accidental way, and anticipate any unexpected events to ensure the general direction of the plan remains unchanged. Moying, on the other hand, needs to plant the seeds of suspicion and greed in Huijin or Jones, but they must not be too obvious."

He looked at Daoyan who had been standing quietly beside him.

Daoyan met Lin Ji's gaze and asked with a frown.

"The plan is feasible, but we don't have the bait that can make a legendary warrior take action or even fight to the death. Lin Ji, do we?"

"I have. I'll find a way to set up a trap."

Lin Ji responded with confidence and a smile.

When Daoyan heard this, she immediately thought of the Star Liquid that Lin Ji had mentioned. That was a treasure that could make a Yuanying Zhenjun excited, and it was more than enough to lure these legendary powerhouses. So she spoke.

"As long as you're confident, that's all that matters. Balk is currently on the verge of extreme anger and despair. A targeted bait could easily cause him to lose his judgment. I'll plan to have this crucial information passed to Balk's most trusted lieutenant through the mouth of a Bloodthorn survivor who just escaped the clutches of the Rotmaw and was lucky enough to hear a few words. As for Ashes and Jones..."

She pondered for a moment.

"We can have Ink Shadow spread a vague rumor in the Ash Stronghold, saying that Rotmaw has been making unusual and frequent movements near a certain coordinate, suggesting the discovery of ancient relics or a sealed object. Carlos is greedy and suspicious, and he will definitely send people to investigate. As long as his people get close to the designated area, they might clash with Balk or Rotmaw's guards, further increasing the uncertainty. There's no need to actively provoke the Jones family for now, but their own investigation is quite extensive, and they might be drawn in."

"very good."

Lin Ji expressed his satisfaction with Daoyan's plan. Then he looked at his wife.

"Ningxue, I need your help to set up this bait. That is the Small World Pearl."

Xiao Ningxue understood what he meant.

"Well, I will clear out the items in the small world bead and decorate the scene inside to look old. The first impression people get is that of a treasure house that has been dormant for a long time."

"Choose this one."

Lin Ji didn't waste any words and pointed his finger at the periphery of the Quicksand Forest map, towards the direction of Cuiying City.

……

Two days later, on the outskirts of the Quicksand Forest, the ground cracked into several cracks due to the micro-earthquake yesterday.

Several patrolling Rotmaw cultists were drawn to the faint yet persistent glow deep within the chasm, like flies to honey. The Quicksand Forest was rife with corruption and despair, and any unusual light could mean resources, lost magical items, a chance for advancement or even a moment of respite for these lowly cultists.

They exchanged glances, their greed overriding their vigilance against the unknown, as they cautiously climbed down the edge of the crack. The further down they went, the nauseating smell of corruption seemed to fade, replaced by a strange, indescribable energy fluctuation that made their hearts beat faster.

The leading team leader was the first to reach the bottom, his feet touching the soft earth. He stared wide-eyed at the perfectly round bead hovering not far ahead. It was about the size of a fist, a warm grayish-white color. A faint halo seemed to linger on its surface, like a sleeping eye. The space around the bead was slightly distorted, emanating an ancient and silent aura.

“Treasure…treasure!”

Another believer came forward with a trembling voice and heavy breathing.

Just when they got close to a certain distance, something strange happened!

It wasn't an attack, but a silent transformation. Several people felt a surge of dizziness, and the scene before them rippled, shattered, and reassembled like water waves! When they regained consciousness, they were already in a strange space of absolute silence and darkness.

Underfoot was a solid, yet indistinguishable, ground. All around was a boundless, dense darkness that swallowed up all light and sound. The only source of light came from the center of the space.

There, a drop of liquid, roughly the size of a fingernail and radiant with a brilliance beyond words, quietly hovered, slowly rotating and moving in a rhythmic circle around an invisible center. The light it emanated wasn't dazzling, yet it seemed to hold the secrets of the birth and death of stars. It was pure, vast, and filled with an instinctive awe and... immense longing! Simply gazing at it, one could feel a subtle force stirring within, a trembling in the soul!

"God... Godly thing!"

The captain muttered incoherently, his eyes instantly filled with greed and ecstasy. He barely hesitated, his cautiousness for survival and his thirst for power causing him to lose the last shred of his rationality. He lunged forward, reaching out to grab the alluring liquid!

The others were a beat slower, and just as they lifted their feet, they saw a scene that they would never forget.

The captain's fingertips had just touched the surface of the drop of brilliant liquid, and not even a ripple had appeared.

Bang!

A dull but not loud explosion.

The captain's body, along with his filthy leather armor, exploded instantly like a water bag ruptured from within by an invisible force! There were no screams, no struggles, only a scattering of extremely fine blood and minced meat, like the most intense crimson paint splashed into the absolute darkness. Then, the faint light emanating from that drop of liquid quickly purified it and evaporated it, leaving not even a trace of fishy smell.

silence.

Deathly silence.

The few remaining Rotmaw cultists froze in place, their outstretched hands frozen in mid-air. The greed and longing on their faces shattered like ice, replaced by boundless fear and horror. They watched helplessly as any trace of their captain's existence was completely erased, as if he had never existed.

The drop of brilliant liquid continued to slowly swirl and circulate, its light soft and graceful, as if the horrific scene just now had nothing to do with it. But in the eyes of the surviving believers, it was no longer a coveted treasure, but the most terrifying and deadly trap in the world!

"Run! Run!"

The instinct for survival instantly overwhelmed everything. They didn't even dare to look at the liquid again, and they scrambled and tumbled, frantically fleeing towards the entrance they remembered.

Thankfully, the darkness in that area seemed to have thinned, and one could vaguely see a bit of gray light from the outside world, belonging to the Quicksand Forest.

They scrambled towards the single exit, scrambling upwards with their hands and feet, looking utterly shabby, as if pursued by countless predatory demons. Only when they could breathe the filthy yet familiar air of the Quicksand Forest and feel the soft, sandy ground beneath their feet did they dare to stop. They collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, their clothes soaked with sweat, their bodies shaking uncontrollably.

Several people looked at each other in shock, and saw the fear and deep fear of surviving the disaster in each other's eyes.

"We must...must report this to High Priest Harken immediately!"

The leading survivor's voice was hoarse and filled with tears.

"That thing is definitely not something we can touch, but it is definitely something unimaginably huge!"

They didn't dare to delay for even a second. They struggled to get up and stumbled towards the core nest of the Embrace of the Corrupted Maw at the fastest speed.

A treasure that could excite even a legendary powerhouse appeared at the edge of the Quicksand Forest. This news must be relayed immediately to the higher-ups! They too will receive unimaginable rewards.

Deep within the crack, the grayish-white bead shone briefly before vanishing completely. The crack remained as if nothing had happened. Only in the center of the absolute darkness did the brilliant star fluid continue to silently orbit and flow along its predetermined trajectory, awaiting the next visitor, or the next batch of visitors, of sufficient importance.