The system is the proficiency panel

The Ash Merchants' secret Warehouse No. 3 lies deep in the Quicksand Forest, in a hidden valley bordering the Eternal Glory Forest. The entrance is cleverly disguised behind a waterfall completely covered in giant vines. The rushing water and pervasive mist create a perfect natural barrier. Without Carloz's detailed confession and precise coordinates, it would have been difficult to discover in such a short time.

Lin Ji, Xiao Ningxue, and Dao Yan, like ghosts merging into the shadows, silently descended onto the cliffs opposite the waterfall. Steam wafted in their faces, the air mingling with the freshness of vegetation and a subtle, deliberately concealed magical fluctuation—the warehouse's defense alarm system.

"Behind the waterfall, there's a water curtain cave structure."

Xiao Ningxue's white hair remained motionless in the humid air. Her eyes were slightly closed, and her powerful mental power was like the most precise probe, penetrating the water and scanning the internal structure.

"The entrance has a triple-triggered magic trap, an energy barrier, seven magic sentry nodes in the inner passage, and a powerful unknown magic circle in the core area of ​​the warehouse."

Her voice was cold and precise, as if she was describing an unfolded drawing.

"It is predicted that after the core magic circle is activated, there will be a chain of space collapse traps, affecting a large area."

Daoyan stood on the other side of Lin Ji, silver light flowing in the depths of his black pupils, capturing fragments of the next few seconds.

"Carlos didn't mention this. Either he didn't know, or he was deliberately hiding it."

Lin Ji's eyes were as fast as lightning, sweeping across the outline of the cave entrance that was faintly visible behind the waterfall and the water curtain.

"That's fine. Ningxue, you'll be responsible for disarming the traps and barriers, as quietly as possible. Daoyan, you'll locate the sentry nodes and their activation patterns. I'll handle the spatial confinement and collapse traps in the core area."

The plan was finalized in an instant. Xiao Ningxue tapped her fingertips, and several azure blue patterns, as thin as hair, appeared out of thin air. Like living water snakes, they silently slithered into the rushing water and precisely attached themselves to the rock wall at the entrance to the cave behind the waterfall.

Each array pattern extended and turned perfectly, silently neutralizing the trap's energy nodes and disintegrating the barrier's runic structure. The water continued to roar, but the faint magical fluctuations at the cave entrance quickly faded like a snuffed candle.

At the same time, Daoyan's vision revealed seven magical sentinel nodes hidden in the cave walls, the ground, and even the air, like illuminated cursors. They were not constantly active, but rather followed a complex yet predictable cycle.

"Nodes one, three, and five will be activated synchronously for a period of three breaths. Nodes two, four, six, and seven will be activated asynchronously, with intervals random but no longer than ten breaths."

Daoyan's spiritual consciousness transmitted the information to Lin Ji and Xiao Ningxue simultaneously, and his voice was as calm as reporting data.

"Just avoid the activation moment."

"Walk."

Lin Ji whispered, and the three figures transformed into three blurry streaks of light. Covered by the roar of the water, they slithered through the waterfall with the precision of butterflies, creating not a single splash or energy ripple. The cave was dimly lit, the air cold and damp. Under Dao Yan's guidance, the three men, like infiltrators aware of every blind spot, moved forward and stopped through the winding corridor, each movement deftly avoiding the sight of the magic sentinel nodes.

At the end of the corridor, a heavy, adamantine door, engraved with intricate sealing runes, stood before her. Behind this door lay the core area of ​​the warehouse. Although the door was now closed, Xiao Ningxue could clearly sense the powerful magic circle behind it, emitting a heart-pounding vibration.

"This is it."

Lin Ji stopped and fixed his sharp eyes on the gate and the area behind it.

"Ningxue, Daoyan, please step back."

Lin Ji put his fingers together like a sword and shone lightly towards the center of the golden gate.

Split the sky.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a slight crisp sound like shattering glass.

scoff!

The adamantine gate was crumbling and devoured by the spatial rift, emitting a subtle whine. The trigger of the chain trap that was about to be triggered by the gate's destruction was also interfered with by the space-time domain, abruptly cutting off and delaying it!

"It's now!"

Daoyan's clear shout was rang out, and the fatal chain collapse that was predicted was forcibly delayed by Lin Ji for a few seconds!

Xiao Ningxue understood Lin Ji's intention the moment he made his move. Her hands flew, and countless azure patterns, like a cascading waterfall of light, instantly surged towards the adamantine gate. These patterns weren't intended to attack, but rather, like mercury pouring down the gap Lin Ji had opened, surging into the gate, precisely covering and penetrating the temporarily blocked spatial magic circle in the core area.

The influx of array patterns instantly lit up, destroying the spatial magic array from its basic runes. The light of the spatial magic array in the core area flickered rapidly, and finally, unwillingly, it completely extinguished. The heart-pounding feeling receded like a tide.

Through the shattered door, the three of them saw the core warehouse. The space wasn't large, but the mountains of boxes, ores radiating a myriad of magical light, exotic plants sealed in special containers, and enchanted weapons and armor hanging on the walls and arranged on shelves all revealed the rich treasures plundered by the Ash Merchants. The air was filled with the mingled scent of magical materials and a faint hint of blood.

Lin Ji's gaze was instantly drawn to a freestanding crystal display stand at the deepest point of the warehouse. Carved from a single block of pure crystal, the display held a pristine scroll suspended within. Made of neither leather nor paper, the scroll itself possessed a dark golden metallic sheen. Its surface bore no writing or patterns, only subtle, mysterious patterns that appeared naturally formed. A profoundly ancient, obscure aura emanated faintly from within the scroll. It was precisely the object Carlos had described as the Jones family's guardian.

Lin Ji didn't hesitate at all, and in a flash, he appeared in front of the crystal display. He didn't touch it rashly, and his spiritual sense expanded like the most sophisticated scanner, instantly covering the scroll and the crystal display.

"There are no traps. The crystal itself is a protective layer."

Lin Ji made a quick assessment. He tapped his fingertips lightly on the crystal display stand. Spiritual energy seeped in, and the display's protective structure melted away like ice and snow. Lin Ji reached out and firmly grasped the dark golden scroll.

The touch is cold and heavy, and the ancient aura contained within the scroll is even clearer, as if silently telling a secret that has been buried for eternity.

"found it."

Lin Ji's voice was filled with a hint of solemnity and anticipation. He quickly placed the scroll in the safest place in his storage ring.

"Ningxue, put the other items into the small world bead."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ningxue immediately summoned the Small World Pearl. The pearl emanated a gentle yet powerful suction force, like a miniature black hole, precisely enveloping the entire core area of ​​the warehouse. The mountains of boxes, the gleaming ores, the sealed exotic plants, the enchanted weapons and armor...

All valuable materials seemed to be swept up by invisible waves, transformed into streams of light in an orderly manner, and sank into the small world bead, leaving no corner out.

In just a breath of time, the originally full warehouse was completely emptied, leaving only empty rock walls and years of dust on the ground.

“Nothing is missing.”

Lin Ji's spiritual sense was like mercury flowing on the ground, and he carefully scanned the entire warehouse area again, confirming that even the slightest magical fluctuations or hidden layers had been detected clearly, and then he nodded slightly.

"Walk."

Without hesitation, the three of them flashed and appeared in the air beyond the waterfall. Xiao Ningxue turned her head and released a few subtle bursts of spiritual energy from her fingertips, precisely striking several vulnerable points in the load-bearing structure within the cavern behind the waterfall.

Rumble…

A dull roar echoed from within the mountain, accompanied by the sound of rocks breaking and collapsing. The waterfall at the entrance first turned turbid, and then a large amount of rubble and mud rolled down, quickly burying and sealing the cave entrance completely, leaving no trace.

After dealing with the beginning and the end, the three of them transformed into three streams of light and silently rushed towards the direction of the canyon stronghold.

……

At the same time, outside the Quicksand Forest.

The roar of battle and the explosion of energy rose one after another, breaking the eerie silence of the past.

Feng Tian hovered in mid-air, his body ablaze with dazzling flames, like a miniature sun, dispelling the pervasive miasma of corruption and gloom. His scarlet-gold eyes scanned the battlefield with a cold indifference. With every wave of his hand, waves of fire swept down, precisely engulfing the stubborn strongholds of the Rotmaw Cultists or the hidden outposts of the Ash Merchants. Wherever the flames passed, filth was purged, and buildings were reduced to ash. The cultists were powerless to resist the blaze.

If the rules had not restricted Feng Tian, ​​his achievements would have been even greater.

Farther away, the elven Silverleaf Rangers displayed their elegant yet deadly combat style. They moved silently through the forest like ghosts, their precise arrows seemingly possessing eyes, always firing from the most unpredictable angles, pinning foes who attempted to flee or cast spells in secret to the trees. Their natural magic was gentle yet resolute, swiftly cleansing the land of corruption, spawning resilient vines to bind foes, or summoning radiance to temporarily blind large areas.

Elder Selanville did not directly participate in the battle. He hovered on a high ground, his emerald eyes calmly surveying the battlefield. His very presence was like a stabilizing force, his powerful legendary aura looming large in all directions, a deterrent and a constant readiness to respond to any unexpected event.

Areas previously controlled by the Embrace of the Rotmaw or the Ash Merchants were quickly cleared. Those who held out were ruthlessly eliminated, while the few who wisely gave up resistance and attempted to surrender were temporarily imprisoned, awaiting further action.

The mopping-up operation was proceeding efficiently and thoroughly, like a plow through a field. The haze that had long enveloped the outskirts of the Quicksand Forest was being dispelled at a visible speed.

……

Canyon stronghold, inside the command post.

Lin Ji placed the dark golden ancient scroll on the table, with Xiao Ningxue and Dao Yan standing on both sides.

Xiao Ningxue carefully observed the subtle, seemingly naturally generated mysterious patterns on the surface of the scroll, her brows slightly furrowed.

"I've seen many elven books, but the patterns and runes on them are completely new to me. The energy fluctuations are extremely restrained, but the level is very high, and the structure is extremely ancient and solid. If we forcefully crack it, we may risk destroying it."

Lin Ji pondered for a moment and chose not to take the risk.

"This is a very complex matter. I will keep it sealed for now. I will study it later when I have the opportunity or find someone proficient in it."

He waved his hand to put the scroll away again, and turned his gaze to the window, as if he could penetrate the mountain wall and see the mopping-up battle going on in the distance.

"Our current priority is to cooperate with the elves to completely clear the perimeter of the Quicksand Forest, consolidate our stronghold, and prepare for the final confrontation with the Whispering Root. As for the secret of this scroll..."

A deep light flashed in Lin Ji's eyes.

"There is ample time."

……

Several days passed in the efficient and silent cleaning.

On the outskirts of the Quicksand Forest, the once scattered Rotmaw outposts, Ash Dens, and the remaining camps of Bloodthorn were uprooted. The fierce resistance of a few high-ranking mages and warriors caused some trouble, but it was insignificant and had no impact.

Feng Tian's flames purified all the filth, Silver Leaf Ranger's arrows and magic wiped out the remaining enemies who were resisting stubbornly, and Yun Shitian led the monks to check for any shortcomings and make sure that no one escaped.

Especially after Daoyan joined the cleanup operation, with his precise, up-to-the-second foresight, any Rotmaw followers, Ash members, or spies from other factions who might have potentially leaked information were silently eliminated before they could even send a message. The entire cleanup operation, as Lin Ji had hoped, was truly sealed within the Quicksand Forest, preventing any outside forces from prematurely alerting them.

Inside Emerald Shadow City, the elven guards patrolling the city walls remained vigilant, but the solemnity between their brows had eased considerably. In the streets and alleys, brave residents and adventurers began to whisper about the changes in the forest. The suffocating smell of corruption seemed to have faded, and those ferocious cultists and smugglers had disappeared for several days.

Inside the Silver Leaf Outpost, Seranville, who had just personally dealt with the infiltrators from the Maw of Corruption, returned to his room and looked at the battle report sent back today. A complex light flickered in his emerald eyes. It was too efficient, too clean. The power of Lin Ji's subordinates and their near-predictive control of the battlefield made this ancient elf feel a deep sense of fear, but more importantly, recognition of the rapid stabilization of the situation.

"Inform Mr. Lin Ji."

Seranvir instructed an elven ranger standing by.

"The perimeter cleanup is nearly complete, and the Yonghui Forest Territory has recognized the success of this operation. Silver Leaf Ranger will continue to garrison Green Shadow City and the newly recovered areas to maintain order and purify the land. Regarding the Whispering Root at the core of the Quicksand Forest, the royal court hopes to have a more in-depth discussion with His Excellency Lin Ji as soon as possible."

The news quickly spread back to the canyon stronghold.

In the command post, Lin Ji listened to the elf's message brought back by Yun Shitian and Feng Tian, ​​and nodded slightly.

"well-done."

He looked at Yun Shitian, who looked a little tired but excited, and Feng Tian, ​​who still had no expression.

"Thank you for your hard work. Let the disciples take turns to rest and work with the elves to strengthen the defenses and purification arrays in the occupied areas."

"Hey, no problem!"

Yun Shitian stretched lazily, and his golden armor creaked.

Feng Tian stared at Lin Ji for a few seconds, and after making sure that he was not mistaken and that the other party's strength had improved again, he hummed a little disappointedly, turned around and walked out. He now just wanted to start practicing.