The system is the proficiency panel

Lin Ji stepped through the portal, and as silver light flashed before his eyes, a familiar surge of spiritual energy surged in. When he opened his eyes again, he was already in a hall in the Rift City.

"The concentration of spiritual energy here..."

Lin Ji took a deep breath and felt the spiritual power flowing through his meridians, which was even more concentrated than before he left. It seemed that the formation master had improved the formation here a lot.

He looked around. The hall was empty, with only the portal running quietly, so he walked out of the hall.

Lin Ji was dressed in a blue and white robe, his black hair tied up with a simple wooden hairpin, looking fresh and capable. He had a handsome face, a calm expression between his brows, and his clothes fluttered as he walked, giving him an extraordinary demeanor.

"Michiko!"

"Meet Lin Daozi!"

The monks they met along the way all bowed and greeted him. A young disciple in a green robe stopped and bowed respectfully.

"Daozi, have you come out of seclusion?"

Lin Ji nodded gently in response.

"Well, I came out to do some things."

He noticed that his fellow disciples' eyes were filled with admiration for their sect's genius, without a trace of strangeness. It seemed their trip to Aetherius had indeed been kept a well-kept secret.

Lin Ji slowed down as he crossed the central courtyard. The spiritual plants in the courtyard were more lush than usual. Several rare moonflower grasses stretched their leaves in the sunlight, emitting a faint fragrance. He reached out and gently touched a leaf, sensing the vitality within.

"It seems the True Lords have never stopped building the Rift City."

Lin Ji pondered in his heart, his eyes sweeping over several newly built buildings in the distance.

Arriving at the courtyard where True Lord Geng Qing was staying, Lin Ji straightened his clothes. Two stone sculptures flanked the gate, depicting legendary mythical beasts, each one remarkably lifelike. Just as he was about to raise his hand to knock, the heavy wooden door silently opened automatically.

"come in."

The low voice of Master Geng Qing came from the inner room.

Lin Ji stepped inside, and the sight before him startled him slightly. The room's decor was simple and solemn, with a variety of weapons hanging on the walls, ranging from simple swords to bizarre and exotic weapons. A massive sand table occupied most of the room, simulating the terrain surrounding the Rift City.

Gentleman Geng Qing sat in the main seat, clad in a gray robe and with a resolute expression. A murderous aura etched across his brow.

"sit."

Master Geng Qing pointed to the cushion below.

Lin Ji bowed respectfully and took his seat, his back straight and his posture upright but not stiff. He noticed several new markings on the sand table, one of which was clearly marked with the word Aetherius.

"Almost five state of mind, right?"

Zhenjun Geng Qing suddenly spoke, his sharp eyes seemed to be able to see through Lin Ji's cultivation.

"You truly deserve to be recognized as the number one genius on Kaiyang Star."

Lin Ji's lips curled up slightly, and a glint of confidence flashed in his eyes. He didn't pretend to be modest, but spoke frankly.

"Thank you for the compliment, Master. I am indeed just one step away from success."

Deep down, Lin Ji had a clear understanding of his own talent. Since embarking on the path of cultivation, he had never encountered a true rival among his peers. This confidence wasn't arrogance, but rather a calmness based on actual combat and hard training.

Upon hearing this, True Lord Geng Qing laughed heartily, his laughter tinged with admiration. He stood up, walked to the sand table, and pointed at the mark on Aetherius.

"Xiao Ningxue has reported to me on your situation over there. Well done."

Lin Ji's gaze followed True Lord Geng Qing's finger and he noticed several unknown areas marked on the sand table. With a thought in his mind, he asked.

"True Lord, these are..."

"The newly discovered layers of the abyss are still being slowly explored."

True Lord Geng Qing looked solemn.

"We haven't been idle during this time. But now, let's talk about your plans."

Lin Ji had already thought of his words on the way here. He leaned forward slightly, and the light from the window lattice shone on his profile, outlining a resolute outline.

"Aetheris is a flat planet with a round sky. Its land area is at least ten thousand times larger than Kaiyang Star."

His voice was steady and powerful, and his fingertips drew a huge circle on the table.

"The richness of the resources is beyond imagination. In Yonghui Forest, the Forest of the Elves alone, we have discovered two spiritual plants that are extremely beneficial to those in the Foundation Establishment Stage."

Master Geng Qing stroked his chin thoughtfully, his beard trembling slightly with the movement.

"We just need to take over the territory, maintain good relations with the elves and the human alliance, and develop slowly."

Lin Ji continued, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.

"If nothing unexpected happens, I won't have to worry about foundation-building resources for at least a few thousand years."

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the several mineral veins marked on the sand table. Those minerals, considered valuable on Kaiyang Star, seemed commonplace on Aetherius. This realization made him sigh inwardly at the disparity between the two worlds.

"But the resources needed for the Golden Core and Nascent Soul still need to be found."

Lin Ji's tone became cautious, and his fingers unconsciously stroked the hilt of the sword.

"However, Elvis's collection contains books describing the rare treasures of Aetheris. Perhaps there are treasures of this level in them."

He raised his head and looked into the eyes of Master Geng Qing.

“But we need to take it one step at a time.”

True Lord Geng Qing walked over to the table and poured himself a cup of tea. The fragrance of the tea filled the room, bringing a sense of tranquility. He took a sip, and his body beneath his gray robe seemed to relax a little.

"We can afford to wait."

Zhenjun's voice was as low as thunder, but his eyes were unusually calm. He asked tentatively.

"Tell me, how many people are you planning to take with you this time?"

Lin Ji had already thought it over carefully and responded immediately after hearing it.

"It's not advisable to bring too many Jindan Zhenren and Yijing Foundation Establishment."

His fingertips tapped lightly on the table, the rhythm steady and powerful.

"When I met the Elf Elder Seranville for the second time and took out Serena's head, I could sense that he was wary of us."

Recalling the scene, Lin Ji clearly remembered the fleeting look of wariness in Seranville's eyes—the elven elder's fingers unconsciously clenched when he saw the spoils he displayed. Although he remained amiable on the surface, that instinctive defensiveness could not escape Lin Ji's keen perception.

"The elves possess a wealth of knowledge."

Lin Ji's voice unconsciously became softer, as if he was telling an important secret.

"Whether now or for a long time to come, maintaining friendly relations with the elves will allow us to develop more rapidly in Aetherius."

As he spoke, he took out a copy of an elven tome from his storage ring and gently placed it on the desk.

Geng Qing was very satisfied with Lin Ji's answer, which coincided with theirs. His gaze lingered on the book for a moment, and he suddenly asked.

"Can you trust that elf named Elvis?"

Lin Ji smiled slightly.

"He's a good man and a smart man."

This answer seemed simple, but it contained multiple layers of meaning. On the way here, he had repeatedly considered Elvis's position—the elven mage did have good intentions, but more importantly, he knew that befriending cultivators would make his future path much easier.

The room fell silent for a moment, the only waft of tea's aroma rising. Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened, and dark red clouds, the hallmark of the abyss, rolled in the distance.

Zhenjun Geng Qing suddenly stood up and walked to a wall where a newly drawn map of Aetherius was hanging.

"Just do as you say."

There was an unquestionable determination in Zhenjun's voice.

"The first batch of personnel has been selected for you, but remember——"

He turned around, his eyes flashing like lightning.

"Don't arouse the elves' excessive vigilance."

Lin Ji nodded solemnly. A plan had already begun to take shape in his heart. How to balance the display of strength with low-key development, and how to maximize the benefits for the Kaiyang Star cultivation community in this alien world, these would be the issues he would need to carefully consider next.