The system is the proficiency panel

The dusk of Cuiying City was shrouded in a tranquil golden glow, the afterglow of the setting sun casting a soft halo over this small border town. Xiao Ningxue stood in front of the elf outpost in the center of the city, her white hair as white as snow, gently blowing in the evening breeze.

A lightly armored elven ranger stepped out of the outpost, his emerald eyes filled with vigilance and suspicion. He sized up the unfamiliar white-haired woman before him, sensing her restrained yet powerful aura, and he couldn't help but tighten his grip on the dagger at his waist.

"Your Excellency, is...?"

Xiao Ningxue nodded slightly, her voice cold and polite.

"I was entrusted by Lin Ji to deliver an important piece of information to Elder Seranville."

She pulled an exquisite communication crystal from her sleeve. The Xuantian Sect's emblem was engraved on the crystal's surface, and a faint aquamarine light shone within. This was a communication tool she had crafted using a formation technique. It could record complete information and could only be deciphered by the designated recipient.

The Elf Ranger's gaze lingered on the crystal for a moment, his expression slightly relaxed.

"You must be the guests Lord Elvis brought from other dimensions. Elder Seranville's letter was just delivered to Emerald City, but we couldn't find your location, so we haven't forwarded it yet. I didn't expect you to come here on your own initiative."

Xiao Ningxue nodded slightly.

"This matter is urgent, and we cannot delay. Please deliver this crystal to Elder Seranville as soon as possible. He will understand its importance."

The Elf Ranger took the crystal, felt the pure energy contained in it, and solemnly placed it in his arms.

"I will personally escort it to the City of Morning Dew. Please also take this letter with you."

Xiao Ningxue nodded, took the letter, and without further ado, turned and left, her figure quickly blending into the twilight of Cuiying City. Her mission was completed, and now she only had to wait for Seranville's response.

……

The crown of the silver dome, the stargazing and meeting hall.

The hall wasn't a traditional enclosed space, but rather a circular platform suspended beneath a massive crystal dome. The dome itself was the core of the Silver Crown. Instead of reflecting the intense light of the Light Core, it emitted a soft, star-lit glow, enveloping the dozen or so core members of the elves below in a tranquil and sacred aura.

The long table, carved from a single block of moonstone, shone with a gentle silver light. The Elf King, Iselama, sat at the head of the table. His long, silver-white hair resembled a flowing galaxy, his face unearthly handsome. He exuded the majesty and wisdom of time, his emerald green eyes as deep as the forest, gazing calmly at Seranville.

Present were the patriarchs of the major families of the Everbright Forest, the supreme commander of the Silver Leaf Rangers, the elven elders, and the high priest responsible for the faith. Each exuded a powerful aura, representing the pinnacle of elven strength, wisdom, and faith. Their gazes were now fixed on Seranville.

Elder Selanville stood at one end of the long table, the silver threads of his silver-white robe gleaming faintly under the starlight. He bowed deeply to the Elf King Yselama, his voice steady and clear, breaking the silence in the hall.

"Your Majesty, colleagues. I've summoned you urgently because the Quicksand Forest has undergone a dramatic change that could shake the very edge of the Everbright Forest. Our invited allies from another world, Lin Ji and his team, encountered a threat far greater than they anticipated while deeply investigating the source of corruption at the heart of the Quicksand Forest, triggering a powerful energy storm."

He raised his hand, holding the crystal that Xiao Ningxue had given him, engraved with the Xuantian Sect's seal. Under the starlight, the crystal reflected a pure blue light, making it particularly eye-catching.

"This is the information crystal they transmitted through a special channel, inscribed by the white-haired formation master Xiao Ningxue. It contains the core intelligence of their encounter and their assessment of the situation. Please allow me to show it."

A soft emerald green light emanated from Seranville's fingertips as he gently tapped the crystal. With a soft hum, the crystal levitated, projecting a clear screen of light. It was the image and message Xiao Ningxue had left behind.

Xiao Ningxue's shadow appeared in the light curtain, her hair was as white as snow, her expression was calm, and her voice was as clear as a spring.

"To the respected Elder Selanville and the elves. On behalf of Lin Ji and our exploration team, I would like to share the following information regarding the energy changes occurring in the core area of ​​the Quicksand Forest."

"First, our team has identified and encountered the core source of the corruption deep within the core area—its name is suspected to be Whispering Root Agares. This entity is not simply a corrupted ancient tree, but a vast, ancient, and thoroughly twisted collection of life forms. Its root system spans an extremely wide area, and its mental pollution field is pervasive. Its strength is estimated to far exceed that of a typical Legendary."

"Second, the most crucial discovery: Buried deep within Agares's core torso lies the remains of an abyssal arm, solidified like obsidian. This fragment exudes pure and terrifying abyssal power, with blasphemous runes flowing across its surface. It is the core source of Agares's power and the primary amplifier of his mental contamination. We believe this fragment is most likely the remains of Morgaroth, the Maw of Corruption, and the key anchor of his will on the plane of Aetheres."

"Third, to cover the team's retreat, our Master Pu Jianxing was forced to use his ultimate strength to engage Agares and the Abyssal Relics head-on, under their violent attacks. During the battle, Master Pu successfully inflicted heavy damage to Agares and even left a tiny crack on the surface of the Abyssal Relics. This action completely enraged the source of the pollution, triggering a violent energy storm. Master Pu suffered severe backlash and sustained serious injuries."

"Fourth, Agares has fallen into a frenzy, and the Embrace of the Rotmaw cult will inevitably be mobilized in full force. The search will be unprecedentedly expanded and at all costs. Due to the presence of the Abyssal Debris Anchor Point, its potential spread and long-term threat to the stability of the Light Core cannot be ignored."

"Fifth, eliminating this contamination source is in the mutual interest of both parties. Our base has been placed on high alert, fully committed to treating the injured and strengthening defenses. Given the threat level posed by the Abyssal wreckage, we are frankly inquiring: Does the elves, in their long history and rich knowledge base, possess any experience, purification plans, or drastic measures for dealing with such anchor points containing the remains of the Abyssal Lord's body? Any relevant information will be crucial in formulating a subsequent cleanup plan."

"This intelligence is based on our investigation, intended to share threats and explore potential collaboration. I await your response. Sincerely, Xiao Ningxue."

The light curtain went out, and the crystal slowly fell back into Seranville's hands.

The meeting room fell into dead silence.

The starlight still flowed, but the air seemed drained away. The faces of all the high-ranking elves lost their customary elegance and composure, replaced by expressions of extreme solemnity, shock, and even a hint of barely concealed horror.

"Abyssal wreckage...Morgaros's anchor point. Could it be that Morgaros left a backup plan after being defeated that year?"

A family patriarch murmured in a dry voice.

"Directly create cracks in the remains of the Abyss Lord? After the battle that expelled Morgaroth, the only ones who still possess this level of power are you, Your Majesty, and the Silver Crown."

The Silver Leaf Ranger Commander, a stern-faced male elf with eagle-like eyes, was also filled with disbelief. He was well aware of the chasm between peak legendary power and mere wisps of divine power, and he understood even more clearly the terrifying power and cost of directly harming a deity, even with only a tiny bit of divine power.

"No wonder... No wonder the rules observed by the Silver Dome Crown are so distorted."

The chief of the High Mage Council, an old elf with an ancient face, tapped his fingers unconsciously on the table.

"Pu Jianxing... We severely underestimated this man's strength. But the price he paid must have been heavy."

"The Whispering Root... It turns out the corruption of the Maw of Corruption has already penetrated so deeply into its core. We were so surprised that we failed to realize sooner that its source was the remains of Morgaroth!"

The high priestess, a female elf with a gentle temperament but firm eyes, had a face full of worry.

"This isn't just a disaster for the Quicksand Forest; it's a threat to the balance of light and darkness across the entire plane! The wreckage is like a spreading cancer. Once its power is fully revived or erupts..."

The Elf King Yselama finally spoke. His voice was still calm, but it carried a tremendous weight that instantly suppressed all whispers.

"Elder Selanville, what is your assessment of the reliability of this intelligence? And what is your assessment of Lin Ji's intention in revealing this information?"

Seranville bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty, the authenticity of this intelligence is based on the following: First, the nature of the energy explosion observed by the Silver Dome Crown and the residual traces are highly consistent with the Ruled Sword Intent and Abyssal Pollution fluctuations described in the information, and the scale far exceeds that of an ordinary Legendary conflict. Second, Lin Ji's side proactively transmitted this intelligence and frankly admitted that their key members were seriously injured, which is consistent with the logic of seeking cooperation or external assistance after a major setback. Third, Xiao Ningxue is a woman with profound attainments in magic arrays (formations) and clear logic. She was frank but reserved when delivering this information, not mentioning their other possible activities in the Quicksand Forest, but focusing solely on the threat of the Abyss, intending to emphasize common interests. Overall, the core content of this intelligence is highly credible."

He paused and continued.

"As for their intentions, I believe they have three layers: First, they are honest about their significant discoveries, demonstrating their willingness to cooperate. They also explain that the root cause of the changes in the Quicksand Forest wasn't their own initiative, but rather a forced counterattack during their investigations against a core threat. Second, they are showing weakness and seeking assistance. They point out that Pu Jianxing is seriously injured, implying that their current high-end combat capabilities are damaged and will need time to recover. They also implicitly convey their inability to deal with such a threat. Third, they are testing and seeking knowledge. They directly inquired about our experience or methods in dealing with the Abyssal Debris Anchor Point. This is both a sincere request for advice and a test of our tribe's depth and attitude towards this matter. They hope to draw us into a united front against the Abyss, at least in terms of intelligence and technology sharing."

The Elf King's emerald eyes shone with light, as if billions of stars were born and died. He was silent for a moment, his gaze slowly sweeping over each of the high-ranking officials present.

"The wreckage of Morgaroth..."

The Elf King's voice was deep and powerful.

"This threat isn't limited to the Quicksand Forest alone; it's a sword of Damocles hanging over the Everglory Forest and even the entire material plane of Aetheris. Although Lin Ji and his group are visitors from another world, their power system is unknown, but their demonstrated strength, their stance against the Abyss, and their current honesty, at least partial honesty, deserve our clan's careful consideration."

He made a decision.

"Elder Seranville."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"In the name of the Elven Royal Court, we are officially replying to Lin Ji and Xiao Ningxue. We confirm receipt of the intelligence and thank them for their honesty and warning. We acknowledge that the existence of the Abyssal Debris Anchor Point is a significant threat, and eliminating it is in the mutual interest of both parties."

"Provide limited knowledge support, open a catalog of basic documents on the characteristics of abyssal pollution and ancient purification rituals that do not involve core secrets for their reference. The specific content must be carried out at a designated location under the supervision of the elves."

"I propose establishing a preliminary intelligence-sharing mechanism, particularly regarding the large-scale movements of the Embrace of the Corrupted Maw and the changing status of the Abyssal Wreckage. I agree to dispatch an elite Silver Leaf Ranger reconnaissance team to Emerald Shadow City on standby. Their sole purpose is to assist in defense and monitor the spread of corruption. If necessary, they can provide limited tactical support upon obtaining sufficient intelligence and passing a risk assessment. However, they will not directly participate in the assault on the core area without my orders."

"Invite Lin Ji or his authorized representative to personally visit the Silver Dome Crown or Morning Dew City on a date after Pu Jianxing's injuries stabilize for a more in-depth meeting. This will discuss the details of future cooperation and long-term strategies for dealing with the threat from the Abyss. The response should implicitly remind them that, without the confidence to destroy the remains of Morgaros in one fell swoop, they are expected to exercise restraint in other actions within the Quicksand Forest during this sensitive period to avoid further provoking the Embrace of the Corrupted Maw or triggering other uncontrollable chain reactions."

The Elf King's gaze finally fell on the Chief of the High Mage Council and the High Priest.

"Two high priests, activate your highest authority and gather all ancient books, legends, and experimental records concerning the Abyss Lord, Morgaroth the Maw of Corruption, and the treatment of high-concentration Abyssal pollution sources, especially the original substance. We need to find possible weaknesses or methods of suppression as soon as possible."

"As you command, Your Majesty!"

The two elven high priests accepted the order solemnly.

The Elf King Yselama stood up, his long silver hair moving without wind, and starlight flowing around him.

"The shadow of the abyss is never far away, but the Everglorious Forest is not a place to be tamed. The sword of another world has penetrated the cancer, awakening the sleeping demon. Now is the time for the elves to demonstrate their wisdom, strength, and ancient heritage. We must act with caution and seek cooperation, but we must protect our roots."

His words, like an ancient oath, echoed in the starlit chamber.

"Selanville, reply to them. Prepare the sharp arrows of Silver Leaf."

The meeting concluded, and the elven leaders quickly departed with an unprecedented solemnity and sense of mission. Selanville, clutching the information crystal, gazed toward the Quicksand Forest with a deep gaze. A storm swirled around the debris of the abyss, drawing the elves into the center of the vortex.