In the Source of Knowledge:
As the all-encompassing form of knowledge revolved around Maximus, he slowly opened his eyes.
"The power of omniscience..."
The Aeon Plane seemed to fall into the palm of his hand.
No matter who or what, as long as he thought of something, an answer would appear in his mind.
No matter the problem, a solution would quickly materialize in his mind.
As he marvelled at his state, his view suddenly shifted to horror.
In the infinite space of the Aeon Plane, surrounded by layers of rules and causality, dark energy crept around, attempting to consume the plane.
"This... Is this the danger?"
"The Armageddon... the invasion of dark creatures outside the Aeon Plane..."
As he contemplated on the matter, information about the dark creatures surfaced in his mind.
Dark creatures were the bane of all planes, a natural disaster that destroyed anything and everything.
Their strength varies, from a tier 1 creature to an unknown strength vastly exceeding the Aeon Plane.
Roaming in the Chaotic Space without the protection of a plane, even the weakest, could cause devastating damage.
The Tier 12 Overlords, the strongest in the Aeon Plane, could only do so much to keep them at bay.
Their infinite numbers couldn't be stopped by any single force.
There was always a breaking point where these dark creatures would find an opening and invade the Aeon Plane.
An example of this was the massive invasion trillions of epochs ago.
The devastating war spared no one.
The Dimensional Alliance, the Devourer Faction, the dimensions— even the empty void— were corrupted and erased.
In this war, many Tier 11 Supreme Masters had fallen, top forces faded into existence, and countless dimensions were destroyed.
According to the information in his mind, Malgron, one of the Supreme Masters of the Ashura Sect, also fell because of this war.
If not for the timely action of the Overlords, perhaps the Aeon Plane would have ceased to exist.
Aware of the danger, the joy he felt from becoming a master of the River of Law began to fade, replaced by a sense of urgency.
In hundreds of thousands or a million epochs, these dark creatures would reach the breaking point again and invade the Aeon Plane.
This time, it would not be as simple as the last.
If the last invasion was due to accident and carelessness, this time, it was because the Overlords couldn't hold on much longer.
In such a war, nothing would matter but power.
Feeling an unprecedented will to become stronger, his mind begins to flood with ideas on what to do.
The completion of the Origin Manual, nurturing the River of Knowledge into an ocean, utilizing his Rank 12 Dimensional Physique, and more.
There were also unconventional ideas, like merging dimensions to form a dimensional barricade, creating a plane weapon from a combination of different Tier 12 ultimate treasures, mass-producing supreme masters, creating a race of super-warriors, etc.
Among these ideas, what struck Maximus the most was the notion of merging his system with the River of Knowledge.
"This... Is this also possible?"
By merging the system with the River of Knowledge, his control would reach an unprecedented level beyond imagination.
Without it, no matter the strength of his soul, spirit, and will, the sheer weight of this plane's knowledge could disintegrate him.
Examining the panel, his eyes turned to the seal embedded within it.
This seal, a mark from its creator, was the one preventing him from fully mastering the system.
To merge the system with the River of Law, this would be the first obstacle he had to overcome.
Reactivating his omniscient state, his comprehension skyrocketed a thousandfold as the knowledge of the entire Aeon Plane unfolded in his mind.
Focusing on deducing the seal, Maximus couldn't help but frown.
"This is too complex."
Even with the River of Knowledge assisting, he estimated it would take him thousands of years to fully understand it.
Considering a solution, he suddenly thought of using strands of causality.
"Arise!"
Condensing origin energy, he began using the River of Knowledge to forge it into strands of causality.
Every second, he could condense millions of origin crystals, which he converted into strands of causality.
As days, months, and years passed, producing tens of millions of strands of causality every year, Maximus didn't cease his work on deducing the seal embedded in the system.
In his omniscient state, he could split his mind into countless sections, allowing him to comprehend multiple things simultaneously.
Condensing origin crystals, forging strands of causality, deducing the system's seal, creating the Tier 11 Origin Manual, mastering various techniques, digesting information on current affairs, setting a plan to transform the River of Knowledge into an ocean.
Maximus's mind was so occupied that he didn't even notice his family had emerged from seclusion.
After thirty thousand years and the sublimation of the River of Knowledge, they successfully became masters of the Streams of Knowledge.
Observing where Maximus remained secluded, they saw a cyclone of energy and knowledge swirling around him.
Understanding that Maximus was at a critical juncture, they didn't dare disturb him and returned to their seclusion.
Spending tens of thousands of years together under such strict discipline of comprehending knowledge, they finally began to feel the true relevance of time.
Where once hundreds or thousands of years felt long, now it seemed like merely opening and closing their eyes after seclusion.
...
A hundred years later, Maximus slowly emerged from his omniscient state.
"So that's how it is..."
The seal on the system was a last resort created by its maker to control it in an emergency.
It was designed to close breaches in the Aeon Plane if dark creatures ever invaded.
Although the creator of the system meant no harm, the idea of someone having control over his life and death was unsettling.
Looking at the resources the system had absorbed without his knowledge, he couldn't help but smile.
"1.5 billion causality points and 23 billion corrupted causality points..."
Though it was a small cost compared to the benefits it provided, he still felt a lingering fear of what it could do.
Removing the seal, Maximus felt a heavy weight lifted from his chest.
Remembering the time when he first transmigrated to the present, he realized that all of it was the result of this system, which helped him realize his vision.
With such monumental merit, Maximus could only feel grateful to its creator.
"Thank you for this ultimate gift. But from now on, it's mine..."