Time continued to pass.
For every second that elapsed in the real world, an epoch passed within the virtual void.
At first, as the Supreme Laws observed Maximus diligently building a world with unwavering focus, they felt unimpressed—disappointed, even.
They had expected Maximus to devise a more ingenious solution.
However, as hundreds, then thousands of epochs slipped by, an unsettling sensation began to spread among the observing Supreme Laws.
"This..."
"What is happening, Old Void?"
For thousands of epochs, Maximus had neither paused nor rested.
Like a mechanical being devoid of consciousness, he simply built—steadily, tirelessly, endlessly.
He was more diligent than even they, the Origin Laws themselves, had been in their early days.
At least they could rest for millions of years at a time, working only when they felt inclined.
The Supreme Law of Void was equally puzzled.
"Old Knowledge, what do you think? You should have a connection with this child, Maximus."
"Maximus's consciousness is in hibernation. His body is functioning autonomously," the Supreme Law of Knowledge replied, though uncertainty tinged its voice.
"How is that possible? Could the Path of Knowledge accomplish such a feat?"
While autonomous actions without conscious control were plausible for simple, repetitive tasks, constructing entire worlds was a far more complex endeavor.
It required careful thought, constant decision-making, and intense focus—none of which seemed possible without a conscious mind at work.
"I don't know how he's doing it. I can only vaguely sense the Path of Knowledge at play..."
Without understanding the mechanism behind it, the Supreme Laws could only watch in awe as Maximus continued to create planet after planet, star after star, dimension after dimension.
From thousands to tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, and finally, after a few million epochs, Maximus had constructed an expansive universe.
Before them stood a universe that rivaled even the Aeon Plane.
It followed an entirely different path, one so mesmerizing that even the Supreme Laws couldn't tear their gazes away.
"What kind of plane is this? It's breathtaking! Vast and dark, yet scattered with stars brimming with hope,"
Though the universe Maximus had crafted contained no essence—merely a physical embodiment—it felt fresh and alive, captivating the Supreme Laws with its artistry.
"It's simple. Defeat me!" the Supreme Law of Fire answered.
Knowing its abilities—and the Supreme Laws closely observing Maximus—the supreme law of fire wanted to finish this trial as quickly as possible.
With raging flames, the Supreme Law of Fire launched a relentless assault, holding nothing back.
"A fight? That's more like it," Maximus said, grinning.
Brandishing his fists, Maximus engaged in a fiery brawl, venting his accumulated frustrations.
Fire against fire, their blows seemed to ignite the very fabric of reality.
Unlike previous fire elemental trials, the Supreme Law of Fire was the root of all fire laws, that its overwhelming power was beyond belief.
Even when Maximus unleashed his full might of hundreds of thousands of origin explosions, the Supreme Law of Fire suppressed him with the ultimate authority of fire.
After a few days of nonstop battle, Maximus collapsed, reduced to a pile of ash.
"Again!"
Not expecting to lose in combat, Maximus felt exhilaration rather than frustration.
Retrying the trial, he fought with renewed determination, activating his omniscient mode to analyze the Supreme Law of Fire's movements.
He aimed to incorporate its mastery into his own, hoping to break through to ultimate mastery.
After another unsuccessful attempt, Maximus tried again.
Again and again, he fought tirelessly.
Over the course of months and dozens of battles, Maximus finally transcended his previous limits, achieving ultimate mastery of the Supreme Law of Fire.
"Thank you for your teaching!" Maximus said, bowing respectfully.
With his newfound mastery, he unleashed a hundred thousandfold Origin Explosion, shattering the Supreme Law of Fire and completing the trial.
"Huh~" Maximus exhaled, releasing pent-up tension.
Defeating such a formidable opponent and reaching ultimate mastery of fire brought him immense satisfaction.
Furthermore, as his mastery over the supreme law of fire reached its peak, all the Origin Laws derived from it simultaneously advanced to ultimate mastery.
"What a fight. I hope the next one is just as thrilling."
As if responding to his thoughts, the Supreme Law of Water appeared as his next opponent, proposing a duel as its trial.
"Haha, let the storm rage harder!" Maximus exclaimed, ready for the another trilling battle.