10,000 years later...
Through the relentless efforts of Maximus, his wives, and the Order of Maxim, the Source of Knowledge was fully relocated to the Etherium Realm.
Surrounding the dimensional void, the Source of Knowledge became a natural barrier.
It not only protected the Etherium Realm from external threats but also nourished the spirits and intelligence of the inhabitants within.
"Now, it's much more manageable," Maximus muttered with satisfaction.
Although the cost and labor to accomplish such a monumental task were enormous, it had been worth it.
"The Etherium Realm has become beautiful again~," Etheria murmured in delight.
With the Source of Knowledge sustaining it, the Etherium Realm could now incorporate more dimensions without suffering deformation.
Returning to its pristine and flawless state, the Etherium Realm grew increasingly stable.
At this pace, with a steady supply of origin energy and strands of causality, the Etherium Realm might advance to a tier 12 dimension before a million years.
The completion of this ten-thousand-year undertaking brought joy not only to Maximus but also to the Order of Maxim.
A dimensional-wide celebration erupted, marking the relocation of their Source of Path.
In the Shadowcrest Castle, as Maximus watched the celebrations unfold, he couldn't help but shake his head.
"Time is too short..."
Now that the Source of Knowledge had been moved to the Etherium Realm, he could finally focus on the next phase of his grand plan.
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"A Tier 12 Dimensional array... Can I build it?"
Maximus's plan was to enclose the Void Space surrounding the Etherium Realm.
Such a creation would serve a dual purpose: protecting the Etherium Realm and obscuring it from the prying eyes of the outside world.
In the years to come, Maximus' series of moves could cause a commotion that might even attract the covetous attention of the Overlords.
Merging ultimate treasures into one unified, systematized artifact was already miraculous.
Attempting to integrate other paths into his Path of Knowledge would be even more groundbreaking and dangerously conspicuous.
"Tsk, tsk, you're just too rich, Father," Lux could only complain.
How could those top sects resist his father's overwhelming offers?
Not only did Maximus buy the Plane-level materials at a premium price, but he was also willing to pay in strands of causality.
This is a transaction of hundreds of trillion strands of causality, enough for a sect for tens of thousands of years.
Furthermore, with the Masters of the Ocean of Law getting binding contracts with entities of the Origins of Laws, their demand for energy had become increasingly urgent.
Thus, no matter how valuable and rare the materials were, the sects were willing to sell.
"What about manpower?"
Constructing a Dimensional array was far more complex than relocating the Source of Knowledge.
If he relied solely on the members of the Order of Maxim, it would take millions of years to complete.
"Our sects were willing to assist, but they insist the salary be paid in strands of causality," Lily reported.
"Oh? That's no problem. Let as many as they come. I can still afford this."
Maximus had a guaranteed income of 360 million strands of causality every day.
Aside from the 100 million he allocated daily for deducing knowledge, the remainder could easily be used to hire the required manpower.
As for the Etherium Realm's advancement, origin energy was more than sufficient for its needs.
Using Strands of causality would just be overnourishing it.
Regarding his family, after ten thousand years of nurturing, their physiques had all reached the Origin Grade.
At this stage, they were comparable to, or perhaps even stronger than, those primordial candidates.
Of course, Maximus kept this fact tightly concealed.
If others discovered that he could artificially produce Origin-grade physiques at such a low cost, he would be hunted to the end of Aeon Plane.
Soon, under Maximus's orders, individuals from all the top sects and families flocked to the Etherium Realm to join the construction of the Dimensional array.
Drawn by the promise of payment in strands of causality, they were like sharks scenting blood in the water.
Meanwhile, throwing trillions upon trillions of strands of causality as if it were nothing, eyes from the shadows began to focus on Maximus.