"Not enough money," Maximus sighed.
After selling tier 6 knowledge, his income skyrocketed from around 100 trillion to over 10 quadrillion.
But as the months went by, the income of his store began to decrease and stabilized at over a quadrillion.
The sad thing is that Maximus still can't afford tier 5 ultimate treasure.
After he looked through its price he was shocked.
It's a thousand times more expensive than a tier 4 ultimate treasure.
Starting at least at 1 quadrillion apiece.
There were also rare elements, like time and space, which cost over 10 quadrillion.
As for supreme elements, all of them were over 100 quadrillion.
Maximus could only smile wryly and do his best to accumulate money.
Who asked him to create the most expensive cultivation technique there is?
"Out of sight, out of mind," Maximus hypnotized himself.
He still needed to get ready for the world competition in a few months.
"Just right, I can test how strong I am compared to others," Maximus grew excited.
A week later, at the edge of the Sunburnt Plateau.
Maximus was notified that the navy formation was finished.
"How is it, Your Majesty?" Johnson asked proudly.
Looking at hundreds of thousands of brand-new ships, and tens of millions of navy soldiers, Maximus smiled.
"Good, you did this in just three years, which is quite amazing."
"It's not that great, Your Majesty."
"These navy soldiers are the former imperial army."
"Smith and I decided to split the army, with me taking the larger portion."
"After all, there's no need for land battles right now."
"Hmmm, it's good, but you should replenish the army quickly."
"We are already on it. Smith has been busy enlisting soldiers these days," Johnson said happily.
Johnson was finally able to command an army of his own.
Initially, there were two generals, him and Smith.
Although they were loyal to Maximus, it was a bit uncomfortable when they had to control the army.
Two generals meant there was no central command.
Fortunately, there was no war at the moment, so this problem was not magnified.
"That's good. Then you should start quickly."
"I want the Sun Sea region to be incorporated into the Moonlight Empire sooner."
"As ordered, Your Majesty!"
Johnson commanded the army to stock supplies, prepare weapons, and formulate plans.
They also obtained a rough sea map through Cedric's contacts.
After all, although they had spent three years training at sea, they hadn't ventured too far.
In addition to soldiers on the ship, there were auxiliary staff such as chefs, sailors, navigators, and millions of new budding officials.
"I don't know where I will be stationed."
"No matter where it is, isn't it better than here?"
"Hey, who made us newcomers?"
"We can only be left behind, ready to be buried beneath the empire."
These officials were aspiring, ambitious individuals who didn't want to be buried in the empire.
Although a new city was established in the empire almost every month.
There were more officials who passed the test and had nowhere to go.
Now, they had the opportunity to conquer new places.
"I can only say it's our bad luck."
"But this is also a chance. Don't you remember how your life was before?"
"I was just a beggar in a backward kingdom. Now, I'm standing here, ready to manage a territory for His Majesty!"
"We may not be as glorious as we are now, but in the future, we will be the pioneers of this new era!"
The crowd cheered as they thought of their bright futures.
A month later, at Maximus Manor:
"Is today your competition, Daddy?"
"Yes, I'll be fighting some awesome guys today," Maximus picked up Lux.
"Daddy, be sure to win!" Lux cheered.
The other children also knew about this and cheered for him.
"Just be safe, husband," his wife looked worried.
After saying goodbye, he headed directly toward the Tower of Arcana.
As Maximus passed the students, it was clear that they were aware of the event.
"Today is the world competition, right?"
"That's right. I heard there is a betting pool there. Do you want to bet?"
"Sure, this is the path to getting rich."
"I have the list of our players this time!"
"What?! Can you show me?"
"Yes, it's only 1,000 credits."
"Damn, cheater! Are you even sure your list is accurate?"
"Anyway, it's up to you."
The students laughed and quarreled as the festive atmosphere permeated the city of Arcana.
After all, this was a once-in-an-epoch event.
All the people here would be watching the most talented individuals in the world compete.
Soon, Maximus teleported to the top of the Tower of Arcana.
Looking around, he saw unfamiliar faces.
Maximus noticed that their strength was either tier 5 or tier 6.
Feeling the mana fluctuations around them.
It had all the elements or was missing one or two Supreme Elements.
"As expected of core students," Maximus thought.
While he was scanning the group, they also noticed him.
Being a core student at this stage was very rare.
"Hello, I'm Azurith."
"Maximus," he introduced himself while scanning Azurith with his system.
Talent: Tier 9 Void God Body
Soul Amplitude: 1,000,000,000
Soul Will: 750,237,193]
"Are you here for the competition?" Azurith was a bit interested in this newcomer.
Although he felt that Maximus had just been promoted to Tier 5, he couldn't help but feel threatened.
If not for knowing that he was equipped with a Tier 9 protection item.
Azurith would even dare to come close to this new kid.
"Yes, isn't it mandatory?"
"No, of course not, but the prize is quite tempting."
"I don't know, but according to my senior who was also a core student an epoch ago."
"This competition is a rare opportunity; even those apex sovereigns will be jealous."
"That is indeed tempting," Maximus replied, feigning interest.
Up to now, there wasn't really anything that could tempt him.
With money flowing into his pockets, he could buy anything he wanted after saving enough.
While they were talking, Dean Fealan entered.
"It looks like you're all here."
"Come quickly; the people from other continents are already at the venue," Fealan said hurriedly, waving his hand.
Maximus and the others only felt a darkness.
Opening their eyes, they saw a grand stage that looked like a mini-continent.
"Welcome to the Etherium Apex Colosseum," Fealan introduced.
They slowly flew toward the people from the other continent.
Taking a look, people from the Beast Continent had animal features that they didn't completely transform.
It was said that this was their symbol of pride.
if it weren't for communicating with humans, they wouldn't even need to transform.
"I don't know how it feels," Maximus thought, looking at the women from the Beast Continent.
"You're finally here; I thought you were scared!" Alabaster, the Ruler of the Beast Continent, said.
"Hahaha, the old geezer is probably scared because there are no talented people left in the Arcane Continent," Readius, the Main God of the Divine Continent, said.
"Isn't it only natural for the weak to wait?" Fealan didn't back down and mocked.
The people from the two continents seemed not to want to be insulted.
As they locked their fighting intent onto the core students of the Arcane Continent.
Of course, they didn't back down.
Maximus even shrugged off the pressure like it was nothing.
His body was fused with thousands of ultimate treasures.
Even the harshest conditions could barely graze his body.
"Tsk, tsk, it seems that the kids are eager to fight!" Alabaster said.
"How about the competition? Isn't it the same as an epoch ago?" Fealan asked.
"I have been thinking of sending them to the abyss," Readius said after pondering.
"Abyss?! Are you sending them to die?" Fealan was shocked.
Their core students were precious talents, he didn't want them to have accidents
"Why not? I agree," Alabaster said, looking at Fealan.
The Beast Continent didn't regard talent as something.
For them, strength was everything.
No matter how high your talent is, it was useless without strength.
"This... Is it for the recent phenomenon?"
"Otherwise, you should have noticed the abyss realm accelerating toward us."
After the mana trickles into the Etherium realm.
It seemed that the abyss realm sensed it and accelerated its progress toward the Etherium realm.
"This is also to prepare the future generation."
"Anyway, we would only be sending them to the periphery."
"Fine," after thinking for a moment, Fealan agreed.
Soon, the three peak powerhouses of the Etherium realm began to discuss some rules.
It may seem sloppy, but the people organizing it were not.
It was like three presidents discussing the affairs of children.
How could it be called sloppy?
Soon, the three decided on the rules.
First, for points; it would be based on the abyss monsters they killed and the treasures and materials they collected.
Second, for elimination, if they activated their Tier 9 protection amulet, they were out.
Third, each could choose their teammate, and they could be teleported to the same place.