After announcing the end of the round and the timeline for the next, Ascelon quickly left the place.
"Overlord Ascelon is always so busy…" they thought in speechlessness.
Every time they met Ascelon, it was always so brief, like a flash of light.
Getting used to such busyness, they turned their attention to the final round.
"A thousand years before the final round? What do you think it will be?"
"It should be a one-on-one duel. I just don't know the specific format."
"I see, like the last dimensional competition…"
Guessing what the final round would be, they began to prepare.
A thousand years to travel, digest their harvest, rest, and condition their minds for the next battle—time was too short.
Going back to the Shadowcrest residence, Maximus and his family also began to pack up.
"Shall we return to the Etherium Realm or go directly to the competition ground?" Erica asked.
"We'll return to the Etherium Realm first; the fight here was too exhausting. We need to take a rest," Maximus nodded.
Taking a rest at home was always the best.
Missing the Etherium Realm, even the others couldn't wait to go back.
"What about the members we solicited, Father? How do we settle them?" Liam asked.
Having fooled hundreds of billions of talents to join the Order of Maxim, it could be said that this was their greatest gain.
Among these talents, thousands were masters of the River of Law, and two successfully advanced to the Ocean of Law.
Bringing these talents back, the Order of Maxim would grow thousands of times!
Unfortunately, most of their identities belonged to the Devourer Faction.
Taking them to the Etherium Realm would be like sheltering criminals.
They might even become a target of criticism.
"Should we set a separate headquarters in the Devourer Faction?" Liam suddenly thought.
Even within the same organization, as long as these talents with 'criminal' identities remained in 'exile,' away from the Dimensional Alliance, they shouldn't face any major problems.
"Why so troublesome? Just take them all to the Etherium Realm. From their friends, family, even home dimensions—do it like how we united those scholarly races."
"This—but wouldn't this cause…?"
"You don't need to worry about how others view us. As long as you don't cause trouble, no one can wrong us," Maximus said confidently.
If he were still timid, then what was the point of preparing and reinforcing the Etherium Realm so painstakingly?
With the Tier 12 dimensional array around the Etherium Realm, they didn't have to worry about any attacks.
Coupled with the creation of the Orbital Plane Blaster, it could be said that Maximus feared no one.
If he yielded just because of a small thing, Maximus would be disappointed in himself.
"Alright, then I'll tell the news," Liam muttered excitedly.
Hundreds of billions of talents!
Such a large number would be integrated all in a single place.
Such a concentration of force—it could be said that without his father providing energy, it wouldn't be possible.
The resource consumption alone would crush it instantly.
"Don't be too happy. Settle them first."
"Hmmm," Maximus nodded, with a hint of excitement in his eyes.
Although hidden, he couldn't help but look forward to the force these hundreds of billions of talents could create.
With their talents and potential, just a little resource was enough to train them into elites.
Imagining billions of talents becoming masters of the River of Law, millions becoming masters of the Ocean of Law, and thousands becoming Absolutes of Law—by then, The Order of Maxim would be second to none.
Even in the face of an Overlord organization, they would pale in comparison.
Unfortunately, his solicitation was cut short.
If the Absolutes hadn't arrived and interfered, he might have been able to recruit trillions of talents.
By then, even if he did nothing, he could have become the master of the Aeon Plane while sleeping.
Erasing such outrageous thoughts, Maximus quickly packed up with his family.
A few months later, a huge procession of dimensional void ships was neatly parked in the stronghold, ready to set out.
Besides the top billion going toward the next venue, there were also hundreds of billions recruited by the Order of Maxim and other forces.
As for the remaining trillions, they decided to stay in the Dark Void Domain.
Although the place was gloomy, dangerous, and full of risks, it was also a holy training ground.
Achieving what they could not in an epoch in mere thousands of years, they couldn't bear to leave.
Now, to permanently settle in the Dark Void Domain, they only had a few problems to solve.
Gathering around, they surrounded the Shadow Void Ship about to leave.
"What's the matter?" Maximus asked with a frown.
Surrounded by trillions of talents, even he felt a faint pressure.
"We just want to ask Lord Maximus for a few favors."
"Please leave the Monitoring Probes here in the Dark Void Domain. We would be eternally grateful."
"Grateful? I don't need your gratitude."
"However, to help out in the battle with the Dark Beasts, I would graciously leave these monitoring probes here."
"Huh~ Thank you, Lord Maximus!"
"Hail to Lord Maximus!"
"We would like to etch your name in our hearts!"
"Ahem, of course, this would not be for free," Maximus added in embarrassment.
Feeling their excitement stuck in their throats, they only had one thought in mind: "As expected."
How could the Shadowcrest family benefit others for free?
The Aeon Plane may reach destruction, but the Shadowcrest family would still sell tickets out of it.
Familiar with such a routine, they couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.
A transaction was much better than an empty promise.
The world was run through the exchange of interest, not emotions.
Hearing Maximus tell them there was a price, they knew it would be set in stone.
"What about the supply of strands of causality, my lord? Would you continue to give us supplies?"