A few hundred years later.
In the Virtual Realm, Tower of Knowledge.
Of the 161,803rd floor of the Tower of Knowledge, the number of cultivation rooms increased from 1,803 to 61,803.
Having an excess of origin energy and enough strength to protect his wealth, Maximus slightly loosened his restraints.
Even so, with billions of powerhouses receiving a free thousand years to use the cultivation rooms, it was nowhere near enough.
As the first batch of powerhouses spent their free thousand years, they stepped outside, complaining about the lack of time.
"So close! If I had just a few thousand more years, my path could have broken to the River of Law."
"A thousand years is nowhere near enough! Even I was on the verge of breaking through!"
"Hah, a thousand years was too little. Fortunately, instead of advancing, I used it to learn a skill!"
"Indeed, a skill is more useful. I learned two forbidden skills—they should be comparable to the power of a master of the River of Law."
"What a pity! If we had more time, the Aeon Plane might have been flooded with new masters of the Path of Law!"
"Hey, Lord Maximus' wedding is coming up. Do you think he'll give us another gift ?"
"He should! A wedding is more important than a mere celebration. He should at least give us three thousand years!"
"Don't be too greedy. I'd be happy with another thousand years."
"A thousand years would still be good, huh~ Staying here is quite addicting!"
"Heh, if you're that addicted, why not join the Order of Maxim?"
Members of the Order of Maxim could enjoy virtually unlimited supply of origin energy.
As long as they didn't waste or sell it, they could absorb as much as they wanted.
"Who wouldn't want to? In the past, anyone willing could join. But now? Unless you're a talent, you can only dream of it!"
With trillions of members, the Order of Maxim had stopped accepting just anyone.
To join, one had to be knowledgeable, creative, and innovative, traits that were tested through numerous trials.
The Order of Maxim didn't care about talent, physique, strength, status, or wealth.
All of these could be nurtured. Lacking talent, physique, or strength?
Just consume enough strands of causality, and one could ascend to unlimited heights.
Status? As an organization founded by Maximus, what use was status?
Wealth? Who was wealthier than him?
If he wished, Maximus could buy everything off, given enough time.
The only thing that truly mattered was knowledge and creativity—the ability to nurture the absolute of knowledge and push it to greater heights.
Frustrated that they could no longer join the Order of Maxim, many could only sigh.
With the wedding of Maximus and Iris fast approaching, they began preparing—searching for the perfect gifts and refining themselves for the occasion.
Even those who hadn't attended the previous celebration grew anxious.
Upon hearing that attendees of the last event were granted a thousand years of free use of the Tower of Knowledge, they couldn't help but feel jealous.
A thousand years of unlimited origin energy!
Even if they absorbed it thoughtlessly, its value would range from quadrillions to quintillions of origin coins.
Where else could they find such wealth?
Perhaps only the overlord organizations could afford such an amount at once.
As the wedding fast approached, trillions of powerhouses, each at least tier 11 in strength, arrived in the Etherium Realm.
With such an overwhelming number of powerful beings, the realm faced enormous security pressure.
Fortunately, Maximus had anticipated this and instructed Liam to expand the Etherium Council.
He even used plane origin to strengthen the organization's unique features.
The Etherium Council, once capable of blessing only a hundred individuals with power comparable to a Master of the Ocean of Law, could now empower a thousand.
From a thousand, it could now bless ten thousand individuals with strength comparable to the River of Law.
As for tier 11 individuals, with the Etherium Council's latest upgrades, their numbers reached millions.
With such a force, the Etherium Council's strength had already become comparable to, if not surpassing, that of an overlord organization.
Unfortunately, this power was limited; once they left the Etherium Realm, their strength would revert to their original level.
Still, witnessing the Etherium Council's might, the visiting powerhouses were left in shock.
Even the most unruly among them, confident of their strength, began restraining their arrogance.
On the streets, even mortals were treated with the utmost respect.
Flowers and grass remained unharmed as the visitors took care not to cause the slightest disturbance.
They began studying the Etherium Realm's rules carefully, taking them to heart lest they accidentally break any.
With the Etherium Council watching like a hawk, none dared to be presumptuous.
As for dissatisfaction? Thinking of the reward Maximus might give, no one dared to complain.
And so, under the watchful eyes of trillions of powerhouses, the wedding of an epoch began.
Ascending into the sky, Maximus and Iris stood together, beginning to exchange their sacred vows.
Promising to love each other for eternity…
To care for one another through any hardship…
To protect each other even in life and death…
Looking into each other's eyes, their love overflowed.
Holding the hands of the most beautiful woman in the Aeon Plane, Maximus felt as though he were dreaming.
He remembered the time when he had been weak, unable to even stand properly before her, dazzled by her beauty.
From strangers to lovers and now husband and wife—It was an epic journey.
On the other hand, Iris, holding the hands of the man who had moved her heart, felt warmth bloom inside her.
Thinking of her once-monotonous life, now bursting with color ever since he entered it, the smile on her lips widened.
From a mere man who had piqued her interest to someone she could never let go of, now they would officially become husband and wife.
Stepping forward, they wrapped their arms around each other, inching closer.
And then, a passionate kiss sealed their vows—a vow that would never be broken for eternity…