It was only a guard, yet his cultivation had already reached the seventh level, and he was equipped with a high-grade spiritual armor.
This alone was enough to show how overbearing the Palace of the Four Cycles truly was.
The two-meter-tall guard stood straight as a spear. His hair was golden, his pupils burned with faint golden flames, and a scorching aura rolled invisibly off his body. Every breath he took carried heat.
A pure Golden Phoenix bloodline.
"Who goes there? State your name and present your city-defense token."
The two guards crossed their halberds in front of Ethan, the metal humming softly as spiritual power flowed through it.
"Aether." Ethan no longer used the name Noah. That identity had already served its purpose. He calmly handed over the token issued by the city guard earlier.
The Golden Phoenix guard accepted it, scanned it briefly, then looked up again.
"Where are you from? New arrival? Temporary stay or permanent residence?"
