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?"

"I came from Netherfall Pass. Temporary stay." Ethan's voice was even.

The guard nodded slightly.

"Proceed inside. Register at the counter on the right."

There was no further questioning.

Recently, too many demons had poured into Blue-Wave City. Most were here for the training trial, though the Palace of the Four Cycles had long since decided who would truly enter. The rest were nothing more than spectators.

Ethan stepped forward and entered Blue-Wave Tower.

The interior was vast and solemn. Spiritual light flowed like water along the walls, and ancient patterns faintly pulsed beneath the floor. This place was not only a center of authority—it was also a heavily fortified stronghold.

Following the guard's instructions, Ethan turned right and stopped at a registration counter.

Behind it stood a cat-eared girl, her figure petite and well-proportioned. Her ears twitched lightly when she noticed Ethan approach, and her tail swayed in a practiced, polite rhythm.

"May I have your name?" she asked, her voice soft.

"Aether."

She nodded and quickly recorded it.

"Mr. Aether, will you be staying in Blue-Wave City temporarily?"

"Yes."

"In that case, you will be assigned a temporary residence permit. The temporary residence district is nearby, with multiple inns available."

She retrieved a jade token and held it out with both hands.

"This permit is valid for one month. Once it expires, you'll need to pay spiritual stones or spiritual crystals to renew it."

Ethan accepted the jade token and weighed it in his palm.

Even a city entry required layered permissions, fees, and restrictions. Compared to this, many human territories seemed almost primitive.

"Please keep the permit safe," the cat-eared girl added politely.

"It is required for travel, lodging, trade, and access to various facilities within Blue-Wave City."

"Understood." Ethan nodded slightly.

He put away the jade token and turned to leave.

The moment he stepped out of Blue-Wave Tower, his pace slowed.

Then, he stopped completely.

Ethan lifted his gaze toward the highest floor of Blue-Wave Tower, his expression subtly changing.

"The Map of the Eight Wonders… reacted?"

Inside his storage ring, the ancient map trembled faintly, emitting a dim, restless glow.

The Map of the Eight Wonders only responded when something related to the Eight Strange and Ferocious Beasts was nearby.

Ethan's heartbeat slowed.

The Evil Mantis had not yet fully awakened. Because of that, the map remained sealed, its true secrets hidden. If he could find a second Eight Strange and Ferocious Beast…

The seal would weaken further.

Perhaps even break.

Ethan narrowed his eyes and focused on the top floor of Blue-Wave Tower.

The Heaven-piercing Mind Eyes opened silently.

Invisible waves of mental energy surged outward, climbing layer after layer.

But Blue-Wave Tower was no ordinary structure.

Formation after formation activated in response. One of them specifically isolated perception, blocking sense and mental probing alike. Ethan's perception was forcibly suppressed, unable to fully penetrate.

Even so, he still caught something.

On the top floor, there was a presence.

A terrifying presence.

Demonic energy rolled and coiled there like a sleeping abyss. It was restrained, hidden, yet impossibly heavy.

More importantly—

It felt familiar.

Extremely subtle, yet unmistakable.

The aura carried the same ancient ferocity, the same savage dominance Ethan had once felt from the Evil Mantis.

If not for his Heaven-piercing Mind Eyes and his terrifyingly refined mental energy, he would have missed it entirely.

"This aura… extraordinary bloodline. Extremely young."

Ethan's thoughts raced.

The Infinite Ten Thousand Beasts Technique granted him an almost instinctive sensitivity toward monster bloodlines. Combined with the reaction of the Map of the Eight Wonders, the conclusion was obvious.

There was an Eight Strange and Ferocious Beast inside Blue-Wave Tower.

Yet that raised another question.

Why would such a creature appear within the Palace of the Four Cycles?

Wind Sable.

Golden Phoenix.

Tengu.

White Tiger.

None of these four demon clans were traditionally associated with the Eight Strange and Ferocious Beasts.

Unless…

"It's not one of their clans," Ethan murmured inwardly.

"But something they are hiding."

He did not act rashly.

Instead, Ethan stepped aside and leaned casually against the stone railing of the white jade bridge.

He would wait.

If the being above descended, he would confirm it.

Even if he could not subdue it directly, obtaining even a trace of blood, flesh, or aura would be enough to further unlock the Map of the Eight Wonders.

A low voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Roe deer. Once you're done, leave the area. Don't linger near Blue-Wave Tower."

One of the guards had noticed his stillness and frowned slightly.

"Oh." Ethan replied simply.

He crossed the bridge and stopped at its edge, resting his arms on the stone railing.

Below him, clear turquoise water flowed silently. The river circled Blue-Wave Tower like a living moat, shimmering with spiritual light.

Ethan gazed down at the water and opened the system map.

The marker blinked steadily.

Platinum Fishing Spot — Blue-Wave City.

"…Here?"

Ethan stared at the river in mild surprise.

Fish swam freely beneath the surface, their scales glinting faintly with spiritual radiance.

But strangely, there are no boats on the river and no one fishing along the riverbank.

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 1 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 2 Extra Chapters

Dragon - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

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