The middle-aged man took out ten milky white coins from his storage ring and gave them to Alvin.
Alvin received the coins in his hand and looked at them. On one side of the coin, there was a royal seal of the Gyra Empire, which was a towering tree with ancient runes carved on its trunk. On the other side, it was printed "Master-Pure Essence Token."
"Don't worry, young man. These are genuine coins printed by the royal court of the Gyra Empire," the middle-aged man chuckled lightly when he saw Alvin inspecting the coins so closely.
In Celestia, only the nine empires and the Great Celestial Alliance had the right to produce essence coins. But still, there were people who produced them illegally, which was more common compared to the official coins.
Alvin nodded. "Thank you, brother."
The middle-aged man waved his hand with a smile. "No need for that. If you ever have beast materials to sell, go to Winzen's Little Store. Tell them you were recommended by William Hail. My name will surely grant you some extra privileges there."
"I appreciate that..." Alvin waved his hand in a friendly manner and walked toward the city gate.
"First time to the city?" the guard at the entrance asked Alvin as he sized him up.
Alvin nodded.
"Purpose of visit?" the guard asked again.
"Searching for work," Alvin replied with a light smile on his face.
The guard nodded. He took out a digital tablet from his storage ring and gave a smartwatch-like device to Alvin. "Wear it. We have to check your cultivation realm."
Alvin did as he was told and wore the watch around his wrist.
The guard, after tapping on his tablet a few times, nodded. "Mortal realm... You can pass through without an entrance fee."
"Thank you," Alvin said as he returned the watch-like device to the guard and walked inside the city.
Inside, he could see many buildings on both sides of the road. The streets appeared to be quite busy with people walking here and there. There were also many carts pulled by magical beasts. Occasionally, there were people flying around on hoverboards or flying cars, since using magic was not allowed inside the city.
Alvin did not stop to enjoy the view. He was already familiar with these streets and the way of life here. After walking some distance, he entered a five-storied building with a huge signboard that read "Heavenly Palace."
Alvin walked up to the counter and asked the young lady sitting there, "A zero-class room with food and accommodation for a week."
A zero-class room was used by normal people without any cultivation. The food served here was also made from Mortal Realm ingredients, since mortals could not easily digest food from a higher realm.
Normally, Alvin should have chosen a Class Two room meant for Master Realm cultivators, but since his cultivation was destroyed, he chose to stay in the zero-level room for the time being.
The lady at the counter typed something on the computer in front of her and said, "It will be seventy gold coins, sir."
Alvin took out one Master Realm Essence Coin and slid it toward the receptionist.
The lady took the money with a smile and gave back three Ascension Realm Essence Coins to Alvin, since seventy gold coins were equal to seven Ascension Realm Essence Coins.
"Here is your key, sir," the young lady handed a door card to Alvin and waved her hand toward an attendant at the side. "Ane, please bring sir to room number sixty-eight."
The attendant girl, Ane, who was wearing a black suit, nodded at Alvin and gestured for him to follow her.
Alvin followed her, and after walking for some time, he reached his room.
"Thank you," Alvin nodded at Ane and entered his room after scanning his door card at the front.
"Oh man... finally I can sleep a bit," Alvin mumbled to himself as he took off his hoodie and looked at his reflection in the wall mirror.
Although there were still scars from knives and claws on his body, there were no more bleeding wounds left.
"First I have to eat something and put some muscles on," Alvin sighed as he looked at his skinny frame in the mirror. In the research center, they kept him alive only by giving nutrition potions.
So the bit of muscle he had back when he was little had shrunk away as years went by.
Alvin took a deep breath, and after untying his hair, he directly jumped onto the fluffy white bed in front of him. Within seconds, Alvin fell asleep...
At this time, inside a large mansion,
Magnus could be seen sitting in a large chair at the center of the hall with an imposing aura. Around him, wolf-like creatures stood with similar expressions on their faces as though they were standing in their own home.
In front of him, several people stood with respectful looks on their faces.
One of Magnus's guards walked forward and addressed the middle-aged man standing at the front of the group. "You are an elder of Phynic Land, right?"
The middle-aged man nodded. "I am. Ever since Master William was assassinated a month ago, I have been the one handling the affairs of the ruin in Heavenly Wood City."
The guard nodded. "We heard that your master William had a daughter with the previous head of the Eagle Mercenaries. Is that true?"
The middle-aged man nodded. "Yes. Actually, that girl was a soul slave of our royal throne. She was living in hiding here..."
"Just answer the question I asked you. No need to add extra details," the guard interrupted with a frown.
"Yes. He has a daughter with her," the middle-aged man said with a forced smile.
The guard nodded in satisfaction. "Call her here. My master wants to discuss something with her."
"Send someone to the servant quarters to bring Alicia over," the middle-aged man said to an old-looking man beside him.
The old man nodded and went out of the hall.
Magnus did not say anything during the entire process. He just sat there with an indifferent expression on his face.