Ben sprinted through the roads of Aurora Town.

Being able to leave again, he was happy. His anticipation for this incursion drowned the worries about his nightmare.

He just felt chained lately due to the few weeks of recovery. However, he couldn't avoid it. A month ago, he had an accident that almost cost him a few limbs.

And while he went around, talking with people, he felt much safer and at peace when in the wild. There, where he worked to survive. And commitment gave returns, even if so slowly.

Walking fast, he felt his steps one after the other. But he could also feel his increased heart rate. After checking, he noted how the memory dissolution was affecting him this time.

He soon arrived at his only stop before leaving town, a store called Aurora Treasures.

The store was simple, mostly made out of wood. Yet, Ben's Heart got pushed around due to nostalgia. Maybe, he just saw this story front a few too many times.

Even after decades, the rune-carved walls and pillars still conveyed to Ben this perfect rustic feeling just as accurately.

'Well. I seem more affected than usual.' Ben noticed his mood swaying around.

But again, he just pushed those thoughts back and entered the store.

Inside, he found the same old shop. This place might sell cultivation-related goods, but it had nothing special. Such stores were everywhere, and that was why Ben chose this place. He wanted his fake identity to be as consistent as possible.

"Old Dyn! You finally appeared! I was worried that something might have happened to you. Good to see you're still alive and kicking. And you got here on time to retrieve your order. It would pain me to cancel it. After you saved up little by little for all those years!"

At the counter, Dill Highland greeted Dyn with enthusiasm. Due to being the store owner, he had known Dyn for decades.

"Hello, Dill, I'm finally back! I almost retired this time tho. My old bones suffered quite a bit because of the accident. I thought it wouldn't get worse, but it did. So, I went to Gowi Town since their local medicinal bath would speed up my recovery. Who would've thought it would be a few weeks until I could finally return. But I'm alive and kicking, not ready to retire yet!" Ben explained while showing the healing scar on his left arm.

"Wow, it does look so much better. It's a such great fortune to save an arm. We should commemorate! Are you going to be around here at night?"

"Nah. I've been gone for too long. I ought to work for a bit first. Once I'm back, we can work on something."

"It still surprises me how you always seem to get up ready to keep working despite everything," said Dill while searching the book in his hand. He kept looking for Ben's order information.

"At my age, stopping is even worse. I need to stay out of boredom. I'll eventually retire, but that will be on the day of my death." But even while talking about his death, Ben kept smiling.

"How many old people like us rot at home once they retire? Anyone would be envious of your strong desire to work. Some at least still have a dozen grandchildren to give them a headache. Sometimes I hope I was able to still hit my son. So, he could give me a rascal, at least before I retire. But he always goes, saying his future is too bright. Who knows, maybe I'll follow your steps and work until the day of my death too. So that I at least have something to look for every day of this boring life."

After talking non-stop, he eventually found the paper they needed.

"I'll get your stuff, so sit or look around. I'll be back soon. Oh. Hey, Priscila, old Dyn is finally back!" he yelled towards a teenage girl at the corner of the store.

After Ben sat at the counter, Priscila soon arrived.

"Grampa Dyn, Hello! You've been missing for a long time. Are you fully recovered?" she asked in a worried tone.

"I am. My old bones can still hold for a bit longer! How have you been lately? Hopefully, better than me." Ben said while raising his fist fiercely.

"It has been all the same until a week ago. All those peeps arrived around that time for some mission. Since then, it has been tiring!"

She mentioned the tiredness. But couldn't hide the smile from the busy week.

"Aside from that, uncle has been happy."

Interrupting, Dill came back with a small box.

"Our neighbor has been happier since the extra cash will be helping their son. He'll marry later this year, has a date and everything. Maybe cousin will take the example from his best friend!" Priscila poked with a sly smile.

Noticing the topic, Ben tried to change it, "This is the life of an explorer, moving from ruins to ruins, trying their luck. Hopefully, Daniel's son can stabilize his life with his new family. In a few years, it'll be Priscila's turn. How has it been going with your potential husband?"

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"Great! I finally presented him to my family last month!"

Not expecting the turn of events, Ben was speechless for a moment. 'Wow! Who would think the little girl finally got the courage!'

"Ha! That brat is too much like my son. So, you will have no child for decades!" Dill unhappily spilled his grudges away, seeking revenge.

"Michael isn't like my cousin at all! He listens! We talked, alright? And I'll not be left sucking my fingers! Soon, I'll bring my kids to keep you company, grumpy uncle. I see no hope in Pax tho."

"Isn't he working on joining a sect in the next five years? Once he joins, he may find love! Then, his obsession will change. There's still hope, Dill!" Ben said, trying to save this family mood for the day.

"And you can always adopt as I told you! Do it while you're young and can stay awake all night! Once your joints begin to cry at night, there'll be no hope of raising another one."

"I'm too old to clean some baby butt! Here is your order. Confirm it. Damn it, I don't expect a kid from that brat, but at least I hope he comes back for this new year's celebration." Dill finally gave the little box to Ben.

While receiving the box, Ben sent a look to Priscila, indirectly asking, 'Have you sent it?'

'Hopefully, he comes!' She only nodded her head.

'20 years of work,' Ben thought after looking at the box carefully for the first time.

"It's all here. Thank you for holding it. Remember to talk to your son about the future. Once you have a chance, don't hold back. Don't be stuck up with your feelings like that. You're no teenager anymore! He's the one who is young and naive, so be patient."

"No worries. And thank you for the advice. I'll try my hardest. But who knows. Maybe I'll kick that brat's balls!"

"I don't think you could, tho. Your son likely advanced further than last time! You'll end up breaking your leg, uncle!" Priscila showed the elephant in the room. She almost tumbled down, laughing after.

"A broken leg can't compare with the headaches I had." Dill sadly commented.

Closing the box, "It's time to go. Or I'll be late. But note, we were young before. We both know it! He, at least, is grasping for his dreams."

"Ah, grampa Dyn, you must come to my wedding in a few years!"

Ben showed her a thumbs-up and said: "Congrats on your good catch!"

Hearing that, Priscila's smiled even more. Her expression changed to infatuated after she remembered her fiancé.

"I'll see you next week, then!" Ben said, leaving the store.

"Goodbye, my friend. Please take care!"

"Bye, bye!" She yelled.

As the door closed, Ben left while more bickering stirred inside. A smile on his face. He thought that perhaps this was going to be a good week.

---

Ben left Aurora town in a hurry, despite not being overly late.

He looked at the new faces around town. He effortlessly identified many disciples of middle-sized and above sects.

Knowing this would only worsen in the next few months, Ben had already decided to leave the town before the big event.

No one expected The Sunset Empire Ruins to receive so many visitors. But that changed once the density of monsters increased out of nowhere. Since there was easy money to be made, the sects couldn't stay still. And they also ought to keep this place under control. If they couldn't, someone way scarier than those monsters would kick their door.

Neither the Srok nor the Quechan Empire would happily let a monster's nest develop on their border.

So, knowing that, Ben had decided to kill his Dyn persona months ago. He was only waiting for his package. And he hoped that wouldn't raise any issues if some rats dug around for suspicious people. But since the material was essential for his potential long-term survival, even the overly cautious Ben took this risk.

Ben looked at his damaged limbs, and he couldn't believe what he needed to do to stay away for a while. But that was necessary, or he would put his friends in even greater danger.

Back in the wilderness, nostalgia drowned Ben again. He would miss his friends. And this is why Ben hated it as much as he liked building long-term identities. It just made everything so much harder.

Arriving at the ruins, Ben looked at his soon-to-be grave with a new sense of awe.

'I don't understand why it's so hard to find it. Since the impact on the geography is so big.'

Everything else from The Sunset Empire had been forgotten, but not the Capital. That had become the ruins Ben was walking towards, a famous place due to the unusual cold plains surrounding it.

Ben felt the natural cold Spirit flowing through his feet, trying to freeze him. Everyone that explored this place went through the same experience. A sharp cold sensation rampaged their skin.

'If they could've efficiently taken this coldness, they would've. So, it's not surprising it's still here, and I couldn't find why.'

From the first day, Ben was awed by how this place stood up against the sacking. For hundreds of thousands of years, people cleaned and cleaned this place. But it still stood grandiosely like a sore thumb. The people were gone, but a piece of their legacy lived. Even if by just some dangerous ground.

Ben loved this place because of its simple story.

But today, as he arrived at the northwest fort entrance, he found an unusual sight.

A young man clad in a dark, luxurious purple overcoat lay on the ground. Injuries covered his body. His skin showed signs that Ben had experienced before.

"This poison," he murmured.

Bewildered, Ben sat down and began poking the poisoned body around. Every touch of his was simple but sent an electrical shock into the dying man.

Ben guessed that this was an assassination attempt. But he could hardly believe that a group aimed at a sizeable sect. The cultivation world had never overlooked such a challenge.

'If they dare to do this. What was done hidden?'

The cheap disheveled clothes drenched with sweat revealed Ben's thin but fit build.

The stern and sickly face made Ben almost unrecognizable.

The morning cold breeze sang through the plains.

And in the distance, the ruined city stood in morbid silence.

The sound of poking broke the imminent-death atmosphere.

However, the young man ignored the miraculous actions. Maybe he couldn't read his situation well, or perhaps, because he didn't care.

Either way, he screamed out of his lung, "Old geezer, what the fuck are you doing?!" A small flame of life back into his body.

Ben stayed there looking at this prodigy from one of the powerhouses sects. He couldn't speak. He couldn't move either.

Although, he did achieve what he wanted. The experiment on this young man's body was a success. So, a big smile took over his face, showing his slightly yellow teeth.

"Meddling with something I shouldn't, little boy."

Ben murmured with all his will.

The disciple could not understand those words. In addition, he finally remembered in what circumstance he was. Fear took over his face. And he just moved without a care in the world. Running as if his life depended on it because it did indeed.

Ben felt the push in its full glory. He was too close to the guy, so he took the full brunt. A full body slam from a cultivator.

He already had the complete appearance of someone with one foot on his grave. He had not been healthy lately, either. And the treatment took a lot of him. So, he couldn't avoid passing out.

'I should've killed the brat!' was his last thought.