Leo readily got dressed and left the room. However, his mind was still full of the book.

'At least I can finally have a few more insights corresponding to more standard cultivation.'

The energy pattern helped Ben understand why he couldn't advance like the others. He got a better grasp of what it meant to lack talent.

And while that didn't directly help him, it gave him context for his choices.

< "Good morning! I'll make sure to remember never to give you a book." > Ginn said humorously.

Ben had arrived in the dining room.

< "Why not? Knowledge is power. Power! Power! Power!" > as Ben repeated the same word, his voice became deeper and deeper.

< "You still have time to join me for breakfast. The auction starts at nine only." >

< "Quite early, right?" >

< "Clearsky tends to make their events earlier." >

< "Are you joining too?" >

< "Nope, unfortunately. But I'll follow you to the building as I have a meeting with them today. Dove Clearsky passed in the city again after completing some mission in the neighboring region." >

< "Ah, a meeting of young masters!" > Leo joked while raising his nose high and proud, mimicking.

< "Really? Are you not letting it go? I ain't one." > Ginn calmly drank some juice.

< "Even if there is no old master, you can still be one. Your Dao Heart only needs to be very strong!" > Leo put his hand to his heart.

< "I follow the sword!" > After putting the cup down, Ginn moved his middle finger, imitating a sword. A sharp aura appeared around it.

< "No! I got an even better choice! You should become a ninja! You already have the eyes." > Ben covered one of his eyes and then slowly uncovered it. However, his actions made him look more like a pirate than anything else.

< "What next? Are you going to say I'm the demon king?" >

< "Nope, your atmosphere doesn't fit it. Maybe I could, though. To burn the world to ashes! Ho, HO HO! Then, you would go and build a Mecha to fight for justice. To save the world!" > While he tried, his evil laugh sounded pathetic.

< "I feel, more and more, that you're only a kid in some old man's body. Are you lying to me?" > Ginn said in a grave tone.

< "I wish... I could be young." > Leo responded with an awkward smile.

< "This seems to be a heavy topic." >

< "This life is like a ticking bomb. But the more you hear it, the worse it gets." >

< "Do you have that many regrets?" >

< "Regrets... Such a bitter word. I would rather have none, but as time flows, you can only stack those together like a Jenga game. And at some point, you can't even fix the old ones without everything falling apart." >

They kept eating while throwing questions around, somehow the atmosphere melting away.

< "What do you miss the most?" >

< "The simplicity. Anything new and unknown has this exciting feeling attached to it. However, when you live long and experience much, everything becomes a reference to everything else." >

< "You talk about life like some would talk about a game." >

< "Isn't it almost the same?" >

< "A game has so much less on the line." > Ginn pointed out.

< "Sure, but some care more about games than their lives. Some will only feel that something is on the line if they care. The same applies to the opposite. If someone gives up on life, is there anything for them? We're things made out of feelings. Anyway, what do you miss the most?" >

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Before Ginn responded, a moment of silence filled the room.

< "I lived enough to bury everyone I cared about the most. Yet, if I could meet those people again, I would. However, I don't miss anything specific about Earth, as I've always prioritized connections over anything else." >

< "Quite a surprising characteristic, even most who lived like that wouldn't dare say it. There is always something inside our minds, triggering us to want more." >

< "We're naturally greed." > Ginn nodded as he agreed.

< "But how can you deal with so many changes? Is staying hidden like that worth it?" > He then added.

< "Well, if you were surprised, that's good, as it served me well. And not only safety-wise, as no one can find the dead. But also the work needed for that gave me great insight." >

< "I made sure whatever you set upheld, but I didn't need to do much. It's incredible the more I think about it. And I have you in front of me. On a side note, I found it sad seeing your friends mourning for you." >

< "Better to mourn than to die." >

< "Indeed, I can't say otherwise. Protecting everyone from all angles is overwhelming. But I also hope you don't disappear." >

< "Very unlikely. But if I don't visit even after hundreds of years, you should assume I'm no more. I might be overly careful, but I also like to talk." >

< "Maybe you'll be talking somewhere else." >

< "We can live again even if we don't die, but memories..." > Leo sighed.

< "I wonder if you still think it's as amazing to have a second opportunity like this?" >

< "I've grown accustomed to not thinking of it as a second. More like a continuation, as I can't separate myself from who I was. Did you ever consider what you would be doing now if you didn't remember?" >

< "Hopefully, not something too much different." >

< "A blank slate... A new life." > Ben whispered.

< "I seek to explore. To be happy, to connect, and to belong somewhere with someone. What do you seek in this life?" > Ginn asked.

< "To live... And maybe long enough to discover a few things, like why and how I came here, but, most importantly, can I change?" >

< "Change what?" >

Ben's eyes widened, and a silly smile appeared on his face.

< "I'm selfish and greedy. So I would change anything I could. The question you should ask is what I would become. But for that, I don't have an answer." > His smiles disappeared. < "I'm too preoccupied about living to bother with much else. Hopefully, someday. But anyway, would you ever go back if you could?" >

< "To Earth? If it's on the day I died, no. If it's in the past, maybe." >

< "What if you were reborn without memories?" >

< "That..." > Ginn was unsure.

< "I particularly think it would be pointless if I didn't have at least a bit of control to change the life I lived." > Leo mentioned.

< "Wouldn't it be a similar life, maybe even equal?" >

< "Depends on how deterministic it would be. But if we begin to explore such grounds, we must approach the idea: would it even be the same world? Besides, does it even matter if we can do nothing about it? Like, right now, why are you here?" >

< "I don't know." >

< "Magic is in the air, but we can't peak into fate or destiny. We can't see why we're different. We may repeat life, but nothing guarantees it. Since we know nothing about everywhere else or how reincarnation even works. Nevertheless, we can still try while the world laughs at us." >

< "Don't you think this would change once we're strong enough?" >

< "I'm not sure, but since I've never seen anything indicating otherwise, it makes me anxious. Maybe you'll prove me wrong someday." >

A powerless smile appeared on Ginn's face as he said: < "Some things seem easy, while others are too hard. I don't know if I'll ever get such fundamental answers. I can only keep trying." >

After pausing for a moment, Ben finally asked something he seemed a bit unsure about: < "How is it to be born with talent?" >

< "To be fair, I don't know how I would live without it." >

< "I'm sure you would." >

Someone entered the room, interrupting their talk. The one entering had dark blue skin, eyes, and hair. A muscular body and broad shoulders. And a short beard. He wore a yellow overall and a dark green long-sleeved shirt.

"Good morning. Sorry for interrupting. But if we don't leave soon, Leo will miss the auction." He was Silver Redriver, the lead Blacksmith of < Dragons >.

"Let's talk later, then. Shall we leave now?" Ginn asked.

"Sure."

As they were leaving the building, Emma Goldspear joined them.

Emma was the < Dragons >'s lead in business affairs. She had white-yellowish skin, short wavy blond hair, and black eyes. And an unusually long face that contrasted with her long light blue dress and long sleeve white jacket.

Before leaving, Ginn put on a simple cultivator robe with dragons drawn on it.

Immediately, the group of four left the base on a standard carriage.

---

Clearsky was a clan and company focused on high-end trading.

While they were most famous for their Auction Houses, their business wasn't limited to such. They worked on extraction, refinement, and buying and selling materials in high volume. They also produced all kinds of middle-level artifacts. And they had connections with many small businesses. For example, their most expensive and advanced specialization was the production of large Arrays.

Because it was auction day, Evergreen's Clearsky Auction House road was bustling. While the crowd came and went, Ginn's carriage arrived. They entered the building, and a man and woman in formal attire greeted them.

"Good morning. Mr. Aravyz, I'll lead you to the meeting room." The man said.

"Leo, we part our ways here. I'll see you later."

Once Ginn's group was gone, the woman welcomed Leo.

"Good morning, Mr. Moon. My name is Lia, and I'll be your attendant for the day. Shall we go directly to the VIP room?"

"Morning, Lia. Sure." Leo agreed.

"Then, please, follow me."