A week passed by in the same routine.
Daniel left the city in the morning full of vigor and youthful energy.
Returned at night covered in grime and beast, exhausted to his bones.
His hunts gradually became more efficient as he adjusted to his new, weak mortal body.
By the end of the week he had slayed 45 beasts, with most being Iron Fang wolves. However instead of devouring them or using them for body refinement, he sold them whole.
There was a special reason behind that— he was in a desperate need for money.
In his previous life, he had practiced and refined millions of techniques and combat arts. Among them were Elemental Sword Arts, a series of special sword arts that manifested the laws of reality itself.
However, to use them he need an Aspect of the element, a small fragment of the law. And the Basic Elemental Skills proved to be the perfect source.
Normally, a person would receive skills if their class or talent had an affinity towards it, like an assassin would have [Dagger Mastery] or a Flame Mage would have [Fire Manipulation].
His class, Ultima, was special. It granted absolute neutrality. This caused him to be unable to unlock the higher skills without having the starting Novice Ranked Skill or the Aspect of it at the start.
During the week, he had researched the skills and was deeply shocked at their prices.
Novice Rank - Fire Manipulation - 4,500 Credits
Novice Rank - Earth Manipulation - 4,200 Credits
Novice Rank - Metal Manipulation - 6,500 Credits
Novice Rank - Dark Manipulation - 10,700 Credits
Daniel stared silently at the online marketplace screen for nearly a full minute after seeing the prices.
"This world's awakened are shameless…" He genuinely thought the listings were scams initially. Then he realized they were official Association-certified prices. Which somehow made it worse.
One listing proudly advertised:
" Beginner Water Manipulation – LIMITED SALE!!! ONLY 4,999 Credits! "
The description underneath read:
"Allows user to slightly alter water flow direction."
'If I wanted to do that, I would have just used the Law of Water directly." Daniel almost closed the marketplace immediately. In his previous life, sects would hand skills like these to children for free. Sometimes even literally free.
One ancient sect leader he knew used beginner elemental skill books as furniture stabilizers because they were considered too worthless to store properly. Yet here, weak awakened somehow sold them for enough money to feed ordinary families for years.
Still, Daniel needed them, so after accumulating enough Credits from hunting, he finally visited one of the larger skill stores within the inner district personally.
The moment he stepped inside, he immediately understood where all the money went.
The store practically screamed wealth.
Polished black marble covered the floor while floating mana lamps drifted slowly near the ceiling like miniature stars. Crystal display shelves lined the walls, each protected behind thin barriers of shimmering mana. Skill crystals of various colors floated above velvet cushions while illusionary projections demonstrated fragments of techniques in midair.
A swordsman made of light continuously repeated a flawless slash near one corner.
Elsewhere, a miniature firestorm spun elegantly above a crimson crystal while several wealthy-looking awakened observed it with admiration.
The air itself carried a faint scent of expensive incense designed to calm mana flow.
Daniel silently glanced around once, 'Ridiculous.'
This place looked less like a skill shop and more like someone desperately trying to convince customers they were entering a holy sanctuary.
Several attendants immediately noticed him. Most lost interest after sensing his weak mana fluctuations and cheap outer district clothing. Only one elderly salesman approached with a professional smile.
"Welcome, young awakened. Looking for combat arts? Movement techniques? Beginner elemental skills perhaps?"
"Novice Rank Elemental Manipulation Skills."
The old man's smile widened slightly.
"A fine choice. Elemental pathways remain useful throughout all ranks."
With a wave of his hand, several floating books descended from nearby shelves.
Fire.
Water.
…
Light.
Dark.
Daniel already knew the prices beforehand and he disliked them to his core. His money grubber personality however knew that if he didn't get them, his progress would be set back by months till he naturally reawakened his old skills.
Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind cost roughly four thousand Credits each. Lightning, Metal, Ice and Wood ranged around six thousand. Light and Dark exceeded ten thousand. Thankfully he already had Space Manipulation and Time Manipulation from his talents.
A complete set approached fifty-five thousand Credits.
Daniel stared at the floating books silently, then at the salesman, then back at the books again.
"…Ten thousand for darkness?" The old man coughed politely, "Darkness affinity remains exceptionally rare among awakened."
"It's Novice Rank manipulation."
"Yes."
"You're selling the ability to slightly move shadows."
"…Very premium shadows."
Daniel nearly sighed. This world truly had no shame. Still, before Daniel could continue negotiating, the salesman suddenly smiled again.
"Of course…"
With another wave of his hand, a second set of books floated downward from higher shelves. These crystals radiated noticeably stronger mana fluctuations.
Apprentice Rank Skill Books.
"Considering your age," the salesman began smoothly, "you seem quite talented. Purchasing Novice Rank skills now may become inefficient later. If you can afford it, I highly recommend directly investing in the Apprentice Rank versions instead."
Daniel glanced toward the new crystals.
The old man continued speaking immediately, clearly sensing opportunity, "Apprentice Rank elemental manipulation skills possess far greater efficiency, control, and growth potential. They also provide better compatibility with advanced elemental techniques later on."
Daniel remained silent.
Seeing this, the salesman smiled wider.
"Take Fire Manipulation for example. The Novice Rank version merely teaches basic control." The old man pointed toward the higher-grade book, "But the Apprentice Rank version allows proper mana shaping, partial elemental compression, and combat application."
"…Price."
The salesman's smile became slightly awkward, "Only five times more expensive."
Silence.
Daniel slowly turned toward him, "…Five times."
"Yes."
"For Apprentice Rank Elemental Manipulation."
"They are premium Association-certified skills."
Daniel stared at the man for several seconds, then calmly asked: "How much for the darkness one?"
The salesman answered proudly.
"Only fifty-three thousand Credits."
Daniel almost laughed, 'One book, for more money than I currently possess. Is skill inscription such a money-making job?'
The old man hurriedly continued afterward, "Of course, long-term investment is important for awakened. Spending more now can prevent limitations later."
Daniel looked toward the floating Apprentice Rank Skill Books again.
Honestly speaking, the salesman was not wrong. Higher-grade foundational skills truly did matter for ordinary awakened.
Unfortunately for the salesman… Daniel was not ordinary. He did not actually need the higher-ranked versions. The Novice Rank skills were enough.
Once he obtained the initial elemental aspects and foundations, Ultima's neutrality would naturally allow him to evolve the skills further over time. Combined with his experience from countless lifetimes and his elemental sword arts, he could slowly refine and awaken the higher forms himself.
Buying the Apprentice Rank versions now would simply be wasting money, a ridiculous amount of money.
Unfortunately, Daniel currently lacked one minor requirement regardless.
Money.
Lots of money.
Still, hearing those absurd prices somehow made the Novice Rank versions feel slightly less offensive.
The old man adjusted his glasses afterward, "If you purchase the full Apprentice Rank elemental set together, I can even offer a modest discount."
"How modest are we talking about here?"
"…Three percent."
"Incredible generosity."
The salesman either ignored the sarcasm or genuinely failed to notice it.
Meanwhile, Daniel mentally calculated the total price once. Then immediately stopped calculating because the number itself was offensive.
Even after reincarnating, cultivation remained absurdly expensive. Some things truly never changed.
Eventually, Daniel pointed toward the Novice Rank Skill Books instead.
"Those."
The salesman looked visibly disappointed.
"A wise long-term investment often requires courage, young man."
"And survival requires money."
"Fair point." The old man finally sighed in defeat before listing the prices again.
Nearly fifty-five thousand Credits.
Daniel stared at the list silently, then calmly spoke, "Forty thousand."
The salesman nearly choked, "Impossible."
"Forty-two."
"These are Association-certified skill books!"
"Forty-three."
The old man stared at Daniel in disbelief, "You negotiate like a starving bandit."
Daniel remained expressionless. In his previous life, he had negotiated with immortal emperors over resources capable of destroying worlds. This was nothing.
The salesman sighed dramatically, "Fifty-three thousand. Final offer."
"Forty-four."
"…Are you even listening?"
"Yes."
Silence filled the luxurious store. Several nearby customers slowly moved farther away after sensing the growing frustration radiating from the old man.
Meanwhile, Daniel remained perfectly calm.
Eventually, the salesman rubbed his forehead tiredly, "…Forty-eight thousand."
"Forty-five."
"That removes almost all my profit margin."
"That sounds unfortunate."
The old man stared at Daniel for several long seconds. Then finally slumped slightly, "…Fine. Forty-five thousand."
Daniel immediately transferred the money before the man could recover mentally.
DING.
Transaction complete.
The salesman looked genuinely wounded afterward.
"You are terrible for business."
"Your original prices were robbery."
"That is how business works."
"That explains a lot."
Daniel calmly collected the Skill Books afterward.
Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Metal, Wood, Ice, Light, Dark.
'My entire week of earnings vanished instantly— Forty-five thousand Credits Gone. Just like that. Cultivation truly is expensive.'