Chapter 452: Returning to the Village

The complete totem cultivation method encompassed nine potential realms. Zuo Meng didn’t know how this world classified totem warriors, so he created his own tier system.

Levels one through nine, each divided into upper, middle, and lower ranks. After half an epoch of research, he’d perfected the method. In the Dream Realm, practitioners had reached quasi-saint level using this technique, awaiting only the Creator’s final approval.

“First stage, late physical refinement.”

Zuo Meng opened his eyes, assessing his body.

The real world blocked external energy. Every improvement required physical resources, preventing rapid advancement. His current body’s weak foundation couldn’t be fully corrected – becoming a totem warrior in half a day already broke all normal limits.

“The Dream Realm’s perfected method works here, but needs adjustments… Memory breakthroughs only guide me past bottlenecks. Real progress depends on my own efforts… But I skip others’ hardest challenges – totem comprehension comes effortlessly. No enlightenment barriers. Just daily practice brings steady growth.”

In this world, totem acceptance decided life or death for warriors.

Rejection meant death or crippling. Even successful candidates faced endless hidden traps. Others journeyed like country folk building roads toward the capital, guessing directions and avoiding pitfalls. Zuo Meng walked a premade highway with perfect maps.

The difference was staggering.

“More adjustments later.”

With growing power, Zuo Meng’s options expanded. Basic methods had been simulated through the Dream Realm. Advanced techniques would undergo similar refinement, ensuring precise understanding of this world’s truths.

“Isolation isn’t enough. I need broader knowledge.”

Totem tactics, arrays, beast control, bone techniques, shamanic medicine – all essential. More knowledge meant clearer perception, gradually restoring his suppressed Creator rank.

This required patience.

His Dream Realm shortcut turned lifelong studies into overnight downloads. From today, he’d master all disciplines!

Once planned, Zuo Meng began systematic training.

Two years passed swiftly.

His emerging talents attracted tribal attention. The Elder of Beast Control exceptionally took him as disciple, launching his rapid rise.

Meanwhile, his village’s “genius cousin” floundered.

A big fish in the village pond became insignificant in the tribal lake. Every tribesman was elite – his cousin became average, not through weakness, but fiercer competition.

An ordinary tribesman couldn’t aid his village.

Six months prior, hunting disputes sparked violence between Wangu Village and Shangqiong Village. In this Savage Era, might made right.

The village had drained resources supporting their “genius”, weakening hunter training. Normally manageable, but conflicts exposed fatal flaws.

Zuo Meng stayed out of the fighting, only arranging protection for his mother and Uncle Dayou.

As a new disciple, he couldn’t leave freely. Officially, he still learned basic Beast Control Department techniques. Secretly, he’d matched elder-level skill, though cultivation limits hindered full power.

Totem Nine Stages – his perfected cultivation method.

Logically, he should’ve reached stage seven or eight already. Yet this world resisted – after two unrestricted years, he barely reached mid-stage three.

Still, stage three commanded respect. Most captains ranked here. His village’s former top expert, the shaman uncle, only reached stage two. Stage four earned elder status – his Beast Control mentor stood at early stage four.

“Time to return.”

At dawn, Zuo Meng seized an excuse to rush home.

Villagers used simple self-references, but tribes defined settlements formally. His home became Wangu Village; their rivals, Shangqiong Village – both powerful wildman settlements on the mountain.

Mountain’s base

A corpse blocked Zuo Meng’s path – Wangu clothes identifying the dead hunter.

“Another Wangu fool meets his end.”

A bone arrow hissed through darkness.

Ambush!

Zuo Meng vanished from the projectile’s path.

Thunk!

The Shangqiong attacker turned to flee. A hand erupted through his chest.

“How…?”

Wide-eyed, the hunter fell from his tree.

Zuo Meng landed silently. At stage three, village conflicts were child’s play. This ambusher could’ve killed any Wangu hunter… except him.