Chapter 464: Drained Power

This world differed completely from those Zuo Meng had encountered before entering the gate. Its operating rules were peculiar, and the energy within it was exceptionally sparse. After reaching King-level, Zuo Meng had investigated this world’s equivalent experts and learned from them about its transformations. Precisely speaking, this world hadn’t produced an Imperial Level expert for nearly one hundred thousand years.

The last known Great Emperor—the Green Emperor—had vanished one hundred thousand years prior.

From these King-level experts, Zuo Meng understood the world was weakening. While it could sustain Imperial Level existence a hundred millennia ago, even King-level experts had become rare in the current age. The vast Border Wasteland now relied solely on an ancestor from the Totem Tribe for support—a figure Zuo Meng recognized as already half in the grave during their previous encounter. The ancestor’s current appearances relied entirely on life-extending divine medicine. Should this medicine fail, the Totem Tribe would collapse. King-level might then fade into legend, while Imperial Level could vanish from human records entirely, becoming mere myth.

“Reaching Imperial Level likely requires specific resources, similar to King-level advancement. I’ve obtained King-level materials—what’s needed for Imperial Level?”

Zuo Meng’s current strength far surpassed ordinary King-level.

Outsiders believed he’d recently broken through, but in his memory, achieving King-level happened centuries prior. He’d mastered every King-level technique and circumvented all hidden pitfalls long ago. With an entire world’s worth of experimental data, understanding came naturally.

“First attempt substitutions.”

The century-long Imperial Level drought suggested missing components. Required materials might have vanished during the Green Emperor’s era, explaining later generations’ failure to advance. Zuo Meng had prepared for this scenario through countless simulations.

Yet Imperial Level proved more arduous than anticipated.

Using the golden seed, he’d simulated multiple epochs without progress. Instead, he discovered endless power applications, secret techniques, and combat methods.

“Perhaps this time.”

Zuo Meng retrieved the golden seed again. After nurturing it, the seed’s power had returned.

“Activate!”

His finger touched the seed…

Previously, half an epoch passed nightly in the Dream Realm. Now differed completely. Imperial Level power forcibly synchronized this world’s timeline with the Dream Realm’s, stretching epochs beyond single days.

The outside world remained oblivious to Zuo Meng’s changes.

Since his return unleashed King-level Pressure, the Wangu Tribe became the Border Tribe’s core. Totem Tribe Elders visited repeatedly, while nearby minor tribes surrendered outright. The Border Tribe leader basked in glory but recognized its source. After deliberation, he devised a survival strategy—declaring Wangu Tribe the chief faction and appointing Little Zun, the infant with faint connections to Zuo Meng, as successor. This complete power transfer included his own faction’s submission.

None opposed this change. The tribe praised his wisdom, while jealous Elders envied his political maneuvering.

Little Girl accepted this numbly.

She’d experienced similar upheaval in youth, which altered her destiny. Now history repeated, elevating Wangu Tribe beyond her comprehension—all through silent Zuo Meng’s influence.

Fifty years flowed by.

Approaching four hundred, Little Girl aged visibly. Her mediocre talent had carried her improbably far, but further progress proved impossible. With five-century lifespans, she’d entered her final decades.

Zuo Meng lived simply in his courtyard—gardening, weeding, brewing tea.

A tedious routine.

Little Girl occasionally tried conversing, receiving no response. As cultivator, she recognized his state—rare sudden enlightenment beyond conscious pursuit.

That day, as Little Girl meditated before her thatched cottage, darkness swallowed the entire sky. Compared to her Endless Realm ascension’s regional phenomena, this global event dwarfed all precedent. She glimpsed celestial Chains resembling runic shackles—endless prison bars. Ominous dark lightning churned above.

“What’s occurring?”

Meeting Elders rushed out. The Border Tribe’s influence had ballooned over decades, matching the Totem Tribe’s status. Outsiders now called them the Border Great Tribe.

“Originating from Chief Mountain.”

Wangu Tribe became chief tribe two years post-Zuo Meng’s return. Original Core Elders vacated the central peak, renamed Chief Mountain under Wangu control.

“My ancestors’ mountain.”

Fifty years matured the once-chubby Little Zun. Recently achieving Open Meridians, his minor leader status permitted attending high-level meetings. Little Girl, former Wangu overseer, retired twenty years prior. Proximity to Zuo Meng granted her immunity from harassment.

“The Power of the Totem… it’s gone.”

This energy—equivalent to cultivation world’s spiritual power or Martial Arts’ internal strength—normally saturated the environment like lakewater. Now mountain inhabitants found external energy inaccessible, though internal reserves remained.

“This… complete drainage?”

New Elders paled, unable to fathom what entity could achieve this.

Like fish bewildered by emptied seas!