Chapter 455: Becoming a Master Uncle
Chapter 455: Becoming a Master Uncle
After dismissing the young man, Zuo Meng resumed his Closed Door Meditation.
The perks of being an elder included enjoying high-position benefits. Lower-ranking disciples would’ve been buried under endless tasks, making such undisturbed cultivation impossible. As for the scheming youth trying to use him as pawn? Zuo Meng couldn’t be bothered. If the boy became too irritating, he’d simply end him!
In the Savage Era, daily deaths went unquestioned in tribes. No evidence meant no crime – a tactic Zuo Meng had employed repeatedly to secure his elder position.
Half a month into his seclusion, news arrived from the foot of the mountain.
An Endless Realm expert’s tomb had emerged in the East Grave Region, sparking countless battles that claimed innumerable wandering cultivators. When major factions joined the bloodshed, even dozens of elders perished. Zuo Meng didn’t care about the outcome, but deduced that arrogant youth had likely died. Such tombs weren’t for solo conquest.
The event reshaped the Savage Earth’s power structure, though Zuo Meng remained detached. Using elder privileges, he sealed his cave in permanent deadlock, stockpiled resources, and pursued higher cultivation.
Deacon Hall members initially checked annually.
One year.
Two. Ten. Thirty…
Eventually they stopped coming. The tribe’s generations cycled – his village’s once-promising cousin aged and died, followed by his mother and Uncle Dayou. Zuo Meng only emerged twice to bid farewell, having ensured their comfortable lives through his influence.
Supported by the Dream Realm, he faced no bottlenecks.
The Great Dao pierced the heavens!
Sixty years passed instantly – a full lifetime for ordinary people in lands where few reached thirty. Between wild beasts and demons, survival meant constant struggle.
BOOM!
The quaking stone door revealed Zuo Meng, aura intensified after six decades. He’d mastered all tribal disciplines – witchcraft, beast control, insect arts, formations, bloodlines – reaching fifth-stage Thousand Mountain Realm. The Endless Realm required real world acknowledgment here, unlike the Dream Realm’s easier breakthroughs.
“E-elder?”
A disciple roasting game at the cave entrance froze. Everyone knew the Beast Control Department had two elders, but none had seen the second beyond initiation portraits. This mountain spot was their secret slacking area – until now.
“Tasks after sixty years? Testing limits?” Zuo Meng scoffed at his identity token. Though not yet time for open defiance, none could order him now. Thousand Mountain cultivators ranked as top combatants except in Totem Tribes.
“Time to upgrade permissions.” Higher status meant accessing advanced cultivation methods and real world secrets. He stepped – and appeared instantly at the mountain’s base, leaving barbecue-dropping disciples gaping.
Deacon Hall.
Zuo Meng entered the door and saw only unfamiliar faces around. Though truth be told, he hadn’t known many people here even before. Perhaps his mentality had changed – from start to finish, Zuo Meng never truly cared about these people.
“Change my identity token.”
Approaching the supply manager, Zuo Meng removed the elder token from his waist and handed it over.
“Elder, you wish to upgrade…”
The deacon disciple asked cautiously, holding the identity token with trembling hands. This was an elder token. The next upgrade would make him a Core Elder. Such people weren’t to be offended by minor officials like himself.
“Does upgrading require testing my cultivation?”
Zuo Meng’s expression remained detached.
If his current strength had been sufficient to flip the game board, he wouldn’t bother with these formalities. He’d have gone straight to the tribal archives instead.
“One moment please.”
The deacon disciple scrambled to his feet and rushed into the inner chamber.
A moment later, a pot-bellied middle-aged man emerged. Upon seeing Zuo Meng, he froze briefly before tentatively addressing:
“Master Uncle Zuo?”
“Hmm. You?”
Zuo Meng studied the man’s face but couldn’t place him.
“I’m the legacy disciple of Elder of Beast Control. By seniority, I should call you Master Uncle.” The man hastily explained. This reclusive senior had been legend for years, yet none had seen him in person.
“Ah.”
Zuo Meng nodded. After sixty years of Closed Door Meditation, gaining seniority made sense.
“There’s… a slight issue.”
The man wore an uncomfortable expression.
When Zuo Meng frowned, the man rushed to explain without waiting to be questioned:
“Master Uncle, it’s not that I refuse. Every promoted elder must have contributed to the tribe.” He deliberately produced Zuo Meng’s records.
“Your cultivation qualifies, but your contributions don’t. Since joining, you’ve only completed one task – escorting disciples to the Totem Tribe’s competition. Without notable achievements…”
He trailed off meaningfully.
“Another task?”
Zuo Meng found this absurdly tedious. He’d come here to avoid chores, yet ended up back where he started. Seeing no point in bullying this rule-bound junior, he retrieved his token and ordered:
“Assign me a simple, quick task that gives contribution points.”
The man’s face twisted through complicated expressions.
This Master Uncle had no shame, openly demanding special treatment!