Even though Chief Bonen is the current leader of the tribe, the Ancestor Skulnen, who was a chief before Chief Bonen, has more authority than Chief.
After reaching a certain age, a chief of any Hermit Tribe would give up on their role and enter a deep seclusion or slumber, depending on their goal.
If someone still wanted to try to break through to the Soul Transformation Realm, they would enter a deep seclusion and die in the process.
As for the other kind, they would just enter a deep slumber to stop ageing and live longer. Their goal was that, if, by chance, the tribe became powerful and found some high-level cultivation resources, they would use them for their breakthrough.
In short, they just wanted to preserve their lives, waiting for a fortuitous encounter.
Ancestor Skulnen was one such individual who didn't want to die while trying to break through to the Soul Transformation Realm and thus, entered a deep slumber.
