Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 2029: Qizhen

"Order Leader, you've awakened!"

A voice laced with surprise called out, causing Ye Zhongming's awareness to slowly return. While unconscious, he'd felt little, but now, a tidal wave of intense agony washed over him, eliciting a groan and blurring his vision once more, threatening to pull him under again.

"Open your mouth, consuming this will alleviate your discomfort."

An unfamiliar female voice registered in his ear, and a fragrant medicinal pill was presented near his nose. Yet, Ye Zhongming did not comply; with great effort, he turned his head, attempting to discern the identity of this woman.

"Zhongming, this is Sister Qizhen from our clan."

The speaker was He, her comely features entering Ye Zhongming's line of sight. Only then did he slowly part his lips and accept the pill.

It wasn't bitter; in fact, it carried a hint of sweetness, though it didn't dissolve instantly upon contact with his mouth.

"Use a bit of your energy to activate it," prompted Qizhen, a woman from the Changxu Water Race. Ye Zhongming channeled a small amount of his energy, triggering another surge of sharp pain that made his body tremble. Fortunately, he was still able to dissolve the medicine.

The number of refinements this medicine had undergone was unknown to him, but the moment it dissolved, a gentle power permeated his body, ceaselessly nourishing every cell. The intense pain receded almost immediately, and his body felt a degree of recovery. This clearly indicated the superior quality of the medicine.

"Sister Qizhen is a master of medicinal arts within our clan. She commands not only the unique refining techniques of our Changxu Water Race but also excels in other disciplines. This pill you're taking was improved by her from a six-turn medicine; it's exceedingly rare. Regrettably, it requires one's own energy for dissolution. Had you not awakened, we would have been unable to administer it..." He explained softly from the side.

Ye Zhongming's recent actions had genuinely secured the unwavering loyalty of the entire Changxu Water Race. For countless years, this was the first time they had witnessed genuine hope and felt someone was truly acting in their best interest. If the one who risked his life for them wasn't worthy of trust and devotion, then who could be?

From Ye Zhongming's perspective, his motivations were certainly not as altruistic as the Changxu Water Race perceived. For instance, he aimed to disrupt the situation in Dark Strip City, diverting the vampires' attention from preying on the Star-Eye Clan. He also intended to showcase his strength, serving as a warning to adversaries and a declaration to potential allies. Furthermore, the ever-present sense of impending danger gnawed at him, compelling him to act.

Of course, this undertaking would inevitably lead to unforeseen consequences, the unfolding of which Ye Zhongming anticipated with interest.

Having regained some strength, Ye Zhongming surveyed the room, noting the presence of only two women from the Changxu Water Race. This observation led He to believe she was intruding, prompting her to explain, "I know I perhaps shouldn't be here, but firstly, you sustained grievous injuries for the sake of our Changxu Water Race people. Both emotionally and logically, I should remain by your side to tend to you. Secondly, while the Changxu Water Race teeters on the brink of extinction, as long as one of us survives, we can offer an additional life in battle. Moreover, many still live, and we can continue to refine various medicines. I believe that when you negotiate with the Su Race, even if we aren't valuable enough to be bargaining chips, we can at least bolster your standing."

At this moment, He embodied the qualities of a true clan leader.

"Only the two of us ascended. The others remain concealed within Dark Strip City, following your instructions," the woman named Qizhen stated softly.

Ye Zhongming offered a smile, which unfortunately aggravated his wounds, causing him some discomfort, though it felt considerably better than before. He felt an inclination to move and tentatively reached out to dissipate the constant-temperature energy layer enveloping him.

This seemingly simple action, however, caused He and Qizhen to stare in astonishment. They had previously conducted a thorough examination of Ye Zhongming's physical condition; he was, by all accounts, severely wounded. The cumulative effects of various elixirs and unconventional techniques had inflicted substantial damage upon his body, leading them to estimate that some injuries might never fully mend. In their assessment, he should have remained bedridden for at least several days before even contemplating movement.

Yet, here he was, not only deactivating the thermal barrier on his own but also managing to prop himself up against the headboard after a couple of attempts. The two women, jolted from their bewilderment, quickly found something to support him.

"Your body..."

Qizhen almost voiced that his physique was exceptionally robust, but she held back, sensing it might come across as impolite.

Ye Zhongming remained silent. Ensured by his Celestial Body and bolstered by the enhancements from Elemental Spirits and Lord Equipment, his physical form was undoubtedly among the most supreme constitutions across all the diverse races in the universe.

"The medicinal preparations you requested are all set. I specifically brought Sister Qizhen along, as her expertise can truly assist you."

Ye Zhongming's gaze settled upon Qizhen's countenance. For the time being, he resolved to minimize speaking, as articulation was proving intensely painful.

"Sister Qizhen is a prodigy within our clan. The efficacy of the medicines she refines surpasses that of others; her success rate is notably higher, and her refining pace is exceptionally swift. She's affectionately known as the 'medicine-refining little machine.' Most crucially, the healing concoctions she crafts can be augmented to amplify their potency. Certain specialized remedies can even undergo transformations, altering their medicinal properties and evolving into priceless treasures."

Ye Zhongming's eyes gleamed upon hearing this.

This innovation bore a striking resemblance to the ingenuity inherent in his own crafting endeavors.

"While these medicines might currently be unattainable due to a scarcity of materials, they can still be added to the pending list, thereby augmenting the total compilation by an additional measure."

Positioning himself by the bedside, he regarded Ye Zhongming with a concentrated expression.

……………………

Jie Su exited the conference chamber, casting a backward glance with a heart devoid of assured confidence.

He had indirectly conveyed Ye Zhongming's proposition to his clan members, yet no definitive response had been forthcoming.

The rationale behind his clan's hesitation was clear to him. After all, the Su Race, alongside its neighboring groups, had not yet fully embraced direct engagement in high-stakes rivalries.

Indeed, from Jie Su's perspective, his clan's past actions had been excessively cautious.

However, on this particular occasion, he recognized that his clan would find it exceedingly difficult to assent, given the broad implications and the fact that the very foundations of the Su Race were at stake.

Currently, the clan's highest-level deliberation was transpiring within, dedicated to this very issue. Jie Su had concluded his report and departed, lacking the requisite standing to participate in the proceedings.

Nevertheless, judging by the expressions of numerous senior clan figures encountered earlier, their consensus leaned heavily against the proposal. To be more precise, the overwhelming majority of the leadership actually expressed dissent. The sole ray of hope was that the Clan Leader had yet to declare his stance and had, in fact, convened this crucial meeting.

He stepped outside the edifice and gazed skyward. That young man should be en route, but... he would likely have to depart with his hopes unfulfilled.