Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 2033: Three direct branches

Yaohan Su's hands slowly lowered to his sides, and the nearly frenzied Qi surrounding him gradually subsided.

The ground where he stood was already riddled with cracks.

His wife approached with a smile, offering him a towel, allowing him to wipe the sweat from his brow.

"If you continue to cultivate at this intensity, the clan will be driven to ruin by the costs of floor repairs."

Upon hearing his wife's words, Yaohan Su let out a hearty laugh. After drying himself, he declared, "I have already reimbursed the clan with my own earnings. If they dare demand more money from me, I shall beat them up!"

His wife joined him in laughter. "Yes, yes, you are formidable. Now, no one within the entire Su Race can defeat you."

"Naturally!"

Yaohan Su displayed no trace of modesty.

As the Clan Leader of the Su Race, Yaohan Su had not been considered a prodigious figure in the past. His capabilities were limited to perfectly executing two of the Ten Great Arrays.

Truly exceptional individuals were expected to command five or more of the Ten Great Arrays!

That is, until... he pioneered the Following Array.

Irrespective of who it might be—whether current members of the Su Race, or even if past Su Race Clan Leaders and their most potent figures were to rise from their graves—none could dispute that this represented an era-defining innovation for the Su Race.

This development effectively nullified the Su Race's vulnerability in random combat scenarios. They, much like beings of other races, would no longer harbor apprehension towards unexpected encounters, all while preserving their inherent racial characteristics.

Yaohan Su's invention of the Following Array undeniably signaled the dawn of the Su Race's resurgence.

Consequently, this Clan Leader, who previously ranked at best among the top ten in combat prowess within the clan, surged to become the undisputed number one.

Were it not a contest of arrays, Yaohan Su could decisively defeat any clan elder. Even in array competitions, after successfully integrating the Following Array, his Furelai escalated rapidly, leaving him without fear of any opponent. Currently, his proficiency in the third of the Ten Great Arrays had surpassed 80%, with the remaining arrays also exceeding 50% mastery.

He then proceeded to the meal his wife had prepared, took a seat, and began to eat, inquiring, "The Novice first-place achiever from the Star-Eye Clan, they have arrived, correct?"

"They have indeed arrived." His wife joined him for the meal, yet she cast a glance at her husband, remarking, "You seem unusually preoccupied with him."

Yaohan Su chuckled and offered a denial. "Who said that? I merely inquired out of casual interest."

His wife placed her utensils down and addressed her husband with a knowing half-smile, saying, "From the moment this individual and Jie Su achieved victory together on the Novice battlefield until this very moment, over the past several months, you have invoked this name a total of eight times. The most recent five instances occurred after Jie Su's return this time. In such a brief period, mentioning a non-Su Race individual five times suggests a rather significant focus, wouldn't you agree?"

"If it were someone of considerable importance, that would be understandable, but this individual is merely a minor figure from an obscure race, possessing a Furelai of merely a few thousand. Do you not find this peculiar?"

Addressing his wife's probing questions, Yaohan Su remained unperturbed. He too set down his utensils and confessed, "Very well, I concede that I do possess a degree of interest in this person. However, this interest is not directed at him personally."

His wife fell into a brief silence before inquiring, "You are harboring discontent, are you not?"

"Should I not feel such discontent?" Yaohan Su countered.

"Is this the very reason you intend to groom Jie Su as your successor? Do you grasp the magnitude of upheaval this notion would unleash within the Su Race if it were to become public knowledge? Because you would be transgressing tradition, defying established norms. You would find yourself... without any allies."

His wife regarded her husband with evident concern. She harbored no desire for matters to escalate uncontrollably.

The Su Race, while outwardly appearing the most unified of the three major factions, was internally grappling with its own set of crises. The most profound of these stemmed from the established system of inheritance, dating back to antiquity.

The direct lineage of the Su Race was, in fact, divided into three distinct branches. Each of these branches held the inherent right to contend for the position of Su Race Clan Leader. For generations, these three branches had adhered to a rotational system for the succession of the Clan Leader. Barring exceedingly rare circumstances, this was an inviolable principle.

Any attempt to circumvent this established rule would inevitably encroach upon the vested interests of the other two branches, thereby precipitating a cascade of unforeseen repercussions.

"The rules established by our ancestors were not structured in this manner. It was subsequent generations, in pursuit of clan harmony, who devised this peculiar institution through mutual concessions," Yaohan Su articulated, a wave of frustration washing over him. He was acutely aware that he himself was a beneficiary of this system, yet he now found himself at odds with its very foundation. To voice these sentiments aloud would invite profound skepticism regarding his true intentions.

While others remained indifferent, Yaohan Su harbored a firm conviction that the Su Race had arrived at a critical juncture demanding reform. Without it, extinction, like that of lesser races, was an inevitable outcome. Yet, a perplexing contentment pervaded the clan, a preference for minor gains, peace, and security, akin to a turtle withdrawing into its shell.

Such stagnation painted a grim future for the Su Race.

Now, Yaohan Su believed he had finally identified an individual with the fortitude to challenge this inertia: Jie Su, a member of his own lineage.

Through their interactions, Yaohan Su discerned that Jie Su not only shared his ambitions but also possessed remarkable capabilities.

However, Yaohan Su's position as Clan Leader meant that neither the upcoming term nor the one following would see his branch assume leadership. If they merely bided their time, Jie Su might never ascend to power even in his old age.

This predicament led Yaohan Su to entertain unconventional notions.

He understood, however, that revealing these thoughts would invite significant opposition within the clan. The teaching of the Sui Array to Jie Su had already set certain individuals in motion, preparing for such eventualities. This was evident in the current collaboration with the Star-Eye Clan, where some voices opposed the alliance purely for obstructionist purposes. Their objective was clearly to sever Jie Su's external support network.

Even if this support came from a minor entity like the Star-Eye Clan.

He acknowledged his wife's apprehensions, but the development of the Following Array bolstered his resolve.

"Tradition, at times, wields more influence than brute force. You grasp this principle. Was the recent assembly regarding the Star-Eye Clan cooperation not a portent for you? Persist, and their opposition will only escalate."

His wife's voice intensified slightly. Deep within, she opposed Yaohan Su's trajectory. Wouldn't a peaceful existence suffice for the Su Race? Why traverse such perilous paths?

Yaohan Su waved a hand, a flicker of impatience crossing his features. Nevertheless, maintaining a cordial relationship with his wife, he patiently articulated, "It is merely a contemplation; no definitive action is planned. We shall observe the unfolding circumstances."

His wife regarded her husband, offering no further words. Instead, as she had done in countless years past, she began quietly clearing the dinnerware from the table.

Yaohan Su's gaze drifted towards a specific direction, beyond Su Tower, where the guest quarters were situated.