Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 2045: I still have

"Meeting him today, isn't it a bit too hasty?" his wife inquired, placing the prepared dishes onto the table. Yaohan Su, seated opposite her, paused with his utensils midway to his mouth.

"Is it that soon?" Yaohan Su responded with a smile, resuming his meal. "An encounter was inevitable. Perhaps an earlier meeting will expedite matters."

"By proceeding this way, you still project an image of deep concern or unwillingness to let go. This will inevitably affect your future complete authority over the clan."

Chewing slowly, Yaohan Su stated in a well-considered tone, "Throughout the Su Clan's history, though there were periods when the clan leader wielded absolute power, when critical decisions concerning the clan's future arose, the leader's capacity to swiftly override objections and resolve issues demanded immense resolve and fortitude."

"But what looming crisis concerning the clan's future are we facing now?" The wife couldn't fathom her husband's intentions. She suspected the advent of the traveling formation had fueled his ambition, escalating his hunger for power. As his spouse, she felt it was her duty and necessity to caution him.

Yaohan Su became momentarily silent. After a significant pause, he declared, "Do you not perceive the Su Clan's current stagnation as a crisis in itself?"

"The Su Clan may be stagnant, yet other races are collectively regressing. Doesn't this, in a way, signify our own progress?" His wife was not oblivious to external affairs; she possessed a clear understanding of many matters and formed her own judgments.

"While the general trend shows regression, the strength of the super major clans and even the major clans is, in reality, advancing. I surmise that the two factions have already reached an unspoken accord: they intend to reshuffle the existing power structure, purging races and individuals they deem expendable to secure greater resources and space for survival. Upon achieving this, they will possess the flexibility to either launch a counteroffensive against the Slave Races or completely withdraw from the conflict to establish new planetary settlements."

The perspectives held by Yaohan Su and his wife diverged dramatically.

In his many years leading the Su Clan, Yaohan Su seldom engaged in disputes and rarely articulated his thoughts so openly. Yet, today, facing his wife, he earnestly sought her support.

"Beyond our own lineage, the races affiliated with us are also exceedingly weak. Should hostilities erupt, their contribution to our defense would be negligible. We would be compelled to bear the entire burden, even diverting resources to protect them. Meanwhile, the other two factions command several major clans under their banners, each capable of standing independently. The disparity in strength between us and them is colossal."

"Given these circumstances, as the leader of the Su Clan, I must explore every conceivable avenue to surmount these challenges. Even if absolute peace for the Su Clan cannot be guaranteed, I must at least initiate action. This way, even if my efforts prove futile in the end, I will harbor no regrets."

The leader of the Su Clan ceased eating. His voice was subdued, his expression grave, clearly conveying the sincerity of his sentiments.

His wife lowered her gaze, remaining silent. Only after finishing her meal did she softly remark, "However, your intention to groom Jie Su, even considering him as your successor, remains exceedingly perilous. It risks fostering division within the Su Clan."

Yaohan Su gestured dismissively, offering no further words.

………………

Ye Zhongming sat at the table, his gaze fixed intently on a pot of flowers adorning it.

Regardless of the eloquent assurances he had given Jie Su, he harbored no true confidence that his preparations would impress the Su Clan. If they proved insufficient, then following their inevitable failure, the dire circumstances that he, Jie Su, and others feared would truly materialize.

At that juncture, he would genuinely find himself at a loss for what to do.

Lost in thought, Ye Zhongming remained seated, staring blankly ahead.

In a chamber not far from his location, Yaohan Su, Jie Su, and three other individuals observed Ye Zhongming on a holographic display.

"This fellow truly sits with remarkable composure. For such an extended period, he hasn't betrayed a hint of anxiety or displeasure."

One individual voiced this observation. If Ye Zhongming were present, he would have recognized the speaker immediately: it was none other than the Elder Cheng Su, who had journeyed to the Novice battlefield to escort Jie Su back.

Within the chamber, all individuals present hailed from the faction of Clan Leader Yaohan Su, essentially his most trusted confidants.

Despite the significant 'boastful' pronouncements Young Master Ye Zhongming had directed towards Elder Cheng Su previously, Elder Cheng Su found himself holding a degree of appreciation for him. At the very least, this young man possessed the audacity to conceive ideas and, as evidenced now, the courage to execute them. This characteristic alone set him apart and far surpassed many of the younger scions of the Su Clan.

"Elder Jie Su mentioned that this Novice First of the Star-Eye Clan consistently brings forth remarkable items. My anticipation to meet him is truly immense," remarked an elegantly attired middle-aged man. Dressed in simple cloth attire and gripping an iron ruler, his hair and eyebrows were styled with exceptional flair, his overall appearance radiating an aura of pristine cleanliness and refreshing sophistication.

He was known as Huo Zhi, the sole elder within the entirety of the Su Clan not of direct lineage, and remarkably, the only one from an indirect bloodline permitted to study the Ten Great Formations. Furthermore, owing to his exceptional natural aptitude, he had ascended to become one of the most formidable among the elders, having mastered three principal formations, surpassing even the might of the former Su Clan Leader.

Were it not for the lingering distrust from many Su Clan members, Huo Zhi's influence would undoubtedly be even more substantial.

The elevation of Huo Zhi to the esteemed rank of elder, coupled with the authority to learn the Ten Great Formations, represented one of the rare instances of Yaohan Su exercising autocratic power during his extensive tenure as clan leader. Consequently, Huo Zhi became an unwavering proponent of the clan leader's faction.

"Has a breakthrough been achieved?" Yaohan Su inquired with a smile directed at Jie Su.

"Indeed," Jie Su replied with a nod. A thought suddenly occurred to him: Ye Zhongming had declared his intention to unlock his potential and reveal it to the clan leader. Surely, this development qualified, didn't it? Yet, he conceded it was likely insufficient.

"Intermediate formations?" another individual interjected with surprise.

This was none other than Zhou Su, the captain of Yaohan Su's guards, recognized as one of the few clansmen specializing purely in combat within the Su Clan. The occurrence of such individuals was even rarer than that of formation prodigies. Even more precious was his direct lineage, ensuring his absolute loyalty.

Given that the formation Yaohan Su had devised was relatively new, lacking a solidified system or precise grading standards, prowess was gauged solely by the quantity and quality of formations one commanded. Previously, Jie Su could only wield rudimentary formations or certain so-called intermediate formations that possessed minimal actual power – essentially 'pseudo-intermediate' formations.

Even then, the duration for which he could employ the traveling formation in combat was exceedingly brief.

Now, with Jie Su's Furelai surpassing the fifty-thousand mark, he gained the genuine capacity to utilize formation abilities at the intermediate level.

A hearty laugh erupted from Yaohan Su, completely dispelling the earlier gloom cast by his wife's words.