Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 2046: I still have (2)

Yaohan Su's thoughts were straightforward: Jie Su's exceptional performance would grant him unwavering confidence, regardless of future circumstances. He couldn't help but muse on the enviable nature of some individuals, blessed with immense talent, unyielding character, and relentless dedication. The traveling formation, his own creation, had taken over a decade to perfect from its initial conception to its teaching within the Su Clan's direct lineage. He himself had advanced from mastering rudimentary formations like Jie Su's to making substantial progress. Yet, he vividly recalled the five years it took him to reach Jie Su's current proficiency. While subsequent formations required his personal exploration, Jie Su benefited from pre-existing theories. Could anyone dispute his talent and hard work? The onlookers were equally impressed. Though they had achieved faster progress with the traveling formation, they relied on their established strength. Jie Su, previously below fifty thousand in Furelai, now rivaled their advancement, the only difference being the duration of his practice with the traveling formation. Having such a prodigy in their ranks was a cause for genuine celebration.

"Let's go, let's meet this youngster whom our little genius praises so highly, and see what surprises he can bring us."

Exiting the room, they encountered an unwelcome sight in the corridor. Yaohan Su's gaze shifted, spotting the leaders of the other two factions, their accompanying elders, and the top three heirs. These dozen or so individuals stood casually, conversing, yet it was evident they were deliberately awaiting the clan leader and his retinue.

"Clan leader, we've heard you're meeting the Star-Eye Clan's Novice First today. We share your interest and are eager to witness the young man who compelled our own little genius, Jie Su, to willingly diminish his strength to offer assistance. You won't object, will you?"

In that moment, Yaohan Su and the others shared a unified thought: would their objection deter them? It was an impossible scenario. While astonished by the precision and timeliness of the rivals' intelligence, Yaohan Su had no choice but to concede. Out of the Su Clan's ten elders, only Cheng Su and Huo Zhi stood with him, while eight aligned with the opposing factions. Furthermore, he had to acknowledge Kelan Su, the clan's first heir, whose talent potentially surpassed Jie Su's and who possessed a commanding advantage in strength. On a matter of such minor consequence, he could not assert his authority as clan leader.

"Very well, let's proceed then."

Yaohan Su readily agreed, taking the lead. As the elders moved past, Kelan Su, who had remained somewhat apart, turned to Jie Su with a smile. "Little brother, it's been a while. How fares your mastery? To what level have you cultivated the traveling formation?"

This seemingly casual inquiry captured everyone's attention. The elders ahead paused their conversation, listening intently, deeply concerned with Jie Su's progress. Jie Su blinked, slightly surprised by the directness of his elder clan brother's question. After a moment's hesitation, he truthfully replied, "I can now fuse low-level intermediate formations."

Kelan Su's expression flickered briefly before he quickly composed himself, offering praise, "Truly impressive. I still lag slightly behind you."

An elder accompanying Kelan Su, currently the leading figure of his faction, narrowed his eyes upon overhearing the exchange between the two younger men. He recognized that Kelan Su was not being entirely truthful; Kelan Su himself could now employ intermediate formations when activating the traveling formation, placing him at a level comparable to Jie Su's. However, the immense resources and manpower his faction had invested to facilitate Kelan Su's advancement remained unknown to others. In contrast, the clan leader's faction had expended minimal effort on Jie Su. This implied Jie Su's innate talent might even eclipse Kelan Su's. The current elder felt a growing unease about Yaohan Su's actions, which seemed to indicate a deliberate cultivation of Jie Su. Although he doubted Yaohan Su would dare violate the Su Clan's long-standing rules to appoint Jie Su as successor, an inexplicable sense of crisis persisted. This realization elevated Jie Su's perceived standing in the elder's mind and solidified his resolve: no matter the outcome of the day's events, he would absolutely prevent the Star-Eye Clan's representative from influencing the clan leader's decisions.

Kelan Su's standing would be secure, and his faction destined to lead the clan next, provided Jie Su lacked powerful backing and Yaohan Su adhered to ancestral decrees.

Soon, the delegation reached Ye Zhongming's chamber. The sudden influx of many individuals startled Ye Zhongming, prompting an instinctive glance towards Jie Su, who stood at the rear of the assembly.

Jie Su felt a pang of helplessness; this gathering represented the Su Clan's highest council of elders.

Ye Zhongming offered a respectful greeting. Yaohan Su took a seat, and the others followed suit, transforming the once ample room into a cramped space.

These individuals were all formidable experts. Even those specializing solely in formations possessed profound understanding. A palpable ill-will emanated from most of them towards Ye Zhongming, making the pressure on him, the Cloud Peak King, immense.

However, Ye Zhongming was no longer an inexperienced newcomer. He bore the dual physical and mental onslaught without betraying any discomfort.

This resilience alone earned him a measure of newfound respect from the Su Clan elders.

"While your arrival was ostensibly to complete a novice quest, Jie Su has briefed us. Your primary objective is to forge an alliance between the Star-Eye Clan and the Su Clan, essentially requesting our assistance. Unfortunately, after deliberation, we deem this unsuitable. We are formally informing you of our decision."

Before Yaohan Su could speak, the leader of Kelan Su's faction initiated the conversation, delivering this pronouncement and shutting down any potential avenues for Ye Zhongming before he could even begin.

Members of Yaohan Su's faction bristled with discontent but remained silent; the speaker's statement accurately reflected the outcome of the preceding high-level meeting – the decision to reject cooperation with the Star-Eye Clan had been finalized.

Ye Zhongming registered a degree of surprise at the turn of events, yet observing the evident schism within the room, he grasped the underlying dynamics.

Far from being unnerved or disheartened, nor deterred by the faction leader's declaration, he responded with a smile. "Clan Leader Yaohan Su, esteemed elders, I believe there may be a misunderstanding regarding the Star-Eye Clan's intentions. While I am indeed here for scholarly pursuits, I also have other matters to discuss with you all. However, it is certainly not to propose cooperation, nor to seek aid."

An air of astonishment swept through the room. Not here to discuss cooperation? Then what was his purpose? Was he genuinely here for study? A martial individual visiting the Su Clan for academic pursuits? Such a claim was difficult to credit.

"I am here to offer assistance to the Su Clan."