Everyone present turned their heads in the direction of the handsome young man, and a subtly angry expression took over the faces of the clan advisors. One of them couldn't help but think, 'Why isn't this bastard in his own quarters?'
A nearby young man with a serious expression politely replied, "Brother Innoa, he's just a mediocre member of the clan. Don't bother with him too much."
Innoa, the handsome young man, expressed his disdain, saying, "Is this a human? Is that giant ball of fat part of your clan, Daol? How did you manage to create someone so pathetic?"
The young man called Daol tried to control his emotions and responded disdainfully, "He's the same age as us but stuck at the third level of the Qi Gathering Realm. He prefers to have fun rather than dedicate himself to cultivation. I feel sorry for him being part of our clan, but soon, he'll just become a laborer who dies fighting forest beasts. Don't worry too much about him."
It was at that moment, after the brief exchange of words, that Alm, who had his back turned, turned his gaze towards Innoa.
His eyes were deep, devoid of any trace of fear or submission. Then, suddenly, Alm's gaze subtly changed, now reflecting deep contempt.
Innoa's eyebrows fiercely contracted as the flames of his anger seemed to rise to the heavens.
His father owned an ancient favor to the patriarch of this pathetic clan. He was then forced to accept an arranged marriage with a disciple from here, against his will. She only had some beauty but possessed some latent talent in cultivation, and the patriarch ensured that she would be accepted into the Three Extremes Sect in the next test. Therefore, it wouldn't do much harm to accept her.
However, just a few hours ago, his father received an urgent call, and he had to come to this place that smelled of wilderness, where the Qi was extremely shallow.
Now, he found out that his fiance was ruined, having become a mere mortal. She would never pass the exam. His fury was overflowing, and he just wanted to explode. And to make matters worse, this whale was staring at him without showing any sign of submission. 'Great, now I can vent a bit,' he thought inwardly.
Everyone there saw Denil turn and look at Innoa, this useless individual who only stained the clan's honor, always running away from everyone when he had the chance. Something seemed very wrong, and it took a while for people to start reacting.
It was at this moment that Innoa noticed a small figure next to Alm. At first glance, his face lit up with a smug smile, but shortly after, he felt a unique fluctuation in the air, which left him incredulous.
He then made an effort not to show surprise. "Oh, you dare to lie to me like this?"
Everyone snapped out of their stupor, unable to comprehend those words. "Someone with no value would have a slave from Montide? I've visited this place before and never saw anyone from there here. You clearly hide and monopolize all their secrets. Now you say this person is a nobody?"
They all looked at Ruri and understood his point, but no one wanted to mention the real reason why she had been chosen to serve him, as it would be too humiliating.
Quickly, a more experienced advisor intervened. "Young sir, you need not concern yourself with the affairs of this humble clan." He spoke as respectfully as possible, trying not to bruise Innoa's inflated ego.
"We will soon compensate your father and you for the inconvenience. As a demonstration of our sincerity, we are gifting you various treasures and the most beautiful women from Montide. We know you appreciate the beauty of these people."
Innoa turned his gaze to the twelve young women. They kept their heads down, holding the rings with the mentioned treasures from the advisor. They all possessed that exotic beauty, different from all the girls on the rest of the planet, and indeed were a level above the three other girls he had acquired after much effort.
He waved approvingly but soon turned his gaze back to the little maid next to that gigantic whale, wanting to confirm something very serious.
He focused on that feeling in his soul...
Mediocre cultivators in the clan were futile, with limited perceptions. But he was a true cultivator, someone with well-developed senses.
"There's no doubt... I captured those three in search of this, even knowing that strange rumors about me would spread." A sinister smile formed on his face. "But now, it's right here in front of me. This soul power can only come from their main bloodline!"
He almost jumped for joy, now observing with lascivious eyes. "She's still young... But in five or ten years, she'll have a beauty out of this world..."
Denil just continued to stare at him. 'Look at that. It seems like you've found a companion with strange tastes, just like you,' Alm commented mentally to Bruno.
Bruno clicked his tongue and decided to ignore the comment. 'You idiot, what are you trying to do, pick a fight with someone stronger? What kind of cliché is this? Shut up and let me handle this.'
Alm then grumbled, 'A typical cliché young master. Even in the stories you read on Earth, they were like weeds. Do you plan to bow down to such a bastard and apologize?'
Bruno pondered for a moment. 'He's from the largest sect in this place. He's the same age as this body and at the ninth level of the Qi Gathering Realm. With our cultivation, we wouldn't even scratch him.'
Bruno felt Alm's intentions and continued, 'You know the tactic only worked on that elder because he couldn't be any more defenseless. We can't pick a fight with him or...'
Bruno was interrupted when he felt a slight heat trembling from his left hand. Looking down, he found Ruri holding his hand, controlling her trembling little body.
'That bastard's lecherous gaze is something new for her, having rarely left the clan,' commented Alm with a voice oozing deep hatred.
Although Denil of the past indeed went after women, he still didn't show interest in kids, so Ruri had never seen anyone looking at her like the guy in front did. Well, Denil did look at other women like that, though...
Bruno was also extremely infuriated but didn't want to act without thinking about the consequences. 'He wouldn't dare do anything here like that. Let's just stay quiet and...'
"I'll leave this matter for now, but I want that child too," Innoa's voice echoed as he approached Alm and Bruno.
Bruno abruptly stopped and remained silent internally. Alm knew exactly what he was feeling and was quite pleased. 'There we go, the cliche story that you wanted to avoid at all costs,' Alm thought to himself.
Innoa continued to advance towards Ruri, getting only two meters away. Alm was about to intervene with his own words when, to his surprise, Bruno erupted with a preemptive response.
"A ridiculous bastard like you dares to try and take what's mine? Grab your tail and get out before I cut your shithead off." Bruno uttered with a voice that resonated like thunder in everyone's minds.
'What... Is he crazy?' Everyone thought in astonishment.
Since Innoa arrived, all the elders and counselors who had higher cultivation than him had kept their Qi sealed and inactive, showing total respect. As they hadn't formed a core yet, sealing their meridian Qi made them almost mortal, without defense or attack capability. This was the highest form of submission a cultivator could demonstrate to someone.
However, upon hearing those words from the useless and pathetic being before him, instinctual rage overtook Innoa, causing his Qi to change from passive to active in an instant. Everything fiercely circulated for the attack in response to his bloodlust.
"Do you dare repeat what you said, you damn whale?!" he shouted, ready to use all his strength to kill.
Suddenly, Bruno moved, a motion that seemed to happen in slow motion for everyone watching from afar. But for Innoa, that movement was beyond comprehension, a divine action he couldn't keep up with.
THWACK!!!
In the next second, a figure with golden hair was sent flying into the midst of the crowd of incredulous people.
It was a precise kick... in the most sensitive region of a man...
The Non-Lethal-Strike skill showed all its glory once again!