Clang! Clang! Clang!
The various weapons clashed with the guard's sword, deflecting them and preventing him from getting harmed which caused the uncle to be anxious.
The [Core Skill: Serpent Substitution Technique] is an effective lifesaving skill. Once the user is faced with an attack that they cannot dodge, they can turn their whole body into multiple serpents.
These serpents would then move away from the attacker and gather before reverting the cultivator back to its original appearance.
It is a unique skill inherent to the Spirit Serpent Art but its mana consumption is terrifying. Even if technically, the lowest level of cultivation to use it is mid-level Genetic Awakener Realm, in fact, almost no one from the clan was able to use it at that stage.
Not to mention the difficulty, the mana consumption was equally terrifying. Even those at the peak of the Genetic Awakener Realm can only use it a few times.
As such, just by using that skill once, the uncle already loses almost 1/3 of his mana capacity. If this battle were to be prolonged, he can see his inevitable defeat.
Once he ran out of mana, not to mention Martial or Core Skills, he wouldn't even be able to enhance his physical strength. If that happens, wouldn't he be at the mercy of his opponent?
"This wouldn't do!" The uncle thought anxiously as he tried to think of a way to win. His pride wouldn't allow him to be defeated by a mere slave.
However, the more anxious he was, the more mistakes he made. The guard was able to slowly approach him even with the barrage of weapons which made him even more anxious.
Finally, when all the weapons ran out, the uncle was forced to retrieve his threads back to his sleeves to engage in close combat once more.
However, it is now the time for the guard's retaliation!
The sword in his hand seemingly turned into three and with a quick stab, three small wounds appeared on the uncle's chest.
"[Martial Skill: Triple Stab!]"
This was another common Martial Skill in the cultivation world. After all, not everyone can learn powerful Martial Skills that are mostly supplemental to certain Cultivation Arts and can only be effectively used by cultivating the said Art.
However, even then, the guard's skills were superior to this uncle who was cultivating the Cultivation Art of the Evander Family.
If not for the fact that he was able to move in time, the sword might have completely pierced through his body and not just left shallow to moderate wounds on his body.
The uncle backed away while holding his bleeding chest which was a mistake. The guard relentlessly pursued him and he was forced to do his best to block the sword strikes using his dagger.
At this time, the uncle was in a more passive state than before. He can barely defend himself and soon, the guard seized the victory.
He suddenly threw a kick and it landed perfectly on the uncle's stomach, causing him to be thrown back.
If that wasn't enough, the guard, placed his sword to his side to throw punches. In just a short period of time, the uncle was thoroughly beaten. His face was swollen and almost his whole body was bruised.
"Higher level cultivators are really something. I reckon that even just one punch from them is more than enough to defeat me" Kyrell muttered with a sigh before kicking his cousin to his uncle
"Get lost before I do something even worst" Kyrell said before nonchalantly walking away with the Serpent Death Guard vanishing once more to protect him in the shadows.
——
"What did you say? That bastard did what?" A middle-aged cultivator asked loudly. His anger was apparent as he interrogated Isobi and the uncle from the branch family about what happened.
He almost could not believe what he had heard. To think that the humble and gentle Kyrell would order his guard to 'bully' and harm people... he was shocked and more than that, he was angry!
Didn't he just want to 'see' whether Kyrell was talented or not? Why does he have to be so heavy-handed?
"Elder, that asshole is too much! You must seek justice for us!" Isobi cried out as if he was the one who was wronged.
This middle-aged man is precisely one of the Elders of the Evander Family. However, he was just one of the ordinary and mediocre Elders.
In the Evander Family, all those who reach the Genetic Strengthener Realm are qualified to become Elders. Of course; even among the Elders, there were huge differences in power and status.
There are nine small realms in the Genetic Strengthener Realm and even just an increase in one small realm gives a significant boost in power. Hence, even among cultivators of the same rank, the difference in power is huge.
As someone who is just at the first level of the Genetic Strengthenener Realm, this Elder is one of the weakest.
Isobi and the uncle are part of the branch family where this middle-aged man was the strongest. Their faction was on the Elder's side rather than the Patriarch.
"This wouldn't do. I need to have the Elders punish him. If today, he can beat his clansmen, wouldn't he be able to kill them tomorrow? How can he be worthy to be the next Patriarch with such an attitude?"
"That Kyrell, even to his own clansmen, he is vicious! He is precisely just like that Bloodthirsty Serpent, the Patriarch! Indeed, like father, like son!"
The Elder resolved to plead with the other Elders for help. Otherwise, with his power alone, he was incapable of doing something significant.
With the Patriarch as Kyrell's father, how can he easily be touched?
"Indeed, he does take after me. However, there is also a difference. I have always been a straightforward man but that kid, he has always been sneaky and cunning"
"He tried to hide it starting from his childhood but how can he hide his calculative actions from me?"
A chuckle entered everyone's ears. The uncle from before was better. He was thoroughly beaten by the guard and was still unconscious.
As for the Elders and Isobi, once they heard that chuckle, all the hair on their body stood up. A sense of danger and dread gripping their hands tightly.
They didn't know when but Fraser Evander, the Patriarch of the Evander Family suddenly appeared behind the Elder.
"Was it fun? Was it fun 'annoying' and testing my son?" Fraser whispered to the Elder's ears that didn't dare move.
If the other Elders were present, this weak Elder might try to show off but not right now. Fraser's reputation was known to all. Even to his own brothers, he can be heavy-handed.
In comparison, Kyrell was like a Buddhist monk when compared to him. At most, Kyrell had them beaten. But the Patriarch... even if he doesn't kill you, he can make your life miserable enough to wish you were dead instead.
Just like a mirage, the Patriarch vanishes and this time, he appeared in front of Isobi who almost trembled to death.
The mere presence of him was enough to bring great terror. It was as if a venomous serpentine predator had arrived.
Fraser held Isobi's chin with a sneer. "To think that someone like you would even think to act superior in front of my son. How disgusting"
Fraser shook his head while saying that and he vanished again. This time, he was with the unconscious uncle.
As if he didn't want him to miss the show, the Patriarch used one finger to poke the sleeping man and the latter immediately opened his eyes.
However, despite regaining consciousness, he was simply unable to move.
It was not only him, even Isobi and the Elder didn't dare move. They can feel that one wrong word or move might spell their doom.
"Pfft, weren't you all arrogant before? How come that none of you is saying anything now?" Fraser chuckled and none of the three knew when it happened but they just suddenly found themselves bound and wrapped by multiple snakes.
These purple snakes hissed menacingly causing the poor clansmen to shudder.
"N-no... p-please f-forgive me. It was t-them! T-they are the o-one that forced me to-me to d-do it!" Isobi, as the youngest of them all broke down the fastest.
Tears streamed down his face and he even wet himself. The Patriarch was not hurting them... yet... but just his mere presence was enough to plant a seed of terror into their hearts.
They realized that antagonizing Kyrell was the worst decision in their life. In fact, at most, they only planned to humiliate Kyrell.
However, it seems like ever since Fraser became the Patriarch and became more mindful of his actions, everyone forgets his personality.
He was very vengeful. Even just the smallest deed is enough to attract his ire and penchant for revenge!