Dual Cultivator Reborn [System In The Cultivation World] Chapter 1001: Yohan’s resolve

Within the confines of River Shore City, Yohan and Aella clashed fiercely, resembling sworn enemies locked in deadly combat.

They stood evenly matched, charging straight at each other with raw intensity, their blades ringing out in frequent collisions. One instant saw them soaring high in the air, and the very next had them slamming back down to the earth.

A frustrated expression twisted Aella's features, considering Yohan was far younger than her by years. In her wildest nightmares, she never imagined a moment like this would arrive, forcing her to unleash every ounce of her power. Her pride, her might, her dignity, and even her very existence hung in the balance—she understood that a single error could send her head tumbling across the dirt.

The figure standing directly before her seemed overtaken by a ruthless demon bent on claiming her life, refusing to cease until it had consumed her entirely. This marked the first occasion she had beheld this fierce aspect of him, utterly unlike the person she typically knew.

"I swear I'll end you for sure, and even if it costs my life, I'll drag you down with me!" Aella cried out in fury, her strikes failing to land against him. On the surface, their duel appeared balanced, but deep inside, she realized he was merely playing with her—intentionally syncing his pace to hers and effortlessly deflecting each assault she launched. The realization that this young man was toying with her proved both crushing and utterly mortifying.

"You're no fool, are you? You recognize your limits, yet you cling to these foolish illusions. Do you truly believe you can claim my life?" Yohan smirked. Upon hearing his words and spotting that grin on his face, Aella gripped her sword tighter and surged forward with all her remaining strength, but Yohan held his ground firmly before her, his blade pressing against hers. Aella's weapon was badly notched from the nonstop barrage and teetered on the edge of shattering.

"What exactly do you mean by testing the waters?" Aella demanded, glaring at Yohan, who wore a triumphant expression. She couldn't grasp the implication of his statement, yet a chill unease stirred deep within her core about what he had implied.

"Well, my dear aunt... you don't need to understand that, but I appreciate your assistance all the same. Thanks to you, I've gained valuable insights and uncovered truths about my own capabilities!"

"What scheme are you hatching, you vile bastard? Tell me now!" Aella shouted, unleashing a storm of hundreds of slashes toward him in one explosive burst. Yohan dodged them all with elegant precision, wielding Asura, which was shrouded entirely in swirling black mist.

Yohan let out a deep breath as Aella leaped back following her onslaught. The terrain beneath their feet lay in ruins, and several nearby structures had been leveled by the devastating power of those strikes. Though Yohan had sidestepped the blows, the sheer force radiating from them had ravaged the surrounding area.

"If we're talking schemes, I'm a mere novice compared to you. You've always been a master schemer yourself, haven't you, my dear aunt? Did you orchestrate it all before arriving here, or was someone else pulling the strings while you danced as their marionette?" Yohan murmured, smoothly brushing the dust from his dark robe with graceful motions.

Aella's face paled at Yohan's words, her body soaked in perspiration, her pulse racing wildly. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, and her garments hung in shreds.

"So, you were just a tool after all, manipulated by another. There's a true architect behind your deeds—perhaps that woman you spoke with in the guest room. Ah, she must be the one holding the reins!" Yohan hissed, a cruel gleam in his eyes as he taunted Aella with that mocking expression. After all, he had known the full truth from the very beginning.

"You're nothing but a monster... How could a creature like you emerge from our bloodline?" Aella yelled, hurling her sword straight at Yohan with blinding speed. He merely tilted his head aside, letting the blade whistle past by mere fractions of an inch, without shifting his stance even slightly.

Meanwhile, Aana, Vanya, Jasmine, and Alena observed the entire confrontation from the sidelines, shielded by a protective barrier. They all remained enclosed within the shield that Elsa had erected to safeguard Alena and Jasmine from any potential danger heading their way—those two being the most vulnerable among the group.

This was Alena's first glimpse of this ruthless facet of Yohan; he surpassed every expectation she had ever held. Her gentle young son now battled on par with her own sister, a renowned warlord of the realm. She grappled with conflicting emotions—should she swell with pride or tremble in fear for him? Beyond that, it stunned her to discover the depth of resentment her sister harbored toward her; those cutting remarks from earlier still reverberated painfully in her mind.

"How could someone like me arise in your family? You still view me as kin, do you? That's quite the ironic remark to hurl at someone you're attempting to slay or conspire against... Perhaps it's not entirely your doing. Grandpa Leon once explained to me how the core clan you hail from operates—it's a brutal contest, devour or be devoured, where frailty finds no mercy."

Yohan whispered those words while turning his gaze toward Alena. "I'm grateful my mother escaped that wretched pit where vulnerability counts as the ultimate crime. I'm thankful she heeded her own desires. I'm relieved she chose her tranquility over that endless struggle, where you sacrifice your mind and serenity for some distant fantasy of dominating your kin. I'm overjoyed she's here... right beside me, liberated from all that toxic bitterness..." A warm smile crossed Yohan's lips, and a transformed expression flickered across Alena's features.

"You know, I simply can't bring myself to end you... If I did, my mother would be heartbroken, and I refuse to let that happen. No matter the venom you spat at her, she doesn't wish you dead. She still holds a tender spot for you." Yohan cocked his head, fixing his eyes on Aella, who stared back in bewilderment at his declaration.

"Curse you... I won't listen to any more of your nonsense... If you're set on finishing me, then do it...!" Aella's words trailed off mid-sentence as an overwhelming weight suddenly pressed upon her, followed swiftly by total blackness swallowing her sight. Her chest tightened unbearably as she sensed her form being pulled away by an invisible power.

"I'm not here to kill you... but you and your accomplice will face severe retribution for your offenses. You'll both suffer a thousand times over for crossing the wrong soul." Yohan's voice resounded through Aella's thoughts, and with that, she plunged into unconsciousness.

In that instant, both Yohan and Aella vanished into nothingness, shocking everyone present—including Evelyn, who hovered overhead. Her expression shifted dramatically as she lost track of their auras. She had lingered nearby for some time without meddling, aware that Yohan had no real intent to slay Aella; he was just amusing himself at her expense.

"What game are you playing, Yohan?" Evelyn whispered under her breath. She scanned the area with her spiritual senses but couldn't pinpoint Yohan or Aella. Besides them, Aira had also vanished— all three had slipped away like phantoms in the night.