One of the guards was a body forger with the classic Iron Armor Life Ability, while the other was a mind hunter with the Marionette Life Ability. Both of them possessed a potential of around 40%. They also both had status.
This puts their power at 2(Status) × 3(Cultivation) × (3(Mind) + 40%(Energy Well)) × (3(Life Ability) + 4(Living Armament)) × (200% Skill), which is 285.6 units. That small boost of 0.4 points that their energy well granted to their stats raised their power from 252 units to 285.5, which is actually a 13.3% boost to their overall power.
This kind of power matched his power output with his Life Ability, which was 289.737 units. So, despite having a status, he was still slightly stronger than they were.
However, he wouldn't be able to defeat them if he continued to use his previous combination, and even if he managed to wear them down, it wouldn't happen before Skarg comes over with more people.
