Damian could clearly see and sense their malicious intentions, but was still calm and not intimidated by the group of senior cultivators in the slightest.

"Hand over the beast cores and we will let you go without a beating" threatened one of the group as they split apart and surrounded Damian.

It was clear to Damian that they were ignorant villagers that lived on the edge of the Gobe Country and hadn't used any quality cultivation methods or resources.

Because of that, their cultivation foundations and ability were very low along with the fact that they didn't know any powerful skills or techniques that were a threat to Damian.

[They should all be in their thirties, and yet are only rank 3 and 4 cultivators. They must have cultivated using only beast cores that they were able to salvage and based on instinct, but haven't cultivated properly and won't be able to progress much now with their foundation and age] observed Damian who had made sure to research as much as he could about everything in the academy.

[If only they hadn't threatened me, I would have been willing to hand some over as they aren't that useful to me, but now I have to teach them a lesson] thought Damian to himself as he stretched his body nonchalantly.

"Did you hear us kid? Do you want to die?" shouted another from the group angrily.

"We are from the Green Tiger Village and are the strongest cultivators in the village. You don't want to mess with us"

Damian was trying his best not to laugh at their threats and they expected Damian to cower in fear as, on the outskirts of the country, cultivators were legendary and quite rare.

However, Damian was smiling and they didn't seem to recognise his academy sigil that was dyed red with his own blood and the blood of the beasts he had killed.

"Listen, you guys better scram, otherwise I will have no choice but to fight back. I can forget your threats, but if you mess with me again, I won't let you off" warned Damian as he went to walk away.

However, after hearing that, the group of senior village cultivators burst out into laughter and in their eyes, Damian was merely a kid that had struck gold and luckily found a group of dead beasts and collected their beast cores.

"Stop there kid" shouted the cultivator that was closest to Damian as he charged towards him.

Damian pitied them as they didn't have the opportunities that he and the others within the inner parts of the country had, but one's lack of opportunities didn't mean that one should resort to crime and attacking lucky kids.

But unfortunately for them, Damian wasn't a normal lucky kid and he was a student from the prestigious Akegria Academy and was also the direct disciple of the great elder of the Aria Branch.

Bursting off the ground, Damian spun mid-air and launched a powerful kick with all his might at that cultivator's head and launched him flying and crashing into a nearby tree.

That attack cracked his skull and would probably inflict him injuries or brain damage that would last him for life, since Damian's body along with the momentum and element of surprise that he had, made the attack fatal.

The rest of the cultivators were shocked as they couldn't even react to such a fast attack and they looked over to their companion to find that one side of his head had been damaged severely and blood was pouring out of his head.

"You should take him to a doctor soon, otherwise he will die. If any of you mess with me again, I won't let any of you off. Take the beast bodies back to your village and next time don't try and attack or steal from somebody for no reason" advised Damian before walking away.

Damian didn't feel any guilt and couldn't care less about what happened to them as if he was a weak kid just like they had expected, they probably would have beaten him much worse and taken all of his belongings.

It was their intention that mattered to Damian and he was not going to let himself, and anyone he cared about, be stepped on or messed with.

The cultivators were shocked and didn't know how to react.

After Damian left, they quickly rushed over to their companion who had been taken down and severely injured with a single strike, then realised just how stupid they were for judging Damian based on his size and appearance, when it was quite obvious that it was him who had take down all the beasts.

However, they didn't feel any hatred towards him and instead were grateful as he had left them all of the beast bodies to take back to the village, which were enough to feed their village for months and also strengthen their villagers.

They were also grateful that he hadn't taken them all out and quickly sent one of them to take back their injured companions to the village, while the others began carrying as many beast bodies as they could, leaving one to stay with the beast bodies and protect them.

{Wow kid, it seems that are quickly becoming a ruthless man} commented Utsusu within Damian's mind, surprised by how much Damian had changed and grown in a matter of months since integrating with him.

Damian went from being a naive, ignorant and weak child, to becoming a knowledgable, capable and ruthless cultivator.

[I am ruthless against my enemies and oppressors, but that is how I should be. That doesn't make me a bad person and I will always do good when I can] stated Damian, justifying his actions.

Damian jumped up into the tallest and sturdiest tree that he found in the area and sat on a wide branch that was many metres above the ground and hidden with leaves.

Placing his bag down, Damian sat cross-legged and began circulating his energy and absorbing more energy as he took deep breaths to recover his External Energy and Internal Energy quickly.