Villain: I transmigrated with Mind Control Powers

The eastern wing of the ruins was known to be treacherous, filled with traps and guarded by ancient beasts. If Zhen Wei's sister was as talented as he claimed, she would be a valuable asset—but only if she could be brought under his control as well.

But he was aware that she is the heroine. That means either he can capture her heart or try to subdue her.

"Good," Aric replied smoothly. "Communicate with her immediately. Tell her that you were attacked by someone named Ye Chen and that you need her help urgently. She must come to us now."

Zhen Wei hesitated for only a moment before nodding obediently. He activated his communication talisman, a small, glowing crystal that allowed for short-range messaging within the ruins. "Sister," he called into the crystal, his voice urgent. "I've been attacked by someone named Ye Chen. I need your help right away. Come to the central chamber—hurry!"

The response was almost immediate. "Brother! Are you hurt? I'm on my way," her voice came through the talisman, filled with concern.

The heavy, oppressive silence of the ancient ruins was broken by the soft echo of footsteps approaching from the distant corridor. Zhen Wei's sister, Zhen Yu, was finally arriving. Aric, still standing near the entrance to the chamber, sensed her presence before he saw her.

His sharp instincts told him that this woman was no ordinary cultivator; she carried an aura of grace and power that could only come from a lifetime of rigorous cultivation and innate talent.

When Zhen Yu finally stepped into the chamber, it was as if a breath of fresh air had entered the stifling ruins. She was stunningly beautiful, with long, jet-black hair cascading down her back like a waterfall, shining even in the dim light of the ancient runes that lined the walls. Her eyes were as clear and piercing as the morning dew, a deep shade of violet that held a quiet intensity.

Her skin was flawless, almost porcelain-like, with a delicate yet resolute expression that belied the strength within her. She wore a traditional wuxia outfit—elegant robes of deep blue and silver that accentuated her slender yet powerful figure, the flowing fabric adorned with intricate patterns that reflected her status as a high-ranking cultivator of the Zhen family.

As she entered the chamber, her gaze quickly found her brother, Zhen Wei, who was still visibly shaken from the recent events. Her eyes then flicked to Aric, who stood beside him with an air of calm authority. Though she had never met Aric before, she could sense the depth of his cultivation, the power that seemed to radiate from him effortlessly.

"Brother, what happened?" Zhen Yu asked, her voice soft but commanding, a tone that demanded truth and action.

Zhen Wei took a deep breath, still processing the altered memories that Aric had implanted in him. He gestured to a small stone bench in the chamber's corner, inviting her to sit. As she gracefully took her seat, Zhen Wei began recounting the events in a hushed, urgent tone, the fear and relief palpable in his voice.

"Sister, it was Ye Chen," Zhen Wei began, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke the name. "He ambushed us while we were searching for a rare artifact. We were caught off guard… his power, it was overwhelming. I… I thought I was going to die."

Zhen Yu's eyes widened in shock and anger. "Ye Chen? That scoundrel dared to attack you? How did you escape?"

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +500 Villain Halo and +5000 Villain Points for affecting the relationship between the protagonist, Ye Chen and Daughter of Destiny, Zhen Yu.]

Zhen Wei glanced at Aric, his expression one of profound gratitude. "It was all thanks to Master Aric. If he hadn't intervened, I wouldn't be standing here now. Ye Chen had us pinned down, his attacks relentless. He was about to land the killing blow when Master Aric arrived. He… he fought like a demon, sister.

His power was beyond anything I've ever seen."

Zhen Yu turned her gaze to Aric, her expression softening with gratitude as her brother spoke. "Master Aric, thank you… I don't know how to express how grateful I am. You saved my brother's life. Without you… I can't even imagine."

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +500 Villain Halo and +5000 Villain Points for form making protagnoist Ye Chen as a villain.]

Aric inclined his head slightly, his face composed and unreadable. "There's no need for thanks, Lady Zhen Yu. Your brother was in danger, and I merely did what anyone with the power to help would have done."

Zhen Wei continued, his voice growing stronger as he recounted the battle. "Ye Chen… he was vicious, like a rabid beast. He kept attacking, but no matter how hard he tried, Master Aric deflected every blow. And when Ye Chen realized he couldn't win, he fled like the coward he is."

Zhen Yu's hands clenched into fists, her knuckles white. "Ye Chen is despicable! Attacking you out of nowhere, it's unforgivable. He must be dealt with."

Aric, watching Zhen Yu's reaction closely, noted the spark of anger in her eyes. It was clear that she was someone who valued family above all else, and any threat to her brother would not go unpunished. This would make her easier to manipulate in the future, should the need arise.

"Ye Chen will be dealt with," Aric assured her, his voice firm. "But right now, the priority is your safety and the safety of your family. You must regroup and ensure that everyone is accounted for."

Zhen Yu nodded, her anger tempered by the need for caution. "You're right, Master Aric. We must return to the main team. Zhen Liang will want to know what happened, and we can't afford to be separated for too long in these ruins."

Aric's eyes flicked to Zhen Wei, his expression unreadable. "Indeed. Zhen Wei, lead your sister back to your camp. But before you go…"

He stepped closer to Zhen Wei, lowering his voice so only the young man could hear. "Take this," Aric whispered, slipping another small vial of his blood into Zhen Wei's hand, the dark liquid inside swirling ominously. "Ensure that every member of your camp drinks this, except for your sister. It will… protect them from any more ambushes. Do you understand?"

Zhen Wei looked down at the vial, then back up at Aric, his expression one of unwavering loyalty. "Yes, Master Aric. I'll make sure it's done."

Aric gave a satisfied nod. "Good. Now go, and be safe."

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +1000 Villain Halo and +10,000 Villain Points for creating a positive image in front of Daughter of Destiny, Zhen Yu.]

Zhen Wei and Zhen Yu both bowed respectfully to Aric before turning to leave the chamber. As they exited, Zhen Yu glanced back at Aric, her violet eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and respect. Aric met her gaze with a calm, measured look, masking the dark intentions swirling beneath his composed exterior.

Once the siblings had disappeared down the corridor, Aric turned to his team, who had been silently observing the entire exchange. His followers were all under his control, their minds thoroughly altered by the blood they had consumed. There was no need to hide anything from them; they were bound to him in both body and spirit.

"System, show her status", Aric asked

[Name - Zhen Yu]

[Age - 19]

[Cultivation Level - Core Formation (1st Stage)]

[Strength - 19 (Normal Human Limit - 10)]

[Agility - 18 (Normal Human Limit - 10)]

[Intelligence - 15 (Normal Human Limit - 10)]

[Charm - 20 (Normal Human Limit - 10)]

[Physique - Radiant Jade Physique]

[Bloodline - Bloodline of the Divine Serpent]

[Cultivation Techniques - Serene Jade Art, Divine Serpent Cultivation]

[Skills - Serpent's Grace, Jade Serpent Strike, Coiling Dragon Technique, Celestial Serpent Barrier (Advanced)]

[Protagonist Halo (Luck) - 30,000]

Aric's eyes glinted with a mixture of anticipation and cold calculation as he reviewed Zhen Yu's status displayed by the system. The allure of her power, coupled with her beauty, made her an irresistible asset to his plans.

"It will be fun making this girl mine," Aric mused quietly to himself. His mind was already working out the details of how best to manipulate Zhen Yu, just as he had done with her brother.

Turning his attention back to the task at hand, Aric's thoughts shifted to Jarod. The tracking talisman he had secretly placed on Jarod before they entered the ruins had served its purpose well. Now, Aric could sense Jarod's presence deep within the labyrinthine ruins.

Aric focussed his mind and tried to find the location of Jarod.

Instantly, a faint, glowing image of Jarod's location appeared in Aric's mind. The tracker revealed that Jarod had ventured into a remote section of the ruins.

"Remote...Protagonist..Ruins"

"There must be something good there. Let's find out.", Aric thought in his mind

"It's time," Aric said, his voice carrying an edge of finality that silenced any lingering doubts among his followers. "We've allowed Jarod to roam free for too long."

His team nodded in unison, their expressions reflecting complete and unwavering loyalty to him. With a decisive turn, Aric led them out of the chamber, the shadows of the ancient ruins shifting and twisting as they moved deeper into the labyrinth.

The air grew colder as they descended further into the ruins, the oppressive silence broken only by the distant echo of dripping water and the soft hum of ancient magic that pulsed through the walls.

The deeper they went, the more the ruins seemed to come alive with a sense of foreboding. .

"We're close," Aric muttered, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the faint pulse of the tracker. He could feel the tension in his team building as they neared Jarod's location, each of them readying themselves for the confrontation to come.

Finally, they emerged into a vast chamber, its ceiling soaring high above them. The walls were lined with ancient glyphs that glowed with an eerie, greenish light. In the center of the chamber stood Jarod, his back turned to them as he examined an ancient, glowing artifact embedded in the ground.

Aric's eyes flashed with cold intent. This was the moment he had been waiting for.

"Jarod," Aric's voice rang out, sharp and commanding, cutting through the stillness of the chamber.

Jarod stiffened at the sound, his hand freezing just inches from the artifact. Slowly, he turned to face them, his expression a mixture of surprise and wariness. He had not expected to be found so quickly.

"Aric," Jarod replied, his voice steady despite the clear tension in the air. "I had a feeling you'd come."

"You've always been perceptive," Aric said with a cold smile. "But your journey ends here."

Jarod's eyes flicked to the members of Aric's team, noting their unwavering stance and the dark energy that seemed to radiate from them. He knew there was no talking his way out of this.

"I see," Jarod said quietly. "So it's come to this."

"It was inevitable," Aric replied, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "You've become a loose end that needs to be tied up."

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Thank You for 50 Chapters!

I never imagined we'd make it this far, and I owe it all to you, my incredible readers. Your support has been invaluable, and I truly couldn't have done it without you.

As we move forward, I'll continue to do my best to improve the story and deliver even better chapters. Here's to many more adventures together!