Villain: I transmigrated with Mind Control Powers
Chapter 100: Chapter 100: The Ancient Forbidden Grounds

While Aric was travelling back to the Starry sect, he was sitting in a chair inside the flying boat.

Aric smirked, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he glanced at the notifications from the System. The recent clash between Ye Chen and Long Tianyun had gone exactly as planned, allowing him to reap the benefits without even lifting a finger. His mood was light, knowing that both protagonists were unwittingly aiding his ascent to power.

He leaned back, stretching his arms as he reviewed the details on his status screen:

[The Ultimate Villain System]

[Name - Aric Lei (Ethan)]

[Age - 20]

[Cultivation Level - Divine Transformation Realm (2nd Stage)]

[Strength - 84]

[Agility - 81]

[Intelligence - 230]

[Charm - 71]

[Physique - Primal Chaos Physique]

[Bloodline - Ancient Asura Bloodline ]

[Cultivation Techniques - Iron Body Technique, Void Soul Assimilation Technique, Celestial Harmony Dual Cultivation Technique, Primordial Chaos Scripture]

[Skills - Eclipsing Shadow Blade (Master, Subskills: Shadow Slice, Phantom Strike, Eclipse Barrage), Tengzhi Fusion Fist (Beginner), Mystic Wind Movement, Essence of the Doppelganger]

[Items - Heavenly Jade Sword, Shadowbane Amulet, Shadow Veil Cloak, Supreme Bone, The Heart of the Primordial Titan,Demonic Requiem]

[Villain Halo - 207,000]

[Villain Points - 465,000]

The numbers looked satisfying. His Villain Points had skyrocketed since the battle between the two protagonists, and the Villain Halo surrounding him had grown denser, marking his continued influence over the flow of events.

"Show me the status of my fellow friends Ye Chen and Long Tianyun," Aric ordered, his tone casual but laced with a cruel undertone.

[Name: Long Tianyun]

[Age: 19]

[Cultivation Level: Nascent Soul (4th Stage)]

[Strength: 180]

[Agility: 160]

[Intelligence: 120]

[Charm: 95]

[Physique: Immortal Demon Physique]

[Bloodline: Ancestral Demon Bloodline]

[Cultivation Techniques: Celestial Demonic Codex]

[Skills: Abyssal Flame Fist, Void Step, Demonic Devouring Art, Nine Heavens Annihilation]

[Protagonist Halo: 56,000]

"Very good, Brother Tianyun," Aric mused, his lips curling into a smirk. "Keep giving your points to this fellow daoist." His voice dripped with mockery. Long Tianyun's struggle to prove himself, his blind fury against Ye Chen—it was all just a game to Aric. A way to siphon Villain Points as they foolishly clashed.

Next, he turned his attention to Ye Chen. The one who was supposed to be the great hero, the chosen one. The one whose luck and opportunities should have elevated him above all others.

[Name – Ye Chen]

[Age – 19]

[Cultivation Level – Core Formation (8th Stage)]

[Strength – 59]

[Agility – 53]

[Intelligence – 52]

[Charm – 42]

[Physique – Heavenly Dragon Physique]

[Bloodline – Heavenly Dragon Bloodline]

[Cultivation Techniques – Heavenly Dragon Ascension Art, Azure Flame Sword Art, Dragon's Wrath Fist, Wind Shadow Steps, Soul-Soothing Melody]

[Skills – Swordsmanship (Advanced), Alchemy (Intermediate), Formation Arrays (Basic), Beast Taming (Intermediate)]

[Protagonist Halo – 14,000]

Aric's eyes narrowed slightly, his smirk fading into a thoughtful expression. Ye Chen had taken a blow from their last encounter, his cultivation had dropped significantly, and his Protagonist Halo was no longer the radiant force it once was.

"Almost time to finish off this insect," Aric muttered, his voice cold and calculating. Ye Chen was weakened, vulnerable.

Soon, Aric arrived back at the Starry Sky Sect, the air was filled excitement and tension as the Ancient Forbidden Grounds were almost ready to be opened. The sect's disciples moved swiftly through the courtyard, their robes rustling as they gathered in small groups. Every conversation was focused on a single topic—the Ancient Forbidden Grounds. The anticipation was like the calm before a storm.

The Ancient Forbidden Grounds were not just any site of opportunity; they were a mystical space that connected to an entirely different realm, one filled with treasures, powerful spiritual beasts, and ancient cultivation techniques long lost to the mortal world. But these opportunities came with a price—the grounds were unpredictable, dangerous, and ever-shifting.

No one knew what to expect once inside, and every visit was entirely different from the last.

As Aric walked through the crowd, still disguised as Yu Haotian. People bowed to him to show him respect , but Aric kept on going. But he still listened to the conversations around him.

"I heard the last time the grounds were opened, one of our teams vanished!" one disciple whispered to another, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and fear.

"That's right. They say a vortex opened beneath them, and they were never seen again," another disciple responded, shaking his head. "But those who survived came back with treasures. With those they did not had to worry about for resources for quite some time."

Aric smirked. He knew better than anyone the risks and rewards of the Ancient Forbidden Grounds. In the original timeline, these grounds were supposed to be Ye Chen's chance to shine. Ye Chen would have grown immensely powerful, gathering treasures and cultivating rapidly.

His relationship with Su Ling would have blossomed during the trials, their bond strengthened through the dangers they faced together.

But this time, things were different. Aric had taken Ye Chen's place, and now, the opportunities belonged to him.

The grounds themselves were a mystery, even to the sect's most powerful elders. Every time they opened, the landscape within was entirely new, as if the realm itself was reshaping to prevent any from mastering it. Some years it presented vast mountain ranges and hidden temples; other years, it was forests of deadly spiritual beasts or labyrinthine caverns filled with ancient traps.

Most importantly, they were an exclusive place where only Starry Sky Sect disciples can practice. It was said that the energy required to open the grounds was immense, drawn from the natural spiritual veins that ran deep beneath the sect. These veins needed time to replenish, which was why the grounds could only be accessed once every thirty years.

Opening them any more frequently could lead to the collapse of the sect's spiritual foundations, potentially triggering a disaster that would consume the entire region.

"This event only happens once in thirty years…" another disciple whispered in awe. "The elders say it takes more than a century for the spiritual veins to fully recover from each opening."

"That's why the sect takes it so seriously," his companion added, nodding. "Every time the grounds open, the future of the sect depends on what treasures are brought back. Only the strongest and most promising disciples are sent."

Aric's smirk widened. He was no ordinary disciple, after all. Disguised as Yu Haotian, a true disciple of the Starry Sky Sect, he was in the perfect position to claim the best opportunities.

The next day, the air was heavy with anticipation as the sect gathered at the Celestial Nexus Pavilion, the sacred ground where the entrance to the Ancient Forbidden Grounds would be opened. The pavilion, located at the heart of the sect, was an awe-inspiring structure made of shimmering white stone and engraved with ancient runes that pulsed with spiritual energy.

The elders and sect leader, Ru Shenshen, were already gathered at the front, their auras radiating power as they prepared for the ritual. Sect Leader Ru Shenshen stood at the center, her eyes sharp as she surveyed the gathered disciples.

"Disciples of the Starry Sky Sect, today marks the beginning of your journey into the Ancient Forbidden Grounds," she announced, her voice clear and commanding. "This is an opportunity unlike any other. Treasures, resources, and ancient knowledge lie within. But be warned—these grounds are treacherous. Only the strong and wise will return."

Su Ling, standing among the disciples, listened intently, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and anxiety. She had been preparing for this moment for months, but the reality of entering the forbidden grounds now felt all too real.

"The energy required to open the portal is immense," Elder Fu added, his voice deep and resonant. "This gateway has been prepared over the past decade, drawing from the spiritual veins of our sect. Once opened, it will remain so for a brief period. When the time comes to return, do not linger. Failing to do so could mean being trapped within the grounds forever."

Ru Shenshen raised her hands, and the disciples fell silent. A low hum began to resonate through the pavilion, growing louder with each passing second. The ancient runes engraved in the stone glowed brighter as the gathered spiritual energy pulsed, converging into a single point above the platform.

"Let the gateway open," Ru Shenshen intoned, her voice echoing through the air.

The sky darkened, and a swirling vortex of energy appeared, twisting and warping the very air around it. A brilliant flash of light erupted from the vortex, and with a loud crack, the portal to the Ancient Forbidden Grounds appeared. A massive gateway, shimmering with ethereal light, stood before them, its surface rippling like water as the portal to another world opened.

The disciples gasped in awe, their faces illuminated by the glow of the portal. The sheer energy radiating from the gateway was overwhelming, and for a moment, it felt as though the air itself had become thicker with power.

"Look at it… the gateway to another realm," one disciple murmured, eyes wide with amazement.

"We're really going inside that?" another whispered, their voice filled with a mix of awe and fear.

Aric, still disguised as Yu Haotian, approached Su Ling as the disciples began to prepare to enter. "Junior sister," he called softly, his tone warm and inviting, "are you ready?"

Su Ling turned, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of him. His presence always made her feel more secure, and in this moment, she needed that reassurance. "Senior Brother, I've prepared as much as I can," she replied, her voice tinged with nervousness. "But I don't know what awaits us inside. Please… take care of me during the trials."

Aric smiled, his expression gentle yet confident. He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering to a near whisper. "You don't need to ask, Su Ling. We're a team, always." His gaze held hers for a moment longer, his words laced with subtle charm. "I wouldn't let anything happen to you. I'll protect you."

Su Ling's cheeks flushed, her heart racing as she heard his words. There was something about the way he spoke to her, the way he looked at her, that made her feel… special. "Thank you, Senior Brother," she whispered, her voice soft and sincere. She tried to steady her racing heart, but the warmth in her chest only grew.

"Stay close to me," Aric added, his voice filled with quiet authority.

As the sect leader gave the final signal, the disciples began to enter the portal. One by one, they stepped into the swirling gateway, their expressions a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

Aric reached out and took Su Ling's hand, his touch firm and reassuring. "Let's go," he said softly, and together, they stepped through the portal, leaving the familiar world of the Starry Sky Sect behind.

Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes, his vision hazy at first. The last thing he remembered was the desperate escape from his battle with Long Tianyun, where he had barely survived by the intervention of his Heavenly Dragon Bloodline. His body still ached, bruised and battered from the intense fight, but something was different now.

He blinked, trying to clear his vision, and as his surroundings came into focus, a sense of disorientation washed over him. He was no longer in the dark, confined space where he had hidden before. Instead, a strange and mysterious world stretched out before him, unlike anything he had ever seen.

END OF THE CHAPTER

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Dear Reader,

Today we have completed 100 Chapters in this novel.

I was always a reader like many of you. And I just had this fantasy that what if I was the villain and I had mind control powers (as they are one of my favourite powers) then what would have been the situation.

I had a very brief idea. And my initial motivation exhausted within the first 10 chapter. But it was all because of you guys who supported by power stones or golden tickets or by comments, reviews that kept me going.

Thank You for helping me to reach this milestone.

Special Thanks to Fans like.

- Alyan_Usman, Betoni_Valbrun, Anasya, reader_e, William_Tex, DaoistMB16yL, TheBrownpanda, End1essV0id, moamir_muhedin, Deep_Water_70, F24y, Austin_Springer_6184, Stormrall, Nathan_Umoren_10371, ziggyinyourviggy, Archerone, Smokey_Bus_9, Thierry_Daireaux, Daoist0rr7sJ, Ralis_Cravemoor, DaoistjgSy04, Terrorfreeze, Yuda_Yuda_4425, Peter_Hall_8247, JMKD, ZiCr0, Saitoo_Rush, Kinghollow, JustA_Thought, jo_rincevent and many more.

Your support has always been very much appreciated. I will try to deliver better quality chapter over time.

Thank you again.

Best Regards,

Author