Villain: I transmigrated with Mind Control Powers

With the danger seemingly passed, Lin Su turned to the Silvermoon Herb, her hand trembling slightly as she plucked it from the ancient tree's roots. Its soft glow bathed her face in pale light, casting a serene atmosphere around the clearing.

"We finally found it," she said, her voice filled with a mix of relief and triumph. The tension in her body slowly eased, and she held the herb up to the group, its silvery leaves shimmering in the moonlight.

Xu Lei, grinning from ear to ear, let out a triumphant laugh. "We did it, Senior Sister! I can't believe we found it."

Chen Rui, though usually calm and collected, had a rare smile on her face as well. "This herb is worth more than we could have imagined. It'll help our sect tremendously." She gently examined the glowing herb, already envisioning the healing elixirs she could brew with it.

Zhao Ming, who had been quiet for most of the journey, breathed a deep sigh of relief. "I can't wait to get back to the sect. I thought we wouldn't make it after that last fight."

Lin Su smiled, though her gaze remained alert as she scanned the surrounding forest. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We've got the herb, but we're still deep inside the Silvermoon Forest. The journey back will be just as dangerous, if not more."

Li Yuan, standing quietly behind them, felt an unease growing in his chest. His eyes flicked to the herb, and although it was a valuable find, something wasn't sitting right with him.

The voices that had been tugging at his mind grew stronger with each passing moment, urging him toward something more.

He couldn't explain it, but the Silvermoon Herb didn't feel like the end of their journey—it felt like the beginning of something far greater.

"Senior Sister Lin Su," Li Yuan began, his voice steady despite the growing anxiety in his heart. "I think… we should rest nearby before we head back. I'm not sure why, but I feel like there's something more in this area. Something we haven't found yet."

Lin Su raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting to Li Yuan. "More? We already have the Silvermoon Herb, Junior Brother. That's the entire reason we came here."

Xu Lei chuckled, clearly in a celebratory mood. "Don't tell me you're getting greedy, Junior Brother. We've got what we came for—let's not push our luck."

Li Yuan shook his head. "It's not greed. I just… have a feeling. Something is pulling me toward the lake ahead. I don't know how to explain it."

Zhao Ming, who was still nervous after their encounter with the beasts, looked worried. "A lake? Isn't that too risky? We don't know what's lurking around there. What if there's more danger?"

Lin Su looked between them, her expression thoughtful. She trusted Li Yuan's instincts—he had proven himself many times before. Still, they needed to be cautious. "Alright," she said finally, "we'll rest near the lake for a bit before heading back. But if things look too dangerous, we'll leave immediately. Agreed?"

The group nodded, though Xu Lei muttered something about "unnecessary risks."

They made their way through the forest, heading toward the lake that Li Yuan had mentioned. The air was thick with spiritual energy, and the deeper they went, the more Li Yuan's unease grew. He could feel it now, more than ever—a pull, like a thread tugging at his very soul.

Scene Transition: Aric's Perspective

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the Silvermoon Forest, Aric moved swiftly and silently, his eyes gleaming with purpose.

He had been following Li Yuan's group from a distance, his celestial veil technique cloaking him from their senses. His mastery of movement and stealth allowed him to remain undetected as he observed their progress.

Aric had no interest in the Silvermoon Herb; his goal was the Rebirth Stone.

Aric was aware that after obtaining the Silvermoon Herb, Li Yuan and his team would rest near a lake, and there, Li Yuan would accidentally stumble upon the Rebirth Stone, buried deep within its waters.

"But that won't happen," Aric thought, smirking to himself as he flew above the forest, his gaze scanning the terrain below.

Using his Divine Sense, Aric searched for the lake mentioned in the plot, his awareness expanding across the landscape like a web. There were several lakes scattered throughout the forest, but not all of them matched the description in the Plot Ticket.

Aric checked the first lake—it wasn't the right one. The water was still and quiet, with no signs of hidden power beneath its surface. He moved on to the next, and the next, his patience wearing thin as he carefully eliminated each possibility. Finally, his divine sense brushed against something—a surge of spiritual energy unlike anything else he had sensed before. The lake.

"There it is," Aric murmured to himself, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "The Rebirth Stone."

Without wasting any more time, Aric descended toward the lake, landing quietly on its shore. His presence was hidden, his aura masked as he approached the water. He glanced around, ensuring that no one from Li Yuan's group was nearby yet. "They're still making their way here. Perfect."

Aric stood at the edge of the lake, peering into the still waters. With a wave of his hand, he activated his Mystic Wind Movement technique and glided smoothly across the surface, his eyes scanning the depths below.

The lake shimmered with an ethereal glow, and far beneath the surface, he saw it—the Rebirth Stone, resting at the bottom of the lake like a beacon of raw power. It pulsed with an ancient energy, calling out to anyone who could sense its potential.

Aric smirked, his heart racing with excitement. He dove into the water, his body moving gracefully as he swam toward the stone. The moment he reached it, he extended his hand, wrapping his fingers around the smooth, glowing surface. As soon as his hand made contact, a surge of power coursed through him, making his entire body vibrate with energy.

He rose to the surface, the stone clutched tightly in his hand. "This is it," Aric whispered, gazing at the glowing relic. "The power to reset, to be reborn… Li Yuan had no idea what he was about to lose."

Aric activated the system in his mind, eager for more information about the Rebirth Stone.

[Ding! Host has acquired the Rebirth Stone. You gained 25000 Villain Halo and +250,000 Villain Points for stealing the opportunity of the protagonist Li Yuan]

Aric grinned wickedly. "Perfect. This stone will be mine. Li Yuan won't even know what he missed."

Li Yuan was once a powerful cultivator in his previous life, known as Li Chengfeng, an unparalleled genius from the Celestial Sage Realm in the upper world. This realm was a place where only the strongest cultivators reigned, with powers far beyond the comprehension of mortals.

It was a world filled with heavenly treasures, ancient techniques, and sects that ruled entire regions. Li Chengfeng had soared through the ranks, earning his place as one of the most powerful cultivators in the realm.

His rise to prominence had been swift. Born into the illustrious Li Family, one of the most ancient and respected families in the Celestial Sage Realm, Li Chengfeng had demonstrated talent that far surpassed even the most promising disciples.

From a young age, he mastered the Nine Heavens Fate Manipulation Art, a technique that allowed him to alter the flow of destiny itself, bending the will of fate to his advantage.

His reputation spread far and wide, and many saw him as the destined leader of the realm, someone who would bring balance to the chaotic power struggles that plagued the Celestial Sage Realm.

However, with great power came great jealousy and envy. While many respected and revered him, others saw him as a threat. Among them were those closest to him—the Li Family, his own bloodline, and their political allies, the Jiang Family.

In particular, Li Wuheng, his elder brother, had always been overshadowed by Li Chengfeng's accomplishments. Though Lei Wuheng was a strong cultivator in his own right, he was never able to escape Li Chengfeng's shadow, and this bred a deep resentment within him.

There were others as well: Jiang Jingyi, a talented cultivator from the Jiang Family, had long harbored feelings of inadequacy next to Li Chengfeng, despite their apparent friendship.

Together with Zhou Tian from the Zhou Clan and Han Xiang from the Han Sect, they formed an alliance that sought to bring down Li Chengfeng.

Their motives were clear—if they could rid themselves of him, they could claim the riches, treasures, and influence that his power attracted.

And then there was Li Feng, Li Chengfeng's closest confidant, his sworn brother. But Li Feng was the worst of them all, for it was he who orchestrated the ambush.

Li Feng had pretended to be loyal, using their bond to get close enough to strike at the heart of Li Chengfeng's legacy.

The Li Family had always been one filled with internal rivalries, but this betrayal cut the deepest. The betrayal from his blood.

In the final battle, they attacked Li Chengfeng when he was most vulnerable, using a forbidden array that shattered his dantian, crippling his cultivation.

The ambush was quick and brutal, leaving him no chance to retaliate. His allies had deserted him, and those who had once called him brother stood over him, ready to take his life and his legacy.

But Li Chengfeng was no fool. He had long sensed the growing envy in their hearts and had made preparations. In the days before the betrayal, he had poured a fraction of his soul and his memories into a powerful relic—the Rebirth Stone.

This ancient artifact, hidden deep within the mortal world in a place known only to him, would allow him to be reborn in a future life, free from the shackles of his current body.

As his enemies closed in on him, ready to claim his life, Li Chengfeng activated a final protective array. With the last of his strength, he triggered the Rebirth Stone, sealing a portion of his consciousness within it.

This technique was one that no ordinary cultivator could use—it required the knowledge of the Soul Fragmentation Art, a technique forbidden even in the upper realms.

Through this art, Li Chengfeng ensured that when his soul eventually reincarnated, he would retain fragments of his past life's memories, guiding him back to power.

In his last moments, Li Chengfeng vowed vengeance. He may have lost that battle, but he knew his time would come again. His soul would awaken in another life, and when it did, he would regain his cultivation, his power, and his place at the top of the cultivation world.