Villain: I transmigrated with Mind Control Powers

As Aric assessed his body, he realized that his cultivation had jumped significantly, all the way to the 4th Stage of the Half Immortal Realm. He was already closing in on the 5th stage, something that would have taken ordinary cultivators decades, if not centuries, to achieve.

"The Supreme Bone," Aric thought with a wicked grin, "it's no wonder the world considers those born with it to be heaven's chosen. With this, I can progress faster than anyone... surpass anyone."

But Aric was no fool. He knew that integrating such a powerful relic usually came with consequences.

Visions from the heavens, loud roars of spiritual energy, even tribulations from the skies themselves. Normally, such a breakthrough would have drawn attention from powerful beings.

"System," Aric said, his tone serious. "You're ensuring that no one detects my breakthrough, correct?"

[Ding! Host is protected from detection. The heavenly vision and tribulation effects have been suppressed. No one will discover your true power unless you reveal it yourself.]

Aric exhaled in relief, a dark chuckle escaping his lips. "Good. The last thing I need right now is more enemies."

With the power of the Heart of the Primordial Titan and the Supreme Bone fused within him, Aric now felt unstoppable.

The excitement bubbled within him. "I still have three days before the trials begin," Aric thought, his eyes gleaming. "That's more than enough time to stabilize my power and push my cultivation even further."

As the days passed, he crossed into the 5th stage of the Half Immortal realm, edging closer to the 6th stage.

His strength and aura had reached their peak, and while he still harbored concerns about the trials, he knew he was the strongest he had ever been. For the first time, he felt confident in his ability to face whatever the Holy Sect would throw at him.

On the morning of the third day, Aric left the inn, paying the remaining bill with his storage ring, and began his journey toward the Holy Sect Grounds.

The city was alive with activity as hundreds of cultivators moved toward the same destination. He could feel the tension in the air, the anticipation, and nervousness from those hoping to secure a place in the sect.

Aric glanced around, his senses sharp, checking the status of the various cultivators around him.

While many were at the peak of the Half Immortal realm, just like him, he felt reassured that none had yet ascended to the Immortal realm.

This gave him a slight advantage, though he knew the trials wouldn't be based solely on cultivation level.

He recalled the lessons of the cultivation world: strength alone wasn't enough. Talent, physique, and potential all played a role.

Imagine two phones—one with 64GB of storage and another with 256GB. While they might both seem similar initially if only a few apps are installed, as time goes on and more data and apps accumulate, the 256GB phone will clearly have the advantage. It can store more, process larger files, and handle more tasks efficiently.

Similarly, a cultivator with high innate talent, despite being in a lower realm for now, has the potential to progress much faster.

Their cultivation speed, ability to comprehend techniques, and overall strength will increase exponentially compared to someone who might be at a higher realm but lacks that innate gift. Over time, the talented cultivator will surpass others.

After walking for a while, Aric finally arrived at the Holy Sect Grounds. The area was massive, with grand walls towering above them, exuding an aura of power and authority.

Guards, clearly in the Immortal realm, were stationed at every entrance, their eyes cold and scanning the faces of those entering.

Aric took note of the two guards closest to him, assessing their strength through the system.

[Name: Xian Zhi]

[Age: 72]

[Cultivation Level: Immortal Realm (5th Stage)]

[Strength: 850]

[Agility: 780]

[Intelligence: 230]

[Bloodline: Ironclad Demon Bloodline]

[Physique: Iron Body Physique]

[Skills: Iron Fist Technique, Soul Sealing Strike, Mountain Guardian's Roar]

Then Aric looked at the other guard.

[Name: Liang Fei]

[Age: 68]

[Cultivation Level: Immortal Realm (4th Stage)]

[Strength: 820]

[Agility: 760]

[Intelligence: 215]

[Bloodline: Azure Dragon Bloodline]

[Physique: Azure Dragon Physique]

[Skills: Azure Dragon Palm, Soul Suppression Technique, Dragon's Breath]

As Aric received the information, he couldn't help but be impressed by the strength of the guards.

They were formidable, and their presence only reminded him of the higher stakes in the upper world. Still, he remained calm and composed, knowing he could blend in easily and keep his true power hidden.

One of the guards, Xian Zhi, eyed him with suspicion as he approached.

"Where are you from?" Xian Zhi asked, his voice gruff and authoritative.

Aric gave a slight smile, adopting an air of humility. "I'm a rogue cultivator. I come from Onlan," he said smoothly, referring to the region where the Yun family was located.

The guards exchanged glances, seemingly satisfied with his answer. Xian Zhi made a note of his name and background, then handed Aric a token, an oval-shaped object glowing faintly with spiritual energy.

"Take this. If you fail the trials, the token will leave an imprint on your hand to signify that you're unqualified. You can try again when the next selection happens."

Aric nodded in thanks, accepting the token and stepping past the guards. As he crossed into the Holy Sect Grounds, his eyes narrowed, taking in the vastness of the place.

The grounds were alive with hundreds of hopeful cultivators, all vying for a chance to enter one of the most powerful sects in the upper world.

Aric, sitting calmly, observed the surroundings with a sharp eye. Guards were stationed at every corner of the grounds, ensuring order was maintained and no one violated the rules.

Candidates with tokens were assigned designated spots, and Aric was no exception. He had already been seated in the center-left section of the grounds, scanning his competitors and the environment with cool detachment.

While waiting for the trials to begin, Aric quietly assessed the strength of those around him. He noted that most of the cultivators present were in the half-immortal realm, similar to his own cultivation.

While some looked formidable, none seemed extraordinary enough to warrant his full attention.

The system in his mind gave no alerts, meaning there were no protagonists or daughters of destiny among them — at least not yet.

As time passed, the trials were about to commence when suddenly, a commotion near the gate caught Aric's attention.

The disturbance grew loud enough for him to hear clearly, despite being seated far from the entrance. Curious, he turned his head toward the source of the noise.

Near the gates stood a young boy, around 19 years of age, pleading with the guards. The boy seemed insistent, almost desperate, to be allowed entry into the trials. The issue, however, was clear — he was late.

The process to enter had already concluded, and the gates were closed. But the boy refused to accept this, continuing to plead his case to the stern guards who denied him.

Beside him stood a girl, presumably his sister, silently supporting his plea. They both looked determined, but the guards showed no sign of relenting.

The boy's name was Xu Mevan, and the girl beside him was Xu Amber. Though their cultivations were not incredibly high compared to others present — Xu Mevan was in the 2nd stage of the half-immortal realm, and Xu Amber was in the 1st stage — something about the way they carried themselves intrigued Aric. They weren't just ordinary cultivators.

Just as Aric was considering whether to return his focus to the trials, two distinct notifications echoed in his mind, causing him to sit up straighter.

[Ding! A new protagonist, Xu Mevan, is detected around the host.]

[Ding! A new daughter of destiny, Xu Amber, is detected around the host.]

Aric's lips curled into a small smile. "So, here they are," he thought, his mind now fully focused on the two siblings causing the commotion. His instincts were correct, and the system confirmed it. A protagonist and a daughter of destiny — two valuable targets, standing right in front of him.

He watched closely, eyes narrowing as Xu Mevan continued to argue with the guards. The boy's persistence was admirable, almost foolish, but it was clear that his determination wasn't driven by arrogance. There was something deeper at play, and now, Aric wanted to know what.

The guards at the gate, however, were growing tired of the commotion.

"Enough!" one of the guards barked, his voice echoing across the grounds. "The entry process is closed. You cannot enter. Leave now before we force you to."

Xu Mevan clenched his fists, his frustration evident. "You don't understand! I need to be part of this trial! I—"

"Rules are rules!" the guard interrupted, taking a step forward to emphasize his authority. "You're too late. Turn back."

Before things could escalate further, Xu Amber stepped forward and spoke softly to her brother, her voice calm and measured. "Mevan, it's okay. We can find another way."