Villain: I transmigrated with Mind Control Powers

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The Heavenly Demonic Sect

Ye Chen, unaware of the full extent of the rumors but noticing the cold glances and whispers, was taken aback by the sudden summons. His heart pounded as he walked towards the elders, trying to understand how things had escalated so quickly. He had no idea that this was another step in Aric's plan to isolate and destroy him.

The examination was conducted in the central hall, where many disciples and elders gathered to witness the proceedings. The atmosphere was tense, and Ye Chen could feel the weight of their gazes on him. The process was thorough—his cultivation was scrutinized for any traces of dark or forbidden energy, and his spiritual roots were examined by the most knowledgeable elders.

As the examination continued, Ye Chen stood silently, his fists clenched. He knew he was innocent, but the doubt in the eyes of his peers stung deeply. The elders probed deeper, their expressions growing more serious as they worked.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the head elder, a stern man with a long white beard, stepped forward. "Ye Chen," he began, his voice carrying throughout the hall, "we have found no evidence of demonic cultivation within you. Your cultivation is pure."

A collective sigh of relief passed through the hall, but the damage was done. Although he was cleared of any wrongdoing, the seeds of doubt had been planted in the minds of many. Some still looked at Ye Chen with suspicion, while others felt a mixture of guilt and confusion. The rumors had achieved their purpose—isolating Ye Chen from his peers and sowing discord within the sect.

Aric's mind buzzed with excitement as he carefully plotted his next move. The recent success in framing Ye Chen for Sylvia Song's death only fueled his ambition, and now, he aimed to create utter chaos during the Starry Sky Sect's upcoming inner disciple competition. For this, he needed something special—a way to infiltrate without detection.

Summoning the Ultimate Villain System, Aric made his request.

[Ding! Welcome, Host. What would you like to request today?]

"I need a disguise skill, something that can completely transform me into another person," Aric stated, his voice filled with anticipation.

[Ding! The following disguise techniques are available: Veil of Thousand Faces, Phantom Mirage, Celestial Shapeshift, and Essence of the Doppelganger.]

Each technique carried the essence of ancient mysticism, but Aric's eyes were immediately drawn to the most expensive one—Essence of the Doppelganger. The description alone was enough to convince him.

[Essence of the Doppelganger: Cost - 400,000 Villain Points. This technique allows the user to fully replicate another person's appearance, voice, aura, and even their cultivation. The disguise is flawless, capable of deceiving even those with powerful spiritual senses. The transformation includes mimicking physique, meridian structures, and innate talents.]

It was costly, but Aric knew it was worth every point.

"I'll take it," he said, without hesitation.

[Ding! 400,000 Villain Points deducted. You have acquired Essence of the Doppelganger.]

As the technique integrated into his mind, Aric felt a wave of power wash over him. He immediately tested it, watching in fascination as his body shifted and transformed. His skin paled, his muscles retracted slightly, and within moments, he was the spitting image of Ye Chen. His voice, his aura—everything was identical.

"This will do nicely," Aric smirked, admiring his new form.

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The Heavenly Demonic Sect was a formidable and feared organization within the Velara Continent. Hidden deep within the Bloodthirsty Forest, their headquarters was a dark, foreboding fortress made of black stone, with tall spires that seemed to pierce the heavens. The air around the sect was thick with malevolent energy, and the ground was littered with the bones of those who had dared to trespass.

The sect was known for its ruthless cultivation techniques and the dark rituals they performed to increase their power. They were shunned by the orthodox sects like the Starry Sky Sect, who saw them as a blight on the cultivation world. Yet, despite their dark reputation, the Heavenly Demonic Sect attracted many aspiring cultivators who were drawn to their promises of power and dominance.

The Patriarch of the Heavenly Demonic Sect, Mo Xuan, was revered as a god by his followers. He was a being of immense power, having long surpassed the Divine Transformation Realm, and his mastery of the Nightmare Devouring Technique—which allowed him to consume the souls of his enemies—was legendary.

The sect's disciples revered him with a fanaticism that bordered on madness, seeing him as an infallible deity who could bestow power and eternal life upon the worthy.

Upon arriving at the gates, Aric—disguised as Ye Chen—was immediately confronted by two demonic cultivators. Their eyes were cold and filled with malice as they blocked his path.

"Who goes there? one of them snarled, his hand resting on the hilt of a wickedly curved blade.

"I am Ye Chen,"Aric responded smoothly, his voice perfectly mimicking the young protagonist's tone. "I seek to join the Heavenly Demonic Sect."

The guards exchanged glances before nodding. "You must prove yourself," one of them said, pointing towards a stone tablet inscribed with ancient demonic symbols. "Place your hand on the tablet. It will judge your worth."

Aric, unfazed, placed his hand on the tablet. A dark aura emanated from it, attempting to invade his mind, but Aric's powerful cultivation and will easily repelled the dark energy. The tablet glowed briefly before dimming, a sign of acceptance.

"You may enter," the guard said, impressed. "But first, you must pass the initiation test.

Aric, disguised as Ye Chen, stood among nearly a hundred other hopefuls in the Grand Hall. These were aspiring demonic cultivators from all corners of the continent, each eager to prove themselves and earn a place within the sect. Some were dressed in ragged robes, their eyes wild with desperation, while others wore finely crafted armor, exuding an aura of arrogance.

Each participant was unique, yet all shared the same burning desire—to survive the trial and gain the power that the sect promised.

The elders overseeing the initiation test, Elder Feng Jiao and Elder Yan Shu, watched from a raised platform. They were seasoned demonic cultivators, their eyes cold and calculating as they observed the initiates.

"Let the trial begin!" Elder Feng Jiao's voice echoed through the hall, and the first participant was called forward.

A young man, barely eighteen, stepped forward with a determined expression. He was pitted against a Bloodthirsty Shadow Wolf, a creature known for its speed and ferocity. The battle was intense, with the young man using every ounce of his strength and skill to fend off the beast. But in the end, the wolf proved too strong.

With a final, desperate howl, the young man was torn apart, his blood splattering across the arena. The other participants watched in silence, some with fear, others with grim determination.

One by one, the initiates faced their trials. Some, like the first, met their end in the arena, their dreams of power snuffed out in an instant. Others managed to survive, barely defeating their opponents and earning the approval of the elders. The successful ones were greeted with cold nods, their successes acknowledged but not celebrated.

Then it was Aric's turn.

As he stepped into the arena, the crowd murmured. His youthful appearance, combined with the aura he exuded, drew their attention. The elders watched with particular interest, having heard whispers of the prodigy known as Ye Chen.

Aric was pitted against a Dread Hydra, a three-headed serpent known for its poisonous breath and deadly speed. The Hydra's scales shimmered with a dark, oily sheen, and its eyes glowed with malevolence. The crowd leaned forward, eager to see how this young man would fare.

The battle began with the Hydra lunging at Aric, its heads snapping forward with blinding speed. But Aric was faster. With a swift movement, he activated the Eclipsing Shadow Blade—a skill he had mastered that allowed him to strike with the speed and precision of a shadow. The blade glowed with a dark light as he unleashed a series of strikes, each one aimed at the Hydra's weak points.

The crowd gasped as they watched Aric move. He was a blur of motion, his strikes perfectly timed and executed. The Hydra barely had time to react before one of its heads was severed, followed by another. Within moments, all three heads lay on the ground, the Hydra's body collapsing in a lifeless heap.

The hall was silent for a moment, and then the crowd erupted in murmurs. Even the elders exchanged glances, impressed by the display of skill and power.

As Aric exited the arena, the successful initiates were led deeper into the fortress, where they would undergo the final rituals to become full-fledged members of the sect. The deeper they went, the more the atmosphere changed. The air grew thicker with dark energy, and the walls seemed to pulse with a malevolent force.

The initiates were brought before a massive statue of Patriarch Mo Xuan, a towering figure carved from black stone. The statue depicted him as a god-like being, with a crown of thorns and eyes that seemed to burn with an eternal flame. The air around the statue was filled with a palpable sense of reverence and fear.

The initiates were instructed to kneel before the statue, and one by one, they did so without hesitation. Their eyes were filled with a mix of awe and fanaticism as they gazed upon the statue, seeing in it the embodiment of their hopes and dreams. To them, Patriarch Mo Xuan was not just a leader; he was a god, a being of ultimate power who could grant them the strength to conquer the world.

As Aric knelt before the statue, he could feel the intensity of the devotion that surrounded him. The other initiates whispered prayers, their voices trembling with fervor. Some even shed tears, overwhelmed by the presence of their revered leader.

Elder Yan Shu stepped forward, holding a ceremonial dagger. "Before you can join the Heavenly Demonic Sect, you must prove your loyalty to the Patriarch," she declared, her voice echoing through the chamber. "You must offer a drop of your blood to the statue, so that the Patriarch may accept you into his fold."

One by one, the initiates cut their palms and offered their blood to the statue, the dark stone absorbing the crimson liquid as if it were alive. As they did so, their faces were filled with a mixture of pain and ecstasy, as if the act of offering their blood brought them closer to their god.

When it was Aric's turn, he sliced his palm without hesitation and allowed his blood to drip onto the statue. As his blood was absorbed, he could feel a strange energy flow through him, a connection to the dark power that permeated the sect. He knew it was an illusion, but he played his part well, showing the same reverence and devotion as the others.

The group of new initiates, now fewer in number after the brutal trials, were herded into a smaller, more secluded chamber. This room was dimly lit by crimson lanterns that cast eerie shadows on the walls. The air was thick with the scent of incense, mixed with something more pungent—fear.

Standing in the center of the chamber was Elder Yan Shu, her eyes cold and unforgiving. Beside her was a large stone altar, inscribed with demonic runes that pulsed with a malevolent light. The altar was flanked by two massive stone statues of demonic beasts, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly fire.

"The time has come for the final ritual," Elder Yan Shu announced, her voice echoing off the stone walls. "You have proven your strength in battle, but strength alone is not enough to earn a place in the Heavenly Demonic Sect. Loyalty is paramount, and the Heart Gu ritual will ensure your unwavering devotion to the Patriarch."

A murmur of fear and apprehension rippled through the initiates. They had heard whispers of the Heart Gu—a parasitic insect that would burrow into their hearts, binding them to the will of the sect. Once implanted, the Gu would feed off their life force, growing stronger with time, and giving the sect's elders the ability to control them with a mere thought.

Aric, disguised as Ye Chen, maintained his composed demeanor, but he listened intently to the murmurs around him. This was the price of power within the Heavenly Demonic Sect—a price that many were willing to pay, despite the horror that awaited them.

Elder Yan Shu gestured to a table near the altar, where a small, intricately carved wooden box lay. With a slow, deliberate motion, she opened the box, revealing a writhing mass of tiny, black insects—each no larger than a grain of rice. These were the Heart Gu, their tiny legs moving in a synchronized rhythm as if they were of one mind.

"Step forward," Elder Yan Shu commanded, her voice brokering no refusal.

The first initiate, a young man with wild eyes and a trembling body, hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward. His fear was palpable, but so was his determination. He had come too far to turn back now. With a deep breath, he knelt before the altar.

Elder Yan Shu carefully picked up one of the Gu with a pair of long, silver tongs. The tiny creature wriggled violently as it was brought close to the young man's chest. Without ceremony, Elder Yan Shu placed the Gu over his heart and chanted a series of incantations. The demonic runes on the altar glowed brighter, casting an ominous light on the scene.

The young man gasped as the Gu suddenly burrowed into his chest, the sensation akin to a hot knife stabbing into his heart. His body convulsed as the insect dug deeper, seeking the core of his being. For a moment, it seemed as though he might pass out from the pain, but then his body stilled, his breathing ragged but steady.

"It is done," Elder Yan Shu declared. "Rise, and know that your heart now belongs to the Heavenly Demonic Sect."

The young man, pale and sweating, slowly rose to his feet. His eyes, once filled with fear, now held a glazed look, as if a part of him had been hollowed out. He staggered back to the group, clutching his chest, but there was no going back. The Heart Gu was inside him now, a constant reminder of the price he had paid for power.

One by one, the other initiates were subjected to the same ritual. Some bore the pain in silence, their faces twisted in agony, while others screamed, their voices echoing through the chamber. But none dared to refuse. To do so would mean certain death.

Finally, it was Aric's turn.

He stepped forward with calculated calmness, his expression one of unwavering resolve. The elders watched him closely, curious about how this "Ye Chen" would handle the ritual.

Elder Yan Shu picked up another Heart Gu with her tongs and moved toward Aric. As she placed the writhing insect over his chest, Aric could feel its malevolent energy, a dark force that sought to invade his very soul. But unlike the others, he was prepared.

As the Gu attempted to burrow into his chest, Aric activated his Void Soul Assimilation Technique—a powerful ability he had mastered that allowed him to isolate his soul from any external influence. The Gu, sensing the resistance, tried to push deeper, but Aric's will was too strong. He directed the dark energy away from his heart, allowing it to settle in a harmless section of his chest.

To the outside observer, it appeared as though Aric was undergoing the same ritual as the others. He grimaced, clenching his fists as the Gu made its way into his body, but he remained standing, his breathing steady. Inside, however, he had complete control over the parasite, keeping it dormant and harmless.

"It is done," Elder Yan Shu repeated, her voice tinged with approval. "Rise, and know that your heart now belongs to the Heavenly Demonic Sect."

Aric stood tall, his face a mask of resolve. He had survived the Heart Gu ritual without truly succumbing to its effects. As he rejoined the other initiates, he couldn't help but smirk inwardly. They were now bound by the Heart Gu, their lives and loyalties tied irrevocably to the sect. But he, the true mastermind, remained free—a wolf in sheep's clothing, ready to unleash havoc at the right moment.