Villain: I transmigrated with Mind Control Powers

However, he quickly refocused on the task at hand. This expedition was not just about the ruins but also about identifying and eliminating potential threats to his own power.

"System, did you find any other protagonists other than Jarod?" Aric asked, his voice low and intent.

["Ding! Host, indeed. There is another protagonist named Ye Chen."]

Aric rolled his eyes. "What a cliché name. Every syllable reeks of a protagonist."

"Where is he?" Aric inquired, his curiosity piqued.

[Ding! Host, the protagonist entered the ruins sometime back. He belongs to the Starry Sky Sect.]

"Starry Sky... Hmmm," Aric murmured, pondering the implications. "Does this mean there is also a daughter of destiny?"

[Ding! Host, you are correct. Zhen Yu of the Zhen family is the daughter of destiny.]

Aric sighed, feeling a mixture of annoyance and excitement. "But I haven\'t even finished dealing with one protagonist, and now you\'re introducing another."

[Ding! Host, it\'s the world of multiple novels, so many stories may overlap simultaneously.]

"So, which novel does he belong to?" Aric asked, seeking to understand the potential threat better.

[Ding! Host, Ye Chen belongs to the novel "Starry Ascension," a tale of a young cultivator rising to prominence through sheer talent and willpower.]

"Starry Ascension, huh? Sounds like the typical underdog story," Aric mused, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "This should be interesting."

"Since a new protagonist is here. Let\'s welcome him. This also means its time for Jarod to say goodbye", Aric\'s eyes gleamed with a dark satisfaction

He gathered his team and then said, "Now, we are going to enter the ruins. Remember, your roles and if you find something always inform your party members."

"Let\'s enter the ruins", Aric commanded

As Aric\'s team entered the ruins, the air was filled with a palpable sense of ancient power and mystery. The ruins sprawled out before them, a vast complex of crumbling structures, overgrown with vegetation and shrouded in the mists of time. The once grand buildings of the ancient civilization now stood in various states of decay, their stone walls covered in moss and vines.

Pillars and statues, though weathered, still exuded a sense of grandeur and reverence.

The team moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing softly on the stone pathways. Aric led the way, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger or hidden treasures. The ruins were a labyrinth of narrow corridors, open courtyards, and towering edifices, each turn revealing new wonders and potential threats.

"Stay alert," Aric commanded, his voice firm. "These ruins are ancient and may hold traps or guardians."

Lei Fang, one of the more experienced members of the team, nodded. "I\'ve heard that these ruins have been known to contain powerful formations and hidden tombs. We must proceed with caution."

As they ventured deeper, they came across patches of unusual grass that glowed faintly under the dim light filtering through the canopy above. "These must be the Starweave Grass," Lei Zhu said, bending down to inspect them. "It\'s said to be a rare herb with potent healing properties."

"Collect some," Aric instructed. "It might come in handy."

The group continued, passing through a grand archway that led into a vast chamber. The ceiling soared high above them, adorned with intricate carvings depicting scenes of ancient battles and rituals. In the center of the chamber stood a massive stone altar, surrounded by an array of glowing runes.

"This must be an ancient formation," Lei Ning said, examining the runes closely. "It looks like a protection formation, possibly meant to guard something important."

Aric nodded, his eyes narrowing. "We need to find a way to disable it. There could be valuable artifacts or information hidden here."

The team had barely set foot into the ruins when the air seemed to hum with latent energy, an unspoken promise of long-lost secrets and hidden dangers. The ruins sprawled out before them, an eerie testament to an ancient civilization. The buildings, once magnificent, now stood as crumbling relics, shrouded in dense foliage and bathed in a ghostly light.

Moss and vines clung to the weathered stone walls, while statues and pillars, though cracked and worn, still exuded a sense of majesty and power.

Aric paused at the entrance, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight before him. The ruins were unlike anything they had encountered before. Every structure was a mystery, every shadow a potential threat or opportunity. He could sense the lingering aura of ancient cultivators, the echoes of battles fought long ago, and the power that still pulsed faintly through the stone.

"Remember, everyone," Aric called out, his voice steady and authoritative. "Stay alert and work as a team. These ruins are treacherous, and we must proceed with caution."

His words were met with a mixture of determination and unease. Lei Fang, a young prodigy with sharp eyes and an even sharper temper, nodded in agreement. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it at a moment\'s notice. "I\'ve heard stories about these ruins," he said, his voice low. "They\'re said to be filled with ancient formations and hidden tombs. We need to be careful."

As they ventured deeper, the ruins revealed their labyrinthine nature. Narrow corridors twisted and turned, leading to open courtyards where towering edifices loomed over them. The walls were etched with strange, unreadable symbols, and the air was thick with the scent of age and decay. Every step they took echoed softly on the stone pathways, amplifying the silence that surrounded them.

The group moved cautiously, their senses heightened. Feng Lan, the prodigy from the Feng family, moved with a grace that was almost unnatural, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. Her presence was like that of a storm, calm on the surface but with a barely-contained fury beneath. She exchanged a brief glance with Aric, her gaze cool and assessing.

"This place... it\'s like it\'s alive," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

"Indeed," Aric replied, his tone thoughtful. "These ruins are ancient, and who knows what secrets they hold?"

They passed by a series of statues, each one depicting a warrior in various stages of battle. The expressions on their stone faces were fierce and determined, as if they were frozen in time at the height of their strength. Aric felt a strange kinship with these long-dead warriors, as if he too was engaged in a battle of wills and power.

"Look at this grass," Lei Zhu said suddenly, breaking the silence. He knelt down to examine a patch of glowing vegetation that grew in the cracks of the stone pathway. "It\'s Starweave Grass, a rare herb with potent healing properties."

"Gather some," Aric instructed, his eyes narrowing as he considered the implications. "It might prove useful"

The air within the chamber grew tense as the team cautiously advanced, the ancient carvings on the walls casting long shadows in the dim, eerie light. The runes on the stone altar pulsed rhythmically, as if the very ruins were alive, waiting for intruders to make a wrong move.

Aric\'s eyes darted between the glowing runes and the massive stone altar. He could feel the weight of ancient power pressing down on them, the air thick with the residue of countless rituals performed long ago. The formation\'s complexity intrigued him, but he knew that one misstep could spell disaster.

"These runes are unlike anything I\'ve seen before," Lei Ning said, her brow furrowed as she traced the symbols with her fingers. "If we can decode them, we might find a way to deactivate the formation and unlock whatever is being protected here."

"Let\'s be quick about it," Aric replied, his voice low but commanding. He glanced around the chamber, noting the other teams still scrambling to recover from the earlier chaos. His mind raced, calculating how he could turn this situation to his advantage.

Before they could make any significant progress, a sudden shiver ran through the chamber. The runes on the altar flared brightly, and the ground beneath their feet trembled. Without warning, the formation activated, trapping Aric and his team in a web of shimmering light.

Energy surged through the room, crackling like lightning, and a translucent barrier formed around them, cutting off any means of escape.

"What is this?" Lei Zhu shouted, instinctively drawing her sword as she scanned the barrier. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, trying to discern its weakness.

Aric\'s expression darkened. He reached out, placing his hand against the barrier, feeling the immense pressure it exerted. "It\'s a containment formation, designed to isolate us," he murmured. "Someone must have triggered it."

As if on cue, a figure emerged from the shadows at the far end of the chamber. It was one of the Zhen family prodigies, a young man with sharp features and an aura of confidence. He smirked as he approached, his eyes gleaming with malice.

"Looks like you\'ve walked right into our trap," he sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Our family has been studying these ruins for generations. Did you really think you could waltz in here and claim the treasures for yourself?"

Aric\'s eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. The Zhen prodigy wasn\'t alone; a group of cultivators flanked him, each one poised for combat. They were clearly prepared to take advantage of the chaos.

But Aric was no fool. He knew that brute force alone wouldn\'t break them out of this predicament. His mind raced as he considered his options, his thoughts turning to the prodigies around him. Each one had their own strengths and weaknesses, and he could use that to his advantage.

He glanced at Lei Ning, who was still examining the runes. "Can you disrupt the formation from within?" he asked, his voice calm and measured despite the tension.

Lei Ning hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I believe so, but it will take time. This formation is more complex than I expected."

"Do it," Aric ordered. "We\'ll hold them off."

As Lei Ning focused on deciphering the runes, Aric turned his attention back to the Zhen prodigy. "You\'re confident for someone who only managed to trap us with a formation," he said, his tone dripping with disdain. "But do you really think that will be enough to defeat us?"

The Zhen prodigy\'s smirk faltered, but he quickly regained his composure. "You\'re trapped, Lei. There\'s no way out for you now."

Aric\'s lips curled into a cold smile. "We\'ll see about that."