Villain: I transmigrated with Mind Control Powers

He had already dispatched his men ahead of time, instructing them to track Tyler\'s movements. "If he tries to buy anything or shows interest in any item, swoop in and outbid him immediately," Aric had ordered. His network of spies had been watching Tyler for days, waiting for the perfect moment to sabotage his every move.

Aric\'s plan was simple but effective—deny Tyler at every turn, frustrate him, break his spirit, and in the process, steal any potential fortune meant for him. And so, Aric sauntered into the exchange grounds, his mood light, knowing the chaos that would soon unfold.

As he strolled through the bustling market, Aric spotted Amanda waiting for him at the Moonshadow Pavilion, a secluded but elegant spot in the exchange area where only the most affluent cultivators gathered. Amanda, stunning as always, was dressed in a flowing silk robe, her eyes lighting up when she saw Aric approach.

"Young Master Aric," Amanda greeted him, her voice soft and respectful. "I\'ve been waiting for you."

Aric flashed a charming grin. "Amanda, I wouldn\'t miss this for the world. How has your time been here so far?"

She blushed slightly, gesturing to the stalls. "I\'ve been looking for rare cultivation resources, but... I was waiting for you."

"Well, I\'m here now." Aric\'s voice was smooth, almost predatory. "Let\'s enjoy this together." He cast a quick glance toward his men, nodding discreetly. The game had already begun.

Meanwhile, Tyler was roaming the busy exchange grounds, his heart pounding with anticipation. "This is my chance," he thought. "If I can find the right treasure, I\'ll restore my cultivation and prove everyone wrong."

He wandered from stall to stall, his eyes scanning the items with growing desperation. His gaze finally landed on an ancient scroll at one of the vendor\'s tables. "This... this is it!" The scroll was faintly glowing with spiritual energy—it was a Cultivation Replenishment Technique, capable of helping a fallen cultivator recover lost power.

Tyler hurried forward, already reaching for his pouch of spirit stones. But before he could even utter a word, a shadow loomed over him.

"I\'ll take that," a cold voice interrupted.

Tyler turned to see a tall, imposing figure, one of Aric\'s men, holding up a large pouch of spirit stones. The vendor, eyes wide with greed, snatched the pouch without a second thought and handed the scroll to Aric\'s man.

"Wait! I was going to buy that!" Tyler protested.

The man sneered, glancing at Tyler dismissively. "You? A mere Qi Refining cultivator? Do you even know how to use a scroll like this? Save your money, kid."

Tyler\'s face flushed with anger and humiliation, but there was nothing he could do. His fists clenched, his frustration bubbling over. "This isn\'t fair..."

Aric, watching from the distance with Amanda by his side, chuckled softly. "Perfect," he murmured under his breath. "Tyler won\'t walk away with anything today."

Amanda, sensing Aric\'s amusement, smiled at him. "You seem to be enjoying yourself, Young Master Aric."

Aric nodded, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "I\'m just watching the show unfold, Amanda. And believe me, it\'s quite entertaining."

Tyler\'s day only got worse as he continued through the exchange. Each time he found a treasure that could help him, Aric\'s men appeared out of nowhere, swooping in to claim the item before he could make an offer.

At one stall, Tyler found a Golden Lotus Pill, an elixir that could drastically increase his cultivation potential. But before he could even open his mouth to speak, another one of Aric\'s men slapped down a pile of spirit stones and snatched the pill.

"You again?" Tyler snarled, his voice shaking with rage.

The man simply shrugged. "Looks like I beat you to it again, kid. Better luck next time."

Tyler, completely defeated after multiple failed attempts to secure any treasure, walked aimlessly through the crowded exchange grounds.

"Why... why does this keep happening?" Tyler muttered under his breath. "I was supposed to find something here. This was my chance..."

His eyes darted around, searching for something—anything—that could give him an edge. Every opportunity had been stolen from him, but he wasn\'t ready to give up.

"I can\'t leave empty-handed," he muttered to himself. "There must be another way to get something of value."

As he wandered, his eyes caught sight of a large crowd gathered around one of the side alleys. Curiosity piqued, Tyler approached, realizing it was the entrance to a makeshift fighting arena. The shouts of excitement and the clash of weapons rang through the air, and a familiar gleam appeared in Tyler\'s eyes.

"A fighting arena..." Tyler whispered, an idea forming in his mind. "If I can\'t buy a treasure, maybe I can earn one through combat."

Determined, he pushed through the crowd until he reached the entrance. The guard at the gate, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, sized Tyler up. "You here to fight, or just to watch?"

Tyler met the man\'s gaze. "I\'m here to fight."

The guard chuckled. "You? A kid like you wants to step into the ring?"

Tyler gritted his teeth, his determination fueling him. "I may be down, but I\'m not out. Sign me up."

The guard shrugged and waved him in. "Your funeral, kid. The betting starts soon, so you better hope you\'ve got some skill."

Meanwhile, Aric, still enjoying his stroll with Amanda through the exchange, received a report from one of his men. "Young Master Aric," the spy whispered, "Tyler has entered the underground fighting arena. He\'s decided to fight."

A slow, amused grin spread across Aric\'s face. "Oh? He\'s that desperate, is he? Well, let\'s see how far his luck will take him."

Amanda looked at him with curiosity. "What is it, Young Master Aric?"

Aric chuckled. "It seems our friend Tyler is trying his hand at the fighting arena. He\'s gotten himself into quite a situation."

"Will you... intervene?" Amanda asked, her voice soft.

Aric shook his head. "No need. Let\'s just enjoy the show. If his luck holds, perhaps he\'ll win something. If not, well, it\'ll be entertaining either way."

Back in the arena, Tyler stood on the edge of the ring, watching as two cultivators battled fiercely. The crowd roared with excitement as one fighter unleashed a powerful palm strike, sending his opponent crashing to the ground. Tyler felt a knot tighten in his stomach, but he refused to back down.

The arena master, a grizzled man with piercing eyes, approached Tyler. "You\'re up next, kid. You sure you\'re ready?"

Tyler nodded firmly. "I\'m ready."

The arena master grinned, sensing Tyler\'s desperation. "Alright. Here\'s the deal—win three consecutive matches, and you\'ll earn a special prize. Lose, and you leave empty-handed."

Tyler\'s heart pounded in his chest. This was his chance. He couldn\'t afford to lose. "What\'s the prize?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

The arena master\'s grin widened. "A rare Spirit Reinforcement Pill. Perfect for restoring lost cultivation. But you\'ll have to earn it."

Tyler\'s eyes gleamed with hope. This was it. If he could win the matches, he\'d finally have a chance to regain his power.

As he stepped into the ring, he knew he had to think strategically. There was no way he could compete with cultivators several realms higher than him in a direct confrontation. But he had an idea. The crowd watched, some whispering and mocking the young Qi Refining cultivator who dared to enter the fray with more experienced fighters.

The announcer boomed across the arena. "Tyler Tsei, Qi Refining Realm! His challenge is open to anyone who dares!"

His first challenger, a Core Formation Realm cultivator, walked into the ring. The man was taller, more muscular, with an air of confidence that came from years of experience in the arena. The crowd\'s murmurs grew louder.

The cultivator smirked at Tyler. "You\'re in the wrong place, kid. You should be buying trinkets in the market, not stepping into a ring with people like me."

Tyler, undeterred, raised his hand. "I issue a challenge," he called out, his voice steady. "You fight me in the Qi Refining Realm. Suppress your cultivation, and we\'ll see who\'s the real fighter."

The crowd gasped at the audacity. A Core Formation cultivator having to fight a Qi Refining opponent at their level? Unheard of. But the cultivator laughed, his arrogance showing through.

"You really think I need my full power to crush you? Fine. I accept," he said, suppressing his cultivation to match Tyler\'s.

The gong rang, signaling the start of the match. Tyler immediately focused, his mind recalling every movement and technique he had honed over the years. The Core Formation cultivator might have more experience, but Tyler\'s desperation fueled his every move.

The Core Formation fighter lunged, aiming to end the fight quickly, but Tyler was quick. He dodged, slipping past his opponent\'s defenses and landing a swift, precise punch to the man\'s ribs. The crowd gasped as the Core Formation cultivator stumbled, not expecting such agility and precision from a Qi Refining fighter.

The cultivator growled, his pride stung. "Lucky shot, kid. But I\'ve got more where that came from."