Villain: I transmigrated with Mind Control Powers

Another man, clutching a bag of spirit stones with shaking hands, cried out in joy, "I\'m rich! I bet on him—he actually did it! I\'m going to make a fortune!"

But not everyone shared in the joy. Several men with slumped shoulders and dark expressions muttered curses under their breath, glaring at Tyler as if his victory had personally offended them.

"Damn it… I bet everything on the other guy," one man growled, his face twisted in frustration. "How could that brat win? He\'s only in the Qi Refining stage!"

Another gambler, pale from his losses, muttered, "I lost everything. How… how is this possible? He must have some trick up his sleeve."

Despite the contrasting emotions in the crowd, a majority of the audience cheered for Tyler, celebrating the underdog\'s unexpected victory. "Tyler! Tyler!" some shouted, their voices raw with excitement. "That was incredible!"

Tyler, still panting from the intense battle, allowed himself a brief smile. For once, he felt like he had control over his destiny, as if the fates had finally given him a break. His body ached, and his mind swirled with exhaustion, but the thrill of victory coursed through his veins.

However, unbeknownst to Tyler, Aric had already set the next stage of his plan into motion. While the crowd was busy celebrating, Aric\'s men, silent and discreet, had infiltrated the backstage area where the event organizers and officials gathered. These men had one specific task: to ensure that the key figures of the exchange consumed Aric\'s blood, placing them under his complete control.

Earlier that day, Aric had orchestrated everything with precision. His men posed as staff members, blending into the bustling environment. They slipped unnoticed into the kitchens, where the food and wine for the event were being prepared.

In the kitchen, one of Aric\'s men, dressed in servant attire, approached the head chef. "I\'ve been sent to assist you with today\'s meals," he said, keeping his voice calm and polite.

The chef, too busy to question the newcomer, waved him off with a nod. "Fine, just make sure everything goes out smoothly. The organizers are in a rush."

With that, Aric\'s man reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small vial of Aric\'s blood. He mixed it into the food and wine meant for the organizers—untraceable, undetectable, yet potent enough to ensure that whoever consumed it would fall under Aric\'s control. One by one, the food was brought to the table, and as the organizers ate, they unknowingly sealed their fate.

Aric smirked as he watched the entire scene from a distance, knowing full well that these people now belonged to him. The moment they had consumed his blood, they were as good as puppets, ready to obey his every command.

And his first order to them was simple: sabotage Tyler\'s victory.

As the cheering crowd continued to celebrate Tyler, the organizers, under Aric\'s control, began preparing the rewards. Normally, these rewards were a cause for excitement—rare treasures, pills, and cultivation resources meant to enhance the victor\'s abilities. But under Aric\'s instruction, the prize would be something much more sinister.

"I want you to mix something into the reward that will hurt him. A pill that will lead to Qi deviation… or perhaps something more lethal," Aric had commanded earlier.

The organizers complied, slipping a specially crafted pill into the treasure box that would be presented to Tyler. The pill, while appearing harmless, would slowly disrupt Tyler\'s Qi flow, causing immense pain and eventual destruction of his cultivation base if consumed.

"Tyler might be thinking he would get a Spirit Reinforcement Pill. But how can I give him what we want?", Aric said while showing a sinister smile.

As Tyler basked in the adoration of the crowd, a few onlookers began to eye him with greed. They had witnessed his victory and knew he was still only at the Qi Refining stage. To them, he was nothing more than a lucky kid who had managed to outwit stronger opponents by manipulating the rules.

"Look at him, acting all high and mighty," one cultivator spat, his eyes gleaming with malice. "He\'s just a Qi Refining brat. If we pressure him, we can easily take whatever reward he\'s won."

"I bet that treasure he\'s getting is worth a fortune," another man added, licking his lips. "Let\'s see if he\'s willing to part with it… or else."

The crowd\'s admiration quickly turned into envy, and Tyler, still unaware of the danger surrounding him, was about to face an entirely new challenge. Aric, watching the scene unfold, leaned back in his chair at the Moonshadow Pavilion, sipping his drink as Amanda sat beside him.

"This... this is it," Tyler thought, his heart racing. "My luck is finally changing."

The crowd\'s energy was infectious, and he could feel their support as they chanted his name. Even those who had doubted him at the beginning were now cheering him on, and Tyler couldn\'t help but smile. The dark cloud of despair that had hung over him for months seemed to be lifting, replaced by a growing sense of confidence.

As the dust settled in the arena, the organizer approached him, carrying a velvet-lined box. Inside it lay the supposed treasure—the Spirit Reinforcement Pill—a powerful elixir rumored to be able to amplify a cultivator\'s abilities and restore lost potential. To someone like Tyler, who had been struggling at the Qi Refining stage for so long, this pill represented a lifeline.

It was his chance to regain his strength, to finally break free of the shackles that had held him back.

The crowd grew silent as the organizer stopped in front of him, raising the box for all to see. "For his remarkable victory, Tyler Tsei will be awarded the Spirit Reinforcement Pill," the organizer announced. His voice carried authority, but beneath the surface, his eyes were glazed over, controlled by the blood that Aric had secretly infused into him.

The box opened, and there it was—a small, pristine pill that glowed faintly with a soft, ethereal light. Tyler\'s heart pounded in his chest as he stared at it. The pill seemed almost too good to be true. It radiated an aura of immense power, and even the scent of it, as he leaned closer, made his senses tingle.

"This... this will change everything," Tyler thought, his hands trembling slightly as he accepted the pill. The weight of the crowd\'s expectations and his newfound confidence surged through him.

He raised the pill in the air for the crowd to see, and they erupted into applause once again. His morale soared, and for the first time in months, he allowed himself to believe that things were finally turning in his favor.

"I will rise again," Tyler thought, clenching his fist around the pill. "Amanda, Aric… you will both pay for what you\'ve done. I\'ll show you who the real Tyler Tsei is."

The cheers of the crowd filled him with determination. He looked around and saw their faces—people who had written him off as a lost cause were now chanting his name, cheering for his success. It was almost intoxicating.

"This must be destiny," Tyler mused. "The heavens have given me another chance."

But what Tyler couldn\'t have known was that the pill he held so dearly was nothing but a poisoned prize—a product of Aric\'s careful machinations.

Tyler left the arena, still basking in the cheers of the crowd. His heart was pounding with excitement, but there was also a growing sense of urgency.

He clutched the Spirit Reinforcement Pill tightly in his hand, knowing that he needed a quiet place to cultivate and harness its power.

If he could use the pill to break through his current limitations, everything would change.

However, what Tyler didn\'t realize was that several figures had been watching him from the shadows, eyes filled with malice. T

hey had witnessed his victory in the arena, and the sight of the Spirit Reinforcement Pill in his hand had piqued their greed. These men had been trailing him ever since he left the exchange grounds, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Tyler noticed the shadowy figures following him from the corner of his eye, his instincts kicking in. "They\'re after the pill," he thought, quickening his pace. "I need to find somewhere safe—quickly."

The streets were crowded with cultivators and traders due to the exchange, and the security was tight. The men pursuing Tyler couldn\'t attack him out in the open without drawing unwanted attention, but they followed closely, waiting for him to slip into an isolated area.

Tyler darted down a side street, weaving through the bustling market as the shadows continued to close in. He could feel their presence, like predators stalking their prey. His pulse quickened, but his mind remained sharp. "I just need to reach the inn," he thought. "Once I\'m inside, I\'ll be safe."

After several tense moments, Tyler arrived at an inn, the Crimson Lotus. It wasn\'t the fanciest place, but it was tucked away in a quiet corner of the city, and, more importantly, it was close.

He stepped inside quickly, making sure to avoid eye contact with the innkeeper as he booked a room. His pursuers had stopped outside, waiting for an opportunity, but with the inn\'s security, they couldn\'t make a move so easily.

"Room 17," the innkeeper said, handing Tyler a key.