Villain: I transmigrated with Mind Control Powers

Aric frowned slightly, deep in thought. His current cultivation was impressive by lower realm standards, but in the upper world, it was barely enough to survive.

The upcoming entrance ceremony for the Holy Sect was going to be brutal. Thousands of elites would compete for a limited number of spots, and most of them would be much stronger than him.

He summoned the system.

"System, how many points are needed to upgrade my cultivation?" he asked.

The familiar ding of the system echoed in his mind.

[Ding! 500,000 Villain Points are required to upgrade by one stage.]

"Fuck!" Aric cursed, frustration evident in his voice. "So many points for just one stage? I don\'t have much of a choice, do I?"

He sighed, knowing the cost was steep but necessary. Without hesitation, he made the decision.

[Ding! Host has upgraded from Peak Divine Transformation to Half Immortal (1st Stage).]

The rush of energy was overwhelming. Aric felt his cultivation surge, his body transforming with the new power. It was as though his very soul was being refined, strengthening in ways he couldn\'t fully comprehend.

The leap from Divine Transformation to Half Immortal was more than just an increase in raw power. The refinement of his essence, the control over his Qi, everything about him felt elevated.

But he wasn\'t done.

After a week of gathering resources, treasures, and elixirs from the Yun Family estate, Aric pushed further. His practice within his room, hidden from others, allowed him to refine his cultivation even more.

[Ding! Host has upgraded to Half Immortal (2nd Stage).]

But as powerful as he was now, he knew it wasn\'t enough. Not for the upper world, where geniuses were abundant, and the powerful sects ruled the lands with an iron grip.

Aric got this information that Yun Luxi was also participating in the ceremony. And soon, they will be departing. So, Aric got ready to go with the party.

The morning of their departure arrived, and Aric finally stepped aboard the Yun Family\'s flying boat. T

he vessel was far superior to the one he had used in the lower world. The spirit stones powering it gave it a speed unmatched by anything he had previously seen. It would take them only two to three days to reach the Holy Sect, a journey that would have taken months in the lower world.

Aric maintained a low profile, acting as one of Yun Luxi\'s personal guards. Most of the other servants were already under his control, their minds twisted by his abilities. This gave him ample time to focus on cultivation during the journey, further solidifying his power.

Yun Luxi, meanwhile, stood at the front of the boat, gazing out at the endless horizon. She seemed focused, determined to make a name for herself in the upcoming trials.

The tension among the servants was palpable—everyone knew that the Holy Sect only accepted the best. Failure wasn\'t an option.

Aric approached her cautiously, bowing his head in respect. "Miss Yun Luxi, do you require anything?"

Yun Luxi glanced at him briefly, her eyes scanning his face. "No, everything is in order," she said with a hint of impatience. "Just ensure that nothing delays our journey. The Holy Sect\'s entrance ceremony is not something I intend to miss."

Aric nodded, hiding a smirk. "Of course, Miss Yun."

Aric stepped away, retreating to the shadows.

Yun Luxi was determined to enter the Gronderia Holy Sect, but she wasn\'t overconfident. Despite her cultivation being at the 7th stage of the Half Immortal realm, the competition was fierce.

Thousands of talented cultivators would vie for a spot within the sect, and the criteria were ruthlessly strict. At best, she hoped to qualify as an outer disciple, though even that felt like a distant dream.

If she didn\'t pass, it would be a significant blow not only to her pride but to the Yun Family\'s standing in their region.

"The pressure is immense," Yun Luxi muttered to herself as she gazed at the horizon from the deck of the flying boat.

She thought about her preparations, the countless hours she had spent refining her cultivation, practicing her techniques, and gathering resources. All of it would come to a head at the entrance ceremony.

For her, this was more than just an opportunity. It was her family\'s hope. If she could secure a place within the sect, even as an outer disciple, the Yun Family\'s reputation in the Gronderia Holy Land would soar.

The influence and resources of the Holy Sect were beyond imagination, and any ties to it—even through an outer disciple—would elevate their standing dramatically.

The Yun Family, though not a dominant force in the upper world, would rise significantly if she could gain entry to the sect. The higher her position in the Holy Sect, the stronger her family would become.

As the flying boat descended toward the Celestial Gathering City, Aric\'s eyes widened in genuine surprise. The city before him was nothing like the cities he had encountered in the lower realm.

It was majestic, a marvel of engineering and cultivation that floated effortlessly on a flying peak suspended in the sky. It was as if the entire place was a cultivator\'s dream come to life.

"The upper realm truly is something else," Aric muttered, impressed by the grandeur of the place. His eyes scanned the city below, observing the bustling marketplaces filled with cultivators from all walks of life, their auras clashing in the air.

He could see vendors selling everything from rare herbs and powerful weapons to mysterious talismans and elixirs that would be considered treasures in the lower realm.

Cultivators in ornate robes bartered over spirit stones, and Aric could even sense powerful formations guarding the various shops and residences.

He had learned from the servants on the flying boat that the rules of the city were unique—cultivators were allowed to fight and kill each other within the city, but only at night, and the fighting must not disrupt the businesses or affect the peace of the markets.

This led to inns becoming safer havens for those seeking refuge during the night, and the biggest of them all was theFlourishing Immortal Inn.

Aric\'s eyes gleamed when he learned about the inn. With 100 floors, it was the most prestigious place to stay in the city. The price for staying increased with each floor, with the lowest floor costing 1 High-Grade Spirit Stone, while the highest, the 100th floor, required 100 High-Grade Spirit Stones per night. The higher the floor, the denser the spiritual energy, making it ideal for cultivation.

"Interesting," Aric mused as the boat finally docked at the city\'s entrance.

Yun Luxi and the rest of the Yun Family members parted ways with Aric as soon as they arrived. Some stayed in the city to prepare for the competition, while others returned to their estate.

Aric, however, had different plans. He had no intention of sticking with Yun Luxi, at least for the moment. His priorities lay elsewhere—gathering information and preparing for the trials ahead.

With 800 High-Grade Spirit Stones in his storage ring, Aric felt confident. In the lower realm, that amount would be more than enough to last him a long time, but here, in the upper world, it was barely adequate.

The expenses in this realm were steep, and he knew he had to be cautious with his spending.

Aric spent the first few hours exploring the city, gathering intelligence on the upcoming competition. He found that the sect\'s recruitment event would begin in three days, and the selection process was notoriously difficult.

According to what he had overheard, the trials varied from year to year, but there were certain common themes that had persisted throughout.

"The first trial usually involves comprehension," one cultivator explained to his companion as Aric listened in from the shadows. "They give us some sort of cultivation technique or ancient scripture, and we\'re supposed to grasp the essence of it. Only those who reach a certain level of comprehension are allowed to proceed to the next round."

Aric\'s brow furrowed. Comprehension tests were tricky. They didn\'t just measure strength, but also intelligence, intuition, and understanding of the Dao.

"After that," another voice chimed in, "it\'s a trial of endurance or combat. They want to see how well we perform under pressure. Last year, they threw participants into a pocket dimension filled with dangerous beasts and natural hazards. Only those who survived made it through."

Aric nodded to himself. These trials sounded familiar, but they would be no easy feat, especially considering the caliber of cultivators here.

"Then there\'s usually a final trial of judgment," one more added. "They test your heart and intent. They want to see if you have the qualities to truly become a disciple of the Holy Sect."