Forced to Be a Villain: Starting With My Brain Extraction System

"Haha… why do you think I came here? Of course, it is because of the master's order."

The creepy voice belonging to Lu Sheng didn't care about the bad mood of Yan Yue and began to laugh in amusement.

"Yan Yue, the leader, already knows what you are planning.

Aren't you just trying to search for ways to cure the Blood Oath in your body? That boy must be your way to search for the Blood-Mother's Tear inside, right?"

Lu Sheng said in a strange tone, as if he was having fun, expecting to see a change in Yan Yue's expression.

Unfortunately, he saw nothing, except extreme coldness akin to the bottom of the abyss.

"Lu Sheng, are you going to tell me why you are here already, or do you want me to sever the connection with the Ancient Mirror?"

Although Yan Yue was stunned slightly by his words, she didn't show anything on her face.

Rather, she lifted her right hand, intending to sever the connection as if she was fed up with his creepy voice.

"Wait…!"

Seeing that she was serious, Lu Sheng hurriedly stopped her.

Then, without daring to waste another breath, he rushed to deliver the message he had come for, afraid that she might truly sever the connection with Ancient Mirror.

"Yan Yue, the leader said you can do whatever you want. You may even send your people to search for the Blood-Mother's Tear as you please."

"He doesn't care about your little tricks. Just… he said you now have only ten years. After this decade, if you still can't accomplish what he asked of you, he ordered you to return obediently. Otherwise…"

Lu Sheng trailed off, his voice growing faint. He didn't need to finish as the consequences were far clearer to Yan Yue than to him.

Sure enough, after hearing the news, Yan Yue's face went a little pale as her gaze became slightly unfocused in worry before she regained her calm state.

"Anything else?"

"Haha… that's all the leader told me to say."

Although she tried to act unconcerned, Lu Sheng seemed to know her true state and found it quite amusing.

So, feeling that he should help his leader, he tried to persuade her,

"Yan Yue, in fact, why don't you just listen to the leader? He clearly cares about you. Otherwise, do you think he would let you come here undercover? So, why not—"

"Since you've said everything, go to hell and stop blabbering here."

Unfortunately, before he could say more, Yan Yue directly shattered the reflection on the pond, severing the connection with the Ancient Mirror.

The thick disgust in her eyes the moment she heard his words said everything about her feelings.

She would rather die than be with that old man

'Ten years…so that old man is ready for his promotion? What should I do?'

Yan Yue bit her moist red lips hard, causing a trace of blood to seep out.

The Black Lotus Sect was a demonic sect similar in power to the Divine Cauldron Sect, and its sect leader was also in the Nascent Soul Realm.

However, Sect Leader Xuanji was too old and was already nearing his end. If he didn't make progress in his cultivation soon, he would die no matter what he did.

That was why he sent her to this sect to find the Divine Dew, the one and only Heaven Grade Elixir that could prolong a cultivator's life by a century.

She didn't know how that guy learned about this news that even the sect itself didn't seem to know.

'But… entering the Ancestral Tomb is too dangerous. Rather than finding the Divine Dew inside, I might lose my life instead.'

Yan Yue thought, feeling extremely stressed. Even if she was a Golden Core Realm cultivator, she knew how dangerous it was to enter that place.

She didn't even know if the Divine Cauldron Sect was hiding some old monster inside. So, she absolutely could not go in herself.

But if she didn't go there, then the only fate waiting for her was to become a human cauldron for the sect leader.

'No… I must find the Blood Mother's Tear in that secret realm and try to refine that pill. Maybe I can get rid of the Blood Oath. If not…'

Yan Yue's eyes suddenly turned absolutely dark, devoid of emotion.

Although she was someone who cherished her life very much, if push came to shove-

'It seems I need to prepare that guy a little more. Just a few stones won't do.'

Unfortunately for her, the Blood Mist Valley didn't allow anyone above the Foundation Establishment realm to enter. Otherwise, she would have gone herself.

So now, she was forced to search for a disciple who not only had strength but also strong 'luck', someone capable of finding what she wanted.

And for now, Zhiran was on her target, knowing that the guy had reached peak Qi Condensation from the Early Stage in just one month.

Just a glance, and she knew he was full of luck; exactly what she wanted.

Of course, she also had strong chess pieces in her hand. This was just her contingency

***

"This is… so weird."

Inside an empty room somewhere in the inner sect, Zhiran mumbled while looking at the jade slip in his hand.

This was the same jade slip he got from the storage ring of Elder Shuren, the one that recorded the map of the secret realm and some divine sense method etched inside.

'Why do I forget the technique the moment I look away from the jade?'

Zhiran thought, finding everything so weird.

After awakening his Consciousness Platform and condensing his divine sense, Zhiran could now easily seek inside the storage ring.

He could even read every dot and symbol etched inside it, recording some unknown divine sense method.

The moment he set his eyes away from those symbols, he realized he had immediately forgotten everything.

The way the divine sense method worked was entirely different from other cultivation techniques.

It wasn't about channeling spiritual energy through meridians or circulating qi according to a set path.

Instead, it relied on using one's consciousness to perceive, imprint, and guide the flow of spiritual power directly with the soul.

Each symbol in such a method was more than just a mark, as it was a manifestation of intent and understanding.

Unless one grasped its meaning with their divine sense, no matter how many times they looked at it, it would remain just a meaningless pattern.

But here, Zhiran couldn't even remember the shape of those symbols, let alone their intent.

How could he practice?

'Is my method wrong?'

Finding that he yet again failed to memorize, Zhiran placed the jade slip down and frowned in thought.

He knew that not all divine sense methods were practiced the same way. Some rare and old methods required a different style.

Heck, some even required people to abstain from sex their whole life, similar to a Buddhist monk.

Just… even if that was the case, the inability to even memorize the symbols was new to Zhiran.

'Forget it. Let's search for clues when I go to that Secret Realm. Maybe I will find something.'

Since he could do nothing, Zhiran simply kept the jade in his storage ring.

Then he finally took out the old Calabash from his ring, opening the cork at the top right after.

As soon as he did, a wonderful fragrance of fine wine drifted through the entire room, making Zhiran instantly intoxicated.

'So strong!'

The smell was so potent that just by smelling it, Zhiran felt drunk.

Fortunately, the room was sealed by the protective array, and Zhiran didn't have to worry about the smell leaking out.

'Should I… try it?'

Zhiran hesitated slightly, wanting to store this Royal Wine for when he was building his foundation. But after smelling such a wonderful aroma, he couldn't help but want to taste it.

After all, even in his last life, he never tasted royal wine because it was too rare.

'Just a sip won't do harm anyway.'

At last, Zhiran shrugged his shoulders and decided to drink a little to satiate his curiosity.

As he poured the golden liquor from the Calabash into a small cup he conjured from his storage ring, the rich aroma grew denser, making Zhiran almost salivate.

Once the cup was full, Zhiran lifted it to his lips, feeling the warmth of the golden liquid even before it touched his tongue.

The moment it slid down his throat, a shock of exquisite flavor spread through his body, as if every cell awakened.

His head felt light, his mind clear, and yet a pleasant warmth lingered in his chest.

'So strong… so smooth… delicious!'

Zhiran couldn't help but take another sip, and then another, each one more intoxicating than the last.

"..."

Without even realizing it, Zhiran already emptied the cup in his hand.

'Fuck… this is so damn good!'