Villain: I transmigrated with Mind Control Powers

As the group set out into the cold, each disciple activated their internal energy to stave off the bitter chill that bit at their exposed faces and numbed their fingers. They had trained for intense conditions, but the Dremar region's night was harsher than most had ever experienced. The frosty air clouded with each breath, and the snow crunched beneath their boots.

After a long silence, they finally spotted a dark opening in the side of a mountain—a cave partially shielded from the snowfall. They swiftly gathered inside, grateful for the shelter. As they set down their packs, Peng spoke up again.

"This will be our base for tonight," Peng announced. "We'll stay out of sight here and wait for Mevan, Amber, and the others to scout ahead. They'll report back any significant details about the layout and patrols in the area."

Mevan, eager to be at the forefront, was already prepared to leave with his sister. "We'll be back before long," he said confidently, pulling his hood up. "The cold's nothing we can't handle."

Aric, standing near the entrance of the cave, watched Mevan's every move. He had no intention of letting Mevan get any sort of edge or opportunity in this mission. He stepped up to Peng before Mevan departed. "I'll stay close to the cave entrance and keep an eye on the area," he said. "No harm in a bit of extra caution."

Peng gave a nod, satisfied. "Good thinking, Adolf. Just don't wander too far."

The scouting party prepared to depart, adjusting their gear and ensuring their concealment techniques were flawless. Aric, standing near the entrance of the cave, watched them with a calculating gaze.

"Stay safe," Mei Xian called after them, concern evident in her voice.

As the scouting party left, Aric waited a moment before slipping into the night, activating his Celestial Veil technique to move unseen. He trailed the scouting team, his footsteps leaving barely a trace on the snow-covered ground as he kept a safe distance. He watched Mevan and Amber closely, his eyes narrowed with a mixture of annoyance and determination. He wasn't about to let Mevan have any advantage here.

Up ahead, Mevan glanced over at Amber, his tone protective. "Amber, let's stay close. If anything happens, I'd rather we deal with it together."

Amber nodded, her expression as calm and collected as ever. "Of course. It's better to be cautious. But if we do run into trouble, I can hold my own," she replied, giving him a reassuring glance.

"Still, I'd rather not take any risks with you," Mevan insisted, his voice gentle but firm.

Amber raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Mevan, you're a bit overprotective, aren't you? I'm not as fragile as you think."

"I know that, Amber," Mevan replied with a smirk. "But you're my sister, and I'd rather err on the side of caution."

As they neared the Dremar region's mountain ridges, they saw the faint outlines of patrolling guards from Edsmith Palace, each equipped with enchanted lanterns that cast eerie blue light over the icy landscape.

"Up there," he murmured. "Let's get a better view of the area."

Xu Mevan nodded, and the two of them climbed the steep incline. From the top, they could see a hidden entrance partly covered by ice and snow. A faint, ominous energy radiated from it, confirming it wasn't just an ordinary cave.

Mevan turned to his group. "There's definitely something below that entrance. It's faint, but I can sense multiple presences down there. Guards, likely."

Xu Amber, who was with them, closed her eyes, focusing her senses. "There's an array around the entrance," she muttered, her brows furrowing. "Not powerful enough to detect us at this range, but strong enough to alert them if anyone approaches without proper clearance."

Mevan nodded. "Good to know. We'll mark this as a no-go zone for now."

As they carefully made their way around, observing and noting every suspicious detail, they spotted several Edsmith Palace guards patrolling in pairs. Each one appeared to be in the Immortal Ascension Realm, powerful enough to be a real threat if they weren't careful.

"Six guards so far, all Immortal Ascension," whispered one of the disciples, Derek Xiang, in their group, jotting it down in a small notebook. "If they're all like this, we'll need to avoid direct confrontation."

Xu Mevan's gaze turned to the heavy, rune-inscribed door embedded into the cliffside. It was slightly ajar, enough to allow sounds to seep out. Through it, he caught snippets of conversation between guards discussing guard rotations, the number of prisoners, and something about reinforcement schedules.

He motioned for silence and focused his senses, trying to catch more.

"…patrol shift change every four hours… sect members kept in the lower levels… array set to notify the captain if anyone tries to tamper with it."

This was valuable information. They now knew the rotation times, which gave them a narrow window to act undetected.

One of the scouts in their group, a sharp-eyed disciple named Lin Wei, whispered, "There's a strange energy fluctuation near that pillar," pointing toward a jagged stone pillar a little distance away from the entrance.

Aric studied the spot closely. The pillar seemed out of place, too well-preserved in the harsh environment, almost as if it had been intentionally protected. "That's definitely a trap," he concluded. "They likely placed formations around it to detect intruders."

After several hours, the team gathered with their findings. Peng Falcon listened intently as each group reported on the guards' locations, patrol rotations, potential entrances, and dangerous traps.

One scout reported, "The sect members are held in an underground chamber. We couldn't get close enough to confirm the exact number, but from what we observed, they're being monitored closely, likely in confinement arrays that prevent any escape."

Wang Xia spoke up. "There's a narrow opening to the east that leads into one of their secondary chambers. It's not heavily guarded, but there are high chances it has alarm arrays."

Peng Falcon nodded thoughtfully. "Good work. It sounds like we have two possible entrances—the main one with heavy patrols and an array, and the smaller entrance with potential alarms."

Mevan added, "The guards change shifts every four hours. If we time our entry with the shift change, we'll have the best chance to move undetected. But we'll need to dismantle or disable the arrays without triggering any alerts."

Peng Falcon nodded. "Agreed. Based on your findings, we'll split into two groups. One group will focus on dismantling the main entrance array while creating a diversion, and the other will sneak in through the secondary entrance to reach the sect members. This will allow us to rescue them while the guards are distracted."

While they were occupied, Aric observed from a nearby vantage point, hidden behind a veil of spiritual energy. His eyes sharpened as he noticed something the others hadn't—a pair of Edsmith Palace guards breaking away from their post and heading towards a secluded area.

"Now, what could they be up to?" he mused, deciding to follow them.

The guards stopped near a cluster of jagged rocks, their voices low but audible to Aric's enhanced hearing.

"Are the preparations complete?" one guard asked.

The other nodded. "Yes. The trap is set. Those Holy Sect fools won't know what hit them. By the time they realize, it'll be too late."

The first guard chuckled darkly. "Using their own members as bait was a brilliant move. The captain will be pleased when we capture even more of them."

Aric's mind raced. "So, it's a trap within a trap," he thought. "Edsmith Palace is expecting us, and they're planning to capture the rescue team."

A sly smile spread across his face. "This could work to my advantage. If I play my cards right, I can eliminate Mevan and weaken Edsmith Palace simultaneously. But I can't let anyone know I have this information."

Later that night, the group decided to attack.

"Remember, timing is crucial," he emphasized. "We infiltrate during the patrol shift change. Stick to your assigned roles and stay alert." said Peng Falcon

The group moved out, spirits high despite the tension. As they approached the enemy stronghold, Aric hung back slightly, ensuring he was positioned to observe without being in the direct line of danger.

Jia Lin led the infiltration team, carefully navigating toward the barrier's weak point. Lin Wei prepared to disable the array, her fingers deftly manipulating the formation symbols.

"Almost there," she whispered. "Just a few more adjustments..."

Unseen by his comrades, Aric slipped away, circling around to a vantage point overlooking the area. From here, he could see both his team's movements and any approaching threats.

"Now, let's see how this unfolds," he thought, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

As Lin Wei successfully deactivated the barrier, the infiltration team moved swiftly into the compound. For a moment, everything seemed to be going according to plan.

But then, a series of dark flares shot into the sky, exploding with an ominous red light.

"An alarm!" Mei Xian exclaimed, eyes wide. "How did they detect us?"

Edsmith Palace disciples poured out from hidden positions, surrounding the infiltration team. The air crackled with hostile energy.

Peng Falcon drew his sword. "Everyone, prepare for battle!" he commanded.