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Lei Zhu grunted in response, deflecting a strike from a Zhen cultivator with his spear. "They\'re desperate," he replied, his voice strained as he thrust his spear forward, forcing his opponent back. "They know we\'re close to breaking the formation."

A Zhen cultivator lunged at Lei Zhu, his blade aiming for a lethal strike. But before the blow could land, Lei Ning intervened, her sword intercepting the attack. "Focus on the formation!" she called out to Lei Zhu. "I\'ll cover you!"

"Don\'t get cocky, Ning!" Lei Zhu shouted back, his eyes scanning the battlefield. "They\'re everywhere!"

The Zhen prodigy, Zhen Wei, stepped forward, his eyes burning with determination. "You Lei brats think you\'re so superior, don\'t you?" he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "But you\'re just as vulnerable as anyone else in these ruins!"

Aric, who had been observing the fight with cold calculation, stepped forward to confront Zhen Wei. "Your arrogance will be your downfall, Zhen Wei," Aric said, his tone even and menacing. "You\'ve underestimated us from the start."

Zhen Wei\'s eyes flashed with anger. "We\'ll see about that!" he snarled, lunging at Aric with his sword. Their blades clashed with a sharp ring, and the two engaged in a fierce duel, each strike testing the other\'s limits.

As Aric and Zhen Wei fought, Lei Ning continued her work on the formation, her focus unbroken. Sweat dripped down her face as she channeled her energy into the runes, her hands moving in intricate patterns. The runes flickered and dimmed under her influence, but the barrier remained stubbornly in place.

"Come on, Ning! We don\'t have all day!" Lei Rurou called out, her voice strained as she fended off another attack. "Break that formation already!"

"I\'m working on it!" Lei Ning snapped, her frustration evident. "This thing is more complex than it looks!"

Suddenly, Zhen Wei pushed Aric back with a burst of energy, creating a brief opening. "You talk too much, Aric!" he spat, his eyes blazing with fury. "Let\'s see if you can back up those words!"

Aric\'s gaze remained icy as he steadied his stance. "You\'re making a mistake," he said, his voice calm but with a deadly edge. "But you\'ll learn soon enough."

Their blades clashed again, the force of their strikes sending shockwaves through the chamber. Aric\'s attacks were relentless, each one aimed to exploit Zhen Wei\'s weaknesses. Zhen Wei, for all his bravado, was struggling to keep up, his movements growing more frantic.

Amid the chaos, Aric kept his focus on the Zhen prodigy, the leader of their group, whose strength and skill posed the greatest threat. The two clashed repeatedly, their swords a blur of motion as they tested each other\'s limits. But Aric, always calculating, had more than just combat in mind.

Aric\'s lips curled into a cold smile, barely noticeable in the heat of battle.

The fight continued around them, but the Zhen prodigy\'s movements grew sluggish, his concentration wavering. He couldn\'t shake the strange sensation that was overtaking him, a warmth spreading through his veins, clouding his thoughts. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind, but the feeling only intensified.

Aric\'s eyes gleamed with a cold, calculating light as he approached Zhen Wei, who was still disoriented from the battle. The chamber was eerily silent now, the only sound being the faint echo of distant footsteps as the Zhen family retreated from the scene. The once grand chamber, with its towering statues and intricate carvings, now bore the scars of the fierce battle that had just taken place.

Debris littered the ground, and the air was thick with the scent of blood and sweat.

Taking advantage of the prodigy\'s disorientation, Aric pressed his attack. With a powerful strike, he disarmed his opponent, sending the young man\'s sword clattering to the ground. The prodigy stumbled, his eyes unfocused as he tried to make sense of what was happening.

Zhen Wei, weakened and barely able to stand, looked up at Aric with a mixture of fear and awe. He had been bested in combat, humiliated in front of his comrades, and now stood at the mercy of the man who had defeated him.

Aric crouched down beside him, his expression unreadable. "You\'re stronger than I expected, Zhen Wei," he said, his voice low and almost gentle. "But strength alone won\'t save you in this world."

Zhen Wei\'s breath came in ragged gasps, his mind reeling from the intensity of the fight. He knew that Aric was right; he had underestimated his opponent and paid the price for it. But there was something in Aric\'s eyes, a dark, sinister intent that made him shudder.

"Why... why didn\'t you kill me?" Zhen Wei managed to choke out, his voice hoarse.

Aric smiled, but it was a smile devoid of warmth. "Because I see potential in you, Zhen Wei. Potential that can be molded, shaped into something far more useful than a corpse."

Before Zhen Wei could respond, Aric\'s hand shot out, gripping the back of his neck with a surprising gentleness. "Relax," Aric whispered, his voice almost soothing. "This will only take a moment."

With a quick, fluid motion, Aric bit into his own tongue, drawing blood. He leaned in close, his mouth hovering just above Zhen Wei\'s. The young Zhen heir tried to pull away, but his body was too weak, his mind too fogged with exhaustion.

"Drink," Aric commanded, his voice carrying an unnatural authority. The blood dripped from Aric\'s mouth, crimson droplets that fell onto Zhen Wei\'s lips. Instinctively, Zhen Wei\'s body responded, his mouth opening slightly to receive the blood.

The moment the blood touched his tongue, Zhen Wei\'s eyes widened in shock. A sudden, overwhelming surge of energy coursed through his veins, burning like fire. His vision blurred, and his mind was assaulted by a whirlwind of memories—memories that were not his own.

Aric kept his hold firm, his eyes locked onto Zhen Wei\'s as he began to weave the false memories into the young man\'s consciousness. The process was swift, almost seamless, as if the memories had always been there, buried deep within Zhen Wei\'s mind.

Zhen Wei saw himself as a child, lost in the wilderness, desperately fighting off a ferocious beast. He remembered the terror, the pain, and then the relief as a figure emerged from the shadows—Aric. Aric had saved him, protected him when no one else could. In the memory, Zhen Wei\'s gratitude was boundless, and he swore eternal loyalty to Aric.

The memories continued to unfold, painting a vivid picture of a bond that had grown over the years. Zhen Wei saw himself training under Aric\'s guidance, learning to cultivate, becoming stronger. He remembered the promise he had made, offering his sister\'s hand in marriage to Aric, a pledge of his unwavering loyalty.

By the time Aric released his hold, Zhen Wei was a different person. The confusion and fear in his eyes had been replaced with a profound reverence, a deep-seated loyalty that had been artificially implanted.

Aric stood up, wiping the remaining blood from his lips. "Do you remember now, Zhen Wei?" he asked, his tone almost patronizing.

Zhen Wei blinked, his mind struggling to reconcile the new memories with the reality he had known just moments before. But the mind control was flawless, and soon the doubt faded, replaced by a resolute certainty.

"Yes... yes, I remember," Zhen Wei said, his voice trembling with emotion. "I\'m so sorry, Master Aric. I was lost for a moment, but now I see the truth. Everything I have belongs to you."

Aric nodded approvingly, his expression one of satisfaction. "Good. Now, there\'s something I need you to do."

He reached into his robe and produced a small vial filled with his blood. "Take this," he instructed, handing it to Zhen Wei. "Make sure each of your family members drinks this. It will ensure their loyalty, just as it has ensured yours."

Zhen Wei accepted the vial with a sense of duty, bowing his head in submission. "Of course, Master Aric. It will be done."

Before he could leave, Aric placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "One more thing," Aric said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Where is your sister?"

Zhen Wei looked up, a flicker of confusion crossing his face before the implanted memory took over. "She should be in the eastern wing of the ruins, searching for artifacts. I can bring her to you."

"Zhen Wei," Aric said, his voice calm and authoritative, "you mentioned your sister is in the eastern wing of the ruins, correct?"

Zhen Wei nodded, his mind still swimming with the false memories. "Yes, Master Aric. She\'s searching for artifacts. She\'s skilled in deciphering ancient symbols and knows how to identify the most valuable treasures."

Aric\'s eyes narrowed as he considered his next move.