C78 Smart People!!

The people of Jutrela were known for their kindness.

They hailed from a land renowned for its etiquette.

Their hospitality was a matter of cultural pride.

But they also knew the importance of discerning between friends and foes.

As the old adage goes, "For friends, the finest wine; for wolves, the hunting rifle." The members of the Anti Jutrela Alliance had malicious intent, plotting to annihilate the Jutrelians.

Faced with such malevolence, the Jutrelians wouldn't show mercy once the tables were turned.

Without hesitation, the Jutrelians present took action against their aggressors.

Having conserved their energy and carefully observed the previous battles, the Jutrelians were well-informed about their adversaries' tactics and abilities—none of which could be concealed from them any longer.

Their foes, already weakened from successive battles, were in no shape to fight. The outcome was inevitable.

Domination!

It was an utter rout by the Jutrelians!

Remarkably, not a single Jutrelian fell, largely due to Chen Guo. Though he refrained from aggressive attacks, his array of control skills was decisive.

With Chen Guo present, he would not let his compatriots suffer needless harm.

"Jutrela is our father, please have mercy on us!"

In desperation, some from the Anti Jutrela Alliance pleaded on their knees for their lives.

"Run for it! The Jutrelians have gone mad!"

Others sought to flee.

"Jutrelians, I'll fight you with my last breath!"

And some chose to fight to the end.

Regardless of their choice, death was the only outcome awaiting them.

Ultimately, the battlefield was left with only Jutrelians standing; all others lay dead.

Surveying the carnage, the Jutrelians felt a stroke of fortune. Had it not been for the inexplicable infighting among their enemies, it could have been the Jutrelians lying there instead.

"We Jutrelians have always been benevolent, yet they sought our destruction. Their fate is of their own making!"

"It's baffling. Why would they suddenly face a series of betrayals, leading to persistent internal conflict? It defies all logic!"

"It's really odd. It's as if they were ill. Wasn't our victory just a little too fortunate?"

In hindsight, many from Jutrela realized the events were too convenient. Right when the Anti Jutrela Alliance was poised to strike, they were suddenly plagued by ongoing internal conflict.

It was as though the heavens themselves were aiding Jutrela.

It appeared to be mere chance, yet it felt orchestrated.

Questions arose among the people.

"I know what happened," Wang Mingze declared.

All eyes turned to Wang Mingze, brimming with inquisitiveness.

They, too, sought the truth behind the eerie and perplexing situation.

"Brother Lee Xiaoyao, it was your doing, wasn't it?" Wang Mingze said, eyeing Chen Guo with a complex look.

"And why would you think that?" Chen Guo's face remained impassive, giving nothing away.

Wang Mingze explained, "At the moment of your action, I was the nearest to you. Your move was stealthy, but I caught it. It's well-known among us that my gift is the eon-level Fiery Eyes of Truth."

"The Fiery Eyes of Truth enable me to sense any trace of talent or skill usage. When you activated your skill, I detected it. The system indicated you were casting a mental magic art."

"The Plioyains' betrayal and the Zefraoce's frenzy defy logic. No sane person would engage in such acts—it's a death wish. If we try to rationalize this with conventional logic, it falls apart."

"But what if they were under mental manipulation? If their minds were controlled, turned into puppets, then it all starts to make sense!"

Wang Mingze reasoned.

The crowd exchanged glances of astonishment and uncertainty towards Chen Guo.

"If those individuals were under mental manipulation, it would explain everything. Yet, the question remains: is it truly possible for one person to control so many, and to do so continuously?"

"I've never encountered such an ability. I'm aware of hypnosis, but it requires a specific setting and a lowered psychological defense, and even then, its effects are not this potent."

"Indeed, does Lee Xiaoyao possess the means to mentally dominate so many?"

Everyone voiced their uncertainties.

Wang Mingze spoke up, "I've heard of a potent talent called 'Charm Humans.' It's a mental gift specifically for dominating the human psyche, and its control is incredibly potent. Brother Lee Xiaoyao, if my guess is accurate, you must have wielded 'Charm Humans' on your dad, right?"

Indeed, the world is never short of clever minds.

Chen Guo had thought his covert actions went unnoticed, yet a keen mind had uncovered them.

Nonetheless, Chen Guo remained indifferent.

His manipulation of the Anti Jutrela Alliance into infighting was, to them, the epitome of villainy, a flagrant disregard for free will, bordering on crimes against humanity.

But to the Jutrelians, Chen Guo was the valiant savior who could right a sinking ship.

Chen Guo didn't see his actions as shameful, so he wasn't concerned with others learning about them.

Besides, Chen Guo was currently assuming the alias of Lee Xiaoyao. Revealing his ability to sense heartbeats only added depth to the persona of Lee Xiaoyao.

Chen Guo preferred to remain undetected, but once discovered, saw no point in denial.

"Brother Wang, you are indeed astute. Your reasoning is almost spot-on, but you've got one detail wrong. My gift isn't 'Charm Humans,' but rather 'Heart Pulse Sensing,'" Chen Guo clarified. "While 'Charm Humans' and 'Heart Pulse Sensing' serve similar functions, 'Charm Humans' is an eon-level talent, whereas 'Heart Pulse Sensing' is earth-level."

"I had no intention of stepping in, but these overconfident fools dared to threaten our lives. Since they're practically begging for death, I'm not averse to employing a little subterfuge to expedite their departure."

Chen Guo confessed to being the instigator behind the Anti Jutrela Alliance's self-destruction, and his talent was indeed earth-level, which also served to flesh out Lee Xiaoyao's character.

Previously, under the guise of Guangcheng, he was a formidable figure capable of annihilating two villages single-handedly. His demeanor was icy and arrogant, a loner by nature, and his talent was the heaven-level 'Soul Drain' (leading others to mistakenly believe that Chen Guo gained power from those he killed).

Guangcheng's alternate persona is already well-developed, while Lee Xiaoyao's character still needs to be fleshed out.

Naturally, the personas behind different disguises shouldn't be carbon copies of each other. Uniformity would tip others off, so Lee Xiaoyao's character must be distinct from Guangcheng's.