My health recovery is incredibly fast.

Monitoring the mental activity of the target of a spell has virtually no negative effects.

Interfering with the target's mental state is a process of interaction between the two minds, which may expose the caster's own mind and lead to a backlash.

When a spell destroys the target's mental defenses, the spellcaster will suffer at least half of the mental impact.

...

Xia Zuo returned to his seat and sat down.

The alchemical instrument in Selena's hand showed that Nukalofa's mental energy power had reached about 14 points, with the pointer hovering in the yellow area.

The cunning Nukalofa has regained his memory.

When faced with Qadum's interrogation, he no longer responded with silence, but cleverly designed questions to ask Qadum in return, subtly probing for his true situation.

Rexol had his eyes closed and his brows furrowed tightly, clearly indicating that the mind control process was not going smoothly.

Xia Zuo looked at the culture tank and released his detection spell.

This time, the unknown effects were described in detail.

...

[Psychological Trap: The Fictitious Questioner Personality]

1. This target has a fictional personality: the questioner personality.

This personality will take effect during conversations or when influenced by mental spells.

When faced with a specific question, this personality will formulate reasonable wording and ask the person they are talking to and the target of their spell at the appropriate time, thereby avoiding the key issue.

Note! This personality does not have access to memories related to the specified question. They only know they need to avoid this question, but do not know the answer.

2. The fabricated personality originates from a pre-set psychological trap. Dismantling this trap can eliminate the questioner's personality.

3. This effect lasts until the target dies.

...

[Psychological traps], fictional personalities... Mind magic is just too complicated... No wonder the Temple has never publicly recognized it as a magical school...

Xia Zuo sighed, roughly guessing the source of this [psychological trap]. It was probably set up by Nukalofa a long time ago—perhaps he installed the [psychological trap] himself, or perhaps the Shadow Demon Lord was behind it.

In short, unless this thing is removed, this torture will be a complete waste of time.

Xia Zuo glanced at the bald man beside him.

After the mind spell took effect, there was no magical glow, which explains why neither the Demon Hunter nor Selena noticed anything unusual; only the cheat-like detection spell detected the clue.

After a moment's thought, Xia Zuo activated [Bloodline Sensing], gently waking Rexor from his meditation.

"What is it, Shazo?" Rexol's voice sounded somewhat muffled.

'Does Nukalofa always like to ask rhetorical questions?' Shazo asked.

Rexol sighed. 'Yes, he's always been like this since I've known him. Cunning and cunning. Whenever asked a crucial question, he evades it with a counter-question. The psychological suggestions I've used can change his starting point for thinking to some extent, but it's difficult to affect his thought processes. Give me some more time, and I should be able to guide him to reveal things.'

You've fallen for it, you bald guy.

Nukalofa has created a nesting doll-like effect for himself!

He used his true personality to create a facade for the psychological trap of the fictitious questioner personality.

Rexor thought he was questioning Nukalofa, but he was actually questioning a fictional personality that, apart from asking questions like a machine according to predetermined conditions, could not get any other information out of it.

Because this personality has no idea why they are avoiding the problem, nor what the answer is, they do not possess associative memories.

Based on his knowledge of Nuukalofa, Rexor always believed that he was questioning the real Nuukalofa and never doubted that he was questioning a fictional personality.

Xia Zuo decided to be direct and give the other party a heads-up.

"Master, I just consulted some texts on mental magic and gained an idea. Do you think it's possible that Nukalofa preemptively placed a psychological trap on himself, creating a false persona of a questioner..."

Rexor opened his eyes and looked at Shazo sitting beside him. He was stunned for a second, then patted Shazo on the shoulder.

"Yes! You're right! It's true, an outsider's perspective often reveals more! I now realize that the best thing I ever did was call you over to help."

Xia Zuo smiled modestly, "Is there a way to break free from this psychological trap?"

'The best time to dispel the psychological trap is before it takes effect. But whether we dispel it now or before it triggers, the trap's creator will become aware of it. If we dispel the psychological trap now, our identities will definitely be exposed, and we must be prepared to confront Nukalofa.'

Rexor frowned and began to think.

'If Nukalofa's "psychological trap" does indeed trigger a false questioner personality, I can simply apply an opposite false personality to counteract it.'

The characteristics of the questioner's personality are arrogance, indifference, and frivolity. Their opposites are humility, enthusiasm, and composure. Well, no personality possesses only humility, enthusiasm, and composure at the same time.

The Secret Guardian possesses the characteristic of "steadiness" but is also keen on keeping secrets, meaning they have the characteristic of "secrecy." When using this personality to break through psychological traps, it will create an additional variant personality with the "secrecy" characteristic, which is detrimental to our interrogation of Nukalofa.

The scholar possesses humility, but is also meticulous; the social master is enthusiastic, but is also hypocritical…

'This is really difficult.' Rexroth rubbed his bald head a few times. 'Let me think about it. I'll pick the personality with the fewest side effects...'

Xia Zuo blinked.

This was the first time he had ever heard of the many personality types that the Mind School had divided into.

As a complete novice who had only just entered this field, he had only read a few books. Hearing the bald man's rambling, he couldn't help but feel a little confused.

Xia Zuo thought for a moment.

From the perspective of a master of poison alchemy, using one false personality to break down another without causing side effects is very similar to developing an antidote.

Both involve selecting the most suitable pair of items from a specific group for pairing.

This way of thinking should also work in the field of spiritualism, rather than being applied to the field of poison alchemy.

Shazo took out "Advanced Knowledge of the Mind School: An Introduction to Personality Psychology" from his alchemy pocket and read the book he hadn't had time to read yet while listening to Kadum interrogate Nukalofa.

Three minutes later, just as Rexor was working out the possible combinations of fake personalities in his notebook, Shazor beat him to it and found the answer.

'Master, I have an idea.'

Xia Zuo thought to himself:

Let's first use the Lone Traveler personality to add the traits of [Solitary], [Contemplative], and [Sincere] to Nukalofa, and use the Lone Traveler's [Contemplation] to neutralize the Questioner's [Flippantness].

Then, using the personality of a social master, who has four characteristics: enthusiasm, extroversion, hypocrisy, and expression.

Use your enthusiasm to temper the indifference of the questioner, and your extroversion to temper the solitude of the loner. At the same time, let the sincerity of the loner temper the hypocrisy of the social butterfly.

In this way, only the characteristics of "arrogance" and "expression" remain unneutralized.

I think it would be better to use the loyal servant personality next.

This personality type has two characteristics: humility and taciturnity.

'Use humility to neutralize the questioner's arrogance, and then let the social master's expressiveness and the loyal servant's taciturnity neutralize it. Finally, all the questioner's characteristics are broken, and the psychological trap fails.'

Rexor nodded slowly. 'It works… I didn't expect you to find the right path before me.'

He didn't bother with formalities with Shazo, but directly raised his hand and gestured for Kadum to come over. Then he used [Sound Transmission] to chat with Selena for a few words.

Once the two agreed to the temporary change of plans, Rexor dispelled the [Mind Control Seal] in his hand, got up and walked towards the cultivation tank, used the profound Mind Control Seal to cast several Mind Spells.

As the golden-white magical light disappeared into Nukalofa's brain tissue, the death row inmate's body twitched, then relaxed completely, before returning to a state of taut muscles a few seconds later.

A low, disdainful laugh echoed in the room.

"Reso, I admit, I was somewhat surprised that you discovered the existence of a false personality, but do you think you have the ability to extract information from me? Is it even possible? Come on, give it a try... Hehehe..."

The probe revealed that there was no longer any effect on the brain tissue at this point.

This mocking voice was uttered by Nukalofa controlling the death row inmates.

---Aside---

Nukalofa's character development is rather weak, mainly because the main storyline of Stillwater Town was cut. After thinking about it, I couldn't come up with a good way to make up for this shortcoming, so I had to write it as it is now.

Chapter 101 "Xia Zuo" ≠ Xia Zuo

It was still that sunny, open-air alchemy room.

The layout of the room has changed somewhat.

Several one-way glass walls surrounded the condemned prisoners, forming a relatively enclosed area. Those inside the glass walls could not see outside, but those outside could see inside.

The condemned prisoner was still bound to the chair with enchanted chains.

However, his hood and blindfold had already been removed. Once Nukalofa confirmed that Rexor was among the interrogators, these blindfolds became unnecessary.

The death row inmate raised his head, gazing up at the blue sky and white clouds above, looking somewhat fascinated and reluctant to look away for a long time.

He sat opposite Rexor, while Shazor and the others were arranged to listen in from outside the glass wall. Selena was in charge of monitoring the alchemical equipment, Kadum translated the Otherworldly language for Rexor in real time, and Shazor played the role of a lazy bum.

“Nukalofa,” Rexol called out the name of the death row inmate’s consciousness.

"It's been a long time since you've seen a sky like this, hasn't it? In that godforsaken place called the Anti-Magic Field, ordinary people can only see gray, gloomy clouds. You're not much better off than them; besides the filthy walls of flesh and blood, there's only the pitch-black smoke of creation. If you like it here, I don't mind finding you a prison where you can see the sky after you surrender."

“Save your energy, Letso.” Nukalofa remained looking up. “You think I like the sky? Ha.”

Rexar remained unmoved by the other party's contempt.

"The answer is obvious, Nukalofa. You are a human, not a demon. You possess the common interests of humans. You love the sky, enjoy outings on clear days, and quietly read in your study on rainy days. The Church of the Demons has changed your perceptions, your thinking, and your habits, but you are now in the Temple, a place from which you have no chance of escape. Why not give yourself a chance to start anew?"

Nukalofa remained silent. After a few seconds, he glanced down at the bald man and muttered, "Pathetic mortal," before raising his head again to look at the sky.

"Let's all be quiet for a while, Letor. Up until now, you haven't given me any mental medium potion, and you're using such a rudimentary body to carry my consciousness. I think I don't need to say anything more, do I? You can't read my memories at all. The Shadow Demon Overlord must have made his move when you were escaping the anti-magic field. Heh, with his personality and methods, I probably only have half a head left."

Nukalofa is tight-lipped.

To be able to keep such a secret even when he was in dire straits, it's probably only something called faith that could have sustained him in doing so.

This is troublesome.

Unless their faith collapses, a fanatical high-ranking member of the church like Nukalofa would never reveal a single piece of information.

Why is he so convinced that his faith is something to rely on?

Rexor crossed his arms expressionlessly, his mind filled with information about Valaxat.

When Xia Zuo was controlling his Blood Element servants to infiltrate the church headquarters, he heard a hymn.

Who can tell where the path to immortality leads?